A DEPUTY Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has blamed politicians in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the foul and misguided language which has afflicted the Ghanaian media lately.
He also described as “more dangerous than Somali pirates” radio and television presenters and other media practitioners who went into political alliances to rob Ghanaians of the truth, unity and objectivity.
In a plain talk at a forum in Accra organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on the media dubbed “Media freedoms, free expression on a multi-party democracy”, Mr Ablakwa said under the guise of free speech the two parties had behaved hypocritically when their members goofed.
Citing two recent examples involving NDC party chairman Dr Kwabena Adjei, and NPP radio panellist Nana Darkwa, Mr Ablakwa said, “They chastise others who use intemperate language on their own, but quickly turn round to describe same language used by their members on others of a different political party as an exercise of free speech”.
He said when Nana Darkwa stated that former President Rawlings intentionally burnt down his house, the NPP hailed it as an expression of free speech but the NDC on the other hand saw it as loose talk.
On the other hand, in the infamous “there are many ways to kill a cat” speech by Dr Kwabena Adjei, the NDC described it as free speech, while the NPP perceived it as an attack on the judiciary.
Such hypocrisy, he warned, could derail the peace, stability and democratic process, if not checked.
Another danger he identified was the phenomenon of politicians forming alliances with hosts of radio and television programmes and described such hosts as “more dangerous than Somali pirates because they are robbing the listeners and Ghanaians of the truth, unity and objectivity”.
“Just for their immediate comfort, some politicians and their media allies have thrown decorum and objectivity to the dogs,” he added.
The Chairman of NCCE, Mr Laari Bimi, also took a swipe at the media for publishing falsehood, deepening tribal sentiments and ethnocentrism and leaving behind their core mandate of presenting objective views to the people to make informed choices.
He said they had allowed themselves to be used for political gain, especially in the 2008 elections, a situation which brought the country to the brink of civil strife and anarchy.
He was also unhappy about the conduct of some members of the bench whose behaviour lent credence to the perception that they were corrupt and biased and stated that, “I have on authority that we have a case of telephone justice in Ghana”.
Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso, a Senior Fellow at the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA), identified “media terrorism” as a dangerous phenomenon that was creeping into the landscape of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
He explained that instead of using their media to provide the “gullible” Ghanaian public with issues and shape the process of attaining development, the media had resorted to hate speech and propaganda with some media practitioners publicly declaring their affiliation to some political parties.
He expressed the fear that the experiences of the initial stages of things that led to the Rwandan genocide was being replicated by the Ghanaian media.
Dr Antwi-Danso noted that the gullibility of the Ghanaian was so intense that they took anything the media put out as sacrosanct even when they were opinions by commentators and serial callers.
He said another dimension of the issue was that people who committed crime and atrocities were also taking undue advantage of the polarisation in the country to hide under such cover and this normally yielded dividend because the media would not talk about the crime but would concentrate on which political party the criminal belonged to.
The Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr Kabral Blay Amihere, urged the media to educate themselves on issues before they reported on them in order to not pour their ignorance on the Ghanaians.
He also appealed to the media not to be the foot note of the ambitions of politicians, but explained that there was nothing wrong in believing and sharing in the ideals of a political party.
Friday, November 26, 2010
‘GT Accra NDC Youth threatens legal suit’
THE Greater Accra Regional Youth branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has threatened to take legal action to halt the activities of the so-called Greater Accra Regional Branch of Tertiary Education Institution Network of the NDC (GAR-TEIN)
He said the legal move had become necessary due to the inability of the National Executive of the NDC to halt the nefarious activities of the illegal group whose existence was not recognised by the party structure and constitution.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Greater Accra Regional Youth Organiser of the party, Mr Thomas Nii Ashong explained that although there was nothing like Regional TEIN in the scheme of things in the constitution and structure of the party, some persons have assumed those positions just to “muddy the waters and direct attention to themselves and their disruptive activities”.
According to Mr Ashong, the group was dragging the name of the party in the mud with the support of some national executive members.
Recently, the GAR TEIN organised a workshop which was attended by Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and Dr Ekwow Spio Garbrah, both Vice Chairpersons of the NDC.
Dr Spio-Garbrah was alleged to have castigated President Mills and leading members of the NDC in government for not ensuring that Former President Rawlings was secured a befitting place of abode after his ridge residence was razed down by fire in February 14, 2010.
Mr Ashong said the NDC constitution recognises only the foreign, women and youth branches as well as the parliamentary group as the main groupings and that the TEIN was a part of the youth group.
He explained that TEIN was for NDC members and supporters in tertiary institutions in the country and that there was no such body as Regional TEIN. “What we have is TIEN co-ordinators who liaise with the youth organisers and the various campuses.”
Mr Ashong noted that TEIN was for NDC members and supporters in tertiary institutions and that after completing their courses and leaving school they were expected to integrate into their various constituencies but not to form regional groupings of TEIN.
“It is not possible for anyone who had completed school and more so working to be a member of TEIN. Again, whether it was true or otherwise that such illegal Regional group was inaugurated, it was contrary to the letter and spirit of the NDC constitution,” he said.
This was in reaction to claims by the Regional TEIN that their the organisation was duly inaugurated by the leading members of the party.
Mr Ashong explained that the existence of such illegitimate group was also a duplication of the regional youth of the party and that the earlier they saw it wise to put a halt to their “disgraceful and deleterious manoeuvres that hinder the unity and progress of the NDC and the Mills Administration the better”.
He said the legal move had become necessary due to the inability of the National Executive of the NDC to halt the nefarious activities of the illegal group whose existence was not recognised by the party structure and constitution.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Greater Accra Regional Youth Organiser of the party, Mr Thomas Nii Ashong explained that although there was nothing like Regional TEIN in the scheme of things in the constitution and structure of the party, some persons have assumed those positions just to “muddy the waters and direct attention to themselves and their disruptive activities”.
According to Mr Ashong, the group was dragging the name of the party in the mud with the support of some national executive members.
Recently, the GAR TEIN organised a workshop which was attended by Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and Dr Ekwow Spio Garbrah, both Vice Chairpersons of the NDC.
Dr Spio-Garbrah was alleged to have castigated President Mills and leading members of the NDC in government for not ensuring that Former President Rawlings was secured a befitting place of abode after his ridge residence was razed down by fire in February 14, 2010.
Mr Ashong said the NDC constitution recognises only the foreign, women and youth branches as well as the parliamentary group as the main groupings and that the TEIN was a part of the youth group.
He explained that TEIN was for NDC members and supporters in tertiary institutions in the country and that there was no such body as Regional TEIN. “What we have is TIEN co-ordinators who liaise with the youth organisers and the various campuses.”
Mr Ashong noted that TEIN was for NDC members and supporters in tertiary institutions and that after completing their courses and leaving school they were expected to integrate into their various constituencies but not to form regional groupings of TEIN.
“It is not possible for anyone who had completed school and more so working to be a member of TEIN. Again, whether it was true or otherwise that such illegal Regional group was inaugurated, it was contrary to the letter and spirit of the NDC constitution,” he said.
This was in reaction to claims by the Regional TEIN that their the organisation was duly inaugurated by the leading members of the party.
Mr Ashong explained that the existence of such illegitimate group was also a duplication of the regional youth of the party and that the earlier they saw it wise to put a halt to their “disgraceful and deleterious manoeuvres that hinder the unity and progress of the NDC and the Mills Administration the better”.
Let’s re-design markets to prevent fire outbreaks •Akufo Addo
NANA Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, the flag bearer for New Patriotic Party (NPP), for the 2012 Election, has called for a standardised strategic plan in designing markets in the country to prevent the incessant fire outbreaks.
He suggested that the Ghana Institution for Engineers, Ghana Institution of Architects Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) and the Ghana National Fire Service must come together in designing the markets in order to prevent such outbreaks which had caused damaged to property lives and loss of livelihood to many markets women over the years.
Akufo Addo was addressing victims of last Thursday’s fire outbreak that destroyed almost everything at the Makola Number Two Market.
Accompanied by the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh IC Quaye and former Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA), Mr Stanley Agiri Blankson, Nana Akufo Addo inspected some of the burnt areas and exchanged greetings with some of the victims.
Nana Akufo-Addo bemoaned what appeared to be a high frequency of fire outbreaks occurring in markets in the country in recent times, calling for immediate steps to arrest the problem.
“There have been too many fire outbreaks in our markets lately, and it is high time we took serious steps to bring the situation under control,” Nana Akufo-Addo told the large number of traders who had gathered to catch a glimpse of him.
Though unannounced, Nana Akufo-Addo’s visit to the Abgobgloshie market attracted a large number of people who eventually abandoned their businesses to accompany him and his entourage during their nearly one hour walk around some portions of the market, mostly areas that were affected by the fire.
The policemen present at the market had a hectic time controlling the crowd.
Nana Akufo-Addo added: “I am making a passionate appeal to the relevant authorities, especially the Institutes of Engineers, Architects and Planners, to come out with innovative plans for the construction of modern prototype markets that will make it difficult for the recurrence of these fires.”
He said aside the major role market women played in the growth of the economy of the country, they were also the major bread winners of their various families and that when such disasters occurred, they tended to have serious repercussions on both the economy and families.
He consoled the market women on the loss of their wares and prayed that the almighty God would see them through.
Surprisingly, as of 10.10a.m. when Daily Graphic team got to the market, there were spots of flames and smoke at some parts of the market, five days after the outbreak.
What amazed most of the women who had lost their wares was that there were fires even after the heavy down pour of rain at the weekend.
This necessitated some of the women to call the fire service to come around with a fire tanker and a fire tender to take care of the remaining fire.
Nana Akufo Addo and his entourage later visited the Jamestown palace to sympathise with the chiefs and elders on the loss of one of their sub-chiefs.
He suggested that the Ghana Institution for Engineers, Ghana Institution of Architects Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) and the Ghana National Fire Service must come together in designing the markets in order to prevent such outbreaks which had caused damaged to property lives and loss of livelihood to many markets women over the years.
Akufo Addo was addressing victims of last Thursday’s fire outbreak that destroyed almost everything at the Makola Number Two Market.
Accompanied by the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh IC Quaye and former Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA), Mr Stanley Agiri Blankson, Nana Akufo Addo inspected some of the burnt areas and exchanged greetings with some of the victims.
Nana Akufo-Addo bemoaned what appeared to be a high frequency of fire outbreaks occurring in markets in the country in recent times, calling for immediate steps to arrest the problem.
“There have been too many fire outbreaks in our markets lately, and it is high time we took serious steps to bring the situation under control,” Nana Akufo-Addo told the large number of traders who had gathered to catch a glimpse of him.
Though unannounced, Nana Akufo-Addo’s visit to the Abgobgloshie market attracted a large number of people who eventually abandoned their businesses to accompany him and his entourage during their nearly one hour walk around some portions of the market, mostly areas that were affected by the fire.
The policemen present at the market had a hectic time controlling the crowd.
Nana Akufo-Addo added: “I am making a passionate appeal to the relevant authorities, especially the Institutes of Engineers, Architects and Planners, to come out with innovative plans for the construction of modern prototype markets that will make it difficult for the recurrence of these fires.”
He said aside the major role market women played in the growth of the economy of the country, they were also the major bread winners of their various families and that when such disasters occurred, they tended to have serious repercussions on both the economy and families.
He consoled the market women on the loss of their wares and prayed that the almighty God would see them through.
Surprisingly, as of 10.10a.m. when Daily Graphic team got to the market, there were spots of flames and smoke at some parts of the market, five days after the outbreak.
What amazed most of the women who had lost their wares was that there were fires even after the heavy down pour of rain at the weekend.
This necessitated some of the women to call the fire service to come around with a fire tanker and a fire tender to take care of the remaining fire.
Nana Akufo Addo and his entourage later visited the Jamestown palace to sympathise with the chiefs and elders on the loss of one of their sub-chiefs.
Committed Group of PNC threatens NEC
A GROUP calling itself the Committed Group of the People’s National Convention (PNC) has threatened to physically throw out all illegal members who will attend the next National Executive Committee meeting, on Saturday November 27, 2010, including Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, the 2008 presidential candidate of the party.
According to the group, the composition of the current Natiotional Executive Committee (NEC) and the Standing Committee (SC) of the party were flagrant violation of its constitution and urged the chairman and leader of the party not to hold themselves as such and attend any Standing Committee or National Executive Committee meeting.
But the Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, denied the claims by the group and explained that all nominations and positions that the party had made were in conformity with its constitution and accepted by the NEC.
He said at the last NEC meeting prior to the congress, it was decided that because the party could not have the full compliment for some vice chairmen positions, the NEC must make appointment for the vacancies which it later did.
Adducing reasons for declaring the NEC and the SC as illegal in a statement signed by Mr Bernard Bama-ame, Secretary of the Committed Group, it suggested that an Interim Management Committee be set up to run the affairs of the Party until the next national congress to elect national officers as mandated by the party's constitution or else they would be forced to take legal action among others to address the issue.
It threatened that “the next NEC meeting scheduled for Saturday, November 27, 2010, and all ineligible or unqualified NEC members would be flushed out at that meeting. That is to say, people who are not qualified to be NEC members would not be allowed to attend that meeting”.
The statement said it was only the national congress that had the power to elect the three vice chairmen and that this could not be delegated to any body to appoint.
“Therefore the purported appointment, election or selection of the three Vice-Chairmen by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to become members of the National Executive Committee is unconstitutional and, therefore illegal,” it said.
