By William Yaw Owusu
Tuesday March 23, 2010
A workshop aimed at involving women towards conflict prevention in Dagbon and other parts of the Northern Region has ended in Yendi with a call on all stakeholders to encourage women in peace building mechanisms.
It was organized by the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province Pastoral Council (TEPPCON), with sponsorship from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), and under the theme, “Conflict prevention in the northern regions: Role of women.”
Opening the workshop, which was attended by about 50 participants from various women groups and other civil society organizations, Walvis Hudu, Yendi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said the only way to end the cycle of violence and impunity is to ensure that all those involved in such acts are dealt with by the law irrespective of their status, ethnic or political association.
He said as a result of conflicts in Dagbon and other areas of the region, many essential service providers such as doctors, nurses and teachers, among others, continue to seek transfers out of the area while others refuse postings to the area.
“Equally, investors and development partners are not attracted to invest in conflict-prone areas and this is drawing back the clock of progress and stifling economic growth and business activities which should have ended the endemic poverty in the area,” he added.
He said the government was working hard to develop the area, citing the creation of mass youth employment through the youth in agriculture programme and the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority as some of the interventions.
The MCE commended TEPPCON, KAS and other development organizations for their persistent efforts towards the development of the area, adding, “It is heartwarming for women to play a leading role in the promotion of peace and development in Dagbon.”
Isaac Owusu-Mensah, Senior Programmes Manager of KAS said, “We are focusing on women for peacebuilding because principally women have considerably contributed to the fight against conflicts, and the perpetrators are their husbands, children, uncles and brothers.”
He said conflict prevention should not be the sole responsibility of the government, saying that “it is time for all persons to actively get involved through their minimal contributions towards peace and development.”
He promised KAS’ continuous support to complement the government’s agenda of raising the standard of living of the people.
Agnes Gandaa, TEPPCON Partnership Coordinator, urged the authorities in the northern regions to tackle the increasing threat posed by Fulani herdsmen, noting that “they are now found everywhere in the three regions and are causing all sorts of troubles.”
Most Reverend Philip Naameh, Bishop of Yendi Catholic Church, who chaired the workshop, appealed to the people to strive for peace and unity to enhance accelerated development of the area.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Moderator fires politicians
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday March 22, 2010
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Right Reverend Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso has lambasted politicians accusing them of “polarizing and dividing the country for their selfish and parochial interests.”
“We have allowed politicians particularly those in the major political parties to divide us and polarize the system. Our walls of love and fellow feeling, traditional values and democracy have been broken, giving way to political divisions, hatred and political polarization,” and asked Christians to “rise up and pray to neutralize the current situation.”
Rev. Dr. Frimpong-Manso said this at a special service at the Rev. Dr. Nantoma Memorial Congregation at Kanda in Accra to induct Festus Ohene Kwafo as the Director of Administration and Human Resource Management of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
Preaching on the theme “Let us rise up and build: Building on Christ our foundation”, the Presby Moderator said “as Christians, we should resolve not to allow politicians to divide us. We must speak against politics of division and hatred. It is destroying our beloved country.”
He said the politics of division and hatred had reached an alarming height where even people who are fasting and praying for the nation are humiliated and insulted in the media saying “God wants to see a very prosperous Ghana so Christians will not relent in their effort to pray for the nation for that to happen.”
“As a nation our walls of communalism, discipline, rich cultural values, sound morals and identity are broken, giving way to tribalism, indiscipline, immorality, and loss of cultural identity”, he lamented.
He said “look at Jos-Nigeria, Sudan, the Ivory Coast and many other African countries where people are being killed due to political polarization and religious intolerance. Is that what we want in Ghana?”
“Some of us do not know how to swim so that when there is trouble we can run onto the Atlantic Ocean. We should do everything within our means as Christians to stop the polarization and division of our country. We can use prayers to achieve this.”
He said “we should see this nation as our only nation and always strive to maintain and enhance its image as our common heritage and possession from God. We can only build a strong, purposeful and growing church and nation when we rely on Jesus Christ as our solid foundation.”
Rev. Dr. Frimpong-Manso said the time had come for Ghanaians to reappraise the foundation on which “we have built and continues to build our lives, marriages, businesses”, adding “those built on fraud; corruption, deceit and the rest will not last.’
He entreated the youth of the country to continue to live for Christ saying “when you rely absolutely on the Lord, He will guide your feet and lead you to greater heights.”
He also urged those in positions of authority to strive for knowledge, wisdom be consistent and show commitment as well as show discipline and live above reproach.
The Moderator asked the people to respect the authorities put in place to govern saying “God appoints leaders in a society to avoid the danger of confusion” and also those in authority to respect the will of the people saying “when an individual or a group of people think they have the indisputable mandate to determine the people’s political destiny we would be calling for anarchy in our society.”
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Monday March 22, 2010
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Right Reverend Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso has lambasted politicians accusing them of “polarizing and dividing the country for their selfish and parochial interests.”
“We have allowed politicians particularly those in the major political parties to divide us and polarize the system. Our walls of love and fellow feeling, traditional values and democracy have been broken, giving way to political divisions, hatred and political polarization,” and asked Christians to “rise up and pray to neutralize the current situation.”
Rev. Dr. Frimpong-Manso said this at a special service at the Rev. Dr. Nantoma Memorial Congregation at Kanda in Accra to induct Festus Ohene Kwafo as the Director of Administration and Human Resource Management of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
Preaching on the theme “Let us rise up and build: Building on Christ our foundation”, the Presby Moderator said “as Christians, we should resolve not to allow politicians to divide us. We must speak against politics of division and hatred. It is destroying our beloved country.”
He said the politics of division and hatred had reached an alarming height where even people who are fasting and praying for the nation are humiliated and insulted in the media saying “God wants to see a very prosperous Ghana so Christians will not relent in their effort to pray for the nation for that to happen.”
“As a nation our walls of communalism, discipline, rich cultural values, sound morals and identity are broken, giving way to tribalism, indiscipline, immorality, and loss of cultural identity”, he lamented.
He said “look at Jos-Nigeria, Sudan, the Ivory Coast and many other African countries where people are being killed due to political polarization and religious intolerance. Is that what we want in Ghana?”
“Some of us do not know how to swim so that when there is trouble we can run onto the Atlantic Ocean. We should do everything within our means as Christians to stop the polarization and division of our country. We can use prayers to achieve this.”
He said “we should see this nation as our only nation and always strive to maintain and enhance its image as our common heritage and possession from God. We can only build a strong, purposeful and growing church and nation when we rely on Jesus Christ as our solid foundation.”
Rev. Dr. Frimpong-Manso said the time had come for Ghanaians to reappraise the foundation on which “we have built and continues to build our lives, marriages, businesses”, adding “those built on fraud; corruption, deceit and the rest will not last.’
He entreated the youth of the country to continue to live for Christ saying “when you rely absolutely on the Lord, He will guide your feet and lead you to greater heights.”
He also urged those in positions of authority to strive for knowledge, wisdom be consistent and show commitment as well as show discipline and live above reproach.
The Moderator asked the people to respect the authorities put in place to govern saying “God appoints leaders in a society to avoid the danger of confusion” and also those in authority to respect the will of the people saying “when an individual or a group of people think they have the indisputable mandate to determine the people’s political destiny we would be calling for anarchy in our society.”
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
AFAG Mounts Pressure On Telecom Operators
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday March 22, 2010
The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) appears to have ‘calmed’ down on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and turned the heat on the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the mobile telecommunication service providers whom they are accusing of “exploiting consumers”.
On Thursday at the SSNIT Guest House in Accra, AFAG launched what it calls the ‘Voices for Telecommunication’ (VOTE), an initiative that is going to put pressure on the NCA to force the telecommunication companies to provide quality and value-for-money services for Ghanaians.
It says it has already received about 820 volunteers mostly from the tertiary institutions to help them administer questionnaires on the public’s perception of the services of the telecommunication industry.
Although AFAG had sent invitations to the Ministry of Communications, the NCA, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and all the mobile phone companies, not a single representative from the above-mentioned honoured the invitation to the launching, reinforcing the widely-held view that mobile phone companies do not attach seriousness in addressing the concerns of the Ghanaian consumer.
AFAG however made it clear that the Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu, had personally asked a representative from the NCA to participate in the launching but nobody from the authority was present at the SSNIT Guest House.
Launching the initiative, Nana Kwame Afriyie Ayew, a Chairman of AFAG “the time has come for civil society organizations to stand up and speak against the injustices in the provision of mobile telecommunication services.”
“The telecommunications sector has been liberalized and services are mainly supplied by the private sector. There is therefore the urgent need to seek fairness and efficiency needed by the Ghanaian consumer”.
Nana Ayew said although the NCA under the telecommunication policy is expected to offer consumer protection, monitor operator activity, compliance and performance as well as quality service oversight, “the authority does not appear to be performing these key functions efficiently”.
“We want to remind the NCA and all mobile telephone operators that the Ghanaian consumer can no longer be taken for granted. We are going to work hard to ensure that the NCA exercises its constitutional mandate of putting an effective check on the mobile phone operators to provide quality service”.
He said the problem of consumer exploitation could be solved if the government passed a law establishing consumer protection authority to provide information for the public and taking away the protection rights from the NCA.
Kwabena Bonfeh, a leading member of AFAG said the group was not against the directive by the government to force all mobile communication companies to register their customers, saying “our only problem has been the source of the directive since this should have come from the NCA and not the National Security.”
He said the sim card registration “will actively enforce the contractual between consumers and mobile network operators.”
Samuel Awuku, another leading member of AFAG said that the group was now poised to embark on the initiative and said they will not hesitate to make public the findings of their nationwide survey, saying “for now these companies can afford to sit in their offices and not bother about what we are starting. We will work hard to empower consumers to demand accountability from them”.
Arnold Boateng another member of AFAG said “consumers all over the world enjoy affordable call rates far cheaper than what Ghanaians are paying for the same services and this cannot continue to go on.”
James Apietu Ankrah, a former Member of Parliament who chaired the launching called on all Ghanaians to support the initiative to help to bring respite to the consumer.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Monday March 22, 2010
The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) appears to have ‘calmed’ down on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and turned the heat on the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the mobile telecommunication service providers whom they are accusing of “exploiting consumers”.
On Thursday at the SSNIT Guest House in Accra, AFAG launched what it calls the ‘Voices for Telecommunication’ (VOTE), an initiative that is going to put pressure on the NCA to force the telecommunication companies to provide quality and value-for-money services for Ghanaians.
It says it has already received about 820 volunteers mostly from the tertiary institutions to help them administer questionnaires on the public’s perception of the services of the telecommunication industry.
