THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for an independent body to undertake post-mortem on the body of Mr Ahmed Maikanka, an activist of the party who died after he had been allegedly brutalised by the police.
The party alleged that the police were the culprits in the case and could, therefore, not be those to perform the post-mortem on the deceased.
The General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, who made the call at a news conference in Accra yesterday, said he personally witnessed the police brutalising Maikanka.
He said what he witnessed and the account of other party faithful of the “brutal” assault and the stamping of the victim with the boots of police officers last night would critically challenge any police medical report that might suggest that Mr Maikanka could have died of natural cause.
He stated that the NPP was of the firm belief that it would be in the interest of even the police establishment that the examination of the cause of Mr Maikanka’s death was done in such a transparent manner to save the police from any public suspicion or even direct accusation of wrongdoing.
Mr Maikanka was one of the many NPP supporters who gathered at the precincts of the Greater Accra Regional office of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) last Thursday evening when Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, a former Minister of Information in the Kufuor regime, was arrested by the BNI.
They were alleged to have burnt vehicle tyres and blocked the main road, a situation which culminated in the police firing tear gas and live bullets to disperse the crowd.
Mr Maikanka was alleged to have been brutalised by the police which resulted in his death later.
The NPP General Secretary wondered why the police would rush to claim the body from the family when the deceased did not pass away in police custody and asked if the police were “now going round collecting dead bodies for post-mortem examination at the police hospital”.
“We think that given the allegation levelled against the police in the role they are said to have played in the death of Maikanka, any medical report coming from the same authority, who are being accused, is most likely to be met with suspicion. The credibility of such a report could therefore be seriously undermined,” he added.
Nana Ntow said the party strongly objected to the post-mortem examination on Maikanka’s body being done by the police.
He said even if the police had already conducted the examination, the party insisted that the body be exhumed and a second and independent opinion, preferably from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, sought.
Nana Ntow explained that the performance of the examination by the independent body for the purpose of validating or contradicting the police autopsy report must be conducted in the presence of medical witnesses of all interested parties, being the police, the family of the late Maikanka and the NPP.
He also called on the government to arraign Mr Asamoah Boateng at a court of competent jurisdiction without delay, if the BNI had any case against him.
Nana Ntow added that if the BNI had secured an arrest warrant and the person had been arrested, then there was no justification for him to be in custody for the maximum 48 hours.
“The NPP is not saying that if any member of the party has gone against the law, he or she ought to be shielded. What we are vehemently opposed to is the abuse of power, disregard for proper procedure, a disregard of the rights of citizens and a lack of respect for the rule of law, as such acts would be fiercely resisted by the party,” Nana Ntow stressed.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Political parties gear up for by-elections
THE two leading political parties in the country are gearing up for the limited election at Akwatia and the by-election for Chereponi.
But, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is preparing for the Bawku Central as well, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has played down on any possible by-election claiming that until the court processes were exhausted, they did not foresee any by-election.
However, with the Chereponi by-election, most of the political parties have expressed their readiness to participate.
Aside the NDC and NPP, the remaining political parties are not laying out any plan for the limited elections at Akwatia because no amount of votes from the six polling stations can change their fortunes to win the seat.
The Supreme Court last month ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to go ahead and conduct and supervise elections in six polling stations in the Akwatia Constituency.
In a unanimous decision, the court upheld an application for certiorari to quash the decision of the Koforidua High Court that restrained the EC from declaring the results of the December, 2008 parliamentary election in the constituency and conducting a special parliamentary election in the constituency.
The total registered voters for each of the six polling stations at Akwatia are as follows: Presby JSS — 1,183; Yoruba Mosque ‘A’ — 920; Yoruba Mosque ‘B’ — 838; Lorry Station ‘A’ — 610; Lorry Station ‘B’ — 626 and AME Zion Church — 404, thus bringing the total to 4,581.
The Constituency has 89 polling stations and out of the 83 polling stations declared, the NPP candidate, Dr Kofi Asare obtained 16,889 votes as against 13,810 by his NDC counterpart, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed. Mr Basil Ahiable, independent candidate polled 1,835 votes while Samuel Adjei (CPP) had 109 votes with Samuel Abrokwah, another independent candidate polling 64 votes.
The Chereponi by-election which was necessitated by the death of Doris Asibi Seidu, the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency on August 1, 2009 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is scheduled for September 29, this year.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Yaw Boateng-Gyan, the Deputy National Organiser of the NDC said the party “still believes that it has a bright chance of winning the seat through hard work and vigilance .”
He added that although the NPP candidate was leading by more than 3,000 votes and the voters for the six constituencies were more than 4000, the NDC could make a big difference through hard work.
Regarding Chereponi, Mr Boateng-Gyan explained that the party had dispatched some leading members from the regional office to the constituency to begin the process of selecting a candidate through a primary.
He urged all interested party members to purchase the nomination forms and apply.
Mr Boateng-Gyan said after the application, the constituency, regional and national office of the party would undertake the vetting and primaries.
He said presently, the party had reactivated its campaign machinery, especially in the Northern Region and the Chereponi constituency to begin preparatory work.
Mr Boateng-Gyan who did not want to be drawn into the legalities of the Bawku Central case because it was pending in court, said the party was preparing itself in readiness for any possibility.
He said when the court processes were dealt with and the EC had declared the seat vacant, the party would take the seat “because we are making frantic efforts to ensure that we take it”.
According to the Communications Director of the NPP, Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, although the Akwatia election could best be described as a done deal, the level of intimidation and harassment being meted out to supporters of the NPP demanded vigilance.
He said some national leading members of the NPP had been dispatched to the area to lend support to the constituency executives for both campaigning and policing the ballots.
With regard to Bawku, Mr Kwarteng said as far as the NPP was concerned, Mr Adamu Daramani remained the MP for the area until otherwise determined by the court.
“Until the judicial process was concluded, we are confident that he will be in Parliament for his whole four-year term”, Mr Kwarteng added.
He said because of the Chereponi and the Akwatia by-elections, the party had postponed its national delegates conference to August 22, this year.
Mr Kwarteng said the party would in due course select a candidate for Chereponi to maintain the seat.
The General Secretaries of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet and Mr Bernard Mornah, respectively made it clear that their parties would not participate in the Akwatia limited by-election.
They also maintained that their parties would wait till the court processes were exhausted before they would make any move on Bawku Central.
On Chereponi, Mr Mornah said it was likely the party would maintain its 2008 candidate, provided those in the constituency would agree to the decision.
Mr Greenstreet said because the party’s candidate for Chereponi in 2008 general election fared badly, “it is unlikely we will field him”.
But, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is preparing for the Bawku Central as well, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has played down on any possible by-election claiming that until the court processes were exhausted, they did not foresee any by-election.
However, with the Chereponi by-election, most of the political parties have expressed their readiness to participate.
Aside the NDC and NPP, the remaining political parties are not laying out any plan for the limited elections at Akwatia because no amount of votes from the six polling stations can change their fortunes to win the seat.
The Supreme Court last month ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to go ahead and conduct and supervise elections in six polling stations in the Akwatia Constituency.
In a unanimous decision, the court upheld an application for certiorari to quash the decision of the Koforidua High Court that restrained the EC from declaring the results of the December, 2008 parliamentary election in the constituency and conducting a special parliamentary election in the constituency.
The total registered voters for each of the six polling stations at Akwatia are as follows: Presby JSS — 1,183; Yoruba Mosque ‘A’ — 920; Yoruba Mosque ‘B’ — 838; Lorry Station ‘A’ — 610; Lorry Station ‘B’ — 626 and AME Zion Church — 404, thus bringing the total to 4,581.
The Constituency has 89 polling stations and out of the 83 polling stations declared, the NPP candidate, Dr Kofi Asare obtained 16,889 votes as against 13,810 by his NDC counterpart, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed. Mr Basil Ahiable, independent candidate polled 1,835 votes while Samuel Adjei (CPP) had 109 votes with Samuel Abrokwah, another independent candidate polling 64 votes.
The Chereponi by-election which was necessitated by the death of Doris Asibi Seidu, the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency on August 1, 2009 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is scheduled for September 29, this year.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Yaw Boateng-Gyan, the Deputy National Organiser of the NDC said the party “still believes that it has a bright chance of winning the seat through hard work and vigilance .”
He added that although the NPP candidate was leading by more than 3,000 votes and the voters for the six constituencies were more than 4000, the NDC could make a big difference through hard work.
Regarding Chereponi, Mr Boateng-Gyan explained that the party had dispatched some leading members from the regional office to the constituency to begin the process of selecting a candidate through a primary.
He urged all interested party members to purchase the nomination forms and apply.
Mr Boateng-Gyan said after the application, the constituency, regional and national office of the party would undertake the vetting and primaries.
He said presently, the party had reactivated its campaign machinery, especially in the Northern Region and the Chereponi constituency to begin preparatory work.
Mr Boateng-Gyan who did not want to be drawn into the legalities of the Bawku Central case because it was pending in court, said the party was preparing itself in readiness for any possibility.
He said when the court processes were dealt with and the EC had declared the seat vacant, the party would take the seat “because we are making frantic efforts to ensure that we take it”.
According to the Communications Director of the NPP, Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, although the Akwatia election could best be described as a done deal, the level of intimidation and harassment being meted out to supporters of the NPP demanded vigilance.
He said some national leading members of the NPP had been dispatched to the area to lend support to the constituency executives for both campaigning and policing the ballots.
With regard to Bawku, Mr Kwarteng said as far as the NPP was concerned, Mr Adamu Daramani remained the MP for the area until otherwise determined by the court.
“Until the judicial process was concluded, we are confident that he will be in Parliament for his whole four-year term”, Mr Kwarteng added.
He said because of the Chereponi and the Akwatia by-elections, the party had postponed its national delegates conference to August 22, this year.
Mr Kwarteng said the party would in due course select a candidate for Chereponi to maintain the seat.
