THE former Minister for Youth and Sports, Mallam Ali Yusif Isa, who was jailed for wilfully causing financial loss to the state, has declared his support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“I am going to vote for Prof Atta Mills in the forthcoming December election and urge all Ghanaians to do the same,” he said.
At a press conference in Accra yesterday to explain the rationale for his decision to support the NDC, he said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration had failed to fight against corruption contrary to their zero-tolerance-for-corruption claim.
He said he had learnt his lessons and believed that the only way to reposition Ghana on the path of true reconciliation, prosperity and growth was for Ghanaians to vote for a better man for a better Ghana.
He challenged the legality of the law on wilfully causing financial loss to the state and questioned the government’s commitment to the slogan of ‘zero tolerance for corruption’.
The former minister also reacted to a statement made by the President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, in an interview on BBC, in which he tried to defend his promise of zero tolerance for corruption, as well as one by the New Patriotic Party Presidential aspirant, Nana Akufo Addo, at the recent Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Presidential Debate held in Tamale.
Both President Kufour and Nana Akufo-Addo cited Mallam Isa’s case to support the NPP government’s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption during on those separate occasions.
The former Sport Minister therefore challenged Nana Akufo-Addo to tell the whole world the basis for ordering his prosecution and how he managed to manipulate the judiciary to secure his sentence in 72 days, which he described the fastest trial in the history of Ghana.
“Ghana cannot continue on this path of selective application of the law. The NPP did not imprison me only but also other hard-working citizens such as Messrs Kwame Peprah, Ibrahim Adams, Dr George Sipa Yankey and Tsatsu Tsikata, who obviously are not members of the NPP,” he stated.
He recalled that President Kufuor, in a deceitful gesture to portray to the whole world that he was a unifier, appointed Professor George Hagan and Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum from the Convention People’s Party (CPP), himself from the People’s National Convention (PNC) party and a few others to be part of his administration, but little did he know that the “ All-inclusive Government” being propagated by the President was going to be one of his many failed promises.
Mallam Isa claimed that President Kufour had over-looked several cases of corruption and maladministration under his watch and expressed the belief that though the press conference would not stop Nana Akufo-Addo and President Kufour from citing his case as the flagship of their fight against corruption, “one would surely agree that they have never been committed to the fight against corruption”.
According to him, he never embezzled the said US$46,000, for which he was prosecuted and imprisoned, stressing that “Nana Akufo-Addo did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that I stole and wilfully caused financial loss to the state and I never resigned from President Kufour’s government as he will have the whole world believe”.
“The list of corruption charges which the NPP government has left unattended to or, at best, swept under the carpet is endless,” he stated , and noted that he had now learnt his lessons and hoped that none of his peers would go through his experience.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Gov’t/Yale University support students
THE government, in partnership with the Yale University in the United States (US), has sponsored four Ghanaian students from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) to study in Global Infectious Diseases Research at the university, as part of their educational agenda to reverse “brain drain”.
The partnership, which is a bi-directional exchange of students with four students of Yale studying at the NMIMR, is expected to create a model for improving health care in Ghana.
The Vice-President of the University of Wales, Ms Linda Koch Lorimer, who is attending the university’s conference in Ghana, told the Daily Graphic that by strengthening academic infrastructure and creating viable career opportunities for African and American scientists, progress could be made in reversing the brain drain in Ghana and in Africa as a whole.
She said the partnership, which was part of Yale University’s efforts at globalising its institutional structures, was an innovative programme that would harness the unparalleled expertise of the research faculty at the University of Ghana and Yale University by supporting collaborative initiatives in basic science, translational and clinical research.
The rationale behind the collaborative programme, she said, was also to inspire young scientists in Africa and in the US to pursue research careers by offering them valuable mentoring under established senior investigators at those world renowned institutions.
“The programme affords students at Yale the opportunity to work closely with the research faculty of the Noguchi Institute to conduct laboratory and field-based studies of major global infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and intestinal parasites,” she stated, and noted that at the moment, graduate level students and research trainees from the University of Ghana were spending eight weeks in New Haven, working in a research faculty at Yale on laboratory-based projects designed to understand some global infectious diseases.
Additionally, she said the exchange of trainees and faculties would provide opportunities for US researchers to bring their expertise to bear on globally important problems that Ghana faced, and subsequently provide Ghanaians with the training that would enhance their capacity to develop independent research careers.
Mr Michael Capello, a Professor of Paediatrics & Microbial Pathogenesis at the Yale University School of Medicine, said the Yale had sponsored experienced executives in Ghana and across Africa in the Yale World Fellows Programme, where they had equal scholarship schemes with their counterparts in the US.
He said the programme, which was in its 7th year, was a four-month programme, with a specific curriculum on global issues aimed at building a global network of emerging leaders and to broaden their international understanding at Yale.
“Each year, the programme brings to Yale highly accomplished men and women from diverse sets of countries around the world,” he stated, and noted that the fellows were selected from a range of fields and disciplines, including government, business, religion, military, the media and the arts.
That, he noted, was to prepare the fellows for greater roles of leadership, expand their professional and personal horizons, and contribute to a deepening of international awareness and dialogue within the Yale community.
The partnership, which is a bi-directional exchange of students with four students of Yale studying at the NMIMR, is expected to create a model for improving health care in Ghana.
The Vice-President of the University of Wales, Ms Linda Koch Lorimer, who is attending the university’s conference in Ghana, told the Daily Graphic that by strengthening academic infrastructure and creating viable career opportunities for African and American scientists, progress could be made in reversing the brain drain in Ghana and in Africa as a whole.
She said the partnership, which was part of Yale University’s efforts at globalising its institutional structures, was an innovative programme that would harness the unparalleled expertise of the research faculty at the University of Ghana and Yale University by supporting collaborative initiatives in basic science, translational and clinical research.
The rationale behind the collaborative programme, she said, was also to inspire young scientists in Africa and in the US to pursue research careers by offering them valuable mentoring under established senior investigators at those world renowned institutions.
“The programme affords students at Yale the opportunity to work closely with the research faculty of the Noguchi Institute to conduct laboratory and field-based studies of major global infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and intestinal parasites,” she stated, and noted that at the moment, graduate level students and research trainees from the University of Ghana were spending eight weeks in New Haven, working in a research faculty at Yale on laboratory-based projects designed to understand some global infectious diseases.
Additionally, she said the exchange of trainees and faculties would provide opportunities for US researchers to bring their expertise to bear on globally important problems that Ghana faced, and subsequently provide Ghanaians with the training that would enhance their capacity to develop independent research careers.
Mr Michael Capello, a Professor of Paediatrics & Microbial Pathogenesis at the Yale University School of Medicine, said the Yale had sponsored experienced executives in Ghana and across Africa in the Yale World Fellows Programme, where they had equal scholarship schemes with their counterparts in the US.
He said the programme, which was in its 7th year, was a four-month programme, with a specific curriculum on global issues aimed at building a global network of emerging leaders and to broaden their international understanding at Yale.
“Each year, the programme brings to Yale highly accomplished men and women from diverse sets of countries around the world,” he stated, and noted that the fellows were selected from a range of fields and disciplines, including government, business, religion, military, the media and the arts.
That, he noted, was to prepare the fellows for greater roles of leadership, expand their professional and personal horizons, and contribute to a deepening of international awareness and dialogue within the Yale community.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Two remanded for defilement
TWO persons have been remanded by the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old girl.
According to the prosecution, the first accused person, Richard Ofori Nunoo, aged 28, is a pastor with the "Wings of Success Ministry” at Laterbiokoshie but lives at Kaneshie, whilst the second accused person, Ernest Andrews, aged 39, is a cook, who resides at Sukula and Emefs Estate in Afienya, Accra.
According to the prosecution, the complainant, Samuel Tornyi, who is the father of the victim and lives at Russia, a suburb in Accra, disclosed that on January 30, 2008, the victim left home unceremoniously and all efforts to trace her proved futile.
It said while loitering, the victim came into contact with one Patience Tackie, a member of church of the first accused.
Patience, the prosecution noted, took the victim home to stay with her, at her residence at Laterbiokoshie and with time the first accused, Nunoo, got to know the victim.
It continued that the victim used to go to the first accused person's house to do house chores for him on request, but after sometime the victim moved in to stay with the first accused.
The first accused then took advantage of her and defiled her during the month of October, 2008.
The prosecution further explained that the second accused person, Ernest Andrews, got to know the victim through his sister, one Naa Adjeley, who also lives with Patience.
He said whilst the relationship between the first accused person was pending, the second accused person was also in contact with the victim till November 1, 2008 when he too defiled the victim in his room at Afienya after inviting her there.
The complainant, the prosecution went on, later got a hint that the victim was staying with the first accused and had him and the second accused arrested by the Dansoman Police on November 3, 2008, and later brought to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Accra.
The case, he said, was initially reported as an abduction but in the course of the investigation, the victim testified that both the first and second accused persons had had series of sexual intercourse with her.
The victim was sent to the hospital for examination and treatment and a report on the victim indicated that she was pregnant, he added, saying that all efforts to get Patience Tackie to testify in the case had proved futile.
He said after investigations, the first and second accused persons were arrested, charged with the offence and brought before the court.
The case was adjourned to November 11, 2008.
According to the prosecution, the first accused person, Richard Ofori Nunoo, aged 28, is a pastor with the "Wings of Success Ministry” at Laterbiokoshie but lives at Kaneshie, whilst the second accused person, Ernest Andrews, aged 39, is a cook, who resides at Sukula and Emefs Estate in Afienya, Accra.
According to the prosecution, the complainant, Samuel Tornyi, who is the father of the victim and lives at Russia, a suburb in Accra, disclosed that on January 30, 2008, the victim left home unceremoniously and all efforts to trace her proved futile.
It said while loitering, the victim came into contact with one Patience Tackie, a member of church of the first accused.