Although AFAG had sent invitations to the Ministry of Communications, the NCA, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and all the mobile phone companies, not a single representative from the above-mentioned honoured the invitation to the launching, reinforcing the widely-held view that mobile phone companies do not attach seriousness in addressing the concerns of the Ghanaian consumer.
AFAG however made it clear that the Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu, had personally asked a representative from the NCA to participate in the launching but nobody from the authority was present at the SSNIT Guest House.
Launching the initiative, Nana Kwame Afriyie Ayew, a Chairman of AFAG “the time has come for civil society organizations to stand up and speak against the injustices in the provision of mobile telecommunication services.”
“The telecommunications sector has been liberalized and services are mainly supplied by the private sector. There is therefore the urgent need to seek fairness and efficiency needed by the Ghanaian consumer”.
Nana Ayew said although the NCA under the telecommunication policy is expected to offer consumer protection, monitor operator activity, compliance and performance as well as quality service oversight, “the authority does not appear to be performing these key functions efficiently”.
“We want to remind the NCA and all mobile telephone operators that the Ghanaian consumer can no longer be taken for granted. We are going to work hard to ensure that the NCA exercises its constitutional mandate of putting an effective check on the mobile phone operators to provide quality service”.
He said the problem of consumer exploitation could be solved if the government passed a law establishing consumer protection authority to provide information for the public and taking away the protection rights from the NCA.
Kwabena Bonfeh, a leading member of AFAG said the group was not against the directive by the government to force all mobile communication companies to register their customers, saying “our only problem has been the source of the directive since this should have come from the NCA and not the National Security.”
He said the sim card registration “will actively enforce the contractual between consumers and mobile network operators.”
Samuel Awuku, another leading member of AFAG said that the group was now poised to embark on the initiative and said they will not hesitate to make public the findings of their nationwide survey, saying “for now these companies can afford to sit in their offices and not bother about what we are starting. We will work hard to empower consumers to demand accountability from them”.
Arnold Boateng another member of AFAG said “consumers all over the world enjoy affordable call rates far cheaper than what Ghanaians are paying for the same services and this cannot continue to go on.”
James Apietu Ankrah, a former Member of Parliament who chaired the launching called on all Ghanaians to support the initiative to help to bring respite to the consumer.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Sunday, March 21, 2010
We owe no apology– Ga Mantse
The Ga Mantse, Dr. Jo Blankson has the stool name Nii Tackie Tawiah III
By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The no-love-lost between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah III appears not to be ending anytime soon as the King dismisses calls for him to render an apology to President John Evans Atta Mills.
King Tackie Tawiah recently expressed his anger at the way and manner in which the NDC government had neglected him and not inviting him to officials functions and had said among other things that Gas were not fools to be treated this way by a sitting government.
The government insists that once the Ga Mantse does not have his name in the national register of chiefs, he was not going to be recognized until the numerous disputes surrounding his enstoolment were finally resolved.
Since Nii Tackie Tawiah’s outburst, leading NDC government officials including the new envoy to the Czech Republic Victor Smith have asked the king to apologise to President Mills without any delay but yesterday at a news conference in the Ga Mantse Palace in Accra, Nii Boi Abbey, the Chief of Staff of the king dismissed the calls and said “what our king said was a protest and not an insult to anybody”.
The news conference had been called by the Ga Traditional Council to lend what it calls its ‘unflinching’ support to the Ga Mantse and Nii Tetteh Kwei, Dzaasetse of the Ga stool in these trying moments.
The Ga Mantse was not present at the news conference but all the other sub-chiefs and queens clad in all red to signify the seriousness of the situation were present.
Nii Boi Abbey said “the statement made by our king was taken out of context by the media. He raised important issues which were unattended to by the media and only concentrated on the portion of his complaints which sought to call on the authorities to see to the welfare of the Ga people as is being done to all others.”
“We are not given the opportunity to get to the ear of the President. We have made several diplomatic efforts to reach the presidency but some people surrounding the President have prevented us”.
He said “what out king said was a protest and not an insult,” adding “can you imagine the government making efforts to commence the Gold Coast City project using one chief to sign the documents without ant consultation to the Ga Traditional council?”
Nii Boi Abbey reiterated the king makers followed all the necessary customary procedures before installing the Dr. Jo Blankson as the Ga Mantse with the stool name Mantse Tackie Tawiah III.
Nii Tetteh Kwei III, the Dzaasetse of the Ga Stool who read the statement signed by Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, Otublohum Mantse said the council is expressing its regret at the way in which Ga lands had been allocated to people by governments without any recourse to them.
“The Ga Traditional Council calls on the government to put a stop to the continuing indiscriminate allocation of Ga lands to individuals for commercial gain while the Ga people whose heritage these lands are, stand deprived of their birthright in the land of their forefathers”.
“This in total disregard to the convention of returning lands to their original and custodial owners. It is unacceptable that lands acquired by the government for public use eventually ends up with private investors without any form of consultation with the council.
He further expressed concern about the way the media has been treating issues concerning the Ga Stool and advised media organizations to “crosscheck all matters concerning chieftaincy in the Ga State with the Ga Traditional Council.”
He reiterated the council’s “unconditional support” for the Ga Mantse and the Dzaasetse and regretted what he called “the growing disregard of the government for the customs and traditions of the Ga people, even as the Ga state hosts the nation’s capital and the seat of the Presidency.”
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Truth missing in Ghana – Attafuah
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday March 18, 2010
Professor Ken Agyemang Attafuah, a renowned criminologist and lawyer says “the sincere commitment to truth as the essence of oath taking” is missing in Ghana
“The reality of the situation is that oaths and pledges are broken with impunity at will by our political leaders usually for political expediency,” he lamented.
Prof. Attafuah was delivering the 5th Re Akoto Memorial lectures on the theme “Oaths, pledges and promises to keep – Advancing human rights in volatile political times”.
The public lecture was organized by students of Ghana School of Law to mark its 51st Law Week celebrations under the theme “Upholding fundamental human rights: Role of the law student,” and was chaired by Nana Dr. S.K.B Asante, a constitutional law expert.
Prof Attafuah said “to respect our oaths, pledges and promises, we must evince truthfulness, fidelity and condour in our dealings with our fellows.
He said “these virtues are most warranted for the progress of our nation, especially among our leaders,” adding “unless women, men and children can accord credence to, and invest faith and confidence in, the solemn words and declarations of others, the cement of social order and the enterprise of commerce, cannot hold.”
“As a people, we do not seem to take our oaths, pledges and promises seriously. How have we fared, 53 years after our collective solemn declaration of the twin concepts - Freedom and Justice – words that lie at the heart of human rights everywhere – as our national motto”?
“We have watered down our commitment to our oaths, pledges and promises and the unity of purpose and consensus that preceded independence, whether it was to come within the shortest possible time or immediately”, he explained.
Prof. Attafuah said the first thing a government owed its people was security, regardless of their personal and social characteristics and religious and political persuasion.
“Today, we still are not truly free in our land; most law-abiding Ghanaians continue to live in fear of predatory violent crimes such as armed robbery, and those who can afford it buy for themselves private security on the open market, or build fortresses to keep intruders out”.
“Half a century on, we continue to wallow in embarrassing poverty, pettiness and privation,” he added.
“Our politics is largely a graveyard of failed oaths, pledges and promises. All around us, we are enveloped in injustice and conditions deny access to justice; across our land, we manifest mild to serious levels of political insecurity occasioned by moribund partisan politics and chieftaincy disputes that challenge our credentials to domestic peace and sometimes make you wonder what drives us.”
“Our home-grown conflicts drain more time, attention, blood, treasure and support from us and our Government than does the cost of fighting disease and educating our teeming youths. We engage in corruption to the detriment of our nation, and we sometimes show remarkable ingenuity in redefining “corruption” to suit our changing and volatile political times.”
Prof Attafuah said the cycle of vengeance and political vendettas that attends every change in political leadership since independence has endangered the health of millions of Ghanaians and militated against the socio-economic and democratic development of the country.
“A cocktail of political victimizations, intimidation, administrative injustices, politically-motivated dismissals of public servants and the violent seizure of property is, in more fundamental ways, contributing to the intensity of the volatile political times in which we live.”
Prof. Attafuah expressed concern about injustices meted out to students of the Ghana School of law has by the authorities saying “law schools and law faculties in the country cannot be centers of tyranny and human rights violations.”
“The provisions and imperatives of Chapter 5 and Article 296(b) of the Constitution must manifest daily in the running of these institutions which must, by definition and of necessity, be centers of excellence in the promotion and practice of human rights”.
“Bullying, rude and tyrannical lectures are not human rights advocates; indeed, they make a net negative contribution to the advancement of human rights by setting up false standards and offering bad examples for lawyer trainees to emulate”.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Public urged to query military
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday March 18, 2010
The Commandant of the Military Academy Training Schools (MATS), Rear Admiral M.M. Tahiru says the military owes its existence to the public, asking them to query any excesses on their part.
“The military derives its existence from the public. We have the expertise, but the power and control is yours so get involved with in whatever we do,” he added.
Rear Admiral Tahiru was speaking at the launch of the golden jubilee anniversary celebration of the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) in Accra yesterday, which is themed, “Beyond 50 years of Excellence: Turning out elite leaders for national and international peace and security.”
Since its establishment on April 1, 1960, the academy has produced over 3000 military officers both locally and internationally who are now serving in various capacities.
Rear Admiral Tahiru added, “We are in existence because the civilian authority wants a military. The training we get here helps us to defend the sovereignty of the country. Civilians give us the backing to defend the nation. We can only go to war when the civilians ask us to do so and once they direct us not fire any bullet, we pack and come back home.”
“In Europe, civilians care about what their military does but over here they think we are a group of people who set our own rules and are always divorcing ourselves from them.”
Rear Admiral Tahiru urged the public to get involved in the activities of the military in order to appreciate its operations.
Brigadier General J.S. Nkrumah, Deputy Commandant of MATS, who is also the president of the GMA’s 50th anniversary celebration said, “We will mark the occasion to befit the status of this prestigious training institution and we urge the public to get involved in this celebration.”
He outlined series of activities, including public lectures to mark the celebration, which starts from April 1 2010 with an official launch, stressing that on September 3, 2010 they organize a grand graduation parade that would be attended by President Mills.
“The public must get to know about this important activity and participate in it since it is only the media that can help us to achieve this. The media is our partner for national development and together we can help build this nation,” he emphasized.
Brigadier General O.B Akwa, Commandant of the GMA stated, “We are passionate about the training of our officers because their services are not only restricted to the military but promote other sectors of the economy.”
Commodore G.M. Biekro, Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters in Burma Camp, Accra said “Our doors are open to the media. We want them to get closer to us so that they can help us to enhance the civil/military relations.”
