A Former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in the National Democratic Congress government (NDC), Dr Kwesi Botchwey, has called for an intra party dialogue to select local captains of industry for public funding.
The former minister who added his voice to the national debate on strategies to accelerate economic growth in the country said the selection should be based on standards and merit and not on ‘’any political football game’’.
Prof. Botchwey was delivering the last in a series of development lectures instituted by the Economics Department of the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra.
He noted that the integrity and security of entrepreneurs could be secured in order to stop businessmen from fleeing for cover when a new administration took over.
He said unless drastic policy options were adopted to deal with the sluggish growth in the economy the present growth of five and six per cent could not cause accelerated growth.
Dr Botchway said the economy required to grow at least at a rate of seven per cent on a sustainable basis for the country to achieve a middle income status.
He said a trend that run through all the economic recipes of the South East Asian industrialised countries was the ‘’picking of winners among captains of industry for special assistance.”
The former Finance Minister commended the government for staying the economy on an even keel for long period of time since 2001.
He, however, observed that for the past two years since 2006 public and domestic debts had kept rising which could derail the gains achieved so far.
Prof. Botchwey said unlike the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) of the early eighties when the donor community was rigid and ideological, the present generation of donors had been flexible and revisionist in their prescriptions of policy options.
He said that had enabled the government to have more fiscal space to manoeuvre and ran a robust economy against a background of debt relief programme and sound micro economy practised by the government.
The former Minister of Finance, however, said the ERP achieved economic recovery with an increase in income of 2.2 per cent but the spill over effect expected did not materialise as investors failed to take advantage and come to invest in the economy.
Dr J.R.A. Ayee, Dean of Faculty of Social Studies, who chaired the lecture, observed that the concept of development was intriguing since it involved values, techniques and choices to achieve a breakthrough in the national economy.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
FINAL BATCH OF PILGRIMS TO DEPART ON MONDAY (PAGE 3)
THE Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) has given the assurance that the final batch of 300 Muslims will leave Accra on Monday for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to complete the airlifting of 2,334 Ghanaian Muslims to perform this year’s Hajj.
Sheikh Yunusah Osman Mohammed, the Executive Secretary of the IHMC, who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the Hajj Village at Nima on Thursday, said the final 300 would include those who went through the formalities last year, but could not be airlifted.
Sheikh Mohammed said 2,034 pilgrims had already left and the rest would all be lifted by scheduled flights by Monday.
He denied rumours that the pilgrims were being charged extra fees and said apart from the processing fees of GH¢50, no pilgrim had been asked by the IHMC to pay any extra fees.
He alleged that because this year’s Hajj had been efficiently operated, some members of last year’s abolished Hajj committee had been inciting the pilgrims to resort to violence, because they would not be able to make the pilgrimage.
Alhaji Armiyau Hussein, one of the pilgrims, who could not make it last year, had earlier told the Daily Graphic that out of 20 Muslims from last year’s abortive operations who came from Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, 15 of them had been lifted to Mecca.
He said since last Friday, the IHMC members had been postponing their flight and since Monday, they had not heard from them again.
He said the village had run out of water and food, and the prospective pilgrims had to buy ‘pure water’ to drink and perform ablution, while some of them had run out of money and had to depend on fried plantain from hawkers to keep them going.
Alhaji Hussein appealed to the government to send a delegation to the Hajj Village to find out the conditions under which the pilgrims and their families, who had come to see them off, were living.
Nasta Abdallah, another pilgrim who was supposed to have performed the Hajj last year, complained that her agent was demanding another payment from her before she could be airlifted.
With only a few days to the deadline which falls on November 30, 2008, she said the agent was requesting another GH¢360, in addition to the previous GH¢260 she paid last year.
The agent, one Alhaji Mallam, when contacted, said he had never asked her to repay for her trip, but asked her family to buy her another ticket to enable her to embark on the Hajj, since time was running out.
He said all particulars, including tickets of the pilgrims who could not be airlifted, were in the possession of the IHMC members and there was nothing more he could do.
Sheikh Yunusah Osman Mohammed, the Executive Secretary of the IHMC, who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the Hajj Village at Nima on Thursday, said the final 300 would include those who went through the formalities last year, but could not be airlifted.
Sheikh Mohammed said 2,034 pilgrims had already left and the rest would all be lifted by scheduled flights by Monday.
He denied rumours that the pilgrims were being charged extra fees and said apart from the processing fees of GH¢50, no pilgrim had been asked by the IHMC to pay any extra fees.
He alleged that because this year’s Hajj had been efficiently operated, some members of last year’s abolished Hajj committee had been inciting the pilgrims to resort to violence, because they would not be able to make the pilgrimage.
Alhaji Armiyau Hussein, one of the pilgrims, who could not make it last year, had earlier told the Daily Graphic that out of 20 Muslims from last year’s abortive operations who came from Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, 15 of them had been lifted to Mecca.
He said since last Friday, the IHMC members had been postponing their flight and since Monday, they had not heard from them again.
He said the village had run out of water and food, and the prospective pilgrims had to buy ‘pure water’ to drink and perform ablution, while some of them had run out of money and had to depend on fried plantain from hawkers to keep them going.
Alhaji Hussein appealed to the government to send a delegation to the Hajj Village to find out the conditions under which the pilgrims and their families, who had come to see them off, were living.
Nasta Abdallah, another pilgrim who was supposed to have performed the Hajj last year, complained that her agent was demanding another payment from her before she could be airlifted.
With only a few days to the deadline which falls on November 30, 2008, she said the agent was requesting another GH¢360, in addition to the previous GH¢260 she paid last year.
The agent, one Alhaji Mallam, when contacted, said he had never asked her to repay for her trip, but asked her family to buy her another ticket to enable her to embark on the Hajj, since time was running out.
He said all particulars, including tickets of the pilgrims who could not be airlifted, were in the possession of the IHMC members and there was nothing more he could do.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
GAEC TAKES INVENTORY OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS (PAGE 31)
THE Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has identified more than 1000 radioactive sources in the industry, health and agricultural sectors of the country.
Furthermore, as part of national and international security action plan, the GAEC is taking inventory of all the radioactive materials and those not in use transported to GAEC headquarters in Accra for safe-keeping and disposal.
Professor Yaw Serfor Armah, the Deputy Director General of the GAEC, who announced this in Accra yesterday, said the measure had become necessary because since September 11, 2001, the control and usage of radioactive sources had become an emerging global issue, particularly on the possible use of radioactive materials in terrorist activities.
He pointed out that the government was fully committed to the multilateral non-proliferation treaty on nuclear safeguards.
The Deputy Director General, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and GAEC regional workshop on regulatory control of radiation sources, said the Commission would also ensure that while developing and promoting nuclear science and technology, nuclear safety and security were not compromised.
He stressed that the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) was the sole regulatory body in Ghana established to ensure control and use of radioactive sources.
He reminded the public that RPB had the authority under the legislative instrument (LI 1559 of 1993) to authorise, license, inspect and control all activities and practices involving radiation source, radioactive materials and X-ray facilities in hospitals, industries and others in Ghana.
Professor Armah said the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the GAEC considered it a privilege to host the workshop being organised under the auspices of the IAEA, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana.
He said the purpose of the workshop was to build competence and expertise needed by the national bodies for the establishment and operation of adequate regulatory programme for the safety and security of radioactive sources.
These include nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, industrial radiography, nuclear gauges and well logging in accordance with the requirements, recommendations and guidance of international standards.
The Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), said despite benefits from various applications of radioactive sources, there were hazards associated with their use.
He appealed to the experts not to exceed the dose of the radioactive materials and also not to be careless when using the materials.
The minister, therefore, urged the participants to endeavour to learn more useful lessons at the workshop, so that they could return to their various countries and institutions to assist in handling dangerous radioactive materials to protect lives.
Furthermore, as part of national and international security action plan, the GAEC is taking inventory of all the radioactive materials and those not in use transported to GAEC headquarters in Accra for safe-keeping and disposal.
Professor Yaw Serfor Armah, the Deputy Director General of the GAEC, who announced this in Accra yesterday, said the measure had become necessary because since September 11, 2001, the control and usage of radioactive sources had become an emerging global issue, particularly on the possible use of radioactive materials in terrorist activities.
He pointed out that the government was fully committed to the multilateral non-proliferation treaty on nuclear safeguards.
The Deputy Director General, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and GAEC regional workshop on regulatory control of radiation sources, said the Commission would also ensure that while developing and promoting nuclear science and technology, nuclear safety and security were not compromised.
He stressed that the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) was the sole regulatory body in Ghana established to ensure control and use of radioactive sources.
He reminded the public that RPB had the authority under the legislative instrument (LI 1559 of 1993) to authorise, license, inspect and control all activities and practices involving radiation source, radioactive materials and X-ray facilities in hospitals, industries and others in Ghana.
Professor Armah said the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the GAEC considered it a privilege to host the workshop being organised under the auspices of the IAEA, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana.
He said the purpose of the workshop was to build competence and expertise needed by the national bodies for the establishment and operation of adequate regulatory programme for the safety and security of radioactive sources.
These include nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, industrial radiography, nuclear gauges and well logging in accordance with the requirements, recommendations and guidance of international standards.
The Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), said despite benefits from various applications of radioactive sources, there were hazards associated with their use.
He appealed to the experts not to exceed the dose of the radioactive materials and also not to be careless when using the materials.
The minister, therefore, urged the participants to endeavour to learn more useful lessons at the workshop, so that they could return to their various countries and institutions to assist in handling dangerous radioactive materials to protect lives.
Friday, November 21, 2008
MORE SCHOOLS NEEDED IN GA MASHIE, OLD FADAMA AREAS (PAGE 14)
ONE hundred thousand children of school age in the Ga Mashie and Old Fadama catchment areas are out of school as a result of lack of space in those communities to construct new first-cycle schools.
The Ga Mashie Development Agency (GAMADA) is, therefore, scouting for 80 acres of land in the two communities to construct new schools to enable them to enrol the backlog of children currently languishing in the area without education.
The Director of GAMADA, Nii Teiko Tagoe, brought this to light at the launch of a population training and research capacity for development projects on health for Ga Mashie and Old Fadama, popularly known as Sodom and Gomorrah.
He expressed the hope that the launch of the population project would assist to unearth the factors underlying poverty in those two communities.
He said the major livelihood of the area, fishing, had also collapsed but added that hope for its revival had come with the recent ceremony at which President John Agyekum Kufuor cut the sod for the construction of a fishing harbour at James Town.
He said until recently the area had been neglected in terms of poverty alleviation projects because it was hard to believe that some urban areas such as Ga Mashie, which was close to the central business district of Accra, could be vulnerable.
A recent study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), he said, had brought to light the plight of the urban poor in the area.
Nii Teiko said since then the area had witnessed a number of development projects, such as the rehabilitation of some historical buildings which provided some job opportunities for artisans in the area.
Professor Nii Amoo Dodoo, the Director of the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) at the University of Ghana Legon, which undertook the population research, in collaboration with the University of Southampton, said the project would focus on children and mothers to find out the relationship between urban poverty and health.
He said because researchers usually used averages in comparing rural poverty with urban poverty, there was always the misconception that rural poverty was more debilitating than urban poverty.
He said studies done in some African countries had revealed that urban poverty in some cities could be more dire than in the rural areas and that the studies at the two areas depicted that.
He said the three-year research, when completed, would help guide policy makers and non-governmental agencies on where to channel their poverty alleviation interventions.
Prof Dodoo said the field research could help inform the development agenda of the country, as well as assist in the redesigning of the social science curricula.
He said universities such as the University of Cape Coast, the University of Ibadan and Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone were partners in the research.
The Ngleshie Mantse, Nii Kojo Ababio V, who chaired the launch, appealed to the communities to participate in the research since they held the key to its success.
The Ga Mashie Development Agency (GAMADA) is, therefore, scouting for 80 acres of land in the two communities to construct new schools to enable them to enrol the backlog of children currently languishing in the area without education.
The Director of GAMADA, Nii Teiko Tagoe, brought this to light at the launch of a population training and research capacity for development projects on health for Ga Mashie and Old Fadama, popularly known as Sodom and Gomorrah.
He expressed the hope that the launch of the population project would assist to unearth the factors underlying poverty in those two communities.
He said the major livelihood of the area, fishing, had also collapsed but added that hope for its revival had come with the recent ceremony at which President John Agyekum Kufuor cut the sod for the construction of a fishing harbour at James Town.
He said until recently the area had been neglected in terms of poverty alleviation projects because it was hard to believe that some urban areas such as Ga Mashie, which was close to the central business district of Accra, could be vulnerable.
A recent study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), he said, had brought to light the plight of the urban poor in the area.
Nii Teiko said since then the area had witnessed a number of development projects, such as the rehabilitation of some historical buildings which provided some job opportunities for artisans in the area.
Professor Nii Amoo Dodoo, the Director of the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) at the University of Ghana Legon, which undertook the population research, in collaboration with the University of Southampton, said the project would focus on children and mothers to find out the relationship between urban poverty and health.
He said because researchers usually used averages in comparing rural poverty with urban poverty, there was always the misconception that rural poverty was more debilitating than urban poverty.
He said studies done in some African countries had revealed that urban poverty in some cities could be more dire than in the rural areas and that the studies at the two areas depicted that.
He said the three-year research, when completed, would help guide policy makers and non-governmental agencies on where to channel their poverty alleviation interventions.
Prof Dodoo said the field research could help inform the development agenda of the country, as well as assist in the redesigning of the social science curricula.
He said universities such as the University of Cape Coast, the University of Ibadan and Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone were partners in the research.
The Ngleshie Mantse, Nii Kojo Ababio V, who chaired the launch, appealed to the communities to participate in the research since they held the key to its success.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
WORKSHOP ON ELECTION DISPUTE ADJUDICATION OPENS (SPREAD)
SEVENTY judges drawn from the High and Appeal Courts are attending a workshop on Election Dispute Adjudication in preparation for the national elections in December.
The two-day workshop is aimed at preparing the judiciary logistically, psychologically and professionally to meet the challenges of adjudicating petitions that may arise from the upcoming elections.
Opening the workshop, the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, said the judiciary was the ultimate channel constitutionally empowered to resolve all electoral disputes arising from presidential and parliamentary elections.
She said the specialised nature of electoral adjudication made it imperative that judges were sensitised to their role in the electoral process, the procedural and substantive procedural laws governing the adjudication of electoral disputes and offences.
She said duty called on them to exercise their mandate competently, in consonance with the mission statement of the Judicial Service.
The Chief Justice also appealed to judges to extend Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to election disputes explaining that the ADR was not about power sharing.
She said further that the primary ADR processes of mediation or conciliation and arbitration were the most widely known mechanisms.
She observed that there were well- structured procedures to assist disputants to honestly evaluate the likely chances of success or outcome of court cases, before and during trial.
The Chief Justice said in everyday life a fair number of people rushed to court at the slightest sign that they have been wronged, without really taking time to assess their chances of success, or even where they do, they carried exaggerated opinions about the rightness of their cause.
One of the Adder’s key methods is the Early Neutral Evaluation to assist parties to dispassionately assess the strengths and weaknesses of their respective cases.
This, she said, would enable them to decide whether to carry on or terminate court proceedings in the face of the obvious, and so avoid the financial and emotional costs that come with unwanted litigation.
She emphasised that Ghanaians have sent out a very strong message that clearly shows their preference for non-violence throughout the elections and beyond it, so that they can legitimately carry on with their life in peace and freedom.
The two-day workshop is aimed at preparing the judiciary logistically, psychologically and professionally to meet the challenges of adjudicating petitions that may arise from the upcoming elections.
Opening the workshop, the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, said the judiciary was the ultimate channel constitutionally empowered to resolve all electoral disputes arising from presidential and parliamentary elections.
She said the specialised nature of electoral adjudication made it imperative that judges were sensitised to their role in the electoral process, the procedural and substantive procedural laws governing the adjudication of electoral disputes and offences.
She said duty called on them to exercise their mandate competently, in consonance with the mission statement of the Judicial Service.
The Chief Justice also appealed to judges to extend Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to election disputes explaining that the ADR was not about power sharing.
She said further that the primary ADR processes of mediation or conciliation and arbitration were the most widely known mechanisms.
She observed that there were well- structured procedures to assist disputants to honestly evaluate the likely chances of success or outcome of court cases, before and during trial.
The Chief Justice said in everyday life a fair number of people rushed to court at the slightest sign that they have been wronged, without really taking time to assess their chances of success, or even where they do, they carried exaggerated opinions about the rightness of their cause.
One of the Adder’s key methods is the Early Neutral Evaluation to assist parties to dispassionately assess the strengths and weaknesses of their respective cases.
This, she said, would enable them to decide whether to carry on or terminate court proceedings in the face of the obvious, and so avoid the financial and emotional costs that come with unwanted litigation.
She emphasised that Ghanaians have sent out a very strong message that clearly shows their preference for non-violence throughout the elections and beyond it, so that they can legitimately carry on with their life in peace and freedom.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
MINISTRY TO FASHION OUT NEW POSTAL POLICY (PAGE 32)
The Ministry of Communications is fashioning a new national postal policy to bridge the digital divide existing between the rural and urban areas of the country for rapid development.
The national postal policy which would incorporate ICT into the postal service is aimed at positioning the postal industry to be a powerful source of social cohesion.
Mr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Minister of Communications, who disclosed this said apart from the postal industry being a key lever in economic and social development, it could be used to facilitate trade, commerce and communication in rural and urban areas.
