Ghana News
Saturday, 07 November
Friday, 06 November
Thursday, 05 November
Tamale, Nov. 7, GNA - Lack of vital information about social security and end of service benefits, is compelling most workers to make uninformed decisions on pension.
The National First Trustee of the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) Mr. Santos Beyogle who made the observation in Tamale on Friday said the issue was a national problem that should be tackled by the union. Mr. Beyogle was addressing the Northern Regional Women's Conference of the Public Services Worker Union of the TUC, where a number of the participants expressed misgivings about their Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions and the problems they go through after guaranteeing loans for students.
He asked them to request for their social security statements annually from SSNIT and keep records of their pay slips as a point of reference to ratify anomalies in their contributions.
The Acting Northern Regional Secretary of the TUC, Alhaji Ahmed Adams said women's participation in the union dated back to the 1980's. From 2005 to 2009 the Regional Women Union undertook a number of activities including deliberations on social security, the National Health Insurance Scheme, batik production and other business initiatives. The conference elected new executives to steer affairs for the next four years.
Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - The Vodafone Rewards Promotion suffered an anti-climax on Friday because the owner of the number drawn for the ultimate one million-dollar reward, 0203933311, could not be reached.
Several attempts by the host of the draw, Fiifi Bamson, to reach the owner proved futile.
The incident came as a shock to the audience, some of whom attributed it to the work of spiritual forces.
The draw of the ultimate winning number was amidst pump and pageantry, characterised by the release of colourful balloons and the blowing of trumpets by a four-man police team from the balcony of the house slated to be won.
The unidentified winner of the ultimate prize has for his or her grasp fully furnished four- bedroom house, Mitsubishi Pajero and one year internet connectivity.
Mr. Isaac Abraham, Communications Manager of Vodafone Ghana told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that, as per the rules, Vodafone would keep trying to reach the winner over the next 48 hours, adding "if we are not able to reach him, we will pass the prize unto the next number in the roll." Asked what the next number in the roll was, he said every number drawn had a back-up, so the owner of the back-up number drawn for the ultimate reward would be given the prize if the original winning number remained off or out of coverage area.
Mr. Abraham said the winning number was one of the newly activated numbers on the Vodafone network and so it was possible that the user did not always keep it active.
Meanwhile, several other numbers were drawn for 300 Vodafone branded phones, 50 ipods, five laptops, 10 GHC2,000 scholarships, four Yamaha motorbikes and one Mitsubishi Pajero.
Mr. Akwasi Amponsah, a Building Contractor with Jakwako Construction Limited in Kumasi, was the proud winner of the 4X4 Mistubishi Pajero. When Fiifi Bamson reached Mr. Amponsah on phone and told him he had won a car, his first response was "ok yieeeeee", then he spoke in Twi "me dea fie no na nka me pe oo" meaning "I would have preferred the house instead." Mr. Amponsah later told the GNA on phone that he had one pick-up already, adding that he might use the new car or sell it and buy a smaller car and invest the rest of the money.
The ultimate draw brought three months of promotion, in which Vodafone gave away at least four 4x4 Mitsubishi Pajeros, 16 Yamaha Motorbikes, 20 laptops, 200 ipods, GHC8000 worth of scholarships and 1,200 mobile phones. About $2.2 million was spent on the promotion, including the one million-dollar ultimate prize. 7 Nov. 09
Agona Asafo, (C/R), Nov. 7, GNA - Police reinforcement from Agona Swedru was dispatched to Agona Asafo, in the Central Region to quell the violence, which erupted after the election of Agona East Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The violence started when supporters of Alhaji Gyabiru Ibrahim, who lost the election to Mr Jonathan Kwame Abban, Managing Director of Pioneer Distillery Company Limited, started attacking people on sight at the AME Zion Church premises.
Five police personnel who were on duty found it difficult to maintain law and order, hence the reinforcement from the Swedru District Police Command.
The aggrieved supporters deflated the tyres of a car belonging to Mr Martin Luther Obeng, a leading member of the NDC at Agona East. Supporters of Mr Abban also sustained injuries.
Before the elections supporters of Alhaji Gyaburi chanted war songs and carried placards, some of which read: "No Alhaji no vote, "Gyabiru would never step down," "if Alhaji loses blood would flow and executives of the constituency do not speak the truth."
Mr Abban polled 116 of the 192 votes to beat Alhaji Gyaburi who attracted 76 votes.
Mr Abban was whisked into a Police vehicle to Agona Swedru after being taken hostage for about 50 minutes.
The violence delayed the declaration of the election results by Mr Kwame Amoah, Agona West Municipal Electoral Officer.
Mr Allottey Jacobs, NDC Regional Propaganda Secretary, who spoke to journalists after the incident, condemned the action, saying the perpetuators had refused to learn and understand the democratic process of the party.
He said it was unfortunate for some party members to take the law into their hands.
Mr Jacobs urged members of the NDC to follow the principles, rules and regulations of the party to ensure peace and stability. Mr John Oremus Arkoh, an NDC activist expressed concern about the growing indiscipline among some supporters, especially the youth and asked them to change for the better.
Mr Egyir Nkrumah, was elected unopposed as Vice Chairman, Mr Oscar Mensah, as Secretary and Mr Ebo Wilson as Assistant Secretary. Mr Francis Baidoo was elected Youth Organiser while Mr Isaac Ankomah was elected unopposed for the position of Assistant Organiser. Mr Ebenezer Afful was also elected unopposed as Propaganda Secretary and Mr Benjamin Owusu as Assistant propaganda Secretary.
The position of Treasurer went to Mr Salisu Mohammed who was elected unopposed and Mr Stephen Quaye Assistant Treasurer.
The rest are; Ms Adisa Adams, Women Organiser, Ms Mary Otwey, Assistant Women Organiser while the position of Youth organiser went to Mr Bashiru Gambo. Mr Mohammed Frauik was elected unopposed as Assistant Youth Organiser. 7 Nov. 09
Cape Coast, Nov. 7, GNA - The Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Friday cautioned the citizenry to guard against the proliferation of institutions claiming to be providing skills training in the oil industry= ..
Mr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, Acting Head of the Labour Research and Policy Institute of the TUC, asked the public to report any unaccredited organisation operating in the industry to the authorities, since the brain behind such bodies was to make money rather than offering the requisite knowledge to facilitate the oil business.
Mr. Otoo sounded the warning when he spoke on "labour issues in the oil and gas industry", at a sensitisation workshop on the oil and gas find in Ghana. It was organised by the TUC for members of the Central Regional and District councils of labour in Cape Coast.
He also asked the government not to focus solely on the development of the oil industry to the detriment of other important sectors of the econo= my, like agriculture and manufacturing, as has been the case in some oil-rich=
African countries.
Mr. Otoo expressed the need for Ghana to learn from the civil confli= cts and other challenges in countries like Nigeria and Angola associated with=
the oil industry. He expressed optimism that Ghana's thriving democracy, vibrant media= , strong civil society and the opportunity to learn from other oil producin= g countries, would enable the people to avoid such pitfalls.
Mr. Otoo said there was no reason why the country should fail in the oil industry that would attract the needed revenue to eradicate poverty. He said the revenue to be deprived from the resource required "a big push in transparency, a constant oversight and effective and democratic order".
The Africa Regional Co-ordinator of the Revenue Watch Institute, Mr.= Emmanuel Kuyole, said the oil find was not likely to lead to massive job opportunities for Ghanaians.
Mr. Kuyole explained that the total estimated revenue from the indus= try in 20 years is about $20 billion, whereas total government expenditure in=
2007 was about GH¢ 5.6 billion and rose to GH¢ 7.8 billion, in 2008, an increase of more than GH¢1 billion. He stressed that the estimated revenue of GH¢1 billion a year from= oil production, "is nothing to write home about", and asked Ghanaians not to expect too much from the oil industry. The Secretary-General of the TUC, Mr. Kofi Asamoah, called on the government to introduce more initiatives to create jobs on a large scale,=
since it is the only way through which poverty can be reduced, adding tha= t "the devil only finds work for the idle hands".
He said the TUC also expected government to expand the tax net to co= ver the informal sector in order to reduce the level of taxation of public sector workers. Mr. Asamoah urged the Internal Revenue Service to look for innovativ= e ways to collect taxes from formal and informal sector workers on the same=
scale. Touching on the Single Spine Salary Structure, which takes effect fr= om January 2010, he reiterated the need for the harmonisation and unificatio= n of salaries in the public sector. Explaining the New Pension Scheme, he said the Pension's Regulatory Authority, would ensure that pension monies were properly managed. Mr. Asamoah noted that the scheme also provides for people who are self- employed such as mechanics and traders.
Kumasi, Nov.6, GNA - Mrs Gladys Amaning, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Education, has asked Ghanaians to support government's efforts at promoting science and technology education.
This, she said, is because science and technology has always been the basis for wealth creation, be it agriculture, health, manufacturing, industry or the exploitation of natural resources.
She said it is the way forward for sustainable development and must be accorded the importance, if Ghana is to succeed in raising the living standards of the people and achieve a balanced economy. Mrs Amaning was addressing the closing of the 2009 Kumasi Metropolitan Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STME) clinic at the Serwaa Nyarko Senior High School in Kumasi on Friday.
The three-day session attracted 40 selected JHS pupils mostly girls, from all the sub-metropolitan areas in Kumasi and was held under the theme, "Quality Science and Technology for Quality Development Programme". Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) provided the funding. Mrs Amaning noted that, Ghanaians and Africans in general are perishing from diseases and hunger because they are not adequately developed scientifically and technologically.