Patience, the prosecution noted, took the victim home to stay with her, at her residence at Laterbiokoshie and with time the first accused, Nunoo, got to know the victim.
It continued that the victim used to go to the first accused person's house to do house chores for him on request, but after sometime the victim moved in to stay with the first accused.
The first accused then took advantage of her and defiled her during the month of October, 2008.
The prosecution further explained that the second accused person, Ernest Andrews, got to know the victim through his sister, one Naa Adjeley, who also lives with Patience.
He said whilst the relationship between the first accused person was pending, the second accused person was also in contact with the victim till November 1, 2008 when he too defiled the victim in his room at Afienya after inviting her there.
The complainant, the prosecution went on, later got a hint that the victim was staying with the first accused and had him and the second accused arrested by the Dansoman Police on November 3, 2008, and later brought to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Accra.
The case, he said, was initially reported as an abduction but in the course of the investigation, the victim testified that both the first and second accused persons had had series of sexual intercourse with her.
The victim was sent to the hospital for examination and treatment and a report on the victim indicated that she was pregnant, he added, saying that all efforts to get Patience Tackie to testify in the case had proved futile.
He said after investigations, the first and second accused persons were arrested, charged with the offence and brought before the court.
The case was adjourned to November 11, 2008.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
NPP campaign activists to renergise supporters
THE second batch of campaign activists from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Women & Youth Wing in Accra have left for various parts of the country to rejuvenate and re-energise supporters in the regions to turn out massively to clinch a ‘one touch’ victory for the party in the December elections.
In the regions, the activists would consult widely with local stakeholders such as the regional and constituency women organisers, identify recurrent challenges, resolve party conflicts and educate voters on why the NPP government should be re-elected.
The activists, made up of 100 women in groups of ten, would visit parts of the country including, the Eastern, Western, Northern and Volta regions, with an avowed aim to add at least a minimum of one per cent to the party’s overall percentage in the presidential election.
Dubbed, the “Good Women’s Tour”, the Co-ordinator of the Secretariat, Mrs Leonora Kyeremanteng, said the secretariat which had groups in all the ten regions in Ghana had targeted difficult constituencies, and hoped to “turn them green.”
She noted that the first teams, made up of 36 women, were dispatched to the Upper West, Upper East and the Northern regions.
She said their intention was to penetrate the grassroots and through strategic advocacy win floating voters.
Mrs Kyeremanteng indicated that it had been their long term objective to institutionalise the secretariat to actively promote and implement policies on women and children.
She said the team was also determined to promote gender governance in politics and development to enable them to contribute to national development at the grass root level.
She advised the women to show respect to the regional and constituency organisers of the party to make their campaigns successful.
In the regions, the activists would consult widely with local stakeholders such as the regional and constituency women organisers, identify recurrent challenges, resolve party conflicts and educate voters on why the NPP government should be re-elected.
The activists, made up of 100 women in groups of ten, would visit parts of the country including, the Eastern, Western, Northern and Volta regions, with an avowed aim to add at least a minimum of one per cent to the party’s overall percentage in the presidential election.
Dubbed, the “Good Women’s Tour”, the Co-ordinator of the Secretariat, Mrs Leonora Kyeremanteng, said the secretariat which had groups in all the ten regions in Ghana had targeted difficult constituencies, and hoped to “turn them green.”
She noted that the first teams, made up of 36 women, were dispatched to the Upper West, Upper East and the Northern regions.
She said their intention was to penetrate the grassroots and through strategic advocacy win floating voters.
Mrs Kyeremanteng indicated that it had been their long term objective to institutionalise the secretariat to actively promote and implement policies on women and children.
She said the team was also determined to promote gender governance in politics and development to enable them to contribute to national development at the grass root level.
She advised the women to show respect to the regional and constituency organisers of the party to make their campaigns successful.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Zain connects through music
ZAIN, a mobile telecommunication network in the middle East will launch its introduction to the Ghanaian telecom industry with a spectacular music extravaganza at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, on November 22, 2008.
In an interview with the three of the local artistes who are billed to perform along side International Grammy award winning stars like Wycleff Jean, Eve and Mario, they said it was an opportunity to share a stage with these stars.
Tinny said he started following the works of Wyclef during his days with Refugees and described him as a dynamic musician.
Obrafuor also stated that Wyclef has been his mentor since childhood and has been yearning to follow his footsteps but Kwaw On his part, “Abodam” Kesse said it is an opportunity to tell the rest of the world that Ghanaian music had reached far.
The concert dubbed, “The Zain 026 Experience” would also feature 2008 Mobo Award winner 2Face Idibia from Nigeria.
The Marketing Director of Zain Ghana, Mr Charles Maye, at the launch said the 026 experience was about connecting people through music, which he said knew no boundaries and an excellent way of bringing people together.
“We will create a wonderful world for our customers by giving them opportunities to succeed and celebrate life through our superior network and excellent customer care”, he added.
Zain is a major player in the telecom industry in Africa, providing a comprehensive range of mobile voice and data services in 22 countries to over 56 million customers of which 33 million were in Africa.
The company begun operations in Ghana in 2007 through the acquisition of a major stake in Westle Ghana Limited.
It also created the “One Network”, the world’s first borderless mobile network connecting customers in the Eastern, Central and West Africa.
The concept allows customers to make call at local rates, use voice mail and the local services anywhere, or top-up pre-paid phones in their home country, or any of the countries they were located in.
In an interview with the three of the local artistes who are billed to perform along side International Grammy award winning stars like Wycleff Jean, Eve and Mario, they said it was an opportunity to share a stage with these stars.
Tinny said he started following the works of Wyclef during his days with Refugees and described him as a dynamic musician.
Obrafuor also stated that Wyclef has been his mentor since childhood and has been yearning to follow his footsteps but Kwaw On his part, “Abodam” Kesse said it is an opportunity to tell the rest of the world that Ghanaian music had reached far.
The concert dubbed, “The Zain 026 Experience” would also feature 2008 Mobo Award winner 2Face Idibia from Nigeria.
The Marketing Director of Zain Ghana, Mr Charles Maye, at the launch said the 026 experience was about connecting people through music, which he said knew no boundaries and an excellent way of bringing people together.
“We will create a wonderful world for our customers by giving them opportunities to succeed and celebrate life through our superior network and excellent customer care”, he added.
Zain is a major player in the telecom industry in Africa, providing a comprehensive range of mobile voice and data services in 22 countries to over 56 million customers of which 33 million were in Africa.
The company begun operations in Ghana in 2007 through the acquisition of a major stake in Westle Ghana Limited.
It also created the “One Network”, the world’s first borderless mobile network connecting customers in the Eastern, Central and West Africa.
The concept allows customers to make call at local rates, use voice mail and the local services anywhere, or top-up pre-paid phones in their home country, or any of the countries they were located in.
Samini to give to charity
In view of the global food crises, Samini, one of Ghana’s finest music icons has decided to offer half the produce of his four acre maize field to charity as part of his campaign for “Food For All” to address the problem of food shortage in the country.
He said his maize field would be ready for harvest by the end of the year and believes that as his social responsibility, he should give back to the public, particularly the needy in society.
He told The Mirror in an interview at his Dansoman based studio, Asasease in Accra yesterday, that the impact of the current global food crises could undermine the country’s development agenda if not well addressed.
In his view all Ghanaians who had the resources should not hesitate to go into farming as a means of safe guarding the country’s food security.
"The current food crisis is a heavy burden and poses many new challenges,", he stated, noting that the reason he had gone into farming aside being a musician was to ensure that his family had enough to eat and some to share with others.
Samini said, as a musician he felt that his contribution to the country’s development agenda should not be relegated only to music, but also to set good examples for others including his fellow musicians to follow.
In line with that he has also composed a song to promote Ghana’s cocoa, to redeem the country’s image as the largest cocoa producing country in the world, on his new album due to be launched in November this year at the plush La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.
The Album, titled “Dagaati” has 21 tracks on it, and features both local and international artistes.
Some of the tracks on the album are, Movement, Still in Love, My Kind of Girl featuring Nigerian artistes, Face and Agoro featuring UK born Ghanaian artiste, Sway.
Other tracks on the album are Africa Unite — featuring Jamaican female artiste, Etana, Fire featuring Becca and Ghana Cocoa, a track dedicated to his campaign for the cultivation and production of cocoa.
Samini, arguably one of Ghana’s most celebrated music superstar has been nominated for two international awards.
The awards are the MTV Africa Music Awards to be held in November this year and the KORA Awards in April next year.
He said his maize field would be ready for harvest by the end of the year and believes that as his social responsibility, he should give back to the public, particularly the needy in society.
He told The Mirror in an interview at his Dansoman based studio, Asasease in Accra yesterday, that the impact of the current global food crises could undermine the country’s development agenda if not well addressed.
In his view all Ghanaians who had the resources should not hesitate to go into farming as a means of safe guarding the country’s food security.
"The current food crisis is a heavy burden and poses many new challenges,", he stated, noting that the reason he had gone into farming aside being a musician was to ensure that his family had enough to eat and some to share with others.
Samini said, as a musician he felt that his contribution to the country’s development agenda should not be relegated only to music, but also to set good examples for others including his fellow musicians to follow.
In line with that he has also composed a song to promote Ghana’s cocoa, to redeem the country’s image as the largest cocoa producing country in the world, on his new album due to be launched in November this year at the plush La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.
The Album, titled “Dagaati” has 21 tracks on it, and features both local and international artistes.
Some of the tracks on the album are, Movement, Still in Love, My Kind of Girl featuring Nigerian artistes, Face and Agoro featuring UK born Ghanaian artiste, Sway.
Other tracks on the album are Africa Unite — featuring Jamaican female artiste, Etana, Fire featuring Becca and Ghana Cocoa, a track dedicated to his campaign for the cultivation and production of cocoa.
Samini, arguably one of Ghana’s most celebrated music superstar has been nominated for two international awards.