It added that the appointment, election or selection of the deputy national treasurer by the NEC to become members of the National Executive Committee was also unconstitutional .
It said the party’s SC did not set up the sub committees as required by the provision of Article 58, therefore the election or selection of the national chairman as chairman of the finance committee by the NEC was unconstitutional and illegal.
The statement said Dr Edward N. Mahama, the 2008 presidential candidate of the PNC was first elected leader of the party in May 1997 and had to hold office for the life of the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic which started immediately after mid night January 7, 1997 and ended or was dissolved at mid night January 6, 2001.
By the provisions of Article 49(2) Dr Edward N. Mahama was eligible for re-election for only another term to run for the life of the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic and that Dr Mahama should not be eligible to hold office as Leader of the Party or contest for the position of the Presidential Candidate of the Party at any other time.
It said for that reason, Dr Mahama was violating the PNC’s Constitution as provided under Article 49 (1) and (2) by continuing to hold himself out and act as Leader and as a Presidential Candidate of the Party.
“It follows as a matter of logic that Dr Mahama could not be a member of the Standing Committee or chair a meeting of the Standing Committee as a Leader of the Party,” the statement said.
Reacting, Alhaji Ramadan again said the Constitution of the PNC did not state how many times a member could contest the presidential slot, it said unlike the national Constitution which allowed for only two terms, the PNC Constitution was silent, all that it stated was that a candidate could have another go at the position.
According to the group, the composition of the current Natiotional Executive Committee (NEC) and the Standing Committee (SC) of the party were flagrant violation of its constitution and urged the chairman and leader of the party not to hold themselves as such and attend any Standing Committee or National Executive Committee meeting.
But the Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, denied the claims by the group and explained that all nominations and positions that the party had made were in conformity with its constitution and accepted by the NEC.
He said at the last NEC meeting prior to the congress, it was decided that because the party could not have the full compliment for some vice chairmen positions, the NEC must make appointment for the vacancies which it later did.
Adducing reasons for declaring the NEC and the SC as illegal in a statement signed by Mr Bernard Bama-ame, Secretary of the Committed Group, it suggested that an Interim Management Committee be set up to run the affairs of the Party until the next national congress to elect national officers as mandated by the party's constitution or else they would be forced to take legal action among others to address the issue.
It threatened that “the next NEC meeting scheduled for Saturday, November 27, 2010, and all ineligible or unqualified NEC members would be flushed out at that meeting. That is to say, people who are not qualified to be NEC members would not be allowed to attend that meeting”.
The statement said it was only the national congress that had the power to elect the three vice chairmen and that this could not be delegated to any body to appoint.
“Therefore the purported appointment, election or selection of the three Vice-Chairmen by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to become members of the National Executive Committee is unconstitutional and, therefore illegal,” it said.
It added that the appointment, election or selection of the deputy national treasurer by the NEC to become members of the National Executive Committee was also unconstitutional .
It said the party’s SC did not set up the sub committees as required by the provision of Article 58, therefore the election or selection of the national chairman as chairman of the finance committee by the NEC was unconstitutional and illegal.
The statement said Dr Edward N. Mahama, the 2008 presidential candidate of the PNC was first elected leader of the party in May 1997 and had to hold office for the life of the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic which started immediately after mid night January 7, 1997 and ended or was dissolved at mid night January 6, 2001.
By the provisions of Article 49(2) Dr Edward N. Mahama was eligible for re-election for only another term to run for the life of the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic and that Dr Mahama should not be eligible to hold office as Leader of the Party or contest for the position of the Presidential Candidate of the Party at any other time.
It said for that reason, Dr Mahama was violating the PNC’s Constitution as provided under Article 49 (1) and (2) by continuing to hold himself out and act as Leader and as a Presidential Candidate of the Party.
“It follows as a matter of logic that Dr Mahama could not be a member of the Standing Committee or chair a meeting of the Standing Committee as a Leader of the Party,” the statement said.
Reacting, Alhaji Ramadan again said the Constitution of the PNC did not state how many times a member could contest the presidential slot, it said unlike the national Constitution which allowed for only two terms, the PNC Constitution was silent, all that it stated was that a candidate could have another go at the position.
CPP touched by plight of Western Region
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) has called for an affirmative action, similar to what pertains to the people of the three northern regions on education, to address the concerns of the chiefs and people of the Western Region concerning the oil find.
Giving another dimension to the call by chiefs from the Western Region for a 10 per cent share of the oil revenue, the party said the adoption of such a “social contract” would address the real issues at stake and remove the demand for a fixed percentage of the oil revenue.
The CPP’s Shadow Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, articulated the party’s position at a press conference in Accra yesterday.
He said the founder of the CPP, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, decided on an educational policy to address the imbalance between the people of the north and their counterparts in the south which had worked.
He added that the Mills government had also thought it wise to introduce the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to accelerate the process of closing the yawning development gap between the north and the south, noting that it would not be out of place to have another affirmative action to address the developmental needs of the people of the Western Region.
He said the CPP was of the strong conviction that the anxiety level of the people of the Western Region had risen because of the failure of governments since 1966 to ensure even and consistent development throughout the country and urged the current administration to act with some urgency to bring significant development to the doorstep of every region and, “in this particular case, to the Western Region”.
According to Dr Nduom, the social contract would deliver a number of benefits, including alternative livelihoods for affected fishermen, infrastructure such as roads, social amenities such as schools, water and electricity, an environmental impact fund and action plan to mitigate the negative effects of any future degradation and spillage, as well as employment opportunities through the considered development of oil and gas related companies in the region.
He added that the CPP accepted the principle of oil revenue as a national asset and maintained its “long-standing belief in Ghana as a unitary state where, as one nation and one people, all benefits are shared. We empathise with the chiefs and people of the Western Region in their quest to seek redress for the lack of development due the region over the years”.
Regarding the Oil Revenue Management Bill which is before Parliament, he said the CPP would urge legislators to maintain the provision that prohibited the use of Ghana’s oil revenue as security for borrowing of any type for the sake of prudence and not to mortgage the future in any way.
He also expressed the party’s reservations over the use of 50 to 70 per cent of the oil revenue to support the budget because that would make the impact of the oil revenue diluted and its use hidden, as Ghanaians might not know exactly what it was used to fund.
Dr Nduom said the claim by the Minister of Finance in the 2011 budget that the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) was a significant fiscal challenge, with arrears already totalling GH¢1 billion, and that the implementation of the SSSS “would result in inadequate resources for funding of social intervention programmes on a sustainable basis” were just means to prepare the ground for slowing the pace for the implementation of the pay reform.
He said while the CPP recognised the fiscal challenges to the government, it believed that more would be gained by expediting action on the implementation of the pay reform in all its forms, particularly with speed and courage to enable all government workers to enjoy the benefits of equal pay for work of equal value.
Giving another dimension to the call by chiefs from the Western Region for a 10 per cent share of the oil revenue, the party said the adoption of such a “social contract” would address the real issues at stake and remove the demand for a fixed percentage of the oil revenue.
The CPP’s Shadow Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, articulated the party’s position at a press conference in Accra yesterday.
He said the founder of the CPP, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, decided on an educational policy to address the imbalance between the people of the north and their counterparts in the south which had worked.
He added that the Mills government had also thought it wise to introduce the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to accelerate the process of closing the yawning development gap between the north and the south, noting that it would not be out of place to have another affirmative action to address the developmental needs of the people of the Western Region.
He said the CPP was of the strong conviction that the anxiety level of the people of the Western Region had risen because of the failure of governments since 1966 to ensure even and consistent development throughout the country and urged the current administration to act with some urgency to bring significant development to the doorstep of every region and, “in this particular case, to the Western Region”.
According to Dr Nduom, the social contract would deliver a number of benefits, including alternative livelihoods for affected fishermen, infrastructure such as roads, social amenities such as schools, water and electricity, an environmental impact fund and action plan to mitigate the negative effects of any future degradation and spillage, as well as employment opportunities through the considered development of oil and gas related companies in the region.
He added that the CPP accepted the principle of oil revenue as a national asset and maintained its “long-standing belief in Ghana as a unitary state where, as one nation and one people, all benefits are shared. We empathise with the chiefs and people of the Western Region in their quest to seek redress for the lack of development due the region over the years”.
Regarding the Oil Revenue Management Bill which is before Parliament, he said the CPP would urge legislators to maintain the provision that prohibited the use of Ghana’s oil revenue as security for borrowing of any type for the sake of prudence and not to mortgage the future in any way.
He also expressed the party’s reservations over the use of 50 to 70 per cent of the oil revenue to support the budget because that would make the impact of the oil revenue diluted and its use hidden, as Ghanaians might not know exactly what it was used to fund.
Dr Nduom said the claim by the Minister of Finance in the 2011 budget that the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) was a significant fiscal challenge, with arrears already totalling GH¢1 billion, and that the implementation of the SSSS “would result in inadequate resources for funding of social intervention programmes on a sustainable basis” were just means to prepare the ground for slowing the pace for the implementation of the pay reform.
He said while the CPP recognised the fiscal challenges to the government, it believed that more would be gained by expediting action on the implementation of the pay reform in all its forms, particularly with speed and courage to enable all government workers to enjoy the benefits of equal pay for work of equal value.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Arrest those behind highway rape hoax story — Media Analyst
THE Media Analysts Group of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the security agencies to ensure that all those behind the highway rape hoax story are brought to book.
This, the group said, would end the increasing number of concocted stories by some unscrupulous people to create fear and panic among the people and also to mar the image of the security agencies and the government in general.
Speaking to the media in Accra, the Spokesperson for the group, Mr Albert K. Yeboah alleged that those moves were part of a grand scheme by opponents of the government to also score cheap political points.
Giving reason for his claim, Mr Yeboah noted that in the year 2000, opponents of the NDC allegedly murdered innocent women and littered the nation with their dead bodies and that the trick worked for the nation wreckers because Ghanaians innocently bought into their agenda.
He alleged that in 2008, the NPP wanted to resort to a similar trick which backfired. They compiled a so-called hit list and cautioned Ghanaians that if they voted for the NDC, those people whose names were on the hit lists would be assassinated.
Mr Yeboah said ironically, the NDC had been in power for close to two years and those earmarked for the assassination were still alive and going about their normal duties without fear or any harm.
He also mentioned the earthquake hoax in early 2010 through SMS messages as part of the clandestine moves to create consternation and fright among Ghanaians and engender a state of insecurity.
Mr Yeboah also recounted the death threats on the life of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which made him to come out with the Prevention Detention Act (PDA) to ward off such attacks on his life which culminated in some innocent Ghanaians losing their lives and limbs.
He said all those were moves by some nation wreckers whose activities started in the 1960s till date and that the security agencies must close in on them.
He also expressed worry about how some Christian leaders who were not aware of the truth about the highway rape hoax “went on the airwaves preaching and praying with some of them virtually asking God to fast-foward his judgement”.
“It was as if the Mills Administration had brought a curse upon the nation and the men of God were desperately asking God to pass judgement on him, despite the fact that statistics and facts portrayed a positive picture of the Police Service significantly reducing the crime rate under the tenure of President Mills,” he added.
Mr Yeboah said it was amazing that even when the security agencies had declared the highway rape case as fabricated, some men of God continued to create the impression that the incident actually took place.
This, the group said, would end the increasing number of concocted stories by some unscrupulous people to create fear and panic among the people and also to mar the image of the security agencies and the government in general.
Speaking to the media in Accra, the Spokesperson for the group, Mr Albert K. Yeboah alleged that those moves were part of a grand scheme by opponents of the government to also score cheap political points.
Giving reason for his claim, Mr Yeboah noted that in the year 2000, opponents of the NDC allegedly murdered innocent women and littered the nation with their dead bodies and that the trick worked for the nation wreckers because Ghanaians innocently bought into their agenda.
He alleged that in 2008, the NPP wanted to resort to a similar trick which backfired. They compiled a so-called hit list and cautioned Ghanaians that if they voted for the NDC, those people whose names were on the hit lists would be assassinated.
Mr Yeboah said ironically, the NDC had been in power for close to two years and those earmarked for the assassination were still alive and going about their normal duties without fear or any harm.
He also mentioned the earthquake hoax in early 2010 through SMS messages as part of the clandestine moves to create consternation and fright among Ghanaians and engender a state of insecurity.
Mr Yeboah also recounted the death threats on the life of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which made him to come out with the Prevention Detention Act (PDA) to ward off such attacks on his life which culminated in some innocent Ghanaians losing their lives and limbs.
He said all those were moves by some nation wreckers whose activities started in the 1960s till date and that the security agencies must close in on them.
He also expressed worry about how some Christian leaders who were not aware of the truth about the highway rape hoax “went on the airwaves preaching and praying with some of them virtually asking God to fast-foward his judgement”.
“It was as if the Mills Administration had brought a curse upon the nation and the men of God were desperately asking God to pass judgement on him, despite the fact that statistics and facts portrayed a positive picture of the Police Service significantly reducing the crime rate under the tenure of President Mills,” he added.
Mr Yeboah said it was amazing that even when the security agencies had declared the highway rape case as fabricated, some men of God continued to create the impression that the incident actually took place.
1.4 million more added to voter register
THE names of almost 1.4 million Ghanaians have been added to the electoral roll, bringing the number of eligible voters to 13,865,121.
