Minister: NDC to deepen engagement with foot soldiers

Accra, Feb. 15, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, on Tuesday identified deepening of engagement among functionaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a key element for electoral victory in Elections 2012.

He said: 93As a man who has worked throughout the system, as District Chief Executive, Member of Parliament, Regional Minister, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and former National Organizer, I have fairly good understanding of the politics, especially among key stakeholders, to undo each other for recognition.

"We will create platforms for open and frank engagement through town hall meetings, periodic caucus meetings and use other platforms to explain government's development achievement over the past two years," Mr Ofosu Ampofo told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra. Speaking on the foot soldier phenomenon, the Minister noted: 93The fo= ot soldier agitation which is on the decline now was basically due to lack of information flow.

"The party will re-organise and oil its public relations outfit to work around the clock to explain the state of affairs in the country, government's noble and commendable achievements under the Better Ghana Agenda."

Mr Ofosu Ampofo said the NDC, as a social democratic party, would never forsake the people and 93we will continue to work around the clock to impr= ove the lot of Ghanaians=85we are not creating a Better Ghana for a few to enjo= y but for all Ghanaians especially the rural folks". On the intermittent agitation for removal of some District, Municipal and Metropolitan Chief Executives from officer, the former NDC national Organiser said it was part of the political game. "It can never be eradicated; it happened under the NDC regime, happe= ned under the New Patriotic Party regime.

"What we can do is to manage it, thank God as a party and government= we have managed it well=85If you remove somebody the very first day a new pers= on takes office others would also be scheming for his or her removal. "As a former DCE, I believe the MMDCEs need some appreciable time to settle down and roll out developmental plans for the district. Constant harassment and agitations distract attention."

He called on all NDC functionaries to create an enabling environment for fruitful engagement among members and executives from the grassroots through the constituency, regional and national levels as well as among ministers of state.

UK Minister for Africa to visit Ghana

Accra, Feb. 15, GNA - The UK's Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham, will visit Ghana from February 17-19 as part of a one-week tour to the sub-region. The key themes of the visit are to improve and promote commercial ties between the UK and Ghana, as part of the wider UK-Ghana bilateral relationship, and to encourage Ghana's continued progress along its curre= nt positive democratic and economic paths.

A statement issued by the British High Commission in Ghana on Tuesday said as part of activities lined up for his visit, the Minister would deliver a speech at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on the subject "Shared Prosperity, Shared Security and Shared Values: A Solid Foundation for the Future".

The Minister will pay a courtesy call on President John Evans Atta Mills, and the Foreign Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, and meet other hig= h ranking ministers, political leaders and members of the business community. He will also pay a familiarisation visit to Blue Skies, a British company with operations in Ghana and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. Blue Skies specialises in exporting high quality, just-harvested, frui= t products to Europe.

Henry Bellingham entered Parliament in 1983 and is currently the Membe= r of Parliament for North West Norfolk.

His background is in law, and whilst the Conservative Party was in opposition, he was the Shadow Minister for Constitutional Affairs/Justice from 2005 up until 2010.

Other positions he has held include Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry (2002-03) and Shadow Minister for Economic Affairs (2003-05). Mr Bellingham was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary for State at the Foreign and Commonwealth (Minister for Africa) in May 2010. In his current post, Mr Bellingham has played a key role in designing and implementing UK policy towards Sudan, Somalia, the DRC and Cote d'Ivoire.

He is also responsible for UN affairs and has been active in promoting UN reform and more effective peacekeeping. This is his first visit to West Africa.