Colonel W.K. Nibo, Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces revealed that the civilian/military relation had improved considerably over the years, indicating that “this celebration offers an opportunity for the civilians to be part of what we do.”
In a related development, the Minister of Defence, General J.H. Smith (Rtd) cut sod for the commencement of the construction of an electronic research library at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre.
The facility, which would cost about GH¢1.4 million, is being financed by the Italian government.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Thursday March 18, 2010
The Commandant of the Military Academy Training Schools (MATS), Rear Admiral M.M. Tahiru says the military owes its existence to the public, asking them to query any excesses on their part.
“The military derives its existence from the public. We have the expertise, but the power and control is yours so get involved with in whatever we do,” he added.
Rear Admiral Tahiru was speaking at the launch of the golden jubilee anniversary celebration of the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) in Accra yesterday, which is themed, “Beyond 50 years of Excellence: Turning out elite leaders for national and international peace and security.”
Since its establishment on April 1, 1960, the academy has produced over 3000 military officers both locally and internationally who are now serving in various capacities.
Rear Admiral Tahiru added, “We are in existence because the civilian authority wants a military. The training we get here helps us to defend the sovereignty of the country. Civilians give us the backing to defend the nation. We can only go to war when the civilians ask us to do so and once they direct us not fire any bullet, we pack and come back home.”
“In Europe, civilians care about what their military does but over here they think we are a group of people who set our own rules and are always divorcing ourselves from them.”
Rear Admiral Tahiru urged the public to get involved in the activities of the military in order to appreciate its operations.
Brigadier General J.S. Nkrumah, Deputy Commandant of MATS, who is also the president of the GMA’s 50th anniversary celebration said, “We will mark the occasion to befit the status of this prestigious training institution and we urge the public to get involved in this celebration.”
He outlined series of activities, including public lectures to mark the celebration, which starts from April 1 2010 with an official launch, stressing that on September 3, 2010 they organize a grand graduation parade that would be attended by President Mills.
“The public must get to know about this important activity and participate in it since it is only the media that can help us to achieve this. The media is our partner for national development and together we can help build this nation,” he emphasized.
Brigadier General O.B Akwa, Commandant of the GMA stated, “We are passionate about the training of our officers because their services are not only restricted to the military but promote other sectors of the economy.”
Commodore G.M. Biekro, Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters in Burma Camp, Accra said “Our doors are open to the media. We want them to get closer to us so that they can help us to enhance the civil/military relations.”
Colonel W.K. Nibo, Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces revealed that the civilian/military relation had improved considerably over the years, indicating that “this celebration offers an opportunity for the civilians to be part of what we do.”
In a related development, the Minister of Defence, General J.H. Smith (Rtd) cut sod for the commencement of the construction of an electronic research library at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre.
The facility, which would cost about GH¢1.4 million, is being financed by the Italian government.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Nana Dr. SKB Asante cautions Constitutional Review Commission
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By William Yaw Owusu
Wednesday March 17, 2010
Nana Dr. Susubiribi Krobea Asante, a former president of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and an expert in constitutional law has asked the Constitutional Review Commission to “exercise caution” in its attempt to review the 1992 Republican Constitution.
“We should be careful in our bid to review the constitution. We should be able to preserve the landscapes and not uproot all the trees so that core values of constitutional democracy will be deepened.”
Nana Dr. S.K.B Asante gave the advice when he chaired the 5th Re Akoto Memorial lectures organized by the students of Ghana School of Law to mark its 51st Law Week celebrations under the theme “Upholding fundamental human rights: Role of the law student.”
He said “in the past few weeks a number of developments have taken place and I am struck by one thing; there is hardly any reference to the merits and strength of our constitution.”
“A constitutional review has to bring out the strengths of the system. It should include an examination of strengths and merits. We should not take the strengths and merits of the constitution for granted,” he added.
Nana Krobea Asante said provisions such as the right to exercise ones’ franchise, freedom of the media and speech and the independence of the Electoral Commission as well as the judiciary which are all guaranteed by the constitution are landmark developments that are helping to promote multi-party democracy.
“There are certain provisions in the constitution that has allowed multi-party democracy which is rare in many African countries to flourish in Ghana and we work to deepen it.”
“This 1992 Republican Constitution is the most elaborate statement on the protection of human rights that this country has ever had and we should be careful in our calls for amendment.”
“Our constitution is something to be respected and the review should deepen the core values rather than devalue it.”
Also see www.dailyguideghana.com
Kwame Gyan lambasts civilian, military regimes over land management
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By William Yaw Owusu
Wednesday March 17, 2010
Kwame Gyan, a law lecturer at the Law Faculty of the University of Ghana says both civilian and military regimes should take responsibility for the way and manner they managed land in the country.
“All political parties and military elements that got the chance to govern or rule are guilty of corruption in the land administration system of this country. The hullabaloo about land is no news. It started right from independence.”
Mr. Gyan was speaking on the topic “The impact of Ghana’s land administration structure and role of politics in land administration,” at a forum on land administration in Accra on Friday.
It was organized by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) in collaboration with Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) under the theme “Executive discretion and property rights: Practitioners’ assessment.”
Mr. Gyan said “I have been a lawyer for the Lands Commission for many years but I do not even know the criteria used in the allocation of government lands,” he complained.
He said military governments had more inclusive and open-door allocation policies than civilian governments, adding “the AFRC regime was the least guilty; perhaps it was as a result of their short stay in office.”
“My search showed that civilian governments allocated government lands to themselves, party members, functionaries, cronies and sympathizers,”, adding “there is an adage which says show me where you live and I can show you your political party.”
Recounting how land had been mismanaged by subsequent governments, Mr. Gyan, an expert in land issues said “when the CPP government was in office, the President’s office allocated a large portion of the Kanda and Nyaniba Estates to party functionaries called the Socialist Boys while General Acheampong’s interference in the Ada Songhor Salt project area has left behind a protracted land dispute that will never go away.”
He said that the situation has worsened in the last 20 years when there was an unprecedented assault on state lands particularly in the Greater Accra Region adding that the allocation of lands around the Interational Students Hostel near the airport was shrouded in secrecy- “some of the names purporting to own those lands sound strange. Can they come and show their faces with their identity cards?”
He said “if your party does not come to power then you will never have the chance to own a house or land in a government area.”
He warned that “the way governments have been allocating state lands to their followers poses a threat to national security and cohesion,” adding “I am happy that at least they have all come to the realization that the practice is wrong and something has to be done about it.”
Mr. Gyan further said that the constitutional requirements attached to the management of lands in the country had given those in government the opportunity to abuse the system and called for its entire overhaul.
He said for instance that even though Article 265 of the constitution guarantees the independence of the Lands Commission to operate, the same constitution in Article 258 (3) gives the sector minister the power to provide policy direction for the commission in the management of lands in the country, saying “Most of the systems that we create whether by design does not make the system work.”
He suggested that government raise the status of the Lands Commission to the same level as the Electoral Commission so that there would not be any undue interference in the management of the administration of land in the country.
“We have to do something serious and dramatic about how we manage our lands otherwise we are going to be in serious trouble. We need a robust land administration system to manage a modern economy.”
Dr. Nii Armah Josaiah Ayeh, another law lecturer at the same faculty who spoke on “The right of eminent domain,” traced how the country’s land laws had developed from 1876 and said “there had been an assault on the country’s land laws in modern times where most traditional laws had been replaced with modern ones.”
He said the indigenes of the Greater Accra Region are the most affected in terms land appropriation, making many local people landless with the lands going into the hands of politicians and public servants.
He said the lack of transparency in the administration of land had led to needless mistrust between governments and some traditional authorities.
Dr. Ayeh asked the government to encourage private title insurance companies into the system to bring security in the management of land.
Nana Agyei Ampofo, Board Chairman of the Lands Commission said such a development would help the public to know how the commission manages lands in the country.
www.dailyguideghana.com
NPP Call On Ga Mantse
Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, National Chairman of the NPP led the delegation to the Ga mantse Palace in Accra
By William Yaw Owusu
Tuesday March 16, 2010
At a time when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is sidelining the Ga Mantse in public e, the newly elected executive of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have paid a courtesy call on him and his elders at his royal palace in Accra, presenting him with a box of schnapps.
The visit is likely to stoke another fire in the political landscape particularly among the Ga people as the debate about who is the rightful occupant of the Ga stool rages.
The NPP delegation was led by Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, National Chairman, with Fred Oware, a vice chairman; Esther Dzifa Ofori, treasurer; Anthony A. Karbo, national youth organizer, and R.O. Solomon, a leading member among others.
The Greater Accra Regional executive who were present included Ishmael Ashittey (Chairman), Divine Otoo Agbomor, Gladys Dede, Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed, Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah, George Banforo, Henry Quartey, Joyce Sampari, Paul Appiah as well as the NPP Nasara Chairman Yahaya Abdul Aziz.
The courtesy call was to introduce the NPP newly elected national and the Greater Accra Regional executives to the Ga Traditional Council.
The members of the Ga Traditional Council who received the NPP delegation included Nii Dodoo Nsaki, Nii Adjetey Kraku, Nii Nortey Owuo, Nii Tetteh Quaye, Nii Tetteh Ashong among others.
Welcoming them to his palace, the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah III, said “the NPP is no stranger to us. They are familiar friends of the Ga State. They always come here to ask for our blessings as custodians of this land.”
He said “your coming here is in the right direction. We welcome your visit because it opens the unit of communication between a political party and the Ga people.”
“We cannot grow as a people if we continue to allow animosity to take center stage of everything we do”, he continued.
Nii Tackie Tawiah commended the NPP for holding a violent-free congress and advised them to intensify education of their supporters to eschew violence, saying “I know you mean well for this state and you should continue with the good work you are doing.”
When he took his turn, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey advised Ga youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to destroy the Ga State.
“We have allowed politics to destroy the strong bond of unity and friendship that had been the hallmark of the Ga people and we seem to be passing it unto the youth to continue the destruction of the Ga State”, he lamented”.
“The time has come for us to stop the insults, fighting and acrimony that have compelled very important Gas to take a back seat and not want to have anything to do with our suffering masses”.
He said the influence and role that the people of Accra had and played in the political development of the country had waned because of what he called “the pull him down” attitude among the Ga people.
“No Ga leader tries to do something and is not pulled down by his/her own people. The insults are too much. We should realize that Gas can play senior roles in the political structures of this country”.
When asked after the meeting whether it was expedient for the NPP executives to call on the Ga Mantse when there was a serious contention about his enstoolment, Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey said “the NPP since 1992 has been paying courtesy calls on the Ga Traditional Council to seek their blessings as custodians of the land so why should we cease to come here”.
In a related development, the Ga Traditional Council at a meeting held yesterday reaffirmed its loyalty to King Tackie Tawiah II as the president of council.