These voters are expected to cast their ballot in the 2012 general election to choose the next President and Members of Parliament if the Electoral Commission (EC) does not re-open the voters register before the election.
Vital statistics on the 2010 limited voter registration exercise by the EC made available to the Daily Graphic show that the Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of voters of 247,825, followed by the Greater Accra Region with 247,007 voters.
The rest are: Western Region, 142,888; Central Region, 124,930; Volta Region, 105,565; Eastern Region, 148,726; Brong Ahafo Region, 131,030; Northern Region, 137,119; Upper East Region, 69,189 and Upper West Region, 38,084.
Of the total number of fresh voters, 704,457 are males and 687,906 are females, while, in the case of age, 464,342 are 18, 298,684 are 19, while 628,337 are above 20.
According to the Public Relations Director of the EC, Mr Owusu Parry, the process of deleting the names of dead people from the list was ongoing, for which reason the total number of voters was likely to reduce.
It is expected that the 1,392,363 people who registered in the June 2010 exercise will cast their first ballot in the district assembly elections scheduled for December 28, 2010 to elect assembly and unit committee members.
The number of registered voters stood at 12,472,758 during the 2008 general election.
The number of registered voters since the inception of the Fourth Republic has been increasing significantly over years.
In 1992, the number of people who registered was 8,229,902, followed by 9,279,605 in 1996.
In 2000, 10,698,652 registered to cast their votes, while in 2004 10,354,970 voters registered.
These voters are expected to cast their ballot in the 2012 general election to choose the next President and Members of Parliament if the Electoral Commission (EC) does not re-open the voters register before the election.
Vital statistics on the 2010 limited voter registration exercise by the EC made available to the Daily Graphic show that the Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of voters of 247,825, followed by the Greater Accra Region with 247,007 voters.
The rest are: Western Region, 142,888; Central Region, 124,930; Volta Region, 105,565; Eastern Region, 148,726; Brong Ahafo Region, 131,030; Northern Region, 137,119; Upper East Region, 69,189 and Upper West Region, 38,084.
Of the total number of fresh voters, 704,457 are males and 687,906 are females, while, in the case of age, 464,342 are 18, 298,684 are 19, while 628,337 are above 20.
According to the Public Relations Director of the EC, Mr Owusu Parry, the process of deleting the names of dead people from the list was ongoing, for which reason the total number of voters was likely to reduce.
It is expected that the 1,392,363 people who registered in the June 2010 exercise will cast their first ballot in the district assembly elections scheduled for December 28, 2010 to elect assembly and unit committee members.
The number of registered voters stood at 12,472,758 during the 2008 general election.
The number of registered voters since the inception of the Fourth Republic has been increasing significantly over years.
In 1992, the number of people who registered was 8,229,902, followed by 9,279,605 in 1996.
In 2000, 10,698,652 registered to cast their votes, while in 2004 10,354,970 voters registered.
Let’s do away with Bretton Woods — CPP
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) has reiterated its call on successive governments to break away from the shackles of the Bretton Woods institutions.
This, it said, would avoid the situation where the country would be at the apron strings of the institutions and unable to pursue policies and programmes that would engender the needed social transformation.
The 2008 Presidential aspirant and his running mate, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom and Dr Abu Sakara Foster were contributing to the party’s weekly press briefing by various Shadow Cabinet Members dubbed “How CPP Will do It” in Accra on Wednesday.
This week’s address was by the party’s Chairman, Mr Ladi Nylander and was titled “CPP’s expectations for 2010 budget”
According to Dr Nduom who said he had once worked in a canned beef factory and maize farm in the United States of America, countries such as the US, which is capitalist to the core, still provided subsidies for its farmers.
He said unfortunately in Ghana, where farmers were poor, they were rather denied subsidies because of prescriptions by some Bretton Wood institutions.
He said after all these projectionist approach by the US government, it also went ahead to provide ready markets for its local farmers to ensure that their produce did not go waste like what pertained in Ghana.
He said it was out of these agricultural produce bought by the government that the US government used to support countries around the world that had been affected by disasters.
Dr Nduom said almost all the developed countries imposed strict quotas and taxes on agricultural produce from other parts of the world, all geared towards securing the markets for their local farmers.
He said the CPP would never depart from its campaign to ensure that even before it came to power, Ghanaians, especially the state, used its purchasing power to resource local manufacturers.
He said government had the capacity, as per its purchasing power, to lead the way by instructing that all state institutions purchased made in Ghana products, especially agricultural products.
Dr Nduom noted that over the years, governments had failed to spend over $ 1 billion because of lack of priority or lack of strategy.
According to Dr Sakara, who is also an agricultural economist, Ghana’s agriculture sector had not developed to the appreciable levels expected because government and banks had refused to make the needed investments.
He said there was no way any of the countries that professed to be helping this country would collect taxes from its hardworking citizens and use them to support Ghana to strengthen its industrial or agricultural sector to the detriment of the their (donors) industry and agriculture.
He said it was incumbent on government to strategise and develop policies that would allow even private banks to lend to the agricultural sector as a means of modernising the sector.
Addressing the press about the CPP’s expectation for the 2011 budget, he said after comparing the NDC policies with what the CPP Shadow Cabinet Members had presented so far, “the fact of the matter is that we find that the CPP vision requires more than an incremental change or shift in approach from that of the NDC and the NPP. Ours is change that is transformational”.
He said what the CPP envisioned was a paradigm shift from neo-colonialist dependency to bring the economy back home.
The National Chairman noted that paying attention to social welfare meant more than 100 per cent increase in budget for community-based programmes to meet the needs of the poor, needy and elderly.
He added that a strong commitment to use science and technology to improve productivity meant a huge change in the allocation of funds in the areas of education, public service and trade and industry to develop the right type of human capital.
He said the CPP expected the 2011 budget to break from the pattern set by the 2009 and 2010 budgets to low?? growth and urged the government “to stretch its imagination out of the box and go for growth beyond 10 per cent by proposing spending that will energise the productive sectors of the economy.
This, it said, would avoid the situation where the country would be at the apron strings of the institutions and unable to pursue policies and programmes that would engender the needed social transformation.
The 2008 Presidential aspirant and his running mate, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom and Dr Abu Sakara Foster were contributing to the party’s weekly press briefing by various Shadow Cabinet Members dubbed “How CPP Will do It” in Accra on Wednesday.
This week’s address was by the party’s Chairman, Mr Ladi Nylander and was titled “CPP’s expectations for 2010 budget”
According to Dr Nduom who said he had once worked in a canned beef factory and maize farm in the United States of America, countries such as the US, which is capitalist to the core, still provided subsidies for its farmers.
He said unfortunately in Ghana, where farmers were poor, they were rather denied subsidies because of prescriptions by some Bretton Wood institutions.
He said after all these projectionist approach by the US government, it also went ahead to provide ready markets for its local farmers to ensure that their produce did not go waste like what pertained in Ghana.
He said it was out of these agricultural produce bought by the government that the US government used to support countries around the world that had been affected by disasters.
Dr Nduom said almost all the developed countries imposed strict quotas and taxes on agricultural produce from other parts of the world, all geared towards securing the markets for their local farmers.
He said the CPP would never depart from its campaign to ensure that even before it came to power, Ghanaians, especially the state, used its purchasing power to resource local manufacturers.
He said government had the capacity, as per its purchasing power, to lead the way by instructing that all state institutions purchased made in Ghana products, especially agricultural products.
Dr Nduom noted that over the years, governments had failed to spend over $ 1 billion because of lack of priority or lack of strategy.
According to Dr Sakara, who is also an agricultural economist, Ghana’s agriculture sector had not developed to the appreciable levels expected because government and banks had refused to make the needed investments.
He said there was no way any of the countries that professed to be helping this country would collect taxes from its hardworking citizens and use them to support Ghana to strengthen its industrial or agricultural sector to the detriment of the their (donors) industry and agriculture.
He said it was incumbent on government to strategise and develop policies that would allow even private banks to lend to the agricultural sector as a means of modernising the sector.
Addressing the press about the CPP’s expectation for the 2011 budget, he said after comparing the NDC policies with what the CPP Shadow Cabinet Members had presented so far, “the fact of the matter is that we find that the CPP vision requires more than an incremental change or shift in approach from that of the NDC and the NPP. Ours is change that is transformational”.
He said what the CPP envisioned was a paradigm shift from neo-colonialist dependency to bring the economy back home.
The National Chairman noted that paying attention to social welfare meant more than 100 per cent increase in budget for community-based programmes to meet the needs of the poor, needy and elderly.
He added that a strong commitment to use science and technology to improve productivity meant a huge change in the allocation of funds in the areas of education, public service and trade and industry to develop the right type of human capital.
He said the CPP expected the 2011 budget to break from the pattern set by the 2009 and 2010 budgets to low?? growth and urged the government “to stretch its imagination out of the box and go for growth beyond 10 per cent by proposing spending that will energise the productive sectors of the economy.
AFROH hints of going to CHRAJ
THE Alliance for Responsible Office Holders (AFROH) has served notice that it is lodging a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for thorough investigations into how the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, allegedly influenced the lifting of the ban imposed on Armajaro Ghana Ltd in the Western Region of Ghana.
This is even after the office of the Vice-President has flatly denied any involvement of Mr Mahama in the Armajaro issue.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, Mr Mahama Haruna, the Chairman of the AFROH, said in its October 31, 2010, edition, the Sunday Times of the United Kingdom revealed that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, acting on the request of the Secretary of International Development, Andrew Mitchell, got the British High Commissioner in Accra to lobby the Castle, the seat of Ghana’s Presidency, to overturn a ban imposed on a British company for breaking the laws of the Republic of Ghana.
It alleged that a few days later, the British High Commissioner, Nicholas Westcott, accompanied Vice-President John Mahama, to dine with Henry Bellingham, a Minister for Africa at the UK Foreign office in London and the Vice-President promised to look into the matter when he returned to Ghana.
Mr Haruna noted that, mysteriously, a few weeks after that, the ban was overturned.
He said more worrying was the fact that the owner of that foreign company was on record as having paid more than $150,000 to the UK Minister, Andrew Mitchell, personally, and to the Conservative Party.
Giving a chronology of events to support their claim, the Chairman of the group said that on July 1, 2010, Mr Anthony Ward, the Chief Executive of Armajaro Holdings, wrote to the UK Cabinet Minister, Andrew Mitchell, the man to whom he had donated $63,000, “to bring weight to bear on the Ghana government.”
He claimed that a letter to that effect read: “We, therefore, would like to ask you to intervene on our behalf at the Presidential level [in Ghana] to request that the ban be lifted with immediate effect.”
He said the timing of the letter was such that it would prompt the British Government to lobby the Vice-President in person and the letter suggested that “one potential lobbying opportunity would be a UK-Ghana investment forum in London, which the Ghanaian Vice-President, Mr Mahama, was due to attend.”
Mr Haruna said Mr Henry Bellingham, the Foreign Office Minister, in fact, dined with Mr Mahama and Ambassador Westcott, and the matter on discussion was importantly Armajaro and that a leaked UK Foreign Office memo reporting on the meeting said: “The Vice-President (John Mahama) has undertaken to look into it immediately on his return.”
He added that the Sunday Times reported that “The campaign paid dividend. On July 12, Westcott reported in an internal memo that the Ghanaian Vice-President was going to look into the ban immediately.”
Mr Haruna said if Mr Mahama’s meeting played no role in the subsequent lifting of the ban, then the sequence of events suggest otherwise but added that Mr Westcott sent an e-mail to Mitchell’s DFID in August, knowing the Minister’s interest in the matter, disclosing that “a draft decision made by the Cocoa Board lifting the ban” had been drawn and “I hope this will sort the matter.”
He added that on September 8, 2010, the trade ban on Armajaro in Ghana was lifted in all but one district.
Mr Haruna said on September 28, 2010, the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Mr Anthony Fofie, with the Finance Minister next to him, told journalists at a news conference to announce a new producer price for cocoa that “the ban imposed on three licensed buying companies from operating in some parts of the country is still in force.”
He noted that according to official documents, by September 8, the ban on Armajaro, at least had been lifted, and this was 20 days before the Chief Executive of COCOBOD announced to the whole country that the ban was still in place.
This is even after the office of the Vice-President has flatly denied any involvement of Mr Mahama in the Armajaro issue.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, Mr Mahama Haruna, the Chairman of the AFROH, said in its October 31, 2010, edition, the Sunday Times of the United Kingdom revealed that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, acting on the request of the Secretary of International Development, Andrew Mitchell, got the British High Commissioner in Accra to lobby the Castle, the seat of Ghana’s Presidency, to overturn a ban imposed on a British company for breaking the laws of the Republic of Ghana.
It alleged that a few days later, the British High Commissioner, Nicholas Westcott, accompanied Vice-President John Mahama, to dine with Henry Bellingham, a Minister for Africa at the UK Foreign office in London and the Vice-President promised to look into the matter when he returned to Ghana.
Mr Haruna noted that, mysteriously, a few weeks after that, the ban was overturned.
He said more worrying was the fact that the owner of that foreign company was on record as having paid more than $150,000 to the UK Minister, Andrew Mitchell, personally, and to the Conservative Party.
Giving a chronology of events to support their claim, the Chairman of the group said that on July 1, 2010, Mr Anthony Ward, the Chief Executive of Armajaro Holdings, wrote to the UK Cabinet Minister, Andrew Mitchell, the man to whom he had donated $63,000, “to bring weight to bear on the Ghana government.”