The awards are the MTV Africa Music Awards to be held in November this year and the KORA Awards in April next year.
Samini launches new album
SAMINI, one of Ghana’s best-known musicians, last Friday launched his third album, a collection of 21 tracks called Dagaati: Know Your Roots at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.
The multiple award-winning musician spent over two years to complete the album and said at the launch that it was dedicated to his fans as well as to a peaceful election in this country next month.
Featuring artistes from places such as Nigeria, Kenya, United Kingdom and Jamaica, Samini said his new album contains something for every sector in society, adding that he chose to call the album Dagaati to reflect his roots. Samini hails from the Upper West Region.
Several hiplife artistes, fans as well as his parents and siblings were at the La Palm hotel to witness the grand launch. After appearances by Kwabena Kwabena and Tinny, Samini took over and energertically performed several tracks from the Dagaati album with the support of a live band.
Formerly known as Batman, Samini’s debut album, Dankwansere, contained the hit track Linda. The follow-up album, Samini featured well-loved songs like African Lady and Odo. He won the Best African Act honour at the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards in the United Kingdom in 2006 and is in reckoning for honours in the upcoming MTV Africa Music and KORA Awards.
The Chief Marketing Officer of MTN-Ghana, Mr George Andah said at the Dagaati launch that the theme for the occasion, ‘Peace and Love in an Election Year’ was relevant because the general elections are almost here and every Ghanaian needs to work towards a peaceful election.
Mr Andah recalled that MTN’s search for a music icon when it entered the telecommunication market here a little over a year ago did not take long because they found the requisite values in Samini.
He said MTN was proud to be associated with Samini and expressed believe that his new album would further bolster the image he has in the world of music.
Govt gives support to small-scale miners
THE government has released 480,000 acres in 44 districts across the country to enhance the activities of small-scale miners.
The gesture is part of its plan aimed at legalising small-scale mining, popularly referred to as ‘galamsey’.
The Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah, announced this at a press conference ahead of a two-week study tour of 25 small-scale mining operators in the People’s Republic of China.
The delegates for the tour were selected from mining communities noted for intensive small-scale mining operations across the country, including the Western, Eastern and the Upper East regions.
Mrs Dapaah mentioned some of the districts where land had been released as Bibiani, Sunyani, Berekum, Ahafo Ano, Sekyere East, Ejisu-Juaben, Atwima, Juabeso, Upper Denkyira, Assin, East Akim, Aowin-Suaman, Fanteakwa, Amansie West, Wassa Amenfi, Wassa West, Birim North, Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira, Nzema East, Gomoa, Juabeso-Bia, Birim North, Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar, Bolgatanga and Central Gonja.
She noted that the government had also disbursed funds from the Minerals Development Fund to assist 11,000 small-scale gold producers across the country
Additionally, she said, the government was pursuing a number of interventions to improve the operations of the small-scale sub-sector to further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of small-scale miners.
The study tour to China, which the minister acknowledged had one of the most technologically advanced small-scale mining industries in the world, was organised in fulfilment of a Cabinet directive to demonstrate the government’s commitment to boost the small-scale sub-sector as a vehicle for employment generation and poverty alleviation.
Mrs Dapaah said the small-scale mining sector employed over 500,000 Ghanaians and had been making a significant contribution to Ghana’s gross domestic product (GDP) over the past 100 years.
“The sector accounts for 10.43 per cent of total gold production, generates about US$120 million and contributes 92 per cent of total diamond production, amounting to US$28 million,” she stated.
The trip, she said, was solely sponsored by the Government of Ghana and facilitated by the Shaanxi Mining Company based in Xian, China.
She said it was also to help replace the rudimentary technologies used by small-scale miners through the adoption of modern and cost-effective mechanised and semi-mechanised technologies.
“It is also anticipated that the beneficiaries will learn how legalised and well-organised small-scale mining can be conducted in a sustainable manner and equip the miners with advantages that can be derived from organising small miners into mining co-operatives and associations,” she added.
While in China, Mrs Dapaah said members of the team would attend a series of seminars to appraise themselves of the structure and the modus operandi of the Chinese small-scale mining sector, the regulatory framework and other relevant aspects of the mining industry.
The exposure to be derived from the tour, she emphasised, was expected to usher in a new wind of change in Ghana’s small-scale mining industry to serve as a catalyst for the rapid regularisation of the sector in Ghana.
The minister said it was also envisaged that the tour would help reduce the incidence of illegal mining activities which would also lead to a considerable reduction in the rampant conflicts and tension between major mining companies and small-scale operators in many mining communities in Ghana.
The gesture is part of its plan aimed at legalising small-scale mining, popularly referred to as ‘galamsey’.
The Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah, announced this at a press conference ahead of a two-week study tour of 25 small-scale mining operators in the People’s Republic of China.
The delegates for the tour were selected from mining communities noted for intensive small-scale mining operations across the country, including the Western, Eastern and the Upper East regions.
Mrs Dapaah mentioned some of the districts where land had been released as Bibiani, Sunyani, Berekum, Ahafo Ano, Sekyere East, Ejisu-Juaben, Atwima, Juabeso, Upper Denkyira, Assin, East Akim, Aowin-Suaman, Fanteakwa, Amansie West, Wassa Amenfi, Wassa West, Birim North, Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira, Nzema East, Gomoa, Juabeso-Bia, Birim North, Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar, Bolgatanga and Central Gonja.
She noted that the government had also disbursed funds from the Minerals Development Fund to assist 11,000 small-scale gold producers across the country
Additionally, she said, the government was pursuing a number of interventions to improve the operations of the small-scale sub-sector to further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of small-scale miners.
The study tour to China, which the minister acknowledged had one of the most technologically advanced small-scale mining industries in the world, was organised in fulfilment of a Cabinet directive to demonstrate the government’s commitment to boost the small-scale sub-sector as a vehicle for employment generation and poverty alleviation.
Mrs Dapaah said the small-scale mining sector employed over 500,000 Ghanaians and had been making a significant contribution to Ghana’s gross domestic product (GDP) over the past 100 years.
“The sector accounts for 10.43 per cent of total gold production, generates about US$120 million and contributes 92 per cent of total diamond production, amounting to US$28 million,” she stated.
The trip, she said, was solely sponsored by the Government of Ghana and facilitated by the Shaanxi Mining Company based in Xian, China.
She said it was also to help replace the rudimentary technologies used by small-scale miners through the adoption of modern and cost-effective mechanised and semi-mechanised technologies.
“It is also anticipated that the beneficiaries will learn how legalised and well-organised small-scale mining can be conducted in a sustainable manner and equip the miners with advantages that can be derived from organising small miners into mining co-operatives and associations,” she added.
While in China, Mrs Dapaah said members of the team would attend a series of seminars to appraise themselves of the structure and the modus operandi of the Chinese small-scale mining sector, the regulatory framework and other relevant aspects of the mining industry.
The exposure to be derived from the tour, she emphasised, was expected to usher in a new wind of change in Ghana’s small-scale mining industry to serve as a catalyst for the rapid regularisation of the sector in Ghana.
The minister said it was also envisaged that the tour would help reduce the incidence of illegal mining activities which would also lead to a considerable reduction in the rampant conflicts and tension between major mining companies and small-scale operators in many mining communities in Ghana.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Two remanded for Theft
TWO persons have been remanded by the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing items worth GH¢27,505.85 belonging to a retired nurse.
The accused, Illiasu Mustapha, a driver and Cynthia Adobea, who are said to be lovers, allegedly committed the offence in February, 2008.
A third accused person, Alex Kwabena Sowill, a computer technician, was granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000.
They all pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy and stealing and are to re-appear before the court on November 27, 2008.
Some of the items they allegedly stole included 48 pieces of Dell Flat screen computers, a DVD player, 30 pieces of wax print, seven pieces of woollen carpets, four pieces of lace materials, four big size dressing mirrors, a set of jewellery, four boxes of drinking glasses, bed sheets, an Italian coffee table, 20 boxes of wall tiles, a television set, iron rods and a host of other items.
According to the prosecution, the complainant employed Illiasu Mustapha as her personal driver during the latter part of 2006 before travelling to London.
It said before her departure, she kept a bunch of keys to her storey building in a bag she carried along to the airport in the vehicle being driven by Mustapha.
On their way to the Kotoka International Airport, the complainant discovered that the bunch of keys had disappeared from her bag but Mustapha immediately assured her that he would look for the keys and keep them for her, as he and another accomplice, one Abass, who is on the run were supposed to take temporary charge of the house while she was away.
The prosecution said the complainant returned to Ghana in September, 2008 and discovered that the items indicated earlier had been stolen.
She made a report to the police and the accused realising that she had returned absconded, but during police investigation, Cynthia Adobea, the supposed girlfriend of the Mustapha was arrested on October 7, 2008.
Adobea, then led the police to Agona Swedru, where Mustapha was arrested, and after thorough search some of the items were retrieved.
Further investigations by the police revealed that Mustapha and Abass occasionally met in the complainant’s room where they stole the items.
Mustapha further admitted that he sometimes slept with Adobea in the complainant’s bedroom, and sold the 17 pieces out of the 48 Dell Flat screen monitors to Alex Kwabena Sowill, who however claimed that only six of the monitors were sold to him.
Alex Sowill then gave the police GH¢300 as part payment of the six monitors he bought from Mustapha.
Mustapha later led the police to one Kyei at East Legon as the one who bought the iron rods but he was not met.
Meanwhile efforts are being made to get Abass and Kyei arrested.
The accused, Illiasu Mustapha, a driver and Cynthia Adobea, who are said to be lovers, allegedly committed the offence in February, 2008.
A third accused person, Alex Kwabena Sowill, a computer technician, was granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000.
They all pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy and stealing and are to re-appear before the court on November 27, 2008.