A public notice issued on the letterhead of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture (Ga Traditional Council) with reference GTC/044/145 and signed by Mercy Asante, registrar said “the council further expressed support to its president in his compliments to government over the manner of treatment given the Ga State and its traditions.”
“The council also wants it known that King Tackie Tawiah III is lawfully installed Ga Mantse and he is fully acknowledged by the Ga State as such”.
“Similarly, the only legitimate Ga Royal Paramount Dzasetse is confirmed as NII Tetteh Kwei II. Statemets made by others to the contrary should be ignored”, the notice said.
Also see www.dailyguideghana.com
Monday, March 15, 2010
Mo Ibrahim fires African leaders
Dr. Mo Ibrahim adressing the forum at the University of Ghana on March12, 2010
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday March 15, 2010
Dr. Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese-born British business laureate and founder of Mo Ibrahim Foundation, has launched a blistering attack on past and present African leaders, describing them as “lousy and catastrophic leaders who have no policy direction.”
“African leaders love western culture and taste. When it comes to expensive wines, cars and other luxurious lifestyles they hurriedly go for it, but when it comes to human rights issues they say it is a western concept,” he said.
Dr. Mo Ibrahim was at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra on Friday to deliver a lecture entitled, “Taking Responsibility – How to fix a broken economy.”
Top aid campaigners, including Irish musician Paul David Hewson, who is popularly known as Bono, accompanied him.
Bono has been campaigning for debt relief for third-world countries and raising awareness of the plight of Africa including HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Mo Ibrahim said, “There are too many dictators, megalomaniacs and thieves and we have lousy leaders. Whenever you complain, they will say they have their African conscience.
“We have a very rich continent yet we are the poorest people on earth. After 50 years, I do not think we can blame the colonists for our woes. We are responsible for the mess that we found ourselves and cannot blame anybody.”
“Countries such as Egypt, Ghana and Sudan, among others had higher GDP than many countries in Asia, but 50 years after self rule these countries have more than 50 times our income.”
“There is nothing wrong with our people, but it is our leaders who have made us poor. What the people bother about is the deliverables. We do not care about the politics.”
Dr. Mo Ibrahim mentioned that even though there is a leadership failure on the continent, there were some new African leaders “who are really trying to do good job and they need our support.”
“There are great leaders on the continent but nobody talks about them. All they know about are the Mugabes, Mobutus and the Amins for the wrong reasons.”
He said the practice whereby African leaders hang on to power until death must stop, adding “Look at Former President Clinton and former Prime Minister Tony Blair; they are having wonderful financial life after office.”
Dr. Mo Ibrahim said Africa must pursue governance and leadership without any compromise, noting, “Our leaders are not our masters; they are our servants.”
On African economic integration, he said, “If we do not take steps to integrate our economies we will continue to wallow in poverty. Economic integration is a must. The Europeans did not like one another yet they were able to form a very successful European Union (EU).”
He cited Germany’s level of development as an example worthy of emulation by Africans, stating that “after doing away with wars, the Germans have been able to raise an economy which is bigger than the economies of all 53 African countries put together.”
“Economic integration is essential. We need to have free movement of goods and services on the continent. We must focus and build infrastructure and a robust energy sector and we must give priority to cross-country projects”.
Dr. Mo Ibrahim said the lack of data on the continent is impeding accelerated development.
On agriculture, Dr. Mo Ibrahim noted, “Statistics show that about 70 percent of the people are working in the agricultural sector yet we are still hungry.”
“After seven years of the African Peer Review Mechanism, only seven presidents have been able to live up to the promise of allocating 10 percent of their budgets to support the sector.
On climate change, he added, “Africans are the most threatened people on earth and we did not put the carbon out there, but we are suffering for the carelessness of other people.”
He urged African governments to come together to negotiate climate change issues as one entity.
He revealed that various governments on the continent should invest heavily in the education of the youth so that they would not repeat the mistakes of the present generation.
Also see: www.dailyguideghana.com
NPP schooled on Social Market Economy
Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey is the new Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)in Ghana
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday March15, 2010
Dr. Kwesi Jonah, Head of Political Science Department of the University of Ghana says most developing countries have embarked on economic reforms without enough attention to social development and that is impeding accelerated development.
“There is economic reform but no social development. In this context probably turning to social market economy could provide a viable route to economic and social development”, he explained.
Dr. Jonah was explaining the concept of a social market economy to delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at a retreat organized by the party in Mankesim in the Central Region.
The political science lecturer was selected by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) to speak to the delegates on behalf of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Germany, one of the largest political parties in Europe which shares most of the ideals of the NPP.
Dr. Jonah who spoke on the topic “The Social Market Economy (SME): What is it?”, said to better understand how the SME works it was useful to contrast it with two preceding concepts namely the Free Market Economy (FME), practiced in capitalist countries and Centrally Planned Economy (CPE) practiced by most socialist states.
He said while the FME relied on free competition and price mechanisms characterized private ownership in the means of production for efficient allocation of resources, the CPE took decisions for both producers and consumers by setting production targets, what to produce and by fixing prices for goods and services.
“The FME gives freedom to producers and consumers and yet unless the state assumes full responsibility for setting the rules for free competition society will suffer great injustice”.
He said as a result, the German Federal Republic adopted the SME concept in 1948 after the Second World War to combine free competition with the concept of social harmony.
Dr. Jonah said the SME concept had been developed in the 1930’s by the Freiburg School of Economics but could only be implemented after the war, saying “this concept is not simply an economic model; it is a total social and economic system.”
He said the SME concept ensures equal opportunity for everybody distributes wealth through the market mechanism rather than government intervention and guarantees personal incentives for higher productivity.
“The golden rule of SME is equal opportunity”, adding “SME should not be regarded as a model for economic efficiency only. It replaces the concept of economic man with that of a social man”.
Dr. Jonah said for SME to work effectively certain preconditions such as free competition, a well functioning and open market, private property ownership, freedom of contract, rule of law, stable economic policies, monetary stability state intervention in the event of market failure and social balance must all be guaranteed.
“The superior economic performance of SME is evident in the strong performance of the German economy, the largest export economy in the world and one of that rose from the ashes of war to become the third richest country in the world”, he said.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
PHC organizes free diagnostic exercise
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday March 15, 2010
PHC Motors Limited, dealers in Chrysler, BMG, Tata, Jeep and Dodge vehicles, has added Land Rover to its range of vehicles.
It organized a three-day free diagnostic exercise for owners of Land Rover to promote the rugged vehicle.
The exercise, which was hugely patronized, was also used to showcase new models of land rovers, parts and accessories and to educate users of the vehicle on basic maintenance tips and road safety guidelines.
Furthermore, it provided a platform for customers of PHC to engage with dealers.
Companies and organizations that participated in the exercise included Rana Motors, Sadat Accessories and American batteries.
Others were Zenith Bank, SG SSB, Enterprise Insurance and the Ghana National Road Safety Commission.
Speaking at the opening of the exercise in Accra on Thursday, Kaizer Abrahams, National Customer Relations Manager of PHC Motors, said the demand for land rover vehicles had increased in the country, noting that there was the need to get users to understand the mechanics of the vehicle.
He said, “This is not the first time that PHC is embarking on such an exercise. It is an annual routine for us. We do it for users of all the vehicles that we have.
“It gives us the opportunity to know those who use land rover vehicles and we want to help importers, owners and prospective buyers so that we can impart our experience on them.
He revealed that PHC Motors would embark on a 24-hour breakdown recovery system, adding, “If your vehicle is in our garage we will give you a replacement.”
PHC Motors in 2009 acquired the Land Rover franchise, thereby earning the right to sell and service Land Rover products in Ghana.
Paul Peprah, Managing Director of PHC said the company would continue to keep its promise to provide customers with what he termed as “totally satisfying transport experience by establishing modern sales and service centers throughout the country.”
“PHC Motors Limited is now expanding its horizon to meet the needs of customers. To date, we have commissioned six service centers in Takoradi, Tarkwa, Sunyani, Tamale, Koforidua and Ho,” he said.
The newly appointed Divisional Manager of PHC Motors, Norman Dunkerley, who has extensive workshop and service management in the motor industry, gave technical tips.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Monday March 15, 2010
PHC Motors Limited, dealers in Chrysler, BMG, Tata, Jeep and Dodge vehicles, has added Land Rover to its range of vehicles.
It organized a three-day free diagnostic exercise for owners of Land Rover to promote the rugged vehicle.
The exercise, which was hugely patronized, was also used to showcase new models of land rovers, parts and accessories and to educate users of the vehicle on basic maintenance tips and road safety guidelines.
Furthermore, it provided a platform for customers of PHC to engage with dealers.
Companies and organizations that participated in the exercise included Rana Motors, Sadat Accessories and American batteries.
Others were Zenith Bank, SG SSB, Enterprise Insurance and the Ghana National Road Safety Commission.
Speaking at the opening of the exercise in Accra on Thursday, Kaizer Abrahams, National Customer Relations Manager of PHC Motors, said the demand for land rover vehicles had increased in the country, noting that there was the need to get users to understand the mechanics of the vehicle.
He said, “This is not the first time that PHC is embarking on such an exercise. It is an annual routine for us. We do it for users of all the vehicles that we have.
“It gives us the opportunity to know those who use land rover vehicles and we want to help importers, owners and prospective buyers so that we can impart our experience on them.
He revealed that PHC Motors would embark on a 24-hour breakdown recovery system, adding, “If your vehicle is in our garage we will give you a replacement.”
PHC Motors in 2009 acquired the Land Rover franchise, thereby earning the right to sell and service Land Rover products in Ghana.
Paul Peprah, Managing Director of PHC said the company would continue to keep its promise to provide customers with what he termed as “totally satisfying transport experience by establishing modern sales and service centers throughout the country.”
“PHC Motors Limited is now expanding its horizon to meet the needs of customers. To date, we have commissioned six service centers in Takoradi, Tarkwa, Sunyani, Tamale, Koforidua and Ho,” he said.
The newly appointed Divisional Manager of PHC Motors, Norman Dunkerley, who has extensive workshop and service management in the motor industry, gave technical tips.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Sunday, March 14, 2010
I WAS VICTIMISED... Says KEN ATTAFUAH
Prof. Ken A. Attafuah is a lawyer and criminilogist
By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday March 13, 2010
Professor Ken Agyemang Attafuah, a renowned criminologist says the excuse used by the government to relieve him of his duties as the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA) was unjustifiable.
“The cycle of reprisal and political vendetta must not be allowed to continue. It has stalled the development of this country and we do not seem to end the stalemate,” he said.
Prof. Attafuah was answering questions at a public lecture organized by the students of Ghana School of Law to mark its 51st Law Week celebrations under the theme “Upholding fundamental human rights: Role of the law student.”
