THE Ministry of health (MoH) has launched a policy guideline on the registration and licensing of traditional health practice to promote professionalism and enhance public confidence in traditional healing.
The guidelines are expected to eliminate the high incidence of quackery, charlatanism and unethical practice such as the sale of herbal medicine on passenger vehicles, as well as unsubstantiated claims and preventable deaths.
Through the enforcement of standards for quality service delivery, the Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Benjamin Kumbour, who launched the guidelines in Accra yesterday, said, he was confident that the guidelines would provide useful basis for service provision under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The registration exercise, according to him, was instituted by a ministerial directive issued by the MoH to the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) Secretariat.
He said the regulatory structures had been established to safeguard public health through the protection of practitioners and the citizenry in furtherance of the ministry’s commitment to integrate traditional medicine into the mainstream health delivery system within the context of public-private partnership.
The government’s efforts were also intended to harness the potential of traditional medicine, which Dr Kumbour said had been described as ‘Green Gold’, as a foreign exchange earner and an effective alternative to Western medicine in healthcare provision.
He said traditional medicine had been abused and continued to be exploited, culminating in health hazards, a situation which he said was not peculiar to Ghana but neighbouring countries as well.
That, he expressed, had attracted not only public condemnation or criticism but also loss of public confidence because currently practitioners were mainly self-styled professionals, with a few having qualifications from institutions outside Ghana.
To that effect, he announced that the ministry had also constituted a nine-member panel to assess and, where appropriate, recommend and approve prospective applicants for accreditation as per the rule and regulations.
The Registrar of the TMPC, Mr Korbla Hlortsi-Akakpo, said it was the hope that with the launch, the TMPC Secretariat would be supported to effectively implement the directive in order not to only sustain the interest of the panel members but also achieve the expected outcome.
He also announced that a legislative instrument was in the offing to ban the sale of herbal drugs in passenger vehicles.
A member of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine (GHAFTRAM), Mr Kenneth Danso, was hopeful that the exercise would help eliminate quack practitioners and reduce the use of Western drugs, most of which were suspected to be counterfeit.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Govt ready to bid for Kosmos
24/7/09
page 29
THE government has declared its intention to bid for the interest of Kosmos Energy in the Jubilee Oil fields, should the company decide to sell its stake.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Energy, Mr Michael Akwasi-Sarpong, although the ministry had not been approached by Kosmos in this respect, the government would not hesitate to bid for either a part or the whole stake of the company, if it resolves to sell.
Mr Akwasi-Sarpong was clarifying the government’s position on the issue in an interview with the Daily Graphic.
The sale of Kosmos Energy’s title in the oil field has become the subject of recent public debate.
Speculations are that Kosmos Energy, with a 30.875 per cent stake in the Jubilee Oil field and 18 per cent in the Deep Water Tano block wants to offload its interest, estimated at $3 billion.
The deadline for an initial bid, according to sources, closed on July 17, 2009, but has been extended for another 30 days.
Some companies that have been cited to have expressed interest in the stake include Chevron Corp., ExxonMobil Corp., Italy’s Eni SpA and Shell.
Mr Akwasi-Sarpong said the Deputy Energy Minister, Mr Kwabena Donkor had categorically expressed government’s interest, and noted that the government would not force any investor out of the industry, but would work with all partners and players provided they complied with all rules and regulations.
He said the government was more interested that partners in the sector retained their stakes in order to create jobs for Ghanaians.
This, he said, was because the government alone could not control large stakes in the sector as other oil producing countries were doing.
“Government wants to ensure that jobs are created for Ghanaians and would be happy if investors with stakes in the Jubilee field stayed to create jobs in the country,” he said.
Kosmos Energy is said to have received funds worth $800 million from two private equity firms, Blackstone and Warburg Pincus and has hired Standard Chartered and Barclays Plc to sell its stake in the Jubilee filed.
The company is also reported to have signed a $750 million loan facility deal with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group to fund the development of the discoveries.
The loan facility, reports indicate has a final maturity date up to December, 2015 and include an early-draw tranche of up to US$300 million that Kosmos could access immediately on receipt of government's consent to the security package.
The company has also recieved approval from the government for a phase-one plan of development for the field.
The Jubilee field is one of West Africa's biggest oil strikes in years, stipulated to contain reserves of at least 1.2 billion barrels, with first output scheduled for the second half of 2010.
page 29
THE government has declared its intention to bid for the interest of Kosmos Energy in the Jubilee Oil fields, should the company decide to sell its stake.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Energy, Mr Michael Akwasi-Sarpong, although the ministry had not been approached by Kosmos in this respect, the government would not hesitate to bid for either a part or the whole stake of the company, if it resolves to sell.