He said the government would like to see that financial services were extended to every part of the country, and that the new postal policy would include the various models that would enable the national postal provider to offer quality financial services to citizens in the low income bracket.
He said the national postal policy would therefore make it mandatory for the postal services and courier industry to embrace the use of ICT at all levels as a new source for the creation of quality jobs as well as rapid economic development and prosperity.
Mr Ntim who opened a workshop to deliberate on the national postal policy said the advantages of a modernised postal service were so huge that the government would not stand aloof for the industry to die because of rapid changes in communications technology.
He explained that world wide socio-economic trends such as globalisation liberalisation, privatisation and competition posed multi-dimensional challenges to the postal industry.
Mr Ntim whose address was read on his behalf by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Communications, Mr Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa, said however that the emerging information and knowledge was generating opportunities in developed and developing countries.
He, therefore, urged the participants to endeavour to come up with suggestions that would address the needs of the rural populace who required support and training to communicate.
The minister said the government also owed it a duty and a responsibility to cater for the needs of the physically challenged in all policy processes so that the inputs of these segment of the society would make the national postal policy stand the test of time.
He said other areas worth looking at by the participants at the workshop also included promoting universal access to postal facilities as well as recognition for the protection of the rights of consumers and citizens, especially consumer requirement for quality of service delivery.
He said the policy would also seek to encourage private investment so as to improve the postal services and infrastructure in the country by promoting competition in the sector as a way to improve quality of service through innovations and the introduction of new postal products on the market.
Mr Raymond Cudjoe, a legal practitioner who chaired the function, said an efficient postal system would ensure that rural dwellers were not left out in the e-commerce world.
He said the postal service because of its physical presence in the rural areas provided an infrastructure in facilitating the rural urban digital divide.
Mr Cudjoe explained that the e-commerce platform when linked to an efficient postal infrastructure could deliver items purchased in the urban centres to a person in the rural areas of the country.
The national postal policy which would incorporate ICT into the postal service is aimed at positioning the postal industry to be a powerful source of social cohesion.
Mr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Minister of Communications, who disclosed this said apart from the postal industry being a key lever in economic and social development, it could be used to facilitate trade, commerce and communication in rural and urban areas.
He said the government would like to see that financial services were extended to every part of the country, and that the new postal policy would include the various models that would enable the national postal provider to offer quality financial services to citizens in the low income bracket.
He said the national postal policy would therefore make it mandatory for the postal services and courier industry to embrace the use of ICT at all levels as a new source for the creation of quality jobs as well as rapid economic development and prosperity.
Mr Ntim who opened a workshop to deliberate on the national postal policy said the advantages of a modernised postal service were so huge that the government would not stand aloof for the industry to die because of rapid changes in communications technology.
He explained that world wide socio-economic trends such as globalisation liberalisation, privatisation and competition posed multi-dimensional challenges to the postal industry.
Mr Ntim whose address was read on his behalf by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Communications, Mr Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa, said however that the emerging information and knowledge was generating opportunities in developed and developing countries.
He, therefore, urged the participants to endeavour to come up with suggestions that would address the needs of the rural populace who required support and training to communicate.
The minister said the government also owed it a duty and a responsibility to cater for the needs of the physically challenged in all policy processes so that the inputs of these segment of the society would make the national postal policy stand the test of time.
He said other areas worth looking at by the participants at the workshop also included promoting universal access to postal facilities as well as recognition for the protection of the rights of consumers and citizens, especially consumer requirement for quality of service delivery.
He said the policy would also seek to encourage private investment so as to improve the postal services and infrastructure in the country by promoting competition in the sector as a way to improve quality of service through innovations and the introduction of new postal products on the market.
Mr Raymond Cudjoe, a legal practitioner who chaired the function, said an efficient postal system would ensure that rural dwellers were not left out in the e-commerce world.
He said the postal service because of its physical presence in the rural areas provided an infrastructure in facilitating the rural urban digital divide.
Mr Cudjoe explained that the e-commerce platform when linked to an efficient postal infrastructure could deliver items purchased in the urban centres to a person in the rural areas of the country.
4 RESOLVE TO USE EDUCATION TO BREAK CYCLE OF POVERTY (PAGE 14)
The four major political parties have reiterated their resolve to use quality education to break the cycle of poverty in the country.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) made their positions known during a debate on education held in Accra.
However, the four parties differed on the methods and the source for funding education.
Ms Elizabeth Ohene, a Minister of State, who represented the NPP said the computer placement of students into Senior High School was one single effort of the government to ensure that students, irrespective of their background got admissions based on merit.
She explained that the move had helped to eradicate corruption and cronyism in the educational sector, and that children from poor families were being admitted to some of the ‘’fanciful’’ schools in the country.
She said the teacher had been made the fulcrum of the educational reforms by the NPP government.
She said through distance education many teachers who would have left the classroom for further education rather used the distance learning to upgrade themselves.
She said the country produced around 9,000 teachers annually, with 18,000 teachers applying each year for study leave but with the introduction of the distance learning the pressure had reduced considerably.
Ms Ohene said the NPP was not against the use of the GetFund to support research and the upgrading of teachers in private universities, which she described as intellectual property.
She, however, said that the NPP would not support any move to use the Getfund to build structures on land acquired by proprietors of private universities since that could raise some legal issues in the future.
She also added that students from private universities had been allowed by the government to access student loans from the funds made available by the Getfund.
Mr Mohammed Atik, PNC spokesperson on education, for his part said the PNC would build non-residential facilities such as libraries and science laboratories to enable students, especially at the tertiary level to stay in their localities but still have access to good facilities to pursue their education.
This was because the present boarding system had become so expensive that the government could not afford it at the expense of the majority who failed to get admissions into tertiary institutions.
Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu,a representative of the NDC, said his party started the deboardinasation exercise because the majority of the students were left out of the educational system.
He said the community High School system introduced by the NDC government was to find a lasting solution to the increasing drop out rate which was affecting a lot of students in the country.
He said the NDC would also open more learning centres to absorb all students who could not get admission into the country’s universities.
Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso, a representative of the CPP, said the party when given the mandate would combine the junior high school with the Senior High School system to make it one entity.
He said on completion students would be allowed to branch into their professions and students who could not make it would still find work in the economy since the educational system would be made to work in tandem with the economy.
Dr Antwi Danso said the present educational system was running parallel to the economy, and that a lot of students were churned out from the educational system without the relevant qualification.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) made their positions known during a debate on education held in Accra.
However, the four parties differed on the methods and the source for funding education.
Ms Elizabeth Ohene, a Minister of State, who represented the NPP said the computer placement of students into Senior High School was one single effort of the government to ensure that students, irrespective of their background got admissions based on merit.
She explained that the move had helped to eradicate corruption and cronyism in the educational sector, and that children from poor families were being admitted to some of the ‘’fanciful’’ schools in the country.
She said the teacher had been made the fulcrum of the educational reforms by the NPP government.
She said through distance education many teachers who would have left the classroom for further education rather used the distance learning to upgrade themselves.
She said the country produced around 9,000 teachers annually, with 18,000 teachers applying each year for study leave but with the introduction of the distance learning the pressure had reduced considerably.
Ms Ohene said the NPP was not against the use of the GetFund to support research and the upgrading of teachers in private universities, which she described as intellectual property.
She, however, said that the NPP would not support any move to use the Getfund to build structures on land acquired by proprietors of private universities since that could raise some legal issues in the future.
She also added that students from private universities had been allowed by the government to access student loans from the funds made available by the Getfund.
Mr Mohammed Atik, PNC spokesperson on education, for his part said the PNC would build non-residential facilities such as libraries and science laboratories to enable students, especially at the tertiary level to stay in their localities but still have access to good facilities to pursue their education.
This was because the present boarding system had become so expensive that the government could not afford it at the expense of the majority who failed to get admissions into tertiary institutions.
Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu,a representative of the NDC, said his party started the deboardinasation exercise because the majority of the students were left out of the educational system.
He said the community High School system introduced by the NDC government was to find a lasting solution to the increasing drop out rate which was affecting a lot of students in the country.
He said the NDC would also open more learning centres to absorb all students who could not get admission into the country’s universities.
Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso, a representative of the CPP, said the party when given the mandate would combine the junior high school with the Senior High School system to make it one entity.
He said on completion students would be allowed to branch into their professions and students who could not make it would still find work in the economy since the educational system would be made to work in tandem with the economy.
Dr Antwi Danso said the present educational system was running parallel to the economy, and that a lot of students were churned out from the educational system without the relevant qualification.
TWO SIGN AGREEMENT ON GOOD GOVERNANCE AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION (BACK PAGE)
THE Government of Ghana and the Danish Government yesterday signed two agreements on good governance and poverty alleviation totalling $140.8 million.
The overall development objective of the two agreements, Local Service Delivery and Governance Programme (LSDGP) and Good Governance and Human Rights Programme (GGHRP), is to contribute to poverty alleviation through improved service delivery and good governance at the district level.
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, signed on behalf of the Government of Ghana, while Mr Stig Barlyng, the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, signed on behalf of his government.
Dr Akoto said Danish development assistance started flowing into the country as far back as 1957 and these included the rehabilitation of the Konongo-Kumasi trunk road and the construction of the commercial courts, as well as the provision of boreholes for water delivery in deprived communities.
He said the signing of the new agreements would lead to the institutionalisation of good governance, human rights and access to justice at the national, regional and districts levels.
For his part, Mr Barlyng said the Ghana Audit Service had been commissioned under the agreements to audit all the district assemblies to ensure that the funds made available to them were spent according to the rules and regulations of the agreements.
Mr Barlyng said the two institutions could, therefore, promote good governance and protect human rights at all levels of society, especially at the regional and district levels.
Ms Anna Bossman, acting Commissioner of CHRAJ, said over the years the judicial sector had found DANIDA as a faithful development partner.
She said areas of support had covered capacity building, as well as putting Alternative Dispute Resolution in the mainstream of the justice delivery system.
The overall development objective of the two agreements, Local Service Delivery and Governance Programme (LSDGP) and Good Governance and Human Rights Programme (GGHRP), is to contribute to poverty alleviation through improved service delivery and good governance at the district level.
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, signed on behalf of the Government of Ghana, while Mr Stig Barlyng, the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, signed on behalf of his government.
Dr Akoto said Danish development assistance started flowing into the country as far back as 1957 and these included the rehabilitation of the Konongo-Kumasi trunk road and the construction of the commercial courts, as well as the provision of boreholes for water delivery in deprived communities.
He said the signing of the new agreements would lead to the institutionalisation of good governance, human rights and access to justice at the national, regional and districts levels.
For his part, Mr Barlyng said the Ghana Audit Service had been commissioned under the agreements to audit all the district assemblies to ensure that the funds made available to them were spent according to the rules and regulations of the agreements.
Mr Barlyng said the two institutions could, therefore, promote good governance and protect human rights at all levels of society, especially at the regional and district levels.
Ms Anna Bossman, acting Commissioner of CHRAJ, said over the years the judicial sector had found DANIDA as a faithful development partner.
She said areas of support had covered capacity building, as well as putting Alternative Dispute Resolution in the mainstream of the justice delivery system.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
AGRIC SCIENCE STUDENTS TO GET PRACTICAL TRAINING (PAGE 11)
THE University of Ghana, Legon and the National Best Farmers and Fishermen Association are collaborating with other universities to train Agricultural Science students.
The collaboration will be in the form of attachment of Agricultural Students of the University of Ghana to identifiable members of the farmers and fishermen associations for practical training in their various fields to enable them to also appreciate the challenges and opportunities faced by the farmers.
The Provost of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ben Ahunu, announced the expansion programme at a reception organised by the Akuafo Hall of the University for award winning farmers.
He said the internship programme had become so successful during the two years that Finatrade Foundation had proposed an expansion to include other Agricultural students from the various universities.
Prof. Ahunu therefore appealed to the award winners to encourage more of their members to accept students for the internship programmes so that a great number of students could participate in them.
He explained that the award winners should consider instituting awards and scholarships for students of Agriculture and Oceanography.
Prof. Ahunu said no matter their value, the awards and scholarships could encourage the students to take up farming as a career.
He said the internship and challenges faced by the students in the field had translated into researchable issues, which ultimately would benefit the farmers in particular and the nation in general.
Prof. Ahunu congratulated the farmers on working hard over the years to produce to feed the nation at a time when the world food crisis was resulting in violent demonstrations in other parts of the continent.
The Akuafo Hall Tutor, Rev. Dr W. S. K. Gbewonyo, said the reception for farmers, which was the sixth to be held, was aimed at honouring farmers and fishermen for their contribution to education in particular since it was the seed money from farmers which made it possible to establish the University of Ghana in 1948.
Dr Gbewonyo said the Hall continued to celebrate the achievements of farmers in the country by dedicating the Hall fountain to farmers and fishermen.
He expressed the gratitude of Akuafo Hall to the farmers for their desire to provide a hostel facility for students.
The collaboration will be in the form of attachment of Agricultural Students of the University of Ghana to identifiable members of the farmers and fishermen associations for practical training in their various fields to enable them to also appreciate the challenges and opportunities faced by the farmers.
The Provost of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ben Ahunu, announced the expansion programme at a reception organised by the Akuafo Hall of the University for award winning farmers.
He said the internship programme had become so successful during the two years that Finatrade Foundation had proposed an expansion to include other Agricultural students from the various universities.
Prof. Ahunu therefore appealed to the award winners to encourage more of their members to accept students for the internship programmes so that a great number of students could participate in them.
He explained that the award winners should consider instituting awards and scholarships for students of Agriculture and Oceanography.
Prof. Ahunu said no matter their value, the awards and scholarships could encourage the students to take up farming as a career.
He said the internship and challenges faced by the students in the field had translated into researchable issues, which ultimately would benefit the farmers in particular and the nation in general.
Prof. Ahunu congratulated the farmers on working hard over the years to produce to feed the nation at a time when the world food crisis was resulting in violent demonstrations in other parts of the continent.
The Akuafo Hall Tutor, Rev. Dr W. S. K. Gbewonyo, said the reception for farmers, which was the sixth to be held, was aimed at honouring farmers and fishermen for their contribution to education in particular since it was the seed money from farmers which made it possible to establish the University of Ghana in 1948.
Dr Gbewonyo said the Hall continued to celebrate the achievements of farmers in the country by dedicating the Hall fountain to farmers and fishermen.
He expressed the gratitude of Akuafo Hall to the farmers for their desire to provide a hostel facility for students.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
THREE ESCAPE UNHURT IN TRAIN ACCIDENT (PAGE 20)
THREE persons escaped unhurt when the vehicle in which they were was run into by a train on the Graphic Road yesterday evening.
The accident, which occurred at about 5.40 p.m, involved a Toyota Corolla saloon with registration number GW 2454 Y and a Tema-bound train.
The train was travelling from the train station at CMB while the vehicle was travelling from the Graphic area towards the Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle.
The accident, which drew a large number of people from Adabraka and its environs, led to heavy traffic because the dual carriageway got temporarily blocked.
Passengers from Kaneshie or Accra had to alight from their vehicles and walk from the accident scene.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the Toyota car, which had stopped on the railway line due to heavy traffic, had to abandon the vehicle when she saw the train heading towards her direction.
They said as the train approached, the two other persons in the vehicle also jumped out of it, and since the vehicle was in the path of the train, it ran into its side, dragging it for a few metres.
“I saw the woman in Customs uniform get out of the vehicle, hold her head and start crying. We had to shout at her to move away from the vehicle before the train would crash into her,” Kofi, an eyewitness, said.
The driver of the train refused to talk to the press, saying that according to the Railways Regulations, they had to report to the Control Office first.
However, Enoch Siaw, a Clearing Agent, who was sitting by the driver of the Toyota vehicle, when the traffic control officer of the Railways stationed at the point of the accident saw the Tema-bound train around a curve towards his control point, he started shouting at the drivers to clear the way for the train.
He said at that time, the Toyota vehicle was right on the track with other vehicles in front and behind it, leaving the driver little room to manoeuvre, adding that they had no option, but to come out of the car.
No sooner had they come out of the car than the traffic started to move, but the attempt to get back into the car proved futile as the train almost approached the scene.
The accident, which occurred at about 5.40 p.m, involved a Toyota Corolla saloon with registration number GW 2454 Y and a Tema-bound train.
The train was travelling from the train station at CMB while the vehicle was travelling from the Graphic area towards the Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle.
The accident, which drew a large number of people from Adabraka and its environs, led to heavy traffic because the dual carriageway got temporarily blocked.
Passengers from Kaneshie or Accra had to alight from their vehicles and walk from the accident scene.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the Toyota car, which had stopped on the railway line due to heavy traffic, had to abandon the vehicle when she saw the train heading towards her direction.
They said as the train approached, the two other persons in the vehicle also jumped out of it, and since the vehicle was in the path of the train, it ran into its side, dragging it for a few metres.
“I saw the woman in Customs uniform get out of the vehicle, hold her head and start crying. We had to shout at her to move away from the vehicle before the train would crash into her,” Kofi, an eyewitness, said.
The driver of the train refused to talk to the press, saying that according to the Railways Regulations, they had to report to the Control Office first.
However, Enoch Siaw, a Clearing Agent, who was sitting by the driver of the Toyota vehicle, when the traffic control officer of the Railways stationed at the point of the accident saw the Tema-bound train around a curve towards his control point, he started shouting at the drivers to clear the way for the train.
He said at that time, the Toyota vehicle was right on the track with other vehicles in front and behind it, leaving the driver little room to manoeuvre, adding that they had no option, but to come out of the car.
No sooner had they come out of the car than the traffic started to move, but the attempt to get back into the car proved futile as the train almost approached the scene.