After delivering the 5th Re Akoto Memorial lectures on the theme “Oaths, pledges and promises to keep – Advancing human rights in volatile political times”, the floor was opened for questions and a student sought to know from Professor Attafuah whether or not Ghana is worth dying for.
In his response, the Professor cited his predicament at the NIA as a classic case of political vendetta that had been allowed to grow to an unacceptable level, de-motivating others to who would otherwise up positions to help the course of national development.
He said the government cited incompetence, political lenience and not sharing the ideals of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as their reason for sacking him from the authority adding “I have never been a politician or incompetent.”
He said “Maybe my close association with Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Nana Akufo-Addo’s running mate during the just ended general elections may have prompted the government to assume I had political leanings but that is far from the truth because Dr. Bawumia has been a personal friend. He was my best man during my wedding.”
On the issue of incompetence, Prof. Attafuah said “I cannot be described as somebody who is incompetent. I remember Valery Sawyer calling to express her gratitude to me for the good work I did at the NIA and that I was one of the hardworking individuals she had ever seen. This is clearly cannot be said to be incompetence.”
He also said that the vision of the NIA is to capture the data base of all Ghanaians to ensure security of the nations and did not understand why one should share the ideals of a political party before working with the authority saying “the objectives and workings of such must be devoid of political interference”.
Furthermore, he said his source at the BNI told him there was no wrongdoing or financial malfeasance of his part and had indicated to him that any malfeasance happened before he was appointed.
He said “I was far away in Idaho, USA with former President F.W. De Clerk of South Africa when President Kufuor called me and asked me to take up the NIA appointment. He did not even have my number and had to call a few friends of mine to get it. I do not have any political affiliation. I am only helping to build a prosperous country.”
Prof. Attafuah however urged Ghanaians to continue to sacrifice for the country and not allow politics to divide them.
He also blamed the NPP government for failing to implement fully the recommendations contained in the National Reconciliation Report, saying “the implementation of the report could have healed the wounds of the nation and united the people.”
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Emulate Graphic’s example – VEEP
Mr. John Dramani Mahama is the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday March 11, 2010.
The Vice President, John Dramani Mahama says the performance of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) is an indication that State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) can stand on their feet and support national development without too much difficulty.
“The performance of the Graphic Communications Group Limited has shattered the myth that SOEs cannot perform well,” he said
Vice President Mahama was speaking at the official launch of the 60th anniversary celebration of GCGL in Accra yesterday.
The celebration, which is under the theme, “60 years of leadership in news and advertising; supporting national development in a transformed media landscape,” was attended by a host of dignitaries including former editors and board members.
“There are good indications about the performance of GCGL. It is not surprising to me, therefore, that your turnover increases from year to year.
“Graphic has made quiet significant contributions to Ghana’s development over the last 60 years and it has contributed greatly to the development of true professional journalism in Ghana,” he added.
Mr. Mahama commended GCGL for creating a platform for the public to channel their grievances to government.
He also praised them for instituting a governance dialogue and business forum, noting, “These exchanges enhance democratic development and I believe I can safely say that GCGL has lived up to expectation.”
The Vice President reiterated government’s resolve not to harass journalists because of their editorial views, but pleaded with the media to “balance freedom with responsibility in order not to injure the reputation of others for no just cause.”
James Agyenim Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information, who represented John Tia Akologu, the substantive minister, said the government would continue to put at the forefront an open engagement with the public at all times.
“Government’s quest to run an open and transparent administration requires the provision of timely information to the people at all times.
“We cannot engage the public effectively without newspapers like Daily Graphic and I look forward to a lot more cordial relationship with the media in order to communicate to our people to enhance our development,” he emphasized.
Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Managing Director of GCGL said the company over the last five years paid about GH¢157 million as dividends and taxes, indicating that “it would continue to spend about GH¢2 million on social responsibility and outreach programmes.”
“We are looking at other options that would continue to sustain GCGL and not to depend solely on cover prices of adverts.
“Apart from the annual governance dialogue and business forum, GCGL would start a dialogue on oil to bring experts to discuss the oil find in Ghana,” he disclosed.
In a goodwill message, Elvis Aryeh, a former Editor of the Daily Graphic and current member of the National Media Commission (NMC), who spoke on behalf of the commission, noted that the media currently faces numerous challenges including how journalists could avoid politicians to ensure high ethical standards.
He urged GCGL to “live up to its constitutional mandate by ensuring fair reportage.”
Emmanuel Baba Mahama, a board member of GCGL promised his outfit readiness to set the pace in the media industry.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Law Students condemn politicians
Justice Georgina Theodora Wood is the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday March 11, 2010
Students of the Ghana School of Law have condemned what they termed as “the new threat of coup against objective reasonable laws and impartial administration of justice in the country by politicians,” asking Ghanaians to stand up against such threats.
“Our politicians have now turned themselves into courts of law, arrogating to themselves the sacred role of law lords but of a dangerous kind. They pass judgments on cases that involve their members even before courts of competent jurisdictions hear the facts of the cases,” they noted.
Samson Lardi Ayenini, President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Ghana Law School (GLS) disclosed this at the launching of the school’s 51st SRC week celebration in Accra yesterday, which is under the theme, “Upholding fundamental human rights: Role of the law student.”
He said, “The two major political parties are guilty of this sacrilege. The practice must stop before our judges are demonized and faith in the justice system eroded by the wanton, uninformed and misguided attacks for parochial interests. We, as students of law, are deeply saddened that the pure laws, which are taught by some finest legal brains in the world, are subjected to such reckless adulteration by politicians.”
“Today, a judge will need great courage to preside over a case on Section 179A (3) of the Criminal Code 1960 (Act 29) which prescribes willfully causing financial loss to the state because the integrity of the judge will be impugned,” he added.
The students wondered why politicians should vilify judges for doing their jobs by applying the provisions of the law on causing financial loss to the state when there is a clear case against accused persons.
“Let all objective minded men and women of the law, especially those with good measure of influence in our society, stand up to be counted. Let them condemn attempts by politicians to give political colour to our laws and to bastardise and turn the people against good judges.
“The blood-curdling screams by rampaging mobs at our courts must end now. The phenomenon poses a serious threat to the administration of justice and seeks to compromise the rule of law.
“The judges certainly are not some infallible Zeus’s whose conduct, if found to be improper, must not be questioned. We must cut out and exorcise the politics and criticize using fair and objective standards. This is how to build a healthy Ghana for posterity,” the students stated.
They urged the Ghana Bar Association to “re-visit the days when it took the frontline in shaping national discourse and policies.”
The students wondered why parliamentarians, who are not in the category of workers exempted from the application of the Labour Act of 2003 (Act 651), could choose to boycott proceedings for as long as they choose and not loose their salaries like teachers who embark on illegal strike actions.
Betty Mould Iddrisu, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, who was the guest speaker said, “I am not here to do politics so invite me again and I will rebut what you have just said.”
Major George Agyemang Sarpong (Rtd), Director of the Board of Legal Education at GSL, said the promotion and protection of the right of the citizenry underpin any democratic dispensation.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
MY SON IS NOT SPIDER ..... Worried Dad
By William Yaw Owusu
Wednesday March 10, 2010
A 22 year old man who was jailed 65 years in hard labour for robbery because his name is Spider wants an immediate release from the Nsawam Maximum Security.
This is because the original Spider (John Kofi Fiagbedzi), regarded as a notorious armed robber by the police was found and killed on March 1.
The convict, Kingsley Amankwaa, footballer, together with Solomon Dodoo, 23, known as Alhaji, a barber and Eric Cobbina, 21, also known as Adolf Hitler were on February 27, 2009 jailed 65 years each in hard labour by an Accra Fast track High Court for robbery.
They were said to have shot a retired soldier in the thigh after robbing his son of GH¢1,540 and some personal effects including mobile phones.
Two other accomplices, whose names were only given as Opeele and Tilapia, who went into hiding after the robbery were also arrested later by the police and Opeele released while Tilapia was later given 65 years by the same court.
In an exclusive interview with the father of convict Spider (Kingsley) in Accra yesterday, Mr. Harris Amankwaa Donkor, 53, told “the police framed up the charges on my son to get him convicted by the Fast Track Court because his name is Spider.”
“The police used my son as a sacrifice in order to make the public know that they were dealing with the armed robbery situation. They had published Spiders’ particulars as being on their wanted list and when my son was arrested they intentionally got the court and the public to believe that he was the notorious armed robber they were always looking for all these years”.
Asked how his son was arrested, Mr. Amankwaa said “my son bought a mobile phone from one Ebo at Odorkor Lorry Station on Saturday September 13, 2008 but later sold it to another man called Solomon Dodoo in order to raise money to buy football boots for an impending justifier.”
He said Solomon also sold the phone to one Kwaku Donkor but police had held that the phone was part of the personal effects stolen by the robbers at the residence of the retired soldier who was shot in the process.
Mr. Amankwaa said Solomon was the first to be arrested, followed by Cobbina before his son was picked four days later, adding “from October 19, 2008 to October 22, 2008, the police kept coming to our house at the Odorkor Cluster of Schools area but never arrested my son. “
“Do you think if my son was the real Spider they were looking for, would he have stayed there for him to be arrested. Do you also think if my son had indeed robbed the people the police is claiming would he have used the phone himself?” he queried.
He alleged that when all the convicts were picked, the police asked them to pay GH¢1000 each for them to be set free but the parents could not raise such an amount.
He said it was a man called Ofori, an exhaust pipe repairer at Odorkor who was used by the police to collect the money on their behalf, adding “Ofori kept coming to me for the money but things were difficult so I could not pay it.”
He said on the day of the arrest (October 22) “the police stormed our house shouting ‘you are Spider. You live with your girlfriend at Race Course. We have been looking for you for many years.’”
“In the process they heckled my wife and ransacked our room but found nothing incriminating before taking him away to the Odorkor Police Station.
“The following morning, at about 11 am the police brought him back to our house claiming to do additional search and everybody who knew my son broke down in tears because barely 12 hours after being taken away he had been brutally tortured beyond recognition. It was like a funeral in our area”.
“One Sergeant Bawa who led the team to our house ordered my wife to get my son a new shirt and throw the T. Shirt he wore into the dustbin because it was soaked with blood as a result of the inhumane treatment meted out to him. I took the T Shirt as evidence and presented it during the trial but the judge will have none of these because the police knew what they were doing”
“My son told me that the police persistently tortured him to the extent that he had to admit he was a robber to save his life. He told me he was handcuffed and whipped with naked wire and it took the court 60 days to find out what had happened to my son in police cell”.
Mr. Amankwaa said at a point the police framed up a story that his son knew one robber called Kwabena Yeboah alias Nigger who was arrested and published in the Daily Graphic of November 3, 2009 in order to get him to jail.