"As a result, even in the midst of abundant natural resources and rich national diversity, we are confronted by poverty. We lack the requisite knowledge and skills to harness our natural resources to our advantage," she added. She said investing, especially in science, technology and mathematics education, is one of the best things a developing nation like Ghana could think of. "We believe if we give our youth the opportunity to acquire and apply the requisite scientific and technological knowledge, they would impact positively on the quality of life of the people, ensure environmental friendliness and contribute meaningfully towards national development," Mrs Amaning emphasized.
She commended district assemblies, parliamentarians and traditional rulers for their continued support for the STME programme and advised pupils to appreciate science and technology and apply them in their daily lives. Dr Maa Pabia Kwapong of the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), urged the participants, especially the girls to be determined, disciplined and commit themselves to the study of these subjects.
She said science and technology was not a fearful area as perceived by some girls. What was needed was to set their minds right and study to make it. Mrs Emelia Konadu, Kumasi Metro Coordinator of STME, said the objective of the clinic was to bridge the gender gap in the study of science and its related subjects, expose students to areas that were not normally covered in the formal school system, get them to know of the wide range of science related occupations and women in various fields, as well as assist them to use the computer. She appealed to philanthropists, traditional rulers and others to support such clinics financially to ensure that more pupils benefit. Mr Joseph Onyinah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, who chaired the function, urged the participants, especially the girls, to be determined, disciplined and have faith in God in order to succeed in their chosen learning fields. 7 Nov. 09
Ejura (Ash), Nov.6, GNA - President John Evans Fiifi Atta-Mills has assured the people of Ejura-Sekyedumase that the government would not turn its back to them.
"You have helped the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to maintain our parliamentary seat. We have recognized this and would help you with whatever we have".
President Mills was addressing a durbar organized in his honour by the chiefs and people in the area, as part of his three-day official working visit to the Ashanti Region, on Friday.
He is in the Region to thank the people for giving him and the NDC the mandate to govern and to learn at first hand their concerns. Accompanying him are some Ministers of State, Parliamentarians, Municipal and District Chief Executives and party functionaries. President Mills, who had earlier visited the Ejura Farms, repeated the Government's resolve to work hard to transform the lives of Ghanaians, and called on members of the ruling party to stand solidly behind it to succeed. He advised them against turf fighting and the rush for political appointments, saying "whoever works hard would be rewarded." Nana Kwaku Sarfo II, Chief of Ejura appealed to the Government to upgrade the Ejuraman Anglican Senior High School into a model one. The school lacks basic facilities including dormitories, classrooms, an administration block, library and transport. He also asked for an ambulance for the District Hospital and a fire tender for the Fire Station.
Additionally, he said, it would be appreciated if the market in the district capital was developed to attract people from all parts of the country.
Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the NDC assured the people that everything possible would be done to support Ejura-Sekyedumase, Asawasi and New Edubiase, the three Constituencies in Ashanti won by the party in the last poll, in appreciation of their unflinching support and loyalty.
President Mills made a stop-over at Asante-Mampong on his way to Ejura, where he called on Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, the Paramount Chief. There, he reiterated that his Government would continue with all the good works initiated by the former President Kufuor's administration. Daasebre Osei Bonsu thanked the Government for making available 15 million dollars towards the rehabilitation of the Asante-Mampong water supply system. President Mills ends his tour of the Region today, Saturday.
Koforidua, Nov. 7, GNA - Mr Baba Jamal, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, on Friday reiterated Government's commitment to adequately equip all information officers with the necessary tools, skills and expertise to support the activities of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, as far as information management was concerned. He therefore expressed the hope that most of the reportage would focus on developments going on in the various communities and educate the public; thereby sensitizing them to be well-informed and bring them aboard government's development agenda to improve the standard of living. Mr Jamal was closing a four-day 'Human-Centred Development Reporting Capacity Building' workshop in Koforidua, organized by the UNDP for 20 District Information Officers and Journalists, drawn from the regions. He was optimistic that the workshop, with the aim of training the participants in developing and writing reports on human centred activities in line with the activities of the Community Information Centres (CIC's). Mr Jamal urged the participants to provide relevant, reliable and timely information to the public, by way of content management at the CICs. He assured the UNDP that government would continue to work hand-in hand with them to map out procedures and strategies, to promote the principles and practices of communication for development among district information officers and journalists for a better Ghana.
Mr Jamal expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Communications, specially the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, and Finance and Economic Planning, for the roles in the establishment and management of the CICs for the benefit of the citizenry living outside the urban centres. Mr Fredrick Ampiah, Partnership Adviser, UNDP, said the workshop among other things has exposed the participants to the development challenges that face the government, the UNDP and other development partners, as they jointly strive towards Ghana's achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
He entreated the participants to put the skills they had acquired to good use by promoting awareness on development goals including the MDGs, enhancing grassroots participation in the formulation of development programmes among other things.
Mr Ampiah assured the participants that the UNDP was committed to working with government and its partners, to ensure that Ghana's vision of communications for accelerated economic development is realized. 7 Nov 09
Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice Chancell= or of the University of Ghana, said the educational institution's aim of enrolling more students in the Science than the humanities might become a=
mirage. He observed that challenges such as disparity in cost of courses in the Sciences and the Humanities, lack of support and encouragement for practi= cal science education, lack of apparatus and few and poorly motivated science=
teachers at all levels were factors that militated against achieving the goal, set by the Ministry of Education.
Prof Tagoe was addressing some 2,134 students at a graduation cerem= ony at Legon on Saturday. The event, which was for the first batch of three groups of students= of the University, who have completed the 2008 and 2009 academic year, was presided over by Justice Samuel K. Date-Baah of the Supreme Court, who is=
also the Chairman of Council of the University.
Prof Tagoe said educational institutions would need more funds to provide science equipments, laboratories, chemicals, and top properly motivate teaching staff to work harder to make the science subject less abstract.
He said that this would also encourage students to pursue science-related programmes at the tertiary level. Prof Tagoe said the University was committed to ensuring that studen= ts studding science-related courses at the tertiary level were provided with=
the necessary inputs.
He said with the support of the GETFund, the University had spent 6,124,832 euros on installation of various specialised laboratory equipme= nt, greenhouses, glassware and chemicals for selected Departments and Units i= n the Faculty of Science and the School of Agriculture.
Prof Tagoe said that Nuclear Earth Sciences, Computational Nuclear Sciences and Engineering programmes have been introduced as two new Maste= r of Philosophy programmes at the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences of the University. "These are clear indications that there is indeed a major transformation of the Sciences in the University of Ghana in response to national requirements and we urge future applicants to take full advantag= e of the new structures the university is creating," he said. Prof Tagoe, asked the graduands to pursue further academic work in order to secure a good job placement.
"A second degree is increasingly becoming the ticket to securing well-paid and satisfying employment, so I would urge those who can, to le= t their achievements which are being recognised today, be only the stepping=
stone to go on to pursue further academic work," he said. Justice Samuel K Date-Baah, Chairman of the University Council, pled= ged that the Council would work towards the fulfilment of the academic role o= f the University. "Your Council will defend relentlessly the institutional autonomy an= d academic freedom of the University. At the same time we realise that this=
academic community owes and obligation to the country, continent and soci= ety in which it is located and to humanity in general to advance the learning=
and knowledge that will enhance societal well being and development," he said.
Mr Edward Effah, Managing Director of the Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited, a private financial institution, urged the graduands to work har= d in order to give back what society had invested in them. He reminded them that they were graduating at a time when the world=
was experiencing an economic recession but urged them to be innovative, entrepreneurial and to set up their own businesses in order to be self-reliant and productive.
He disclosed that Fidelity Bank was set up through the joint efforts= of four graduates of the University of Ghana, who worked relentlessly after university education and reminded graduands that anything worthwhile was possible with determination and the right motivation. Out of the total number of students that graduated, 650 were post-graduate candidates, with 1,149 being undergraduates and 335 receivi= ng diploma awards.
About 7.7 percent of the undergraduates received first class degree and 26.3 percent were honoured with second class upper division with 51.7 percent receiving second class lower division degrees and 9 percent of th= e diplomats obtained distinctions. Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, Inspector General of Police, who was one of th= e 2,134 graduands was awarded Executive Masters in Business Administration (MBA), with Human Resource Management option.
Accra, Nov 7, GNA - Mr Kwabena Akyeampong, Deputy Minister of Tourism, on Saturday said the 2010 Miss Black USA Pageant to be hosted by Ghana had prospects which would enhance the country's socio-economic agenda.
He said the tourism sector was currently the third highest contributor to the country's Gross Domestic Product adding that 'with the pageant which is widely patronised, it is believed that lots of tourists will visit the country to witness it which will result in direct benefits to the hospitality industry'.
The Deputy Minister was speaking at the official launch and promotion of the Ghana 2010 Miss Black USA Pageant in Accra.
The Miss Black Pageant, which has been in existence for the past 26 years, aims at reconnecting black Americans in the Diaspora to their African lineage.
A delegation of the Miss Black Pageant arrived in the country earlier this week to announce the selection of Ghana as the 2010 host of the event and also toured some tourism sites in the country.