Mr Akwasi-Sarpong was clarifying the government’s position on the issue in an interview with the Daily Graphic.
The sale of Kosmos Energy’s title in the oil field has become the subject of recent public debate.
Speculations are that Kosmos Energy, with a 30.875 per cent stake in the Jubilee Oil field and 18 per cent in the Deep Water Tano block wants to offload its interest, estimated at $3 billion.
The deadline for an initial bid, according to sources, closed on July 17, 2009, but has been extended for another 30 days.
Some companies that have been cited to have expressed interest in the stake include Chevron Corp., ExxonMobil Corp., Italy’s Eni SpA and Shell.
Mr Akwasi-Sarpong said the Deputy Energy Minister, Mr Kwabena Donkor had categorically expressed government’s interest, and noted that the government would not force any investor out of the industry, but would work with all partners and players provided they complied with all rules and regulations.
He said the government was more interested that partners in the sector retained their stakes in order to create jobs for Ghanaians.
This, he said, was because the government alone could not control large stakes in the sector as other oil producing countries were doing.
“Government wants to ensure that jobs are created for Ghanaians and would be happy if investors with stakes in the Jubilee field stayed to create jobs in the country,” he said.
Kosmos Energy is said to have received funds worth $800 million from two private equity firms, Blackstone and Warburg Pincus and has hired Standard Chartered and Barclays Plc to sell its stake in the Jubilee filed.
The company is also reported to have signed a $750 million loan facility deal with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group to fund the development of the discoveries.
The loan facility, reports indicate has a final maturity date up to December, 2015 and include an early-draw tranche of up to US$300 million that Kosmos could access immediately on receipt of government's consent to the security package.
The company has also recieved approval from the government for a phase-one plan of development for the field.
The Jubilee field is one of West Africa's biggest oil strikes in years, stipulated to contain reserves of at least 1.2 billion barrels, with first output scheduled for the second half of 2010.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Population projected to be 25 million
Front page- 1b
THE Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, has indicated that preparations towards the 2010 Census are far advanced, with 75 per cent of the work completed.
She was optimistic that all preparatory work would be completed before the exercise kicked off on a day to be designated by the President as the Census Night.
Dr Bediako told the Daily Graphic in an interview that so far all the necessary preparatory work in the northern part of the country had been successfully completed, with work in the southern sector on course.
She said at the moment attention was focused on finalising the questionnaires for the exercise and the training of experts to assist in the actual collection of data.
With the 25 million projected population, the Government Statistician said the actual outcome hinged on the mapping of the areas to be covered, adding that the districts and municipal assemblies would be zoned into smaller areas to ensure efficiency during the exercise.
According to her, a Population and Housing Census District Implementation Committee would be inaugurated today to facilitate the exercise and ensure its total success.
Additionally, a strategy to systematically train government officials to work in collaboration with municipal and district assemblies (MDAs) had been put in place.
In all, she said 50,000 people from government agencies would be recruited for the exercise.
The homeless and street dwellers, she said, would be enumerated first on Census Night by officials who would comb the streets and towns to ascertain their population as of that given time.
An Assistant Chief Statistician, Mr Kofi Agyemang-Duah, said after data had been collected from the homeless and street dwellers, they would be presented with certificates of enumeration in order to avoid double counting.
The relevance of the Census Night, he explained, was to ensure that all persons, either Ghanaian or foreigners, within Ghana’s geographical boundary as of 12 midnight of the Census Night would be regarded as being part of the population of Ghana.
On Census night, he said various activities, such as religious activities, the sounding of sirens and church bells, would go on as a signal to residents to inform them of the event.
Mr Agyemang-Duah urged all persons who would either be visiting friends or relatives to leave details of their biological information with their hosts to avoid double counting.
“You will be counted based on where you were at 12 midnight on Census Night,” he stated, and appealed to the media to assist in creating awareness of the exercise in order to minimise the challenges to be confronted during the exercise.
THE Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, has indicated that preparations towards the 2010 Census are far advanced, with 75 per cent of the work completed.
She was optimistic that all preparatory work would be completed before the exercise kicked off on a day to be designated by the President as the Census Night.
Dr Bediako told the Daily Graphic in an interview that so far all the necessary preparatory work in the northern part of the country had been successfully completed, with work in the southern sector on course.
She said at the moment attention was focused on finalising the questionnaires for the exercise and the training of experts to assist in the actual collection of data.
With the 25 million projected population, the Government Statistician said the actual outcome hinged on the mapping of the areas to be covered, adding that the districts and municipal assemblies would be zoned into smaller areas to ensure efficiency during the exercise.