Some of the items they allegedly stole included 48 pieces of Dell Flat screen computers, a DVD player, 30 pieces of wax print, seven pieces of woollen carpets, four pieces of lace materials, four big size dressing mirrors, a set of jewellery, four boxes of drinking glasses, bed sheets, an Italian coffee table, 20 boxes of wall tiles, a television set, iron rods and a host of other items.
According to the prosecution, the complainant employed Illiasu Mustapha as her personal driver during the latter part of 2006 before travelling to London.
It said before her departure, she kept a bunch of keys to her storey building in a bag she carried along to the airport in the vehicle being driven by Mustapha.
On their way to the Kotoka International Airport, the complainant discovered that the bunch of keys had disappeared from her bag but Mustapha immediately assured her that he would look for the keys and keep them for her, as he and another accomplice, one Abass, who is on the run were supposed to take temporary charge of the house while she was away.
The prosecution said the complainant returned to Ghana in September, 2008 and discovered that the items indicated earlier had been stolen.
She made a report to the police and the accused realising that she had returned absconded, but during police investigation, Cynthia Adobea, the supposed girlfriend of the Mustapha was arrested on October 7, 2008.
Adobea, then led the police to Agona Swedru, where Mustapha was arrested, and after thorough search some of the items were retrieved.
Further investigations by the police revealed that Mustapha and Abass occasionally met in the complainant’s room where they stole the items.
Mustapha further admitted that he sometimes slept with Adobea in the complainant’s bedroom, and sold the 17 pieces out of the 48 Dell Flat screen monitors to Alex Kwabena Sowill, who however claimed that only six of the monitors were sold to him.
Alex Sowill then gave the police GH¢300 as part payment of the six monitors he bought from Mustapha.
Mustapha later led the police to one Kyei at East Legon as the one who bought the iron rods but he was not met.
Meanwhile efforts are being made to get Abass and Kyei arrested.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
MP aspirant to use car loan for Educ fund
THE aspiring Member of Parliament for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Okaikoi South Constituency, Mr Isaac Mensah has promised to use his MP’s car loan as seed money for an Educational Fund for the youth in the constituency if voted into Parliament.
He said, he saw no reason why he should ride in an expensive car that cost almost $25,000 when the youth in his constituency had no job because they could not afford the cost of tertiary and secondary education.
Speaking at a rally at the constituency in Accra, Mr Mensah said the fact can not be denied that education had been paramount on the agenda of NDC and still remained the number on their agenda.
Comparing the NDC’s past record on education to that of the current administration, Mr Mensah said the NDC during their time in power built more schools, particularly polytechnics than the current administration.
He said, he believed that if voted into power the fund he intends to set up would yield positive result in the shortest possible time, reducing the burden on parents who could not support the children’s education in the constituency.
He nonetheless bemoaned the fact that a constituency that had the Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomeah as its MP had no educational fund from which the youth in his constituency could benefit from.
According to him, the constituency had a lot of young football talents and to exploit their talent he would ensure that the fund also supports footballers in the area to pursue their career at greater heights or assist them to play professional soccer outside the country so that they can also support their communities.
He said majority of Ghanaians were suffering, adding that when given the nod, he would bring Parliament to the door steps of the people.
He therefore urged all registered voters in the constituency to vote for the NDC presidential aspirant, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills as the next president of Ghana and for him as their MP for a better change in their lives.
Amidst drumming and dancing, speaker after speaker explained to the crowd why they should vote for Prof. Mills and Mr Mensah and not repeat the mistake they made in 2004, now that they had realised that they were not part of the property owning democracy as propagated by the president, Mr John Agyekum Kufour.
A former Minister of Communication in the past NDC government, Mr Ekow Spio-Gabrah said the difference between the NDC and the NPP was that, “NDC thinks about the needs of the ordinary Ghanaian but the NPP does not”.
The reason he noted was because the NPP’s idea of affordable housing for the ordinary Ghanaian was not realistic as they indicated, stating that the houses that the NPP claimed were affordable were not all, because it was only the rich in society who could purchase such houses that were located in expensive neighbourhoods.
He said Prof. Mills was hardworking, God fearing and a compassionate man who cared about the needs of the ordinary Ghanaian and therefore urged all registered voters to vote for him come the general elections in December.
He said, he saw no reason why he should ride in an expensive car that cost almost $25,000 when the youth in his constituency had no job because they could not afford the cost of tertiary and secondary education.
Speaking at a rally at the constituency in Accra, Mr Mensah said the fact can not be denied that education had been paramount on the agenda of NDC and still remained the number on their agenda.
Comparing the NDC’s past record on education to that of the current administration, Mr Mensah said the NDC during their time in power built more schools, particularly polytechnics than the current administration.
He said, he believed that if voted into power the fund he intends to set up would yield positive result in the shortest possible time, reducing the burden on parents who could not support the children’s education in the constituency.
He nonetheless bemoaned the fact that a constituency that had the Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomeah as its MP had no educational fund from which the youth in his constituency could benefit from.
According to him, the constituency had a lot of young football talents and to exploit their talent he would ensure that the fund also supports footballers in the area to pursue their career at greater heights or assist them to play professional soccer outside the country so that they can also support their communities.
He said majority of Ghanaians were suffering, adding that when given the nod, he would bring Parliament to the door steps of the people.
He therefore urged all registered voters in the constituency to vote for the NDC presidential aspirant, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills as the next president of Ghana and for him as their MP for a better change in their lives.
Amidst drumming and dancing, speaker after speaker explained to the crowd why they should vote for Prof. Mills and Mr Mensah and not repeat the mistake they made in 2004, now that they had realised that they were not part of the property owning democracy as propagated by the president, Mr John Agyekum Kufour.
A former Minister of Communication in the past NDC government, Mr Ekow Spio-Gabrah said the difference between the NDC and the NPP was that, “NDC thinks about the needs of the ordinary Ghanaian but the NPP does not”.
The reason he noted was because the NPP’s idea of affordable housing for the ordinary Ghanaian was not realistic as they indicated, stating that the houses that the NPP claimed were affordable were not all, because it was only the rich in society who could purchase such houses that were located in expensive neighbourhoods.
He said Prof. Mills was hardworking, God fearing and a compassionate man who cared about the needs of the ordinary Ghanaian and therefore urged all registered voters to vote for him come the general elections in December.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Traditional medicine practitioners appeal for council
THE Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (GHAFTRAM) has appealed to the government, particularly the health ministry, to set up a council for the smooth running of the association, in accordance with Act 578 of the Constitution.
It said the establishment of the council would bring sanity into traditional medicine practice and also pave the way for traditional medicine to be incorporated into the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The National Organiser of the association, Mr Kwadwo Obiri, told the Daily Graphic in Accra on Thursday, after a three-day workshop, that the absence of a council to see to the efficient administration of the association since the passage of the Act in 2000 was hampering the effectiveness of their activities.
Currently, he indicated, the association had in place a temporary secretariat which was being handled by a government appointee, Mr Hunua Akakpo, who acts as registrar.
According to him, Mr Akakpo was informally registering members into the council without their approval and, therefore, it would be expedient if the government facilitated the establishment of the council, in accordance with the provisions of Act 578.
The Act, he noted, indicated that the membership of council was to be 11, six of whom were to be members of the association.
Mr Obiri said the formation of the council would make it possible for herbal clinics to be given accreditation and for practitioners to operate legally in the country, stating that though they needed a registrar to handle the secretariat, the person ought to work hand in hand with members of the association to see to the establishment of the council but not to the recruit members indiscriminately to constitute the council against their will.
To ensure that the secretariat did the right thing, the association sought the help of the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) secretariat to train their members on how to practise their profession without any hindrances and constitute the council.
Fortunately for them, he said, they had completed their training and now had the requisite knowledge to handle the administration of the council, in line with government policy.
The training, he said, apart from helping them to advocate the establishment of the council, was also aimed at building the capacity of traditional medicine practitioners to enable them offer their best.
Mr Obiri appealed to all traditional medicine practitioners to go about their duties in accordance with the ethics of traditional medicine practice. He hinted that a national task force would embark on an operation to flush out quacks in the sector in order to attract public confidence.
In all 20 practitioners took part in the three-day workshop, after which they were presented with certificates of participation.
It said the establishment of the council would bring sanity into traditional medicine practice and also pave the way for traditional medicine to be incorporated into the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The National Organiser of the association, Mr Kwadwo Obiri, told the Daily Graphic in Accra on Thursday, after a three-day workshop, that the absence of a council to see to the efficient administration of the association since the passage of the Act in 2000 was hampering the effectiveness of their activities.
Currently, he indicated, the association had in place a temporary secretariat which was being handled by a government appointee, Mr Hunua Akakpo, who acts as registrar.
According to him, Mr Akakpo was informally registering members into the council without their approval and, therefore, it would be expedient if the government facilitated the establishment of the council, in accordance with the provisions of Act 578.
The Act, he noted, indicated that the membership of council was to be 11, six of whom were to be members of the association.
Mr Obiri said the formation of the council would make it possible for herbal clinics to be given accreditation and for practitioners to operate legally in the country, stating that though they needed a registrar to handle the secretariat, the person ought to work hand in hand with members of the association to see to the establishment of the council but not to the recruit members indiscriminately to constitute the council against their will.
To ensure that the secretariat did the right thing, the association sought the help of the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) secretariat to train their members on how to practise their profession without any hindrances and constitute the council.
Fortunately for them, he said, they had completed their training and now had the requisite knowledge to handle the administration of the council, in line with government policy.
The training, he said, apart from helping them to advocate the establishment of the council, was also aimed at building the capacity of traditional medicine practitioners to enable them offer their best.
Mr Obiri appealed to all traditional medicine practitioners to go about their duties in accordance with the ethics of traditional medicine practice. He hinted that a national task force would embark on an operation to flush out quacks in the sector in order to attract public confidence.
In all 20 practitioners took part in the three-day workshop, after which they were presented with certificates of participation.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
UGBS Inducts 228 students into EMBA Programme
THE University of Ghana Business School has inducted 228 students, comprising 141 males and 87 females, into its Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA) programme.
