Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has asked emerging African oil producing countries such as Ghana to be cautious in entering into contracts with foreign oil firms.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala, who for four year was the Managing Director of the World Bank Group, said Africans must first invest more in building their technical capacities and improve on their negotiation skills before entering into oil contracts.
She was presenting a paper on; “What Africa Should Do To Claim the 21th Century”, at the J.A. Kufuor Foundation Lecture Series in Accra last Friday.
Dubbed the Global Development Series, the lecture was the second since the establishment of the foundation, which is premised on three foundation pillars, Leadership, Governance and Development.
The vision of the foundation is to serve as a vehicle for the continued development and consolidation of leadership and democratic governance in Africa.
In her lecture, which traced Africa’s gradual economic recovery from the doldrums to its present promising state and the problems that must be addressed to get things right, Dr Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy for Nigeria, came up with the usual Nigerian jokes.
For instance, she said anytime she, as the Finance Minister, presented a bright outlook for the Nigerian economy, the ordinary Nigerian would retort, “Ibi GDP growth we go chop? Nonsense!”
For her, the ordinary Nigerian was right in expressing his or her frustration in such a manner because economic achievements must reflect in the lives of the people.
Present at the lecture were former President J. A. Kufuor and his wife, Mrs Theresa Kufuor; the Minister of Finance, Mr Seth Terkper; the National Security Coordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo Lartey, as well as the leadership of some political parties.
On her advice to oil-producing nations, Dr Okonjo-Iweala, whose country started producing oil in 1958, said the production of oil created “few jobs and also limited economic diversification”, saying that before its first shipment of oil in 1958, 64 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was from agriculture and five per cent from manufacturing.
She said by 2010, agriculture’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP had shrunk to 40 per cent and that of manufacturing contracted to about four per cent.
She, therefore, urged African countries to emulate the example of Norway, which had a lot of oil but had diversified its economy, resulting in the creation of some of the world’s best manufacturing, shipbuilding and service industries.
Another issue the economic expert spoke about was Africa’s behaviour towards the threatening and devastating phenomenon of climate change.
Quoting from scientific research findings, she explained that the African continent had become warmer by about half a degree in the past century, whereas annual average temperatures were likely to rise between 1.5 and four degrees Celsius in this present century.
Some of the consequences, according to Dr Okonjo-Iweala, were beginning to emerge, noting, for instance, that in 2000, Mozambique lost about $550 million as a result of flooding which reduced the country’s GDP by about 1.5 per cent.
She said Nigeria recently lost $700 million as a result of floods which affected 22 out of the 36 states and displaced about two million people.
In 2011, total grain production in Mauritania, Chad, Niger and The Gambia decreased by over 25 per cent due to low rainfall she noted, adding that some of the predictions were that up to 20 per cent of Africa’s arable land would become less suitable for farming by the end of the century.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala urged African nations to take the problems of climate change seriously because the Africa remained vulnerable to adverse weather shocks which could directly impact food production and prices and plunge many households into poverty.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
We would continue to sansitise Ghanaians - LMVT
THE leadership of Let My Vote Count (LMVC) alliance, a multiparty group, has stated that it will not relent in its efforts at sensitising Ghanaians to the rigging of the 2012 election and engender consensus for electoral reforms.
It also described as false claims that the group had threatened judges of the Supreme Court, neither had it called on its supporters to throw bombs, explaining that the alliance was committed to deepening democracy through the pursuit of justice by legitimate and legal means.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr David Boateng Asante noted that the group believed in the rule of law and that it would not resort to any unlawful means to make its case across but expressed the view that “the Supreme Court would not substitute peace for justice”.
According to the group, which has publicly expressed its support for the three leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for petitioning the Supreme Court over the elections results, the elections were rigged and indicated that the Supreme Court would make democracy the winner over fraud.
He commended the three NPP leaders, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and their national chairman, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, for using the right avenue to seek redress unlike other leaders in some African countries who used violent means, even though tempers were very high.
The group, which was inaugurated recently in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, has as its members, Mr Abu Ramadan, National Youth Organiser of the People’s National Convention (PNC); Mr Ernest Owusu-Bempah of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Mr Kwabena Bonfeh, a leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and Mr Sammy Awuku, Deputy National Communication Director of the NPP.
Explaining the political reform, he said the group was of the firm belief that the members of the Electoral Commission (EC) must have a tenure of office because the current situation where the chairman and his deputies stayed on till they retired was not democratic and also did not allow for innovation and efficiency.
“Democracy thrives when variety is introduced,” he said, and called for a national debate on the issue.
In an earlier statement signed by Mr Asante, the group described as “unfortunate unprofessional diabolic twist and turns given to our stories by certain media houses” and stated that the group was formed to rally support for the high-profile case of alleged electoral fraud being pursued at the Supreme Court; and call for electoral reforms at the Electoral Commission.
It expressed worry that some media houses and sections of the public who did not share in their ideals were attacking the personalities of some leading members of the group and added that no amount of vain threats would deter the group from pursuing justice.
“We remain firm and resolute that the 2012 elections were rigged massively for John Mahama. We will march forth in our legitimate quest for justice to be served to the good people of Ghana by rallying support for the pursuit of justice and push through for drastic electoral reforms in our Electoral Commission,” the statement added.
Public Asks Govt to Keep Fuel Subsidies
A number of residents of Accra have expressed grave reservations about suggestions that the government should remove fuel subsidies, saying such a move will rather compound the already harsh economic conditions facing Ghanaians.
Rather, they have asked the government to develop an innovative way of solving the problem, instead of always hiking fuel prices with the excuse that it will come up with social mitigation measures for the poor but which never materialise.
Some city dwellers who spoke to the Daily Graphic yesterday questioned the claim by the government that it was subsidising fuel prices which contained huge tax components.
Others also pointed out that people in authority were always in a rush to increase fuel prices because they never used their hard-earned incomes to buy fuel.
Already, civil society organisations such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Imani Ghana, ISODEC and the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) have strongly kicked against the proposed fuel price increases.
According to the government, from 2009 to 2012, it subsidised fuel products to the tune of GH¢1.5 billion.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) forecasts that subsidising fuel prices this year will cost the government about GH¢2.4 billion.
Pouring his heart out at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) Trotro Station in Accra, a 46-year-old driver, Mr Andrews Badu, stated that the removal of subsidies on fuel prices would mean the “government purposely wants to destroy the transport business in the country”.
“What is the reason behind the call to remove subsidies on fuel prices? Is it to ensure that the government gets enough revenue to fuel the activities of other sectors of the economy? Whatever the reason, the government should not forget that some of us in the driving business will suffer,” he said.
Sounding very religious, Mr T. Tandoh, who claimed to have worked as a taxi driver for 16 years, said, “I’m not bothered.”
He said his family had, over the past decade, leaned on the mercies and provisions of God such that “I, particularly, care very little about fuel subsidies”.
However, Mr Tandoh said, the removal of subsidies on fuel prices would, without doubt, affect the livelihood of many drivers.
Mr Eric Adjei doubted whether the government was really subsidising fuel prices and asked: “How can the government be subsidising and yet we continue to pay so much for fuel?”
“What is the essence of having oil on our shores and yet suffering so much? Where is the oil money?” he quizzed.
At Abuja, a slum near Accra Brewery, Ms Efua Attah, a tomato seller, said she joined a long queue overnight to vote only for her taxes to be used to fund the lavish lifestyles of MPs.
She said any increases in fuel prices would lead to her becoming jobless.
Another trader, Nana Ama Yeboah, noted that members of government promised to be of great help to market women when they were craving for power but now “one can clearly see they were all lies; otherwise the government will not come up with this”.
“We are suffering and if the government doesn’t come to our aid, we will take action. Again, the goods are not as expensive as the tax on them.The goods are like cocaine,” she said.
Reacting to the issue on Facebook, Mr Eric Agboada, a National Service person, did not mince words when he said, “I totally disagree with Mr Alex Mould of the NPA. In the first place, it’s not true that that huge amount is used to subsidise fuel. We have gone beyond these falsehoods.”