Asked how his son came by the name Spider, Mr. Donkor said “he was able to tell the court about this but the judge did not consider it.”
He said people in the area called his son Spider because he played like a former national footballer called David Amoako who played for the Black Satellites and had the nickname Spider and this was exactly what he had told both the police and court.
He said he once warned him about the name and was making efforts to get him to change it before the unfortunate incident occurred.
“I am using your medium to appeal to the President, Chief Justice and the IGP to look into this matter in the name of God. He is my only child. He completed EMIT Electronic Institute. I cannot sit down for such an injustice to go on. I will fight to clear his innocence”.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Wednesday March 10, 2010
A 22 year old man who was jailed 65 years in hard labour for robbery because his name is Spider wants an immediate release from the Nsawam Maximum Security.
This is because the original Spider (John Kofi Fiagbedzi), regarded as a notorious armed robber by the police was found and killed on March 1.
The convict, Kingsley Amankwaa, footballer, together with Solomon Dodoo, 23, known as Alhaji, a barber and Eric Cobbina, 21, also known as Adolf Hitler were on February 27, 2009 jailed 65 years each in hard labour by an Accra Fast track High Court for robbery.
They were said to have shot a retired soldier in the thigh after robbing his son of GH¢1,540 and some personal effects including mobile phones.
Two other accomplices, whose names were only given as Opeele and Tilapia, who went into hiding after the robbery were also arrested later by the police and Opeele released while Tilapia was later given 65 years by the same court.
In an exclusive interview with the father of convict Spider (Kingsley) in Accra yesterday, Mr. Harris Amankwaa Donkor, 53, told “the police framed up the charges on my son to get him convicted by the Fast Track Court because his name is Spider.”
“The police used my son as a sacrifice in order to make the public know that they were dealing with the armed robbery situation. They had published Spiders’ particulars as being on their wanted list and when my son was arrested they intentionally got the court and the public to believe that he was the notorious armed robber they were always looking for all these years”.
Asked how his son was arrested, Mr. Amankwaa said “my son bought a mobile phone from one Ebo at Odorkor Lorry Station on Saturday September 13, 2008 but later sold it to another man called Solomon Dodoo in order to raise money to buy football boots for an impending justifier.”
He said Solomon also sold the phone to one Kwaku Donkor but police had held that the phone was part of the personal effects stolen by the robbers at the residence of the retired soldier who was shot in the process.
Mr. Amankwaa said Solomon was the first to be arrested, followed by Cobbina before his son was picked four days later, adding “from October 19, 2008 to October 22, 2008, the police kept coming to our house at the Odorkor Cluster of Schools area but never arrested my son. “
“Do you think if my son was the real Spider they were looking for, would he have stayed there for him to be arrested. Do you also think if my son had indeed robbed the people the police is claiming would he have used the phone himself?” he queried.
He alleged that when all the convicts were picked, the police asked them to pay GH¢1000 each for them to be set free but the parents could not raise such an amount.
He said it was a man called Ofori, an exhaust pipe repairer at Odorkor who was used by the police to collect the money on their behalf, adding “Ofori kept coming to me for the money but things were difficult so I could not pay it.”
He said on the day of the arrest (October 22) “the police stormed our house shouting ‘you are Spider. You live with your girlfriend at Race Course. We have been looking for you for many years.’”
“In the process they heckled my wife and ransacked our room but found nothing incriminating before taking him away to the Odorkor Police Station.
“The following morning, at about 11 am the police brought him back to our house claiming to do additional search and everybody who knew my son broke down in tears because barely 12 hours after being taken away he had been brutally tortured beyond recognition. It was like a funeral in our area”.
“One Sergeant Bawa who led the team to our house ordered my wife to get my son a new shirt and throw the T. Shirt he wore into the dustbin because it was soaked with blood as a result of the inhumane treatment meted out to him. I took the T Shirt as evidence and presented it during the trial but the judge will have none of these because the police knew what they were doing”
“My son told me that the police persistently tortured him to the extent that he had to admit he was a robber to save his life. He told me he was handcuffed and whipped with naked wire and it took the court 60 days to find out what had happened to my son in police cell”.
Mr. Amankwaa said at a point the police framed up a story that his son knew one robber called Kwabena Yeboah alias Nigger who was arrested and published in the Daily Graphic of November 3, 2009 in order to get him to jail.
Asked how his son came by the name Spider, Mr. Donkor said “he was able to tell the court about this but the judge did not consider it.”
He said people in the area called his son Spider because he played like a former national footballer called David Amoako who played for the Black Satellites and had the nickname Spider and this was exactly what he had told both the police and court.
He said he once warned him about the name and was making efforts to get him to change it before the unfortunate incident occurred.
“I am using your medium to appeal to the President, Chief Justice and the IGP to look into this matter in the name of God. He is my only child. He completed EMIT Electronic Institute. I cannot sit down for such an injustice to go on. I will fight to clear his innocence”.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
No more accreditation for law degrees
Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu is the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Ghana
By William Yaw Owusu
Wednesday March 10, 2010
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Betty Mould Iddrisu says government is taking immediate steps to look critically into how the National Accreditation Board (NAB) accredits institutions to run law degrees.
“The National Accreditation Board can no longer accredit any institution to run law degree programmes. They must of necessity discuss it with the Director of Legal Education, the General Legal Council and the Ghana Bar Association before their proposals could be considered.”
Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu was speaking at the 51st Student’s Representative Council (SRC) week celebration of the Ghana School of Law in Accra Monday under the theme; “Upholding fundamental human rights, the role of the law student.”
She noted that even though there is an increasing demand for legal training, “there are wobbling efforts by educational institutions to meet that demand and above all there is the present incapacity of the Ghana School of Law to provide space for persons qualifying from basic legal training and in need of professional legal training.”
She said as a result, increasing demand had led to what she called “skyrocketing of the cost of legal education,” as well as “issues of right to education by those who are unable to afford legal education.”
The Attorney General further said that the processes through which lawyers are certified to practice will be reviewed, adding “there are many issues relating to the quality of lawyers who are produced each passing year.”
She said the Ministry was working with the Director of the Ghana School of Law and the General Legal Council to finalize proposals for a Ghana School of Law Bill to replace the current one which she says has outlived its usefulness.
She said there should be a situation whereby admissions into the Ghana School of Law will be for those who are the “best” and not for those who have the “means.”
She stressed the need for more people to be trained to engage in paralegal services to support the administration of justice and promised the government’s commitment to ensure a system of justice that is “people-centered.”
“Unless legal education is reformed now, the inefficiencies in the delivery of justice and the enjoyment of fundamental human rights will continue unabated. There is a critical need for a review of the administration of the criminal justice system and I am taking steps to initiate such a review.”
The Minister bemoaned the current situation whereby a person could be on remand awaiting trial for over fourteen years and pursue a simple commercial case for over five years.
She also expressed concern about limited staff at the disposal of the Attorney General, the Legal Aid Board and the bench.
Justice William Atuguba of the Supreme Court who represented Chief Justice Georgina Wood who launched the Law Week celebration said basic lessons on human rights for every Ghanaian must not be taken for granted and urged law students to “help in explaining to groups of our less fortunate brothers and sisters their basic human rights.”
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Amnesty International Challenges Military Hierarchy
By William Yaw Owusu
Teusday March 9, 2010
Amnesty International (AI) Ghana wants the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Chief of Defence Staff and the High Command of the Ghana Armed Forces to make public the outcome of investigations of alleged rape of girls and women by soldiers at Nalerigu in the Northern Region recently.
They are also calling on the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) to investigate alleged gender-base abuses that they say are on-going against girls and women in some schools, colleges and universities.
Lawrence Amesu, Director of AI, Ghana made the call at the International Press Centre in Accra yesterday at a public forum to commemorate this years’ International Women’s Day.
March 8 is set aside by the United Nations (UN) as the day to celebrate the role of women in development. In different regions, the celebration ranges from the appreciation of respect and love towards women, their challenges as well as the recognition for women’s economic, social and political achievements.
Mr. Amesu said the abuse of women in educational institutions included soliciting sexual favours from female students in return for high grades or marks and added that those identified to have participated in such crimes as well as the soldiers “should face the full rigours of the law.”
He said this year’s celebration coincided with the 15-year comprehensive review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPfA) adding “Amnesty International will take advantage of this celebration to draw the urgent need for governments to acknowledge and respond to the critical gaps in the implementation of the BDPfA, which is also critical for ensuring meaningful progress on the Millennium Development Goals.”
He said AI is mobilizing public support to stop violence against women as an essential step towards the attainment of the MDGs adding “the mere creation of bodies, institutions and promulgation of laws aimed at monitoring, reporting and regulating or addressing issues affecting women are a step forward towards the protection of women and children in the society.”
Mr. Amesu noted that even though there had been progress in ensuring the safety of women and children in the country “we still continue to witness continue to witness gender based violence and abuse against women and girls.”
Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba, Deputy Minister of Women’s and Children Affairs said the since 2001, the ministry had spearheaded what she calls “a vigorous national drive to overcome the challenges of gender inequality,” and were lacing emphasis on achieving gender parity in basic education through the promotion of girl-child education.
She said the Domestic Violence Act is carefully being followed give women and children a high level of protection in the society.
Hajia Gariba further said the Ministry is working hard to achieve proportional representation of women at the local level and urged all women to take advantage of the impending district and local level elections to get into the decision-making level of the various local assemblies.
Vincent Adzahile-Mensah, Board Chairman of AI who spoke on the topic, “Violence against women and MDGs” said the recent appointment of women into higher positions of various institutions in the country became news because it was a new phenomenon explaining “it shows how we have collectively relegated the role of women into the background.”
He said violence against women was an obstacle to development and said its prevention is a prerequisite to the attainment of the MDGs.
Ms. Janet Adama Mohammed, Programmes Director of Ibis Ghana who spoke on “Gender equality and women’s right” said the continuous abuse of women and children is an impediment in the way of accelerated development.
Madam Joana Wilhelmina Mensah, Deputy Director in charge of Child Protection at the Department of Social Welfare who chaired the forum said although there had been progress in the quest to offer proper protection to women and children, there was a lot more to be done about the situation to ensure that women live without fear.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Monday, March 08, 2010
Security Bully Media ...At Ghana@53 Parade
Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills is the President of the Republic of Ghana
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday March 8, 2010
Last Saturday’s 53rd Independence Anniversary Parade passed on successfully at the Independence Square in Accra but some security personnel bullied the media at the colourful event.
The media personnel at the parade grounds were duly accredited by the Ministry of Information, but camera crew and photographers were persistently frustrated throughout the programme by security personnel.
The bizarre spectacle was started by two Military Police personnel who were positioned at the right wing.