The General Secretaries of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet and Mr Bernard Mornah, respectively made it clear that their parties would not participate in the Akwatia limited by-election.
They also maintained that their parties would wait till the court processes were exhausted before they would make any move on Bawku Central.
On Chereponi, Mr Mornah said it was likely the party would maintain its 2008 candidate, provided those in the constituency would agree to the decision.
Mr Greenstreet said because the party’s candidate for Chereponi in 2008 general election fared badly, “it is unlikely we will field him”.
Redeem pledges to cured lepers—Rev Campbell pleads
THE Chairman of the Ghana Lepers Association, Rev. Fr Andrew Campbell, has criticised politicians, especially those in government, for talking big but doing very little to alleviate the suffering of the underprivileged.
He said over the last 30 years, leaders of the country, particularly some health ministers, had looked on unconcerned while cured lepers at the country’s leprosariums in Accra, Cape Coast and Ho were neglected.
Rev. Campbell was speaking to the Daily Graphic after the Greater Accra branch of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) had donated items worth hundreds of Ghana cedis to the inmates of the Weija Leprosarium in Accra.
The items, including used dresses, footwear, bags of rice and sugar, and bars of soap, formed part of activities marking the 60th anniversary of the formation of the CPP.
Rev. Campbell called on the government to ensure that the cured lepers benefited from the Livelihood Empowerment Programme (LEAP).
“Over the last 18 years, the lepers association had to depend on the benevolence of public-spirited Ghanaians and members of the association to maintain the leprosarium which was built more than 50 years ago, pay water and electricity bills, register the inmates for the National Health Insurance Scheme without governmental support,” he said.
According to Rev Campbell, who is also the Parish Priest of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church at Community Two in Tema, he had to pour out his heart and tell the story as it was because he felt let down by various politicians.
He said he had contacted many politicians, who on their own volition made promises to the poor and neglected inmates, but they consistently failed to honour such promises.
He said three years ago, he complained bitterly about the withholding of the daily subsidy of 60Gp from the government to each inmate, but after receiving it for three months, it had ceased.
Rev Campbell, who has been working with the cured lepers for the last 30 years, added that no amount of frustration and neglect would reduce his commitment to seek their welfare.
He, however, commended individuals and organisations which had over the years shown love and compassion to the inmates.
After hugging, cuddling and planting pegs on the cheeks of the cured lepers, Rev. Campbell expressed worry that although the inmates had been cured, some as far back as 30 years ago, people still treated them with the same measure as what pertained in the Old Testament in the Holy Bible.
“They are human beings created in the image of God so we should show them love and compassion to them. It was not their fault to be in such a situation. If their close relatives have abandon them, the state must not worsen their plight by refusing to assist them to have decent meals,” he said.
Rev. Campbell said another distressing issue was that unlike the Weija Leprosarium, the Ho and Cape Coast ones were not known and, therefore, attracted little or no support from the general public and corporate entities.
The General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, described the picture painted by the Father Campbell as disturbing.
He, therefore, assured the inmates that apart from assisting them from time to time, the party would also highlight their problems at bigger and proper forums.
He said the CPP was committed to its ideal of constantly creating opportunities for the marginalised in society.
An inmate, Madam Gladys Adobea, commended the CPP for their support, and recounting history, she told the gathering about how Dr Kwame Nkrumah personally saved cured lepers 50 years ago, when some residents of Accra wanted to demolish their buildings and drive them away.
In a related development, the Orange Four Square Church of New Jersey in the United States of America has donated bags of rice, a quantity of soap and vegetable oil for the upkeep of the inmates.
According to a representative of the church who wanted to remain anonymous, the church read the appeal by Father Campbell through the media and decided to offer their widow’s mite.
He said over the last 30 years, leaders of the country, particularly some health ministers, had looked on unconcerned while cured lepers at the country’s leprosariums in Accra, Cape Coast and Ho were neglected.
Rev. Campbell was speaking to the Daily Graphic after the Greater Accra branch of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) had donated items worth hundreds of Ghana cedis to the inmates of the Weija Leprosarium in Accra.
The items, including used dresses, footwear, bags of rice and sugar, and bars of soap, formed part of activities marking the 60th anniversary of the formation of the CPP.
Rev. Campbell called on the government to ensure that the cured lepers benefited from the Livelihood Empowerment Programme (LEAP).
“Over the last 18 years, the lepers association had to depend on the benevolence of public-spirited Ghanaians and members of the association to maintain the leprosarium which was built more than 50 years ago, pay water and electricity bills, register the inmates for the National Health Insurance Scheme without governmental support,” he said.
According to Rev Campbell, who is also the Parish Priest of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church at Community Two in Tema, he had to pour out his heart and tell the story as it was because he felt let down by various politicians.
He said he had contacted many politicians, who on their own volition made promises to the poor and neglected inmates, but they consistently failed to honour such promises.
He said three years ago, he complained bitterly about the withholding of the daily subsidy of 60Gp from the government to each inmate, but after receiving it for three months, it had ceased.
Rev Campbell, who has been working with the cured lepers for the last 30 years, added that no amount of frustration and neglect would reduce his commitment to seek their welfare.
He, however, commended individuals and organisations which had over the years shown love and compassion to the inmates.
After hugging, cuddling and planting pegs on the cheeks of the cured lepers, Rev. Campbell expressed worry that although the inmates had been cured, some as far back as 30 years ago, people still treated them with the same measure as what pertained in the Old Testament in the Holy Bible.
“They are human beings created in the image of God so we should show them love and compassion to them. It was not their fault to be in such a situation. If their close relatives have abandon them, the state must not worsen their plight by refusing to assist them to have decent meals,” he said.
Rev. Campbell said another distressing issue was that unlike the Weija Leprosarium, the Ho and Cape Coast ones were not known and, therefore, attracted little or no support from the general public and corporate entities.
The General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, described the picture painted by the Father Campbell as disturbing.
He, therefore, assured the inmates that apart from assisting them from time to time, the party would also highlight their problems at bigger and proper forums.
He said the CPP was committed to its ideal of constantly creating opportunities for the marginalised in society.
An inmate, Madam Gladys Adobea, commended the CPP for their support, and recounting history, she told the gathering about how Dr Kwame Nkrumah personally saved cured lepers 50 years ago, when some residents of Accra wanted to demolish their buildings and drive them away.
In a related development, the Orange Four Square Church of New Jersey in the United States of America has donated bags of rice, a quantity of soap and vegetable oil for the upkeep of the inmates.
According to a representative of the church who wanted to remain anonymous, the church read the appeal by Father Campbell through the media and decided to offer their widow’s mite.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Afigya-Kwabre to generate resources for devt
THE Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly is evolving strategies to generate ideas and resources to complement funds from central government to accelerate the development of the area.
As a first move, the district is inviting suggestions from all its citizens living in and outside the area on how to organise a successful home-coming summit to brainstorm on the way forward for the district.
The home-coming summit is expected to take place in the district in December, this year.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Oppong Kyekyeku Kaakyire, who briefed the Daily Graphic in Accra about steps to develop the area, said the summit had become necessary because the district was carved out of two districts, namely Kwabre and Afigya Sekyere.
The DCE gave the briefing after he had paid a courtesy call on the General Manager of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who is a citizen of the district.
Mr Kaakyire noted with concern that unfortunately only the deprived areas of the two districts were carved out to form the Afigya-Kwabre District.
The situation, he said had made things difficult for the new district assembly in raising funds to finance development projects.
Mr Kaakyire said currently, the district assembly was housed in a filling station while other departments were far away from the district headquarters, which were also in rented premises.
“This means that the chunk of the initial resources that the central government would give to the district must go into construction of offices for the assembly”, he noted with concern.
According to Mr Kaakyire, unlike other districts, one part of the Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly was purely rural while the other was which is close to Kumasi, was a bit urban, and for that reason, the assembly was not able to generate funds to supplement the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
He said the rural part of the district was inundated with problems, including limited education and health infrastructure, public places of convenience and market facilities, while the other side of the district which was a bit developed and could generate funds had turned out to be a different story.
According to Mr Kaakyire, because of its proximity to Kumasi, most of the people who should have traded in the area to generate funds and other benefits to the district travelled to undertake their transactions in Kumasi.
He said the district was very receptive to investors, and that both citizens and non-citizens were welcome to the area to have great returns on their investments to create employment opportunities for the people, revenue for the assembly the development of the district.
The DCE said the area was endowed with natural resources, especially large areas of rocks for stone quarry and land for agriculture and other industrial purposes.
He added that because the area was close to Kumasi which was becoming congested, investors could locate to the area and produce for the Kumasi market.
Speaking on his vision for the district, the DCE said as the political head of the area, he would see to the implementation of the programmes and projects drawn by the district assembly, but said his priority would be on education, health and sanitation.
He said education was the first priority because through that the district had been able to produce very high calibre citizens who occupied high public and private positions both in the country and outside.
Mr Kaakyire said another issue of concern was that in recent times, educational standards in the district was falling drastically and he would make it a priority to reverse the trend.
According to Mr Kaakyire, the assembly was also planning to invite some of the citizens of the area who occupied high positions in both public and private places to serve as role models to the children and youth in the area.
He appealed to the citizens of the area to put the 2008 general election behind them and forge ahead in unity to find solutions to the problems facing the young district assembly.
As a first move, the district is inviting suggestions from all its citizens living in and outside the area on how to organise a successful home-coming summit to brainstorm on the way forward for the district.
The home-coming summit is expected to take place in the district in December, this year.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Oppong Kyekyeku Kaakyire, who briefed the Daily Graphic in Accra about steps to develop the area, said the summit had become necessary because the district was carved out of two districts, namely Kwabre and Afigya Sekyere.
The DCE gave the briefing after he had paid a courtesy call on the General Manager of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who is a citizen of the district.
Mr Kaakyire noted with concern that unfortunately only the deprived areas of the two districts were carved out to form the Afigya-Kwabre District.
The situation, he said had made things difficult for the new district assembly in raising funds to finance development projects.