He challenged government officials making the case for fuel price hikes to “tell us the last time they bought fuel personally without a coupon or claim sheet”.
“The government should take out the many tax components from the prices of the fuel and we will pay the realistic price.....period,” he added.
Mr Cyrus Stan DeGraft-Johnson, for his part, said, “If they remove the subsidies, I will be shocked!”
“Has the ratio of the poor to the rich or private cars to commercial vehicles changed? What's wrong here? I don't want to believe that after electricity and water and almost poor public health care, there is the threat of petrol wahala too,” he lamented.
Mr Mohammed Sani of Sekondi also wrote: “I don’t see the reason our MPs should be given these huge amounts to hire rooms. If they truly care for the masses, that money could be used to subsidise fuel prices in order to help the poor in society.”
Nabi Princess Ama Ardayfio urged the government to use the levies and tolls collected at toll booths and other places to offset any losses incurred in the energy sector.
Published: Feb. 14/2013
Rather, they have asked the government to develop an innovative way of solving the problem, instead of always hiking fuel prices with the excuse that it will come up with social mitigation measures for the poor but which never materialise.
Some city dwellers who spoke to the Daily Graphic yesterday questioned the claim by the government that it was subsidising fuel prices which contained huge tax components.
Others also pointed out that people in authority were always in a rush to increase fuel prices because they never used their hard-earned incomes to buy fuel.
Already, civil society organisations such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Imani Ghana, ISODEC and the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) have strongly kicked against the proposed fuel price increases.
According to the government, from 2009 to 2012, it subsidised fuel products to the tune of GH¢1.5 billion.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) forecasts that subsidising fuel prices this year will cost the government about GH¢2.4 billion.
Pouring his heart out at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) Trotro Station in Accra, a 46-year-old driver, Mr Andrews Badu, stated that the removal of subsidies on fuel prices would mean the “government purposely wants to destroy the transport business in the country”.
“What is the reason behind the call to remove subsidies on fuel prices? Is it to ensure that the government gets enough revenue to fuel the activities of other sectors of the economy? Whatever the reason, the government should not forget that some of us in the driving business will suffer,” he said.
Sounding very religious, Mr T. Tandoh, who claimed to have worked as a taxi driver for 16 years, said, “I’m not bothered.”
He said his family had, over the past decade, leaned on the mercies and provisions of God such that “I, particularly, care very little about fuel subsidies”.
However, Mr Tandoh said, the removal of subsidies on fuel prices would, without doubt, affect the livelihood of many drivers.
Mr Eric Adjei doubted whether the government was really subsidising fuel prices and asked: “How can the government be subsidising and yet we continue to pay so much for fuel?”
“What is the essence of having oil on our shores and yet suffering so much? Where is the oil money?” he quizzed.
At Abuja, a slum near Accra Brewery, Ms Efua Attah, a tomato seller, said she joined a long queue overnight to vote only for her taxes to be used to fund the lavish lifestyles of MPs.
She said any increases in fuel prices would lead to her becoming jobless.
Another trader, Nana Ama Yeboah, noted that members of government promised to be of great help to market women when they were craving for power but now “one can clearly see they were all lies; otherwise the government will not come up with this”.
“We are suffering and if the government doesn’t come to our aid, we will take action. Again, the goods are not as expensive as the tax on them.The goods are like cocaine,” she said.
Reacting to the issue on Facebook, Mr Eric Agboada, a National Service person, did not mince words when he said, “I totally disagree with Mr Alex Mould of the NPA. In the first place, it’s not true that that huge amount is used to subsidise fuel. We have gone beyond these falsehoods.”
He challenged government officials making the case for fuel price hikes to “tell us the last time they bought fuel personally without a coupon or claim sheet”.
“The government should take out the many tax components from the prices of the fuel and we will pay the realistic price.....period,” he added.
Mr Cyrus Stan DeGraft-Johnson, for his part, said, “If they remove the subsidies, I will be shocked!”
“Has the ratio of the poor to the rich or private cars to commercial vehicles changed? What's wrong here? I don't want to believe that after electricity and water and almost poor public health care, there is the threat of petrol wahala too,” he lamented.
Mr Mohammed Sani of Sekondi also wrote: “I don’t see the reason our MPs should be given these huge amounts to hire rooms. If they truly care for the masses, that money could be used to subsidise fuel prices in order to help the poor in society.”
Nabi Princess Ama Ardayfio urged the government to use the levies and tolls collected at toll booths and other places to offset any losses incurred in the energy sector.
Published: Feb. 14/2013
Eastern regional NDC, Okyehene in tango
The Okyehene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has described comments by the Eastern Regional executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding his recent visit to the Presidency as “unfortunate”.
He also noted that claims that he refused to use the occasion to allude to the legitimacy of the President but addressed a politically- sponsored agenda to make the President pledge to accept the court ruling on the 2012 elections when it was unnecessary, had the potential to “expose him to hatred and must therefore be withdrawn”.
Reacting to the allegations, lawyer for the Okyehene, Mr Kwame A. Boateng, a lawyer for the Okyehene, noted that as a chief the Okyehene spoke against politics of insults and violence and urged both the NDC and the NPP to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court in the case of a petition against the 2012 presidential election.
Last Tuesday, Okyehene the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs led members of the House to pay a courtesy call on President John Mahama to congratulate him on his assumption of office as the President of the Republic and also to discuss some challenges facing the region.
President Mahama made it clear at the meeting that he would respect the verdict of the Supreme Court on the petition challenging the results of the December 7, 2012 presidential polls.
Last Wednesday, three members of the NDC regional executives from the Eastern Region, Mr Sumaila Mahama, Mr Tawiah Boateng and Mr M.M. Doh, Regional Chairman, Organizer and Deputy Secretary respectively, signed a statement condemning the Okyehene for advising the President and other parties to accept the Supreme Court verdict.
Okyehene’s lawyer urged the regional executives to retract the allegation and apologize but if they failed to do so he would be compelled to complain to the national leadership of the party.
In their press statement, the regional executive were of the view that Nananom should have used the occasion to apologize to the President for acts of violence and disrespect perpetuated against him (President) and his entourage during his last visit to the Eastern Region and Kyebi in particular.
The chiefs, the statement said should have also apologised on behalf of their subordinates who were actively involved in campaigning for certain candidates in the last year’s elections.
The statement also expressed concern about comments that the President should have consulted the Regional House of Chiefs before nominating Mr. Julius Debrah as the regional minister- designate which it said suggested a disapproval of his nomination by the region.
“We wish to state without any shred of doubt that the whole region is grateful to the President for nominating Mr Julius Debrah as the Regional Minister and as a party, we are excited because we see the appointment as a recognition of his hard work as Chairman of the NDC in the region as well as his hard work at the Ghana Tourism Authority”, the statement indicated.
The regional executive of the party also thanked the President for the nominations he had so far made and congratulated Mr Debrah, as well as Mr Seth Terkper and Dr Omane Boamah for their nominations and subsequent confirmation as ministers respectively for Finance and Economic Planning and Communications.
Eurostar Limos launches luxury rental service
Eurostar Global Limousine Limited (Eurostar Limos), a luxury vehicle rental company has taken delivery of 36 luxury vehicles to push the Ghanaian hospitality industry into another level.
The move is also to offer very wealthy personalities, international corporate executives, superstars, multinational chief executives the range of services they are accustomed to in their home countries.
The fleet which is used in providing exceptional luxury limousine services to discerning clients, include Mercedes S-Class; Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Ghost, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Lincoln Royal Edition.
Mr Walid Zoobi, the Managing Director of Eurostar Global Limousine Limited told the Daily Graphic that Ghana’s enviable stable democratic environment coupled with promising economic atmosphere required world class services that would meet the expectation of global tourists or the international investor.
Eurostar Limos is a ground breaker in the sense that the company was the first luxury vehicle service provider in Ghana; currently it has branches in Cote d’Iviore, and four other African nations and plans to make footprint in 14 other nations on the continent.
“Our operations will focus on providing an exclusive, luxury, specialised and personalised service to the discerning few who want value for money while enjoying a service level comparable to any in the developed world”, Mr Walid added.