According to her, a Population and Housing Census District Implementation Committee would be inaugurated today to facilitate the exercise and ensure its total success.
Additionally, a strategy to systematically train government officials to work in collaboration with municipal and district assemblies (MDAs) had been put in place.
In all, she said 50,000 people from government agencies would be recruited for the exercise.
The homeless and street dwellers, she said, would be enumerated first on Census Night by officials who would comb the streets and towns to ascertain their population as of that given time.
An Assistant Chief Statistician, Mr Kofi Agyemang-Duah, said after data had been collected from the homeless and street dwellers, they would be presented with certificates of enumeration in order to avoid double counting.
The relevance of the Census Night, he explained, was to ensure that all persons, either Ghanaian or foreigners, within Ghana’s geographical boundary as of 12 midnight of the Census Night would be regarded as being part of the population of Ghana.
On Census night, he said various activities, such as religious activities, the sounding of sirens and church bells, would go on as a signal to residents to inform them of the event.
Mr Agyemang-Duah urged all persons who would either be visiting friends or relatives to leave details of their biological information with their hosts to avoid double counting.
“You will be counted based on where you were at 12 midnight on Census Night,” he stated, and appealed to the media to assist in creating awareness of the exercise in order to minimise the challenges to be confronted during the exercise.
Accra drainage plan to change
IN an effort to check flooding and minimise its damaging effects on lives and property, the government is reviewing the 1992 Accra Strategic Drainage Plan to modernise the drainage system in the national capital.
The plan, which was initiated in 1988 and completed in 1992, was prepared by the Town and Country Planning Department, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Director of the Town and Country Planning Department, Mr Kwadwo Baafour Asare, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said the drainage system in the capital could no longer sustain the growing population in the city and, therefore, needed to be modernised.
The government, he said, was poised to avoid any serious havoc to lives and property during next year’s rainfall rainy season.
“The government is seriously concerned about the poor drainage system in the capital and is prepared to do anything to ensure that we have a very good plan to mitigate flooding,” he said, noting that works to be identified would be completed by the end of this year to prevent a recurrence of the recent disasters.
front page- 1b
Mr Asare suggested that the assemblies could attract developers to other areas of the capital by providing basic essential amenities in those areas.
He said the department, which is part of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force charged to demolish houses on watercourses, was poorly resourced and understaffed.
He attributed the understaffing situation to the existing policy on manpower which prevented the department from engaging personnel for certain key planning activities.
Mr Asare said the department would take advantage of the only option provided under the policy to replace personnel with approval from the Ministry of Finance.
Currently, he said, the department had enough policy or resource planners but lacked settlement planners skilled in planning urban development to prepare layouts and planning schemes.
According to him, the assemblies needed to work jointly with settlement planners to plan good roads and layouts devoid of encroachment to make communities self-sustaining.
The plan, which was initiated in 1988 and completed in 1992, was prepared by the Town and Country Planning Department, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Director of the Town and Country Planning Department, Mr Kwadwo Baafour Asare, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said the drainage system in the capital could no longer sustain the growing population in the city and, therefore, needed to be modernised.
The government, he said, was poised to avoid any serious havoc to lives and property during next year’s rainfall rainy season.
“The government is seriously concerned about the poor drainage system in the capital and is prepared to do anything to ensure that we have a very good plan to mitigate flooding,” he said, noting that works to be identified would be completed by the end of this year to prevent a recurrence of the recent disasters.
front page- 1b
Mr Asare suggested that the assemblies could attract developers to other areas of the capital by providing basic essential amenities in those areas.
He said the department, which is part of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force charged to demolish houses on watercourses, was poorly resourced and understaffed.
He attributed the understaffing situation to the existing policy on manpower which prevented the department from engaging personnel for certain key planning activities.
Mr Asare said the department would take advantage of the only option provided under the policy to replace personnel with approval from the Ministry of Finance.
Currently, he said, the department had enough policy or resource planners but lacked settlement planners skilled in planning urban development to prepare layouts and planning schemes.
According to him, the assemblies needed to work jointly with settlement planners to plan good roads and layouts devoid of encroachment to make communities self-sustaining.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Single currency for West Africa feasible
Page 34- July 17, 2009
THE Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, has observed that the vision of a single currency for West Africa is achievable, despite the strict convergence criteria for member countries.
She is optimistic that this vision will be realised if countries in the sub-region share methods and comparable statistics information and focus on building economic models that will effectively support government policies.
Dr Bediako gave the assurance when she spoke to the Daily Graphic shortly after the opening of a seven-day capacity building workshop on macroeconomic modelling in Accra last Monday
She said models were important inputs for policies to assist government officials to maintain and evaluate the impact of government policies.