Friday, October 31, 2008
CSIR, UNIVERSITIES DEVELOP SOFTWARE...For teaching scienes (PAGE 11)
THE Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with universities in the country is developing a computer software for the teaching of sciences in the country's universities.
The move is to assist in the training of scientists required to propel the country into a middle level income country.
Already a series of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) have been signed with the Ashesi University and the Anglican University of Technology of Engineering for the development of the software for teaching physics.
The Director of the Institute of Industrial Research (IIR) of the CSIR, Dr Essel Ben Hagan, made this known at the launch of the institute’s five-year strategic plan document in Accra.
The main thrust of the document is the strategy to transfer research findings from the institute to industries for the country to become an industrial middle-income country by the year 2015.
He explained that the overall aspiration of the institute had been to assist in poverty reduction through the creation of opportunities for generating and increasing incomes of Small- Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
Dr Hagan said the institute had successfully completed studies on silk yarn production from cocoons for the weaving of kente clothes and bio sanitation toilets, the bi-products of which could be used for the production of fertilisers: mosquito repellant cream from sheabutter and citronella.
On information management, he said, the institute had entered into partnership with the private sector to develop a cyber city to design and repair Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment.
Under energy, Dr Hagan said the institute had developed a hybrid solar dryer, and that research was ongoing in the area of wind energy to complement hydro electric power generation.
The Deputy-Director-General of the CSIR, Dr Rose E. M. Entsuah-Mensah, said a sound strategic plan had served as a framework for decisions and had also provided a basis for more detailed planning.
She said it would also serve to explain the business to others in order to inform, motivate and involve all workers to stimulate change in the organisation.
Dr Entsuah-Mensah stressed that the CSIR and its 13 subsidiaries had a strategic role to play in defining the imperatives that would drive the private sector as it sought to develop relevant cutting -edge technologies and materials for local and international applications.
She commended the IIR for developing the strategic plan in areas such as manufacturing, environmental management, energy, technology and information management.
The move is to assist in the training of scientists required to propel the country into a middle level income country.
Already a series of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) have been signed with the Ashesi University and the Anglican University of Technology of Engineering for the development of the software for teaching physics.
The Director of the Institute of Industrial Research (IIR) of the CSIR, Dr Essel Ben Hagan, made this known at the launch of the institute’s five-year strategic plan document in Accra.
The main thrust of the document is the strategy to transfer research findings from the institute to industries for the country to become an industrial middle-income country by the year 2015.
He explained that the overall aspiration of the institute had been to assist in poverty reduction through the creation of opportunities for generating and increasing incomes of Small- Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
Dr Hagan said the institute had successfully completed studies on silk yarn production from cocoons for the weaving of kente clothes and bio sanitation toilets, the bi-products of which could be used for the production of fertilisers: mosquito repellant cream from sheabutter and citronella.
On information management, he said, the institute had entered into partnership with the private sector to develop a cyber city to design and repair Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment.
Under energy, Dr Hagan said the institute had developed a hybrid solar dryer, and that research was ongoing in the area of wind energy to complement hydro electric power generation.
The Deputy-Director-General of the CSIR, Dr Rose E. M. Entsuah-Mensah, said a sound strategic plan had served as a framework for decisions and had also provided a basis for more detailed planning.
She said it would also serve to explain the business to others in order to inform, motivate and involve all workers to stimulate change in the organisation.
Dr Entsuah-Mensah stressed that the CSIR and its 13 subsidiaries had a strategic role to play in defining the imperatives that would drive the private sector as it sought to develop relevant cutting -edge technologies and materials for local and international applications.
She commended the IIR for developing the strategic plan in areas such as manufacturing, environmental management, energy, technology and information management.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
GHANA READY TO SUPPORT EVALUATION OF AFRICA'S ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM
Story: Abdul Aziz & Charles Benoni Okine
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has expressed the country’s readiness to participate in any initiative on the continent to build the capacities of professionals and institutions to develop decision support systems and relevant applications for the monitoring, management and evaluation of Africa’s ecological systems.
Speaking at the opening of the seventh international conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing and the Environment (AARSE) in Accra yesterday, Alhaji Mahama said such applications were also necessary to enhance the effective management of natural resources on the continent for the benefit of present and future generations.
The four-day conference, which has attracted geophysicists, researchers, geo-information scientists, practitioners and allied service providers from all over Africa, Europe, the United States of America, among others, is to increase the awareness of African scientists and institutions, the private sector and society at large of the benefits of developing, applying and utilising the products and services of geo-information and space technology in the sustainable management of Africa’s natural resources and the environment.
It is also to expose the potential applications of these technologies for poverty alleviation, one of the major problems in Africa.
Alhaji Mahama called for the development of a fast track technological capacity to develop space-based monitoring and evaluation systems for disaster management, strategic environmental assessment of the continent’s plans, policies and programmes for enhancing economic and social development initiatives.
“We need to think of innovative ways to bridge the geo-spatial science-policy gap in Africa,” he said, adding that “our universities and tertiary institutions could serve as centres of excellence for building the needed critical mass of expertise for earth-observation based applications development, spatial modelling and policy-relevant product generation for resource management”.
The Vice-President described the objective of the conference as laudable and all-encompassing, given the dearth of national geo-information systems in Africa for monitoring Africa’s ecosystems on a sustainable basis.
He said although space-based technologies for gathering timely and high resolution earth observation data for environmental assessment had become a reality in recent times, Africa was yet to benefit fully from the advantages that those technologies provided.
Alhaji Mahama said sustainable development of the human and institutional capacities in the use of geo-information for environment and natural resource management and facilitating access to such space-based data sets would provide the necessary impetus for the acceptability of such useful tools by African policy makers.
That, he said, would be part of an effort to transform governance in Africa through the use of geo-based decision-aided tools for policy transformation.
“African countries have a tremendous need for geo-information tools in promoting the efficient use of resources for sustaining sound development planning, in addressing our environmental challenges and in the implementation of our development agenda,” he said.
According to the Vice-President, those tools were essential for good governance-driven sustainable development which, to a great extent, depended on the availability of reliable up-to-date spatial database.
The Director of the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geo-Information Services (CERGIS) at the University of Ghana, Legon, and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the conference, Mr Foster Mensah, expressed the hope that participants would work hard to address the various gaps in the development process on the continent through the use of geo-information systems.
Dr Giovanni Rum of the Geo Secretariat showcased a wide range of activities and products from the secretariat and urged members to apply them at all times.
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has expressed the country’s readiness to participate in any initiative on the continent to build the capacities of professionals and institutions to develop decision support systems and relevant applications for the monitoring, management and evaluation of Africa’s ecological systems.
Speaking at the opening of the seventh international conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing and the Environment (AARSE) in Accra yesterday, Alhaji Mahama said such applications were also necessary to enhance the effective management of natural resources on the continent for the benefit of present and future generations.
The four-day conference, which has attracted geophysicists, researchers, geo-information scientists, practitioners and allied service providers from all over Africa, Europe, the United States of America, among others, is to increase the awareness of African scientists and institutions, the private sector and society at large of the benefits of developing, applying and utilising the products and services of geo-information and space technology in the sustainable management of Africa’s natural resources and the environment.
It is also to expose the potential applications of these technologies for poverty alleviation, one of the major problems in Africa.
Alhaji Mahama called for the development of a fast track technological capacity to develop space-based monitoring and evaluation systems for disaster management, strategic environmental assessment of the continent’s plans, policies and programmes for enhancing economic and social development initiatives.
“We need to think of innovative ways to bridge the geo-spatial science-policy gap in Africa,” he said, adding that “our universities and tertiary institutions could serve as centres of excellence for building the needed critical mass of expertise for earth-observation based applications development, spatial modelling and policy-relevant product generation for resource management”.
The Vice-President described the objective of the conference as laudable and all-encompassing, given the dearth of national geo-information systems in Africa for monitoring Africa’s ecosystems on a sustainable basis.
He said although space-based technologies for gathering timely and high resolution earth observation data for environmental assessment had become a reality in recent times, Africa was yet to benefit fully from the advantages that those technologies provided.
Alhaji Mahama said sustainable development of the human and institutional capacities in the use of geo-information for environment and natural resource management and facilitating access to such space-based data sets would provide the necessary impetus for the acceptability of such useful tools by African policy makers.
That, he said, would be part of an effort to transform governance in Africa through the use of geo-based decision-aided tools for policy transformation.
“African countries have a tremendous need for geo-information tools in promoting the efficient use of resources for sustaining sound development planning, in addressing our environmental challenges and in the implementation of our development agenda,” he said.
According to the Vice-President, those tools were essential for good governance-driven sustainable development which, to a great extent, depended on the availability of reliable up-to-date spatial database.
The Director of the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geo-Information Services (CERGIS) at the University of Ghana, Legon, and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the conference, Mr Foster Mensah, expressed the hope that participants would work hard to address the various gaps in the development process on the continent through the use of geo-information systems.
Dr Giovanni Rum of the Geo Secretariat showcased a wide range of activities and products from the secretariat and urged members to apply them at all times.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
GRAPHIC, ROTARY TO FORGE PARTNERSHIP ...To ensure peace, development (SPREAD)
THE Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) and Rotary clubs in the country have decided to forge a partnership to ensure peace and the rapid socio-economic development of the country.
The partnership will target the rural and urban poor and the underprivileged to help reduce maternal and infant mortality among that segment of the Ghanaian society.
That was the outcome of discussions held between a delegation of the Rotary clubs in Ghana and the management of the GCGL on the eve of celebrations marking 50 years of Rotary club activities in Ghana.
The Rotary clubs delegation, which was led by Mr Andrews Jack Dotsey, the Chairman of the Council of Rotary clubs in Ghana, had called on the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Ibrahim Awal, to brief him on the humanitarian services being rendered by Rotarians and also inform him about planned activities to mark the Golden Jubilee.
Mr Dotsey, who is also the President of the Rotary Club of Accra, emphasised that the clubs were celebrating 50 years of community service to the country, adding that the humble contribution to the peace and development of the country by Rotary clubs had been phenomenal.
He said clubs had accomplished such projects as polio eradication, aflatoxin awareness campaign in maize, the establishment of the Plastic Reconstruction and Burns Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, bringing in hundreds of specialists to work in rural and urban hospitals, among other things.
He said all those initiatives had been accomplished through personal donations from Rotarians, philanthropists, corporate institutions, as well as Rotary International.
He denied the notion that Rotary clubs were the preserve of the well-to-do and the rich in society and invited GCGL staff, as well as the public, to register with the 20 Rotary clubs spread throughout the country.
Mr Awal, for his part, welcomed the partnership initiative, saying prior to the partnership agreement the GCGL had been of immense assistance to Rotary clubs by way of highlighting their activities through feature articles, as well as providing substantial discounts on adverts and sometimes running adverts free of charge to advance the cause of humanity which Rotarians had taken upon themselves.
He said the partnership had come to raise the level of collaboration to a higher level where the two organisations would be meeting frequently to brainstorm on projects and activities that would advance the cause of humanity.
The managing director stressed that even though the company was profit motivated, it was also service oriented as it continued to champion good governance and offer free medicare for the needy in the society through the Graphic Needy Fund.
He explained that the company disbursed more than GH¢200,000 annually on its corporate social responsibility programmes, which included scholarships for children of vendors and agents, among other things.
The Rotary delegation presented a certificate embodying the four-way test of the things we do and say to the managing director as a guiding principle for the staff of GCGL.
The four-way test is: 'Is it the truth?’ ‘Is it fair to all concerned?’ ‘Will it build goodwill and better friendship?’ ‘Will it be beneficial to all concerned?'
The delegation urged the GCGL to ensure that in all its publications those basic principles and values were upheld.
The five-member Rotary delegation included Mr Benjamin Kpodo, President, Rotary Club of Accra-Achimota; Mr Don Obilor, member, Rotary Club of Accra; Nana Yaa Siriboe, President, Rotary Club of Accra-Labone, and Mrs Theresa Osei-Tutu, President, Rotary club of Accra-Airport.
The Graphic management team included the General Manager, Newspapers, Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh; the General Manager, Marketing and Public Affairs, Mr Kwasi Asare; the Public Affairs Manager, Mr Albert Sam, and the Procurement Manager, Mr John Tagoe.
The partnership will target the rural and urban poor and the underprivileged to help reduce maternal and infant mortality among that segment of the Ghanaian society.
That was the outcome of discussions held between a delegation of the Rotary clubs in Ghana and the management of the GCGL on the eve of celebrations marking 50 years of Rotary club activities in Ghana.
The Rotary clubs delegation, which was led by Mr Andrews Jack Dotsey, the Chairman of the Council of Rotary clubs in Ghana, had called on the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Ibrahim Awal, to brief him on the humanitarian services being rendered by Rotarians and also inform him about planned activities to mark the Golden Jubilee.
Mr Dotsey, who is also the President of the Rotary Club of Accra, emphasised that the clubs were celebrating 50 years of community service to the country, adding that the humble contribution to the peace and development of the country by Rotary clubs had been phenomenal.
He said clubs had accomplished such projects as polio eradication, aflatoxin awareness campaign in maize, the establishment of the Plastic Reconstruction and Burns Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, bringing in hundreds of specialists to work in rural and urban hospitals, among other things.
He said all those initiatives had been accomplished through personal donations from Rotarians, philanthropists, corporate institutions, as well as Rotary International.
He denied the notion that Rotary clubs were the preserve of the well-to-do and the rich in society and invited GCGL staff, as well as the public, to register with the 20 Rotary clubs spread throughout the country.
Mr Awal, for his part, welcomed the partnership initiative, saying prior to the partnership agreement the GCGL had been of immense assistance to Rotary clubs by way of highlighting their activities through feature articles, as well as providing substantial discounts on adverts and sometimes running adverts free of charge to advance the cause of humanity which Rotarians had taken upon themselves.
He said the partnership had come to raise the level of collaboration to a higher level where the two organisations would be meeting frequently to brainstorm on projects and activities that would advance the cause of humanity.
The managing director stressed that even though the company was profit motivated, it was also service oriented as it continued to champion good governance and offer free medicare for the needy in the society through the Graphic Needy Fund.
He explained that the company disbursed more than GH¢200,000 annually on its corporate social responsibility programmes, which included scholarships for children of vendors and agents, among other things.
The Rotary delegation presented a certificate embodying the four-way test of the things we do and say to the managing director as a guiding principle for the staff of GCGL.
The four-way test is: 'Is it the truth?’ ‘Is it fair to all concerned?’ ‘Will it build goodwill and better friendship?’ ‘Will it be beneficial to all concerned?'
The delegation urged the GCGL to ensure that in all its publications those basic principles and values were upheld.
The five-member Rotary delegation included Mr Benjamin Kpodo, President, Rotary Club of Accra-Achimota; Mr Don Obilor, member, Rotary Club of Accra; Nana Yaa Siriboe, President, Rotary Club of Accra-Labone, and Mrs Theresa Osei-Tutu, President, Rotary club of Accra-Airport.
The Graphic management team included the General Manager, Newspapers, Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh; the General Manager, Marketing and Public Affairs, Mr Kwasi Asare; the Public Affairs Manager, Mr Albert Sam, and the Procurement Manager, Mr John Tagoe.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
MENTAL HEALTH DECREE OUTMODED (PAGE 32)
THE Medical Director of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Akwasi Osei, has noted that the Mental Health Decree (1972) is outmoded and must be reviewed because it makes no provision for the protection of the rights of mental patients.
He explained that although it was obvious that people who chained mental patients at prayer camps were clearly abusing the rights of the patients, they could not be prosecuted under the existing Mental Health Decree.
Dr Osei said attempts to rescue some mental patients from inhuman treatment at prayer camps had been met with rebuffs that that method of treatment did not constitute human rights abuse.
Dr Osei, who spoke to the Daily Graphic after presenting a paper on mental health at a workshop for journalists, said a review would allow the security agencies and hospital authorities to rescue mental patients from maltreatment at the hands of priests who violated their human rights.
He explained that most of the people chained at prayer camps were not people with mental illnesses but patients suffering from depression who needed expert advice to overcome their depression.
Sometimes the patients were denied food and given concoctions which almost amounted to poisoning them, he said.
He disclosed that the Accra Psychiatric Hospital registered 1,875 outpatients, most of whom were suffering from depression and not mental illnesses.
He hinted that about 20 to 30 per cent of the population had a sort of mental illness, which meant that four out of every 10 people had problems associated with mental illness.
Dr Osei said streetism, paedophilia and school phobia were all examples of minor mental illness which, when not controlled, could lead to major mental illness.
He expressed concern over the congestion at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, which he said was presently accommodating 1,100, instead of 600, patients, resulting in heavy work load for the doctors and psychiatric nurses who were woefully inadequate for the task entrusted on them.
He said a new concept of community psychiatric homes was being evolved to cater for the needs of mental patients in their communities, instead of the present system where mental patients had to move long distances to designated mental hospitals for treatment.
Dr Osei explained that the patients, after treatment, were abandoned in the hospitals and when they were later integrated into the society, they relapsed into their mental illness because their families were not involved in their treatment.
He said the new community mental homes would involve families in every stage of treatment so that when the medics withdraw, the families could take over and continue with the medication.
He explained that although it was obvious that people who chained mental patients at prayer camps were clearly abusing the rights of the patients, they could not be prosecuted under the existing Mental Health Decree.
Dr Osei said attempts to rescue some mental patients from inhuman treatment at prayer camps had been met with rebuffs that that method of treatment did not constitute human rights abuse.