For Eurostar, every time a client rents a Rolls-Royce, they insist on providing a back-up Cadillac Escalade ESV luxury SUV. This is in line with the international standards in luxury limousine service.
With the drivers, he noted that they have been trained both locally and internationally to appreciate the international business executive
Operating with a flat and dynamic organisational structure, direct communication across all levels was assured, a situation with enables its skilled personnel to focus on the delivery of high quality service, consistently.
For their social responsibility, Mr Oscar Yao Doe, Chairman of Eurostar Limousine Group, told the Daily Graphic, during the funeral ceremony of late President JEA Mills, his outfit considered as “honour and privilege” to support the occasion with their fleet of cars, especially considering the number of heads of state and government delegation who touched the nation’s soil to mourn with Ghanaians.
“To us providing free service during that occasion was non-negotiable for us”, he said.
Published:Feb 18. 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
NPP MPs must rescind decision--Group
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MP) must rescind their decision to abstain from the House’s vetting committee and perform their duties as expected of them while awaiting the verdict of the Supreme Court, a group by name Probity and Accountability Platform has advised.
It argued that if the minority insisted on boycotting the sittings of the committee in support of their leading members who have petitioned the Supreme Court on the 2012 presidential elections, then they should resign from parliament.
Addressing the media in Accra today, the Spokesperson for the group, Mr Kafui Mensah, described the NPP MP’s action as insincere because they readily participate in deliberations that directly benefited them “but boycott anything that will benefit you and me”.
Within 21 days after President John Mahama had been declared winner of the 2012 presidential elections by the Electoral Commission (EC), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, 2012 presidential candidate of the NPP and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia together with the party’s National Chairman, Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey petition the Supreme Court challenging the results.
The NPP subsequently boycotted the investiture of President Mahama on January 7, 2013. When President Mahama communicated to Parliament about the lists of his designated ministers, the NPP threatened to boycott the vetting and true to their words they have so far refused to participate in the deliberations of the committee.
The move attracted pleas from a pro NPP pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) and the Ghana Bar Association for the party to rescind its decision. On his part a founding member of the NPP, Mr Charles Wireko-Brobby took a swipe at the party for that decision and called their move “nonsensical”.
Articulating the views of the Probity and Accountability Platform, Mr Mensah, said ironically the NPP MPs attended their own inauguration ceremony which was at midnight, yet they boycotted President Mahama’s investiture which was under broad day light.
“They have attended End of Service Benefits Committee and car loan meetings..., they are also collecting a whopping Ghc 50,000 for rent allowance as MPs yet have gone missing when needed to work, this is unpatriotic,” he added.
He said it was the constitutional rights for the NPP and all its members to go to court if they had qualms with the conduct and outcome of the elections but such right should not be abused to impede the business of government.
Mr Mensah said the group was gradually getting worried and embarrassed by the unconstitutional mentality in which the NPP was using its MPs to undermine and sabotage the peace and tranquillity of the state.
He reminded the NPP MPs that that they were voted for by most likely the same people who voted for Nana Akufo-Addo and their MPs have accepted that the NDC had more seats that the NPP which culminated in the NDC nominating a Speaker of Parliament.
It argued that if the minority insisted on boycotting the sittings of the committee in support of their leading members who have petitioned the Supreme Court on the 2012 presidential elections, then they should resign from parliament.
Addressing the media in Accra today, the Spokesperson for the group, Mr Kafui Mensah, described the NPP MP’s action as insincere because they readily participate in deliberations that directly benefited them “but boycott anything that will benefit you and me”.
Within 21 days after President John Mahama had been declared winner of the 2012 presidential elections by the Electoral Commission (EC), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, 2012 presidential candidate of the NPP and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia together with the party’s National Chairman, Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey petition the Supreme Court challenging the results.
The NPP subsequently boycotted the investiture of President Mahama on January 7, 2013. When President Mahama communicated to Parliament about the lists of his designated ministers, the NPP threatened to boycott the vetting and true to their words they have so far refused to participate in the deliberations of the committee.
The move attracted pleas from a pro NPP pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) and the Ghana Bar Association for the party to rescind its decision. On his part a founding member of the NPP, Mr Charles Wireko-Brobby took a swipe at the party for that decision and called their move “nonsensical”.
Articulating the views of the Probity and Accountability Platform, Mr Mensah, said ironically the NPP MPs attended their own inauguration ceremony which was at midnight, yet they boycotted President Mahama’s investiture which was under broad day light.
“They have attended End of Service Benefits Committee and car loan meetings..., they are also collecting a whopping Ghc 50,000 for rent allowance as MPs yet have gone missing when needed to work, this is unpatriotic,” he added.
He said it was the constitutional rights for the NPP and all its members to go to court if they had qualms with the conduct and outcome of the elections but such right should not be abused to impede the business of government.
Mr Mensah said the group was gradually getting worried and embarrassed by the unconstitutional mentality in which the NPP was using its MPs to undermine and sabotage the peace and tranquillity of the state.
He reminded the NPP MPs that that they were voted for by most likely the same people who voted for Nana Akufo-Addo and their MPs have accepted that the NDC had more seats that the NPP which culminated in the NDC nominating a Speaker of Parliament.
'Let My Vote Count Alliance' Launched
A multi-party alliance called ‘Let My Vote Count” was today launched at Dome near Accra educate Ghanaians about the need for them to insist on that their votes were factored into the outcome of national elections.
They group added justice which was the prerequisite for peace in the current Supreme Court case regarding an election petition against its declaration of President John Mahama as the winner of the 2012 presidential election.
Speakers at the launch of the group were made up of leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the National Democratic Party (NDP).
They urged the Supreme Court judges sitting on the case to ensure that justice was not sacrificed under the pretext of peace because the ordinary Ghanaian who stood in long queues to cast their votes would not take kindly to an abuse of their trust reposed in the judiciary.
Mr Owusu Bempah of the NDP whose address was preceded by a song by reggae icon Peter Tosh’s song ‘Equal Rights and Justice” said those seeking justice would not be intimidated by threats from some leading members of a political party that had benefited from the wrongs that went on during the December 7, 2012 polls.
He said the group was formed because they had come to realise that through some shady deals, votes that were cast for specific political parties’ presidential and parliamentary candidates were ‘stolen’ for others and that if that machination was not halted it would send a wrong signal to Ghanaian voters.
He said if that was allowed unchallenged very soon people would resort to all forms of unlawful means including the use of arms to have their way during national elections which would not augur well for the democratic process.
“Our votes are lost, they have stolen our votes” he stated and explained that almost all the NDP’s parliamentary candidates in the country suffered from the fraud which he said was orchestrated by a political party with the support of some officials of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Prof Mike Oquaye, a former Deputy Speaker of Parliament likened the alleged theft of votes to a declaration that Ghanaians were slaves.
He explained that it was only slaves who were not allowed to vote, therefore anyone who tried to steal the Ghanaian votes was likening them to slaves.
Prof Oquaye who danced reggae to the ‘Equal Rights and Justice’ song explained that Ghanaian were a sovereign people who decided through the ballot to select their leaders and expressed the hope that the Supreme Court judges would allow justice to prevail.
Mr Abu Ramadan, National Youth Organiser of the PNC, said all that the group was seeking was that the entire ballot that went through the right process prescribed by law must be counted and those that fell short of meeting the set standards for valid votes must not be allowed to count.
He said the group which was in support of the leading members of the NPP who through a petition were challenging the declaration of President Mahama as the winner of the 2012 election were good citizens who were setting good precedents for people in African who had always resorted to the use of arms and civil strife to register their protest whenever they felt cheated during national elections.
My Sammy Awuku, a Deputy Director of Communication of the NPP, was confident that the truth would come out and challenged the NDC to also come out publicly to state to Ghanaians that they would abide by the verdict of the Supreme Court, because the NPP and its leading members have made that pledge on several occasions.
He told the crowd that it the Supreme Court would not be the first to overturn results because the reversal of results by a Supreme Court had taken place in countries such as Ukraine, Thailand and other parts of Africa.