“A good understanding of the economic model is critical for us to understand our economic policies,” she noted, and urged countries in the sub-region to foster synergy and co-ordinate data among themselves to better integrate the sub-region.
She advised representatives of member countries present to ensure the harmonisation of their economic modelling concepts, which she said was critical in the integration of the continent.
"It is important for us to meet the criteria of those who are supposed to implement government policies, understand what aggregate they need to feed into these policies," she said, and expressed the conviction that deliberations at the workshop would help participants to make better inputs in their various countries.
Dr Bediako, however, expressed dismay at the inability of statistical services in the sub-region to retain the capacity they had built overtime and called for a common strategy that would help them to retain those capacities or trained personnel.
The ongoing workshop is being organised jointly by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ABCF) and the ECOWAS Statistical Capacity Building Project (ESCAP) of the ECOWAS Commission.
It is to purposely contribute to the establishment of an enabling environment and conditions for ECOWAS members to produce the minimum statistical information needed for decision-making.
Mr Biokou Mathieu Djayeola, a statistician-economist, was hopeful that the workshop would strengthen the capacity of the ECOWAS Commission to help promote statistical harmonisation in member countries.
The major components of the project, he said, were institutional strengthening, research activities, training, dissemination and advocacy.
Under institutional strengthening, Mr Djayeola, who is also a member of the ECOWAS Commission, said the procurement of equipment such as computers and the acquisition of specialised software such as Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS) would benefit member countries in standardisation of data and analysis.
On the expected output or impact of the project, he said a framework would be developed to assist member countries to update their laws and other regulatory instruments, with reference from eight regional research studies that contained new updates of information and policy recommendations from legal and regulatory frameworks.
He disclosed that eight regional training workshops would be organised for about 200 beneficiaries from member countries, while six regional dissemination and advocacy workshops based on research findings and topical themes would as well be organised for about 120 participants.
That, according to Mr Djayeola, was expected to increase the performance of national statistical systems and improve policy-making in member countries.
Additionally, he said the ECOWAS Commission would capitalise on the outcomes of the project to further promote the harmonisation of monetary and trade policies, the lowering of tariffs, elimination of non-tariff barriers and the removal of other impediments to free trade within the community.
THE Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, has observed that the vision of a single currency for West Africa is achievable, despite the strict convergence criteria for member countries.
She is optimistic that this vision will be realised if countries in the sub-region share methods and comparable statistics information and focus on building economic models that will effectively support government policies.
Dr Bediako gave the assurance when she spoke to the Daily Graphic shortly after the opening of a seven-day capacity building workshop on macroeconomic modelling in Accra last Monday
She said models were important inputs for policies to assist government officials to maintain and evaluate the impact of government policies.
“A good understanding of the economic model is critical for us to understand our economic policies,” she noted, and urged countries in the sub-region to foster synergy and co-ordinate data among themselves to better integrate the sub-region.
She advised representatives of member countries present to ensure the harmonisation of their economic modelling concepts, which she said was critical in the integration of the continent.
"It is important for us to meet the criteria of those who are supposed to implement government policies, understand what aggregate they need to feed into these policies," she said, and expressed the conviction that deliberations at the workshop would help participants to make better inputs in their various countries.
Dr Bediako, however, expressed dismay at the inability of statistical services in the sub-region to retain the capacity they had built overtime and called for a common strategy that would help them to retain those capacities or trained personnel.
The ongoing workshop is being organised jointly by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ABCF) and the ECOWAS Statistical Capacity Building Project (ESCAP) of the ECOWAS Commission.
It is to purposely contribute to the establishment of an enabling environment and conditions for ECOWAS members to produce the minimum statistical information needed for decision-making.
Mr Biokou Mathieu Djayeola, a statistician-economist, was hopeful that the workshop would strengthen the capacity of the ECOWAS Commission to help promote statistical harmonisation in member countries.
The major components of the project, he said, were institutional strengthening, research activities, training, dissemination and advocacy.
Under institutional strengthening, Mr Djayeola, who is also a member of the ECOWAS Commission, said the procurement of equipment such as computers and the acquisition of specialised software such as Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS) would benefit member countries in standardisation of data and analysis.
On the expected output or impact of the project, he said a framework would be developed to assist member countries to update their laws and other regulatory instruments, with reference from eight regional research studies that contained new updates of information and policy recommendations from legal and regulatory frameworks.
He disclosed that eight regional training workshops would be organised for about 200 beneficiaries from member countries, while six regional dissemination and advocacy workshops based on research findings and topical themes would as well be organised for about 120 participants.
That, according to Mr Djayeola, was expected to increase the performance of national statistical systems and improve policy-making in member countries.