He claimed that a letter to that effect read: “We, therefore, would like to ask you to intervene on our behalf at the Presidential level [in Ghana] to request that the ban be lifted with immediate effect.”
He said the timing of the letter was such that it would prompt the British Government to lobby the Vice-President in person and the letter suggested that “one potential lobbying opportunity would be a UK-Ghana investment forum in London, which the Ghanaian Vice-President, Mr Mahama, was due to attend.”
Mr Haruna said Mr Henry Bellingham, the Foreign Office Minister, in fact, dined with Mr Mahama and Ambassador Westcott, and the matter on discussion was importantly Armajaro and that a leaked UK Foreign Office memo reporting on the meeting said: “The Vice-President (John Mahama) has undertaken to look into it immediately on his return.”
He added that the Sunday Times reported that “The campaign paid dividend. On July 12, Westcott reported in an internal memo that the Ghanaian Vice-President was going to look into the ban immediately.”
Mr Haruna said if Mr Mahama’s meeting played no role in the subsequent lifting of the ban, then the sequence of events suggest otherwise but added that Mr Westcott sent an e-mail to Mitchell’s DFID in August, knowing the Minister’s interest in the matter, disclosing that “a draft decision made by the Cocoa Board lifting the ban” had been drawn and “I hope this will sort the matter.”
He added that on September 8, 2010, the trade ban on Armajaro in Ghana was lifted in all but one district.
Mr Haruna said on September 28, 2010, the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Mr Anthony Fofie, with the Finance Minister next to him, told journalists at a news conference to announce a new producer price for cocoa that “the ban imposed on three licensed buying companies from operating in some parts of the country is still in force.”
He noted that according to official documents, by September 8, the ban on Armajaro, at least had been lifted, and this was 20 days before the Chief Executive of COCOBOD announced to the whole country that the ban was still in place.
Electorates must give priority to district elections — NCCE
THE National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has described the district level elections as one of the most important elections that should be given priority attention by the electorate because that is where the basic developmental needs of Ghanaians are addressed.
The commission is, in this regard, to roll out a sustained programme to whip up interest in the district level election.
“Effective November 15, 2010, the commission would start the programme which would be replicated throughout all the 170 districts targeted at reversing the apathetic nature of Ghanaians towards district elections, “ the Deputy Chairman of the NCCE, Mrs Augustina Akumanyi, told the Daily Graphic.
She said the programme was designed at whipping up interest in the district election and also increasing the number of female and disabled Ghanaians vying to become assembly and unit committee members.
Mrs Akumanyi said it was high time Ghanaians were made to be clear in their minds that the substantive agents for development were the district assemblies and not Members of Parliament (MP) and that if they needed development, they should be interested in who became their assembly member.
The deputy NCCE chairman noted that it was the civic responsibility of all Ghanaians of voting age to be interested in who represented their interest, aspirations and concerns at the various districts.
She said Ghanaians who wanted the real development of their communities should show interest by either vying for the position of assembly members or vote for people who were honest, hardworking and responsible to represent their interest at the assembly.
Mrs Akumanyi said the commission would also involve the youth, especially those in the senior high school, to inculcate the spirit of democracy in them.
That, she said, would ensure that the young ones would grow up and take political office as a national call to serve and make life better for people and not to enrich ones self.
The programme includes community durbars and fora on the district elections, the general electoral processes and the need for active citizen participation. It will also include radio discussion programmes on all networks at the district and community levels, direct community contacts with community leaders and potential candidates of the December 28, district elections.
Education flyers and posters would be used to raise and sustain public awareness of the elections and local governance reforms.
Public education would also be used to promote active participation of women, the physically challenged and other vulnerable groups in the district elections and the general electoral process.
Mrs Akumanyi said although the commission was constrained by resources, it would try as much as possible to reach as many people as possible.
Touching on the low number of women who contest and also sail through to become assembly members, she said the commission had also initiated a special programme where they were being educated on how they would go about their campaign, especially how to package their message.
The commission is, in this regard, to roll out a sustained programme to whip up interest in the district level election.
“Effective November 15, 2010, the commission would start the programme which would be replicated throughout all the 170 districts targeted at reversing the apathetic nature of Ghanaians towards district elections, “ the Deputy Chairman of the NCCE, Mrs Augustina Akumanyi, told the Daily Graphic.
She said the programme was designed at whipping up interest in the district election and also increasing the number of female and disabled Ghanaians vying to become assembly and unit committee members.
Mrs Akumanyi said it was high time Ghanaians were made to be clear in their minds that the substantive agents for development were the district assemblies and not Members of Parliament (MP) and that if they needed development, they should be interested in who became their assembly member.
The deputy NCCE chairman noted that it was the civic responsibility of all Ghanaians of voting age to be interested in who represented their interest, aspirations and concerns at the various districts.
She said Ghanaians who wanted the real development of their communities should show interest by either vying for the position of assembly members or vote for people who were honest, hardworking and responsible to represent their interest at the assembly.
Mrs Akumanyi said the commission would also involve the youth, especially those in the senior high school, to inculcate the spirit of democracy in them.
That, she said, would ensure that the young ones would grow up and take political office as a national call to serve and make life better for people and not to enrich ones self.
The programme includes community durbars and fora on the district elections, the general electoral processes and the need for active citizen participation. It will also include radio discussion programmes on all networks at the district and community levels, direct community contacts with community leaders and potential candidates of the December 28, district elections.
Education flyers and posters would be used to raise and sustain public awareness of the elections and local governance reforms.
Public education would also be used to promote active participation of women, the physically challenged and other vulnerable groups in the district elections and the general electoral process.
Mrs Akumanyi said although the commission was constrained by resources, it would try as much as possible to reach as many people as possible.
Touching on the low number of women who contest and also sail through to become assembly members, she said the commission had also initiated a special programme where they were being educated on how they would go about their campaign, especially how to package their message.
CPP will ban sale of lands to individuals
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) has said that a government of the party will progressively acquire more lands for the state and will prohibit the sale of land to individuals as part of a larger process of ensuring Ghana’s sovereignty.
“In order to further protect state acquired lands, the properties or lands will be clearly marked on district/municipal/metropolitan maps and posted at public places in each district and updated regularly. Community ownership will be promoted to ensure protection of such property.”
According to the party’s spokesperson on Lands & Forestry, Mr Kosi Dedey, who spoke on the CPP’s alternative propositions on the Effective & Efficient Management of Lands & Forestry, the party will also actively work to restore public trust in Government’s capacity to manage the nation’s limited land and forest resource by ensuring efficient use in order to create wealth.
The party, he said, will also actively promote and support the active use of bamboo for furniture and construction to ease domestic pressure on timber and to ensure the sustainability of Ghana’s forests and wild species.
Mr Dedey said many Ghanaians, especially those living in urban areas, spent an average of two hours each day in traffic and that if 200,000 people moved from one part of Accra to the other and 25 per cent of these persons spent an average of two hours in traffic, that amounted to 100,000 man-hours lost each day.
“We can go further to ask what could be done with 100,000 man-hours. This amount of time equates to 50 people working eight-hours a day for one year.”
According to Mr Dedey, all these occurred because the country had failed to plan for efficient utilisation of land, because if there had been proper planning for physical infrastructure, most of the traffic would disappear.
Proper planning, he noted, would also curtail power outages and water crisis in the cities as well as floods and ensure abundance of food all year round, while at the same time get enough space as safe recreational grounds.
“Zoning of land will be done based on the scientific evidence and enforced for sustainability. Earthquake zones must either be unpopulated, sparsely populated or planned with enough spaces in time of emergency,” Mr Dedey stated.
Mr Dedey added that the CPP would improve regulation on commercial trade in wildlife and game to ensure survival of other species of life and to sustain this, the Forestry Commission will be better resourced to protect wild animals.
According to the CPP Shadow Member for Lands and Forestry, the inability of government to compensate quickly for land acquired had made it difficult for people to trust government, more especially when the same government subsequently turned round and disposed of land to cronies in and outside government, a situation which had made social tensions to become rife.
“What our leaders fail to appreciate or pretend not to appreciate is that, there is world-wide competition for land and underground water with multi-nationals supported by richer nations and interest acquiring land on massive scales for the production of either raw materials or finished products to feed the markets of more developed countries,” he added.
He explained that it was for that reason that there seem to be a lot of foreign interest in funding and directing how land and its resources should be managed but unfortunately for Ghanaians “Our political leadership has become so weak that from birth to death we have come to depend on donors who have their own interest in everything that they seek to fund.”
“In order to further protect state acquired lands, the properties or lands will be clearly marked on district/municipal/metropolitan maps and posted at public places in each district and updated regularly. Community ownership will be promoted to ensure protection of such property.”
According to the party’s spokesperson on Lands & Forestry, Mr Kosi Dedey, who spoke on the CPP’s alternative propositions on the Effective & Efficient Management of Lands & Forestry, the party will also actively work to restore public trust in Government’s capacity to manage the nation’s limited land and forest resource by ensuring efficient use in order to create wealth.
The party, he said, will also actively promote and support the active use of bamboo for furniture and construction to ease domestic pressure on timber and to ensure the sustainability of Ghana’s forests and wild species.
Mr Dedey said many Ghanaians, especially those living in urban areas, spent an average of two hours each day in traffic and that if 200,000 people moved from one part of Accra to the other and 25 per cent of these persons spent an average of two hours in traffic, that amounted to 100,000 man-hours lost each day.
“We can go further to ask what could be done with 100,000 man-hours. This amount of time equates to 50 people working eight-hours a day for one year.”
According to Mr Dedey, all these occurred because the country had failed to plan for efficient utilisation of land, because if there had been proper planning for physical infrastructure, most of the traffic would disappear.
Proper planning, he noted, would also curtail power outages and water crisis in the cities as well as floods and ensure abundance of food all year round, while at the same time get enough space as safe recreational grounds.
“Zoning of land will be done based on the scientific evidence and enforced for sustainability. Earthquake zones must either be unpopulated, sparsely populated or planned with enough spaces in time of emergency,” Mr Dedey stated.
Mr Dedey added that the CPP would improve regulation on commercial trade in wildlife and game to ensure survival of other species of life and to sustain this, the Forestry Commission will be better resourced to protect wild animals.
According to the CPP Shadow Member for Lands and Forestry, the inability of government to compensate quickly for land acquired had made it difficult for people to trust government, more especially when the same government subsequently turned round and disposed of land to cronies in and outside government, a situation which had made social tensions to become rife.
“What our leaders fail to appreciate or pretend not to appreciate is that, there is world-wide competition for land and underground water with multi-nationals supported by richer nations and interest acquiring land on massive scales for the production of either raw materials or finished products to feed the markets of more developed countries,” he added.
He explained that it was for that reason that there seem to be a lot of foreign interest in funding and directing how land and its resources should be managed but unfortunately for Ghanaians “Our political leadership has become so weak that from birth to death we have come to depend on donors who have their own interest in everything that they seek to fund.”
Monday, November 8, 2010
District assembly amendments to ensure effectiveness
The changes being introduced into the district assembly elections would save the nation resources and ensure effectiveness in the administration of the district assembly system.
The amendment, which is currently before Parliament, is also aimed at whipping up public interest in the local elections.
A Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, stated this during a media interaction between officials of the Greater Accra EC and some selected journalists in the region.
It was meant for them to come out with effective and efficient ways of publicising the date for district level elections, which is December 28, 2010 and the changes that would be effective after parliament has given a green light to the Legislative Instrument (LI) before it.
Explaining the savings that the nation would make on resources, Mr Kantanka said the number of unit committee had been reduced from 15,000 to 6,000 , bringing down the membership of the unit committee from the current 225,000 to 30,000.
He explained that hitherto, every electoral area had 15 unit committee members, consisting of 10 elected and five appointed members but with the LI, every electoral area would have only five members.
He said with only five persons to be elected in the electoral area, the unit committees were likely to become more competitive, unlike previously when the EC could not get the required number of candidates in quite a number of units.
Mr Kantanka hinted that the commission was discussing with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to explore the possibility of the ministry providing unit committee members with allowances and also increase that of the assembly members as a way of whipping up interest in the assembly system.
He added that the amendment would allow organisations, other than political parties, to donate to the EC to assist it in mounting more campaign platforms for aspirants.
Mr Kantanka added that aspirants could also mount their own platforms as many times as they could, unlike previously when they could not do so.
He said these amendments were also geared towards ensuring that the aspirants interacted more with the electorate as a way of increasing the interest of the electorate.
Mr Kantanka agreed to the Daily Graphic’s suggestion that allowing the candidates to mount their own platforms would offer people with more resources the opportunity to gain an upper hand over those with less.
He indicated that because this was a local election, the electorates were likely to vote for hardworking people and those with integrity than those who would be able mount the most expensive platforms.
He also explained that the EC would be willing to take assistance from other organisations to help it hold more platforms for the candidates, because previously it had not been able to generate enough resources to assist the candidates to send their messages to the electorate.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of EC, Mr Mohammed Addoquaye, urged the media to help in educating the electorate on the changes contained in the LI and also whip up their interest in the local election.
The amendment, which is currently before Parliament, is also aimed at whipping up public interest in the local elections.
A Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, stated this during a media interaction between officials of the Greater Accra EC and some selected journalists in the region.