Dr Osei, who spoke to the Daily Graphic after presenting a paper on mental health at a workshop for journalists, said a review would allow the security agencies and hospital authorities to rescue mental patients from maltreatment at the hands of priests who violated their human rights.
He explained that most of the people chained at prayer camps were not people with mental illnesses but patients suffering from depression who needed expert advice to overcome their depression.
Sometimes the patients were denied food and given concoctions which almost amounted to poisoning them, he said.
He disclosed that the Accra Psychiatric Hospital registered 1,875 outpatients, most of whom were suffering from depression and not mental illnesses.
He hinted that about 20 to 30 per cent of the population had a sort of mental illness, which meant that four out of every 10 people had problems associated with mental illness.
Dr Osei said streetism, paedophilia and school phobia were all examples of minor mental illness which, when not controlled, could lead to major mental illness.
He expressed concern over the congestion at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, which he said was presently accommodating 1,100, instead of 600, patients, resulting in heavy work load for the doctors and psychiatric nurses who were woefully inadequate for the task entrusted on them.
He said a new concept of community psychiatric homes was being evolved to cater for the needs of mental patients in their communities, instead of the present system where mental patients had to move long distances to designated mental hospitals for treatment.
Dr Osei explained that the patients, after treatment, were abandoned in the hospitals and when they were later integrated into the society, they relapsed into their mental illness because their families were not involved in their treatment.
He said the new community mental homes would involve families in every stage of treatment so that when the medics withdraw, the families could take over and continue with the medication.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
AKUFO-ADDO, MILLS, NDUOM FILE PAPERS ...For Presidential race (1b)
Story: Abdul Aziz & Donald Ato Dapatem
THREE of the four contenders for the December 7 presidential election who filed their nominations yesterday cleared the final hurdle with the Electoral Commission (EC) when their forms were accepted by the commission.
The nomination forms of a fourth aspirant, Mr Kwasi Amoafo-Yeboah, who wants to contest the election as an independent candidate, were rejected because he did not include his bust-size pictures and a tax clearance certificate. He was asked to submit them today, failure of which will lead to his disqualification from the contest.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was the first to go through the process of filing his nomination with the EC at exactly 10.00 a.m., followed by Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at 12.00 noon.
Nana Akufo-Addo and Prof. Mills were accompanied by their running mates, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and Mr John Mahama, respectively, and the two pairs went through the filing exercise without any hitches.
However, when it was the turn of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom and his running mate, Dr Abu Foster Sakara, who arrived at the EC at 3.15 p.m., what seemed to be a walk through for them suddenly turned into a battle.
The EC Chairman, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who received the nomination forms for examination, after a temporary hold up, announced to the press that some of the people who had endorsed the nomination forms of the CPP flag bearer had not appended their signatures against their names.
He, therefore, asked Dr Nduom to correct the anomaly before the documents would be accepted.
However, for more than one hour that could not be done and the exercise had to be suspended temporarily, while the CPP flag bearer and some executives had to leave the room.
Dr Nduom and his entourage returned to the conference room later to present his nomination papers again to the Chairman of the EC.
Dr Afari-Gyan announced to the press that “after some delays in the proceedings, the commission has accepted the nominations of Dr Nduom”.
That was greeted with shouts from the supporters, and the brass band music that had died down came alive again.
Dr Afari-Gyan then declared the three aspirants — Nana Akufo-Addo, Prof Mills and Dr Nduom — as official candidates for Election 2008, barring any discrepancies to be detected later in their forms.
Although teeming supporters of both the NPP and the NDC were at the precincts of the EC, the filing of the papers and the period after that were peaceful, as policemen ensured that all the NPP supporters left the area before the NDC supporters arrived with their flag bearer.
The national chairmen and the general secretaries of the NDC and the NPP, Dr Kwabena Adjei and Mr Johnson Asiedu- Nketia, as well as Mr Peter Mac Manu and Nana Ohene Ntow, respectively, appended their signatures in support of their respective candidates.
Mr Amoafo-Yeboah’s entry into the offices of the EC was not marked with fanfare. He entered the EC premises in a solemn manner, followed by about 15 of his supporters.
Addressing the EC members, NPP officials and the press at the EC office just after the process, Nana Akufo-Addo described the process of filing the nominations as another milestone in the democratic development of the country.
He expressed confidence in the EC to organise clean and transparent elections but added that all stakeholders must lend their support in that direction.
The NPP candidate said the EC, under the chairmanship of Dr Afari-Gyan, had held elections which had always been an improvement over previous ones and expressed the hope that with the support of all Ghanaians another election success would be chalked up.
“Ghanaians deserve nothing less than good and credible elections,” he said, adding that such an achievement would “enhance our position as a beacon for Africa”.
Prof Mills, for his part, expressed optimism that Ghanaians would offer the NDC the opportunity to form the next government because the NPP had failed to live up to expectation.
He said Ghanaians were yearning for a change that would take them in a different direction from polarisation, end corruption, incompetence and promote the welfare of the ordinary person.
Prof Mills said one of the issues dearest to the heart of the NDC was how to ensure free, fair and transparent elections, saying, “It is our hope and prayer that together we will be able to do this great service to Mother Ghana.”
He said Ghana was the only country for Ghanaians and, therefore, anyone who wanted to rule in violence and fear was only courting disaster and urged all to ensure that there was peace before, during and after the elections.
Dr Nduom said the CPP had so far refrained from impugning the integrity of the EC because a credible commission would enable the country to organise acceptable polls.
He said the CPP was hopeful that the elections would be organised in a manner that would consolidate the independence of the country which the CPP fought hard to achieve.
THREE of the four contenders for the December 7 presidential election who filed their nominations yesterday cleared the final hurdle with the Electoral Commission (EC) when their forms were accepted by the commission.
The nomination forms of a fourth aspirant, Mr Kwasi Amoafo-Yeboah, who wants to contest the election as an independent candidate, were rejected because he did not include his bust-size pictures and a tax clearance certificate. He was asked to submit them today, failure of which will lead to his disqualification from the contest.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was the first to go through the process of filing his nomination with the EC at exactly 10.00 a.m., followed by Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at 12.00 noon.
Nana Akufo-Addo and Prof. Mills were accompanied by their running mates, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and Mr John Mahama, respectively, and the two pairs went through the filing exercise without any hitches.
However, when it was the turn of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom and his running mate, Dr Abu Foster Sakara, who arrived at the EC at 3.15 p.m., what seemed to be a walk through for them suddenly turned into a battle.
The EC Chairman, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who received the nomination forms for examination, after a temporary hold up, announced to the press that some of the people who had endorsed the nomination forms of the CPP flag bearer had not appended their signatures against their names.
He, therefore, asked Dr Nduom to correct the anomaly before the documents would be accepted.
However, for more than one hour that could not be done and the exercise had to be suspended temporarily, while the CPP flag bearer and some executives had to leave the room.
Dr Nduom and his entourage returned to the conference room later to present his nomination papers again to the Chairman of the EC.
Dr Afari-Gyan announced to the press that “after some delays in the proceedings, the commission has accepted the nominations of Dr Nduom”.
That was greeted with shouts from the supporters, and the brass band music that had died down came alive again.
Dr Afari-Gyan then declared the three aspirants — Nana Akufo-Addo, Prof Mills and Dr Nduom — as official candidates for Election 2008, barring any discrepancies to be detected later in their forms.
Although teeming supporters of both the NPP and the NDC were at the precincts of the EC, the filing of the papers and the period after that were peaceful, as policemen ensured that all the NPP supporters left the area before the NDC supporters arrived with their flag bearer.
The national chairmen and the general secretaries of the NDC and the NPP, Dr Kwabena Adjei and Mr Johnson Asiedu- Nketia, as well as Mr Peter Mac Manu and Nana Ohene Ntow, respectively, appended their signatures in support of their respective candidates.
Mr Amoafo-Yeboah’s entry into the offices of the EC was not marked with fanfare. He entered the EC premises in a solemn manner, followed by about 15 of his supporters.
Addressing the EC members, NPP officials and the press at the EC office just after the process, Nana Akufo-Addo described the process of filing the nominations as another milestone in the democratic development of the country.
He expressed confidence in the EC to organise clean and transparent elections but added that all stakeholders must lend their support in that direction.
The NPP candidate said the EC, under the chairmanship of Dr Afari-Gyan, had held elections which had always been an improvement over previous ones and expressed the hope that with the support of all Ghanaians another election success would be chalked up.
“Ghanaians deserve nothing less than good and credible elections,” he said, adding that such an achievement would “enhance our position as a beacon for Africa”.
Prof Mills, for his part, expressed optimism that Ghanaians would offer the NDC the opportunity to form the next government because the NPP had failed to live up to expectation.
He said Ghanaians were yearning for a change that would take them in a different direction from polarisation, end corruption, incompetence and promote the welfare of the ordinary person.
Prof Mills said one of the issues dearest to the heart of the NDC was how to ensure free, fair and transparent elections, saying, “It is our hope and prayer that together we will be able to do this great service to Mother Ghana.”
He said Ghana was the only country for Ghanaians and, therefore, anyone who wanted to rule in violence and fear was only courting disaster and urged all to ensure that there was peace before, during and after the elections.
Dr Nduom said the CPP had so far refrained from impugning the integrity of the EC because a credible commission would enable the country to organise acceptable polls.
He said the CPP was hopeful that the elections would be organised in a manner that would consolidate the independence of the country which the CPP fought hard to achieve.
ELECGTION '08: THE REAL RACE BEGINS (b)
Story: Abdul Aziz & Donald Ato Dapatem1
EIGHT aspirants have filed their nominations to contest the December 7 presidential poll after a two-day process at the Electoral Commission (EC).
However, this is conditional to the EC not finding any discrepancies in the documents submitted by the aspirants.
After the first day’s exercise last Thursday, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) were pronounced candidates by the Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.
On the second and last day yesterday, Dr Edward Mahama of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah, an independent aspirant, Mr Emmanuel Ansah-Antwi of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Mr Kwabena Adjei of the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD) and Mr T.N. Ward-Brew of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) all filed with the EC.
Three others, comprising Prophet Daniel Nkansah of the New Vision Party (NVP), Mr Dan Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and W0 1 Robert Nixon Tetteh, an independent aspirant, who appeared confident when they arrived in the company of their supporters, were disqualified for failure to meet the EC’s deadline.
All the three were at the EC headquarters, but when the EC chairman went through their documents, it was realised that they had not satisfactorily completed the nomination forms and so they were asked to complete them.
As of 5.45 p.m. when the EC had closed, all three of them were seen with their supporters running past all those who had finished the process and the media towards the empty EC boardroom where the filing took place.
Mr Lartey, who was last to go through the process, appealed to the EC to give him one hour because his men who had gone round the regions had returned but that they had been caught in traffic.
However, when his men arrived with the nomination forms, they had numerous gaps unfilled, while the filled places were either signed without names and voters registration numbers or had names and voters registration numbers but without signatures.
“Whatever it is, I have the GH¢5,000. I want to present it to you, Mr Chairman, to show that we are capable, while we wait for my general secretary and the national chairman who have been caught in traffic to arrive,” he said, amidst laughter from the media men around.
Mr Lartey, who sounded confident at the beginning of the proceedings, assured the EC that since he had gone through the process before and knew the basis, his men were coming with well completed forms.
No sooner had he finished his speech than his executives trooped in with the four sets of nominations, but most people in the room were taken by surprise when the EC chairman said the forms had not been satisfactorily completed.
Prophet Nkansah, who went in with his running mate, Omran Hussien Zakariah, had most parts of the forms filled but instead of allowing those who could not read and write to thumbprint or sign, one person decided to sign them on behalf of all of them.
W0 Tetteh, who arrived earlier, said he did not know that he had to submit his bust-size photograph to be used on the ballot, as well as a statutory declaration, while most of the forms he collected had been left at home.
All the three had cheques for GH¢5,000 as their nomination fees but they had to go home with them.
Dr Mahama initially had a problem with the statutory declaration of his running mate because the form had been filled by him (Dr Mahama). But he was given the opportunity to rectify it before the close of day.
For his part, the DFP candidate had to abandon the process in the morning because he had no bust-size photographs, while his statutory declaration form had not been signed by a magistrate or a commissioner of oaths. He went back in the afternoon and completed the process.
After a successful completion of the process, Mr Ward-Brew, who could not make it in 2004, said when voted into power, the first thing his government would do would be to abolish the nomination fees required by the EC.
EIGHT aspirants have filed their nominations to contest the December 7 presidential poll after a two-day process at the Electoral Commission (EC).
However, this is conditional to the EC not finding any discrepancies in the documents submitted by the aspirants.
After the first day’s exercise last Thursday, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) were pronounced candidates by the Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.
On the second and last day yesterday, Dr Edward Mahama of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mr Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah, an independent aspirant, Mr Emmanuel Ansah-Antwi of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Mr Kwabena Adjei of the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD) and Mr T.N. Ward-Brew of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) all filed with the EC.
Three others, comprising Prophet Daniel Nkansah of the New Vision Party (NVP), Mr Dan Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and W0 1 Robert Nixon Tetteh, an independent aspirant, who appeared confident when they arrived in the company of their supporters, were disqualified for failure to meet the EC’s deadline.
All the three were at the EC headquarters, but when the EC chairman went through their documents, it was realised that they had not satisfactorily completed the nomination forms and so they were asked to complete them.
As of 5.45 p.m. when the EC had closed, all three of them were seen with their supporters running past all those who had finished the process and the media towards the empty EC boardroom where the filing took place.
Mr Lartey, who was last to go through the process, appealed to the EC to give him one hour because his men who had gone round the regions had returned but that they had been caught in traffic.
However, when his men arrived with the nomination forms, they had numerous gaps unfilled, while the filled places were either signed without names and voters registration numbers or had names and voters registration numbers but without signatures.
“Whatever it is, I have the GH¢5,000. I want to present it to you, Mr Chairman, to show that we are capable, while we wait for my general secretary and the national chairman who have been caught in traffic to arrive,” he said, amidst laughter from the media men around.
Mr Lartey, who sounded confident at the beginning of the proceedings, assured the EC that since he had gone through the process before and knew the basis, his men were coming with well completed forms.
No sooner had he finished his speech than his executives trooped in with the four sets of nominations, but most people in the room were taken by surprise when the EC chairman said the forms had not been satisfactorily completed.
Prophet Nkansah, who went in with his running mate, Omran Hussien Zakariah, had most parts of the forms filled but instead of allowing those who could not read and write to thumbprint or sign, one person decided to sign them on behalf of all of them.
W0 Tetteh, who arrived earlier, said he did not know that he had to submit his bust-size photograph to be used on the ballot, as well as a statutory declaration, while most of the forms he collected had been left at home.
All the three had cheques for GH¢5,000 as their nomination fees but they had to go home with them.
Dr Mahama initially had a problem with the statutory declaration of his running mate because the form had been filled by him (Dr Mahama). But he was given the opportunity to rectify it before the close of day.
For his part, the DFP candidate had to abandon the process in the morning because he had no bust-size photographs, while his statutory declaration form had not been signed by a magistrate or a commissioner of oaths. He went back in the afternoon and completed the process.
After a successful completion of the process, Mr Ward-Brew, who could not make it in 2004, said when voted into power, the first thing his government would do would be to abolish the nomination fees required by the EC.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
DRAFT TRANSPORT BILL TO GO BEFORE PARLIAMENT (PAGE 49)
A National Transport Policy Bill aimed at creating a healthy work environment and sanity in the road transport sector is to be put before Parliament.
The bill aims at guiding operators and other stakeholders in the transport sector to help reduce the spate of road traffic accidents.
The Co-ordinating Secretary of the Federation of Transport Unions, Mr E. A. Mensah, announced this at the launch of the 2008 International Road Transport Action Week Campaign in Accra on Tuesday.
He said when the bill was passed, it would provide social partners in the road transport industry with much information and direction to ensure safe, clean and affordable transport for sustainable development.
The Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Road Safety Commission, Mr David Osafo Adonteng, said the rate at which people died through road accidents in the country was alarming.
He said 2,043 people lost their lives through road accidents last year, while 1,856 died as a result of road accidents in 2006.
Mr Adonteng said despite the massive investment to bring the country’s roads into good order, vehicles continued to be involved in more road accidents.
He said that could be attributed to the rise in vehicular population which, a few years back, was 500,000 but which had jumped to nearly one million.
He said the number of vehicles on the country’s roads had been projected to reach over 1.2 million by 2010.
The Secretary General of Trades Union Congress, Mr Kofi Asamoah, said some road accidents could be prevented to save lives.
He appealed to road transport unions to work hard at organising all floating drivers to standardise their working conditions.
He explained that that would prevent them from engaging in reckless practices for selfish gains which could usually cause the death of innocent passengers and pedestrians.
The bill aims at guiding operators and other stakeholders in the transport sector to help reduce the spate of road traffic accidents.
The Co-ordinating Secretary of the Federation of Transport Unions, Mr E. A. Mensah, announced this at the launch of the 2008 International Road Transport Action Week Campaign in Accra on Tuesday.
He said when the bill was passed, it would provide social partners in the road transport industry with much information and direction to ensure safe, clean and affordable transport for sustainable development.
The Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Road Safety Commission, Mr David Osafo Adonteng, said the rate at which people died through road accidents in the country was alarming.
He said 2,043 people lost their lives through road accidents last year, while 1,856 died as a result of road accidents in 2006.
Mr Adonteng said despite the massive investment to bring the country’s roads into good order, vehicles continued to be involved in more road accidents.
He said that could be attributed to the rise in vehicular population which, a few years back, was 500,000 but which had jumped to nearly one million.