Additionally, he said the ECOWAS Commission would capitalise on the outcomes of the project to further promote the harmonisation of monetary and trade policies, the lowering of tariffs, elimination of non-tariff barriers and the removal of other impediments to free trade within the community.
Global Economic downturn has affected media houses
Page 24- July 17,2009
THE recent global economic downturn has affected the operations of companies worldwide, including that of major media houses in the country.
The situation, as explained by the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Ibrahim Awal, at the company’s 2009 mid-year staff durbar, had impacted heavily on the company’s operations, prompting the management to cut down on cost, particularly on medical incentives for staff.
According to the managing director the cedi had depreciated by about 22 per cent against the US dollar, increasing the cost of operations of the company to over GH¢300,000.
This, he said, could also be attributed to the fact that most of the consumables used by the company were imported.
Currently, he said, the company had spent about GH¢800,000 on repayment of loans for its new press house to Stanbic and Ecobank, as well as on prints for production.
"The global downturn has also affected advertising revenue, and from January to June this year revenue targets have been decreasing badly," he stated, and pointed out that management and staff could mitigate the problem.
"We must work hard, the time some personnel arrive at work is not encouraging, company hours are not being utilised adequately," he said, and added that though Graphic was a profitable company, workers needed to change their attitude to work to make it more profitable.
To that effect, Mr Awal announced that from next year payment of bonus for staff would be based on performance of individual staff.
He also indicated that although the company had about 75 per cent share of total advertisement in the media in the country, unfortunately it had about GH¢230,000 "What we need to do is to reduce waste. We have to leverage our competence and credibility to make money,” he urged, and indicated that, for example, issues of unsold publications were a problem worldwide.
He was, however, hopeful that things would improve soon as the company intended to diversify its operations into the electronic media by next year, with the establishment of a radio station.
Earlier, questions were asked as to why the company had cut down on health incentives for staff, and Mr Awal explained that it was not deliberate to deny staff of those incentives, but management had to resort to that measure as a result of the impact of the global economic crisis on the operations of the company.
The Editor of Daily Graphic, Mr Randsford Tetteh, who also responded to some issues raised about the content of the newspaper, said the editorial team always took into account the sensibility of the reading public, that was why it did not publish just any human interest story with the view of making profit.
“We do not have to follow what others are doing,” he said, but welcomed suggestions from members of staff as to how to derive the desired impact.
The General Services Manager, Mr B. B. Awuah, who is in charge of the construction of the company’s new press house, said although management could not penalise the contractor for the delay, there were provisions in the contract that allowed management to abrogate the contract and ask for damages, a situation he ruled out.
“What we are interested in is to get the work completed,” he said, and gave the assurance that management, together with external consultants, were doing their best to ensure that the project was completed on time for the equipment, which was brought in last year, to be installed.
Long service certificates were presented to some members of staff.
THE recent global economic downturn has affected the operations of companies worldwide, including that of major media houses in the country.
The situation, as explained by the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Ibrahim Awal, at the company’s 2009 mid-year staff durbar, had impacted heavily on the company’s operations, prompting the management to cut down on cost, particularly on medical incentives for staff.
According to the managing director the cedi had depreciated by about 22 per cent against the US dollar, increasing the cost of operations of the company to over GH¢300,000.
This, he said, could also be attributed to the fact that most of the consumables used by the company were imported.
Currently, he said, the company had spent about GH¢800,000 on repayment of loans for its new press house to Stanbic and Ecobank, as well as on prints for production.
"The global downturn has also affected advertising revenue, and from January to June this year revenue targets have been decreasing badly," he stated, and pointed out that management and staff could mitigate the problem.
"We must work hard, the time some personnel arrive at work is not encouraging, company hours are not being utilised adequately," he said, and added that though Graphic was a profitable company, workers needed to change their attitude to work to make it more profitable.
To that effect, Mr Awal announced that from next year payment of bonus for staff would be based on performance of individual staff.
He also indicated that although the company had about 75 per cent share of total advertisement in the media in the country, unfortunately it had about GH¢230,000 "What we need to do is to reduce waste. We have to leverage our competence and credibility to make money,” he urged, and indicated that, for example, issues of unsold publications were a problem worldwide.
He was, however, hopeful that things would improve soon as the company intended to diversify its operations into the electronic media by next year, with the establishment of a radio station.
Earlier, questions were asked as to why the company had cut down on health incentives for staff, and Mr Awal explained that it was not deliberate to deny staff of those incentives, but management had to resort to that measure as a result of the impact of the global economic crisis on the operations of the company.