Mr Akyeampong said the event would offer direct benefits for the car=
rental companies, hotels and the arts industry because the expected numbe= r of tourists was huge. He said in view of this, the Ministry would impress on the Ministry of Roads and Highways to rehabilitate bad roads that led to various tourism sites in the country to facilitate the movement of tourists. Mr Gabriel Pomary, a member of the delegation appealed to corporate organizations to sponsor the event. Ms Shayna Rudd, the 2009 Miss Black USA, who was also part of the delegation to inspect selected venues for the pageant's activities in Acc= ra, described her week-long stay in the country as adventurous adding that it=
had helped change her opinion about Africa as a 'bad'. She said the western media corrupted the real image of Africa and sa= id her task now was to help change that perception which was widespread. Ms Rudd described herself as 'a soldier fighting injustice' adding t= hat she would use her crown to work to bring relief to the vulnerable. 7 Nov. 09
Funsi, UWR, Oct.7, GNA - The Sissala Rural Bank will next year open two new branches at Gwollu, capital town of Sissala West District and Funsi, capital town of Wa East District. This will help the people who are predominantly farmers to have access to banking services and to obtain credit to enable them to increase production and to boost economic activities. Mr. Duu Dimah, Board Chairman of the bank, announced these at a workshop to sensitise the people on the benefits of transacting business with banks and floating of shares to enable the bank undertake its expansion programme, at Funsi.
He expressed worry that there were no banks at the two district capitals to serve government workers. Reverend Father Rafael, Local Management of Catholic Mission Schools in the Funsi Parish, said the opening of the new branches would prevent teachers, civil servants and pensioners in the district, from travelling to Wa to collect their salaries, which had resulted in absenteeism and truancy. 7 Nov. 09
THE NEWS THAT the Serious Fraud office of the UK has began scrutinising Vodafone’s UK’s acquisition of Ghana Telecom either came as a surprise or a welcome sweetener depending on where you stand on the now controversial Justice Emmanuel Akwei Addo Committee report on Vodafone. But what many do not know is that it wasn’t the new UK SFO Director Richard Alderman’s own insight that led to the hunch to double-check the books of Vodafone Ghana.
That hunch was served on his dinner plate by the equally new Executive-Director of the SFO Ghana, Mr Kweku Mortey Akpadzi and his Ghanaian staff, who began combing various offices with a mandate on the telecom industry and which played various roles in the sale and acquisition of Vodafone Ghana.
Sources say the SFO first swept through the offices of the Totobi Quakyi-chaired National Communications Authority (NCA), sniffing through documents connected to the dogged deal.
Next stops were the Ghana Investments Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the books of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), whey they combed the books with a view of finding out the truth; nothing but the truth on the Vodafone deal.
Having gathered what in the words of lawyers constitute a prima facie case to begin with, the SFO quietly made a move to engage their counterpart organisation in the UK in the area of recovery of certain documentation and information on the issue.
Convinced of the case made before them, Alderman’s office in the UK quickly contacted Vodafone about its now controversial deal to buy the 70 per cent controlling stake in Ghana’s third-largest mobile phone operator.
While Richard Alderman is reported to have spoken by telephone with Stephen Scott, Vodafone’s head of legal affairs, last week about the Ghanaian deal, the SFO says it has not formally began investigation the matter.
It is however monitoring allegations of irregularity that have been made in Ghana and may move to conduct full investigations if the situation warrants, it says.
Mr Scott, when asked by Mr Alderman if the allegations were true, is reported to have insisted that Vodafone acted entirely properly when concluding a transaction with Ghana’s government in July last year to buy the 70 per cent stake in Ghana Telecom.
Vodafone said: “We are confident the transaction was conducted to the highest standards of corporate governance.”
The Vodafone deal, which was opposed by the ruling Mills-led NDC administration a little over a year ago, has become a topical knot to untie, with many Ghanaians waiting for the government’s next move after the three-member Akwei Addo Committee established by the Ministry of Communications to probe the deal presented its report.
Among the recommendation is that the contract is illegal and ought to be abrogated or re-negotiated.
The report claimed that most of the terms of the sale agreement with Vodafone were “inimical to Ghana’s interest”.
“The government of Ghana did not get value for money from the sale,” said the report.
It also noted how Ghana’s government, before it took office, alleged that the transaction was “fraught with irregularity”.
Critics have, however, questioned the basis of the Committee’s findings, with the Minister who set up the Committee initially distancing government from the report by insisting that the Committee had no mandate to veer into some of the areas it went to.
Though both Vodafone and the immediate past Ghana government said in July last year that the UK company acquired the 70 per cent stake in Ghana Telecom “for a total consideration of $900m (£549m) on a debt-free, cash-free basis”, the Ministerial Committee’s report said because of “a series of complicated financial arrangements”, the Government only received $266.6m under the sales and purchase agreement.
The conclusion of the Committee on how much came into government’ coffers has, however, been described in very uncharitable terms as ‘voodoo mathematics” by critics.
We reproduce our stance on the Mabey & Johnson bribery saga first published last Friday in view of the President’s swearing-in of his top diplomat to Nigeria. We have had cause to criticise this administration and will continue to do so when the need arise. It has been our opinion, however, long before the President ever arrived at that conclusion, that some NDC members have no case to answer in the ongoing M&J scandal when the facts are carefully examined. This position can be seen in this commentary, which we have reasons to believe are similar to the reasons why the President, after receiving his brief on the M&J scandal from his Attorney General, arrived at the decision he has taken. Let those who disagree do so. It is their right to.
We, however, think President Mill’s decision is the best and certainly the wisest in this case and are not afraid to say so.
PRESIDENT JOHN EVANS Atta Mills recently did the most sensible thing in the face of the unpleasant news that two of his top ministers; some leading lights in his party and some former ministers of state have been caught in an international bribery scandal in a court ruling in London.
The ruling by the British court was the result of investigations by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of the UK, which got an easier case to prosecute after a plea-bargain deal led to confessions by the London-based Mabey and Johnson bridge building company. As part of its confession, M&J admitted and revealed details of systemic bribes it said it paid to a number of public officials in Ghana, Jamaica and a host of countries to procure public contracts.
The initial reactions of NDC/government activists were to pour scorn on the allegations and to question the integrity of the British justice system, as if our judicial system was any better. When that didn’t work, some cried racism. Then the cover-up tune was changed to an attempt by the British government to arm-twist the Ghana government from finishing its probe into the acquisition of GT by Vodafone. What those who argued this way forgot to remember was that the British had long started probing M&J, Bi-water and other companies which had worked in Ghana and elsewhere long before their mobile telephony flagship chose to partner our flagging Ghana Telecom.
Reality soon hit home. Ghanaians quickly saw through the various cheap attempts and attacks aimed at confusing and begging the issues.
The verdict was indeed damning. Though our ministers had not been tried and found guilty of any crime in court, the evidence which emerged out of the proceedings of Judge Rivlin’s Southwark Crown Court based on admissions by M&J and on a number of persons were troubling.
Details in the prosecution’s case on Health Minister Dr George Sipa-Yankey, Minister of State Amadu Seidu, former Water, Works and Housing Minister Boniface Abubakar Saddique, former Roads Minister Ato Quarshie and Mr Edward Lord-Attivor, former Chairman of the Board of Inter-City Transport Corporation were so damaging that no serious government anywhere, especially one that rode on the power of waging a better war against corruption, can ignore them. President Mills had to do something. The pressure was on.
And yes, Mills did something. He chose to redeem his image and retain the trust of Ghanaians in his administration. He asked the most indicted officials to do what they should have done the moment the scandal broke. Leave the administration and clear their individual names and not stay around to smear the government, party and Ghanaians with their individual dirt.
It may have been difficult for the President, because one of the men affected –Sipa Yankey- happens to be a personal buddy and one of the most efficient ministers in the topsy-turvy administration.
But it was the wisest thing to do. Truth be told, the two resigned ministers should have left the administration the moment they became aware of the scandal. They were individually indicted and therefore individually culpable for whatever wrongs alleged against them. If they believe those allegations were false, they had personal duties to take decisions which would safeguard their individual reputations; not wait for evidence to be stacked against them and hope to hide behind the collective group (party). Staying in government and hoping to battle their cases will hurt them individually, hurt the administration and of course, worsen the perception that the NDC itself may have had a hand in the scandal. No doubt, some began to raise questions as to whether President Mills himself was not a beneficiary of the alleged bribe, despite the fact that the offence had not been contested and proven against the two ministerial suspects, and despite the fact that even if the allegations had been proven, there was absolutely no basis linking Mills to what would have been individual crimes.
This is why we are excited that the two officials have resigned – albeit they were pushed to. Our excitement comes from the fact that the decision to push them out retains the good governance practice that Ghana as a nation should stick to in its evolution of a good democratic culture. Besides, it gives the very-challenged administration time and space to concentrate on the survival issues most Ghanaians worry about.
The President’s decision to seek the AG’s advise as well as his directive that the case be handed to the Justice Emile Short-led Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) are in our in our view spot-on.
We are of the opinion that contrary to claims that the President was wrong in sending Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrrisu, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, to the UK to scout for more info on the scandal, it was the right thing to do. The A-G certainly needed to be fully briefed of the facts in this case to properly advise Mills. Going to London to get the facts definitely availed her of the full facts and would have allowed her to give the NDC “old man” sound legal advice.
Her travel to the UK is best understood when viewed against the background that the preamble to the prosecution’s opening statement in the case “Regina versus Mabey and Johnson” states:
“Note: This statement is provided for the assistance of the Court and the parties. While it substantially sets out the Crown’s case, it is not, nor does it purport to be, a full and exhaustive pleading of that case.”