Mr Kaakyire said currently, the district assembly was housed in a filling station while other departments were far away from the district headquarters, which were also in rented premises.
“This means that the chunk of the initial resources that the central government would give to the district must go into construction of offices for the assembly”, he noted with concern.
According to Mr Kaakyire, unlike other districts, one part of the Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly was purely rural while the other was which is close to Kumasi, was a bit urban, and for that reason, the assembly was not able to generate funds to supplement the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
He said the rural part of the district was inundated with problems, including limited education and health infrastructure, public places of convenience and market facilities, while the other side of the district which was a bit developed and could generate funds had turned out to be a different story.
According to Mr Kaakyire, because of its proximity to Kumasi, most of the people who should have traded in the area to generate funds and other benefits to the district travelled to undertake their transactions in Kumasi.
He said the district was very receptive to investors, and that both citizens and non-citizens were welcome to the area to have great returns on their investments to create employment opportunities for the people, revenue for the assembly the development of the district.
The DCE said the area was endowed with natural resources, especially large areas of rocks for stone quarry and land for agriculture and other industrial purposes.
He added that because the area was close to Kumasi which was becoming congested, investors could locate to the area and produce for the Kumasi market.
Speaking on his vision for the district, the DCE said as the political head of the area, he would see to the implementation of the programmes and projects drawn by the district assembly, but said his priority would be on education, health and sanitation.
He said education was the first priority because through that the district had been able to produce very high calibre citizens who occupied high public and private positions both in the country and outside.
Mr Kaakyire said another issue of concern was that in recent times, educational standards in the district was falling drastically and he would make it a priority to reverse the trend.
According to Mr Kaakyire, the assembly was also planning to invite some of the citizens of the area who occupied high positions in both public and private places to serve as role models to the children and youth in the area.
He appealed to the citizens of the area to put the 2008 general election behind them and forge ahead in unity to find solutions to the problems facing the young district assembly.
Afigya-Kwabre to generate resources for devt
THE Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly is evolving strategies to generate ideas and resources to complement funds from central government to accelerate the development of the area.
As a first move, the district is inviting suggestions from all its citizens living in and outside the area on how to organise a successful home-coming summit to brainstorm on the way forward for the district.
The home-coming summit is expected to take place in the district in December, this year.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Oppong Kyekyeku Kaakyire, who briefed the Daily Graphic in Accra about steps to develop the area, said the summit had become necessary because the district was carved out of two districts, namely Kwabre and Afigya Sekyere.
The DCE gave the briefing after he had paid a courtesy call on the General Manager of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who is a citizen of the district.
Mr Kaakyire noted with concern that unfortunately only the deprived areas of the two districts were carved out to form the Afigya-Kwabre District.
The situation, he said had made things difficult for the new district assembly in raising funds to finance development projects.
Mr Kaakyire said currently, the district assembly was housed in a filling station while other departments were far away from the district headquarters, which were also in rented premises.
“This means that the chunk of the initial resources that the central government would give to the district must go into construction of offices for the assembly”, he noted with concern.
According to Mr Kaakyire, unlike other districts, one part of the Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly was purely rural while the other was which is close to Kumasi, was a bit urban, and for that reason, the assembly was not able to generate funds to supplement the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
He said the rural part of the district was inundated with problems, including limited education and health infrastructure, public places of convenience and market facilities, while the other side of the district which was a bit developed and could generate funds had turned out to be a different story.
According to Mr Kaakyire, because of its proximity to Kumasi, most of the people who should have traded in the area to generate funds and other benefits to the district travelled to undertake their transactions in Kumasi.
He said the district was very receptive to investors, and that both citizens and non-citizens were welcome to the area to have great returns on their investments to create employment opportunities for the people, revenue for the assembly the development of the district.
The DCE said the area was endowed with natural resources, especially large areas of rocks for stone quarry and land for agriculture and other industrial purposes.
He added that because the area was close to Kumasi which was becoming congested, investors could locate to the area and produce for the Kumasi market.
Speaking on his vision for the district, the DCE said as the political head of the area, he would see to the implementation of the programmes and projects drawn by the district assembly, but said his priority would be on education, health and sanitation.
He said education was the first priority because through that the district had been able to produce very high calibre citizens who occupied high public and private positions both in the country and outside.
Mr Kaakyire said another issue of concern was that in recent times, educational standards in the district was falling drastically and he would make it a priority to reverse the trend.
According to Mr Kaakyire, the assembly was also planning to invite some of the citizens of the area who occupied high positions in both public and private places to serve as role models to the children and youth in the area.
He appealed to the citizens of the area to put the 2008 general election behind them and forge ahead in unity to find solutions to the problems facing the young district assembly.
As a first move, the district is inviting suggestions from all its citizens living in and outside the area on how to organise a successful home-coming summit to brainstorm on the way forward for the district.
The home-coming summit is expected to take place in the district in December, this year.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Oppong Kyekyeku Kaakyire, who briefed the Daily Graphic in Accra about steps to develop the area, said the summit had become necessary because the district was carved out of two districts, namely Kwabre and Afigya Sekyere.
The DCE gave the briefing after he had paid a courtesy call on the General Manager of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who is a citizen of the district.
Mr Kaakyire noted with concern that unfortunately only the deprived areas of the two districts were carved out to form the Afigya-Kwabre District.
The situation, he said had made things difficult for the new district assembly in raising funds to finance development projects.
Mr Kaakyire said currently, the district assembly was housed in a filling station while other departments were far away from the district headquarters, which were also in rented premises.
“This means that the chunk of the initial resources that the central government would give to the district must go into construction of offices for the assembly”, he noted with concern.
According to Mr Kaakyire, unlike other districts, one part of the Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly was purely rural while the other was which is close to Kumasi, was a bit urban, and for that reason, the assembly was not able to generate funds to supplement the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
He said the rural part of the district was inundated with problems, including limited education and health infrastructure, public places of convenience and market facilities, while the other side of the district which was a bit developed and could generate funds had turned out to be a different story.
According to Mr Kaakyire, because of its proximity to Kumasi, most of the people who should have traded in the area to generate funds and other benefits to the district travelled to undertake their transactions in Kumasi.
He said the district was very receptive to investors, and that both citizens and non-citizens were welcome to the area to have great returns on their investments to create employment opportunities for the people, revenue for the assembly the development of the district.
The DCE said the area was endowed with natural resources, especially large areas of rocks for stone quarry and land for agriculture and other industrial purposes.
He added that because the area was close to Kumasi which was becoming congested, investors could locate to the area and produce for the Kumasi market.
Speaking on his vision for the district, the DCE said as the political head of the area, he would see to the implementation of the programmes and projects drawn by the district assembly, but said his priority would be on education, health and sanitation.
He said education was the first priority because through that the district had been able to produce very high calibre citizens who occupied high public and private positions both in the country and outside.
Mr Kaakyire said another issue of concern was that in recent times, educational standards in the district was falling drastically and he would make it a priority to reverse the trend.
According to Mr Kaakyire, the assembly was also planning to invite some of the citizens of the area who occupied high positions in both public and private places to serve as role models to the children and youth in the area.
He appealed to the citizens of the area to put the 2008 general election behind them and forge ahead in unity to find solutions to the problems facing the young district assembly.
Afigya-Kwabre to generate resources for devt
THE Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly is evolving strategies to generate ideas and resources to complement funds from central government to accelerate the development of the area.
As a first move, the district is inviting suggestions from all its citizens living in and outside the area on how to organise a successful home-coming summit to brainstorm on the way forward for the district.
The home-coming summit is expected to take place in the district in December, this year.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Oppong Kyekyeku Kaakyire, who briefed the Daily Graphic in Accra about steps to develop the area, said the summit had become necessary because the district was carved out of two districts, namely Kwabre and Afigya Sekyere.
The DCE gave the briefing after he had paid a courtesy call on the General Manager of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who is a citizen of the district.
Mr Kaakyire noted with concern that unfortunately only the deprived areas of the two districts were carved out to form the Afigya-Kwabre District.
The situation, he said had made things difficult for the new district assembly in raising funds to finance development projects.
Mr Kaakyire said currently, the district assembly was housed in a filling station while other departments were far away from the district headquarters, which were also in rented premises.
“This means that the chunk of the initial resources that the central government would give to the district must go into construction of offices for the assembly”, he noted with concern.
According to Mr Kaakyire, unlike other districts, one part of the Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly was purely rural while the other was which is close to Kumasi, was a bit urban, and for that reason, the assembly was not able to generate funds to supplement the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
He said the rural part of the district was inundated with problems, including limited education and health infrastructure, public places of convenience and market facilities, while the other side of the district which was a bit developed and could generate funds had turned out to be a different story.
According to Mr Kaakyire, because of its proximity to Kumasi, most of the people who should have traded in the area to generate funds and other benefits to the district travelled to undertake their transactions in Kumasi.
He said the district was very receptive to investors, and that both citizens and non-citizens were welcome to the area to have great returns on their investments to create employment opportunities for the people, revenue for the assembly the development of the district.
The DCE said the area was endowed with natural resources, especially large areas of rocks for stone quarry and land for agriculture and other industrial purposes.
He added that because the area was close to Kumasi which was becoming congested, investors could locate to the area and produce for the Kumasi market.
Speaking on his vision for the district, the DCE said as the political head of the area, he would see to the implementation of the programmes and projects drawn by the district assembly, but said his priority would be on education, health and sanitation.
He said education was the first priority because through that the district had been able to produce very high calibre citizens who occupied high public and private positions both in the country and outside.
Mr Kaakyire said another issue of concern was that in recent times, educational standards in the district was falling drastically and he would make it a priority to reverse the trend.
According to Mr Kaakyire, the assembly was also planning to invite some of the citizens of the area who occupied high positions in both public and private places to serve as role models to the children and youth in the area.
He appealed to the citizens of the area to put the 2008 general election behind them and forge ahead in unity to find solutions to the problems facing the young district assembly.