The Editor of Daily Graphic, Mr Randsford Tetteh, who also responded to some issues raised about the content of the newspaper, said the editorial team always took into account the sensibility of the reading public, that was why it did not publish just any human interest story with the view of making profit.
“We do not have to follow what others are doing,” he said, but welcomed suggestions from members of staff as to how to derive the desired impact.
The General Services Manager, Mr B. B. Awuah, who is in charge of the construction of the company’s new press house, said although management could not penalise the contractor for the delay, there were provisions in the contract that allowed management to abrogate the contract and ask for damages, a situation he ruled out.
“What we are interested in is to get the work completed,” he said, and gave the assurance that management, together with external consultants, were doing their best to ensure that the project was completed on time for the equipment, which was brought in last year, to be installed.
Long service certificates were presented to some members of staff.
Monday, July 6, 2009
RESIDENTS of VRA resettlements appeal to govt
RESIDENTS of Volta River Authority (VRA) resettlements in three Kpando districts in the Volta Region have appealed to the government to resettle them, to save them from injustices being perpetrated against them by the Chiefs and people of Kpando Fesi.
The residents from Kpando Fesi, Kpando Bame and Kpando Agbenorhoe were ejected from communities such as Gbefe, Sempeta, Hatukope, Avetikope and Zelevukope to pave way for the construction of the Akosombo Dam.
In 1963, the government acquired lands on behalf of VRA to resettle them.
The Chairman of a Unit Committee in the resettlement area, Mr Kumi Simmons told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra today that, a section of the youth of Kpando Fesi had been threatening their lives and creating an atmosphere of insecurity by sporadic firing of guns into the air.
He alleged that the youth appeared to be carrying out the threats of war which were allegedly issued by Togbe Afendza III, chief of Kpando Fesi.
According to Mr Simmons the youth allegedly invaded their communities on June 3, 2009 and repeated their lawless act of firing guns in the air to create fear among members of the communities thereby halting all economic activities.
He said “ since the threats were issued a month ago, we have not being to our farms, our children and women are hungry and we the men are helpless”.
According to him, the situation had created poverty, hunger and insecurity in the three communities, after the Kpando youth destroyed almost every crop on their farms.
“As if not enough, they fell trees on our farms which led to debris filling the only pond we use as a source of water during the dry season”, he complained.
He further alleged that after their farms were destroyed, Togbe Afendza III sent his linguist and one Mr Agorbortu Robert to inform their Headman, Togbui Etsiada that from June 3, 2009 onwards, no settler should go to his or her farms or move anywhere for a month otherwise they would be shot and killed.
He said the government was their last hope since all efforts to have the matter peacefully settled by the VRA, the District Chief Executive, Members of Parliament and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) had been to no avail.
“The government should quickly come to our aid, because we believe next time when they come, they will not fire their guns in the air, but rather turn their muzzles on us”, he added and urged the government to intercede to prevent any act of genocide.
Mr Simmons said the residents had been living in the resettlement quarters since the reign of the Togbe Afendza II, who gave the lands to the VRA, 46 years ago, after the payment of huge sums of monies by the government as compensation.
“Since his death and the enthronement of Tobge Afendza III, we have not had peace as he and his elders have imposed certain conditions which are difficult to comply with”, he lamented.
Enumerating the some of the conditions, he said “owners of all newly built houses on any of the compounds of the VRA resettlement quarters were to pay GH¢20 and two bottles of foreign schnapps to the Afendza stool.
“Owners of building that fall outside the quarters but are within the resettlement area are to pay GH¢30, one live ram, and four bottles of schnapps”, he stated.
Additionally, he said, they were compelled to attend communal labour at Fesi Township, whilst residents of the town failed to attend communal labour at the resettlement.
Mr Simmons said they were also not allowed to touch palm and teak trees they had planted on the land and were also not allowed to create any cemetery or bury a corspe in the resettlement without the prior approval from the Chief and his elders.
For record purposes, he said they demanded a written copy of the conditions imposed on them, but surprisingly, Togbe and his elders declined to honour their request
He said they were therefore pleading with the government to intercede before the inevitable happened.
The residents from Kpando Fesi, Kpando Bame and Kpando Agbenorhoe were ejected from communities such as Gbefe, Sempeta, Hatukope, Avetikope and Zelevukope to pave way for the construction of the Akosombo Dam.
In 1963, the government acquired lands on behalf of VRA to resettle them.
The Chairman of a Unit Committee in the resettlement area, Mr Kumi Simmons told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra today that, a section of the youth of Kpando Fesi had been threatening their lives and creating an atmosphere of insecurity by sporadic firing of guns into the air.