Published:January 27, 2013
They group added justice which was the prerequisite for peace in the current Supreme Court case regarding an election petition against its declaration of President John Mahama as the winner of the 2012 presidential election.
Speakers at the launch of the group were made up of leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the National Democratic Party (NDP).
They urged the Supreme Court judges sitting on the case to ensure that justice was not sacrificed under the pretext of peace because the ordinary Ghanaian who stood in long queues to cast their votes would not take kindly to an abuse of their trust reposed in the judiciary.
Mr Owusu Bempah of the NDP whose address was preceded by a song by reggae icon Peter Tosh’s song ‘Equal Rights and Justice” said those seeking justice would not be intimidated by threats from some leading members of a political party that had benefited from the wrongs that went on during the December 7, 2012 polls.
He said the group was formed because they had come to realise that through some shady deals, votes that were cast for specific political parties’ presidential and parliamentary candidates were ‘stolen’ for others and that if that machination was not halted it would send a wrong signal to Ghanaian voters.
He said if that was allowed unchallenged very soon people would resort to all forms of unlawful means including the use of arms to have their way during national elections which would not augur well for the democratic process.
“Our votes are lost, they have stolen our votes” he stated and explained that almost all the NDP’s parliamentary candidates in the country suffered from the fraud which he said was orchestrated by a political party with the support of some officials of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Prof Mike Oquaye, a former Deputy Speaker of Parliament likened the alleged theft of votes to a declaration that Ghanaians were slaves.
He explained that it was only slaves who were not allowed to vote, therefore anyone who tried to steal the Ghanaian votes was likening them to slaves.
Prof Oquaye who danced reggae to the ‘Equal Rights and Justice’ song explained that Ghanaian were a sovereign people who decided through the ballot to select their leaders and expressed the hope that the Supreme Court judges would allow justice to prevail.
Mr Abu Ramadan, National Youth Organiser of the PNC, said all that the group was seeking was that the entire ballot that went through the right process prescribed by law must be counted and those that fell short of meeting the set standards for valid votes must not be allowed to count.
He said the group which was in support of the leading members of the NPP who through a petition were challenging the declaration of President Mahama as the winner of the 2012 election were good citizens who were setting good precedents for people in African who had always resorted to the use of arms and civil strife to register their protest whenever they felt cheated during national elections.
My Sammy Awuku, a Deputy Director of Communication of the NPP, was confident that the truth would come out and challenged the NDC to also come out publicly to state to Ghanaians that they would abide by the verdict of the Supreme Court, because the NPP and its leading members have made that pledge on several occasions.
He told the crowd that it the Supreme Court would not be the first to overturn results because the reversal of results by a Supreme Court had taken place in countries such as Ukraine, Thailand and other parts of Africa.
Published:January 27, 2013
Group calls for in election petition case
A GROUP called “Let My Vote Count” has urged Ghanaians to remain calm while the Supreme Court adjudicates the case of electoral fraud filed by some leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
It expressed optimism that the highest court of the land would adjudge the case fairly and without favour to ensure that all Ghanaians who went to cast their vote on the day of voting would have their votes counted for the candidate they voted for.
Addressing the media in Accra, Mr Kweku Bonfeh, a spokesperson for the group, urged the court to get to the bottom of the evidence in the case.
The 2012 NPP presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; his running mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the party’s National Chairman, Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, have filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging the presidential results declared by the Electoral Commission (EC) which declared Mr John Dramani Mahama as President.
According to the three, the elections were fraught with widespread fraud.
Mr Bonfeh said the people of Ghana were being patient despite their frustrations, because they were counting on the Supreme Court to deliver justice.
According to Mr Bonfeh who is a leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the group was inspired by events in Ukraine in 2004 and Thailand in 2008, where the people stood up and said “no” to electoral malpractices.
“Our courts should be no different. If justices in Ukraine, a former KGB state, noted for judicial corruption, could have the courage and conscience to be just, then we have every confidence that our Supreme Court, with a deeper history of independence, will let justice be done and be seen to be done. It is only justice that can secure the peace we seek to protect,” he explained.
He expressed satisfaction that all preliminary legal manoeuvring had ended, paving the way for the Supreme Court to deal with the real issues.
Published: January 26, 2013
Oppong-Fosu best for Local Government Ministry-Akuoko-Frimpong
THE President of the National Association of Local Authorities (NALAG), Mr Ebenezer Akuoko-Frimpong, has described President John Mahama’s nominee for the position of Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, as the best person suited for the job.
He described Mr Oppong-Fosu as an achiever who had gone through the mill of almost every aspect of the local governance structures to become the Head of the Local Government System (LGS) for four consecutive years.
Mr Akuoko-Frimpong was reacting to comments by a former President of NALAG, Mr George Kyei Baffuor, who claimed that the President’s nominee did not have the wherewithal to deliver.
In the Wednesday, January 16, 2013 edition of this paper, Mr Kyei-Baffuor, who was mistakingly described again as Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, was quoted as saying that he doubted if the President’s nominee would be able to rise to the occasion.
But in his reaction, Mr Frimpong disclosed that Mr Oppong-Fosu had been District Secretary for 10 years during the military era headed by former President J.J. Rawlings and was also made to continue as District Chief Executive for another eight years, when the country entered democratic regime because of his achievements.
He added that the nominee had used his rich experience gained over the years to steer the affairs of the LGS from 2008 to date and stated that he was not surprised because the nominee served as a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development during the Rawlings Administration.
Mr Akuoko-Frimpong said through the instrumentality of Mr Oppong-Fosu, over 2,000 staff were recruited to beef up the human resource capacity of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) as a result of gaps identified during a nationwide human resource audit of all MMDAs.
Mr Oppong-Fosu also served the United Nations as an Advisor on Local Authorities; became the Chairman of the Economic Management Community of African Caribbean and Pacific Local Government Platform in Brussels, Vice- President of the International Union of Local Authorities and the President of African Union of Local Authorities.
Mr Akuoko-Frimpong said other achievements of the nominee at the LGS included the operationalisation of the composite budget which had been on the drawing board for several years as well as facilitating the building of the human resource capacity through training and other sensitisation programmes.
“Currently, the service has its own scheme of service, human resource policy, conditions of service and has streamlined the reporting relationships in the MMDAs, all in an effort to fully implement administrative decentralisation”, he added.
Published: January 21, 2013
Ghanaian troops ready for action in Mali
ONE hundred and twenty officers and men of the Ghana Engineering Company I (GHANENG COY 1) of the Ghana Armed Forces yesterday went through farewell rituals in preparations for their departure to war-torn Mali.
Also known as the Engineering Construction Company, led by Captain Ernest Nyuur, the soldiers would undertake purely engineering works mainly in civilian areas and in some cases military engineering works. This means that they would not be in the mainstream combat with the Malian rebels.
The ceremony, which was honoured by their children, wives, top army brass and the British High Commissioner, Mr Peter Jones, was officiated by an Imam and a Priest who said Muslin and Christian prayers respectively to commit the soldiers into the arms of the almighty God.
Instability in Mali intensified after the March 2012 military coup, leading to the cessation of northern Mali by Islamist groups which took advantage of the situation. Recently French Forces, aided by Malian troops, embarked on airstrikes pushing the rebels to the desert.
ECOWAS leaders agreed to send a standby force to protect the territorial integrity of the country, a mission which received the United Nations’ support and blessing.
Dressed in military camouflage, wearing desert boots to match and strapped to their chest M16 guns, the soldiers danced to renditions of war songs such as “What the Lord Has said shall be permanent”, “Aboabi reba o, Gyata bi rebaa oo”. The children, wearing their Garrison Primary School uniforms, also joined in the dancing and singing.
After the short but impressive ceremony, 15 of the soldiers and 10 of their vehicles, ammunition and other undisclosed cargo were airlifted on board the British Royal Military aircraft C-17 at the Kotoka International Airport to Mali.
They were seen off at the Kotoka International Airport by the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces, Col. M’bawine Atintande, and the British High Commissioner.