As a first move, the district is inviting suggestions from all its citizens living in and outside the area on how to organise a successful home-coming summit to brainstorm on the way forward for the district.
The home-coming summit is expected to take place in the district in December, this year.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Oppong Kyekyeku Kaakyire, who briefed the Daily Graphic in Accra about steps to develop the area, said the summit had become necessary because the district was carved out of two districts, namely Kwabre and Afigya Sekyere.
The DCE gave the briefing after he had paid a courtesy call on the General Manager of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who is a citizen of the district.
Mr Kaakyire noted with concern that unfortunately only the deprived areas of the two districts were carved out to form the Afigya-Kwabre District.
The situation, he said had made things difficult for the new district assembly in raising funds to finance development projects.
Mr Kaakyire said currently, the district assembly was housed in a filling station while other departments were far away from the district headquarters, which were also in rented premises.
“This means that the chunk of the initial resources that the central government would give to the district must go into construction of offices for the assembly”, he noted with concern.
According to Mr Kaakyire, unlike other districts, one part of the Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly was purely rural while the other was which is close to Kumasi, was a bit urban, and for that reason, the assembly was not able to generate funds to supplement the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
He said the rural part of the district was inundated with problems, including limited education and health infrastructure, public places of convenience and market facilities, while the other side of the district which was a bit developed and could generate funds had turned out to be a different story.
According to Mr Kaakyire, because of its proximity to Kumasi, most of the people who should have traded in the area to generate funds and other benefits to the district travelled to undertake their transactions in Kumasi.
He said the district was very receptive to investors, and that both citizens and non-citizens were welcome to the area to have great returns on their investments to create employment opportunities for the people, revenue for the assembly the development of the district.
The DCE said the area was endowed with natural resources, especially large areas of rocks for stone quarry and land for agriculture and other industrial purposes.
He added that because the area was close to Kumasi which was becoming congested, investors could locate to the area and produce for the Kumasi market.
Speaking on his vision for the district, the DCE said as the political head of the area, he would see to the implementation of the programmes and projects drawn by the district assembly, but said his priority would be on education, health and sanitation.
He said education was the first priority because through that the district had been able to produce very high calibre citizens who occupied high public and private positions both in the country and outside.
Mr Kaakyire said another issue of concern was that in recent times, educational standards in the district was falling drastically and he would make it a priority to reverse the trend.
According to Mr Kaakyire, the assembly was also planning to invite some of the citizens of the area who occupied high positions in both public and private places to serve as role models to the children and youth in the area.
He appealed to the citizens of the area to put the 2008 general election behind them and forge ahead in unity to find solutions to the problems facing the young district assembly.
Afigya-Kwabre to generate resources for development
THE Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly is evolving strategies to generate ideas and resources to complement funds from central government to accelerate the development of the area.
As a first move, the district is inviting suggestions from all its citizens living in and outside the area on how to organise a successful home-coming summit to brainstorm on the way forward for the district.
The home-coming summit is expected to take place in the district in December, this year.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Oppong Kyekyeku Kaakyire, who briefed the Daily Graphic in Accra about steps to develop the area, said the summit had become necessary because the district was carved out of two districts, namely Kwabre and Afigya Sekyere.
The DCE gave the briefing after he had paid a courtesy call on the General Manager of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who is a citizen of the district.
Mr Kaakyire noted with concern that unfortunately only the deprived areas of the two districts were carved out to form the Afigya-Kwabre District.
The situation, he said had made things difficult for the new district assembly in raising funds to finance development projects.
Mr Kaakyire said currently, the district assembly was housed in a filling station while other departments were far away from the district headquarters, which were also in rented premises.
“This means that the chunk of the initial resources that the central government would give to the district must go into construction of offices for the assembly”, he noted with concern.
According to Mr Kaakyire, unlike other districts, one part of the Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly was purely rural while the other was which is close to Kumasi, was a bit urban, and for that reason, the assembly was not able to generate funds to supplement the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
He said the rural part of the district was inundated with problems, including limited education and health infrastructure, public places of convenience and market facilities, while the other side of the district which was a bit developed and could generate funds had turned out to be a different story.
According to Mr Kaakyire, because of its proximity to Kumasi, most of the people who should have traded in the area to generate funds and other benefits to the district travelled to undertake their transactions in Kumasi.
He said the district was very receptive to investors, and that both citizens and non-citizens were welcome to the area to have great returns on their investments to create employment opportunities for the people, revenue for the assembly the development of the district.
The DCE said the area was endowed with natural resources, especially large areas of rocks for stone quarry and land for agriculture and other industrial purposes.
He added that because the area was close to Kumasi which was becoming congested, investors could locate to the area and produce for the Kumasi market.
Speaking on his vision for the district, the DCE said as the political head of the area, he would see to the implementation of the programmes and projects drawn by the district assembly, but said his priority would be on education, health and sanitation.
He said education was the first priority because through that the district had been able to produce very high calibre citizens who occupied high public and private positions both in the country and outside.
Mr Kaakyire said another issue of concern was that in recent times, educational standards in the district was falling drastically and he would make it a priority to reverse the trend.
According to Mr Kaakyire, the assembly was also planning to invite some of the citizens of the area who occupied high positions in both public and private places to serve as role models to the children and youth in the area.
He appealed to the citizens of the area to put the 2008 general election behind them and forge ahead in unity to find solutions to the problems facing the young district assembly.
As a first move, the district is inviting suggestions from all its citizens living in and outside the area on how to organise a successful home-coming summit to brainstorm on the way forward for the district.
The home-coming summit is expected to take place in the district in December, this year.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Oppong Kyekyeku Kaakyire, who briefed the Daily Graphic in Accra about steps to develop the area, said the summit had become necessary because the district was carved out of two districts, namely Kwabre and Afigya Sekyere.
The DCE gave the briefing after he had paid a courtesy call on the General Manager of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who is a citizen of the district.
Mr Kaakyire noted with concern that unfortunately only the deprived areas of the two districts were carved out to form the Afigya-Kwabre District.
The situation, he said had made things difficult for the new district assembly in raising funds to finance development projects.
Mr Kaakyire said currently, the district assembly was housed in a filling station while other departments were far away from the district headquarters, which were also in rented premises.
“This means that the chunk of the initial resources that the central government would give to the district must go into construction of offices for the assembly”, he noted with concern.
According to Mr Kaakyire, unlike other districts, one part of the Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly was purely rural while the other was which is close to Kumasi, was a bit urban, and for that reason, the assembly was not able to generate funds to supplement the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
He said the rural part of the district was inundated with problems, including limited education and health infrastructure, public places of convenience and market facilities, while the other side of the district which was a bit developed and could generate funds had turned out to be a different story.
According to Mr Kaakyire, because of its proximity to Kumasi, most of the people who should have traded in the area to generate funds and other benefits to the district travelled to undertake their transactions in Kumasi.
He said the district was very receptive to investors, and that both citizens and non-citizens were welcome to the area to have great returns on their investments to create employment opportunities for the people, revenue for the assembly the development of the district.
The DCE said the area was endowed with natural resources, especially large areas of rocks for stone quarry and land for agriculture and other industrial purposes.
He added that because the area was close to Kumasi which was becoming congested, investors could locate to the area and produce for the Kumasi market.
Speaking on his vision for the district, the DCE said as the political head of the area, he would see to the implementation of the programmes and projects drawn by the district assembly, but said his priority would be on education, health and sanitation.
He said education was the first priority because through that the district had been able to produce very high calibre citizens who occupied high public and private positions both in the country and outside.
Mr Kaakyire said another issue of concern was that in recent times, educational standards in the district was falling drastically and he would make it a priority to reverse the trend.
According to Mr Kaakyire, the assembly was also planning to invite some of the citizens of the area who occupied high positions in both public and private places to serve as role models to the children and youth in the area.
He appealed to the citizens of the area to put the 2008 general election behind them and forge ahead in unity to find solutions to the problems facing the young district assembly.
AFAG concerns demand Govt action — Ohene Ntow
THE General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Ohene Ntow has said he will be surprised if the government fails to listen and address concerns raised by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) and other groups.
He said the concerns being raised by the Ghanaians which included high cost of living, politics of intimidation, vilification and tribalism as well as increased corruption and unfulfilled campaign promises demanded that the government acted with dispatch to find lasting solutions to them.
Nana Ntow who joined the Alliance for Accountable Governance’s (AFAG) demonstration on Tuesday said he participated in the event to add his voice to that of the numerous Ghanaians who were disappointed by the Mills’ administration.
He said he joined the demonstration as an ordinary Ghanaian in solidarity with his compatriots who were also not seeing any clear policy direction by the government, a situation that he said had worsened the living conditions of a lot of people.
Nana Ohene Ntow said this to newsmen during the demonstration and added that contrary to the campaign messages of the NDC during the December 2008 elections that it would make life better, reduce corruption, make the cost and distribution of outboard motors and pre-mix fuel to fishermen even and cheaper, things had rather gone worse.
He said fishermen on the coasts of Ghana who believed in the campaign promises of the NDC and voted for it, had regretted and were dreading that they would not be able to get money to off set their loans, because there was no pre-mix fuel for fishing.
Mr Henry Asante, a leading member of the People’s National Convention (PNC) said contrary to claims by sections of the media that AFAG was a wing of a particular political party, the alliance was made up of Ghanaians who believed in the rule of law and the need to voice out the ills that were affecting the people in society.
He said prior to the 2008 election run-off, Ghanaians were told that at least they should stick to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration but were taken in by the lies and deception of the NDC campaign messages.
He said the government was changed so that the in-coming one would fix existing and emerging problems, and that it was unacceptable for the NDC government to continuously complain to the people about the issues that existed adding that “what the NDC must do is to amicably find solutions to the problem”.
In a related development, the NPP has congratulates AFAG for the peaceful and law-abiding manner in which they conducted their August 4, 2009 demonstration.