He said the number of vehicles on the country’s roads had been projected to reach over 1.2 million by 2010.
The Secretary General of Trades Union Congress, Mr Kofi Asamoah, said some road accidents could be prevented to save lives.
He appealed to road transport unions to work hard at organising all floating drivers to standardise their working conditions.
He explained that that would prevent them from engaging in reckless practices for selfish gains which could usually cause the death of innocent passengers and pedestrians.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
WATER METER REPAIR WORKSHOP REACTIVATED (PAGE 31)
A workshop to repair 300,000 water meters in the southern sector of the country has been reactivated by Aqua Vitens Rands Ltd (AVRL) as a way of eliminating waste in the water delivery system.
This is part of measures adopted by the management of the company to ensure efficiency and make potable water available to majority of the people in the urban areas.
The Managing Director of AVRL, Mr Andrew Barber, said six out of every 10 of its customers had meters and added that the exercise would continue till all properties were covered.
He said another consignment of 5,000 meters had been ordered from abroad to meet the expansion programme of the Ghana Water Company Ltd.
Mr Barber said as soon as funds were available, the company would order more meters to ensure that all areas that required metering had them.
He said as a means of improving efficiency, a call office and Geological Information Systems would soon be set up to ensure that the distribution of water in the country improved, both in quality and quantity.
The Chairman of the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, said the reactivation of the meter workshop had demonstrated the company’s commitment to efficiency and waste reduction in the system.
He appealed to customers to take good care of government property on their premises to ensure that it lasted longer.
The Meter Workshop Manager, Mr Noble Bediako, said the country had been divided into two zones to enable the repair works to be carried out as soon as faults were detected.
He said the southern sector workshop, based in Accra, would cater for the Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta, Western and Central regions, where there was a large concentration of the meters.
Mr Bediako said the northern sector would have its meters repaired at the meter workshop in Kumasi to enable the company to maximise the utilisation of its resources.
This is part of measures adopted by the management of the company to ensure efficiency and make potable water available to majority of the people in the urban areas.
The Managing Director of AVRL, Mr Andrew Barber, said six out of every 10 of its customers had meters and added that the exercise would continue till all properties were covered.
He said another consignment of 5,000 meters had been ordered from abroad to meet the expansion programme of the Ghana Water Company Ltd.
Mr Barber said as soon as funds were available, the company would order more meters to ensure that all areas that required metering had them.
He said as a means of improving efficiency, a call office and Geological Information Systems would soon be set up to ensure that the distribution of water in the country improved, both in quality and quantity.
The Chairman of the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, said the reactivation of the meter workshop had demonstrated the company’s commitment to efficiency and waste reduction in the system.
He appealed to customers to take good care of government property on their premises to ensure that it lasted longer.
The Meter Workshop Manager, Mr Noble Bediako, said the country had been divided into two zones to enable the repair works to be carried out as soon as faults were detected.
He said the southern sector workshop, based in Accra, would cater for the Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta, Western and Central regions, where there was a large concentration of the meters.
Mr Bediako said the northern sector would have its meters repaired at the meter workshop in Kumasi to enable the company to maximise the utilisation of its resources.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
5 REVIEW CUSTOMS USER MANUAL (SPREAD)
FOUR institutions have held a meeting to review in detail the User Manuals on the Ghana Customs Secure Document Systems.
The review is to enable the stakeholders to provide feedback that would be incorporated into the final version of the manual.
Until recently the stakeholders did not have any input in the preparations of the manuals, since that function was carried out by the Destination Inspection Companies.
The Destination Inspection Companies therefore quoted different prices for the same commodities and this brought a lot of friction between the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and importers.
The four institutions are the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Ghana Union Traders Association, Custom Brokers Association of Ghana and Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana.
Mr Kofi Brako, the immediate past President of GIFF, who presided over the review meeting, said the secure document system was to complement efforts of the Ghana Community Network (GCNET).
He said the manuals would be a useful tool for members especially the one on mandatory commodity properties, which provides listing of the most imported commodities into the country.
He said when importers studied the manuals carefully they would be able to easily obtain Classification and Valuation Certificates that could be passed electronically to the GCNET.
Mr Brako said the subsequent processes of declaration, bank payment, compliance, examination and release would continue to take place in the existing GCMS.
He said the manuals had demonstrated the commitment of CEPS to absolute fairness and transparency in the assessment of imported goods, since the information provided by the importer was what would be used to assess his goods.
He said moreover that it was transparent because every importer had to provide the same kind of information for the same item imported unlike in the past when the discretion of assessment was largely left to the Destination Inspection Companies who used different yardsticks to assess goods.
Mr Brako said all the associations were satisfied with the outcome of the review meeting and had appealed for additional training programmes on the manuals for members to facilitate custom procedures.
The four associations also called for additional service centres to be established in various key points in the country to ensure a successful commencement of the new system.
The review is to enable the stakeholders to provide feedback that would be incorporated into the final version of the manual.
Until recently the stakeholders did not have any input in the preparations of the manuals, since that function was carried out by the Destination Inspection Companies.
The Destination Inspection Companies therefore quoted different prices for the same commodities and this brought a lot of friction between the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and importers.
The four institutions are the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Ghana Union Traders Association, Custom Brokers Association of Ghana and Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana.
Mr Kofi Brako, the immediate past President of GIFF, who presided over the review meeting, said the secure document system was to complement efforts of the Ghana Community Network (GCNET).
He said the manuals would be a useful tool for members especially the one on mandatory commodity properties, which provides listing of the most imported commodities into the country.
He said when importers studied the manuals carefully they would be able to easily obtain Classification and Valuation Certificates that could be passed electronically to the GCNET.
Mr Brako said the subsequent processes of declaration, bank payment, compliance, examination and release would continue to take place in the existing GCMS.
He said the manuals had demonstrated the commitment of CEPS to absolute fairness and transparency in the assessment of imported goods, since the information provided by the importer was what would be used to assess his goods.
He said moreover that it was transparent because every importer had to provide the same kind of information for the same item imported unlike in the past when the discretion of assessment was largely left to the Destination Inspection Companies who used different yardsticks to assess goods.
Mr Brako said all the associations were satisfied with the outcome of the review meeting and had appealed for additional training programmes on the manuals for members to facilitate custom procedures.
The four associations also called for additional service centres to be established in various key points in the country to ensure a successful commencement of the new system.
Monday, October 6, 2008
SURVEY ON MEDIA LAUNCHED (PAGE 43)
A survey has revealed that Ghana has 136 different radio stations operating throughout the country.
The survey, which was commissioned by the Ghana Advertisers Board (GAB), shows that in 2005 there were 111 stations but since then the number has increased dramatically, with a further 25 stations now fighting for space on the airwaves.
These findings were revealed at the launch of the survey, entitled “Ghana All Media and Products Survey (GAMPS) 2008”, in Accra last Thursday.
The Head of Operations at the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation (GSMF) International, Mr Geoff Anno, explained that the GAMPS was designed to provide comprehensive information on the products and media services available in Ghana and an overview of consumer habits.
He said the detailed questionnaires completed by respondents had made it possible to establish the demographical, geographical, psychological and lifestyle factors which influenced the consumption of products and the use of the media.
That kind of detailed contextual information, he said, would facilitate the "segmentation of consumers" — the profiling of people who match certain criteria in order to develop a targeted marketing strategy.
He said companies which invested in the GAMPS 2008 would be able to generate "endless cross-tabulations" of the information gathered.
Mr Gerry Van Dyk, the General Manager of Research International, the company contracted to conduct the survey, said it took into account the responses of 2,845 participants from all over Ghana, drawing information from every region.
He said the results gathered showed a certain significant development since 2005 when the last GAMPS survey was conducted.
He said the number of television channels had grown in recent years, though not in the same extent as the number of radio stations, and that the number of newspapers had not changed significantly. Newspaper readership had grown to almost 50 per cent of the population — a 10 per cent increase over the 2005 figure.
The survey also identified some key trends in product sales, such as the fact that in 2005 just nine per cent of people had bought mobile phones, while now the figure stands at 24 per cent.
The survey also offered data regarding the typical pastimes of consumers.
According to the survey, 87 per cent of Ghanaians attended a funeral in the past six months, while 37 per cent had eaten in a restaurant during the same period.
The National President of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), Mrs Josephine Okutu, stressed that "with growing competition and consumers becoming more and more sophisticated and discerning, decisions would have to be based more on credible scientific data".
She warned that without such a database "we should expect to have a bleak future, where our information will be based on conjecture and speculation".
She called on indigenous companies, particularly the small and medium-scale ones, to cultivate seriously the habit of researching their markets, adding that the benefits of such an exercise outweighed the cost.
Mrs Okutu expressed the hope that businesses that had not yet bought into the GAMPS survey would not play the penny-wise and pound-foolish game and deny themselves the opportunity to move forward.
The survey, which was commissioned by the Ghana Advertisers Board (GAB), shows that in 2005 there were 111 stations but since then the number has increased dramatically, with a further 25 stations now fighting for space on the airwaves.
These findings were revealed at the launch of the survey, entitled “Ghana All Media and Products Survey (GAMPS) 2008”, in Accra last Thursday.
The Head of Operations at the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation (GSMF) International, Mr Geoff Anno, explained that the GAMPS was designed to provide comprehensive information on the products and media services available in Ghana and an overview of consumer habits.
He said the detailed questionnaires completed by respondents had made it possible to establish the demographical, geographical, psychological and lifestyle factors which influenced the consumption of products and the use of the media.
That kind of detailed contextual information, he said, would facilitate the "segmentation of consumers" — the profiling of people who match certain criteria in order to develop a targeted marketing strategy.
He said companies which invested in the GAMPS 2008 would be able to generate "endless cross-tabulations" of the information gathered.
Mr Gerry Van Dyk, the General Manager of Research International, the company contracted to conduct the survey, said it took into account the responses of 2,845 participants from all over Ghana, drawing information from every region.
He said the results gathered showed a certain significant development since 2005 when the last GAMPS survey was conducted.
He said the number of television channels had grown in recent years, though not in the same extent as the number of radio stations, and that the number of newspapers had not changed significantly. Newspaper readership had grown to almost 50 per cent of the population — a 10 per cent increase over the 2005 figure.
The survey also identified some key trends in product sales, such as the fact that in 2005 just nine per cent of people had bought mobile phones, while now the figure stands at 24 per cent.
The survey also offered data regarding the typical pastimes of consumers.
According to the survey, 87 per cent of Ghanaians attended a funeral in the past six months, while 37 per cent had eaten in a restaurant during the same period.
The National President of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), Mrs Josephine Okutu, stressed that "with growing competition and consumers becoming more and more sophisticated and discerning, decisions would have to be based more on credible scientific data".
She warned that without such a database "we should expect to have a bleak future, where our information will be based on conjecture and speculation".
She called on indigenous companies, particularly the small and medium-scale ones, to cultivate seriously the habit of researching their markets, adding that the benefits of such an exercise outweighed the cost.
Mrs Okutu expressed the hope that businesses that had not yet bought into the GAMPS survey would not play the penny-wise and pound-foolish game and deny themselves the opportunity to move forward.
GHANA TOO EXPERIENCED FOR POWER-SHARING — TUC (PAGE 47)
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), has called on the Electoral Commission, to put its house in order to prevent the country from slipping into the level of power sharing deals which has recently become the bane of African politics.
The TUC said Ghana had sucessfully experienced a democratic dispensation for the past years and it would be a tragedy to slip to the level of power sharing.
Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the TUC who made the call at a public forum in Accra said the plans and preparation being made by the Electoral Commission towards the general elections leave much to be desired.
Mr Asamoah who was contributing to discussions on a debate on the exhibition of the voters register said the TUC was prepared to use its structures to assist in the cleaning of the register.
He said the Congress had on a number of occasions expressed concern with the electoral process but the response from the EC had always been insinuations that TUC was ignorant of the electoral processes.
He said if violence erupted in the country nobody would be spared the horrors whether one was ignorant or not.
Mr Asamoah therefore called on the EC to learn to acquire objective attitude towards crictisms and improve on their performance, instead of resorting to insults which could not help to clean the bloated register and restore confidence of the people in the process.
Mr Baron Amoafo, a Deputy Chairman of National Commission on Civic Education called on aspiring politicians to desist from inducing minors with monetary rewards to register.
He said cleaning the register had to be done with the utmost circumspection to avoid an explosive situation likely to highten tension before election day.
Alhaji Mohammed Mamah Gado of the office of Chief Imam said the Chief Imam and the network of Regional and Community Imams would use their sermons to caution the Muslim youth who were often used and exploited to engage in violent behaviours.
He said the youth would be advised to be wary of politicians who would use and abandon them to their fate in times of trouble.
Rev (Dr) Fred Degbe, General Secretary of Christian Council of Ghana, who chaired the function said the Civic Forum Initiative (CFC) operated on the idea that citizens in their various communities were the major beneficiaries of democratic elections and not politicians.
He, therefore, stressed that it was the citizen who should exercise their civic responsibilities by ensuring a clean register when the voters register is exhibited from tomorow.
Dr Degbe said countries such as Togo have done it by pasting the voters register with pictures on the wall in every community for community members to know the minors and foreigners who had infiltrated the register.
The TUC said Ghana had sucessfully experienced a democratic dispensation for the past years and it would be a tragedy to slip to the level of power sharing.
Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the TUC who made the call at a public forum in Accra said the plans and preparation being made by the Electoral Commission towards the general elections leave much to be desired.
Mr Asamoah who was contributing to discussions on a debate on the exhibition of the voters register said the TUC was prepared to use its structures to assist in the cleaning of the register.
He said the Congress had on a number of occasions expressed concern with the electoral process but the response from the EC had always been insinuations that TUC was ignorant of the electoral processes.
He said if violence erupted in the country nobody would be spared the horrors whether one was ignorant or not.
Mr Asamoah therefore called on the EC to learn to acquire objective attitude towards crictisms and improve on their performance, instead of resorting to insults which could not help to clean the bloated register and restore confidence of the people in the process.
Mr Baron Amoafo, a Deputy Chairman of National Commission on Civic Education called on aspiring politicians to desist from inducing minors with monetary rewards to register.
He said cleaning the register had to be done with the utmost circumspection to avoid an explosive situation likely to highten tension before election day.
Alhaji Mohammed Mamah Gado of the office of Chief Imam said the Chief Imam and the network of Regional and Community Imams would use their sermons to caution the Muslim youth who were often used and exploited to engage in violent behaviours.
He said the youth would be advised to be wary of politicians who would use and abandon them to their fate in times of trouble.
Rev (Dr) Fred Degbe, General Secretary of Christian Council of Ghana, who chaired the function said the Civic Forum Initiative (CFC) operated on the idea that citizens in their various communities were the major beneficiaries of democratic elections and not politicians.
He, therefore, stressed that it was the citizen who should exercise their civic responsibilities by ensuring a clean register when the voters register is exhibited from tomorow.
Dr Degbe said countries such as Togo have done it by pasting the voters register with pictures on the wall in every community for community members to know the minors and foreigners who had infiltrated the register.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
EPA TO INCLUDE E-WASTE ON LIST OF HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS (BACK PAGE)
THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is harmonising three international protocols on the trans-border movement of hazardous waste to include e-waste from computers.
The three chemical-related conventions on the movement of hazardous waste and its disposal are the Basel, the Stockholm and the Rotterdam protocols.
Harmonising these protocols and conventions, which Ghana has ratified at the international level, will enable the EPA to localise and enforce them to regulate the inflow of e-waste.
The Public Relations Officer of the EPA, Mr William Abaidoo, told the Daily Graphic in that the e-waste chemicals, which could be found in computers, digital cameras, mobile phones and used television and radio sets, posed a danger to health.
He said some ozone-depleting chemicals formed majority of the e-waste, including lead, cadmium, mercury and fire retardants, adding that when humans were exposed to them, it could have very serious health consequences, including cancer.
He said cancer-causing agents and pollutants such as lead had been found by researchers to affect the intelligent quotient of children, with serious consequences.
Mr Abaidoo said because of the health hazards, the agency had sought the technical assistance of the Netherlands government to develop the harmonised guidelines to meet international standards.
He said institutions such as the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service and the Ghana Standards Board had been involved in the preparation of the guidelines to be enforced.
He said the collaboration would also look into the partnership between the private and public sectors with the view to generating employment in the electronic sector, since not all the second-hand electronic goods coming into the country contained e-waste materials.
He explained that the guidelines sought to differentiate between second-hand goods that could be cannibalised and used to repair broken-down computers and those that were complete waste and could not be permitted to enter the country.
The three chemical-related conventions on the movement of hazardous waste and its disposal are the Basel, the Stockholm and the Rotterdam protocols.
Harmonising these protocols and conventions, which Ghana has ratified at the international level, will enable the EPA to localise and enforce them to regulate the inflow of e-waste.
The Public Relations Officer of the EPA, Mr William Abaidoo, told the Daily Graphic in that the e-waste chemicals, which could be found in computers, digital cameras, mobile phones and used television and radio sets, posed a danger to health.
He said some ozone-depleting chemicals formed majority of the e-waste, including lead, cadmium, mercury and fire retardants, adding that when humans were exposed to them, it could have very serious health consequences, including cancer.
He said cancer-causing agents and pollutants such as lead had been found by researchers to affect the intelligent quotient of children, with serious consequences.
Mr Abaidoo said because of the health hazards, the agency had sought the technical assistance of the Netherlands government to develop the harmonised guidelines to meet international standards.