Addressing the soldiers at the ceremony, the Chief of Naval Staff, who is also the acting Chief of Defence Staff, Real Admiral Matthew Quashie, reminded the troops to uphold the professional and sterling achievements that had been chalked up by Ghanaian military officers and men around the world.
He told the soldiers that the engineering role they were going to play was crucial to the accomplishment of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) mission and must always work tirelessly towards the mission.
Due to the volatile nature of the mission, especially involving rebels, Real Admiral Quashie cautioned the troops to protect themselves and be mindful of “terrorist’ activities like improvised explosives and devices, snap attacks, suicide bombing and ambushes. “Plan all your movements well to ensure the safety and security of the construction squadron,” he said.
The AFISMA mission is to develop the necessary capabilities and recover the occupied regions of Northern Mali in order to contribute to the creation of the necessary conditions for a stable, democratic Malian state exercising authority over its national territory and assuming its responsibility.
It is also to protect its civilian population, properties and livelihood and address regional security challenges, especially international terrorism and transnational criminal activities.
Published: January 18, 2013
Also known as the Engineering Construction Company, led by Captain Ernest Nyuur, the soldiers would undertake purely engineering works mainly in civilian areas and in some cases military engineering works. This means that they would not be in the mainstream combat with the Malian rebels.
The ceremony, which was honoured by their children, wives, top army brass and the British High Commissioner, Mr Peter Jones, was officiated by an Imam and a Priest who said Muslin and Christian prayers respectively to commit the soldiers into the arms of the almighty God.
Instability in Mali intensified after the March 2012 military coup, leading to the cessation of northern Mali by Islamist groups which took advantage of the situation. Recently French Forces, aided by Malian troops, embarked on airstrikes pushing the rebels to the desert.
ECOWAS leaders agreed to send a standby force to protect the territorial integrity of the country, a mission which received the United Nations’ support and blessing.
Dressed in military camouflage, wearing desert boots to match and strapped to their chest M16 guns, the soldiers danced to renditions of war songs such as “What the Lord Has said shall be permanent”, “Aboabi reba o, Gyata bi rebaa oo”. The children, wearing their Garrison Primary School uniforms, also joined in the dancing and singing.
After the short but impressive ceremony, 15 of the soldiers and 10 of their vehicles, ammunition and other undisclosed cargo were airlifted on board the British Royal Military aircraft C-17 at the Kotoka International Airport to Mali.
They were seen off at the Kotoka International Airport by the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces, Col. M’bawine Atintande, and the British High Commissioner.
Addressing the soldiers at the ceremony, the Chief of Naval Staff, who is also the acting Chief of Defence Staff, Real Admiral Matthew Quashie, reminded the troops to uphold the professional and sterling achievements that had been chalked up by Ghanaian military officers and men around the world.
He told the soldiers that the engineering role they were going to play was crucial to the accomplishment of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) mission and must always work tirelessly towards the mission.
Due to the volatile nature of the mission, especially involving rebels, Real Admiral Quashie cautioned the troops to protect themselves and be mindful of “terrorist’ activities like improvised explosives and devices, snap attacks, suicide bombing and ambushes. “Plan all your movements well to ensure the safety and security of the construction squadron,” he said.
The AFISMA mission is to develop the necessary capabilities and recover the occupied regions of Northern Mali in order to contribute to the creation of the necessary conditions for a stable, democratic Malian state exercising authority over its national territory and assuming its responsibility.
It is also to protect its civilian population, properties and livelihood and address regional security challenges, especially international terrorism and transnational criminal activities.
Published: January 18, 2013
Dangote to increase cement supply in Ghana
Dangote Cement, producers of high quality cement in Nigeria, has assured its customers in Ghana of increased supply of cement at affordable prices without compromising its unparalleled quality this year.
The assurance by the Nigerian company, which has production plants in 14 African countries, is as a result of the near completion of expansion works on its plant at Ibese in Ogun State in Nigeria to increase its capacity from the current six million tonnes to 12 million tonnes.
Currently Dangote Cement has 11 per cent share of the Ghanaian market and it has assured its growing customers in Ghana that bagged and bulk cement will be transported by road from Nigeria to Ghana for the benefit of both retailers and cherished end users of its products.
Currently, Dangote Cement holds 60 per cent share of the Nigerian cement market. It has so far invested over $2 billion in the Ibese plant.
As part of its feverish preparations, the company has taken delivery of 5,000 trucks and 100 bulk cement trailers for haulage of cement to all parts of Nigeria and Ghana.
Briefing some journalists and customers from Ghana on a sponsored visit to its Ibese plant, a Vice-Chairman of Dangote Industries, who is also in charge of operations in Ghana, Alhaji Tajudeen Adesina Sijuade, said the real intention of the company was to build a similar plant in Ghana when the encumberances on limestone deposits were removed.
According to him, access to limestone in Ghana had not been possible because individuals had held on to it as their personal asset and were using it as bargaining chip for investors interested in exploiting the resources for the production of clinker and subsequently cement in Ghana.
He told reporters about a decision by a former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, when Nigeria was faced with a similar situation, to order all Nigerians holding on to limestone deposits over five years to free them for others and asked those companies that would be given the opportunity to mine the limestone to begin operations within three years after taking charge of the mines.
Alhaji Sijuade said he was floating that idea around so that it could guide the Ghanaian authorities to also take a decision within the Ghanaian context that would be appropriate under the circumstance.
At the Ibese mine, all required raw materials, apart from gypsum, for producing cement are readily available at one location. This is one of the major advantages in selecting that location for the cement plant.
It is estimated that the Ibese site has limestone reserves of 760 million tonnes on a 36.88-km2 land and will last over 100 years, but the company maintains that once Ghana is also endowed with limestone and other raw materials, they must be exploited in a sustained manner to ensure that the huge amount of foreign currency that is used in importing clinker is reduced.
Apart from its Nigerian operations, the company produces cement in 14 African countries where it offers job opportunities, both directly and indirectly, and impacts positively on communities within the catchment area of the cement factories.
Published: 16.01.13
* One of the huge clinker silos at the factory.
The assurance by the Nigerian company, which has production plants in 14 African countries, is as a result of the near completion of expansion works on its plant at Ibese in Ogun State in Nigeria to increase its capacity from the current six million tonnes to 12 million tonnes.
Currently Dangote Cement has 11 per cent share of the Ghanaian market and it has assured its growing customers in Ghana that bagged and bulk cement will be transported by road from Nigeria to Ghana for the benefit of both retailers and cherished end users of its products.
Currently, Dangote Cement holds 60 per cent share of the Nigerian cement market. It has so far invested over $2 billion in the Ibese plant.
As part of its feverish preparations, the company has taken delivery of 5,000 trucks and 100 bulk cement trailers for haulage of cement to all parts of Nigeria and Ghana.
Briefing some journalists and customers from Ghana on a sponsored visit to its Ibese plant, a Vice-Chairman of Dangote Industries, who is also in charge of operations in Ghana, Alhaji Tajudeen Adesina Sijuade, said the real intention of the company was to build a similar plant in Ghana when the encumberances on limestone deposits were removed.
According to him, access to limestone in Ghana had not been possible because individuals had held on to it as their personal asset and were using it as bargaining chip for investors interested in exploiting the resources for the production of clinker and subsequently cement in Ghana.
He told reporters about a decision by a former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, when Nigeria was faced with a similar situation, to order all Nigerians holding on to limestone deposits over five years to free them for others and asked those companies that would be given the opportunity to mine the limestone to begin operations within three years after taking charge of the mines.
Alhaji Sijuade said he was floating that idea around so that it could guide the Ghanaian authorities to also take a decision within the Ghanaian context that would be appropriate under the circumstance.
At the Ibese mine, all required raw materials, apart from gypsum, for producing cement are readily available at one location. This is one of the major advantages in selecting that location for the cement plant.
It is estimated that the Ibese site has limestone reserves of 760 million tonnes on a 36.88-km2 land and will last over 100 years, but the company maintains that once Ghana is also endowed with limestone and other raw materials, they must be exploited in a sustained manner to ensure that the huge amount of foreign currency that is used in importing clinker is reduced.