“Ghanaians are grateful to AFAG for rising to fight on the side of the ordinary people of this country. The large crowd (the largest since the Kumepreko demonstrations in the mid-nineties) that joined them shows that Ghanaians identify with the concerns they raised,” a statement signed by Mr Kwaku Kwarteng Communications Director of the party said.
It is even more impressive that in spite of the large numbers, the demonstrators conducted themselves responsibly, making the exercise incident-free. We urge them to keep this up., it stated.
They also congratulated the Ghana Police Service for their sense of professionalism.
The officers have proved that so long as demonstrators do not get violent and lawless the police would relate to them politely.
It called on the Mills administration to pay attention to the concerns raised by the demonstrators who came from various backgrounds: traders, fisher-folks, pastors, students, fresh graduates, farmers, public servants, artisans, teachers and lecturers, journalists, drivers, employees of the formal private-sector.
He said the concerns being raised by the Ghanaians which included high cost of living, politics of intimidation, vilification and tribalism as well as increased corruption and unfulfilled campaign promises demanded that the government acted with dispatch to find lasting solutions to them.
Nana Ntow who joined the Alliance for Accountable Governance’s (AFAG) demonstration on Tuesday said he participated in the event to add his voice to that of the numerous Ghanaians who were disappointed by the Mills’ administration.
He said he joined the demonstration as an ordinary Ghanaian in solidarity with his compatriots who were also not seeing any clear policy direction by the government, a situation that he said had worsened the living conditions of a lot of people.
Nana Ohene Ntow said this to newsmen during the demonstration and added that contrary to the campaign messages of the NDC during the December 2008 elections that it would make life better, reduce corruption, make the cost and distribution of outboard motors and pre-mix fuel to fishermen even and cheaper, things had rather gone worse.
He said fishermen on the coasts of Ghana who believed in the campaign promises of the NDC and voted for it, had regretted and were dreading that they would not be able to get money to off set their loans, because there was no pre-mix fuel for fishing.
Mr Henry Asante, a leading member of the People’s National Convention (PNC) said contrary to claims by sections of the media that AFAG was a wing of a particular political party, the alliance was made up of Ghanaians who believed in the rule of law and the need to voice out the ills that were affecting the people in society.
He said prior to the 2008 election run-off, Ghanaians were told that at least they should stick to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration but were taken in by the lies and deception of the NDC campaign messages.
He said the government was changed so that the in-coming one would fix existing and emerging problems, and that it was unacceptable for the NDC government to continuously complain to the people about the issues that existed adding that “what the NDC must do is to amicably find solutions to the problem”.
In a related development, the NPP has congratulates AFAG for the peaceful and law-abiding manner in which they conducted their August 4, 2009 demonstration.
“Ghanaians are grateful to AFAG for rising to fight on the side of the ordinary people of this country. The large crowd (the largest since the Kumepreko demonstrations in the mid-nineties) that joined them shows that Ghanaians identify with the concerns they raised,” a statement signed by Mr Kwaku Kwarteng Communications Director of the party said.
It is even more impressive that in spite of the large numbers, the demonstrators conducted themselves responsibly, making the exercise incident-free. We urge them to keep this up., it stated.
They also congratulated the Ghana Police Service for their sense of professionalism.
The officers have proved that so long as demonstrators do not get violent and lawless the police would relate to them politely.
It called on the Mills administration to pay attention to the concerns raised by the demonstrators who came from various backgrounds: traders, fisher-folks, pastors, students, fresh graduates, farmers, public servants, artisans, teachers and lecturers, journalists, drivers, employees of the formal private-sector.
Some ministers of state yet to be paid
Some current ministers of state have not received salaries since they were sworn into office about five months ago and
the situation is attributable to the bad nature of the economy that the Mills administration inherited.
According to a Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, “Since some of my colleagues and I were sworn into office as ministers and deputy ministers we have not received any salary.”
He was, however, of the strong conviction that he and his colleagues would be fully paid at the appropriate time and that the problem was the manifestation of what others in the public sector were going through.
He stated that the Mills administration was leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the weak economic situation it took over from the previous administration was put on the right track to make the ordinary Ghanaian live a better life.
He said President Mills, in his bid to show leadership and also ensure that the national kitty was saved to cater for other pressing areas, had forgone his per diem and cut down on international travels to save a little for the economy.
He said unfortunately the bad nature of the local economy had been compounded by the global economic crunch and urged Ghanaians to exercise restraint while the Mills administration fixed the economy and added that to cushion Ghanaians against the harsh economic situation, the government had doubled the capitation grant, among other mitigating measures.
Mr Okudzeto-Ablakwa said contrary to the initial belief that the total national debt was small, the government had realised that it had exceeded $3 billion, despite the various forms of assistance the previous government received, including the cancellation of a chunk of the national debt by the international community.
He said the government was also inundated with promissory notes, letters of credit, hundreds given out during the Kufuor administration which were now maturing and court judgements ordering the current administration to pay millions of cedis to people who had executed contracts for the government.
He said the government was also at a loss as to the huge sums of taxpayers’ money wasted by the Ghana @50 Secretariat which could have been used to fix some sensitive areas of the economy to bring relief to the ordinary Ghanaian.
He said the government was again surprised at the revelation of high levels of corruption that took place at the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies which had the propensity of stalling the development at the grass root levels.
Mr Okudzeto-Ablakwa debunked claims by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) that the recent visit by US President Barack Obama caused the nation huge sums of money and stated that the cost that was incurred in Accra amounted to GH¢132,000.
He said the government was awaiting the figures from the Central Region, which he said would definitely be lower.
He disclosed that the provision of free school uniforms for schoolchildren in deprived communities would begin in September and that as a first step various district assemblies would open bids for the uniforms.
Regarding the naming of the demonstration by AFAG as “Atta adaadaa yen”, to wit, “Atta has deceived us”, the deputy minister described it as hypocrisy because the title meant that the organisers believed in and voted for President Mills.
He said the demonstrators could not have supported Prof Mills because they publicly campaigned for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2008 presidential candidate.
He expressed worry that the group would want to use the Chief Accountant of the Ministry of Sports who fictitiously came up with unsubstantiated proof that the former minister had squandered some money.
He asked how such a person could be described as a whistle blower because he refused to protect his own identity, typed what he claimed to be corrupt practices and circulated them to the press, a matter he was deeply involved.
Mr Okudzeto-Ablakwa noted that the chief accountant became a subject of investigation because after allegedly making huge payments, he refused to provide payment vouchers to cover those payments.
the situation is attributable to the bad nature of the economy that the Mills administration inherited.
According to a Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, “Since some of my colleagues and I were sworn into office as ministers and deputy ministers we have not received any salary.”
He was, however, of the strong conviction that he and his colleagues would be fully paid at the appropriate time and that the problem was the manifestation of what others in the public sector were going through.
He stated that the Mills administration was leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the weak economic situation it took over from the previous administration was put on the right track to make the ordinary Ghanaian live a better life.
He said President Mills, in his bid to show leadership and also ensure that the national kitty was saved to cater for other pressing areas, had forgone his per diem and cut down on international travels to save a little for the economy.
He said unfortunately the bad nature of the local economy had been compounded by the global economic crunch and urged Ghanaians to exercise restraint while the Mills administration fixed the economy and added that to cushion Ghanaians against the harsh economic situation, the government had doubled the capitation grant, among other mitigating measures.
Mr Okudzeto-Ablakwa said contrary to the initial belief that the total national debt was small, the government had realised that it had exceeded $3 billion, despite the various forms of assistance the previous government received, including the cancellation of a chunk of the national debt by the international community.
He said the government was also inundated with promissory notes, letters of credit, hundreds given out during the Kufuor administration which were now maturing and court judgements ordering the current administration to pay millions of cedis to people who had executed contracts for the government.
He said the government was also at a loss as to the huge sums of taxpayers’ money wasted by the Ghana @50 Secretariat which could have been used to fix some sensitive areas of the economy to bring relief to the ordinary Ghanaian.
He said the government was again surprised at the revelation of high levels of corruption that took place at the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies which had the propensity of stalling the development at the grass root levels.
Mr Okudzeto-Ablakwa debunked claims by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) that the recent visit by US President Barack Obama caused the nation huge sums of money and stated that the cost that was incurred in Accra amounted to GH¢132,000.
He said the government was awaiting the figures from the Central Region, which he said would definitely be lower.
He disclosed that the provision of free school uniforms for schoolchildren in deprived communities would begin in September and that as a first step various district assemblies would open bids for the uniforms.
Regarding the naming of the demonstration by AFAG as “Atta adaadaa yen”, to wit, “Atta has deceived us”, the deputy minister described it as hypocrisy because the title meant that the organisers believed in and voted for President Mills.
He said the demonstrators could not have supported Prof Mills because they publicly campaigned for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2008 presidential candidate.
He expressed worry that the group would want to use the Chief Accountant of the Ministry of Sports who fictitiously came up with unsubstantiated proof that the former minister had squandered some money.
He asked how such a person could be described as a whistle blower because he refused to protect his own identity, typed what he claimed to be corrupt practices and circulated them to the press, a matter he was deeply involved.
Mr Okudzeto-Ablakwa noted that the chief accountant became a subject of investigation because after allegedly making huge payments, he refused to provide payment vouchers to cover those payments.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
AFAG demonstrate against hardship, unfulfilled promises
A large crowd of demonstrators yesterday hit the streets of Accra to protest against what they perceive as a harsh economic condition and the failure of the government to fulfil its campaign promises.
Organised by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), a pressure group, and identifiable groups, including the National Service Scheme (NSS), traders, students and some fishermen, the demonstration was peaceful and incident-free.
Clad in red clothes and bands, the demonstrators walked from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, through the Nkrumah Avenue to Farisco and then to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to the Ministries and converged on the Accra Hearts of Oak Park, close to the Arts Centre.
The people, who demonstrated for well over four hours, carried placards, some of which read “Atta 419”, “Where is the better Ghana?”, “No premix”, “Atta Walk your talk”, “Atta fix the economy”, “Where is the jobs you promised us?”, “Avoid killer loans”, “Our children need pampers”.