It was meant for them to come out with effective and efficient ways of publicising the date for district level elections, which is December 28, 2010 and the changes that would be effective after parliament has given a green light to the Legislative Instrument (LI) before it.
Explaining the savings that the nation would make on resources, Mr Kantanka said the number of unit committee had been reduced from 15,000 to 6,000 , bringing down the membership of the unit committee from the current 225,000 to 30,000.
He explained that hitherto, every electoral area had 15 unit committee members, consisting of 10 elected and five appointed members but with the LI, every electoral area would have only five members.
He said with only five persons to be elected in the electoral area, the unit committees were likely to become more competitive, unlike previously when the EC could not get the required number of candidates in quite a number of units.
Mr Kantanka hinted that the commission was discussing with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to explore the possibility of the ministry providing unit committee members with allowances and also increase that of the assembly members as a way of whipping up interest in the assembly system.
He added that the amendment would allow organisations, other than political parties, to donate to the EC to assist it in mounting more campaign platforms for aspirants.
Mr Kantanka added that aspirants could also mount their own platforms as many times as they could, unlike previously when they could not do so.
He said these amendments were also geared towards ensuring that the aspirants interacted more with the electorate as a way of increasing the interest of the electorate.
Mr Kantanka agreed to the Daily Graphic’s suggestion that allowing the candidates to mount their own platforms would offer people with more resources the opportunity to gain an upper hand over those with less.
He indicated that because this was a local election, the electorates were likely to vote for hardworking people and those with integrity than those who would be able mount the most expensive platforms.
He also explained that the EC would be willing to take assistance from other organisations to help it hold more platforms for the candidates, because previously it had not been able to generate enough resources to assist the candidates to send their messages to the electorate.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of EC, Mr Mohammed Addoquaye, urged the media to help in educating the electorate on the changes contained in the LI and also whip up their interest in the local election.
CPP informed of Aduhene’s demise
Story: Donald Ato Dapatem
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has led a seven-member delegation to inform the Convention People’s Party (CPP) about the demise of Mr W. K Aduhene, a Deputy Minister of Defence in the Nkrumah Administration.
The 83-year-old, who was also the CPP Member of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso, served as a Council of State Member in the Rawlings Administration.
According to Mr Ahwoi, Mr Aduhene paid his due to his family, community and the nation, and urged politicians to emulate his shining example.
He noted that as a leading member of the CPP at Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Aduhene led a selfless and dedicated life and always ensured the interest of the people in his area.
Recounting some of the fond memories of the late former MP, Mr Ahwoi said he followed him to the nook and cronies of the area and some parts of the country for political campaign.
“I had the opportunity to mingle and interact with the top hierarchy of the CPP,” he said and added that as a young person, he on several occasions played table tennis with the late Mr Kofi Baako, another Minister in the Nkrumah regime.
He said the family thought it necessary and respectful to inform the party leaders about the demise of one of their leading members.
At this moment, one of the CPP members interjected that “ then you should come back home to your party”, to which Mr Ahwoi replied that “we have not abandoned the cause”.
After presenting two bottles of Schnapps to traditionally inform the party, he said the body would be laid in state on November 12, 2010 and buried the same day. Final funeral rites and church service would be held on the 13 and 14 of November at Sefwi Aboduame respectively.
Dr Abu Sakara commended the family, led by Mr Ahwoi for deeming it fit to inform the party of the death of their comrade, a situation which showed how deep the legacy of the CPP lived on.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has led a seven-member delegation to inform the Convention People’s Party (CPP) about the demise of Mr W. K Aduhene, a Deputy Minister of Defence in the Nkrumah Administration.
The 83-year-old, who was also the CPP Member of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso, served as a Council of State Member in the Rawlings Administration.
According to Mr Ahwoi, Mr Aduhene paid his due to his family, community and the nation, and urged politicians to emulate his shining example.
He noted that as a leading member of the CPP at Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Aduhene led a selfless and dedicated life and always ensured the interest of the people in his area.
Recounting some of the fond memories of the late former MP, Mr Ahwoi said he followed him to the nook and cronies of the area and some parts of the country for political campaign.
“I had the opportunity to mingle and interact with the top hierarchy of the CPP,” he said and added that as a young person, he on several occasions played table tennis with the late Mr Kofi Baako, another Minister in the Nkrumah regime.
He said the family thought it necessary and respectful to inform the party leaders about the demise of one of their leading members.
At this moment, one of the CPP members interjected that “ then you should come back home to your party”, to which Mr Ahwoi replied that “we have not abandoned the cause”.
After presenting two bottles of Schnapps to traditionally inform the party, he said the body would be laid in state on November 12, 2010 and buried the same day. Final funeral rites and church service would be held on the 13 and 14 of November at Sefwi Aboduame respectively.
Dr Abu Sakara commended the family, led by Mr Ahwoi for deeming it fit to inform the party of the death of their comrade, a situation which showed how deep the legacy of the CPP lived on.
CPP will ban sale of lands to individuals
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) has said that a government of the party will progressively acquire more lands for the state and will prohibit the sale of land to individuals as part of a larger process of ensuring Ghana’s sovereignty.
“In order to further protect state acquired lands, the properties or lands will be clearly marked on district/municipal/metropolitan maps and posted at public places in each district and updated regularly. Community ownership will be promoted to ensure protection of such property.”
According to the party’s spokesperson on Lands & Forestry, Mr Kosi Dedey, who spoke on the CPP’s alternative propositions on the Effective & Efficient Management of Lands & Forestry, the party will also actively work to restore public trust in Government’s capacity to manage the nation’s limited land and forest resource by ensuring efficient use in order to create wealth.
The party, he said, will also actively promote and support the active use of bamboo for furniture and construction to ease domestic pressure on timber and to ensure the sustainability of Ghana’s forests and wild species.
Donald Ato Dapatem reports that Mr Dedey said many Ghanaians, especially those living in urban areas, spent an average of two hours each day in traffic and that if 200,000 people moved from one part of Accra to the other and 25 per cent of these persons spent an average of two hours in traffic, that amounted to 100,000 man-hours lost each day.
“We can go further to ask what could be done with 100,000 man-hours. This amount of time equates to 50 people working eight-hours a day for one year.”
According to Mr Dedey, all these occurred because the country had failed to plan for efficient utilisation of land, because if there had been proper planning for physical infrastructure, most of the traffic would disappear.
Proper planning, he noted, would also curtail power outages and water crisis in the cities as well as floods and ensure abundance of food all year round, while at the same time get enough space as safe recreational grounds.
“Zoning of land will be done based on the scientific evidence and enforced for sustainability. Earthquake zones must either be unpopulated, sparsely populated or planned with enough spaces in time of emergency,” Mr Dedey stated.
Mr Dedey added that the CPP would improve regulation on commercial trade in wildlife and game to ensure survival of other species of life and to sustain this, the Forestry Commission will be better resourced to protect wild animals.
According to the CPP Shadow Member for Lands and Forestry, the inability of government to compensate quickly for land acquired had made it difficult for people to trust government, more especially when the same government subsequently turned round and disposed of land to cronies in and outside government, a situation which had made social tensions to become rife.
“What our leaders fail to appreciate or pretend not to appreciate is that, there is world-wide competition for land and underground water with multi-nationals supported by richer nations and interest acquiring land on massive scales for the production of either raw materials or finished products to feed the markets of more developed countries,” he added.
He explained that it was for that reason that there seem to be a lot of foreign interest in funding and directing how land and its resources should be managed but unfortunately for Ghanaians “Our political leadership has become so weak that from birth to death we have come to depend on donors who have their own interest in everything that they seek to fund.”
“In order to further protect state acquired lands, the properties or lands will be clearly marked on district/municipal/metropolitan maps and posted at public places in each district and updated regularly. Community ownership will be promoted to ensure protection of such property.”
According to the party’s spokesperson on Lands & Forestry, Mr Kosi Dedey, who spoke on the CPP’s alternative propositions on the Effective & Efficient Management of Lands & Forestry, the party will also actively work to restore public trust in Government’s capacity to manage the nation’s limited land and forest resource by ensuring efficient use in order to create wealth.
The party, he said, will also actively promote and support the active use of bamboo for furniture and construction to ease domestic pressure on timber and to ensure the sustainability of Ghana’s forests and wild species.
Donald Ato Dapatem reports that Mr Dedey said many Ghanaians, especially those living in urban areas, spent an average of two hours each day in traffic and that if 200,000 people moved from one part of Accra to the other and 25 per cent of these persons spent an average of two hours in traffic, that amounted to 100,000 man-hours lost each day.
“We can go further to ask what could be done with 100,000 man-hours. This amount of time equates to 50 people working eight-hours a day for one year.”
According to Mr Dedey, all these occurred because the country had failed to plan for efficient utilisation of land, because if there had been proper planning for physical infrastructure, most of the traffic would disappear.
Proper planning, he noted, would also curtail power outages and water crisis in the cities as well as floods and ensure abundance of food all year round, while at the same time get enough space as safe recreational grounds.
“Zoning of land will be done based on the scientific evidence and enforced for sustainability. Earthquake zones must either be unpopulated, sparsely populated or planned with enough spaces in time of emergency,” Mr Dedey stated.
Mr Dedey added that the CPP would improve regulation on commercial trade in wildlife and game to ensure survival of other species of life and to sustain this, the Forestry Commission will be better resourced to protect wild animals.
According to the CPP Shadow Member for Lands and Forestry, the inability of government to compensate quickly for land acquired had made it difficult for people to trust government, more especially when the same government subsequently turned round and disposed of land to cronies in and outside government, a situation which had made social tensions to become rife.
“What our leaders fail to appreciate or pretend not to appreciate is that, there is world-wide competition for land and underground water with multi-nationals supported by richer nations and interest acquiring land on massive scales for the production of either raw materials or finished products to feed the markets of more developed countries,” he added.
He explained that it was for that reason that there seem to be a lot of foreign interest in funding and directing how land and its resources should be managed but unfortunately for Ghanaians “Our political leadership has become so weak that from birth to death we have come to depend on donors who have their own interest in everything that they seek to fund.”
Arrest those behind highway rape hoax story — Media Analyst
THE Media Analysts Group of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the security agencies to ensure that all those behind the highway rape hoax story are brought to book.
This, the group said, would end the increasing number of concocted stories by some unscrupulous people to create fear and panic among the people and also to mar the image of the security agencies and the government in general.
Speaking to the media in Accra, the Spokesperson for the group, Mr Albert K. Yeboah alleged that those moves were part of a grand scheme by opponents of the government to also score cheap political points.
Giving reason for his claim, Mr Yeboah noted that in the year 2000, opponents of the NDC allegedly murdered innocent women and littered the nation with their dead bodies and that the trick worked for the nation wreckers because Ghanaians innocently bought into their agenda.
He alleged that in 2008, the NPP wanted to resort to a similar trick which backfired. They compiled a so-called hit list and cautioned Ghanaians that if they voted for the NDC, those people whose names were on the hit lists would be assassinated.
Mr Yeboah said ironically, the NDC had been in power for close to two years and those earmarked for the assassination were still alive and going about their normal duties without fear or any harm.
He also mentioned the earthquake hoax in early 2010 through SMS messages as part of the clandestine moves to create consternation and fright among Ghanaians and engender a state of insecurity.
Mr Yeboah also recounted the death threats on the life of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which made him to come out with the Prevention Detention Act (PDA) to ward off such attacks on his life which culminated in some innocent Ghanaians losing their lives and limbs.
He said all those were moves by some nation wreckers whose activities started in the 1960s till date and that the security agencies must close in on them.
He also expressed worry about how some Christian leaders who were not aware of the truth about the highway rape hoax “went on the airwaves preaching and praying with some of them virtually asking God to fast-foward his judgement”.
“It was as if the Mills Administration had brought a curse upon the nation and the men of God were desperately asking God to pass judgement on him, despite the fact that statistics and facts portrayed a positive picture of the Police Service significantly reducing the crime rate under the tenure of President Mills,” he added.
Mr Yeboah said it was amazing that even when the security agencies had declared the highway rape case as fabricated, some men of God continued to create the impression that the incident actually took place.
This, the group said, would end the increasing number of concocted stories by some unscrupulous people to create fear and panic among the people and also to mar the image of the security agencies and the government in general.
Speaking to the media in Accra, the Spokesperson for the group, Mr Albert K. Yeboah alleged that those moves were part of a grand scheme by opponents of the government to also score cheap political points.
Giving reason for his claim, Mr Yeboah noted that in the year 2000, opponents of the NDC allegedly murdered innocent women and littered the nation with their dead bodies and that the trick worked for the nation wreckers because Ghanaians innocently bought into their agenda.
He alleged that in 2008, the NPP wanted to resort to a similar trick which backfired. They compiled a so-called hit list and cautioned Ghanaians that if they voted for the NDC, those people whose names were on the hit lists would be assassinated.
Mr Yeboah said ironically, the NDC had been in power for close to two years and those earmarked for the assassination were still alive and going about their normal duties without fear or any harm.
He also mentioned the earthquake hoax in early 2010 through SMS messages as part of the clandestine moves to create consternation and fright among Ghanaians and engender a state of insecurity.
Mr Yeboah also recounted the death threats on the life of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which made him to come out with the Prevention Detention Act (PDA) to ward off such attacks on his life which culminated in some innocent Ghanaians losing their lives and limbs.