He alleged that the youth appeared to be carrying out the threats of war which were allegedly issued by Togbe Afendza III, chief of Kpando Fesi.
According to Mr Simmons the youth allegedly invaded their communities on June 3, 2009 and repeated their lawless act of firing guns in the air to create fear among members of the communities thereby halting all economic activities.
He said “ since the threats were issued a month ago, we have not being to our farms, our children and women are hungry and we the men are helpless”.
According to him, the situation had created poverty, hunger and insecurity in the three communities, after the Kpando youth destroyed almost every crop on their farms.
“As if not enough, they fell trees on our farms which led to debris filling the only pond we use as a source of water during the dry season”, he complained.
He further alleged that after their farms were destroyed, Togbe Afendza III sent his linguist and one Mr Agorbortu Robert to inform their Headman, Togbui Etsiada that from June 3, 2009 onwards, no settler should go to his or her farms or move anywhere for a month otherwise they would be shot and killed.
He said the government was their last hope since all efforts to have the matter peacefully settled by the VRA, the District Chief Executive, Members of Parliament and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) had been to no avail.
“The government should quickly come to our aid, because we believe next time when they come, they will not fire their guns in the air, but rather turn their muzzles on us”, he added and urged the government to intercede to prevent any act of genocide.
Mr Simmons said the residents had been living in the resettlement quarters since the reign of the Togbe Afendza II, who gave the lands to the VRA, 46 years ago, after the payment of huge sums of monies by the government as compensation.
“Since his death and the enthronement of Tobge Afendza III, we have not had peace as he and his elders have imposed certain conditions which are difficult to comply with”, he lamented.
Enumerating the some of the conditions, he said “owners of all newly built houses on any of the compounds of the VRA resettlement quarters were to pay GH¢20 and two bottles of foreign schnapps to the Afendza stool.
“Owners of building that fall outside the quarters but are within the resettlement area are to pay GH¢30, one live ram, and four bottles of schnapps”, he stated.
Additionally, he said, they were compelled to attend communal labour at Fesi Township, whilst residents of the town failed to attend communal labour at the resettlement.
Mr Simmons said they were also not allowed to touch palm and teak trees they had planted on the land and were also not allowed to create any cemetery or bury a corspe in the resettlement without the prior approval from the Chief and his elders.
For record purposes, he said they demanded a written copy of the conditions imposed on them, but surprisingly, Togbe and his elders declined to honour their request
He said they were therefore pleading with the government to intercede before the inevitable happened.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
WAR on Piracy- AG wants all hands on deck
Front page
Counterfeiting, which is said to account for $512 billion of global trade annually, has been a major obstacle to the achievement of the development goals of many countries, including Ghana.
That substantial share of world trade is said to be most pronounced in pharmaceuticals, textiles, automobiles, household appliances, currencies and musical videos and it is responsible for between five and seven per cent of the global trade.
In the case of Ghana, which is severely hit by the phenomenon, making job creation exceedingly difficult, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, yesterday advocated the establishment of a separate Intellectual Property Office to fight piracy and counterfeit products in the country.
Furthermore, she recommended a crusade involving government agencies, the media and the private business sector to fight against all forms of counterfeiting in the country.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu disclosed this at a forum in Accra as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA).
She expressed the hope that government agencies, such as the Ghana Police Service, the Copyright Office, the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), the Registrar-General’s Department, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Ghana Standard Board (GSB), would be brought under one umbrella to enforce intellectual property rights, particularly in the textile and pharmaceutical industries.
Speaking on the theme, “Consumer protection against illicit trade and counterfeit goods”, the minister said plans were underway to merge the Industrial Property Section of the Registrar-General’s Department and the Copyright Office to constitute a more effective Intellectual Property Office.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said the government would not relent in its efforts at ridding the country of counterfeit and illicit goods and called for the support of all Ghanaians.
She said in order to facilitate information flow, the government would assist CEPS and the police to set up a database on counterfeiting that would be linked to the World Customs Authority and Interpol.
Additionally, she said, the Attorney-General’s Office, the Copyright Office and the Registrar-General’s Department would work in conjunction with the Coalition Against Counterfeit and Illicit Trade (CACIT), an initiative of the GEA, to provide training programmes for the enforcement agencies.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said the government intended to propose an increase in fines and the terms of imprisonment for offenders to serve as a deterrent because the low fines and low terms of imprisonment as prescribed by the various statutes on intellectual property right were not deterrent enough.
The President of the GEA, Nana Fredua Agyeman Pambo I, said the theme for the occasion was informed by the negative and devastating impact of the phenomenon, which was harmful to the image and reputation of the country.