He said institutions such as the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service and the Ghana Standards Board had been involved in the preparation of the guidelines to be enforced.
He said the collaboration would also look into the partnership between the private and public sectors with the view to generating employment in the electronic sector, since not all the second-hand electronic goods coming into the country contained e-waste materials.
He explained that the guidelines sought to differentiate between second-hand goods that could be cannibalised and used to repair broken-down computers and those that were complete waste and could not be permitted to enter the country.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
GOVT, NPP SUPPORT KANTAMANTO FIRE VICTIMS (BACK PAGE)
The government and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday donated building materials worth GH¢38,000 and seed capital of GH¢10,000 for the reconstruction of the Kantamanto Market, which was destroyed by fire last Monday.
The building materials comprised 3,000 pieces of roofing sheets and 800 bags of cement.
The first donation of 1,000 pieces of roofing sheets, 300 bags of cement and GH¢10,000 was presented by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on behalf of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party’s presidential aspirant, for the establishment of a revolving fund,
Dr Bawumia said the revolving fund, to be called Odofopa Fund, would be used to grant credit facilities to the traders who have lost their goods to enable them to re-start their businesses.
He said the fund would be increased from time to time to ensure that all the affected traders who contributed significantly to the country’s economy could continue to contribute their quota and not be left to their plight as had been the case in the past.
The government delegation which was led by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and included the Minister of the Interior, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, made a donation of 500 bags of cement and 2,000 (100 packets) pieces of roofing sheets to the victims who number about 623, according to a spokesman.
Receiving the items on behalf of the traders, Mr Kwaku Danso, Chairman of the Kantamanto Youth Association, appealed to Ghanaians, especially the business community who have dealings with the traders at Kantamanto, to come to their aid.
He said what the traders needed urgently are sand and stones to rebuild their stores and that the traders would require 3,115 bags of cement and more than 4,200 pieces of roofing sheets to enable them to rebuild the market.
He said those mostly affected were cloth sellers, shoes and school uniforms sellers who had experienced three fire outbreaks in the past six years and the seed money and building materials were going to cushion them against the losses they had incurred over the years.
Mr Danso said after the three outbreaks, no political party or philanthropist came to their aid and paid tribute to the ruling government for their support and sympathy.
Mr Danso also appealed to the Department of Urban Roads and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) which collected taxes from the traders to rehabilitate the road in front of the Kantamanto Market instead of waiting for the unfortunate to happen before coming to their rescue.
The building materials comprised 3,000 pieces of roofing sheets and 800 bags of cement.
The first donation of 1,000 pieces of roofing sheets, 300 bags of cement and GH¢10,000 was presented by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on behalf of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party’s presidential aspirant, for the establishment of a revolving fund,
Dr Bawumia said the revolving fund, to be called Odofopa Fund, would be used to grant credit facilities to the traders who have lost their goods to enable them to re-start their businesses.
He said the fund would be increased from time to time to ensure that all the affected traders who contributed significantly to the country’s economy could continue to contribute their quota and not be left to their plight as had been the case in the past.
The government delegation which was led by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and included the Minister of the Interior, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, made a donation of 500 bags of cement and 2,000 (100 packets) pieces of roofing sheets to the victims who number about 623, according to a spokesman.
Receiving the items on behalf of the traders, Mr Kwaku Danso, Chairman of the Kantamanto Youth Association, appealed to Ghanaians, especially the business community who have dealings with the traders at Kantamanto, to come to their aid.
He said what the traders needed urgently are sand and stones to rebuild their stores and that the traders would require 3,115 bags of cement and more than 4,200 pieces of roofing sheets to enable them to rebuild the market.
He said those mostly affected were cloth sellers, shoes and school uniforms sellers who had experienced three fire outbreaks in the past six years and the seed money and building materials were going to cushion them against the losses they had incurred over the years.
Mr Danso said after the three outbreaks, no political party or philanthropist came to their aid and paid tribute to the ruling government for their support and sympathy.
Mr Danso also appealed to the Department of Urban Roads and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) which collected taxes from the traders to rehabilitate the road in front of the Kantamanto Market instead of waiting for the unfortunate to happen before coming to their rescue.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION HOLDS OUTREACH PROGRAMME (PAGE 32)
THE Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG) undertook a medical outreach programme in Accra at the weekend to assure Ghanaians that locally manufactured drugs are free from health hazards.
As part of the outreach programme, doctors and nurses from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital administered treatment to 997 sick people at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
Some of the ailments of common occurrence that the doctors treated included worms infestation, hypertension, stomach ache, fever and chicken pox.
Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, the Chief Executive of Kama Industries and President of PMAG, said the association had contributed drugs worth GH¢2,500 for the outreach programme.
He said the pharmaceutical companies in the country were using very modern machines and their drugs were being manufactured under the best hygienic conditions which could be verified by the regulatory authorities.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of the notion that imported drugs were safer and more potent than locally manufactured ones.
He explained that what was more assuring was that local drug manufacturing companies could be sued for compensation when something untoward happened to patients after taking any of the locally manufactured drugs, while foreign manufacturers could not be sued because they could not be easily traced.
He said the association employed more than 5,000 workers in the pharmaceutical industries.
He said Ghana and Nigeria had formed the West African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (WAPMA) to pool resources to service the huge regional market, since, apart from the two countries, the other countries in the sub-region depended on imported pharmaceuticals.
Dr Addo appealed to the government to help pharmaceutical industries to capture the market in the sub-region by waiving some of the taxes and utility tariffs for those industries.
He said those tax waivers could assist the industries to produce drugs at cheaper prices for the domestic market, as well as for export to earn foreign exchange for the country.
As part of the outreach programme, doctors and nurses from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital administered treatment to 997 sick people at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
Some of the ailments of common occurrence that the doctors treated included worms infestation, hypertension, stomach ache, fever and chicken pox.
Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, the Chief Executive of Kama Industries and President of PMAG, said the association had contributed drugs worth GH¢2,500 for the outreach programme.
He said the pharmaceutical companies in the country were using very modern machines and their drugs were being manufactured under the best hygienic conditions which could be verified by the regulatory authorities.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of the notion that imported drugs were safer and more potent than locally manufactured ones.
He explained that what was more assuring was that local drug manufacturing companies could be sued for compensation when something untoward happened to patients after taking any of the locally manufactured drugs, while foreign manufacturers could not be sued because they could not be easily traced.
He said the association employed more than 5,000 workers in the pharmaceutical industries.
He said Ghana and Nigeria had formed the West African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (WAPMA) to pool resources to service the huge regional market, since, apart from the two countries, the other countries in the sub-region depended on imported pharmaceuticals.
Dr Addo appealed to the government to help pharmaceutical industries to capture the market in the sub-region by waiving some of the taxes and utility tariffs for those industries.
He said those tax waivers could assist the industries to produce drugs at cheaper prices for the domestic market, as well as for export to earn foreign exchange for the country.
Monday, September 22, 2008
TRIBUNALS ON TAX DISPUTES TO BE SET UP (PAGE 20)
THE government is drawing up a programme for the establishment of Tax Tribunals to expedite action on the resolution of disputes between tax authorities and corporate institutions, especially those in the oil industry.
The president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Mr E.T. Asamoah, who made this known at the launch of the Taxation Week of the institute said the Tax Tribunals would be under the Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism.
He said the tribunals would enhance fairness and equity to help remove the deep suspicion that existed between the revenue agencies and the business community.
He appealed to tax practitioners to keep abreast of the tax laws of the country since they were the liaison between the business community and the revenue agencies.
Mr Ali-Nakyea Abdallah, a tax consultant, who spoke on; “The challenges facing tax practitioners’’, said tax administrators tended to criminalise first-time taxpayers and practitioners who encouraged them (taxpayers) to pay their taxes.
He called for an incentive system to reward taxpayers who voluntarily responded to their tax obligations without giving the government the option of casting its net wider.
He said there was the need to strike a balance between the goals of tax administrators who represented the government and tax practitioners who represented taxpayers to ensure harmony and respect for both parties.
He explained that the challenges arose where the tax administrator formed an adverse opinion that the tax practitioner’s aim was to protect a taxpayer from paying taxes.
Mr Abdallah, therefore, called for constant interaction between the two parties to iron out their differences through collaborative training programmes.
On dispute resolution, Mr Abdallah said the situation where taxpayers were compelled to make down payment of 30 per cent of the amount in dispute before filing a petition at the court for resolution was not fair to the taxpayer, and called for an amendment to the law.
This, he said, was because a taxpayer who was running at a loss could not mobilise such an amount before asking the courts to judge his/her case.
The president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Mr E.T. Asamoah, who made this known at the launch of the Taxation Week of the institute said the Tax Tribunals would be under the Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism.
He said the tribunals would enhance fairness and equity to help remove the deep suspicion that existed between the revenue agencies and the business community.
He appealed to tax practitioners to keep abreast of the tax laws of the country since they were the liaison between the business community and the revenue agencies.
Mr Ali-Nakyea Abdallah, a tax consultant, who spoke on; “The challenges facing tax practitioners’’, said tax administrators tended to criminalise first-time taxpayers and practitioners who encouraged them (taxpayers) to pay their taxes.
He called for an incentive system to reward taxpayers who voluntarily responded to their tax obligations without giving the government the option of casting its net wider.
He said there was the need to strike a balance between the goals of tax administrators who represented the government and tax practitioners who represented taxpayers to ensure harmony and respect for both parties.
He explained that the challenges arose where the tax administrator formed an adverse opinion that the tax practitioner’s aim was to protect a taxpayer from paying taxes.
Mr Abdallah, therefore, called for constant interaction between the two parties to iron out their differences through collaborative training programmes.
On dispute resolution, Mr Abdallah said the situation where taxpayers were compelled to make down payment of 30 per cent of the amount in dispute before filing a petition at the court for resolution was not fair to the taxpayer, and called for an amendment to the law.
This, he said, was because a taxpayer who was running at a loss could not mobilise such an amount before asking the courts to judge his/her case.
CPP picks running mate...IT'S SAKARA...Graphic got it right again (LEAD)
THE Convention People’s Party (CPP) on Sunday held a mammoth rally at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, during which the running mate of the party’s flag bearer for Election 2008, Dr Abu Foster Sakara, was introduced to the large gathering.
One of the highlights of the rally, which coincided with the 99th birthday of the founder of the party and first President of Ghana, the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was the national launch of the campaign for Election 2008.
The atmosphere at the rally depicted a party very determined not only to make an impact in the December elections but also recapture political power and reclaim its past glory.
What made the rally unique was that it attracted thousands of people from all walks of life, including the elderly, the physically challenged, exuberant youth and die-hard supporters.
The daughter of Dr Nkrumah, Ms Samia Nkrumah, and children of former ministers in the CPP administration were not left out in the rally which was dubbed, “New Dawn, New Vision”.
Many people the Daily Graphic spoke to were unanimous in declaring how they had been inspired by the party’s new fortunes which had seen it grow from strength to strength, in spite of the many political impediments in its path.
They cited the reconstruction of the Flagstaff House where the first President conducted the affairs of state as symbolic because it demonstrated that the next administration would come from the CPP.
They opined that since Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday fell on a Sunday and this year’s elections were also being held on a Sunday, it signified that the CPP was destined to win political power from the ruling party.
Mr B.K. Senkyere, a veteran CPP organiser, said any development which did not take the welfare of the people into consideration was bound to fail.
He expressed regret that apart from the Nkrumah’s government, all other governments had failed to put in place people-centred development policies that would help with national growth.
The result, he said, was that the people who were supposed to benefit from those developments were made poorer.
Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, the CPP spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, noted that education and the national economy were now running parallel to each other, noting that during Nkrumah’s era the two were in tandem, complementing each other.
He called on the media to refrain from portraying the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the only parties in the country, at the expense of other political parties.
Dr Antwi-Danso said Ghanaians should vote for a peaceful party, saying the violence in Tamale and Gushiegu were not helpful for the unity of the nation.
He said when the CPP gained power, “we shall bring the country together by working genuinely to ensure peace, harmony and development”.
Ms Nkrumah said the CPP seed sown by her father had reached fruition with the reorganisation of the party, adding that the vision and teachings of Dr Nkrumah were still relevant and urged the activists of the party to work hard to enable the CPP to come back to political power to complete its social programmes, without which development was meaningless.
In a speech read on his behalf, Prof Agyeman Badu Akosa, a leading member of the party, urged the government to defreeze the assets of the CPP which were frozen when Nkrumah was overthrown.
Mr Bright Akwetey, who contested the flag-bearer slot of the party, urged Ghanaians to vote for the CPP, saying that the CPP emblem of a cockerel represented a friendly party.
He said other parties had symbols representing wild animals, adding, “No wonder their behaviour showcases those of rampaging predators without humanity in their actions and programmes.”
Parliamentary candidates and the regional chairmen were introduced to the cheering crowd.
One of the highlights of the rally, which coincided with the 99th birthday of the founder of the party and first President of Ghana, the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was the national launch of the campaign for Election 2008.
The atmosphere at the rally depicted a party very determined not only to make an impact in the December elections but also recapture political power and reclaim its past glory.
What made the rally unique was that it attracted thousands of people from all walks of life, including the elderly, the physically challenged, exuberant youth and die-hard supporters.
The daughter of Dr Nkrumah, Ms Samia Nkrumah, and children of former ministers in the CPP administration were not left out in the rally which was dubbed, “New Dawn, New Vision”.
Many people the Daily Graphic spoke to were unanimous in declaring how they had been inspired by the party’s new fortunes which had seen it grow from strength to strength, in spite of the many political impediments in its path.
They cited the reconstruction of the Flagstaff House where the first President conducted the affairs of state as symbolic because it demonstrated that the next administration would come from the CPP.
They opined that since Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday fell on a Sunday and this year’s elections were also being held on a Sunday, it signified that the CPP was destined to win political power from the ruling party.
Mr B.K. Senkyere, a veteran CPP organiser, said any development which did not take the welfare of the people into consideration was bound to fail.
He expressed regret that apart from the Nkrumah’s government, all other governments had failed to put in place people-centred development policies that would help with national growth.
The result, he said, was that the people who were supposed to benefit from those developments were made poorer.
Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, the CPP spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, noted that education and the national economy were now running parallel to each other, noting that during Nkrumah’s era the two were in tandem, complementing each other.
He called on the media to refrain from portraying the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the only parties in the country, at the expense of other political parties.
Dr Antwi-Danso said Ghanaians should vote for a peaceful party, saying the violence in Tamale and Gushiegu were not helpful for the unity of the nation.
He said when the CPP gained power, “we shall bring the country together by working genuinely to ensure peace, harmony and development”.
Ms Nkrumah said the CPP seed sown by her father had reached fruition with the reorganisation of the party, adding that the vision and teachings of Dr Nkrumah were still relevant and urged the activists of the party to work hard to enable the CPP to come back to political power to complete its social programmes, without which development was meaningless.
In a speech read on his behalf, Prof Agyeman Badu Akosa, a leading member of the party, urged the government to defreeze the assets of the CPP which were frozen when Nkrumah was overthrown.
Mr Bright Akwetey, who contested the flag-bearer slot of the party, urged Ghanaians to vote for the CPP, saying that the CPP emblem of a cockerel represented a friendly party.
He said other parties had symbols representing wild animals, adding, “No wonder their behaviour showcases those of rampaging predators without humanity in their actions and programmes.”
Parliamentary candidates and the regional chairmen were introduced to the cheering crowd.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
AUDIT REPORTS COMMITTEE INAUGURATED (PAGE 24)
THE Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Ernest Debrah, has deplored the lukeworm attitude of some directors and heads of departments at the ministry towards audit reports.
Mr Debrah said the ministry expected that management would act on audit reports within three weeks of receipt.
The minister gave the ultimatum when he inaugurated a five-member audit reports implementation committee in Accra.
The five-member committee, chaired by the minister himself, would make follow-ups on all audit reports of MOFA to ensure that recommendations were actually implemented.
He said the mandate of the committee was to ensure that finances of the ministry were effectively utilised to obtain value for expenditure.
He also assured management that auditing was not about finding faults, but about correcting mistakes and preventing mismanagement of resources.
He, therefore, urged directors of departments to attend to audit reports with all the seriousness that they deserved.
Mr Debrah said management should not ignore such reports, but respond to them within three weeks of receipt.
He said as a measure to ensure that management responded promptly to audit reports, an Internal Audit Monitoring team had been set up at the ministry to periodically review all audit reports being implemented by the five-member implementation committee.
He said the implementation committee had a lot to do, considering the size of MOFA, including its agencies and projects.
Mr Debrah said to ensure a balanced approach to audit reports, membership of the implementation committee had been restructured to include some professionals from outside the main ministry.
He said it was his hope that this trust and confidence reposed in the membership would not be abused.
The five-member committee, which has the minister as the chairman, included Mr Alidu Fuseini, Director, Finance and Administration of MOFA member; Mr Agyeku Sabraw, Acting Director, Human Resource, member; Mr Ransford Agyei, Internal Audit Agency, member and Mr Ebenezer Tagoe, Institute of Internal Auditors, member.
Mr Debrah said the ministry expected that management would act on audit reports within three weeks of receipt.
The minister gave the ultimatum when he inaugurated a five-member audit reports implementation committee in Accra.
The five-member committee, chaired by the minister himself, would make follow-ups on all audit reports of MOFA to ensure that recommendations were actually implemented.
He said the mandate of the committee was to ensure that finances of the ministry were effectively utilised to obtain value for expenditure.
He also assured management that auditing was not about finding faults, but about correcting mistakes and preventing mismanagement of resources.