Some of the demonstrators also wore pampers, others were also seen chewing kebab. Some fishermen sat in their canoe that had been mounted on a big truck and paddled as their way of demonstrating against the shortage of premix fuel.
According to Chief Superintendent B. Bonga of the Ghana Police Service, which provided 350 men and women to provide security, there was no major incident and the demonstration could, therefore, be described as “peaceful and incident-free for now”.
Addressing the demonstrators at the Hearts Park after the demonstration, Mr Kwabena Bonfeh, a leading member of the alliance, commended the people for turning out in their numbers to participate in the demonstration, which was “to defend our democracy from those who threaten it”.
“There are people in power who think they can perpetuate in Ghana a culture of deceit, falsehood, lies, misrepresentation, pretence, intimidation and vague propaganda which constitute the very anti-democratic credentials notable of illegitimate regimes,” he alleged.
He said most fishermen in the country could not go fishing, although this period was their peak fishing season, because some people were smuggling the fuel to other areas, thereby denying the fishermen the fuel to go fishing.
Mr Bonfeh, who is also the National Youth Organiser of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), added that salaries of teachers and nurses had been slashed, traders were facing precarious commodity prices and students had had their school fees increased astronomically all due to the bad economic decisions of the current administration.
Mr Bonfeh urged Ghanaians not to allow politicians to take them for a ride and should constantly raise reservation against President Mills’s decision to allow his Foreign and Sports Ministers who had corruption issues to answer to be parading without any charges.
He said President Mills had arrogated to himself the power to review the work of Parliament in violation of the principle of separation of powers and added that he was in constant touch with his lawyers and would take the matter to the law courts.
He also asked what had become of the 40 per cent women representation promised by the NDC in their manifesto, their pledge to fight corruption and the promise to relieve Ghanaians of their heavy tax burden, and added that the NDC used all these promises to deceive Ghanaians to vote them into power.
Mr Bonfeh disclosed that AFAG would replicate the demonstration throughout the 10 regional capitals in the country to educate Ghanaians on the corrupt and deceptive nature of the NDC administration and the need to keep it on its toes.
A national service person, Master Harold Boateng, noted that he was of the view that he would be employed at the Ministry of Health where he did his national service but this could not happen because of the conditionalities on a World Bank loan.
The demonstration also attracted some bigwigs of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) including Nana Ohene Ntow, NPP General Secretary; Mr Dan Botwe, Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere; Ms Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, MP for Weija; Dr Akoto Osei, a former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance; and Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, a former Information Minister, who was in the company of his wife.
Organised by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), a pressure group, and identifiable groups, including the National Service Scheme (NSS), traders, students and some fishermen, the demonstration was peaceful and incident-free.
Clad in red clothes and bands, the demonstrators walked from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, through the Nkrumah Avenue to Farisco and then to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to the Ministries and converged on the Accra Hearts of Oak Park, close to the Arts Centre.
The people, who demonstrated for well over four hours, carried placards, some of which read “Atta 419”, “Where is the better Ghana?”, “No premix”, “Atta Walk your talk”, “Atta fix the economy”, “Where is the jobs you promised us?”, “Avoid killer loans”, “Our children need pampers”.
Some of the demonstrators also wore pampers, others were also seen chewing kebab. Some fishermen sat in their canoe that had been mounted on a big truck and paddled as their way of demonstrating against the shortage of premix fuel.
According to Chief Superintendent B. Bonga of the Ghana Police Service, which provided 350 men and women to provide security, there was no major incident and the demonstration could, therefore, be described as “peaceful and incident-free for now”.
Addressing the demonstrators at the Hearts Park after the demonstration, Mr Kwabena Bonfeh, a leading member of the alliance, commended the people for turning out in their numbers to participate in the demonstration, which was “to defend our democracy from those who threaten it”.
“There are people in power who think they can perpetuate in Ghana a culture of deceit, falsehood, lies, misrepresentation, pretence, intimidation and vague propaganda which constitute the very anti-democratic credentials notable of illegitimate regimes,” he alleged.
He said most fishermen in the country could not go fishing, although this period was their peak fishing season, because some people were smuggling the fuel to other areas, thereby denying the fishermen the fuel to go fishing.
Mr Bonfeh, who is also the National Youth Organiser of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), added that salaries of teachers and nurses had been slashed, traders were facing precarious commodity prices and students had had their school fees increased astronomically all due to the bad economic decisions of the current administration.
Mr Bonfeh urged Ghanaians not to allow politicians to take them for a ride and should constantly raise reservation against President Mills’s decision to allow his Foreign and Sports Ministers who had corruption issues to answer to be parading without any charges.
He said President Mills had arrogated to himself the power to review the work of Parliament in violation of the principle of separation of powers and added that he was in constant touch with his lawyers and would take the matter to the law courts.
He also asked what had become of the 40 per cent women representation promised by the NDC in their manifesto, their pledge to fight corruption and the promise to relieve Ghanaians of their heavy tax burden, and added that the NDC used all these promises to deceive Ghanaians to vote them into power.
Mr Bonfeh disclosed that AFAG would replicate the demonstration throughout the 10 regional capitals in the country to educate Ghanaians on the corrupt and deceptive nature of the NDC administration and the need to keep it on its toes.
A national service person, Master Harold Boateng, noted that he was of the view that he would be employed at the Ministry of Health where he did his national service but this could not happen because of the conditionalities on a World Bank loan.
The demonstration also attracted some bigwigs of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) including Nana Ohene Ntow, NPP General Secretary; Mr Dan Botwe, Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere; Ms Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, MP for Weija; Dr Akoto Osei, a former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance; and Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, a former Information Minister, who was in the company of his wife.
AFAG demonstrate against hardship, unfulfilled promises
A large crowd of demonstrators yesterday hit the streets of Accra to protest against what they perceive as a harsh economic condition and the failure of the government to fulfil its campaign promises.
Organised by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), a pressure group, and identifiable groups, including the National Service Scheme (NSS), traders, students and some fishermen, the demonstration was peaceful and incident-free.
Clad in red clothes and bands, the demonstrators walked from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, through the Nkrumah Avenue to Farisco and then to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to the Ministries and converged on the Accra Hearts of Oak Park, close to the Arts Centre.
The people, who demonstrated for well over four hours, carried placards, some of which read “Atta 419”, “Where is the better Ghana?”, “No premix”, “Atta Walk your talk”, “Atta fix the economy”, “Where is the jobs you promised us?”, “Avoid killer loans”, “Our children need pampers”.
Some of the demonstrators also wore pampers, others were also seen chewing kebab. Some fishermen sat in their canoe that had been mounted on a big truck and paddled as their way of demonstrating against the shortage of premix fuel.
According to Chief Superintendent B. Bonga of the Ghana Police Service, which provided 350 men and women to provide security, there was no major incident and the demonstration could, therefore, be described as “peaceful and incident-free for now”.
Addressing the demonstrators at the Hearts Park after the demonstration, Mr Kwabena Bonfeh, a leading member of the alliance, commended the people for turning out in their numbers to participate in the demonstration, which was “to defend our democracy from those who threaten it”.
“There are people in power who think they can perpetuate in Ghana a culture of deceit, falsehood, lies, misrepresentation, pretence, intimidation and vague propaganda which constitute the very anti-democratic credentials notable of illegitimate regimes,” he alleged.
He said most fishermen in the country could not go fishing, although this period was their peak fishing season, because some people were smuggling the fuel to other areas, thereby denying the fishermen the fuel to go fishing.
Mr Bonfeh, who is also the National Youth Organiser of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), added that salaries of teachers and nurses had been slashed, traders were facing precarious commodity prices and students had had their school fees increased astronomically all due to the bad economic decisions of the current administration.
Mr Bonfeh urged Ghanaians not to allow politicians to take them for a ride and should constantly raise reservation against President Mills’s decision to allow his Foreign and Sports Ministers who had corruption issues to answer to be parading without any charges.
He said President Mills had arrogated to himself the power to review the work of Parliament in violation of the principle of separation of powers and added that he was in constant touch with his lawyers and would take the matter to the law courts.
He also asked what had become of the 40 per cent women representation promised by the NDC in their manifesto, their pledge to fight corruption and the promise to relieve Ghanaians of their heavy tax burden, and added that the NDC used all these promises to deceive Ghanaians to vote them into power.
Mr Bonfeh disclosed that AFAG would replicate the demonstration throughout the 10 regional capitals in the country to educate Ghanaians on the corrupt and deceptive nature of the NDC administration and the need to keep it on its toes.
A national service person, Master Harold Boateng, noted that he was of the view that he would be employed at the Ministry of Health where he did his national service but this could not happen because of the conditionalities on a World Bank loan.
The demonstration also attracted some bigwigs of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) including Nana Ohene Ntow, NPP General Secretary; Mr Dan Botwe, Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere; Ms Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, MP for Weija; Dr Akoto Osei, a former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance; and Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, a former Information Minister, who was in the company of his wife.
Organised by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), a pressure group, and identifiable groups, including the National Service Scheme (NSS), traders, students and some fishermen, the demonstration was peaceful and incident-free.
Clad in red clothes and bands, the demonstrators walked from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, through the Nkrumah Avenue to Farisco and then to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to the Ministries and converged on the Accra Hearts of Oak Park, close to the Arts Centre.
The people, who demonstrated for well over four hours, carried placards, some of which read “Atta 419”, “Where is the better Ghana?”, “No premix”, “Atta Walk your talk”, “Atta fix the economy”, “Where is the jobs you promised us?”, “Avoid killer loans”, “Our children need pampers”.
Some of the demonstrators also wore pampers, others were also seen chewing kebab. Some fishermen sat in their canoe that had been mounted on a big truck and paddled as their way of demonstrating against the shortage of premix fuel.
According to Chief Superintendent B. Bonga of the Ghana Police Service, which provided 350 men and women to provide security, there was no major incident and the demonstration could, therefore, be described as “peaceful and incident-free for now”.