He said all those were moves by some nation wreckers whose activities started in the 1960s till date and that the security agencies must close in on them.
He also expressed worry about how some Christian leaders who were not aware of the truth about the highway rape hoax “went on the airwaves preaching and praying with some of them virtually asking God to fast-foward his judgement”.
“It was as if the Mills Administration had brought a curse upon the nation and the men of God were desperately asking God to pass judgement on him, despite the fact that statistics and facts portrayed a positive picture of the Police Service significantly reducing the crime rate under the tenure of President Mills,” he added.
Mr Yeboah said it was amazing that even when the security agencies had declared the highway rape case as fabricated, some men of God continued to create the impression that the incident actually took place.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Nana Konadu’s campaign posters out
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned that it has not given the green light for people with the intention of vying to become its presidential candidates for 2008.
It will, therefore, initiate investigations into activities of all those posting campaign posters and speaking on radio as a means of rooting for some people they claim to be aspirants for the NDC presidential primaries.
Mr Richard Quarshiga, the Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, was speaking to the Daily Graphic about the party’s reaction to posters of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings in some parts of the country.
The posters appear in NDC colours and are embossed with a picture of Nana Konadu and small pictures of some female former and current world leaders. It has the inscription, “Nana Konadu, Hope for Ghana 2012”. It also has the telephone numbers of all the regional co-ordinators of a group calling itself, NDC footsoldiers on it.
According to Mr Quarshigah, there was the need for party members to abide by the party’s tenets and also use internal structures and procedures to seek redress and explanation to issues, rather than resorting to unconstitutional means.
He said apart from the Nana Konadu picture issue, the party would also investigate other complaints by some members of the party and address them.
The Central Regional Co-ordinator of the NDC Footsoldiers, Mr Kobina Quansah, told the Daily Graphic that their decision to form an alliance to support Nana Konadu for the 2012 polls stemmed from the fact that the NDC since its assumption of office had marginalised the very footsoldiers that propelled the party to power.
He said the regional co-ordinators of the footsoldiers were solidly united behind Nana Konadu, and that T-shirts and other party paraphernalia were being prepared ahead of the 2012 campaign, stressing that "whether she likes it or not she must contest the 2012 election ."
Mr Quansah who described President J.E.A. Mills as an "alien" in the NDC said he did not deserve a second term on the party's ticket, noting that no one else in the party except the former first couple appreciated their concerns, and that the fact that President Mills had jettisoned the ideals of the NDC to pursue a Convention People's Party (CPP) ideology was a calculated attempt to render former President Rawlings a persona non-grata in the NDC.
According to him although the NDC government had performed well in fixing the economy, what President Mills failed to understand was the fact that he won the 2008 polls on the back of a political party, and his failure to address the grievances of the party’s youth was a clear demonstration of his lack of appreciation of the feelings of supporters of the party.
He said the group supported the NDC because of the Rawlingses and that plans were afoot to organise a press conference to officially announce their intentions to the public.
When reached for the reaction of Nana Konadu, Mr Kofi Adams, the Spokesperson for the former first family noted that “if the foot soldiers are not asking for money but were calling on the party to uphold its tenets and principles, he had no problem with that”.
He also noted that it was clear that the group were posting the posters of Nana Konadu without her tacit approval but no one could control the adrenaline of such youth.
Asked if the former first lady was interested in contesting the position, he explained that she had been inundated with similar calls.
Mr Adams added that such a decision could not be taken on the spur of the moment, and that if she would undertake such an endeavour she needed to consult a number of people, family and groups for their advice.
It will, therefore, initiate investigations into activities of all those posting campaign posters and speaking on radio as a means of rooting for some people they claim to be aspirants for the NDC presidential primaries.
Mr Richard Quarshiga, the Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, was speaking to the Daily Graphic about the party’s reaction to posters of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings in some parts of the country.
The posters appear in NDC colours and are embossed with a picture of Nana Konadu and small pictures of some female former and current world leaders. It has the inscription, “Nana Konadu, Hope for Ghana 2012”. It also has the telephone numbers of all the regional co-ordinators of a group calling itself, NDC footsoldiers on it.
According to Mr Quarshigah, there was the need for party members to abide by the party’s tenets and also use internal structures and procedures to seek redress and explanation to issues, rather than resorting to unconstitutional means.
He said apart from the Nana Konadu picture issue, the party would also investigate other complaints by some members of the party and address them.
The Central Regional Co-ordinator of the NDC Footsoldiers, Mr Kobina Quansah, told the Daily Graphic that their decision to form an alliance to support Nana Konadu for the 2012 polls stemmed from the fact that the NDC since its assumption of office had marginalised the very footsoldiers that propelled the party to power.
He said the regional co-ordinators of the footsoldiers were solidly united behind Nana Konadu, and that T-shirts and other party paraphernalia were being prepared ahead of the 2012 campaign, stressing that "whether she likes it or not she must contest the 2012 election ."
Mr Quansah who described President J.E.A. Mills as an "alien" in the NDC said he did not deserve a second term on the party's ticket, noting that no one else in the party except the former first couple appreciated their concerns, and that the fact that President Mills had jettisoned the ideals of the NDC to pursue a Convention People's Party (CPP) ideology was a calculated attempt to render former President Rawlings a persona non-grata in the NDC.
According to him although the NDC government had performed well in fixing the economy, what President Mills failed to understand was the fact that he won the 2008 polls on the back of a political party, and his failure to address the grievances of the party’s youth was a clear demonstration of his lack of appreciation of the feelings of supporters of the party.
He said the group supported the NDC because of the Rawlingses and that plans were afoot to organise a press conference to officially announce their intentions to the public.
When reached for the reaction of Nana Konadu, Mr Kofi Adams, the Spokesperson for the former first family noted that “if the foot soldiers are not asking for money but were calling on the party to uphold its tenets and principles, he had no problem with that”.
He also noted that it was clear that the group were posting the posters of Nana Konadu without her tacit approval but no one could control the adrenaline of such youth.
Asked if the former first lady was interested in contesting the position, he explained that she had been inundated with similar calls.
Mr Adams added that such a decision could not be taken on the spur of the moment, and that if she would undertake such an endeavour she needed to consult a number of people, family and groups for their advice.
CPP informed of Aduhene’s demise
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has led a seven-member delegation to inform the Convention People’s Party (CPP) about the demise of Mr W. K Aduhene, a Deputy Minister of Defence in the Nkrumah Administration.
The 83-year-old, who was also the CPP Member of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso, served as a Council of State Member in the Rawlings Administration.
According to Mr Ahwoi, Mr Aduhene paid his due to his family, community and the nation, and urged politicians to emulate his shining example.
He noted that as a leading member of the CPP at Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Aduhene led a selfless and dedicated life and always ensured the interest of the people in his area.
Recounting some of the fond memories of the late former MP, Mr Ahwoi said he followed him to the nook and cronies of the area and some parts of the country for political campaign.
“I had the opportunity to mingle and interact with the top hierarchy of the CPP,” he said and added that as a young person, he on several occasions played table tennis with the late Mr Kofi Baako, another Minister in the Nkrumah regime.
He said the family thought it necessary and respectful to inform the party leaders about the demise of one of their leading members.
At this moment, one of the CPP members interjected that “ then you should come back home to your party”, to which Mr Ahwoi replied that “we have not abandoned the cause”.
After presenting two bottles of Schnapps to traditionally inform the party, he said the body would be laid in state on November 12, 2010 and buried the same day. Final funeral rites and church service would be held on the 13 and 14 of November at Sefwi Aboduame respectively.
Dr Abu Sakara commended the family, led by Mr Ahwoi for deeming it fit to inform the party of the death of their comrade, a situation which showed how deep the legacy of the CPP lived on.
The 83-year-old, who was also the CPP Member of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso, served as a Council of State Member in the Rawlings Administration.
According to Mr Ahwoi, Mr Aduhene paid his due to his family, community and the nation, and urged politicians to emulate his shining example.
He noted that as a leading member of the CPP at Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Aduhene led a selfless and dedicated life and always ensured the interest of the people in his area.
Recounting some of the fond memories of the late former MP, Mr Ahwoi said he followed him to the nook and cronies of the area and some parts of the country for political campaign.
“I had the opportunity to mingle and interact with the top hierarchy of the CPP,” he said and added that as a young person, he on several occasions played table tennis with the late Mr Kofi Baako, another Minister in the Nkrumah regime.
He said the family thought it necessary and respectful to inform the party leaders about the demise of one of their leading members.
At this moment, one of the CPP members interjected that “ then you should come back home to your party”, to which Mr Ahwoi replied that “we have not abandoned the cause”.
After presenting two bottles of Schnapps to traditionally inform the party, he said the body would be laid in state on November 12, 2010 and buried the same day. Final funeral rites and church service would be held on the 13 and 14 of November at Sefwi Aboduame respectively.
Dr Abu Sakara commended the family, led by Mr Ahwoi for deeming it fit to inform the party of the death of their comrade, a situation which showed how deep the legacy of the CPP lived on.
Prez Mills must take charge of party — Akamba
A Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Joshua Hamidu Akamba has appealed to President J.E.A. Mills, who is the leader of the party, to intervene in the recent challenges facing the party to ensure that peace prevailed.
He also noted that as a Vice Chairperson of the NDC, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, had all the qualities to act as the National Chairman, including leading the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) and should, therefore, assist in defusing such problems within the party.
Mr Akamba was reacting to the recent developments in the NDC, including demands on Nana Konadu to contest President Mills as the NDC flag bearer for 2012 because, according to the foot soldiers, they were not pleased with certain developments in the party.
He said it would not augur well for the NDC if President Mills allowed the problems to linger any further.
He said the NDC constitution placed President Mills as the leader of the party, and therefore, head of the National executive of which Nana Konadu as well as all the foot soldiers were members.
“It will serve all of us good if the leader wakes up and take control of the party, settle all these issues and bring the errant ones to order”.
The Deputy General Secretary said it would not be in the interest of the NDC for such party issues to be prolonged, especially in the media, “a situation which was arming the party’s opponents with weapons to throw at us”.
Turning his attention to Nana Konadu, Mr Akamba wanted to find out from her (Nana Konadu) “if she thinks it was in the best interest of the party for some aggrieved party foot soldiers to call on her to contest President Mills”, while disregarding the structures and procedures for addressing their concerns.
He said as party leaders and members, all their activities must be geared towards brightening the fortunes of the party, rather than thwarting the efforts of winning the 2012.
Mr Akamba described the calls for Nana Konadu to contest President Mills as a “revolution” which could seriously affect the ability of the party to attract more floating voters to cast their ballot for NDC.
He also advised the foot soldiers to take note that Ghanaians would judge the NDC in 2012, irrespective of whoever was the NDC flagbearer, based on the achievements of President Mills and his administration.
“We are providing the NPP with another ammunition. Because pasting posters of Nana Konadu for 2012 on walls were clear indication that President Mills was not delivering,” he said and added that such unfortunate occurrences tended to overshadow all the good things the Mills led Administration had attained.
Recounting some of the achievements of the NDC governments in less that two years, he said it was not for nothing that the Russian government decided to release information on onshore oil prospects, but because the Russians believed in the good leadership qualities of President Mills that was why they had decided to release such information after the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
He also mentioned single digit inflation, road, schools and hospital construction throughout the country, the $13 billion Chinese facility the President secured in his recent trip to China, increase in Capitation Grant by 50 per cent, distribution of free school uniforms and exercise books.
He added that it was under the Mills Administration that the country had recorded its highest performance ever in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), scoring 4.1 out of 10 in the latest ratings by Transparency International.
Mr Akamba added that the government had initiated court action against those alleged to have killed the Ya Na and others, Issa Mobila as well as those in the Kufuor Administration alleged to have dipped their hands in the nation’s coffers.
He also noted that as a Vice Chairperson of the NDC, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, had all the qualities to act as the National Chairman, including leading the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) and should, therefore, assist in defusing such problems within the party.
Mr Akamba was reacting to the recent developments in the NDC, including demands on Nana Konadu to contest President Mills as the NDC flag bearer for 2012 because, according to the foot soldiers, they were not pleased with certain developments in the party.
He said it would not augur well for the NDC if President Mills allowed the problems to linger any further.
He said the NDC constitution placed President Mills as the leader of the party, and therefore, head of the National executive of which Nana Konadu as well as all the foot soldiers were members.
“It will serve all of us good if the leader wakes up and take control of the party, settle all these issues and bring the errant ones to order”.
The Deputy General Secretary said it would not be in the interest of the NDC for such party issues to be prolonged, especially in the media, “a situation which was arming the party’s opponents with weapons to throw at us”.
Turning his attention to Nana Konadu, Mr Akamba wanted to find out from her (Nana Konadu) “if she thinks it was in the best interest of the party for some aggrieved party foot soldiers to call on her to contest President Mills”, while disregarding the structures and procedures for addressing their concerns.
He said as party leaders and members, all their activities must be geared towards brightening the fortunes of the party, rather than thwarting the efforts of winning the 2012.
Mr Akamba described the calls for Nana Konadu to contest President Mills as a “revolution” which could seriously affect the ability of the party to attract more floating voters to cast their ballot for NDC.
He also advised the foot soldiers to take note that Ghanaians would judge the NDC in 2012, irrespective of whoever was the NDC flagbearer, based on the achievements of President Mills and his administration.