More security personnel in suits later joined the two men to harass and bully journalists.
Initially, the security had erected a barricade about 50 meters from the dais of the dignitaries, but when President Mills and First Lady, Ernestina Naadu Mills arrived, they pushed it back to about 80 meters.
At a point, they were capturing the event from about 100 meters and only got close to about 20 meters when the President delivered his address.
The media personnel threatened to boycott national assignments if the bullying and harassment persisted.
It took the intervention of Koku Anyidoho, the Director of Communications at the Presidency to get the security personnel to calm down, but they started immediately he left the scene.
President Mills, who wore a beautiful white shirt with red, gold and green designs, spoke on the theme, “Investing in the youth for a better Ghana.”
He reiterated the need to support the youth to be more productive towards accelerated development.
“Today is a day for you the youth, and you must be proud of what you have achieved and your invaluable contribution towards a momentous occasion on the nation’s calendar.
“As a government, it is our conviction that getting you actively involved in our Independence Day activities is very critical to ensuring that you appreciate the struggles and toil that have brought us this far and also to inculcate in you a sense of nationalism and belonging,” he said.
The President noted that the journey before and after independence has not been an easy one, saying that “we have reached this far through our collective determination and we must not relent in our efforts to move forward in the right direction to build a better Ghana.”
“Ghanaians have worked and continue to work in the interest of the country. It is now time for us, the leaders and future leaders, to contribute our quota to nation building,” he said.
President Mills assured that the better Ghana agenda of the government was not limited to time and space.
“We are committed to investing in the youth in order to build the critical mass that will not only sustain the development agenda, but more importantly move it to higher heights,” he added.
He called on the youth to set educational goals, noting that “at the end of the day, if you have the best teachers, most supportive parents and government that invest heavily in education and you do not take advantage of the opportunities available to you, then you will fail to benefit from the talent and potential that God has given you.”
President Mills also advised the youth against taking short cuts towards success and urged them to uphold virtue, morality and honesty.
“There will be hurdles and challenges that you have to jump over and there will be extremely tough times but do not quit. Winners are not quitters and quitters are not winners.
“Government would give meaning to the educational system in order to create more opportunities for the youth,” he indicated.
In all, 1860 pupils from Junior and Senior High Schools, 55 teachers, youth organizations and various security agencies took part in the colourful parade.
There were gymnastics and cultural displays by school children.
The national planning committee of the 53rd Anniversary outlined series of activities towards the celebration, including a national week of fasting and prayer, which would be climaxed on March 14 2010.
Also see :www.dailyguideghana.com
Friday, March 05, 2010
NPP HITS GROUND RUNNING
Alhaji Aliu Mahama is Ghana's former Vice President
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday March 4, 2010
The former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama has tasked the newly elected national executives of New Patriotic Party (NPP) to take immediate steps to hit the ground running by ensuring that the party’s message gets to the grassroots in order to ensure a sound effective and successful campaign for the 2012 general election.
He said “I commend all party sympathizers, security agencies and friends of the NPP who helped to ensure that the party once again selected another batch of national leaders to lead the party into victory in 2012 and I will urge the executives to work very hard to explain what the NPP stands for to the electorate”.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Guide at his residence in Accra yesterday, the former Vice President said “We have come out successfully after a hectic exercise and the NPP family is now stronger than before. We need to build on this to ensure that everybody joins the effort to get the NPP back into office.”
He said all the new executives needed to do are to “live above reproach and take steps to ensure that all petty squabbles within the rank and file of the party are resolved with immediate effect.”
“Let the grass root have the confidence, belief and hope that their views and contributions are welcome in the party. Get them to be involved in the activities of the party and do not take decisions that will not be in their interest”.
Alhaji Mahama said the NPP stands out as the party with the most regionally balanced elected executives and it was an indication that the party has room for the contribution for anybody.
“What we have done is a very good sign for multi party democracy. It will surely strengthen the NPP to recapture power but we must work hard for this to happen.
He said the electoral reforms embarked upon by the NPP to expand its electoral college last year is refreshing and added that it has rekindled hope among the rank and file of the party, saying “rank and file of the party now know that they are part of the decision-making process of our great party.”
He said the challenge now is to gather more logistics to be able to meet the expectations of all members and sympathizers of the party.
The former Vice President admitted that it was early to talk about the party’s chances in the 2012 elections but said “we are following up closely events on the ground and we are strategizing towards 2012.”
He urged the rank and file of the party to throw its support behind the newly elected executives to ensure success and also advised members to avoid making statements that will bring division in the party.
“We should be able to go into the next election in with a united front. That will make us strong to face our political opponents better”.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Top UK Prosecutor visits SFO
Mr Starmer is the Head of the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK
By William Yaw Owusu
Teusady March 2, 2010
As part of effort to combat organized crime, the Director of Public Prosecution (Crown Prosecution Service) of the United Kingdom and Wales, Keir Starmer, QC has led a high level delegation into the country to get first hand information on the operations of some security agencies.
He visited the headquarters of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in Accra yesterday, where the delegation discussed common areas of co-operation in the fight against organized crime.
Mr. Starmer said the fight against organized crime such as narcotics drugs, human trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, cyber fraud among others could not be handled by a single country saying “it has become sophisticated and an increasing menace to all societies.”
He said “we are trying to keep up with the times in the fight against organized crime. We are determined to take the fight to them to ensure the safety of the public.”
Mr. Starmer further said “It is a real opportunity to be in Ghana .We are happy to collaborate with the security agencies in this country and I am confident we can make joint progress.”
He said currently, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) handles about 1.1 million cases annually with 9000 staff and promised the UK’s assistance to help countries such as Ghana in the fight against organized crime.
Justice J.C. Amonoo Monnie, a retired Court of Appeal judge and the current Board Chairman of the SFO said once organized crime knew no boundaries it was important to regularly share experiences and ideas with other countries to be able to bring organized crime under control.
He said the Economic and Organized Crime Bill which is currently before Parliament when passed would empower the SFO to “expand its mandate in the fight against serious fraud and other related crimes.”
Biadela Kwami Mortey Akpadzi, Executive Secretary of the SFO said organized crime had become sophisticated and the SFO needed to remain focused in order to it, stressing “the mode of committing this type of crime keeps changing.”
He said the SFO is now going through a restructuring exercise and was in the process to recruit more personnel to fight serious fraud and organized crime.
Ms. Gertrude Aikins, Ghana’s Director of Public Prosecution said organized crime is not limited to Ghana alone and it needed commitment to fight it.
She said “we have solicited for assistance from the UK government in the area of organized crime prevention and they have graciously accepted to assist us.”
Roger Coventry, Head of Governance and Justice Programme at the British High Commission in Accra said the British government is collaborating with its Ghanaian counterpart in the area of “specific intelligence training” and also help to build the capacities of the such agencies.
Apostle Agbozo flays political traditions
By William Yaw Owusu
Tuesday March 2, 2010
The Leader and Founder of the Ghana Evangelical Society, Apostle Prophet Enoch Immanuel Amanor Agbozo has taken a swipe at the various political traditions for the country’s current state of development, describing them as a “failure.”
“The Nkrumah CPP/NAL Nkrumah-socialist-pan African emancipation system, the Kotoka/Afrifa liberation movement, the UGCC/UP Danquah/Busia/Dombo plan for Ghana-Africa, the Acheampong SMC redemption plan and the Rawlings PNDC revolution have all failed. None has proven, stood or is standing as the spiritual, philosophical and ideological base for building the nation.”
At a press conference in Accra Thursday to introduce what the society calls “A call unto the celebration of the new Ghana by Jehovah,” Apostle Agbozo said “none of the traditions has any right to claim the title as redeemer and father of the nation.”
He said their emancipation and redemption plans and revolutions did not succeed neither did their regimes succeed in building sound, viable and lasting spiritual, political and social foundations, systems, structure and development that have stood and can stand the test of time after they have left the scene.
He said political intolerance and rivalry is the main reason for the country’s woes adding “the parties themselves who want to rule have no peace. They are always fighting among themselves. How can they offer quality leadership?”
“In the days when politicians and political parties and the military compete and view themselves as liberators, redeemers, revolutionaries and fathers of the nation are over,” he declared.
He said the mission of reconciliation, deliverance, redemption and establishment of the church, people and nation in God became a special commission of the society over 30 years ago and were committed to encouraging people to get close to God.
Apostle Agbozo said God has chosen Ghana as the star of Africa saying “Ghana has known peace and is engaged in establishing a state of peace, righteousness and justice, freedom and liberty through the democratic process because of the direct divine intervention, mighty and purposeful works with the church and people of the country.
“The people of Ghana irrespective of tribe, belief, religion and practice have an abiding and enduring spirit and sense of peace and reverence to God the creator and this is a serious asset for us in Ghana.”
He said God has revealed to him to tell all Ghanaians to use February 28 as the date for the celebration of the new Ghana He is establishing, adding “we envisage Ghana becoming the church. We have become the model for Africa and if Ghana prospers, Africa will prosper.”
Tuesday March 2, 2010
The Leader and Founder of the Ghana Evangelical Society, Apostle Prophet Enoch Immanuel Amanor Agbozo has taken a swipe at the various political traditions for the country’s current state of development, describing them as a “failure.”
“The Nkrumah CPP/NAL Nkrumah-socialist-pan African emancipation system, the Kotoka/Afrifa liberation movement, the UGCC/UP Danquah/Busia/Dombo plan for Ghana-Africa, the Acheampong SMC redemption plan and the Rawlings PNDC revolution have all failed. None has proven, stood or is standing as the spiritual, philosophical and ideological base for building the nation.”
At a press conference in Accra Thursday to introduce what the society calls “A call unto the celebration of the new Ghana by Jehovah,” Apostle Agbozo said “none of the traditions has any right to claim the title as redeemer and father of the nation.”
He said their emancipation and redemption plans and revolutions did not succeed neither did their regimes succeed in building sound, viable and lasting spiritual, political and social foundations, systems, structure and development that have stood and can stand the test of time after they have left the scene.
He said political intolerance and rivalry is the main reason for the country’s woes adding “the parties themselves who want to rule have no peace. They are always fighting among themselves. How can they offer quality leadership?”
“In the days when politicians and political parties and the military compete and view themselves as liberators, redeemers, revolutionaries and fathers of the nation are over,” he declared.
He said the mission of reconciliation, deliverance, redemption and establishment of the church, people and nation in God became a special commission of the society over 30 years ago and were committed to encouraging people to get close to God.
Apostle Agbozo said God has chosen Ghana as the star of Africa saying “Ghana has known peace and is engaged in establishing a state of peace, righteousness and justice, freedom and liberty through the democratic process because of the direct divine intervention, mighty and purposeful works with the church and people of the country.