Addressing the demonstrators at the Hearts Park after the demonstration, Mr Kwabena Bonfeh, a leading member of the alliance, commended the people for turning out in their numbers to participate in the demonstration, which was “to defend our democracy from those who threaten it”.
“There are people in power who think they can perpetuate in Ghana a culture of deceit, falsehood, lies, misrepresentation, pretence, intimidation and vague propaganda which constitute the very anti-democratic credentials notable of illegitimate regimes,” he alleged.
He said most fishermen in the country could not go fishing, although this period was their peak fishing season, because some people were smuggling the fuel to other areas, thereby denying the fishermen the fuel to go fishing.
Mr Bonfeh, who is also the National Youth Organiser of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), added that salaries of teachers and nurses had been slashed, traders were facing precarious commodity prices and students had had their school fees increased astronomically all due to the bad economic decisions of the current administration.
Mr Bonfeh urged Ghanaians not to allow politicians to take them for a ride and should constantly raise reservation against President Mills’s decision to allow his Foreign and Sports Ministers who had corruption issues to answer to be parading without any charges.
He said President Mills had arrogated to himself the power to review the work of Parliament in violation of the principle of separation of powers and added that he was in constant touch with his lawyers and would take the matter to the law courts.
He also asked what had become of the 40 per cent women representation promised by the NDC in their manifesto, their pledge to fight corruption and the promise to relieve Ghanaians of their heavy tax burden, and added that the NDC used all these promises to deceive Ghanaians to vote them into power.
Mr Bonfeh disclosed that AFAG would replicate the demonstration throughout the 10 regional capitals in the country to educate Ghanaians on the corrupt and deceptive nature of the NDC administration and the need to keep it on its toes.
A national service person, Master Harold Boateng, noted that he was of the view that he would be employed at the Ministry of Health where he did his national service but this could not happen because of the conditionalities on a World Bank loan.
The demonstration also attracted some bigwigs of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) including Nana Ohene Ntow, NPP General Secretary; Mr Dan Botwe, Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere; Ms Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, MP for Weija; Dr Akoto Osei, a former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance; and Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, a former Information Minister, who was in the company of his wife.
Honour protocols on women participation in politics
THE Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, has called for the institution of checks against countries that fail to honour protocols on the protection of the rights and political inclusion of women.
According to her, most member countries of the Africa Union and the United Nations have refused, with impunity, to honour such protocols as the affirmative action to increase women participation in politics because they know there are sanctions to be applied against them.
The minister was speaking in Accra yesterday at a two-day workshop on ways to improve the representation of women in political party activities.
It was organised by the Labour Party of the United Kingdom in collaboration with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The workshop was organised based on the Protocol on the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Africa Women Protocol), which came into force in Africa in November 2005.
The protocol commits the signatory states to adopt all measures necessary for women to enjoy equal rights in all aspects of society, including political parties. The participants were from Ghana, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Cameroon.
Ms Dansua said most countries had over the years paid lip services to enhancing women capacities and offering them quality opportunity to actively participate in the decision making process at all levels of society.
Asked what form of sanctions she was talking about, she suggested naming and shaming of such countries or attaching the attainment of such protocols to the qualification or otherwise of membership to conferences of the AU and the UN.
She noted that under the current government, six out of the 28 ministers; five out of 27 deputy ministers, three out of the 23-member Council of State, three out of eight deputy regional ministers and one out of the 10 regional ministers were women.
The minister said although the situation in Ghana was not the best, it was better than what was the case in some of the developed countries where women were not given special dispensation.
She called on the participants to share experiences and ideas on how to maximise women participation in active politics.
Ms Roberta Blackman-Woods, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Women in the UK, described the progress made by the UK in terms of increasing women participation in politics as not encouraging and “a slow progress”.
She said before the 1997 elections, the country took a decision to develop a short list of safe seats and that increased the number of women in Parliament.
Ms Blackman-Woods, who is also the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Durham, said what was needed was structural mechanism within various political parties to increase the participation of women, especially the removal of cultural and other boundaries that hindered women participation in leadership position in political parties.
She said currently, the UK Parliament had 19.5 per cent women while the Labour Party women representation in Parliament was 27 per cent.
The Director of Communications of the NDC, Mr Seth Ohene, said Prof Mills government was committed to its campaign promise of ensuring that women constituted 40 per cent of both government and party leadership positions.
According to her, most member countries of the Africa Union and the United Nations have refused, with impunity, to honour such protocols as the affirmative action to increase women participation in politics because they know there are sanctions to be applied against them.
The minister was speaking in Accra yesterday at a two-day workshop on ways to improve the representation of women in political party activities.
It was organised by the Labour Party of the United Kingdom in collaboration with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The workshop was organised based on the Protocol on the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Africa Women Protocol), which came into force in Africa in November 2005.
The protocol commits the signatory states to adopt all measures necessary for women to enjoy equal rights in all aspects of society, including political parties. The participants were from Ghana, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Cameroon.
Ms Dansua said most countries had over the years paid lip services to enhancing women capacities and offering them quality opportunity to actively participate in the decision making process at all levels of society.
Asked what form of sanctions she was talking about, she suggested naming and shaming of such countries or attaching the attainment of such protocols to the qualification or otherwise of membership to conferences of the AU and the UN.
She noted that under the current government, six out of the 28 ministers; five out of 27 deputy ministers, three out of the 23-member Council of State, three out of eight deputy regional ministers and one out of the 10 regional ministers were women.
The minister said although the situation in Ghana was not the best, it was better than what was the case in some of the developed countries where women were not given special dispensation.
She called on the participants to share experiences and ideas on how to maximise women participation in active politics.
Ms Roberta Blackman-Woods, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Women in the UK, described the progress made by the UK in terms of increasing women participation in politics as not encouraging and “a slow progress”.
She said before the 1997 elections, the country took a decision to develop a short list of safe seats and that increased the number of women in Parliament.
Ms Blackman-Woods, who is also the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Durham, said what was needed was structural mechanism within various political parties to increase the participation of women, especially the removal of cultural and other boundaries that hindered women participation in leadership position in political parties.
She said currently, the UK Parliament had 19.5 per cent women while the Labour Party women representation in Parliament was 27 per cent.
The Director of Communications of the NDC, Mr Seth Ohene, said Prof Mills government was committed to its campaign promise of ensuring that women constituted 40 per cent of both government and party leadership positions.
Osafo-Maafo urges better conditions for development
A former Minister of Finance in the Kufuor Administration, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has observed that although there abounds proof of a brighter future for the country, this could only be achieved when better avenues and conditions for their realisation are created.
To achieve this he suggested that it was important to stress that “our individual and collective energies and resources should be channelled to achieving accelerated development”.
Mr Osafo-Maafo who stated this at the third annual Ferdinand Ayim Memorial Lecture in Accra said Ghana’s development challenge should be to promote broad-based development within a stable and peaceful environment with the ultimate aim of increasing the standard of living of its citizens.
The lecture was on the theme, “Ghana’s developmental challenges: Perspective on the roles of competence, loyalty and sycophancy.”
Mr Osafo-Mafo said Ghana had not made laudable attainment in its development process because some of the “problems we face today are as a result of incompetence, mediocrity, favouritism, tribalism and nepotism, all in the name of loyalty to leadership process, power and authority”.
According to him, the successes of the United States of America and other developed countries in creating huge opportunities for their people could be explained by the strength of institutions that had been built around competence and state loyalty and not loyalty to personalities in authority.
“The level of trust that leadership in such countries have in the competence of some public officers irrespective of their political lineage has also played a remarkable role in making such countries what they are,” he added.
He expressed worry that even within the same political organisation competence was at times sacrificed for perceived loyalty as a result of sycophancy and that only God knew how many million more dreams would be shattered by such acts.
Mr Osafo-Maafo quoted the Holy Bible in Matthew 6:2 where Jesus defined loyalty in a very simple way: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”.
He advised that the sense of loyalty of citizens should be to their motherland Ghana and not to persons in positions of power and authority as indicated in the 1992 Constitution.
He noted that it was the responsibility of Ghanaians to fight any tendencies of crooked and malleable system of interaction that would nurture sycophants who only create very juicy messages that leadership wants to hear and not what would support them to govern.
“Sycophancy is unacceptable not only because it undermines meritocratic advancement and destroy development process but also because its close cousins – backstabbing, character assassination and worst of all, pure corruption are usually lurking right around which will retard our development agenda”, he added
According Mr Osafo-Maafo who also served as Minister of Education in the former administration both former Presidents J.A. Kufuor and J.J. Rawlings had at one time or the other fallen victim to such sycophants that led them to make wrong decisions during their periods as presidents.
He explained that some of the sycophants somersault to the new governments as soon as the handing over ceremony was completed and they come in by pretending to be more loyal than the long toiling genuine party members and sympathisers whose support and activities brought victory to the winning party.
He expressed the believe that many sycophants were gradually warming themselves to President John Evans Attah-Mills.
He cautioned that most of these sycophants use tribal politics which they wrongly interpret to be loyalty, play the card of loyalty with some using tribal connections, creating a false impression to the leadership at all levels that they could best be served by people from your tribe, area and sometimes family or friends.
“This falsehood breeds tribalism and nepotism in our politics based on false loyalty. All the oaths in our Constitution require office holders to be loyal to Ghana, our motherland, and not to individuals,” he added.
Mr Osafo-Maafo urged Ghanaians to acknowledge that they were all different according to their abilities and capacities so it was important that in addressing issues of national interest the best and competent persons available were engaged irrespective of the socio-economic and political opinions.
“Of course loyalty is important in deciding who should be engaged but we must be able to identify real loyalty from that of loyalty through sycophancy and praise singing. It is time we placed emphasis on competence and the best available human capacity, skills and experience to facilitate the building of stronger institutions needed to move this country forward”, he added.
To achieve this he suggested that it was important to stress that “our individual and collective energies and resources should be channelled to achieving accelerated development”.