“We are providing the NPP with another ammunition. Because pasting posters of Nana Konadu for 2012 on walls were clear indication that President Mills was not delivering,” he said and added that such unfortunate occurrences tended to overshadow all the good things the Mills led Administration had attained.
Recounting some of the achievements of the NDC governments in less that two years, he said it was not for nothing that the Russian government decided to release information on onshore oil prospects, but because the Russians believed in the good leadership qualities of President Mills that was why they had decided to release such information after the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
He also mentioned single digit inflation, road, schools and hospital construction throughout the country, the $13 billion Chinese facility the President secured in his recent trip to China, increase in Capitation Grant by 50 per cent, distribution of free school uniforms and exercise books.
He added that it was under the Mills Administration that the country had recorded its highest performance ever in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), scoring 4.1 out of 10 in the latest ratings by Transparency International.
Mr Akamba added that the government had initiated court action against those alleged to have killed the Ya Na and others, Issa Mobila as well as those in the Kufuor Administration alleged to have dipped their hands in the nation’s coffers.
District assembly amendments to ensure effectiveness
The changes being introduced into the district assembly elections would save the nation resources and ensure effectiveness in the administration of the district assembly system.
The amendment, which is currently before Parliament, is also aimed at whipping up public interest in the local elections.
A Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, stated this during a media interaction between officials of the Greater Accra EC and some selected journalists in the region.
It was meant for them to come out with effective and efficient ways of publicising the date for district level elections, which is December 28, 2010 and the changes that would be effective after parliament has given a green light to the Legislative Instrument (LI) before it.
Explaining the savings that the nation would make on resources, Mr Kantanka said the number of unit committee had been reduced from 15,000 to 6,000 , bringing down the membership of the unit committee from the current 225,000 to 30,000.
He explained that hitherto, every electoral area had 15 unit committee members, consisting of 10 elected and five appointed members but with the LI, every electoral area would have only five members.
He said with only five persons to be elected in the electoral area, the unit committees were likely to become more competitive, unlike previously when the EC could not get the required number of candidates in quite a number of units.
Mr Kantanka hinted that the commission was discussing with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to explore the possibility of the ministry providing unit committee members with allowances and also increase that of the assembly members as a way of whipping up interest in the assembly system.
He added that the amendment would allow organisations, other than political parties, to donate to the EC to assist it in mounting more campaign platforms for aspirants.
Mr Kantanka added that aspirants could also mount their own platforms as many times as they could, unlike previously when they could not do so.
He said these amendments were also geared towards ensuring that the aspirants interacted more with the electorate as a way of increasing the interest of the electorate.
Mr Kantanka agreed to the Daily Graphic’s suggestion that allowing the candidates to mount their own platforms would offer people with more resources the opportunity to gain an upper hand over those with less.
He indicated that because this was a local election, the electorates were likely to vote for hardworking people and those with integrity than those who would be able mount the most expensive platforms.
He also explained that the EC would be willing to take assistance from other organisations to help it hold more platforms for the candidates, because previously it had not been able to generate enough resources to assist the candidates to send their messages to the electorate.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of EC, Mr Mohammed Addoquaye, urged the media to help in educating the electorate on the changes contained in the LI and also whip up their interest in the local election.
The amendment, which is currently before Parliament, is also aimed at whipping up public interest in the local elections.
A Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, stated this during a media interaction between officials of the Greater Accra EC and some selected journalists in the region.
It was meant for them to come out with effective and efficient ways of publicising the date for district level elections, which is December 28, 2010 and the changes that would be effective after parliament has given a green light to the Legislative Instrument (LI) before it.
Explaining the savings that the nation would make on resources, Mr Kantanka said the number of unit committee had been reduced from 15,000 to 6,000 , bringing down the membership of the unit committee from the current 225,000 to 30,000.
He explained that hitherto, every electoral area had 15 unit committee members, consisting of 10 elected and five appointed members but with the LI, every electoral area would have only five members.
He said with only five persons to be elected in the electoral area, the unit committees were likely to become more competitive, unlike previously when the EC could not get the required number of candidates in quite a number of units.
Mr Kantanka hinted that the commission was discussing with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to explore the possibility of the ministry providing unit committee members with allowances and also increase that of the assembly members as a way of whipping up interest in the assembly system.
He added that the amendment would allow organisations, other than political parties, to donate to the EC to assist it in mounting more campaign platforms for aspirants.
Mr Kantanka added that aspirants could also mount their own platforms as many times as they could, unlike previously when they could not do so.
He said these amendments were also geared towards ensuring that the aspirants interacted more with the electorate as a way of increasing the interest of the electorate.
Mr Kantanka agreed to the Daily Graphic’s suggestion that allowing the candidates to mount their own platforms would offer people with more resources the opportunity to gain an upper hand over those with less.
He indicated that because this was a local election, the electorates were likely to vote for hardworking people and those with integrity than those who would be able mount the most expensive platforms.
He also explained that the EC would be willing to take assistance from other organisations to help it hold more platforms for the candidates, because previously it had not been able to generate enough resources to assist the candidates to send their messages to the electorate.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of EC, Mr Mohammed Addoquaye, urged the media to help in educating the electorate on the changes contained in the LI and also whip up their interest in the local election.
Conduct public probe into allocation of state lands •Urges CJA
Committee for Joint Action (CJA), a pressure group, has called on President J.E.A. Mills to set up an independent commission of enquiry to conduct a public probe into the allocation of state lands and government assets.
It accused the Kufuor Administration of disposing of state property, especially lands in prime areas in Accra, at paltry prices and without recourse to proper procedure.
Mr Kwasi Adu, a leading member of the CJA, who made the call at a press conference in Accra yesterday, said the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood, “who should know the law, threw away any sense of integrity and decency and went for the land-grab”.
He mentioned some of the persons who acquired the land during the Kufuor Administration as Mrs Georgina Wood, Chief Justice; Mr K.T. Hammond, former Deputy Energy Minister; Ms Irene Addo, MP for Tema West; Hajia Alima Mahama, former Women and Children’s Affairs Minister; Ms Oboshie Sai Cofie, former Minister f Tourism; and Dr Abu Sakara Forster, 2008 CPP Vice Presidential candidate.
He accused the CJ of having no regard for the Code of Ethics of Judges and expressed surprise that the same person who would be appointing judges to sit on cases regarding the land-grab was involved in such deals.
Supporting their statements with documents from the Lands Commission covering how over 180 plots of state land were disposed of without recourse to laid-down procedure, Mr Adu said some of the buyers paid as little as GH¢15,000 for the land in Airport Residential Area.
He explained that the laws of the country stated that lands acquired by the government were supposed to be used only in the public interest or for the purpose for which they were acquired.
He added that the 1992 Constitution also made it clear that if the government was unable to use the lands acquired, it should let the owner of the property have the first option of acquiring it.
Mr Adu explained that in 1998, the then government introduced an urban renewal programme, part of which was to re-develop government residential properties to ensure optimal use of land and the realisation of the full latent values in the land, as well as providing new modern housing stock for the government.
He said the NDC government identified public lands in Cantonments, Airport Residential Area, Kanda, Switchback and Ridge for the re-development and in 2000, the Cabinet approved the Accra Redevelopment Scheme to be carried out under a public-private sector partnership.
This, he said, was a means of funding and executing the projects and the government then introduced a publicly publicised system based on bidding rules and guidelines for the selection of individual applicants and prospective developers.
Mr Adu said under the NDC government’s Redevelopment Policy Phase 1, which was executed before 2000, “the proceeds from the sale of 67 plots of land, sold mostly to companies and few individuals, enabled that government to build 83 replacement bungalows and 169 residential units”.
He noted, however, that the NPP in 2005 executed their own in-filling scheme, such as the open-to-the-public-approval Redevelopment Plan when the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, together with the Chairman and Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, allocated 19.54 acres of land to 90 persons.
“Under the NPP scheme, the allocations were so arbitrary and haphazard that even the persons who were allocated the plots did not complete the application for leases for Government Plots (Form 5) as stipulated in LI 230,” he alleged.
He said under the implementation of the Phase two of the programme in 2004, the NPP Administration decided not to pay attention to procedure; as a result, this was suspended several times until 2008, “when the NPP decided to ransack the properties without recourse to proceedings”.
Mr Adu said the NPP sold most of the government lands to NPP members on protocol basis, while others were offered through bidding that was not publicised.
It accused the Kufuor Administration of disposing of state property, especially lands in prime areas in Accra, at paltry prices and without recourse to proper procedure.
Mr Kwasi Adu, a leading member of the CJA, who made the call at a press conference in Accra yesterday, said the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood, “who should know the law, threw away any sense of integrity and decency and went for the land-grab”.
He mentioned some of the persons who acquired the land during the Kufuor Administration as Mrs Georgina Wood, Chief Justice; Mr K.T. Hammond, former Deputy Energy Minister; Ms Irene Addo, MP for Tema West; Hajia Alima Mahama, former Women and Children’s Affairs Minister; Ms Oboshie Sai Cofie, former Minister f Tourism; and Dr Abu Sakara Forster, 2008 CPP Vice Presidential candidate.
He accused the CJ of having no regard for the Code of Ethics of Judges and expressed surprise that the same person who would be appointing judges to sit on cases regarding the land-grab was involved in such deals.
Supporting their statements with documents from the Lands Commission covering how over 180 plots of state land were disposed of without recourse to laid-down procedure, Mr Adu said some of the buyers paid as little as GH¢15,000 for the land in Airport Residential Area.
He explained that the laws of the country stated that lands acquired by the government were supposed to be used only in the public interest or for the purpose for which they were acquired.
He added that the 1992 Constitution also made it clear that if the government was unable to use the lands acquired, it should let the owner of the property have the first option of acquiring it.
Mr Adu explained that in 1998, the then government introduced an urban renewal programme, part of which was to re-develop government residential properties to ensure optimal use of land and the realisation of the full latent values in the land, as well as providing new modern housing stock for the government.
He said the NDC government identified public lands in Cantonments, Airport Residential Area, Kanda, Switchback and Ridge for the re-development and in 2000, the Cabinet approved the Accra Redevelopment Scheme to be carried out under a public-private sector partnership.
This, he said, was a means of funding and executing the projects and the government then introduced a publicly publicised system based on bidding rules and guidelines for the selection of individual applicants and prospective developers.
Mr Adu said under the NDC government’s Redevelopment Policy Phase 1, which was executed before 2000, “the proceeds from the sale of 67 plots of land, sold mostly to companies and few individuals, enabled that government to build 83 replacement bungalows and 169 residential units”.
He noted, however, that the NPP in 2005 executed their own in-filling scheme, such as the open-to-the-public-approval Redevelopment Plan when the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, together with the Chairman and Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, allocated 19.54 acres of land to 90 persons.
“Under the NPP scheme, the allocations were so arbitrary and haphazard that even the persons who were allocated the plots did not complete the application for leases for Government Plots (Form 5) as stipulated in LI 230,” he alleged.
He said under the implementation of the Phase two of the programme in 2004, the NPP Administration decided not to pay attention to procedure; as a result, this was suspended several times until 2008, “when the NPP decided to ransack the properties without recourse to proceedings”.
Mr Adu said the NPP sold most of the government lands to NPP members on protocol basis, while others were offered through bidding that was not publicised.
81 judges live in rented homes
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) has described as unacceptable the situation where 81 judges are living in rented houses, while government officials and their cronies share lands acquired for putting up structures for public officials with impunity.
It also lamented the situation where, out of the 41 High courts in Accra, the State had used its resources to build only one, with the remaining housed in parts of the Supreme Court, the Cocoa Affairs Court premises and the premises of the Naval Volunteer Force, close to the beach, while almost all the district courts in Accra were housed in borrowed or temporary premises.
The CPP Shadow Minister of Justice and Attorney-General (A-G), Mr Bright Akwetey, made the startling revelation when he presented what the party termed, “How the CPP will do it” in Accra yesterday.
He added that those conditions for the judges and the courts “do not define Ghanaians as a people conscious of and concerned about the environment for dispensing justice and also expose judges to dangers, influences and threats”.
Mr Akwetey, who had been a Senior State Attorney for 21 years, blamed the perceived corruption and inefficiency in the judicial system on the deliberate neglect by successive governments of the judiciary.
“Judges have very little social life and have many constraints on the freedom of movement, freedom of speech and of association and so they are, as a rule, kept in what we know and call government bungalows,” he said.
He said it was for that reason that the CPP was against the selling of vacant public lands because it believed that such lands could be used to build bungalows for the judiciary who “represents the conscience of the people”.
Mr Akwetey, who is a private legal practitioner, expressed worry that while judges were poorly remunerated, Members of Parliament (MPs) were given personal loans denoted in dollars to buy personal cars immediately they assumed office and retired with fat ex-gratia and allowances, a development which frowned on equity.
He noted that even the Commercial courts were built and furnished by the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA), while the automation of other courts was donor funded.
He said the country continued to diminish its sovereignty over its own judiciary because the training of judges abroad to enable them to acquire specialised knowledge was funded by foreign agencies and that the recently established local Judicial Training Institute which was locally owned by the State needed adequate resources and funding.
He noted that there was no training institution at all for the para-legal staff of the judiciary.
He said a CPP government would give flesh and meaning to Ghana’s motto, Freedom and Justice, by investing heavily in the welfare and comfort, as well as training, of judges and provide the requisite infrastructure to ensure speedy trials.