Thus if the full pleadings were not in court papers, how else can the AG then remain informed of the non-pleaded aspects of the case outlined in court if she were to remain in Accra and communicate with her colleagues in the UK?
For those whose argument against the trip is based on cost, we’d ask them to come again. Within a week the AG did whatever she needed to do and returned. How sure can we be that e-mail exchanges or other forms of communication with the British SFO would have been equally effective if the AG had remained in Accra?
Besides, who says personal contacts and in-depth background info on how the UK officials went about their evidence gathering process did not lead to her arriving at a better judgement of the issue in her advice to the President?
If the argument against her going to the UK is because of the cost involved as some have suggested, isn’t it baffling that those who make this argument also insist at the same time that she should have gone with officials of CHRAJ. Would the presence of CHRAJ officials also not have added to the cost then?
This is why we disagree with some of these criticisms against Mills’ decision. Our only point of disagreement with the President is his earlier request that the AG should investigate the case. We knew beforehand that this was a no-go area. After all the A-G had herself told Ghanaians weeks earlier in a rejoinder to a Chronicle story which labelled her “Betty Plunker” that she does not investigate cases but advise on them when dockets are brought before her office.
We were therefore not surprised when the President woke up to this reality and directed that the docket be handed over to CHRAJ for proper investigation. We can only hope the President helps CHRAJ to arrive at the truth, nothing but the truth.
Some have, however, asked what the presidency would do about Kwame Peprah and Mr Baba Kamara?
Our simple response: What do those people expect Mills to do? And why don’t those who ask these questions add Mrs Rawlings to the equation since she was also mentioned in the same scheme of things Messrs Peprah and Kamara were cited.
The truth is that there is nothing the President can do about these three because the SFO report did not indict them as much as it did the allegedly bribed officials.
Indeed in the case of Mr Kamara, the SFO itself admitted that its inferences from an ‘internal memo’ by a Director of M&J that he may have been poached to be an agent because of his political clout and alleged ability to attract business corruptly were issues that M&J contested.
In other words, M&J did not confess to these as in the case of the other bribed Ghanaian officials. On the contrary, M&J, the prosecutors themselves said, insisted that the SFO was wrong in its inferences.
Better still for Kamara, no evidence was led by the SFO in its case against him, Peprah and Mrs. Rawlings to back their inferences, thus leaving those allegations with nothing to back them up unlike in the case against the two ministers and former officials where account transfer details, etc., were provided.
Since President Mills cannot be reasonably expected to manufacture the evidence even the SFO could not get to nail Kamara, it is reasonable that he should be allowed to take up his job as a diplomat, unless he himself does not want to.
Same goes for former Finance Minister Mr. Kwame Peprah and former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who were described as Chairman and members respectively of the “powerful NDC Finance Committee”. Besides the factual inaccuracies of their membership of the Finance Committee – Peprah was never the Chairman and Mrs. Rawlings never a member of the official NDC Finance Committee – the duo would not have committed a crime even if they were members. Unless the SFO makes available incriminating evidence against these personalities, we can chose to suspect them all we want but we cannot have any serious, legitimate basis to ask them to step out. The foundation for such a request is seriously weak.
As the Akans say, “nipa ye adie osa ayeyie”. For now we’ve got to admit the President has played the right game and behaved in the right way on this issue. We can only say ayekoo to him and hope that he stays the path and does nothing to undermine the CHRAJ probe behind the scenes. After all, his former ministers would have the right to defend themselves in the public space before CHRAJ. And if push comes to shove and they are found guilty, the fact of their indictment can only be used in questioning the President judgment in the selection of these men and not to personally indict him. His defence however lies in the fact that as a human society there will always be alleged cases of corruption among us. The trick is therefore not the fact that it may come up; the question is how we deal with it as a society determines whether we are serious about addressing it.
On this score, the President has passed the test, even if he mishandled the case of his former Youth and Sports Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka. That, however, is another case for another day.
High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Baba Kamara, has expressed dismay at the claim by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) that it has sent a written invitation to him to respond to the bribery allegations against him inthe Mabey & Johnson scandal.
“I have not had such an invitation. Never!” he told DAILY GUIDE from Abuja, Nigeria yesterday.
Speaking exclusively to DAILY GUIDE for the first time since news about the Mabey & Johnson scandal made the headlines, Ghana’s new envoy to Nigeria asked why he would deny cooperating with such a constitutionally established body, more so “when I have nothing to hide in the subject”.
Kamara was alleged to be the conduit by which some of the bribe money got to the recipients. Exuding confidence as he took issue with what he considered a mis-representation of the true state of affairs, the High Commissioner explained that had he received such a request to appear to proffer what he knows about the case, he would not have hesitated to do so.
Earlier in the week, Justice Emile Short had told the media that of the six persons chronicled in the SFO (UK) documents, only two- Dr. George Adjah-Sipa Yankey and Edward Lord Attivor, former Chairman of State Transport Company- had responded to written invitations to come and defend themselves by the time the deadline for the obligation ended on October 31, 2009.
Mr Short threatened to use legal means to compel the persons to make an appearance during a radio interview a few days ago.
However, Alhaji Baba Kamara’s position appears to match that of Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface about the non-delivery of written invitations to the alleged beneficiaries of the largesse.
Alhaji Boniface had also expressed surprise earlier that CHRAJ claimed it could not find him to deliver an invitation for him to appear before it.
He told DAILY GUIDE that at the time CHRAJ claimed not to know where to find him, he was in his constituency, Salaga, adding that it was not difficult to locate. He was expected to submit his written response to the commission yesterday.
Following the breaking of the story, two ministers, Dr. Sipa Yankey of the Health Ministry and Alhaji Amadu Seidu, Minister of State at the Presidency, bowed out of government. Alhaji Baba Kamara, whose appointment as High Commissioner to Nigeria suffered a brief delay due to the scandal, was finally presented with his letters of credence when, according to a Castle source, President Mills was compelled to let go the hold on the envoy’s movement to his new duty post.
DAILY GUIDE sources, meanwhile, relayed that the relationship between Baba Kamara and the immediate past Minister of Health, Dr. Sipa Yankey, went frosty following the radio disclosure Sipa-Yankey made which suggested that the Ghanaian envoy met him over the Mabey & Johnson bribe and asked him to furnish him with his bank account, into which monies were allegedly paid.
The radio allegation was said to have sent disturbing signals to the Presidency because of the negative connotations it had.
Alhaji Baba Kamara told DAILY GUIDE he was sure that when Dr. Sipa-Yankey presents his statement to CHRAJ, it would vary from the radio station allegations he earlier made and his name (Baba Kamara) would not be part of the document because “there would be no basis for such”.
The High Commissioner’s brief intercourse with DAILY GUIDE from the city of Abuja opened a new chapter on the Mabey & Johnson saga, especially if Dr. Sipa-Yankey really avoided Baba Kamara’s name in his interaction with CHRAJ.
Alhaji Baba Kamara was mentioned alongside Dr. George Sipa-Yankey, Edward Lord Attivor, of the former State Transport Corporation, Amadu Seidu, former Minister of State at the Presidency, Dr Ato Quarshie, a former Minister of Roads and Highways and Alhaji Boniface in the case.
They were said to have benefited from the £750,000 largesse from Mabey & Johnson, a British bridge construction firm that sought to win projects in the country.
...As Board Members, Others Team Up Against Director General.
From the days of Mr. Fiifi Hesse, Mr Anaglate, Mr. Seth Ago till the  days of Ms. Eva Lokko, the appointment and termination of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation’s Director General has been ritually characterized by suspicions, conspiracy, controversy and workers’ agitation.
Credible information reaching The Daily Democrat indicates that there is a grand conspiracy between some board members led by the chairman, Prof. John Aheto and some top level management personnel to push out of office the Director General of the Corporation, Mr. William Ampem Darko to pave way for few selfish individuals to continue bleeding the corporation.
It is alleged that the determination of the top personnel is motivated by the fact that they have been deprived of their illegitimate source of income to the detriment of the establishment.
According to an insider, some members of the board are actively involved in the day to day running of the corporation contrary to their mandate.. The mandate of the board, like all other boards in the country, is to give a long term direction and the general guidance of the establishment and not to be involved in the micro management of the establishment. Â Â Â Â Â
Prior to the assumption of office by Mr Ampem Darko in July 2007, the average monthly revenue of GBC was GH¢200, 000 (2billion cedis). Presently, through his efforts and blocking of loopholes, the Corporation is now making over GH¢800,000 (8billion cedis).
The agenda to push the Director General is believed to be engineered by some disgruntled members of staff led by a former regional manager who was transferred to the Head Quarters for his outrageous monthly fuel expenditure.
It was revealed that he (former regional manager) was spending over GH¢ 4,000 (40 million cedis) a month but the figure dropped drastically to about GH¢1,000 (10million cedis) when a new regional director took over.
This decision by Mr. Ampem Darko has helped the corporation to save the only National Television Station GH¢3,000 (30 million cedis) a month from that region.
The former regional manager, in a face saving move to win  workers’ sympathy put up a negative publication in one of the national dailies to tarnished the image of the Director General and drag GBC’s hard won image into the mud. His subsequent interviews to some radio stations also backfired. The paper gathered that, due to his attitude the corporation later discharged him of his service.
The new board, which was appointed this year, has taken some decisions considered to be outside their jurisdiction. The board has reversed the appointment of the Head of Marketing Department without the knowledge of Mr.Ampem Darko.