The students will specialise in areas such as Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Project Management, Human Resource Management and Entrepreneurial Management.
The four-to-six-month programme seeks to cater for the higher educational needs of practitioners in the areas of governance and administrative management, as well as the management of public enterprises and non-governmental agencies.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof C.N.B. Tagoe, urged the students to think strategically and use the knowledge they would acquire to effectively manage the innovations needed to develop existing and new businesses in Ghana.
“As managers, directors and leaders, you have to focus on leaving footprints. You must leave legacies, remembering that leadership comes by beginning something that does not end with you,” he advised.
He said the university’s goal for the EMBA was to expand the frontiers of management education, using cutting-edge research to enrich the management of knowledge and practices in the country.
Prof Tagoe said that was important, since today’s world was a knowledge-driven one and so the essence of the programme was to enable them to blend theory with practice to enlighten their day-to-day activities with conceptual argument.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the EMBA, Dr Bill Puplampu, said the programme, since its inception in 2000, had graduated about 540 students, while 98 were to graduate soon.
He said the programme was specially designed to meet Ghana’s human resource capital needs now and into the future, and by so doing provide global leaders through the programme.
Dr Puplampu expressed belief that the faculty would ensure that teaching and delivery was sound and relevant and comparable to what obtained in other world-class institutions.
“We also believe that we have to challenge you, our students, to interrogate social and corporate issues with a passion to find solutions,” he said.
The Managing Director of Kasapa Telecom, Mr Bob Palitz, urged the students not to put so much emphasis on the certificates they would be awarded after the programme but on the quality of their output in their various organisations after the programme.
What was more important, he noted, was their ability to put what they learnt into practice, adding that the value of their output was more significant than the certificates they would earn after completion of the programme.
The Dean of the School of Research and Graduate Studies, Prof Yaa Ntiamoah Baidoo, urged the students to abide by the rules and regulations of the programme.
He said humility was very important and observed the need for them to be very humble and patient, communicating effectively to ensure that they made steady progress from the beginning till the end.
In an address read on behalf of the students, their representative, Lord Mensa Darko, said they expected that the university would make good use of their research works and not just leave them to lie on the shelves to gather dust.
That, he said, was because they believed that the academic exercise they were undertaking would be relevant to the industrial development of Ghana.
The students will specialise in areas such as Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Project Management, Human Resource Management and Entrepreneurial Management.
The four-to-six-month programme seeks to cater for the higher educational needs of practitioners in the areas of governance and administrative management, as well as the management of public enterprises and non-governmental agencies.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof C.N.B. Tagoe, urged the students to think strategically and use the knowledge they would acquire to effectively manage the innovations needed to develop existing and new businesses in Ghana.
“As managers, directors and leaders, you have to focus on leaving footprints. You must leave legacies, remembering that leadership comes by beginning something that does not end with you,” he advised.
He said the university’s goal for the EMBA was to expand the frontiers of management education, using cutting-edge research to enrich the management of knowledge and practices in the country.
Prof Tagoe said that was important, since today’s world was a knowledge-driven one and so the essence of the programme was to enable them to blend theory with practice to enlighten their day-to-day activities with conceptual argument.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the EMBA, Dr Bill Puplampu, said the programme, since its inception in 2000, had graduated about 540 students, while 98 were to graduate soon.
He said the programme was specially designed to meet Ghana’s human resource capital needs now and into the future, and by so doing provide global leaders through the programme.
Dr Puplampu expressed belief that the faculty would ensure that teaching and delivery was sound and relevant and comparable to what obtained in other world-class institutions.
“We also believe that we have to challenge you, our students, to interrogate social and corporate issues with a passion to find solutions,” he said.
The Managing Director of Kasapa Telecom, Mr Bob Palitz, urged the students not to put so much emphasis on the certificates they would be awarded after the programme but on the quality of their output in their various organisations after the programme.
What was more important, he noted, was their ability to put what they learnt into practice, adding that the value of their output was more significant than the certificates they would earn after completion of the programme.
The Dean of the School of Research and Graduate Studies, Prof Yaa Ntiamoah Baidoo, urged the students to abide by the rules and regulations of the programme.
He said humility was very important and observed the need for them to be very humble and patient, communicating effectively to ensure that they made steady progress from the beginning till the end.
In an address read on behalf of the students, their representative, Lord Mensa Darko, said they expected that the university would make good use of their research works and not just leave them to lie on the shelves to gather dust.
That, he said, was because they believed that the academic exercise they were undertaking would be relevant to the industrial development of Ghana.
Osu Council admits leasing cemetery
THE Osu Traditional Council has admitted that it has leased the premises of the Osu Royal Mausoleum at the Ringway Estates to Zain Ghana Limited to erect a communications mast there.
It, however, disagreed with the view of one of the elders of Osu, Asafoatse Nii Akapeh II, that the erection of a mast constituted a desecration of the Royal cemetery.
Speaking on behalf of the council in reaction to a story which was carried in the Monday, November 10 edition of the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the Osu Stool, Mr Abraham Adjieteh, said the council found it prudent to lease the land to the company after taking into consideration security and the deteriorated state of the place, noting that the council had been trying for a long time to renovate the place and that it believed that the company met its requirement.
He mentioned the elders who took part in the transaction as the Osu Ashante Osiahene, the Osu Ashante Atofotse and Papa Yeboah Bibio, adding that all of them agreed to lease the land to Zain.
Later, he said, the discussions that took place were communicated to the Osu Mantse, Nii Kinka Dowuona VI, and the Osu Klottey Wolomo, Numo Gbelenfo.
Asked why Nii Akapeh, as the Asafoatse of the Osu Mankralo Stool, was not invited to the meeting, Mr Adjieteh said it was because Nii Akapeh belonged to a faction the council did not agree with.
He said the story being propagated by Nii Akapeh that the chiefs and elders of Osu regarded the erection of the mast at the Royal Mausoleum highly provocative and sacrilegious was false.
According to him, the chiefs and elders of Osu had, since 2006, drawn up a plan to renovate the burial ground which had been encroached upon by the Visa Section of the British High Commission and other surrounding buildings in the area.
He noted that the decision of the council to renovate the mausoleum was upon the advice of the chiefs and the Wolomo of Osudoku when they last paid homage to their ancestors at the mausoleum during the 2006 Homowo.
“We do not see anything wrong with that. How sacred is the place which has been encroached upon by the British High Commission?” he asked.
Mr Adjieteh said the fact that Nii Akapeh was the Asafoatse of the Osu Mankralo Stool did not mean he had the right to resort to the use of the media to oppose the lease.
It, however, disagreed with the view of one of the elders of Osu, Asafoatse Nii Akapeh II, that the erection of a mast constituted a desecration of the Royal cemetery.
Speaking on behalf of the council in reaction to a story which was carried in the Monday, November 10 edition of the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the Osu Stool, Mr Abraham Adjieteh, said the council found it prudent to lease the land to the company after taking into consideration security and the deteriorated state of the place, noting that the council had been trying for a long time to renovate the place and that it believed that the company met its requirement.
He mentioned the elders who took part in the transaction as the Osu Ashante Osiahene, the Osu Ashante Atofotse and Papa Yeboah Bibio, adding that all of them agreed to lease the land to Zain.
Later, he said, the discussions that took place were communicated to the Osu Mantse, Nii Kinka Dowuona VI, and the Osu Klottey Wolomo, Numo Gbelenfo.
Asked why Nii Akapeh, as the Asafoatse of the Osu Mankralo Stool, was not invited to the meeting, Mr Adjieteh said it was because Nii Akapeh belonged to a faction the council did not agree with.
He said the story being propagated by Nii Akapeh that the chiefs and elders of Osu regarded the erection of the mast at the Royal Mausoleum highly provocative and sacrilegious was false.
According to him, the chiefs and elders of Osu had, since 2006, drawn up a plan to renovate the burial ground which had been encroached upon by the Visa Section of the British High Commission and other surrounding buildings in the area.
He noted that the decision of the council to renovate the mausoleum was upon the advice of the chiefs and the Wolomo of Osudoku when they last paid homage to their ancestors at the mausoleum during the 2006 Homowo.
“We do not see anything wrong with that. How sacred is the place which has been encroached upon by the British High Commission?” he asked.
Mr Adjieteh said the fact that Nii Akapeh was the Asafoatse of the Osu Mankralo Stool did not mean he had the right to resort to the use of the media to oppose the lease.
Implement Resolutions on Air Transport
THE Council of Ministers responsible for the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision on aviation in West and Central Africa has called for political support from governments of member countries to ensure the effective implementation of the resolutions.
The council, comprising ministers responsible for civil aviation in member countries, resolved that the healthy development of air transport within the countries was not contingent only on the liberalisation of economic regulations but also required greater co-operation and harmonisation in areas such as technical regulations, safety, security and airspace management.
At its fourth meeting, to deliberate on the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision, in Accra, the council, among other resolutions, called for a level playing field among foreign and local carriers in West and Central Africa to enhance the integration of the continent.
The Yamoussoukro Decision was adopted by the African ministers on November 14, 1999, with the view to opening up the African continent and fostering the development of intra-African links for the free movement of people, goods and services.
The signatory states, including Ghana, agreed to individually achieve the full liberalisation objective of the decision within two years by strengthening the safety and security regulations and financing air transport in West and Central Africa.
The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in an address read on his behalf, said Africa had a long way to go in terms of liberalising its airspace for the economic co-operation of the regional blocs.
He, therefore, called for an enabling environment for co-operation among all governments and regional agencies, noting that “we can do it, since we have the will to do it”.
The Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (ACAC), Mr Boubacar Djibo, said member states had demonstrated their firm commitment to liberalise their air transport in Africa immediately after the adoption of the decision, noting that Africa could not be developed and integrated without a sustainable air transport system.