Mr Akwetey said a CPP government would also not ignore complaints against the judiciary, saying what it would do was that it would monitor closely the activities of members of the Bench, with the view to helping them attain their full potential as judges.
On the office of the A-G, he reiterated the CPP’s position of decoupling the A-G’s office from that of the Minister of Justice.
He said as prescribed by the Constitution and the law, it was imperative that the AG’s office was given the requisite personnel, infrastructure and the necessary tools to help in the enacting, monitoring and enforcement of laws in Ghana.
Mr Akwetey said the situation where government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) regarded the A-G’s office as an appendage of the government and which they only contacted when there was a problem would stop under a CPP government.
“As the principal legal advisor of the government, the AG must have oversight responsibility over all legal issues affecting the work of MDAs,” he said.
He said the situation where remand prisoners stayed behind bars for years would be a thing of the past, adding that to permanently solve the problem, a CPP government would widely consult with all stakeholders to determine a suitable period beyond which nobody would be kept in any prison in Ghana.
It also lamented the situation where, out of the 41 High courts in Accra, the State had used its resources to build only one, with the remaining housed in parts of the Supreme Court, the Cocoa Affairs Court premises and the premises of the Naval Volunteer Force, close to the beach, while almost all the district courts in Accra were housed in borrowed or temporary premises.
The CPP Shadow Minister of Justice and Attorney-General (A-G), Mr Bright Akwetey, made the startling revelation when he presented what the party termed, “How the CPP will do it” in Accra yesterday.
He added that those conditions for the judges and the courts “do not define Ghanaians as a people conscious of and concerned about the environment for dispensing justice and also expose judges to dangers, influences and threats”.
Mr Akwetey, who had been a Senior State Attorney for 21 years, blamed the perceived corruption and inefficiency in the judicial system on the deliberate neglect by successive governments of the judiciary.
“Judges have very little social life and have many constraints on the freedom of movement, freedom of speech and of association and so they are, as a rule, kept in what we know and call government bungalows,” he said.
He said it was for that reason that the CPP was against the selling of vacant public lands because it believed that such lands could be used to build bungalows for the judiciary who “represents the conscience of the people”.
Mr Akwetey, who is a private legal practitioner, expressed worry that while judges were poorly remunerated, Members of Parliament (MPs) were given personal loans denoted in dollars to buy personal cars immediately they assumed office and retired with fat ex-gratia and allowances, a development which frowned on equity.
He noted that even the Commercial courts were built and furnished by the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA), while the automation of other courts was donor funded.
He said the country continued to diminish its sovereignty over its own judiciary because the training of judges abroad to enable them to acquire specialised knowledge was funded by foreign agencies and that the recently established local Judicial Training Institute which was locally owned by the State needed adequate resources and funding.
He noted that there was no training institution at all for the para-legal staff of the judiciary.
He said a CPP government would give flesh and meaning to Ghana’s motto, Freedom and Justice, by investing heavily in the welfare and comfort, as well as training, of judges and provide the requisite infrastructure to ensure speedy trials.
Mr Akwetey said a CPP government would also not ignore complaints against the judiciary, saying what it would do was that it would monitor closely the activities of members of the Bench, with the view to helping them attain their full potential as judges.
On the office of the A-G, he reiterated the CPP’s position of decoupling the A-G’s office from that of the Minister of Justice.
He said as prescribed by the Constitution and the law, it was imperative that the AG’s office was given the requisite personnel, infrastructure and the necessary tools to help in the enacting, monitoring and enforcement of laws in Ghana.
Mr Akwetey said the situation where government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) regarded the A-G’s office as an appendage of the government and which they only contacted when there was a problem would stop under a CPP government.
“As the principal legal advisor of the government, the AG must have oversight responsibility over all legal issues affecting the work of MDAs,” he said.
He said the situation where remand prisoners stayed behind bars for years would be a thing of the past, adding that to permanently solve the problem, a CPP government would widely consult with all stakeholders to determine a suitable period beyond which nobody would be kept in any prison in Ghana.
GCPP forms interim national executives
THE Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) has formed an interim national executive as part of its re-organisation process to position it to contest the 2012 elections.
The move is also to nib in the bud unscrupulous people who would want to take undue advantage of the demise of Mr Dan Lartey, the founder of the party and use the name of the GCPP for dubious means.
Led by Dr Henry Lartey, the son of the Founder of the party, as the interim National Chairman, the other acting national executives are Mr Gilbert Bannor, First Vice Chairman; Madam Adelaine Dennison, Second Vice Chairman; Mr Alhassan Saeed, General Secretary; Pastor Harry Mettle, National Treasurer; Mr Alex Twum, Youth Organiser.
The rest are Joseph Owusu-Glover, Propaganda Secretary; Mr George Amoah, Executive Member; Mr Richard Holdze, National Organising Secretary; Ms Rita Bimpong, National Women Organiser; Mr King N. Amoah, National Education Secretary and Mrs A. Mahama Deputy Women Organiser.
The interim national executive had started forming interim regional executives throughout the ten regions of the country.
As a first step, the party had already inaugurated the Western Regional interim executive and charged them with the responsibility of reorganising the regional structures for effective membership drive.
The Western Regional interim executive are Mr Ahmed B. A. Bamba, Chairman; Mr Joseph Bevel, Vice Chairman; Mr Joseph Amanivor, Regional Secretary; Mr Francis Sekum, Organising Secretary; Madam Esther Boison, Education Secretary; Francis Panyin, Youth Organiser; Ms Baby Sekim, Women Organiser; Mary Esi Anti, Deputy Women Organiser; Mr Francis Sekum, Co-ordinator and Mr Seth Kofi Essuman, Deputy Organiser.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, Dr Lartey said the reorganisation was being done in accordance with the electoral regulations of the country and that after the polling stations had been organised, they would elect substantive constituency executives who would in turn elect new regional executives to replace all interim regional executives.
He added that this would be crowned with a national congress which would elect fresh national executive to replace the current interim national executive to run the affairs of the party for the next four years.
According to Mr Lartey, the current executive was in touch with the Electoral Commission (EC) which was providing it with proper advise on how to go about the processes.
Dr Lartey said the EC had assured it of its readiness to supervise all its constituency, regional and national executive elections and noted that that was a sign of great things for the party.
He added that the party was also positioning itself to be able to enter into any political alliance with any of the Nkrumaist political parties.
It said such an Nkrumaist political party must first put its house in order so that together with GCPP’s support, it would win political power and form the next government.
The move is also to nib in the bud unscrupulous people who would want to take undue advantage of the demise of Mr Dan Lartey, the founder of the party and use the name of the GCPP for dubious means.
Led by Dr Henry Lartey, the son of the Founder of the party, as the interim National Chairman, the other acting national executives are Mr Gilbert Bannor, First Vice Chairman; Madam Adelaine Dennison, Second Vice Chairman; Mr Alhassan Saeed, General Secretary; Pastor Harry Mettle, National Treasurer; Mr Alex Twum, Youth Organiser.
The rest are Joseph Owusu-Glover, Propaganda Secretary; Mr George Amoah, Executive Member; Mr Richard Holdze, National Organising Secretary; Ms Rita Bimpong, National Women Organiser; Mr King N. Amoah, National Education Secretary and Mrs A. Mahama Deputy Women Organiser.
The interim national executive had started forming interim regional executives throughout the ten regions of the country.
As a first step, the party had already inaugurated the Western Regional interim executive and charged them with the responsibility of reorganising the regional structures for effective membership drive.
The Western Regional interim executive are Mr Ahmed B. A. Bamba, Chairman; Mr Joseph Bevel, Vice Chairman; Mr Joseph Amanivor, Regional Secretary; Mr Francis Sekum, Organising Secretary; Madam Esther Boison, Education Secretary; Francis Panyin, Youth Organiser; Ms Baby Sekim, Women Organiser; Mary Esi Anti, Deputy Women Organiser; Mr Francis Sekum, Co-ordinator and Mr Seth Kofi Essuman, Deputy Organiser.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, Dr Lartey said the reorganisation was being done in accordance with the electoral regulations of the country and that after the polling stations had been organised, they would elect substantive constituency executives who would in turn elect new regional executives to replace all interim regional executives.
He added that this would be crowned with a national congress which would elect fresh national executive to replace the current interim national executive to run the affairs of the party for the next four years.
According to Mr Lartey, the current executive was in touch with the Electoral Commission (EC) which was providing it with proper advise on how to go about the processes.
Dr Lartey said the EC had assured it of its readiness to supervise all its constituency, regional and national executive elections and noted that that was a sign of great things for the party.
He added that the party was also positioning itself to be able to enter into any political alliance with any of the Nkrumaist political parties.
It said such an Nkrumaist political party must first put its house in order so that together with GCPP’s support, it would win political power and form the next government.
There is pressure on me to vie for chairman — Nylander
THE National Chairman of the Convention People’s Party, Mr Ladi Nylander has disclosed that some leading members of the party as well as some supporters have been calling on him to rescind his decision of vying for the chairmanship position of the party.
Mr Nylander will not deny nor confirm his decision to contest for the position but told the Daily Graphic “his main concern now is how to reorganise the CPP, together with all the members, and make it more attractive to the Ghanaian voter, secure a fruitful Nkrumaist unity and establish stronger structures at the grassroots.”
However, a source within the CPP hinted that Mr Nylander would seek re-election to lead the party for another four years.
This will be in sharp contradiction to the promise made by Mr Nylander before he was elected in Kumasi by the CPP congress in 2007 that he was going for only one term.
According to the source, Mr Nylander had taken the decision to seek re-election due to great pressure and influence from some party leading members and faithful.
The sources further stated that those impressing on the chairman to seek re-election argued that although Mr Nylander had indicated prior to his election as the leader and chairman of the party in Kumasi in 2007 that he was going for only one term, they believed that the party would be better off with him at the helm of affairs for next four years.
The source said Mr Nylander had exhibited beyond doubt his determination to instil discipline, comradeship and unity within the party at all times.
It mentioned Mr Nylander’s high sense of maturity at mending the cracks within the party, particularly by bringing all the former presidential aspirants together to dialogue and prepare their policy statements as Shadow Cabinet Ministers.
It said there was every indication that Mr Nylander would be able to halt the habit of members who lose elections and sit on the fence by ensuring that all hands were on deck.
Speaking on the roadmap for the party’s reorganisation process which was adopted during a Family Dialogue, Mr Nylander said so far the party was on track.
The roadmap include constitutional changes, discipline, funding and accountability, grassroots organising, early congress and Nkrumaist unity.
The rest are Better Resourced Parliamentary Candidates, Revitalising the CPP branding process, Education and Ideology and Re-energising elders’ influence.
The chairman noted that the CPP had worked well on the constitutional amendment to ensure that what would come out after the party’s highest decision body had consented would be a working document that would suit the current circumstances of the CPP.
With discipline, Mr Nylander said it had always been his priority and that “so far so good”.
Regarding accountability, grassroots organising, early congress and Nkrumaist Unity, he said it was evident that the party was on course and stated that “the next congress would definitely come on a year earlier as promised”.
He explained that the move was to have a situation where the new national executive would have ample time to settle down and prepare the way for the next presidential aspirant who would be elected afterwards.
Mr Nylander will not deny nor confirm his decision to contest for the position but told the Daily Graphic “his main concern now is how to reorganise the CPP, together with all the members, and make it more attractive to the Ghanaian voter, secure a fruitful Nkrumaist unity and establish stronger structures at the grassroots.”
However, a source within the CPP hinted that Mr Nylander would seek re-election to lead the party for another four years.
This will be in sharp contradiction to the promise made by Mr Nylander before he was elected in Kumasi by the CPP congress in 2007 that he was going for only one term.
According to the source, Mr Nylander had taken the decision to seek re-election due to great pressure and influence from some party leading members and faithful.
The sources further stated that those impressing on the chairman to seek re-election argued that although Mr Nylander had indicated prior to his election as the leader and chairman of the party in Kumasi in 2007 that he was going for only one term, they believed that the party would be better off with him at the helm of affairs for next four years.
The source said Mr Nylander had exhibited beyond doubt his determination to instil discipline, comradeship and unity within the party at all times.
It mentioned Mr Nylander’s high sense of maturity at mending the cracks within the party, particularly by bringing all the former presidential aspirants together to dialogue and prepare their policy statements as Shadow Cabinet Ministers.
It said there was every indication that Mr Nylander would be able to halt the habit of members who lose elections and sit on the fence by ensuring that all hands were on deck.
Speaking on the roadmap for the party’s reorganisation process which was adopted during a Family Dialogue, Mr Nylander said so far the party was on track.
The roadmap include constitutional changes, discipline, funding and accountability, grassroots organising, early congress and Nkrumaist unity.
The rest are Better Resourced Parliamentary Candidates, Revitalising the CPP branding process, Education and Ideology and Re-energising elders’ influence.
The chairman noted that the CPP had worked well on the constitutional amendment to ensure that what would come out after the party’s highest decision body had consented would be a working document that would suit the current circumstances of the CPP.
With discipline, Mr Nylander said it had always been his priority and that “so far so good”.
Regarding accountability, grassroots organising, early congress and Nkrumaist Unity, he said it was evident that the party was on course and stated that “the next congress would definitely come on a year earlier as promised”.
He explained that the move was to have a situation where the new national executive would have ample time to settle down and prepare the way for the next presidential aspirant who would be elected afterwards.
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