He, therefore, urged directors of departments to attend to audit reports with all the seriousness that they deserved.
Mr Debrah said management should not ignore such reports, but respond to them within three weeks of receipt.
He said as a measure to ensure that management responded promptly to audit reports, an Internal Audit Monitoring team had been set up at the ministry to periodically review all audit reports being implemented by the five-member implementation committee.
He said the implementation committee had a lot to do, considering the size of MOFA, including its agencies and projects.
Mr Debrah said to ensure a balanced approach to audit reports, membership of the implementation committee had been restructured to include some professionals from outside the main ministry.
He said it was his hope that this trust and confidence reposed in the membership would not be abused.
The five-member committee, which has the minister as the chairman, included Mr Alidu Fuseini, Director, Finance and Administration of MOFA member; Mr Agyeku Sabraw, Acting Director, Human Resource, member; Mr Ransford Agyei, Internal Audit Agency, member and Mr Ebenezer Tagoe, Institute of Internal Auditors, member.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
CEPS TO INAUGURATE AUTOMATED SYSTEM (PAGE 54)
The second phase of the automation of the core functions of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service is expected to be inaugurated this month to accelerate the clearance of goods at the country’s ports.
The first phase of the automation project was handed over to CEPS last month by Bankswitch Ghana Ltd, an Information Communication Technology (ICT) service provider.
Mr Kingsley Kyei Abeyieh, Valuation Support Manager of Bankswitch, announced this when he conducted the media on familiarisation tour of the automation centre.
He said 17 CEPS ICT personnel had been deployed to the automation centre to test the efficiency of the computers and the software being used before the launch of the second phase on September 22.
He said the testing had proved successful and this had convinced Bankswitch to continue with computerisation for the launch of the second phase.
Mr Abeyieh said the second phase would enhance the ability of CEPS to manage electronic information of importers without the importers having to move from their offices to Destination Inspection Companies (DIC) as had hitherto been the case.
He said because there was no more human contact between importers and CEPS before goods were cleared, the huge temptation that importers would bribe customs officials had been eliminated.
He added that importers could not also engage in under-invoicing of goods since the automation required them to state the quantity and weight of their goods before aplication forms were approved.
The Valuation Support Manager said because importers would sit in their office to fill their forms online the clearing of goods a had been reduced from weeks to only a few minutes.
Mr Abeyieh noted that the acquisition of the facilities represented a further step by the government to modernise CEPS procedures and core functions to international standards.
The first phase of the automation project was handed over to CEPS last month by Bankswitch Ghana Ltd, an Information Communication Technology (ICT) service provider.
Mr Kingsley Kyei Abeyieh, Valuation Support Manager of Bankswitch, announced this when he conducted the media on familiarisation tour of the automation centre.
He said 17 CEPS ICT personnel had been deployed to the automation centre to test the efficiency of the computers and the software being used before the launch of the second phase on September 22.
He said the testing had proved successful and this had convinced Bankswitch to continue with computerisation for the launch of the second phase.
Mr Abeyieh said the second phase would enhance the ability of CEPS to manage electronic information of importers without the importers having to move from their offices to Destination Inspection Companies (DIC) as had hitherto been the case.
He said because there was no more human contact between importers and CEPS before goods were cleared, the huge temptation that importers would bribe customs officials had been eliminated.
He added that importers could not also engage in under-invoicing of goods since the automation required them to state the quantity and weight of their goods before aplication forms were approved.
The Valuation Support Manager said because importers would sit in their office to fill their forms online the clearing of goods a had been reduced from weeks to only a few minutes.
Mr Abeyieh noted that the acquisition of the facilities represented a further step by the government to modernise CEPS procedures and core functions to international standards.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
GAEC PREPARES FOR NECLEAR PLANT....Trains 1,000 on safety (BACK PAGE)
The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) is training 1,000 personnel in the safe handling of nuclear isotopes towards the establishment of a nuclear power plant by the year 2018.
Professor Edward H. K. Akaho, Director-General of GAEC, however, gave the assurance that the adverse effects associated with nuclear plant would be reduced to the minimum, since the uranium to fire the plant was not going to be processed in the country.
He explained that initially the country would depend on imported enriched uranium to operate the plant and thereby reduce accidents related to processing.
He also noted that nuclear technology had advanced and that nuclear plants now had safety devices to correct manual errors to prevent disasters.
Prof. Akaho said the training programme would include many professionals such as medical doctors to identify and treat people exposed to nuclear and radio isotopes.
The director-general, who was addressing medical officers from 14 African countries on a training course on “ Practical medical preparedness and response to a radiation emergency”, also assured Ghanaians that the spent fuel from the nuclear plant would be transported back to the suppliers.
He said this would help remove the danger that could arise from keeping high levels of nuclear waste from the plant in the country.
Prof. Akaho said while the capabilities of the staff were being upgraded, the government had signed international conventions to put the legal framework in place.
He said GAEC and the government were scouting for land close to the sea, where conditions would be more congenial for the construction of the plant.
He said the political will to see to the establishment of the plant was overwhelming and expressed the hope that this would continue to enable the vision to materialise.
Prof. Akaho said ex-President Kwame Nkrumah had a plan to establish nuclear plant in the country after the construction of the Akosombo Dam but because of his overthrow, the programme was shelved.
He expressed the hope that this time around, the political will to establish the plant would not fizzle out and any new President who would come to power would see to the execution of the project.
Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Trade, Industries, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiatives, who opened the workshops on radiation and quality control, said the courses had been designed to mitigate the effects of radiation emergencies.
He explained that the training was part of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) global efforts to assist member states to review policies relating to establishing and strengthening technical capabilities for planning for response to radiological and nuclear emergencies.
Paapa Ankomah urged the participants to take into account the extent of practices involving nuclear and radiation-based technologies in the various member states in order to come up with a specific action plan that could meet international standards.
Professor Edward H. K. Akaho, Director-General of GAEC, however, gave the assurance that the adverse effects associated with nuclear plant would be reduced to the minimum, since the uranium to fire the plant was not going to be processed in the country.
He explained that initially the country would depend on imported enriched uranium to operate the plant and thereby reduce accidents related to processing.
He also noted that nuclear technology had advanced and that nuclear plants now had safety devices to correct manual errors to prevent disasters.
Prof. Akaho said the training programme would include many professionals such as medical doctors to identify and treat people exposed to nuclear and radio isotopes.
The director-general, who was addressing medical officers from 14 African countries on a training course on “ Practical medical preparedness and response to a radiation emergency”, also assured Ghanaians that the spent fuel from the nuclear plant would be transported back to the suppliers.
He said this would help remove the danger that could arise from keeping high levels of nuclear waste from the plant in the country.
Prof. Akaho said while the capabilities of the staff were being upgraded, the government had signed international conventions to put the legal framework in place.
He said GAEC and the government were scouting for land close to the sea, where conditions would be more congenial for the construction of the plant.
He said the political will to see to the establishment of the plant was overwhelming and expressed the hope that this would continue to enable the vision to materialise.
Prof. Akaho said ex-President Kwame Nkrumah had a plan to establish nuclear plant in the country after the construction of the Akosombo Dam but because of his overthrow, the programme was shelved.
He expressed the hope that this time around, the political will to establish the plant would not fizzle out and any new President who would come to power would see to the execution of the project.
Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Trade, Industries, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiatives, who opened the workshops on radiation and quality control, said the courses had been designed to mitigate the effects of radiation emergencies.
He explained that the training was part of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) global efforts to assist member states to review policies relating to establishing and strengthening technical capabilities for planning for response to radiological and nuclear emergencies.
Paapa Ankomah urged the participants to take into account the extent of practices involving nuclear and radiation-based technologies in the various member states in order to come up with a specific action plan that could meet international standards.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
LOCAL FARMERS PRODUCE SORGHUM FOR BREWERIES (SEPT 10, 2008, BACK PAGE)
A number of local farmers have come together to produce 3,000 tonnes of sorghum this year to feed the country’s breweries.
The 3,500 farmers are to be assisted with capital under the Venture Capital Trust Fund, to upgrade their small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
The programme is also to enable breweries in the country to reduce their dependence on imported raw materials for their operations.
In addition, 20 medium-scale companies have benefited from the credit facilities and technical assistance provided by Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF) through its subsidiary capital financing companies to the tune of GH¢9 million.
Nana Osei Bonsu, Chief Executive Officer of Venture Capital Trust Fund, who announced this at a press briefing on good corporate governance for 21 board members of beneficiary companies, said the venture had through its subsidiary companies spent GH¢2.1 million in the agro business sector since last year.
He said the rationale behind the setting up of the Venture Capital Trust Fund by an Act of Parliament was to enhance the capital base of SMEs in the country.
He said apart from the credit facilities, technical assistance had been provided to the SMEs to enable them to adopt corporate values such as teamwork, accountability and transparency in their workplaces.
Nana Osei Bonsu said as a result of recurring corporate fraud and scandals, the importance of professional ethics, corporate responsibility and good corporate governance framework could not be overemphasised.
He said it was, therefore, imperative for corporate directors and managers to acquire knowledge of the best practices in corporate governance in order for their businesses to succeed in this competitive environment.
Nana Osei Bonsu said plans were advanced to launch a new corporate mentoring programme where each entrepreneur would be seconded to a larger corporation for mentoring in order to curb certain operational inefficiencies.
The 3,500 farmers are to be assisted with capital under the Venture Capital Trust Fund, to upgrade their small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
The programme is also to enable breweries in the country to reduce their dependence on imported raw materials for their operations.
In addition, 20 medium-scale companies have benefited from the credit facilities and technical assistance provided by Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF) through its subsidiary capital financing companies to the tune of GH¢9 million.
Nana Osei Bonsu, Chief Executive Officer of Venture Capital Trust Fund, who announced this at a press briefing on good corporate governance for 21 board members of beneficiary companies, said the venture had through its subsidiary companies spent GH¢2.1 million in the agro business sector since last year.
He said the rationale behind the setting up of the Venture Capital Trust Fund by an Act of Parliament was to enhance the capital base of SMEs in the country.
He said apart from the credit facilities, technical assistance had been provided to the SMEs to enable them to adopt corporate values such as teamwork, accountability and transparency in their workplaces.
Nana Osei Bonsu said as a result of recurring corporate fraud and scandals, the importance of professional ethics, corporate responsibility and good corporate governance framework could not be overemphasised.
He said it was, therefore, imperative for corporate directors and managers to acquire knowledge of the best practices in corporate governance in order for their businesses to succeed in this competitive environment.
Nana Osei Bonsu said plans were advanced to launch a new corporate mentoring programme where each entrepreneur would be seconded to a larger corporation for mentoring in order to curb certain operational inefficiencies.
TETTEH QUARSHIE COCOA FARM ATTRACTS TOURISTS (SPREAD)
The Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Cocoa farm at Mampong Akuapem attracted a total of 2,158 tourists last year.
Mr Mawutor Boadi, the Facility Manager at the farm, who made this known at the first Cocoa Festival held in Accra, said the farm, which was receiving about 93 tourists a month last year, was already recording an average of 200 tourists a month this year.
He said with the construction of receptive facilities at the farm by the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations and FM24, the management of the farm, the farm was increasingly becoming a major tourist destination for both local and international tourists.
Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, who delivered the keynote address at the festival, said the ministry in collaboration with the management of the farms planned to set up a small local chocolate manufacturing centre at the farm.
She explained that when this was done, tourists would be given a hands-on experience in cocoa processing on the farm and also have the opportunity to taste chocolate manufactured by themselves, as a means of adding more fun to their visits.
Mrs Sai Cofie noted that from being a virtually unknown plant in Ghana the introduction of just a few seeds by Tetteh Quarshie in 1879 were cleverly nurtured and spread to become the backbone of the economy.
The minister said the cocoa industry currently provided employment to many, creating settlements and satisfying the tastes of millions in the world.
She said apart from it revenue-generating role in the national economy, cocoa had served as a good ambassador of Ghana and in many ways had attracted a lot of foreign attention and interest in the country.
She said it was interesting to know that some of the first seedlings planted by Tetteh Quarshie could still be found on his farm and had become a great tourist asset.
Miss Barbara Osew-Kwatia, facility director of FM24, managers of the farm, said currently the organisation was running three heritage sites in the country and since taking over the management of these facilities, various initiatives had been put in place.
She said one of such new initiatives was the first-ever Cocoa Festival, which was to become an annual affair to give opportunity to Ghanaians and the international community to join in celebrating the golden pod.
Mr Mawutor Boadi, the Facility Manager at the farm, who made this known at the first Cocoa Festival held in Accra, said the farm, which was receiving about 93 tourists a month last year, was already recording an average of 200 tourists a month this year.
He said with the construction of receptive facilities at the farm by the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations and FM24, the management of the farm, the farm was increasingly becoming a major tourist destination for both local and international tourists.
Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, who delivered the keynote address at the festival, said the ministry in collaboration with the management of the farms planned to set up a small local chocolate manufacturing centre at the farm.
She explained that when this was done, tourists would be given a hands-on experience in cocoa processing on the farm and also have the opportunity to taste chocolate manufactured by themselves, as a means of adding more fun to their visits.
Mrs Sai Cofie noted that from being a virtually unknown plant in Ghana the introduction of just a few seeds by Tetteh Quarshie in 1879 were cleverly nurtured and spread to become the backbone of the economy.
The minister said the cocoa industry currently provided employment to many, creating settlements and satisfying the tastes of millions in the world.
She said apart from it revenue-generating role in the national economy, cocoa had served as a good ambassador of Ghana and in many ways had attracted a lot of foreign attention and interest in the country.
She said it was interesting to know that some of the first seedlings planted by Tetteh Quarshie could still be found on his farm and had become a great tourist asset.
Miss Barbara Osew-Kwatia, facility director of FM24, managers of the farm, said currently the organisation was running three heritage sites in the country and since taking over the management of these facilities, various initiatives had been put in place.
She said one of such new initiatives was the first-ever Cocoa Festival, which was to become an annual affair to give opportunity to Ghanaians and the international community to join in celebrating the golden pod.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
BODY TO EVALUATE ENGINEERING DESIGNS OF DRAINS IN ACCRA (PAGE 24)
The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing is setting up a body of engineers to evaluate the engineering designs of drainage systems in Accra to find lasting solutions to the perennial flooding of the city and its environs.
The absence of a central body to co-ordinate the construction of drainage systems in Accra has led to over- and under-designing of drainage facilities, which cause floods annually in the national capital.
The Hydraulic Engineer of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Wise Ametefe, who announced this at a technical meeting of the Institute of Civil Engineers in Accra at the weekend, said the setting up of the body was part of measures being taken to mitigate the effects of flooding in the city.
He said the ministry had come to realise that defects in engineering designs and construction were responsible for the localised flooding Accra continued to experience whether there were heavy rains or not.
He said the central body, which would comprise engineers from the public and private sectors, would assist in the assessment of hydrological data for the construction of all drainage systems.
He said most of the local contractors lacked the capacity to assess hydrological data and were at the mercy of their engineers who might not possess the capabilities and capacity to construct the drainage system.
Mr Ametefe said as part of the measures to prevent flooding, the ministry would help build the capacity of local contractors so that they could offer alternative advice when they doubted the advice of their engineers, who could not always be right.
He said presently because local contractors had to rely solely on their engineers for advice on construction, they were unable to detect any engineering defects when they occurred.
Mr Ametefe said this had led to the ministry and the government spending a lot of money to address the engineering defects and pay for relief supplies to victims because of the shoddy works of some contractors.
He said the Odaw drainage system had become silted because of its engineering designs, which made it possible for a lot of sediments to settle in the drainage system.
Mr Ametefe said another area that had been considered for action was the harvest of rainwater for treatment and storage for use during the dry season to supplement the potable water delivered to households.
He said landlords would be encouraged through education to build more rain harvesting devices to store water as one of the means to prevent flooding.
He explained that the population of Accra kept increasing as more houses sprang up, leading to localised flooding. He attributed this to the fact that most of the areas were covered with roofing sheets or concrete that prevented water from sipping into the ground, resulting in the rainwater flowing to low-lying areas to cause floods.
Mr Ametefe said that was the more reason why the ministry would be spearheading the campaign to trap all this rainwater through rainwater harvesting systems in Accra.
The Country Representative of the Institute Civil Engineers (UK), Mr Baffuor Osei, said Ghana was endowed with a lot of natural resources, which included rivers and streams.
He said what was needed was the ability to harness the natural resources and manage them in a manner that they would not cause havoc to lives and property.
Mr Osei said this could be done by collecting information on the rivers, such as the time they overflow their banks, how to maintain the channels and remove blockades obstructing their free flow and sharing this information with the communities living along the rivers and streams.
He said when all these measures were put in place, the effects of floods would not be as devastating as it is at present and lives and property could be saved.
The absence of a central body to co-ordinate the construction of drainage systems in Accra has led to over- and under-designing of drainage facilities, which cause floods annually in the national capital.
The Hydraulic Engineer of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Wise Ametefe, who announced this at a technical meeting of the Institute of Civil Engineers in Accra at the weekend, said the setting up of the body was part of measures being taken to mitigate the effects of flooding in the city.
He said the ministry had come to realise that defects in engineering designs and construction were responsible for the localised flooding Accra continued to experience whether there were heavy rains or not.
He said the central body, which would comprise engineers from the public and private sectors, would assist in the assessment of hydrological data for the construction of all drainage systems.
He said most of the local contractors lacked the capacity to assess hydrological data and were at the mercy of their engineers who might not possess the capabilities and capacity to construct the drainage system.