Apart from its Nigerian operations, the company produces cement in 14 African countries where it offers job opportunities, both directly and indirectly, and impacts positively on communities within the catchment area of the cement factories.
Published: 16.01.13
* One of the huge clinker silos at the factory.
NPP Explains position on petition
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has explained that its decision to petition the Supreme Court over the results of the 2012 presidential election was to enhance the confidence of Ghanaians in the electoral system and strengthen the muscle of governance institutions in the country.
It said the court case was imperative because it would prevent the situation where people who felt cheated could lose confidence in the electoral system and resort to the use of crude and unlawful means to win elections in future.
The National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, explained the rationale behind the party’s court action at a press conference in Accra yesterday.
“Elections in Ghana must not be determined by who has the capacity to rig or buy the vote, with connivance from some corrupt elements within the body tasked to supervise a clean and fair process,” he said.
He assured Ghanaians that “this is not about Nana Akufo-Addo and his presidential aspirations; it is about our country and its future generations”.
After the Electoral Commission (EC) had declared President John Mahama President-elect on December 9, 2012, the NPP indicated that it would not accept the results because it had uncovered a grand scheme that rigged the polls in favour of the President.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey is one of the three people who have filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging the presidential results.
The other two petitioners are Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the 2012 presidential candidate of the NPP, and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey further explained that the drafters of the Constitution envisaged the possibility of a disputed election and that those in power and desperate to hold on to power would scheme to “violate the sovereign will of the Ghanaian people”.
Both the EC and President Mahama, who was joined in the suit in his capacity as the president-elect, have filed appearances to the NPP application.
The NPP Chairman stated that the 1992 Constitution also envisioned the fact the a President might be declared winner of an election and inaugurated based on the original declaration by the EC.
But he added that the inauguration was not a point of no return and quoted Article 64 of the 1992 Constitution, which states: “A declaration by the Supreme Court that the election of the President is not valid shall be without prejudice to anything done by the President before the declaration,” to support his claim.
The NPP Chairman added that should the court declare Nana Akufo-Addo the rightful winner of the election, President Mahama would have to vacate the Office of the President for the new President to be inaugurated.
He was, however, quick to add that in the event of Nana Akufo-Addo being declared winner after the court case, “President Akufo-Addo will respect whatever laws might have been enacted by his predecessor, no matter how short the duration of the invalidated mandate”.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said there were five main categories that invalidated votes, all of which were drawn from the pink sheets, 24,000 of which had been examined by the party.
They consisted of over voting, voting without verification, lack of EC signature on sheets, “ghost” polling stations and mismatching words and figures.
He said only 150,000 invalid Mahama votes were required to push him below 50 per cent and, therefore, force a run-off, yet nearly six times that figure had been identified as invalid Mahama votes.
“Consider that only 520,000 invalid Mahama votes are required to give Nana Akufo-Addo a one-touch victory outright, yet nearly double that amount has been identified,” he added.
He described the EC’s response to the NPP’s petition as debating vocabulary by quoting the definitions of adjectives from dictionaries and also packed with arrogance and irreverence which offered no justification for the flaws the party had pointed out.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey assured the EC that the NPP was looking forward to facing it in court, “backed by 24,000 of its very own pink sheets”.
He expressed the hope that at the end of the case, the Supreme Court would give a ruling that would not only make Nana Akufo-Addo the rightful winner but also set in place a process that would lead to the reformation of the electoral process to secure the fate of the country’s democracy forever. 09.01.13
It said the court case was imperative because it would prevent the situation where people who felt cheated could lose confidence in the electoral system and resort to the use of crude and unlawful means to win elections in future.
The National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, explained the rationale behind the party’s court action at a press conference in Accra yesterday.
“Elections in Ghana must not be determined by who has the capacity to rig or buy the vote, with connivance from some corrupt elements within the body tasked to supervise a clean and fair process,” he said.
He assured Ghanaians that “this is not about Nana Akufo-Addo and his presidential aspirations; it is about our country and its future generations”.
After the Electoral Commission (EC) had declared President John Mahama President-elect on December 9, 2012, the NPP indicated that it would not accept the results because it had uncovered a grand scheme that rigged the polls in favour of the President.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey is one of the three people who have filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging the presidential results.
The other two petitioners are Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the 2012 presidential candidate of the NPP, and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey further explained that the drafters of the Constitution envisaged the possibility of a disputed election and that those in power and desperate to hold on to power would scheme to “violate the sovereign will of the Ghanaian people”.
Both the EC and President Mahama, who was joined in the suit in his capacity as the president-elect, have filed appearances to the NPP application.
The NPP Chairman stated that the 1992 Constitution also envisioned the fact the a President might be declared winner of an election and inaugurated based on the original declaration by the EC.
But he added that the inauguration was not a point of no return and quoted Article 64 of the 1992 Constitution, which states: “A declaration by the Supreme Court that the election of the President is not valid shall be without prejudice to anything done by the President before the declaration,” to support his claim.
The NPP Chairman added that should the court declare Nana Akufo-Addo the rightful winner of the election, President Mahama would have to vacate the Office of the President for the new President to be inaugurated.
He was, however, quick to add that in the event of Nana Akufo-Addo being declared winner after the court case, “President Akufo-Addo will respect whatever laws might have been enacted by his predecessor, no matter how short the duration of the invalidated mandate”.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said there were five main categories that invalidated votes, all of which were drawn from the pink sheets, 24,000 of which had been examined by the party.
They consisted of over voting, voting without verification, lack of EC signature on sheets, “ghost” polling stations and mismatching words and figures.
He said only 150,000 invalid Mahama votes were required to push him below 50 per cent and, therefore, force a run-off, yet nearly six times that figure had been identified as invalid Mahama votes.
“Consider that only 520,000 invalid Mahama votes are required to give Nana Akufo-Addo a one-touch victory outright, yet nearly double that amount has been identified,” he added.
He described the EC’s response to the NPP’s petition as debating vocabulary by quoting the definitions of adjectives from dictionaries and also packed with arrogance and irreverence which offered no justification for the flaws the party had pointed out.
Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey assured the EC that the NPP was looking forward to facing it in court, “backed by 24,000 of its very own pink sheets”.
He expressed the hope that at the end of the case, the Supreme Court would give a ruling that would not only make Nana Akufo-Addo the rightful winner but also set in place a process that would lead to the reformation of the electoral process to secure the fate of the country’s democracy forever. 09.01.13
Ambassador Ellen Margrette Loj urges African leaders to bring their problems to world attention
THE Former Special Representative of theUnited Nations Secretary General to Liberia, Ambassador Ellen Margrette Loj, has urged African representatives at the UN to strive to bring issues bothering the continent to the front burner for attention.
She explained that powerful nations were influenced by the media, which could concentrate on one problem at a time, hence the need for African representatives to bring issues bothering the continent to the fore for the consideration of the world body.
Ambassador Loj, who was answering a question after she had delivered a lecture to mark the 10th anniversary of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre and the inaugural Kofi Annan/Dag Hammarskjold Annual Lecture at the centre in Accra yesterday, advised African nations to let their voices be heard at the UN Security Council and get their act together.
Both Mr Annan and Mr Hammarskjold were successful UN Secretary General from Ghana and Sweden, respectively. Mr Hammarskjold was the second UN Secretary General from 1953 to 1961, while Mr Annan was the seventh from 1997 to 2006.
Referring to the current Mali crisis, Ambassador Loj, who has nearly 40 years’ experience as an international diplomat, said she was upset about what was happening in Mali because the international community was a bit late in responding to the crisis.
According to her, it was regrettable that attention was now been paid to the crisis.
Ambassador Loj, who is currently the Board Chairperson of Plan International, was of the strong opinion that although military intervention was critical, political intervention must be pursued at all times, since it was impossible to solve every problem through the use of military intervention.
She cautioned that if the Mali problems, which had their roots in what occurred during the Libyan hostilities which were not contained and spilled over to Mali, were not contained, they could spill over, culminating in serious repercussions for the rest of Africa.