The Secretary-General of the African Airline Association (AFRAA), Mr Christian E. Folly-Kossi, said the airline business in Africa had been in crisis for decades as half of the continent was dominated by foreign carriers, noting that in times of crisis “we ought to search for and focus on hidden opportunities”.
The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Banjul Accord Group, Mr Lamin Bojang, said the work of the group had turned the region into an inspiring reference for the world, since the consultative meeting which had accelerated the Yamoussoukro Declaration later became the decision in 1999 on the liberalisation of air transport in Africa.
Ghana’s Minister for Aviation, Mr Joe Baidoo-Ansah, agreed that the Yamoussoukro Decision needed to be expedited for the two sub-regions to catch up with the vast leaps and strides being made in the air transport industry across the globe.
“It is my appeal that countries within these sub-regions will not only adopt these resolutions but also endeavour to implement them for the advancement of the industry,” he emphasised, noting that the government and the people of Ghana recognised the importance of the industry as a major contributor to their economic development.
The council, comprising ministers responsible for civil aviation in member countries, resolved that the healthy development of air transport within the countries was not contingent only on the liberalisation of economic regulations but also required greater co-operation and harmonisation in areas such as technical regulations, safety, security and airspace management.
At its fourth meeting, to deliberate on the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision, in Accra, the council, among other resolutions, called for a level playing field among foreign and local carriers in West and Central Africa to enhance the integration of the continent.
The Yamoussoukro Decision was adopted by the African ministers on November 14, 1999, with the view to opening up the African continent and fostering the development of intra-African links for the free movement of people, goods and services.
The signatory states, including Ghana, agreed to individually achieve the full liberalisation objective of the decision within two years by strengthening the safety and security regulations and financing air transport in West and Central Africa.
The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in an address read on his behalf, said Africa had a long way to go in terms of liberalising its airspace for the economic co-operation of the regional blocs.
He, therefore, called for an enabling environment for co-operation among all governments and regional agencies, noting that “we can do it, since we have the will to do it”.
The Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (ACAC), Mr Boubacar Djibo, said member states had demonstrated their firm commitment to liberalise their air transport in Africa immediately after the adoption of the decision, noting that Africa could not be developed and integrated without a sustainable air transport system.
The Secretary-General of the African Airline Association (AFRAA), Mr Christian E. Folly-Kossi, said the airline business in Africa had been in crisis for decades as half of the continent was dominated by foreign carriers, noting that in times of crisis “we ought to search for and focus on hidden opportunities”.
The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Banjul Accord Group, Mr Lamin Bojang, said the work of the group had turned the region into an inspiring reference for the world, since the consultative meeting which had accelerated the Yamoussoukro Declaration later became the decision in 1999 on the liberalisation of air transport in Africa.
Ghana’s Minister for Aviation, Mr Joe Baidoo-Ansah, agreed that the Yamoussoukro Decision needed to be expedited for the two sub-regions to catch up with the vast leaps and strides being made in the air transport industry across the globe.
“It is my appeal that countries within these sub-regions will not only adopt these resolutions but also endeavour to implement them for the advancement of the industry,” he emphasised, noting that the government and the people of Ghana recognised the importance of the industry as a major contributor to their economic development.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Maintain sanctity of elections — Rawlings
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has said that the sanctity of the electoral process must be preserved by the Electoral Commission (EC) together with the parties and the media in the 2008 general election.
He said the country had a taste of free and fair and transparent elections from 1992 to 2000 and stressed the need for the EC and all stakeholders to ensure free and fair elections to decide the country’s future.
Flt Lt Rawlings said this when he addressed a mammoth rally organised by the Greater Accra regional branch of the party at Mantse-Agbonaa in the Odododiodoo Constituency in Accra on Saturday.
As early as 10 a.m. a large crowd of supporters of the party clad in the party’s paraphernalia had gathered at the square patiently awaiting the arrival of the party’s hierarchy to address them.
While scores of the supporters were drumming and dancing to brass band music to herald the start of the programme, others took the advantage to move from house to house to convince the electorate to vote the NDC back to power to change the economic fortunes of Ghanaians.
Spontaneous cheers greeted the arrival of the former President and his entourage when they arrived and in his usual style, he charged the crowd by blowing a kiss into the air to acknowledge the cheers of the people.
He urged the electorate to vote for a real change by voting the NDC back to power, saying that the record of achievement of the NDC was far better than the eight-year administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to look at their standards of living, as the ruling party told them, when they were yearning for power, and vote for Prof Mills for a real change in their lives.
“There is hope, the country can still be rescued from oppressors’ rule and I believe looking at your present standards of living, you will not make the same mistake you made in 2004 by retaining the ruling party in power,” he stressed.
Flt Lt Rawlings said the wind of change blowing around the world should be an indication to all Ghanaians that there was the need for a real change of government in Ghana.
He said the current administration of the country was riddled with lies, victimisation, vindictiveness and corruption, leaving just the privileged few to harness the country’s vast resources for their own personal aggrandisement.
The General Secretary of NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said though he agreed that the country’s natural and human resources were important to Ghanaians in this year’s election, he believed the credible management of these resources by a competent leader was the most important.
“The President is the one who can co-ordinate all these resources, and before the country can move forward, there is the need for a real change,” he stated and appealed to Ghanaians to vote for Prof Atta Mills.
Mr Kofi Wayo, the Chairman of the United Renaissance Party (URP), who has given his support to the NDC, said the NPP, since assuming power in 2000, had not been accountable to the people of Ghana.
He lamented the plight of the country’s security personnel, whose standard of living was nothing to talk about, and urged Ghanaians to vote for Prof Mills, who had compassion for them.
The former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, said it was too late for the NPP to move forward now, looking at the state of corruption and injustice in the country.
“This is the time for a real change in the lives of Ghanaians, noting that there was the need for a real change before the country could move forward,” she stated and entreated all Ghanaians to look at their present living conditions and vote for a change.
He said the country had a taste of free and fair and transparent elections from 1992 to 2000 and stressed the need for the EC and all stakeholders to ensure free and fair elections to decide the country’s future.
Flt Lt Rawlings said this when he addressed a mammoth rally organised by the Greater Accra regional branch of the party at Mantse-Agbonaa in the Odododiodoo Constituency in Accra on Saturday.
As early as 10 a.m. a large crowd of supporters of the party clad in the party’s paraphernalia had gathered at the square patiently awaiting the arrival of the party’s hierarchy to address them.
While scores of the supporters were drumming and dancing to brass band music to herald the start of the programme, others took the advantage to move from house to house to convince the electorate to vote the NDC back to power to change the economic fortunes of Ghanaians.
Spontaneous cheers greeted the arrival of the former President and his entourage when they arrived and in his usual style, he charged the crowd by blowing a kiss into the air to acknowledge the cheers of the people.
He urged the electorate to vote for a real change by voting the NDC back to power, saying that the record of achievement of the NDC was far better than the eight-year administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to look at their standards of living, as the ruling party told them, when they were yearning for power, and vote for Prof Mills for a real change in their lives.
“There is hope, the country can still be rescued from oppressors’ rule and I believe looking at your present standards of living, you will not make the same mistake you made in 2004 by retaining the ruling party in power,” he stressed.
Flt Lt Rawlings said the wind of change blowing around the world should be an indication to all Ghanaians that there was the need for a real change of government in Ghana.
He said the current administration of the country was riddled with lies, victimisation, vindictiveness and corruption, leaving just the privileged few to harness the country’s vast resources for their own personal aggrandisement.
The General Secretary of NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said though he agreed that the country’s natural and human resources were important to Ghanaians in this year’s election, he believed the credible management of these resources by a competent leader was the most important.
“The President is the one who can co-ordinate all these resources, and before the country can move forward, there is the need for a real change,” he stated and appealed to Ghanaians to vote for Prof Atta Mills.
Mr Kofi Wayo, the Chairman of the United Renaissance Party (URP), who has given his support to the NDC, said the NPP, since assuming power in 2000, had not been accountable to the people of Ghana.
He lamented the plight of the country’s security personnel, whose standard of living was nothing to talk about, and urged Ghanaians to vote for Prof Mills, who had compassion for them.
The former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, said it was too late for the NPP to move forward now, looking at the state of corruption and injustice in the country.
“This is the time for a real change in the lives of Ghanaians, noting that there was the need for a real change before the country could move forward,” she stated and entreated all Ghanaians to look at their present living conditions and vote for a change.
Osu elders outraged
THE chiefs and people of Osu have described as highly provocative and sacrilegious the desecration of the burial place of Osu Royals at the Ringway Estates for the erection of a mast by Zain Ghana Limited, a mobile telecommunications company.
Briefing newsmen at the Royal Mausoleum where all prominent Osu chiefs and other leaders have been buried for over 200 years, Asafoatse Nii Akapeh II of the Osu Mankralo Stool said the Asafo companies, the youth and elders would “take appropriate action for the trespassers to feel the consequences of this insult to our history and tradition”.
Bulldozers have flattened some of the royal tombs and in their place a giant tower erected to facilitate the work of the telecommunications company.
When contacted, Mr Geir Austin, a consultant to Zain, said the cemetery was given to the company as a lease hold by Nii Ako Nortei, one of the chiefs of Osu.
The Royal Mausoleum, known traditionally as “Amanprobi”, has remained a sacred place for the people of Osu and is rarely entered except for the burial of a royal or during Homowo, when Nii Akapeh, as the War Leader, leads the Asafo companies in a militant visit to the ancestral resting place.
Nii Akapeh lamented that at a time when the government was doing everything possible to give back some lands to the Ga people, a son of the Ga tradition could dare sell their ancestral heritage for money.
He noted, however, that the trend would be fiercely resisted.
Zain is embroiled in another tussle with residents of Adabraka over the erection of another mast at a place near the Glenns Night Club.
The company has also been restrained by a Accra High Court from constructing a phone mast at a house at Adjiringano, a suburb of Accra.