“The people of Ghana irrespective of tribe, belief, religion and practice have an abiding and enduring spirit and sense of peace and reverence to God the creator and this is a serious asset for us in Ghana.”
He said God has revealed to him to tell all Ghanaians to use February 28 as the date for the celebration of the new Ghana He is establishing, adding “we envisage Ghana becoming the church. We have become the model for Africa and if Ghana prospers, Africa will prosper.”
Monday, March 01, 2010
Children refuse promotion because of free food
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday March 1, 2010
Some school children have refused to be promoted to senior high school because of the school feeding programme, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development has revealed.
He said the kids have become more interested in schools where free food is served adding “these are real facts on the ground. It just shows the need to persist to strengthen the school feeding programme.”
The Minister was speaking at a workshop organized by the ministry in collaboration with the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) to sensitise media personnel on the need to ensure accurate reportage of the school feeding concept.
He said the problems that confronted the programme when the NDC government took office are gradually being solved, saying “we have largely resolved the problems. There are a few thorny issues to thrash out.”
“There was mismanagement of the programme and that was why the Dutch government who are our sponsors threatened to withdraw from it. As a result we spent the whole of last year trying to review the whole programme to get the best for the children”.
Mr. Chireh said the Dutch support will end in 2011 but their lobbyist in the Netherlands was working hard to get the programme sustained and added “the government was committed to the programme. I am also lobbying cabinet to ensure regular flow of funds for the programme.”
He said the World Bank and other international donor agencies are interested in the programme but “they would want to see that the programme is transparent and we are accountable.”
The Minister said the government had released GH¢ 50 million for the programme while the Dutch government brought GH¢13.8 million and spent 40GHp per child per school going day, saying “more children are getting enrolment and we are making conscious effort to favour the less endowed schools.
He said it was needles for the public to politicize the programme saying “if you enter a classroom where children are being served, you will not be able to differentiate between an NDC sympathizer’s child and that of the NPP. These children just go to school to learn and enjoy themselves.”
Alhaji Suleiman Rahman, National Co-ordinator of the GSFP said the programme has been designed to grant ownership to the District Assemblies for effective implementation.
He said secretariat has created a platform for all collaborators to make contributions towards effective implementation of the programme.
Mrs. Irene Messiba also of the GSFP said the programme has been designed to use school feeding to boost domestic agriculture.
“The strategy to feed school children with locally prepared food that is nutritionally adequate will focus spending on local foodstuffs thereby providing a ready market for local farm produce, leading to wealth creation for rural households”.
Mrs. Sarah Naa Dedie Agbey, Advisor of the Dutch Development Cooperation (SNV) who briefed participants on the GSFP Social Accountability Project will help to address poor collaboration among collaborating ministries and other stakeholders and also help to make the programme very effective and sustainable.
Monday March 1, 2010
Some school children have refused to be promoted to senior high school because of the school feeding programme, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development has revealed.
He said the kids have become more interested in schools where free food is served adding “these are real facts on the ground. It just shows the need to persist to strengthen the school feeding programme.”
The Minister was speaking at a workshop organized by the ministry in collaboration with the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) to sensitise media personnel on the need to ensure accurate reportage of the school feeding concept.
He said the problems that confronted the programme when the NDC government took office are gradually being solved, saying “we have largely resolved the problems. There are a few thorny issues to thrash out.”
“There was mismanagement of the programme and that was why the Dutch government who are our sponsors threatened to withdraw from it. As a result we spent the whole of last year trying to review the whole programme to get the best for the children”.
Mr. Chireh said the Dutch support will end in 2011 but their lobbyist in the Netherlands was working hard to get the programme sustained and added “the government was committed to the programme. I am also lobbying cabinet to ensure regular flow of funds for the programme.”
He said the World Bank and other international donor agencies are interested in the programme but “they would want to see that the programme is transparent and we are accountable.”
The Minister said the government had released GH¢ 50 million for the programme while the Dutch government brought GH¢13.8 million and spent 40GHp per child per school going day, saying “more children are getting enrolment and we are making conscious effort to favour the less endowed schools.
He said it was needles for the public to politicize the programme saying “if you enter a classroom where children are being served, you will not be able to differentiate between an NDC sympathizer’s child and that of the NPP. These children just go to school to learn and enjoy themselves.”
Alhaji Suleiman Rahman, National Co-ordinator of the GSFP said the programme has been designed to grant ownership to the District Assemblies for effective implementation.
He said secretariat has created a platform for all collaborators to make contributions towards effective implementation of the programme.
Mrs. Irene Messiba also of the GSFP said the programme has been designed to use school feeding to boost domestic agriculture.
“The strategy to feed school children with locally prepared food that is nutritionally adequate will focus spending on local foodstuffs thereby providing a ready market for local farm produce, leading to wealth creation for rural households”.
Mrs. Sarah Naa Dedie Agbey, Advisor of the Dutch Development Cooperation (SNV) who briefed participants on the GSFP Social Accountability Project will help to address poor collaboration among collaborating ministries and other stakeholders and also help to make the programme very effective and sustainable.
EDMARK Launches Procust
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday March 1, 2010
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Edmark International, Sam Low Ban Chai says huge investment opportunity abound in Africa, particularly Ghana which needs to be properly harnessed.
“Africa will very soon see an economic boom. Edmark is using Ghana as a platform and gateway to the whole of Africa. We want to help create wealth among the people so that we can all share in this prosperity.”
Mr. Sam was speaking at a press conference in Accra on Friday to officially announce Edmark products as well as its first international convention themed, “One Edmark, One Africa.”
Edmark Group of Companies is operating in 25 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria.
It is committed to helping people to succeed in health and wealth, among others.
Some of the company’s natural products include Meal Replacement Therapy (MRT), Shake-Off, which detoxifies the body and Splina Liquid Chlorophyll.
They have formed a distribution network to ensure effective dissemination of information on the products.
Mr. Sam said the perception that Africans are lazy people cannot be true, insisting that “the people of Ghana have demonstrated that given the opportunity things can happen.”
“Edmark will create equal opportunity for everyone to explore. I am not here to impress anyone, but I am only showing Edmark’s appreciation for the support that our products are receiving. We would work hard to lead by example,” he added.
He also said Edmark would soon establish a city project to expand its operations in Africa, using Ghana as its base.
Hajj Awal, General Manager of Edmark Ghana said, “We are making headway on the Ghanaian market due to the positive attitude being exhibited by the staff and distributors.”
Monday March 1, 2010
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Edmark International, Sam Low Ban Chai says huge investment opportunity abound in Africa, particularly Ghana which needs to be properly harnessed.
“Africa will very soon see an economic boom. Edmark is using Ghana as a platform and gateway to the whole of Africa. We want to help create wealth among the people so that we can all share in this prosperity.”
Mr. Sam was speaking at a press conference in Accra on Friday to officially announce Edmark products as well as its first international convention themed, “One Edmark, One Africa.”
Edmark Group of Companies is operating in 25 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria.
It is committed to helping people to succeed in health and wealth, among others.
Some of the company’s natural products include Meal Replacement Therapy (MRT), Shake-Off, which detoxifies the body and Splina Liquid Chlorophyll.
They have formed a distribution network to ensure effective dissemination of information on the products.
Mr. Sam said the perception that Africans are lazy people cannot be true, insisting that “the people of Ghana have demonstrated that given the opportunity things can happen.”
“Edmark will create equal opportunity for everyone to explore. I am not here to impress anyone, but I am only showing Edmark’s appreciation for the support that our products are receiving. We would work hard to lead by example,” he added.
He also said Edmark would soon establish a city project to expand its operations in Africa, using Ghana as its base.
Hajj Awal, General Manager of Edmark Ghana said, “We are making headway on the Ghanaian market due to the positive attitude being exhibited by the staff and distributors.”
Civil society prepare for district level polls
By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday February 27, 2010
A workshop aimed at preparing civil society adequately towards the impending district level elections has been held for about 60 participants in Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The event which was replicated in Nkoranza District was organized by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) with sponsorship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF).
Speaking on the subject “Campaign strategies to win district level elections,” a resource person, Kofi Gyan of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism urged participants not to underestimate effective campaigning which he said “helps the electorate to make right and informed choices.”
He said every candidate should be able to understand the demographics of the locality where he or she operates and develop appropriate messages which the electorate will appreciate.
“As a candidate, you should be able to factor into your plans the needs and aspirations of the people so that you will command their support.”
Mr. Gyan asked participants to also consider resource mobilization, sufficient use of time as well as respect for their opponents and live above reproach in their endeavours.
Emmanuel Danso of the District Assemblies Common Fund Secretariat, speaking on “How to lobby to win an election at the district level” said campaign messages should not create doubt in the minds of the electorate but should rather be appealing and attractive.
He said it is the responsibility of civil society organisations to influence district assemblies and other policy makers on how to implement the right projects to benefit the people.
“Get involved in local initiatives; encourage others to participate; make compromises with local decision makers and take active interest in local issues to ensure accelerated development.”
Isaac Owusu-Mensah, Senior Programmes Manager of KAF said the foundation is committed to encouraging civil societies to be actively involved in the development of democracy at the local level.
Jimmy Yeboah Asiamah, Techiman Municipal Secretary of GUTA said the association would support government to raise the standard of living of the people.
Saturday February 27, 2010
A workshop aimed at preparing civil society adequately towards the impending district level elections has been held for about 60 participants in Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The event which was replicated in Nkoranza District was organized by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) with sponsorship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF).
Speaking on the subject “Campaign strategies to win district level elections,” a resource person, Kofi Gyan of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism urged participants not to underestimate effective campaigning which he said “helps the electorate to make right and informed choices.”
He said every candidate should be able to understand the demographics of the locality where he or she operates and develop appropriate messages which the electorate will appreciate.
“As a candidate, you should be able to factor into your plans the needs and aspirations of the people so that you will command their support.”
Mr. Gyan asked participants to also consider resource mobilization, sufficient use of time as well as respect for their opponents and live above reproach in their endeavours.
Emmanuel Danso of the District Assemblies Common Fund Secretariat, speaking on “How to lobby to win an election at the district level” said campaign messages should not create doubt in the minds of the electorate but should rather be appealing and attractive.
He said it is the responsibility of civil society organisations to influence district assemblies and other policy makers on how to implement the right projects to benefit the people.
“Get involved in local initiatives; encourage others to participate; make compromises with local decision makers and take active interest in local issues to ensure accelerated development.”
Isaac Owusu-Mensah, Senior Programmes Manager of KAF said the foundation is committed to encouraging civil societies to be actively involved in the development of democracy at the local level.
Jimmy Yeboah Asiamah, Techiman Municipal Secretary of GUTA said the association would support government to raise the standard of living of the people.
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