Mr Ametefe said as part of the measures to prevent flooding, the ministry would help build the capacity of local contractors so that they could offer alternative advice when they doubted the advice of their engineers, who could not always be right.
He said presently because local contractors had to rely solely on their engineers for advice on construction, they were unable to detect any engineering defects when they occurred.
Mr Ametefe said this had led to the ministry and the government spending a lot of money to address the engineering defects and pay for relief supplies to victims because of the shoddy works of some contractors.
He said the Odaw drainage system had become silted because of its engineering designs, which made it possible for a lot of sediments to settle in the drainage system.
Mr Ametefe said another area that had been considered for action was the harvest of rainwater for treatment and storage for use during the dry season to supplement the potable water delivered to households.
He said landlords would be encouraged through education to build more rain harvesting devices to store water as one of the means to prevent flooding.
He explained that the population of Accra kept increasing as more houses sprang up, leading to localised flooding. He attributed this to the fact that most of the areas were covered with roofing sheets or concrete that prevented water from sipping into the ground, resulting in the rainwater flowing to low-lying areas to cause floods.
Mr Ametefe said that was the more reason why the ministry would be spearheading the campaign to trap all this rainwater through rainwater harvesting systems in Accra.
The Country Representative of the Institute Civil Engineers (UK), Mr Baffuor Osei, said Ghana was endowed with a lot of natural resources, which included rivers and streams.
He said what was needed was the ability to harness the natural resources and manage them in a manner that they would not cause havoc to lives and property.
Mr Osei said this could be done by collecting information on the rivers, such as the time they overflow their banks, how to maintain the channels and remove blockades obstructing their free flow and sharing this information with the communities living along the rivers and streams.
He said when all these measures were put in place, the effects of floods would not be as devastating as it is at present and lives and property could be saved.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
MAKE SCIENCE EDUCATION COMPULSORY (PAGE 43)
A study commissioned by the University of Ghana, Legon, has recommended that science education should be made compulsory for all students seeking admission to the university.
This is to help address the situation where science admission represented only 20 per cent of the total number of students of the university.
Prof. Kwasi Yankah, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, who announced this at the Development Dialogue Series of the university at Legon, said at present the government policy of making science to occupy 60 per cent of the faculties of the university had not been achieved.
He said the university, therefore, commissioned the study to take drastic measures to arrest the situation.
Prof. Yankah said the university had studied the recommendations and had accepted to implement them to raise the level of science education in the country to meet the manpower needs of the country.
He said as part of making science play great role in the affairs of the university a new Faculty of Engineering had been established to groom qualified personnel for the new areas of the economy such as the oil find.
He said instead of the country putting in place measures to make the best economic gains from the oil discovery some Ghanaians, especially chiefs, were entangled in litigation over who owned the lands where the oil was discovered.
Mr Justin Yifu Lin, Chief Economist of the World Bank, who delivered a paper on the topic, “Inclusive Growth and the Role of Knowledge — Lessons from China and East Asia,” said the economic miracle of East Asia was nothing but a strategy of following their comparative advantage and urged Ghana to do likewise.
He explained that the comparative advantage of the East Asia included cheap labour and abundant raw materials.
Mr Lin said because the Asians did not have capital at that time they concentrated on labour-intensive industries such as textiles and electrical cables manufacturing.
He said the capital accumulated was then used to acquire capital-intensive industries such as pharmaceuticals and petrochemical industries
Mr Lin said Ghana could follow their comparative advantage in shea-butter and cocoa industries by upgrading gradually into the manufacturing of cosmetics, which was in high demand on the international market.
The Chief Economist said France for example had no major export than wine and cheese and other agricultural goods where France was exploiting its comparative advantages.
This is to help address the situation where science admission represented only 20 per cent of the total number of students of the university.
Prof. Kwasi Yankah, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, who announced this at the Development Dialogue Series of the university at Legon, said at present the government policy of making science to occupy 60 per cent of the faculties of the university had not been achieved.
He said the university, therefore, commissioned the study to take drastic measures to arrest the situation.
Prof. Yankah said the university had studied the recommendations and had accepted to implement them to raise the level of science education in the country to meet the manpower needs of the country.
He said as part of making science play great role in the affairs of the university a new Faculty of Engineering had been established to groom qualified personnel for the new areas of the economy such as the oil find.
He said instead of the country putting in place measures to make the best economic gains from the oil discovery some Ghanaians, especially chiefs, were entangled in litigation over who owned the lands where the oil was discovered.
Mr Justin Yifu Lin, Chief Economist of the World Bank, who delivered a paper on the topic, “Inclusive Growth and the Role of Knowledge — Lessons from China and East Asia,” said the economic miracle of East Asia was nothing but a strategy of following their comparative advantage and urged Ghana to do likewise.
He explained that the comparative advantage of the East Asia included cheap labour and abundant raw materials.
Mr Lin said because the Asians did not have capital at that time they concentrated on labour-intensive industries such as textiles and electrical cables manufacturing.
He said the capital accumulated was then used to acquire capital-intensive industries such as pharmaceuticals and petrochemical industries
Mr Lin said Ghana could follow their comparative advantage in shea-butter and cocoa industries by upgrading gradually into the manufacturing of cosmetics, which was in high demand on the international market.
The Chief Economist said France for example had no major export than wine and cheese and other agricultural goods where France was exploiting its comparative advantages.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
CEPS AUTOMATES CORE FUNCTIONS (SPREAD)
The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) has fully automated its core functions of classification and valuation of imported goods.
Until the automation, the core functions were being carried out by foreign Destination Inspection Companies, which was a drain on the scarce foreign exchange of the country.
Mr Paul Osei-Kwabena, Chairman of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), said the automation was a manifestation of the government's commitment to carry through its objective of building the capacity of CEPS to resume its core functions ceded to the Destination Inspection Companies.
Mr Osei Kwabena, who inaugurated a new automated business premises designed to house the classification and valuation processes, said the initiative was a collaboration among the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, RAGB, CEPS and Bankwitch, an Information Technology (IT) solution firm.
He said the provision of IT facilities had provided CEPS the foundation to function effectively and productively in an ambience conducive to a job such as classification and valuation
The board chairman expressed the hope that the facility would be put to use in a manner that would compensate those whose vision, toil and resource had helped to build the service.
Mr Emmanuel Doku, commissioner of CEPS, who received the keys to the furnished building, said this was the first phase of a major project that would enhance the ability of CEPS to manage electronic information from importers and exporters without passing it through intermediaries who charge for their services.
He said the new innovative IT solution would be integrated into the Ghana Community Net Work (GCNet) to add value to the current system operated by CEPS.
Mr Doku said the aim of the integration was to offer importers and declarants an enhanced single window for clearing their goods from the ports in the country.
He said acquisition of the facilities represented a further step in the modernisation of CEPS’ procedures and work practices.
The commissioner noted that the IT solution would enable CEPS to continue to improve its services to the general public and further secure revenue for national development.
Until the automation, the core functions were being carried out by foreign Destination Inspection Companies, which was a drain on the scarce foreign exchange of the country.
Mr Paul Osei-Kwabena, Chairman of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), said the automation was a manifestation of the government's commitment to carry through its objective of building the capacity of CEPS to resume its core functions ceded to the Destination Inspection Companies.
Mr Osei Kwabena, who inaugurated a new automated business premises designed to house the classification and valuation processes, said the initiative was a collaboration among the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, RAGB, CEPS and Bankwitch, an Information Technology (IT) solution firm.
He said the provision of IT facilities had provided CEPS the foundation to function effectively and productively in an ambience conducive to a job such as classification and valuation
The board chairman expressed the hope that the facility would be put to use in a manner that would compensate those whose vision, toil and resource had helped to build the service.
Mr Emmanuel Doku, commissioner of CEPS, who received the keys to the furnished building, said this was the first phase of a major project that would enhance the ability of CEPS to manage electronic information from importers and exporters without passing it through intermediaries who charge for their services.
He said the new innovative IT solution would be integrated into the Ghana Community Net Work (GCNet) to add value to the current system operated by CEPS.
Mr Doku said the aim of the integration was to offer importers and declarants an enhanced single window for clearing their goods from the ports in the country.
He said acquisition of the facilities represented a further step in the modernisation of CEPS’ procedures and work practices.
The commissioner noted that the IT solution would enable CEPS to continue to improve its services to the general public and further secure revenue for national development.
MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENTS' CONFAB ENDS (PAGE 15)
THE Seventh annual general conference of Medical Superintendents has opened in Accra with a call on members to ensure best practices in the management of hospitals in the country, especially during national disasters.
The best practices required of medical superintendents include the skills to deal with emergencies, promptness to serve, as well as their attitude towards patients and their relatives.
The Deputy Director of Quality Assurance of the Ministry of Health, Dr Cynthia Bannerman, explained that more often relatives of patients were maltreated by not giving them the needed attention during visits to hospitals.
She explained that the practice was against international standards, which required that hospital staff show compassion and love towards patients and their relatives, since that was part of quality care.
She noted that international standards required that in time of disasters and emergencies, relatives were assembled in one room at the hospital and updated on the condition of their relatives on admission by hospital authorities periodically to allay their anxiety.
Speaking on the theme “Disasters Here, Disasters There, How Prepared Are We? Dr Bannerman said linkages among health facilities had to be strengthened to ensure that patients could be referred from one facility to another without much delay and loss of life.
For his part, the General Secretary of the Medical Superintendents Group, Dr Kofi G. Normanyo, said there had been floods in the north, south and even in Accra and seismologists had warned of an imminent earthquake.
He said in all these situations, there was the need to plan ahead just in case an event with the scale of a disaster occurred.
Dr Normanyo said the Ghana Medical Superintendents, numbering more than 300, would converge in Tamale in the first week of October to adopt strategies and draw plans to deal with disasters whenever they occurred in the country.
The best practices required of medical superintendents include the skills to deal with emergencies, promptness to serve, as well as their attitude towards patients and their relatives.
The Deputy Director of Quality Assurance of the Ministry of Health, Dr Cynthia Bannerman, explained that more often relatives of patients were maltreated by not giving them the needed attention during visits to hospitals.
She explained that the practice was against international standards, which required that hospital staff show compassion and love towards patients and their relatives, since that was part of quality care.
She noted that international standards required that in time of disasters and emergencies, relatives were assembled in one room at the hospital and updated on the condition of their relatives on admission by hospital authorities periodically to allay their anxiety.
Speaking on the theme “Disasters Here, Disasters There, How Prepared Are We? Dr Bannerman said linkages among health facilities had to be strengthened to ensure that patients could be referred from one facility to another without much delay and loss of life.
For his part, the General Secretary of the Medical Superintendents Group, Dr Kofi G. Normanyo, said there had been floods in the north, south and even in Accra and seismologists had warned of an imminent earthquake.
He said in all these situations, there was the need to plan ahead just in case an event with the scale of a disaster occurred.
Dr Normanyo said the Ghana Medical Superintendents, numbering more than 300, would converge in Tamale in the first week of October to adopt strategies and draw plans to deal with disasters whenever they occurred in the country.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
ENSURE CREDIBLE ELECTION RESULTS — GYIMAH-BOADI (PAGE 33)
THE Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Professor E. Gyimah-Boadi, has called on Ghanaians to endeavour to make the December elections peaceful and clean with credible outcomes.
He says the Ghanaian culture is full of symbols, which, when reflected on, would enable stakeholders in the elections to consolidate democracy in the country.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi was speaking in Accra at the unveiling of a sculpture to mark the 10th anniversary of CDD.
He said the government, opposition parties, constitutional bodies, civil society and the media had a role to play to ensure peaceful and credible elections.
He said the sculpture was intended to serve as a three-dimensional reference point for CDD staff, associates of the centre, as well as stakeholders in nurturing democracy and good governance.
He explained that the sculpture captured the ideals and guiding principles of democratic governance to which the Fourth Republic had committed itself.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi further said the sculpture sought to capture the ‘Kronto ne Akwamu’ symbols of ‘Adinkra’ (Akan symbols) representing the concept of democratic governance and constitutionalism.
He said CDD, as a non-partisan and non-governmental organisation, was committed to promoting democracy, good governance and economic openness.
The executive director expressed the hope that the ideals expressed in the beautiful sculpture would serve as an encouragement for all to keep the flame of democracy burning in the country, as well as the rest of Africa.
The ceremony for unveiling the sculpture was also used to honour some past members of the board of governors of CDD, as well as some outstanding workers of the centre.
The sculpture was carved by Nana Anoff, a renowned Ghanaian sculptor.
Among the past board members who received awards were Dr Angela Ofori Atta, Prof. Kwesi Yankah and Prof. Naana Opoku Agyemang.
He says the Ghanaian culture is full of symbols, which, when reflected on, would enable stakeholders in the elections to consolidate democracy in the country.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi was speaking in Accra at the unveiling of a sculpture to mark the 10th anniversary of CDD.
He said the government, opposition parties, constitutional bodies, civil society and the media had a role to play to ensure peaceful and credible elections.
He said the sculpture was intended to serve as a three-dimensional reference point for CDD staff, associates of the centre, as well as stakeholders in nurturing democracy and good governance.
He explained that the sculpture captured the ideals and guiding principles of democratic governance to which the Fourth Republic had committed itself.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi further said the sculpture sought to capture the ‘Kronto ne Akwamu’ symbols of ‘Adinkra’ (Akan symbols) representing the concept of democratic governance and constitutionalism.
He said CDD, as a non-partisan and non-governmental organisation, was committed to promoting democracy, good governance and economic openness.
The executive director expressed the hope that the ideals expressed in the beautiful sculpture would serve as an encouragement for all to keep the flame of democracy burning in the country, as well as the rest of Africa.
The ceremony for unveiling the sculpture was also used to honour some past members of the board of governors of CDD, as well as some outstanding workers of the centre.
The sculpture was carved by Nana Anoff, a renowned Ghanaian sculptor.
Among the past board members who received awards were Dr Angela Ofori Atta, Prof. Kwesi Yankah and Prof. Naana Opoku Agyemang.
EPA BANS 25 DANGEROUS AGRO-CHEMICALS (BACK PAGE)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the importation of 25 agro-chemicals because of their toxicological risks to people, animals, crops and the environment.
Mr John A. Pwamang, Director of EPA in charge of Pesticides, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said the agency was in the process of reviewing the list of registered agro chemicals allowed into the country.
He said those given provisional certificates were being tested and if found not to be suitable for local conditions would be included in the ban.
He, however, explained that some chemicals had been placed under restricted use and were only applied on selected crops by competent pesticide experts and were being sold by dealers licensed to handle restricted pesticides.
Mr Pwamang said some of the banned chemicals that were being used in the agricultural and mining sectors included Toxaphene, Aldrin, Enderin, Chordane, Captafol and DDT.
He said even though DDT was a potent force in the control and eradication of mosquitoes and many countries were lifting the ban on the chemical, it was still a banned substance in the country.
He said, however, that 118 chemicals had been fully registered for importation into the country after undergoing testing for efficacy and safety under local conditions.
He said the category of the licensed chemical that could be imported included insecticides, fungicides and herbicides that had been used in the agricultural sector without any adverse effects.
The Director of Pesticides said the EPA was working closely with the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service and other stakeholders to prevent the country from being turned into a dumping ground for chemicals that were harmful to human beings, animals, crops and the environment.
He said the EPA was also encouraging scientists in the country to put more emphasis on biological control methods to reduce the over-reliance on chemicals, which sometimes contaminated water bodies.
Mr Pwamang said, however, that the EPA only allowed the importation of some unregistered chemical if the pesticides were imported for experimental and research purposes.
He said 24 agro-chemicals had been given provisional clearance because most of the information required had been provided and the chemical did not pose any risk to human beings and the environment.
He said the clearance was temporary for one year pending the testing and registration.
Mr Pwamang said during the review if those given provisional certificates were found not to be effective for the use for which they were intended, the EPA would have no option but to ban them.
Mr John A. Pwamang, Director of EPA in charge of Pesticides, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said the agency was in the process of reviewing the list of registered agro chemicals allowed into the country.
He said those given provisional certificates were being tested and if found not to be suitable for local conditions would be included in the ban.
He, however, explained that some chemicals had been placed under restricted use and were only applied on selected crops by competent pesticide experts and were being sold by dealers licensed to handle restricted pesticides.
Mr Pwamang said some of the banned chemicals that were being used in the agricultural and mining sectors included Toxaphene, Aldrin, Enderin, Chordane, Captafol and DDT.
He said even though DDT was a potent force in the control and eradication of mosquitoes and many countries were lifting the ban on the chemical, it was still a banned substance in the country.
He said, however, that 118 chemicals had been fully registered for importation into the country after undergoing testing for efficacy and safety under local conditions.
He said the category of the licensed chemical that could be imported included insecticides, fungicides and herbicides that had been used in the agricultural sector without any adverse effects.
The Director of Pesticides said the EPA was working closely with the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service and other stakeholders to prevent the country from being turned into a dumping ground for chemicals that were harmful to human beings, animals, crops and the environment.
He said the EPA was also encouraging scientists in the country to put more emphasis on biological control methods to reduce the over-reliance on chemicals, which sometimes contaminated water bodies.
Mr Pwamang said, however, that the EPA only allowed the importation of some unregistered chemical if the pesticides were imported for experimental and research purposes.
He said 24 agro-chemicals had been given provisional clearance because most of the information required had been provided and the chemical did not pose any risk to human beings and the environment.
He said the clearance was temporary for one year pending the testing and registration.
Mr Pwamang said during the review if those given provisional certificates were found not to be effective for the use for which they were intended, the EPA would have no option but to ban them.
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