The order took effect from Friday, October 17, 2008.
The court gave the order following an application for an order of interim injunction to restrain the company from constructing the phone mast at No.14 Manor Valley Road which was filed on behalf of some residents of Adjiringano by Mr Kojo Graham, the Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Civil Liberties (CHUCIL), an NGO.
According to the residents, checks from regulatory bodies had proved that the company was putting up the mast without the requisite approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA), the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), among other regulatory bodies.
Briefing newsmen at the Royal Mausoleum where all prominent Osu chiefs and other leaders have been buried for over 200 years, Asafoatse Nii Akapeh II of the Osu Mankralo Stool said the Asafo companies, the youth and elders would “take appropriate action for the trespassers to feel the consequences of this insult to our history and tradition”.
Bulldozers have flattened some of the royal tombs and in their place a giant tower erected to facilitate the work of the telecommunications company.
When contacted, Mr Geir Austin, a consultant to Zain, said the cemetery was given to the company as a lease hold by Nii Ako Nortei, one of the chiefs of Osu.
The Royal Mausoleum, known traditionally as “Amanprobi”, has remained a sacred place for the people of Osu and is rarely entered except for the burial of a royal or during Homowo, when Nii Akapeh, as the War Leader, leads the Asafo companies in a militant visit to the ancestral resting place.
Nii Akapeh lamented that at a time when the government was doing everything possible to give back some lands to the Ga people, a son of the Ga tradition could dare sell their ancestral heritage for money.
He noted, however, that the trend would be fiercely resisted.
Zain is embroiled in another tussle with residents of Adabraka over the erection of another mast at a place near the Glenns Night Club.
The company has also been restrained by a Accra High Court from constructing a phone mast at a house at Adjiringano, a suburb of Accra.
The order took effect from Friday, October 17, 2008.
The court gave the order following an application for an order of interim injunction to restrain the company from constructing the phone mast at No.14 Manor Valley Road which was filed on behalf of some residents of Adjiringano by Mr Kojo Graham, the Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Civil Liberties (CHUCIL), an NGO.
According to the residents, checks from regulatory bodies had proved that the company was putting up the mast without the requisite approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA), the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), among other regulatory bodies.
Friday, November 7, 2008
GHANA has the potential of becoming the technological hub of the West African sub-region
GHANA has the potential of becoming the technological hub of the West African sub-region, the General Manager of the African Information & Communications Technology Exhibition & Conference (AITEC), Mr Tim Gros, has disclosed.
That, he said, was because the country, as an emerging economy, was using its resources more efficiently than many developing countries to achieve faster growth in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Speaking at an AITEC press preview and workshop for the upcoming 2008 AITEC in Accra on Monday, Mr Gros said ICT had made significant contributions to the increasing productivity and competitiveness of the Ghanaian economy.
He pledged the commitment of AITEC to partner the government, particularly the Ministry of Communication, to make Ghana the focal destination of ICT in the sub-region.
He said the 12th edition of the exhibition, which comes off from November 26 to 28, 2008, would be on the theme, “Enabling Industry Through Information Technologies”, to reflect Ghana’s big push towards an e-based economy, with thousands of potential new ICT jobs being created in different areas of IT-related businesses.
He said the three-day event would be in two phases, with the first and second days concentrating on education and training in ICT, while the final day would focus on exhibition.
Mr Gros said the event would give exhibitors the opportunity to meet major players in the IT industry, reinforce their brand, demonstrate new products and benefit from new ideas in the ICT industry.
According to him, about 40 exhibitors were expected to showcase their services and products to the public which would attract delegates from across Africa.
Some of the exhibitors, he noted, included Internet service providers, web developers, banking technology solution providers, integrated system suppliers, outsourcing and inshoring service suppliers and the media.
The Chief Executive of IPMC, Mr Amar Deep S. Hari, noted that growth in the development of the ICT industry in Ghana was as a result of the increase in the number of ICT companies operating in the country.
He urged businesses to patronise the exhibition because AITEC came with an African branding, while the platform being provided by AITEC would be beneficial not only to businesses in Ghana but also other businesses within Africa.
He said the developed nations were looking seriously to Africa as an emerging market.
Mr Hari recommended that all ICT companies in the country should have a central business location to make their products and services easily accessible to consumers.
He explained that because most of the ICT companies in the country were scattered, customers found it difficult to easily access their products and services.
That, he said, was because the country, as an emerging economy, was using its resources more efficiently than many developing countries to achieve faster growth in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Speaking at an AITEC press preview and workshop for the upcoming 2008 AITEC in Accra on Monday, Mr Gros said ICT had made significant contributions to the increasing productivity and competitiveness of the Ghanaian economy.
He pledged the commitment of AITEC to partner the government, particularly the Ministry of Communication, to make Ghana the focal destination of ICT in the sub-region.
He said the 12th edition of the exhibition, which comes off from November 26 to 28, 2008, would be on the theme, “Enabling Industry Through Information Technologies”, to reflect Ghana’s big push towards an e-based economy, with thousands of potential new ICT jobs being created in different areas of IT-related businesses.
He said the three-day event would be in two phases, with the first and second days concentrating on education and training in ICT, while the final day would focus on exhibition.
Mr Gros said the event would give exhibitors the opportunity to meet major players in the IT industry, reinforce their brand, demonstrate new products and benefit from new ideas in the ICT industry.
According to him, about 40 exhibitors were expected to showcase their services and products to the public which would attract delegates from across Africa.
Some of the exhibitors, he noted, included Internet service providers, web developers, banking technology solution providers, integrated system suppliers, outsourcing and inshoring service suppliers and the media.
The Chief Executive of IPMC, Mr Amar Deep S. Hari, noted that growth in the development of the ICT industry in Ghana was as a result of the increase in the number of ICT companies operating in the country.
He urged businesses to patronise the exhibition because AITEC came with an African branding, while the platform being provided by AITEC would be beneficial not only to businesses in Ghana but also other businesses within Africa.
He said the developed nations were looking seriously to Africa as an emerging market.
Mr Hari recommended that all ICT companies in the country should have a central business location to make their products and services easily accessible to consumers.
He explained that because most of the ICT companies in the country were scattered, customers found it difficult to easily access their products and services.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Independent broadcasters advised to be impartial
THE Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has appealed to broadcasters to remain impartial in their dealings with political parties to ensure free and fair opportunities for all parties in the upcoming general election.
The Executive Secretary of GIBA, Mr Gerald Ankomah, who made the appeal in Accra, in an interview with the Daily Graphic , noted that, "In so doing, you will not only be seen to be contributing to the peace and security of the nation, but also providing fair, accurate and comprehensive information to enable Ghanaians to make intelligent political decisions."
He cautioned that as gatekeepers, broadcasters, particularly those in the private broadcasting sector, must avoid activities that may compromise their integrity or damage their credibility in order to be effective in the discharge of their duties.
According to him, it was incumbent on broadcasters to look at the immediacy of radio in particular to avoid reporting on issues of ethnicity, which might lead people into conflict.
Mr Ankomah said members of the association were also required to give fair and adequate opportunities for citizens to express their divergent views on issues of public interest.
He urged them to abide by the Guidelines for Political Reporting and Broadcasting Standards issued by the National Media Commission when discharging their duties.
He said broadcasters must be circumspect on the source of their information and the effect it would have on listeners, taking into consideration the cultural aspect of the information and whether it was good or not for the public.
Mr Ankomah also expressed concern about the calibre of personnel employed by some radio stations, resulting in the numerous problems associated with such stations.
Mr Ankomah said producers working with independent broadcasters should also put out stories, taking into account various factors such as cross-checking of facts, by talking to all sides implicated in a story and the effect of the story on the public and children in particular.
He commended all independent broadcasters for their contribution towards the success of the recent revision of the Voters Register, stating that the massive turnout of Ghanaians, in response to radio and television publicity, was a pointer to the effective campaign they undertook.
The Executive Secretary of GIBA, Mr Gerald Ankomah, who made the appeal in Accra, in an interview with the Daily Graphic , noted that, "In so doing, you will not only be seen to be contributing to the peace and security of the nation, but also providing fair, accurate and comprehensive information to enable Ghanaians to make intelligent political decisions."
He cautioned that as gatekeepers, broadcasters, particularly those in the private broadcasting sector, must avoid activities that may compromise their integrity or damage their credibility in order to be effective in the discharge of their duties.
According to him, it was incumbent on broadcasters to look at the immediacy of radio in particular to avoid reporting on issues of ethnicity, which might lead people into conflict.
Mr Ankomah said members of the association were also required to give fair and adequate opportunities for citizens to express their divergent views on issues of public interest.
He urged them to abide by the Guidelines for Political Reporting and Broadcasting Standards issued by the National Media Commission when discharging their duties.
He said broadcasters must be circumspect on the source of their information and the effect it would have on listeners, taking into consideration the cultural aspect of the information and whether it was good or not for the public.
Mr Ankomah also expressed concern about the calibre of personnel employed by some radio stations, resulting in the numerous problems associated with such stations.
Mr Ankomah said producers working with independent broadcasters should also put out stories, taking into account various factors such as cross-checking of facts, by talking to all sides implicated in a story and the effect of the story on the public and children in particular.
He commended all independent broadcasters for their contribution towards the success of the recent revision of the Voters Register, stating that the massive turnout of Ghanaians, in response to radio and television publicity, was a pointer to the effective campaign they undertook.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Enforce Law on Brown Cards
THE General Assembly of the Council of Bureaux of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme has entreated governments in the sub-region to collaborate with their security agencies to ensure that motorists secure and carry their brown cards when travelling within the sub-region.
It has therefore urged all national bureaux of the scheme to embark on rigorous public education to create awareness among the travelling and insuring public concerning how and where they could secure original brown cards.
The General Assembly has, therefore, resolved that the Council must adopt a prototype design for the Brown Card with respect to colour, shape and size.