The Board has also gone ahead to interview and elect candidates for the positions of Head of Audit and Human resources manager.
The new board has also re-instated the regional director, who was dismissed for gross misconduct without consultation with the Director General. According to a source close to the board, the agenda is to frustrate Mr. Ampem Darko to compel him to resign since the board has no powers to sack him. The National Media Commission is the only institution that appoints GBC Director General and also has the powers to dismiss or compel him/her to resign.
Some workers were of the opinion that the board must not interfere with the day to day operations of GBC in order to allow Mr. Darko to continue to restore the credibility and good image of the corporation as an independent public broadcaster. “His achievements and transformation chalked under his administration is evidentâ€, they added.
Mr. Ampem Darko, who took a month of his 2008 and 2009 accumulated leave in 1st October, 2009 resumed on Monday, 2nd November, 2009 only to be greeted with another leave form already signed by the Board Chairman, Prof, John Aheto for him to fill and proceed on leave.
Interestingly, the board has agreed to a leave schedule for all top management personnel to take their 2008 and 2009 annual leave in batches.
The board’s haste in taking decisions during the one month period the director general was on his annual leave raises suspicion. Â
The 1992 constitution states that, the Commission shall appoint the chairmen and other members of the governing bodies of public corporations managing the state-owned media in consultation with the President
The commission is task by the constitution to insulate the state-owned media from governmental control except as otherwise provided by this Constitution or by any other law not inconsistent with this Constitution, the National Media Commission shall not be subjected to the direction or control of any person or authority in the performance of its functions.
Subject to article 167 of this Constitution, the National Media Commission shall not exercise any control or direction over the professional functions of a person engaged in the production of newspapers or other means of communication.
Typical duties of boards of directors include governing the organization by establishing broad policies and objectives; selecting, appointing, supporting and reviewing the performance of the chief executive; ensuring the availability of adequate financial resources; approving annual budgets; accounting to the stakeholders for the organization's performance
by Emmanuel Opare Djan
Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - The proverbial Ghanaian hospitality, has earned the country the opportunity to host the Miss Black USA Beauty Pageant in 2010.
The show, which has been in existence for the past 26 years, is aimed at reconnecting Black Americans in the Diaspora to their African lineage. Chief Executive Officer of the Pageant, Ms. Karen Amington, made this known in Accra on Thursday, when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Kwabena Akyeampong. Ms Amington said the event would boost the tourism potential of the country and attract investors.
She said it would also build good relations between Africans and Black Americans and portray the culture of Africa.
A member of the delegation, Mr. Gabriel Pomary said the US President selected Ghana to be the first Black African country to visit, because of the country's good governance and democratic credentials. He said the programme would take place in Ghana annually even though other African countries like Egypt and Morocco had shown interest to hosting it.
Mr Pomary said more than 500 African- Americans would be part of the event.
Mr Akyeampong said August would be a perfect period to organise the pageant since it would not conflict with the World Cup Tournament in South Africa and traditional festivals in Ghana. 6 Nov. 09
Sunyani Nov. 6, GNA - The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is geared towards the building of a scheme that will stand out as a model in Africa and beyond, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the authority said on Thursday.
Mr. Sylvester Mensah said the objective could be achieved through the provision of affordable, accessible and quality health care services, with highly enthusiastic professionals who value their clients. Mr. Mensah said this in an address read on his behalf, at a two-day Strategic Management Seminar for staff of NHIA in the Brong Ahafo Region, on the theme: "Delivering the NHIS Promise." He said the goal called for strategic thinking, benchmarking of the best practices, team work and excellent working relations and efficient use of resources.
The programme, which was organised by NHIA in collaboration with IBS Consulting Alliance, business strategy consultants in Accra, attracted 105 participants.
Mr. Mensah noted that successful organisations did not emerge by chance, faith or co-incidence, but on the basis of sufficient thinking, strategic formulation, diligent implementation and dispassionate measurement of outcome.
He said performance management would therefore be a vital part of staff appraisal and reward system. Mr. Mensah said every scheme manager would be required to sign performance contract with the authority, which would outline his or her immediate targets by December 2009 and December 2010. Mr. Foster Agyei-Korang, Regional Manager of the scheme, commended the staff for their performance that had streamlined the health insurance system in the region.
He expressed the hope that the seminar would enable them to identify their successes and failures to chart a new course for effective and efficient performance for the growth and sustainability of the scheme. 6 Nov. 09
Tamale, Nov. 6, GNA - The Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, on Thursday lauded the increase in food production in the Northern parts of the country, particularly the production of rice.
The committee urged the Minister of Food and Agriculture, to expedient action in acquiring more combined harvesters to assist the farmers to harvest their bumper rice and maize. Dr. Alhassan Ahmed Yakubu, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee said this when the committee interacted with the media in Tamale during its week-long tour of the Upper East, Northern, and Brong Ahafo Regions.
The tour was for the committee members to familiarize themselves with the progress in government's new policies on agriculture, its successes and challenges.
He commended the pilot project of the block farming system, which he said was easier to manage with lesser cost and could contribute highly to food security in the country.
He said the Upper East Region has a fantastic food production this year with limited land marks, citing the Tono Irrigation and Pwulugu tomatoe farms as how a "hopeless situation could be turned around". Dr. Yakubu who is also the Member of Parliament for Mion, appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, to collaborate in linking production to markets for farmers to get value for money.
He said there should also be proper storage systems for farmers to store their bumper harvest this year, since the international rice production was declining.
Dr. Yakubu said Pong Tamale Veterinary College had contributed significantly to the training of agricultural officers, but the school is now in a very deplorable state and there is the need for government to pay attention to it.
Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor left Accra Friday for Lagos at the start of a two-week overseas trip that will take him Spain, Italy, Kenya and Ethiopia.
At his first stop in Nigeria, former President Kufuor will be given an honorary doctorate degree by the Bells University of Technology in the state of Ota.
The award will be in recognition, for "good governance and dedicated service to Africa", according to a statement issued by Mr Frank Agyekum, Press Secretary to the former President.
It said conferring of the award will be preceded by a speech by the eminent US statesman and former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Andrew Young.
Former President Kufuor would then move to Lagos to address the Nigeria-British Association on West Africa's trade relations with Britain as the guest speaker.
From Nigeria, former President Kufuor will travel to Madrid, Spain, where he will be formally admitted as a member of the prestigious Club de Madrid at their annual delegates' conference.
The meeting of the 70-member Club de Madrid, seen as the largest gathering of democratically-elected former heads of state and governments, will discuss "The Political Dimensions of the World Economic Crisis". Former President Kufuor will speak on:"The M arket, Regulatory Frameworks and Democratic Governance."
In Rome, Italy, former President Kufuor will chair the second summit of the Association of First Ladies of the Non-Aligned Movement, currently headed by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt.
From Rome he will travel to Kenya and then Ethiopia on assignment for the United Nations World Food Programme as part of measures to assess and advice on the food crisis currently confronting those two countries. Former President Kufuor will meet with the Prime Ministers of both countries as well as interact with civil society and farmers' organizations in the two countries before returning home. 6 Nov. 09
Former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has taken strong exception to a publication that he took away peacocks and peahens from the Castle Gardens when the previous administration was leaving office.
The enquirer newspaper published in the November 6, 2009 edition of the paper that the birds which numbered about 60 in 2001 when ex-President Rawlings was leaving the Osu Castle, have all “vamoosed leaving behind only 7.”
Alhaji Aliu Mahama confirmed to Joy News he has some peacocks at his residence but he says they were gifts he received while in office. His aide Abdul Wahab Alhassan says the Enquirer must retract and apologize for the publication.
Spokesperson Abdul Wahab Alhassan speaking to Joy News on Friday described the allegation as false and called for an unqualified apology from the paper.
“The former vice president had nothing to do with the Castle peacock and it will be very… interesting for anybody to suggest that we went away with peacocks from the Castle.
“How could the former vice president manage to arrest a peacock…? That is outrageous,” Mr Alhassan quizzed in an interview with Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng.
Mr Alhassan said the newspaper had been “unfair to the person of the vice president” and must immediately publish a retraction.
Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and Volta River Authority (VRA) have explained that the interruption of electricity supply to parts of the country on Friday between 0700 and 0900 hours was as a result of the loss of two generating units in service at Takoradi Thermal Plant and the subsequent loss of two other units at Akosombo Generating Station.
A statement signed by Mr Charles A. Darku, Chief Executive of GRIDCo, on behalf of VRA and GRIDCo, said the loss of the generating units resulted in interruption of electricity supply to customers of Electricity Company of Ghana in some parts of the country and customers of the Northern Electricity Department of VRA.
"Power supply restoration efforts by the two Utilities commenced immediately with units in Akosombo being brought on line. Units at Takoradi Thermal plant were lter restored to service. Supply was subsequently restored countrywide by 0900 hours." GRIDCo and VRA extended their apologies to the general public for the inconvenience.
Sunyani, Nov 6, GNA - The Australian government has installed solar panels in 20 communities in Nkoranza South District and Techiman Municipality to ensure regular power supply in these areas. Mr. William Billy Williams, Australian High Commissioner, said this when he paid a courtesy call on Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, in Sunyani on Thursday.
He said Australia would ensure that her trade integration with Ghana would be strengthened to benefit both countries.
He said it was against this background that the High Commission had created a business manager to link local communities in Ghana and Australia.
The High Commissioner said Australia was among the best agricultural producing countries in the world and expressed the hope that more Ghanaian farmers would venture into cashew production.
Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said the region had numerous natural resources and appealed to foreign investors to help tap these resources to create jobs for the youth.
He expressed worry about the gradual depletion of forests in the region. In another development, the Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) and J. Adom construction limited, a Sunyani based construction firm, have donated towards a successful Brong-Ahafo @50 anniversary celebration. MTN gave a sponsorship package worth GHC 25,000 whilst J. Adom presented a cheque for GHC 5,000.
Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - Nii Armah Ashietey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, on Friday called for co-ordination and harmonisation of road sector plans, programmes and projects with the metropolitan, municipal, district assemblies and the Regional Coordinating councils to make them effective for development.
He said selection and execution of road projects without the involvement of key stakeholders was administratively wrong and undemocrat= ic. Nii Ashietey made the call when addressing a forum of Metropolitan, Municipal, District Chief executives and stakeholders in the road sector for the Region in Accra.
He said the policy on transparency and accountability could not be achieved when stakeholders in the management and supervision of contracts=
and projects were sidelined.
The forum was organised by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) in collaboration with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Region to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to contribute ideas towards harmonisation of the road sector=
programmes. It was also to acknowledge any peculiar experiences, good practices and priorities to ensure money for value in executing the projects. Nii Ashietey said in some cases the chief executives and the regiona= l ministers were not consulted on project identification and implementation= .. "The Regional Ministers and Chief Executives feel greatly embarrassed when projects are advertised, procured and awarded. This situation is not acceptable and very unsatisfactory".
He stressed on the importance of decentralisation in the democratisation and promotion of grassroots participation in decision making to ensure the transfer of planning, programming, budgeting and implementation of programmes and projects.
Ni Ashietey said experience had shown that assemblies that adopted strategies to decentralise most of the departments, performed creditably and urged the assemblies to endeavour to provide their own resources towards the development of the road sector and other development projects.
Mr. Ludwig Hesse, Project Advisory Officer, Department of Urban Road= s (DUR), said lack of political leadership, inadequate institutional framework, funding and the absence of clearly communicated vision, had affected the achievement of goals and objectives of the road sector. He said Ghana was facing huge problems in respect of road accessibility in urban areas because the increasing number of private transport did not correspond to the road networks, leading to massive congestions and huge road traffic. Mr Hesse said to eliminate these problems government had to invest in urban transport systems, providing the Urban Private Transport with the infrastructure to encourage private sector investment into bus and other mass transportation systems.
He said efforts were underway to institute an Urban Transport Project for bigger buses to replace the current large number of private and commercial vehicles with the provision of special side lanes solely for buses. "This idea has been successfully implemented in Lagos, Nigeria and would soon be operational in Ghana to help utilise the limited road infrastructure available, "he added.
Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - Soil scientists have warned of worsening food insecurity in the next decades unless pragmatic measures were adopted to enhance soil productivity by minimising the effects of changing weather patterns.
Quoting from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which predicted that climate change, could cause potential crop yields from rain-fed agriculture to decline by 50 per cent in some African countries by 2050 while the population increased from 770 million in 2005 to 1.5 billion in 2050, the scientists said this would result in soaring prices for inadequate food which would make most of the people hungry. Dr. Kofi Budu Laryea, a Professor at the Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, University of Ghana, said the current farming practices (slash and burn) involving burning to clear the land, taking away of the top soil, did not encourage environmental sustainability but rather fuelled climate change. He was delivering a lecture at a climate change symposium in Accra on Friday, organised by the Soil Science Society of Ghana, on the topic: "Possible Impacts of Climate Change on Soil Physical Processes and the Environment".
It was attended by members of the academia, civil society, NGOs and representatives of United Nations agencies. Prof. Laryea said those farming practices coupled with industrial revolution had led to an increase in greenhouse emissions causing high atmospheric temperature which had resulted in the current rising sea surface levels and erratic rainfall pattern globally. He said the increasing effects of climate change meant that there would be decrease in vegetation growth leading to less addition of biomass to the soil which would lead to increased organic matter decomposition and loss, the effects of which would be land degradation spiral resulting in productivity losses.
Prof. Laryea urged farmers to avoid any farming practice that would involve tillage which would affect soil structure and called for the adoption of conservation tillage, which allowed 30 per cent coverage of soil surface by residues after planting, to make agricultural lands withstand the effects of climate change.
Dr. Musah Farihou Mbenga, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative for Africa who spoke on the topic "Climate Change and Food Security in Africa and Ghana in particular" called for agricultural practice that would contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions to improve the quality, availability and efficiency of land use. He said there should be policy focus on rural investments to reduce the long-term effects of short-term climate variability on food security, through crop insurance and incentives that would encourage farmers to adopt better agricultural land use practices. Dr. Mbenga noted that the effects of climate change also held bleak future for fisheries and aquaculture dependent people since production and marketing costs would rise as against decrease in buying and exports. He stressed the need for improved decentralisation and bottom-up processes in line with the high heterogeneity of agro-climatic conditions leading to specific and innovative solutions. Dr. Seth Kofi Akyea Danso, a Professor at Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, University of Ghana who spoke on the topic "Impacts of Soil Management on Climate Change" called for proper management of soil to improve its organic matter level for improved crop yield. Dr F.M. Tetteh, President of the Society, said the symposium was to stimulate debate and generate ideas towards the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled for Copenhagen in December. He said the presentations would be made available to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agriculture for action to improve the country's food production status in the face of climate change. 6 Nov. 09
- the need for a Public debate
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media; thank you for responding to our invitation at very short notice. Like most Ghanaians, AFAG believes that there is enough confusion in the petroleum sector of our country these days to warrant comment and questions. The purpose of this press conference therefore is quite simple: to seek answers from Government to legitimate questions that agitate the minds of millions of ordinary Ghanaians.
By now it is no longer news that the Tema Oil Refinery has not refined a single barrel of crude in the first ten months of this administration. At the same time, supply of refined products on the market has been erratic at best. Indeed, for the first time in 8 years, Ghanaians have had to queue for fuel in many parts of our country, including the national capital, Accra. The cost to the nation of this state of affairs would only become clear, when the annual GDP figures are available at the end of the year. But suffice it to say that, it has been a considerable source of instability and uncertainty for the business community of our country.
Despite all these it has been easier to find a needle out of a haystack than get answers from the people we put in Government about what the real situation is. This is not for want of trying, but because the answers from government for this state of affairs have been wobbly at best. It took an open threat of action by the hard working and patriotic workers of TOR and the Tema District Council of Labour, to bring us close to our first delivery of crude oil - One more piece of evidence to highlight the mediocrity in the government, which is masquerading as excellence. Why did it have to take the President going to Tema Oil Refinery to learn the problems of the place? What kind of briefing was the President getting from his men at TOR? Will it be far-fetched to surmise that the President’s men are sleeping at the switch?
The Sahara Promise versus Reality:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, AFAG’s investigations have revealed that, indeed, the only thing that was standing between Tema Oil Refinery and the first consignment of Crude from Nigeria, was not any outstanding debt to the oil suppliers, but an outstanding debt to the NDC manifesto. Our usually reliable sources have informed us that, the extremists in the ruling NDC were hell-bent on ending TOR’s dealings with Sahara Energy Resources Limited (SERL). Even when it became quite obvious that TOR was not going to be able to lift oil from Nigeria without the involvement of SERL, this fringe wing of the NDC, still believed it was politically more expedient to let the people of Ghana suffer fuel shortage, rather than breach what they believe was a cardinal promise, which is eloquently captured in the Party’s Manifesto for the 2008 elections: “Review the monopoly of Sahara Energy in crude supply to TOR and VRA”.
AFAG would normally not be against such a review. Indeed, we are crucially aware of the significance of competition in an open liberal economy, and would support any such review. However, elementary prudence would dictate that one must select his grains before he burns the chaff. Why was the Government so much in a hurry to end the contract with SERL, even at the risk of not getting the crude supply from Nigeria?
We are aware that, couple of weeks ago, our Government and the authorities of Tema Oil refinery, sent a tanker to the Republic of Nigeria, ostensibly, to lift oil. On the strength of that arrangement, the Ministry of Energy held a press conference to announce the imminent arrival of crude oil into the country. The rest, as they say, is history. However, the critical question arising out of that debacle is; how much did it cost us to send a tanker to Nigeria and back without crude? What arrangement was in place before we dispatched a tanker to Nigeria? What due diligence was done before we decided that it was ok to spend money on such a fruitless trip to Nigeria? For a government that came to power on the promise to cut “profligate expenditure”, we believe it is legitimate for Ghanaians to be told how much was spent on that trip. In our view, if anything would qualify as profligate spending, this kind of expenditure definitely does. It was in fact a reckless expenditure to make.
After 10 months of denial on the part of our government and ten months of sheer suffering willfully imposed on Ghanaians in an attempt to fulfill a manifesto pledge, the Government has finally come round to what many ordinary Ghanaians have known all these months. At last, Sahara Energy Resources Limited has been contacted to lift oil for TOR. Question is; why must it take 10 months of suffering and sacrifice by the Ghanaian people for our government to realize that no campaign promise (particularly a bogus one such as the one in question) is worth fulfilling at the expense of the comfort of our people?