Mr Osafo-Maafo who stated this at the third annual Ferdinand Ayim Memorial Lecture in Accra said Ghana’s development challenge should be to promote broad-based development within a stable and peaceful environment with the ultimate aim of increasing the standard of living of its citizens.
The lecture was on the theme, “Ghana’s developmental challenges: Perspective on the roles of competence, loyalty and sycophancy.”
Mr Osafo-Mafo said Ghana had not made laudable attainment in its development process because some of the “problems we face today are as a result of incompetence, mediocrity, favouritism, tribalism and nepotism, all in the name of loyalty to leadership process, power and authority”.
According to him, the successes of the United States of America and other developed countries in creating huge opportunities for their people could be explained by the strength of institutions that had been built around competence and state loyalty and not loyalty to personalities in authority.
“The level of trust that leadership in such countries have in the competence of some public officers irrespective of their political lineage has also played a remarkable role in making such countries what they are,” he added.
He expressed worry that even within the same political organisation competence was at times sacrificed for perceived loyalty as a result of sycophancy and that only God knew how many million more dreams would be shattered by such acts.
Mr Osafo-Maafo quoted the Holy Bible in Matthew 6:2 where Jesus defined loyalty in a very simple way: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”.
He advised that the sense of loyalty of citizens should be to their motherland Ghana and not to persons in positions of power and authority as indicated in the 1992 Constitution.
He noted that it was the responsibility of Ghanaians to fight any tendencies of crooked and malleable system of interaction that would nurture sycophants who only create very juicy messages that leadership wants to hear and not what would support them to govern.
“Sycophancy is unacceptable not only because it undermines meritocratic advancement and destroy development process but also because its close cousins – backstabbing, character assassination and worst of all, pure corruption are usually lurking right around which will retard our development agenda”, he added
According Mr Osafo-Maafo who also served as Minister of Education in the former administration both former Presidents J.A. Kufuor and J.J. Rawlings had at one time or the other fallen victim to such sycophants that led them to make wrong decisions during their periods as presidents.
He explained that some of the sycophants somersault to the new governments as soon as the handing over ceremony was completed and they come in by pretending to be more loyal than the long toiling genuine party members and sympathisers whose support and activities brought victory to the winning party.
He expressed the believe that many sycophants were gradually warming themselves to President John Evans Attah-Mills.
He cautioned that most of these sycophants use tribal politics which they wrongly interpret to be loyalty, play the card of loyalty with some using tribal connections, creating a false impression to the leadership at all levels that they could best be served by people from your tribe, area and sometimes family or friends.
“This falsehood breeds tribalism and nepotism in our politics based on false loyalty. All the oaths in our Constitution require office holders to be loyal to Ghana, our motherland, and not to individuals,” he added.
Mr Osafo-Maafo urged Ghanaians to acknowledge that they were all different according to their abilities and capacities so it was important that in addressing issues of national interest the best and competent persons available were engaged irrespective of the socio-economic and political opinions.
“Of course loyalty is important in deciding who should be engaged but we must be able to identify real loyalty from that of loyalty through sycophancy and praise singing. It is time we placed emphasis on competence and the best available human capacity, skills and experience to facilitate the building of stronger institutions needed to move this country forward”, he added.
Osafo-Maafo urges better conditions for development
A former Minister of Finance in the Kufuor Administration, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has observed that although there abounds proof of a brighter future for the country, this could only be achieved when better avenues and conditions for their realisation are created.
To achieve this he suggested that it was important to stress that “our individual and collective energies and resources should be channelled to achieving accelerated development”.
Mr Osafo-Maafo who stated this at the third annual Ferdinand Ayim Memorial Lecture in Accra said Ghana’s development challenge should be to promote broad-based development within a stable and peaceful environment with the ultimate aim of increasing the standard of living of its citizens.
The lecture was on the theme, “Ghana’s developmental challenges: Perspective on the roles of competence, loyalty and sycophancy.”
Mr Osafo-Mafo said Ghana had not made laudable attainment in its development process because some of the “problems we face today are as a result of incompetence, mediocrity, favouritism, tribalism and nepotism, all in the name of loyalty to leadership process, power and authority”.
According to him, the successes of the United States of America and other developed countries in creating huge opportunities for their people could be explained by the strength of institutions that had been built around competence and state loyalty and not loyalty to personalities in authority.
“The level of trust that leadership in such countries have in the competence of some public officers irrespective of their political lineage has also played a remarkable role in making such countries what they are,” he added.
He expressed worry that even within the same political organisation competence was at times sacrificed for perceived loyalty as a result of sycophancy and that only God knew how many million more dreams would be shattered by such acts.
Mr Osafo-Maafo quoted the Holy Bible in Matthew 6:2 where Jesus defined loyalty in a very simple way: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”.
He advised that the sense of loyalty of citizens should be to their motherland Ghana and not to persons in positions of power and authority as indicated in the 1992 Constitution.
He noted that it was the responsibility of Ghanaians to fight any tendencies of crooked and malleable system of interaction that would nurture sycophants who only create very juicy messages that leadership wants to hear and not what would support them to govern.
“Sycophancy is unacceptable not only because it undermines meritocratic advancement and destroy development process but also because its close cousins – backstabbing, character assassination and worst of all, pure corruption are usually lurking right around which will retard our development agenda”, he added
According Mr Osafo-Maafo who also served as Minister of Education in the former administration both former Presidents J.A. Kufuor and J.J. Rawlings had at one time or the other fallen victim to such sycophants that led them to make wrong decisions during their periods as presidents.
He explained that some of the sycophants somersault to the new governments as soon as the handing over ceremony was completed and they come in by pretending to be more loyal than the long toiling genuine party members and sympathisers whose support and activities brought victory to the winning party.
He expressed the believe that many sycophants were gradually warming themselves to President John Evans Attah-Mills.
He cautioned that most of these sycophants use tribal politics which they wrongly interpret to be loyalty, play the card of loyalty with some using tribal connections, creating a false impression to the leadership at all levels that they could best be served by people from your tribe, area and sometimes family or friends.
“This falsehood breeds tribalism and nepotism in our politics based on false loyalty. All the oaths in our Constitution require office holders to be loyal to Ghana, our motherland, and not to individuals,” he added.
Mr Osafo-Maafo urged Ghanaians to acknowledge that they were all different according to their abilities and capacities so it was important that in addressing issues of national interest the best and competent persons available were engaged irrespective of the socio-economic and political opinions.
“Of course loyalty is important in deciding who should be engaged but we must be able to identify real loyalty from that of loyalty through sycophancy and praise singing. It is time we placed emphasis on competence and the best available human capacity, skills and experience to facilitate the building of stronger institutions needed to move this country forward”, he added.
To achieve this he suggested that it was important to stress that “our individual and collective energies and resources should be channelled to achieving accelerated development”.
Mr Osafo-Maafo who stated this at the third annual Ferdinand Ayim Memorial Lecture in Accra said Ghana’s development challenge should be to promote broad-based development within a stable and peaceful environment with the ultimate aim of increasing the standard of living of its citizens.
The lecture was on the theme, “Ghana’s developmental challenges: Perspective on the roles of competence, loyalty and sycophancy.”
Mr Osafo-Mafo said Ghana had not made laudable attainment in its development process because some of the “problems we face today are as a result of incompetence, mediocrity, favouritism, tribalism and nepotism, all in the name of loyalty to leadership process, power and authority”.
According to him, the successes of the United States of America and other developed countries in creating huge opportunities for their people could be explained by the strength of institutions that had been built around competence and state loyalty and not loyalty to personalities in authority.
“The level of trust that leadership in such countries have in the competence of some public officers irrespective of their political lineage has also played a remarkable role in making such countries what they are,” he added.
He expressed worry that even within the same political organisation competence was at times sacrificed for perceived loyalty as a result of sycophancy and that only God knew how many million more dreams would be shattered by such acts.
Mr Osafo-Maafo quoted the Holy Bible in Matthew 6:2 where Jesus defined loyalty in a very simple way: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”.
He advised that the sense of loyalty of citizens should be to their motherland Ghana and not to persons in positions of power and authority as indicated in the 1992 Constitution.
He noted that it was the responsibility of Ghanaians to fight any tendencies of crooked and malleable system of interaction that would nurture sycophants who only create very juicy messages that leadership wants to hear and not what would support them to govern.
“Sycophancy is unacceptable not only because it undermines meritocratic advancement and destroy development process but also because its close cousins – backstabbing, character assassination and worst of all, pure corruption are usually lurking right around which will retard our development agenda”, he added
According Mr Osafo-Maafo who also served as Minister of Education in the former administration both former Presidents J.A. Kufuor and J.J. Rawlings had at one time or the other fallen victim to such sycophants that led them to make wrong decisions during their periods as presidents.
He explained that some of the sycophants somersault to the new governments as soon as the handing over ceremony was completed and they come in by pretending to be more loyal than the long toiling genuine party members and sympathisers whose support and activities brought victory to the winning party.
He expressed the believe that many sycophants were gradually warming themselves to President John Evans Attah-Mills.
He cautioned that most of these sycophants use tribal politics which they wrongly interpret to be loyalty, play the card of loyalty with some using tribal connections, creating a false impression to the leadership at all levels that they could best be served by people from your tribe, area and sometimes family or friends.
“This falsehood breeds tribalism and nepotism in our politics based on false loyalty. All the oaths in our Constitution require office holders to be loyal to Ghana, our motherland, and not to individuals,” he added.
Mr Osafo-Maafo urged Ghanaians to acknowledge that they were all different according to their abilities and capacities so it was important that in addressing issues of national interest the best and competent persons available were engaged irrespective of the socio-economic and political opinions.
“Of course loyalty is important in deciding who should be engaged but we must be able to identify real loyalty from that of loyalty through sycophancy and praise singing. It is time we placed emphasis on competence and the best available human capacity, skills and experience to facilitate the building of stronger institutions needed to move this country forward”, he added.
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