These and other resolutions were contained in the Assembly’s resolutions passed at the end of five days of deliberations to end the Scheme’s 25th Ordinary Session held in Accra from Monday, October 27 to Friday, October 31, 2008.
At the closing ceremony, which was attended by guests from 15 West African member countries , including both Francophone and Anglophone countries, the Chief Executive of CDH Insurance, Mr Larry Jiage, who was elected the new Chairman of the Scheme, said the new Executives of the Council had resolved to solve existing problems of the scheme with renewed strategies.
He expressed his profound gratitude for being elected as the Chairman of the scheme and promised to do his best to maintain the standards set by his predecessors.
In collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, the General Assembly had resolved that the Council should identify the unit at the Commission responsible for issues relating to the Brown Card scheme to serve as an interface between the Commission and the Brown Card Scheme.
The General Assembly consequently resolved that a permanent communication link should be established and maintained between the Permanent General Secretariat and the ECOWAS Commission to foster closer collaboration between the two bodies.
Additionally, the Assembly resolved that each Member Country must establish an independent Permanent Secretariat by the end of 2010 in accordance with the requirements of the Protocol.
This resolution was in line with Article 5 of the Protocol which required each member country to have a National Bureau which was independent and financially self-supporting to oversee the affairs of the Brown Card Scheme.
To that effect the Assembly had resolved that all National Bureaux must deposit 174,000 units of accounts in their respective national banks by December 31, 2012.
That, according to the member countries, was to ensure that the Permanent Secretariat got the required financial resources to enable it to carry out its mandate as it was currently faced with serious financial constraints with significant amounts of contributions in arrears.
To facilitate management and speedy settlement of claims between member states, the General Assembly and Council of Bureaux resolved that Inter-Bureaux meetings should be organised at least twice in a year in addition to the Zonal meetings.
It further resolved that each National Bureaux and structure should hold regular meetings with agencies, especially the regulators, to discuss issues of mutual concern, indicating that such meetings must be held at least once every quarter, and a report presented at each annual session.
The Assembly expressed its sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Finance and the President of the Republic, Mr John Agyekum Kufour, for his special interest in the scheme.
Pix saved on machine 135 as Brown Card
Caption- The Chief Executive of CDH Insurance, Mr Larry Jiage (right), in a handshake with the Managing Director of Prime Insurance Company Limited, Mr Ebenezar Allotey (left), after the latter had decorated him with a medallion as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme.
It has therefore urged all national bureaux of the scheme to embark on rigorous public education to create awareness among the travelling and insuring public concerning how and where they could secure original brown cards.
The General Assembly has, therefore, resolved that the Council must adopt a prototype design for the Brown Card with respect to colour, shape and size.
These and other resolutions were contained in the Assembly’s resolutions passed at the end of five days of deliberations to end the Scheme’s 25th Ordinary Session held in Accra from Monday, October 27 to Friday, October 31, 2008.
At the closing ceremony, which was attended by guests from 15 West African member countries , including both Francophone and Anglophone countries, the Chief Executive of CDH Insurance, Mr Larry Jiage, who was elected the new Chairman of the Scheme, said the new Executives of the Council had resolved to solve existing problems of the scheme with renewed strategies.
He expressed his profound gratitude for being elected as the Chairman of the scheme and promised to do his best to maintain the standards set by his predecessors.
In collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, the General Assembly had resolved that the Council should identify the unit at the Commission responsible for issues relating to the Brown Card scheme to serve as an interface between the Commission and the Brown Card Scheme.
The General Assembly consequently resolved that a permanent communication link should be established and maintained between the Permanent General Secretariat and the ECOWAS Commission to foster closer collaboration between the two bodies.
Additionally, the Assembly resolved that each Member Country must establish an independent Permanent Secretariat by the end of 2010 in accordance with the requirements of the Protocol.
This resolution was in line with Article 5 of the Protocol which required each member country to have a National Bureau which was independent and financially self-supporting to oversee the affairs of the Brown Card Scheme.
To that effect the Assembly had resolved that all National Bureaux must deposit 174,000 units of accounts in their respective national banks by December 31, 2012.
That, according to the member countries, was to ensure that the Permanent Secretariat got the required financial resources to enable it to carry out its mandate as it was currently faced with serious financial constraints with significant amounts of contributions in arrears.
To facilitate management and speedy settlement of claims between member states, the General Assembly and Council of Bureaux resolved that Inter-Bureaux meetings should be organised at least twice in a year in addition to the Zonal meetings.
It further resolved that each National Bureaux and structure should hold regular meetings with agencies, especially the regulators, to discuss issues of mutual concern, indicating that such meetings must be held at least once every quarter, and a report presented at each annual session.
The Assembly expressed its sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Finance and the President of the Republic, Mr John Agyekum Kufour, for his special interest in the scheme.
Pix saved on machine 135 as Brown Card
Caption- The Chief Executive of CDH Insurance, Mr Larry Jiage (right), in a handshake with the Managing Director of Prime Insurance Company Limited, Mr Ebenezar Allotey (left), after the latter had decorated him with a medallion as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme.
Government to reactivate ceramic industry
THE Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, has stated that the government is committed to re-activating the ceramic industry after the completion of the Bui Dam, to enable it provide enough energy for the industry.
He said the revival of the ceramic industry was vital as it would provide thousands of jobs to the local people.
Mr Asamoah Boateng, who is contesting for the second time as Member of Parliament for the Mfantseman West Constituency, was speaking at a rally at Mankesim at the weekend.
Mr Asamoah Boateng addressed separate crowds at Saltpond and Mankesim to officially launch his campaign in the region.
He said the government’s intention to revive the ceramic industry was a testimony to its commitment to creating more jobs in the country and in the Central Region in particular.
He said when completed, the Bui Dam would support the country’s energy needs and local industries earmarked by the government for the region.
He said among the 10 regions in the country, the Central Region was first on the agenda of the New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and that demonstrated the belief of the NPP presidential candidate in the potentials of the region.
He said the completion of the Bui Dam was critical to the sustainability of energy supply in the country and for that matter it had been one of the government’s identified targets to help in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said the government was sourcing funds to send more young and enthusiastic students, particularly those from the Central and Western regions overseas to benefit from training in the oil and gas industry as preparation towards the utilisation of country’s oil boom.
Mr Asamoah Boateng said also paramount on the government’s agenda for the region was the establishment of another university for the region, and, therefore, urged the people to vote for him to enable him continue his good works.
He also urged them to vote for Nana Akufo-Addo as the president of the country in the December general elections for him to move the country forward, as President Agyekum Kufuor had done.
The minister, popularly called ‘Asabee’, said he intended to set up the “Asabee Educational Fund” to offer scholarships to the youth in the constituency, particularly the less privileged, to ensure that most of them benefited from tertiary education after going through the free and compulsory primary and secondary school education under the new government headed by Nana Akufo-Addo.
He said he was sure of victory for the NPP in the December polls, and predicted that the margin between him the main opposition’s parliamentary candidate would be a difference of over 20,000 votes; an increase of 11,000 over the previous difference in the last general election.
The NPP Constituency Secretary, Mr Kofi Aduakwa-Mensah, said the launch of the campaign was significant because of the pioneering role played by the constituency in ushering in multi-party democracy in the country during the colonial era.
“Today the constituency, and for that matter, Saltpond, takes pride in being the birth place of the first political party in the country - the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) of which the NPP is the offspring”.
He said victory for the NPP was certain and, therefore, urged the rank and file of the party to conduct their campaign with decorum, stressing that the party had a role to play in ensuring peaceful elections.
He said the revival of the ceramic industry was vital as it would provide thousands of jobs to the local people.
Mr Asamoah Boateng, who is contesting for the second time as Member of Parliament for the Mfantseman West Constituency, was speaking at a rally at Mankesim at the weekend.
Mr Asamoah Boateng addressed separate crowds at Saltpond and Mankesim to officially launch his campaign in the region.
He said the government’s intention to revive the ceramic industry was a testimony to its commitment to creating more jobs in the country and in the Central Region in particular.
He said when completed, the Bui Dam would support the country’s energy needs and local industries earmarked by the government for the region.
He said among the 10 regions in the country, the Central Region was first on the agenda of the New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and that demonstrated the belief of the NPP presidential candidate in the potentials of the region.
He said the completion of the Bui Dam was critical to the sustainability of energy supply in the country and for that matter it had been one of the government’s identified targets to help in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said the government was sourcing funds to send more young and enthusiastic students, particularly those from the Central and Western regions overseas to benefit from training in the oil and gas industry as preparation towards the utilisation of country’s oil boom.
Mr Asamoah Boateng said also paramount on the government’s agenda for the region was the establishment of another university for the region, and, therefore, urged the people to vote for him to enable him continue his good works.
He also urged them to vote for Nana Akufo-Addo as the president of the country in the December general elections for him to move the country forward, as President Agyekum Kufuor had done.
The minister, popularly called ‘Asabee’, said he intended to set up the “Asabee Educational Fund” to offer scholarships to the youth in the constituency, particularly the less privileged, to ensure that most of them benefited from tertiary education after going through the free and compulsory primary and secondary school education under the new government headed by Nana Akufo-Addo.
He said he was sure of victory for the NPP in the December polls, and predicted that the margin between him the main opposition’s parliamentary candidate would be a difference of over 20,000 votes; an increase of 11,000 over the previous difference in the last general election.
The NPP Constituency Secretary, Mr Kofi Aduakwa-Mensah, said the launch of the campaign was significant because of the pioneering role played by the constituency in ushering in multi-party democracy in the country during the colonial era.
“Today the constituency, and for that matter, Saltpond, takes pride in being the birth place of the first political party in the country - the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) of which the NPP is the offspring”.
He said victory for the NPP was certain and, therefore, urged the rank and file of the party to conduct their campaign with decorum, stressing that the party had a role to play in ensuring peaceful elections.
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