We want to believe that it was for good reason that the NDC then in opposition thought it would be good to review the monopoly of SERL. We can surmise this from another quote from their manifesto: thus “apply the anti-corruption crusade fully in the energy sector – ensure transparency and enforced compliance with regulations”. That being the case, are we to assume that since Sahara has now been given the all clear to bring in the Crude (which has already arrived), that the company has passed this “transparency and enforced compliance with regulations” test? Has the government now discovered that TOR’s dealings with SERL all these years, after all, have been above board, or are they just happy to look the other way while Sahara gives the nation a raw deal, because it is now politically convenient to do so?
The TOR Debt:
By now, we are all aware that Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) owes a lot of debt on its books. What we do not know, however, is; How much? Depending on whether you are listening to the President, the Vice President, Minister of information, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Hon. Moses Asaga or Hon. Alfred Kwame Agbesi, you get a different figure. The latest figure of the debt was given by Mr. Agbesi only last week, on an Accra radio station, as GH¢1.5 trillion. The variations in the numbers, deliberately or otherwise; makes it difficult for constructive intelligent debate on the subject. Be that as it may, we are of the view that, by the very nature of the oil business, it is not possible to deal with the commodity on a purely cash basis. It is that reality that letters of credits (LCs) are meant to resolve. Therefore, at any point in time, the balance sheet of the company would naturally show some liabilities. Indeed, there is no business that has no liabilities on its books.
In our opinion, it is the ability to manage and leverage these liabilities that distinguishes a government that talks from a government that works. At any rate, our estimates show that the inaction on the part of the government in managing the debt beyond continuous churning out of new figures, is costing TOR in monthly interests, amounting to GH¢20 million (¢200 billion). This translates into some GH¢200 million (¢2 trillion) over the last 10 months. In other words, government inertia alone has ballooned TOR’s liability to Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) by an additional ¢2 trillion. By even the world’s lowest standards, this cannot be said to be a better management of the TOR debt.
We call on the government to immediately let the good people of Ghana know exactly how much the NET TOR debt was, as at 7th January 2009, and by how much it has increased since they took over the management of the refinery. Since government claimed, TOR’s inability to bring in any crude was because of the “huge debt”, can we assume, now that the crude is in, the debt has been cleared or substantially paid?
10 Months of TOR Shut Down:
AFAG wishes to congratulate the workers of Tema Oil Refinery for their selflessness and patriotism in coming out in the face of threats and intimidation by management, to let the people of Ghana know that, contrary to the official statements on the state of Affairs at the Refinery, things were really getting out of hand. They could have chosen to keep quiet over the issue. After all, they were being paid their FULL WAGES, even though they were forced to idle for 10 months. But they thought it was not in the best interest of the nation for the status quo to persist. We thank them for their patriotism. We need many more Ghanaians of their kind, who would be able to speak up and speak the truth, even when it is inconvenient and risky to do so. That is what differentiates a patriot from anyone else.
However, AFAG wishes to know, how much it cost the nation to pay the Wages of these patriotic professionals for 10 months at the time the plant was shut down, in apparent fulfillment of a campaign promise to “Review the monopoly of Sahara Energy”?
AFAG calls on the President to immediately activate his promise to investigate the very serious allegations made by the workers of Tema Oil Refinery, that some persons in Government were deliberately frustrating the efforts of TOR to secure crude oil delivery, in order to further their personal interests. For a start, we call on the Ministry of Energy to publish the names of ALL companies that were supplying refined oil to the Ghanaian market during the last ten months, when TOR was not refining oil, along with the prices at which they were supplying to us.
Fuel Price Increase:
AFAG in principle is not against fuel price increases. However, we believe that a government which believed that a price of ¢51,000 for petrol at a time when the world market price of crude was US$147 was too high, has no justification to sell the same petrol for ¢52,000 at a world market price of only US$79 a barrel. As candidate, the President promised our nation a“DRASTIC” reduction in fuel prices. It is our intention to hold the President to this promise which he made to help him win power in the 2008 election. It is for this reason that AFAG believes that the current fuel price increases are not only ludicrous, bogus and unacceptable, but also a clear aberration from the social contract the President had with the citizens of Ghana.
The explanation by the Government that the recent 5% fuel price increases have been precipitated by international crude market prices is absolutely farcical and unjustifiable. Elementary arithmetic would prove that if US$147 gives a price of ¢51,000, which the President considered to be too high, then US$79 cannot give a higher price of ¢52,000, unless one is using some reverse, twisted logic.
We therefore debunk the assertion that this increase is necessitated by demand pull factors linked to the rising world market price of crude, as bogus and a deliberate attempt to throw dust into the eyes of the people of Ghana. This is sheer propaganda and absolute perpetuation of falsehood.
The truth is that Government is only being faced with the reality of its grandiose and deceitful campaign promises and has no option than to pass on cost to Ghanaians.
It would be recalled that during the last the NPP administration when the world market price of crude climbed to the unprecedented level of US$147 a barrel, at a time when a world food crisis was also generating tension around the world, especially in Africa, the then administration took the very difficult step to freeze the ex-pump price of petrol at ¢51,000, to cushion the people from the effect of the global food crisis as well as the fuel prices.
When the international prices suddenly tumbled to as low as US$44 a barrel, at a time when TOR had already bought inventory for three months’ supply of fuel, Government’s explanation that it needed to sell refined crude at existing prices for the existing inventory was rubbished by the NDC and its allies in the CJA. Under mounting pressure from political pressure groups and other civil society organizations, the government was forced to further reduce the ex-pump price of fuel. Inevitably, this action immediately caused TOR to accumulate significant stock losses, which is part of the now famous “TOR Debt”.
The fact is therefore inescapable that though the NPP Government was able to clean up the books of TOR by repackaging and refinancing the debt with bonds, the cumulative effect of the under recoveries during the height of the of the World Market Prices and the stock losses for a three-month inventory, the NPP Government’s tax waivers and reductions, interest on TOR overdraft, exchange losses resulting from the depreciation of the cedi is what has now become famously known as the “TOR Debt”.
Again the NDC government’s botched attempt to fulfill its campaign promise to reduce fuel prices in the first 7 weeks caused TOR to lose enormous sums of money. That reality caused the President to break his first major campaign promise by immediately reversing the 5% reduction into a 10% increase in petroleum prices in a matter of days.
Government instead of apologizing to Ghanaians for their massive deceit or otherwise, keeping its campaign promise, suddenly wants Ghanaians to face the reality of competitive market forces, thereby indemnifying itself from price increases.
They now want us to believe that it is the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) that is responsible for setting local fuel prices, a position they had previously rubbished.
Conclusion:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, whatever the answers to these questions might be, we believe that it is about time for the political class to elevate the political debate in our country. It should no longer be acceptable for a political Party to compile a bunch of discredited rumours into a book and call it a manifesto. It should also not be enough, for the media to tolerate false equivalences in the name of fairness and balance. It should be common practice for political parties to base their claims in campaign manifestos on well grounded research and facts, never on speculation and innuendo.
As citizens of this land, we choose to exercise our right to demand from leaders who make such unrealistic promises to fulfill them.
The NDC states in its manifesto under the Heading; Managing the Energy Sector: Thus, “From Energy exporter to darkness and crisis – OUR ENERGEY SECTOR MUST BE FIXED to feed industry, improve social services and give the people a Better Life. The NDC has the experts to make energy work for growth and spread prosperity”. Well then, you had your chance in the last ten months to “FIX IT” and we are in a mess.
On this note AFAG wishes to invite the NDC Government, leading political parties (NPP, PNC and CPP) and other civil society groups for a debate on: “The TOR DEBT: Causes and financing A review from 1992-2009”. This would allow for a thorough cost benefit analysis of decisions behind the management of TOR and the way forward as a nation.
We believe that such a debate is necessary to give politicians a great lesson from this phenomenon to stop toying with the hopes of Ghanaians and end the endless blame game over the management of TOR.
Ladies and Gentlemen thank you for honoring our invitation and let’s meet at the AFAG debate on energy.
For and on behalf of AFAG:
Steve Amoah: 0246912305
Henry Asante: 0248274646
Sunyani (B /A),06 Nov.,GNA - The multi-million cedi state of the art regional hospital in Sunyani completed in 2000 but commenced operation in 2003 was on Friday commissioned by the Vice President John Dramani Mahama. The 300 bed capacity hospital, constructed by the International Hospital Group (IHG), a United Kingdom building construction firm, is estimated to have cost 35 million ponds sterling on completion. The hospital being one of three regional hospital projects initiated by the National Democratic Congress government in 1996 thus replaced the 79 year-old Sunyani Municipal hospital, which served as the regional hospital. The other two are Central and Volta regional hospitals in Cape Coast and Ho respectively.
The hospital is composed of 13 specialized units including eight operating theatres, radiology department, three X-ray units, automatic processing units, image trans-intensifier and ultra-sound scan. In an address, the Vice President said the government was investigating a part payment of 1,750,000 pounds sterling made by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in 2003 to the IHG for the construction of 221 housing units within 10 months at a total revised cost of 3,303,883 pound sterling. Mr. Mahama said the project was never undertaken and the part payment to the contractors had not yet been recovered, declaring that on completion of the investigation the government would ensure the speedy construction of the housing units to facilitate the provision of residential accommodation for all categories of health personnel working at the hospital. He said the provision of physical structures alone could not be solely considered as sufficient panacea to solving the health needs of the citizenry.
Other challenges included putting in place sustainable systems and strategies to mitigate against the problems of malnutrition, poor sanitation, unsafe water, poverty, relatively high infant and maternal mortality, large inequity in access to quality health care delivery between the urban rich and the rural poor as well as the perennial shortage of health care personnel.