Ambassador Loj was full of praise for former President J. A. Kufuor for his role in ensuring that the democratic process after the Liberian crisis was smooth and mentioned that when things were getting out of hand prior to the first Liberian democratic elections, he used his experience to whip all the parties in line.
She explained that when things were getting out of hand, President Kufuor told the leadership of political parties, some of whom wanted to cause trouble, that he did not become President of Ghana overnight but that it took him more than 40 years and several attempts before he won elections.
She indicated that President Kufuor’s threat that anyone who misbehaved would, in the final analysis, have a day with the International Criminal Court, made a great impact on the Liberian political scene.
Ambassador Loj stated that she had come to appreciate the fact that any peacekeeping, peace-building, national and state building without the active involvement of women would be total failure and insisted that all peace initiatives must involve women.
She said for peace-building efforts to be sustainable, women must be allowed to play active roles in them.
The Joint AU/UN Representative for Darfur, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, urged African leaders to muster courage and develop strategic and innovative means to generate resources to fund their activities.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Fuel politics: Is it an albatross on neck of governments?
In spite of the good intentions behind fuel subsidies in the
country, the practice has gradually become an albatross on the neck of
governments mainly because of the political connotation that comes with it.
Over the years, parties in opposition have made political
capital out of fuel price increases only to be hit by the realities when they
come to power.
The historical trend indicates that since 1992, apart from
2009, there are always fuel price increase within the first three months after
a new government takes office.
The statistics
In January 1993, the prices went up from ¢222 per litre to
¢355 (both in the old currency).
Similarly in February 1997, consumers had to pay approximately ¢799 for up from the ¢666 they paid in September 1996.
Petrol politics
In 2000, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) campaigned vigorously
against what it described as unbearable price of petrol which at the time was
sold at GH¢ 0.65.
The then candidate Kufuor symbolically raised a plastic
container at one of the party’s rallies to make a case against the price.
However, barely six months after the NPP took office; it
made a U-turn rallying Ghanaians to pay
realistic prices and subsequently, petrol was increased from GHc0.65 to
GHc1.05.
In the heat of the 2008 elections, the NPP was caught
between a National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaign promises to “reduce fuel
drastically” and had to bend to reduce the prices at the risk of its
implications for the economy.
The NDC was also caught in the NPP web of 2001 when just
five months after taking office in 2009, a party which promised drastic
reduction in fuel prices at the time (December, 2008 GHc3.80) was forced by
market forces to increase it to GH¢5.00.
During the NPP administration, three failed attempts were
made to remove fuel subsidies in 2001, 2003 and 2006.
In 2012, the NDC administration, faced with the prospect of strike fuelled by
the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other civil society organisations, beat a
hasty retreat on the removal of subsidies.
Successive governments over the years have always made cases
for price hikes using the cost of subsidies as one of the reasons, but have
woefully failed to tell the consumer how much they make as profits from the
sale of the petroleum products.
Majority of Ghanaians rely on petrol, diesel and kerosene
for both their domestic and business activities. Increases in fuel cost as a
result of removing the subsidy means increase in cost of doing businesses (from
petty traders to manufacturers and business service providers), which will
eventually be passed on to the end consumer.
How much subsidy?
While from 2009 to 2012 the cost of subsidies was GH¢1.5
billion, NPA projections indicate that it will cost the public purse GH¢2.4
billion this year to subsidise fuel.
That is an average of GH¢200 million monthly and
approximately GH¢6.7 million daily. Given that there is an estimated 1.2
million vehicles, including commercial ones, the government is spending
approximately GH¢5.60 daily to subsidise fuel for each vehicle.
Realistically, without the subsidies, consumers will be
paying approximately GH¢10.00 for premium instead of the current approximately
GHc8.00. According to NPA figures, premium is currently being subsidised at 19
per cent, kerosene at 123 per cent, diesel at 20 per cent, LPG at 66 per cent
and premix at 236 per cent.
According to NPA figures, subsidies led to increase of over
1,667 per cent under recoveries in year 2012 compared to 2010.
The rot
Many reasons have accounted for the high price of fuel in
Ghana and among them is the inefficient operation of the Tema Oil Refinery
(TOR). Tonnes of accumulated debt have to be paid so government had to impose a
TOR debt recovery debt.
Additionally the smugglers also have their way. Records
indicate that the Upper East Region for instance is the third highest consumer
of petroleum products in the country after Greater Accra and Eastern Region.
For proponents of fuel subsidy removal, the subsidy burdens
government with unnecessary financial commitments while the intervention
benefits unintended income groups, encourage wastefulness and corruption and
divert scarce public resources away from investment in critical areas.
No case for subsidy removal
Allegations that the kerosene meant for the rural areas ends
up in the hands of corrupt fuel
syndicates who use it to adulterate other gasoline for sale also abound.
Transport cost according to Ghana Statistical Service
inflation data is the second largest contributor to inflation in Ghana. The
first is food.
A reason for which ISODEC, the Alliance for Accountable
Governance (AFAG), the Trades Union Congress and the Committee for Joint Action
(CJA) are lacing their boots for a showdown with the government should it
remove the subsidies.
A case for subsidy removal
But Mr Alex Mould, the Chief Executive Officer of the NPA,
said the current situation was to remove the subsidies by the end of the year.
According to him, the
payment of subsidies on all petroleum products at the current level was not
sustainable and should be abolished to save the sector from crisis.
Mr Mould, therefore,
called for an upward adjustment in the prices of petroleum products — petrol,
diesel and LPG — to totally remove the subsidies on them.
Justifying the
removal of the subsidies, he said the recent 90-day hold-up in the payment of
subsidies had a consequential delay in letters of credit payments, resulting in
the delay for scheduled delivery of petroleum products onto the Ghanaian
market.
Policy interventions
Largely, government decision to remove subsidies is
influenced by many reasons including pressure from the Bretton Woods
institutions – the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Ghana’s mitigation measures for oil subsidy removals has in the past taken
different forms.
In 2012, Christina Daseking, the Head of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission in Ghana, urged West and Central Africa
countries to cut fuel subsidies because
they were not effective in directly aiding the poor and they promoted
corruption and smuggling. The government’s attempt to implement the advice was
shot down by labour agitations.
The government in 2010 entered into a hedging contract to
cover the period from October 2010 to March 2011, with the cost pegged at $90
per barrel compared to the current price of $95 per barrel.
In that year, the hedging covered only 50 per cent of the domestic consumption.
Fuel hedging is a contractual tool some large fuel consuming
companies and countries use to reduce their exposure to volatile and
potentially rising fuel costs. A fuel hedge contract allows a large fuel
consuming company to establish a fixed or capped cost, via a commodity swap or
option. Large fuel consuming companies enter into hedging contracts to mitigate
their exposure to future fuel prices that may be higher than current prices
and/or to establish a known fuel cost for budgeting purposes.
For the NPP, at the
time it was pursuing the policy of subsidy removal, the government provided
Metro Mass Transit, which charged moderate prices lower than the ordinary
public transport. Primary school pupils also boarded such buses free of charge.
While the Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Planning are in support of the removal of the subsidies, critics of
the policy believe the poor and the vulnerable would be the hardest hit.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) had stated that it was crucial for
the government to remove fuel subsidies in order to sustain the economic gains
attained so far.
The acting Governor of the BoG, Dr Henry Kofi Wampah,
has argued that the current high
subsidies on fuel were unsustainable and risky to the economy, warning that the
pressure related to fuel subsidies, utilities and wage/salary settlements could
offset the gains made in macroeconomic stability.
However, according to ISODEC, the withdrawal of fuel
subsidies without any efficient mitigation measures would lead to higher fuel
prices and could have undesirable economy-wide effects.
“It will mean higher transport cost for most workers, higher
food prices, and higher production cost for the various sectors of the
economy,” Dennis Nchor, a Policy Analyst at the ISODEC, said.
Increasing the price of largely used commodities is always
unpopular and often politically sensitive.