He said many industries, particularly the textile industry in Ghana and other West African countries, had collapsed due to counterfeiting, piracy and the infringement of property rights, mostly of imported products from Asia.
In 2004 alone, Nana Pambo said, the World Customs Organisation estimated the global trade in counterfeit products to be $512 billion and noted that counterfeit operators had created a global industry that now rivalled the multinational corporation in speed, reach and sophistication.
He also cited a report by the International Policy Network (IPN), which stated that about 700 people died annually from consuming fake drugs, most of which were said to have originated from China and India.
“The IPN estimates that almost 50 per cent of drugs sold in Ghana, Nigeria, Angola, Burundi and the Congo are fake and substandard, leaving people to unknowingly consume paints, saw dust, cement, talcum powder and other toxic substances,” he added.
He, therefore, called for a national educational and awareness campaign to address the problem posed by counterfeit products, particularly pharmaceuticals.
Nana Pambo suggested that a special collaboration to combat counterfeit medicine could be initiated at the national and regional levels involving stakeholders from the public sector, the health sector, civil society groups, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, distributors and the media.
The Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Ibrahim Awal, who chaired the ceremony, said counterfeiting had serious implications on the country’s development agenda.
He, therefore, urged the media to team up with other stakeholders in fighting the menace, which he believed was badly affecting particularly the private sector.
Counterfeiting, which is said to account for $512 billion of global trade annually, has been a major obstacle to the achievement of the development goals of many countries, including Ghana.
That substantial share of world trade is said to be most pronounced in pharmaceuticals, textiles, automobiles, household appliances, currencies and musical videos and it is responsible for between five and seven per cent of the global trade.
In the case of Ghana, which is severely hit by the phenomenon, making job creation exceedingly difficult, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, yesterday advocated the establishment of a separate Intellectual Property Office to fight piracy and counterfeit products in the country.
Furthermore, she recommended a crusade involving government agencies, the media and the private business sector to fight against all forms of counterfeiting in the country.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu disclosed this at a forum in Accra as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA).
She expressed the hope that government agencies, such as the Ghana Police Service, the Copyright Office, the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), the Registrar-General’s Department, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Ghana Standard Board (GSB), would be brought under one umbrella to enforce intellectual property rights, particularly in the textile and pharmaceutical industries.
Speaking on the theme, “Consumer protection against illicit trade and counterfeit goods”, the minister said plans were underway to merge the Industrial Property Section of the Registrar-General’s Department and the Copyright Office to constitute a more effective Intellectual Property Office.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said the government would not relent in its efforts at ridding the country of counterfeit and illicit goods and called for the support of all Ghanaians.
She said in order to facilitate information flow, the government would assist CEPS and the police to set up a database on counterfeiting that would be linked to the World Customs Authority and Interpol.
Additionally, she said, the Attorney-General’s Office, the Copyright Office and the Registrar-General’s Department would work in conjunction with the Coalition Against Counterfeit and Illicit Trade (CACIT), an initiative of the GEA, to provide training programmes for the enforcement agencies.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said the government intended to propose an increase in fines and the terms of imprisonment for offenders to serve as a deterrent because the low fines and low terms of imprisonment as prescribed by the various statutes on intellectual property right were not deterrent enough.
The President of the GEA, Nana Fredua Agyeman Pambo I, said the theme for the occasion was informed by the negative and devastating impact of the phenomenon, which was harmful to the image and reputation of the country.
He said many industries, particularly the textile industry in Ghana and other West African countries, had collapsed due to counterfeiting, piracy and the infringement of property rights, mostly of imported products from Asia.
In 2004 alone, Nana Pambo said, the World Customs Organisation estimated the global trade in counterfeit products to be $512 billion and noted that counterfeit operators had created a global industry that now rivalled the multinational corporation in speed, reach and sophistication.
He also cited a report by the International Policy Network (IPN), which stated that about 700 people died annually from consuming fake drugs, most of which were said to have originated from China and India.
“The IPN estimates that almost 50 per cent of drugs sold in Ghana, Nigeria, Angola, Burundi and the Congo are fake and substandard, leaving people to unknowingly consume paints, saw dust, cement, talcum powder and other toxic substances,” he added.
He, therefore, called for a national educational and awareness campaign to address the problem posed by counterfeit products, particularly pharmaceuticals.
Nana Pambo suggested that a special collaboration to combat counterfeit medicine could be initiated at the national and regional levels involving stakeholders from the public sector, the health sector, civil society groups, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, distributors and the media.
The Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Ibrahim Awal, who chaired the ceremony, said counterfeiting had serious implications on the country’s development agenda.
He, therefore, urged the media to team up with other stakeholders in fighting the menace, which he believed was badly affecting particularly the private sector.
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