Mr. Mahama expressed worry that many health workers refused to accept posting to rural areas, saying that had created a situation where about 80 percent of doctors and pharmacists could be found in only a few urban locations while the bulk of rural people had to do without these professionals.
He therefore said the government had decided to make work and remuneration attractive for health professionals as a means of motivating them to curb the brain drain in that sector. The Vice President appealed to medical personnel and pharmaceutical staff to accept posting to rural areas where their services were most needed.
Dr. Elias Sorey, Director General of the Ghana Health Service said the construction of the three regional hospitals revolutionized the health care delivery in the country and commended the management and staff of the hospital for their efficient performance. He observed that the Sunyani Regional Hospital had distinctly stood out as one that could deliver excellence service, adding it was on the verge of becoming a teaching hospital. Dr. Sorey who also delivered a message on behalf of Dr. Benjamin Kumbour, Minister of Health implored health workers to always bear in mind their prime duty of delivering in the interest of patients. Dr. Aaron Offei, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services, said the hospital had 50 doctors including 18 housemen but faced the challenge of inadequate residential accommodation and replacement of some old equipment and machinery.
Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, reiterated that the Regional Coordinating Council would continue to offer the necessary support to the hospital, promising that his outfit would present the institution's needs and requests to the appropriate authorities for attention.
The Vice President later commissioned a GHC 300,000 GETFUND sponsored modern Information Communication Technology center constructed as part of the celebration of the Brong-Ahafo @ 50 anniversary. Mr. Mahama also commissioned a GETFUND hostel complex at the cost of GHC 3,000,000 for the Sunyani campus of the Faculty of Forest Resources Technology of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. 06 Nov.09
Information reaching our office suggests that some NPP delegates and executives involved in the ongoing internal party constituency elections in the western region and elsewhere have been receiving calls and messages from unknown persons with hidden or private phone numbers claiming to be calling from the Danquah Institute. The messages of these unknown callers suggest that the institute views the current party executives as responsible for the party’s failure to retain power in the 2008 elections and hence is calling on delegates to ensure that all such current executives of the party should be voted out.
The head of research at the Danquah Institute Nana Attobrah Quaicoe comments; “while the institute as a liberal conservative think tank shares common philosophies and ideologies with the NPP, it is certainly not an organ, arm, department or wing of the NPP or any party, neither is it involved in the day to day running of the party activities including the ongoing elections. It is therefore preposterous and diabolical for any group or person to want to bring the institute into disrepute with such reckless suggestions”
As our philosophy, the institute believes in the freedom of choice, association and the expression of such views including a free and fair casting of ballots. We therefore dissociate ourselves from such messages and phone calls. As a believer in the Danquah –Busia tradition and philosophies, the institute admonishes all persons with the mandate to make selection of officers for the party’s next term of office to listen to all contestants and vote according to their objective convictions and choices without fear of any intimidation. We also advise that they regard all such calls or messages purported to be coming from the Danquah Institute as absurd and ridiculous.
Nana Attobrah Quaicoe Head of Research
Juaso (Ash), Nov 6, GNA - Eleven years after the ban on illegal chainsaw milling, the practice continues to be a major source of supply to domestic timber markets, thereby sustaining rural economies and livelihood. Currently, 86,000 people are involved in chainsaw-related operations as compared to approximately 100,000 people in the formal logging industry, a study conducted under a five-year project dubbed "Developing Alternatives for Illegal Chainsaw Milling in Ghana and Guyana Through Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue", has revealed.
The project, which seeks to address the chainsaw menace and reinforce the objective of sustainable forest management, is being funded by Tropenbos International-Ghana in collaboration with Forestry Commission (FC) and the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG).
According to the study, chainsaw operations contribute significantly to household budgets as more than half of the people involved in chainsaw activities earn 80 percent of their household income from it. Mr. James Parker, the project co-ordinator who presented the study at a district stakeholders meeting at Juaso, said the state loses more than US$18 million per annum due to the operators' refusal to pay stumpage fees. He said the figure exceeded the stumpage fees collected from licensed loggers between 2000 and 2003 which was US$ 9.1 million, adding that Ghana's Forestry Commission had the lowest rate of rent collection in West Africa. Mr. Parker said assuming 40 per cent of the potential stumpage from chainsaw operators could be captured under a regularised regime, government could earn about US$ 7 million per annum.
He said fees paid by chainsaw operators to farmers and land owners presently correspond to about 38 percent of the potential revenue that would have been collected by the FC.
He, therefore, argued that if government was willing to pay the US$ 7 million to farmers and land owners as compensation for protecting the trees, it could still retain US$ 11 million annually. Mr. De-graft Fokuo, the District Chief Executive, said activities of chainsaw operators were fast depleting the nation's forest cover yet they were source of supply for local markets and called for a holistic approach to address the problem.
He suggested the formation of task force in all Area Councils to check the menace and urged the FC to encourage farmers to embark on tree plantations.
Mr. Samuel Akwatia, the District Forest Manager, said the protection of forest reserves was a shared responsibility and called on stakeholders to join efforts to reverse the trend.
Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana on Friday said it would not be coerced to move into Single Spine if it would be a disadvantage to its members. "We are not only interested in the early implementation of the policy but also more keen on an implementation that would not disadvantage our members", Mr James Amissah, General Secretary of the Association, told the GNA in an interview.
He said five issues to be addressed in the road map for the policy had not been addressed or fully solved and the association found it difficult to ascertain the basis for any implementation. Mr Amissah said the government should have issued a white paper on the way forward between July 01 and August 28 after cabinet had considered memos from stakeholders but that had not been done. Between September 15 and December 31, there should be education on the single spine. Placing all job holders on the new Pay Structure by Fair Wages Salary Commission should have been completed by September 31. It was expected that by September 15 and November 30, Controller and Accountant-General's Department would have completed 'test runs' on the single spine pay structure.
"We know it involves a lot of work but we will not be rushed into a structure that has the likelihood to erode the gains the association has achieved so far." He said the association has communicated its concerns to the Civil Service Council, the sector minister and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission ((FWSC).
"Therefore moving on to the Single Spine Structure one has to tread consciously," Mr Amissah said.
Mr Amissah said the Association was not against the implementation of the new policy but warned members "to look before we reap." He said the concerns raised were well known to members of the association and the government but it looked as if some newspaper publications on the matter seemed to suggest that all was well with the policy. 06 Nov 09
Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - The main index of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), the All-Share Index, closed down on Friday, dragged by price losses in three equities.
The index closed the session lower by 11.68 points to end at 5,397.02= from 5,408.70 points.
Change for the year closed the session at -48.26 per cent. On the broader market, there were three price losses. Ecobank Ghana lost GH¢0.01 at GH¢2.89; CAL Bank was down by GH¢= 0.01 at GH¢0.21; and PBC was lower GH¢0.01 at GH¢0.19. Traded volumes closed the session at 355,618 shares, a little higher=
than 303,421 at the previous close. Market capitalisation dipped marginally at GH¢15,263.05 million fr= om GH¢15,271.55 million at the previous close.
Accra, Nov. 5, GNA - Government has begun disbursing a 750,000 dollar package to Ghana's Under-20 soccer team, the Black Satellites and its management team for their brilliant victory at the FIFA U-20 World Cup soccer tournament in Egypt last month. President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday as a first step to fulfilling the package presented 30 Toyota saloon cars to the team at a short ceremony at the Osu Castle in Accra.
Two of the 30 cars with a capacity of 1.8 litre would go to the head coach, Sellas Tetteh and Chairman of the Management of the team. The remaining 28 of the cars with capacity of 1.6 litre would go to the players.
As part of the package Government has secured a Life Policy and bond, which at 10 years maturity would fetch each player GHC 170,000.
Each member of the management team would also receive cash amount of 5000 dollars.
President Mills in making the presentation said he was aware of heavy criticism against him and government from a section of Ghanaians for not instantly announcing a package when the Satellites presented the trophy to him at the Castle on their return from Egypt.
He said, however, with his past experience as Chairman of the National Sports Council and Chairman of the Black Stars Management Team, he decided to give a lasting award that would represent a new way forward in the right direction for the Satellites.
A seven-member committee was formed, headed by Mr Oko Nikoi Djanie, a sports enthusiast and head of the National Hockey Association, was consequently formed with Prof. Francis Doudo, Head of the Ghana Olympics Committee and Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association as some of the members, and charged them to collect donations from private people and other corporate bodies and other institutions and come out with modalities for disbursement.
President Mills said members of the Committee were not paid any allowances and therefore thanked them for taking their work seriously and coming out with recommendations that would be long lasting and "in the end bring honour to the Black Stars."
The President explained that the move to form the Committee was also to ensure accountability, adding that Government would never interfere in the management of sports but would collaborate with stakeholders to ensure honesty, transparency and accountability.
Mr Djanie said the Committee had opened a special account for the donations for the Satellites with the name Satellites Special Account at the Ghana Commercial Bank, the Agricultural Development Bank and the Merchant Bank.
He said the account in addition to a special hotline with the various mobile phone companies has been evolved for donations, under which 70 per cent of the amount will go to the Satellites and 30 to the companies.
The Satellite account would run till the end of November this year, he added. Mr Nyantakyi in a vote of thanks expressed appreciation to the President for giving the Satellites a "motivational package" and urged other teams to aspire for the laurels and national honours.
He also expressed appreciation to God for his blessing, the press and the general public for their unflinching support, which he noted added up to the splendid performance of the Satellites to ensure the victory. 04 Nov. 09