People used to paying little for the fuel they use are
likely to consider a sharp rise in its price unacceptable. Political crises
have been triggered in the recent past by increases in the prices of energy.
The question now is: why does governments struggle to remove
such policies? The answer is that the suffering from the removal is spread
across all income groups. Everybody is better off from the removal of subsidies
but at the same time everybody is worse off. This suffering is felt most by the
poorest, who needs a safety net to survive the hardship that will be triggered
by subsidies removal.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Council of State elections for tomorrow
TEN persons would be elected throughout the country tomorrow to represent the regions as members of the Council of State.
One person from each region will be elected in elections that will be organised by the Electoral Commission (EC).
The 10 will join 15 others who will be appointed to counsel the President in the function of his duties, among others.
Already the names of those who would form the Electoral College have been submitted to the various regional offices of the EC.
Under the law, each district assembly in the region would submit two names to form the Electoral College that would elect one person to represent the region.
Article 89 (2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution states that “one representative from each region of Ghana elected, in accordance with regulations made by the Electoral Commission under article 51 of this Constitution, by an electoral college comprising two representatives from each of the districts in the region nominated by the District Assemblies in the region; and (d) eleven other members appointed by the President”.
The election will be done on the first past the post basis, meaning the candidate with the highest number of valid votes cast would be pronounced elected.
To qualify as a candidate, one must be a Ghanaian, 18 years or above and “the person must be a resident in the region or must hail from the region”.
The President in consultation with Parliament will appoint one person who has previously held the office of Chief Justice; one person who has previously held the office of Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Ghana; one person who has previously held the office of Inspector-General of Police and the President of the National House of Chiefs.
Two members of 'Let My Vote Count' granted bail
TWO leading members of a multi-party alliance group called ‘Let My Vote Count” have been granted self-recognisance bail by the police for breaking the Public Order Law, Act 491.
The two, Mr Sammy Awuku, a Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr Abu Ramadan, the National Youth Organiser of the People’s National Convention (PNC), are to report to the Madina Police Station on Thursday for further interrogation.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Freeman Tettey said the two had been charged because they held a public and outdoor programme without notification to the police as required by law.
Asked if they would be arraigned before the law court, Mr Tettey said it would depend on the outcome of the investigation.
On January 27, 2013 at Dome near Accra, the alliance was launched to educate Ghanaians about the need for them to insist that their votes were factored into the outcome of the 2012 presidential election.
They group members say that they are seeking justice which is the prerequisite for peace in the current Supreme Court case regarding an election petition filed by some leading members of the NPP against declaration of President John Mahama as the winner of the 2012 presidential election.
Speakers at the launch were made up of Mr Awuku of the NPP, Mr Ramadan of PNC, Mr Ernest Owusu-Bempah of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Prof Mike Oquaye, a former Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Ms Adjoa Safo, Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya.
Explaing their portion of what occurred during their meeting with the police in an interview, a Spokesperson for the Alliance, Mr David Asante denied that any of his members had been charged and granted bail to report to the police station based on cognisance.
He explained further that, three persons; Mr Awuku, Mr Ramadan and Mr Owusu-Bempah who were however, cautioned and discharged.
He explained that the group which was represented by their lawyers, Mr Mike Oquaye Jnr and Mr Gabby Asare Okyere Darko honoured an invitation by the Madina Police made it clear to the police during the discussions that they were invited by the MP for Dome-Kwabenya who organised a programme on a private property which was paid for.
And that they never held any demonstration.
Mr Asante said the police made it clear that their beef was that they were not notified, this made it difficult for to control the traffic jam that occurred in the area after the close of the programme and cautioned them that next time they should do well to inform them, which they obliged.
The group, he said was surprised that the police had the names of Mr Kwabena Bonfeh, a National Youth Organiser of the PNC and Mr Atik Mohammed, a Policy Analyst of the PNC as some of the leading members who spoke at the Dome-Kwabenya programme.
He maintained that the alliance would not be the least perturbed or intimidated by such invitation to stop its civil activities to garner support and sensitise Ghanaians about the need to ensure that their votes were counted for the person they voted for.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Akwasi Oppong-Fosu best for job-NALAG
THE President of the National Association
of Local Authorities (NALAG), Mr Ebenezer Akuoko-Frimpong, has described
President John Mahama’s nominee for the position of Minister of Local
Government and Rural Development, Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, as the best person
suited for the job.
He described Mr Oppong-Fosu as an achiever
who had gone through the mill of almost every aspect of the local governance
structures to become the Head of the Local Government System (LGS) for four
consecutive years.
Mr Akuoko-Frimpong was reacting to comments
by a former President of NALAG, Mr George Kyei Baffuor, who claimed that the
President’s nominee did not have the wherewithal to deliver.
In the Wednesday, January 16, 2013 edition
of this paper, Mr Kyei-Baffuor, who was mistakingly described again as Member
of Parliament for Asutifi North, was quoted as saying that he doubted if the
President’s nominee would be able to rise to the occasion.
But in his reaction, Mr Frimpong disclosed
that Mr Oppong-Fosu had been District Secretary for 10 years during the
military era headed by former President J.J. Rawlings and was also made to
continue as District Chief Executive for another eight years, when the country
entered democratic regime because of his achievements.
He added that the nominee had used his rich
experience gained over the years to steer the affairs of the LGS from 2008 to
date and stated that he was not surprised because the nominee served as a
Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development during the Rawlings
Administration.
Mr Akuoko-Frimpong said through the
instrumentality of Mr Oppong-Fosu, over 2,000 staff were recruited to beef up
the human resource capacity of the metropolitan, municipal and district
assemblies (MMDAs) as a result of gaps identified during a nationwide human
resource audit of all MMDAs.
Mr Oppong-Fosu also served the United
Nations as an Advisor on Local Authorities; became the Chairman of the Economic
Management Community of African Caribbean and Pacific Local Government Platform
in Brussels, Vice- President of the International Union of Local Authorities
and the President of African Union of Local Authorities.
Mr
Akuoko-Frimpong said other achievements of the nominee at the LGS included the
operationalisation of the composite budget which had been on the drawing board
for several years as well as facilitating the building of the human resource
capacity through training and other sensitisation programmes.
“Currently, the service has its own scheme
of service, human resource policy, conditions of service and has streamlined
the reporting relationships in the MMDAs, all in an effort to fully implement
administrative decentralisation”, he added.
NPP to boycott Akatsi-South, Buem bye-elections
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) has decided
not to participate in the Akatsi South and Buem bye-elections scheduled for
February 5 and 26, 2013, respectively.
The General Secretary of the party, Mr
Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, said the decision was taken by the National Executive
Committee (NEC).
He noted that the decision would affect any
future elections organised by the Electoral Commission (EC) until further
notice.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie explained that the nature
of the petition challenging the 2012 presidential elections submitted to the
Supreme Court outlined evidence that proved that at least one in every eight
votes declared by the EC in the December polls was invalid.
He stated that the NPP had raised serious
doubts about how the 2012 elections were conducted and, incidentally, the
conduct of elections in those two constituencies formed part of the basis of
the party's petition.
The Buem seat became vacant following the
death of Mr Ford Henry Kamel, even before he was sworn in. He died on December
25, 2012.
The Akatsi South seat also became vacant
when Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, who won the seat for the sixth time in the December
polls, was elected the Speaker of Parliament.
Both MPs won the seat on the ticket of the
National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to Mr Owusu-Afriyie, any move by
the NPP to contest elections organised by the EC would amount to a vote of
confidence in the commission whose management of the 2012 election was
allegedly fraught with massive fraud.
The 2012 Presidential Candidate of the NPP,
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the
party’s National Chairman, Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, have petitioned the
Supreme Court over irregularities that they believed affected the final results
of the polls which declared Mr John Dramani Mahama as President.
"Until further notice, we are not in a
position to participate in any elections conducted by the EC as we await the
Supreme Court's final decision on the evidence we have brought before it,"
Mr Owusu-Afriyie.
The
NDC has elected Mr Bernard Ahiafor as its parliamentary candidate for
the Akatsi South seat and is yet to organise the primary for the Buem
Constituency.
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