Story: Abdul Aziz
Professor J. R.A Ayee, Dean of Faculty of Social Studies of the University of Ghana, Legon has called for increased consultations between political parties and the Electoral Commission (EC) to consolidate democracy in the country.
Delivering a keynote address as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the university, he said the electoral process in the country was not fool-proof and it was therefore necessary for a consensus from all the parties to ensure the credibility of the outcome of the elections.
Prof. Ayee, who spoke on the topic: “Elections, Democracy and Development under the Fourth Republic”, observed that the political climate was getting polarised daily as a result of inflammatory language being used mainly by some officials and party supporters, raising doubts as to whether there could be any improvement in the political atmosphere.
He said language had been both intemperate and belligerent and that trend had the tendency of creating confusion, fear and distortion of facts, which could be counter productive.
He said the electoral register was said to be bloated and this year, there had already been tension between the EC and some parties over the alleged bloated register.
Prof. Ayee explained that the decentralisation of the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to the regional and district levels, the use of photo identity cards nationwide, the deployment of 7,000 local observers and the replacement of opaque ballot boxes with transparent ones were some of the consensus building measures that should be explored to reduce tension.
He said the country had not done well in the resolution of electoral disputes, adding that immediate determination of disputes would prevent the resort to lawlessness, which could bring the sanctity of the electoral process into disrepute.
Prof. Ayee said that in past elections aggrieved candidates who lost the elections went to courts for redress but did not get relief in good time.
He said such delays had frustrated candidates and could be a recipe for people taking the law into their own hands.
He called for electoral courts to deal expeditiously with election disputes to restore the confidence of the people.
He said fortunately the EC is respected by all the political parties and is seen as neutral and impartial, adding that this recognition was good for its image and therefore not to be abused.
Prof. Ayee said other hiccups included the inadequate public education that had created high levels of ignorance about electoral laws, procedures and processes of elections.
He said a perfect example of lack of education was the high numbers of invalid votes in the 2004 elections, which was 188,123 representing 2.13 per cent of the total votes as against 104,214 in 2000 and 111,108 in 1996.
He said efforts towards public education were ad-hoc and piecemeal and the perception was that it was the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) alone that had to undertake education.
Prof. Ayee said political parties ought to be made to take on that responsibility to promote the credibility of the electoral process, since undermining the process would not be in the interest of peace and stability of the country.
Monday, May 26, 2008
LEDZOKUKU/KROWOR TO SET UP COMPOST PLANT (PAGE 18)
Story: Abdul Aziz
THE Ledzekuku/Krowor Municipal Assembly is to establish a plant to produce compost from solid waste generated in the area, the Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Mr Ebenezer Osekre, has said.
Mr Osekre, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said since he assumed office about a month ago he had seen some records on the proposed compost plant the assembly intended to instal and that a non-governmental organisation was assisting the assembly to reactivate the project as soon as possible.
He said all refuse from the area would be conveyed to the plant and steps taken to ensure that the plant made use of the raw materials.
He said an estimated GH¢4,500 was required to clear the heaps of refuse in the municipality and gave the project a fresh breath after years of the indiscriminate dumping of refuse along the beach.
The assembly has engaged 960 senior secondary school leavers in its environmental sanitation project under National Youth Employment Programme.
Zoomlion, a waste management company, has also provided the assembly with 14 containers and two trucks for the execution of the project.
According to the municipal chief executive, the government’s budgetary allocation for health delivery in the area would reduce considerably when the root cause of malaria, which is the insanitary conditions in the area was tackled with all the seriousness it deserved.
He commended the assembly for approving his nomination as the municipal chief executive of the area to continue with the development of the Nungua-Teshie corridors.
He said there was a great potential for private sector participation in environmental sanitation and the assembly would take the necessary measures to facilitate private sector participation in refuse collection and disposal in the area.
The municipal chief executive said because the rainy season had started and mosquitoes were breeding, the assembly would move into full action and cart the refuse to the compost plant site.
He hinted that an educational campaign would be mounted alongside the refuse evacuation exercise to prevent people from littering the environment.
Mr Osekre said after the campaign the assembly would enforce its sanitation bye-laws and offenders would be sanctioned.
THE Ledzekuku/Krowor Municipal Assembly is to establish a plant to produce compost from solid waste generated in the area, the Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Mr Ebenezer Osekre, has said.
Mr Osekre, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said since he assumed office about a month ago he had seen some records on the proposed compost plant the assembly intended to instal and that a non-governmental organisation was assisting the assembly to reactivate the project as soon as possible.
He said all refuse from the area would be conveyed to the plant and steps taken to ensure that the plant made use of the raw materials.
He said an estimated GH¢4,500 was required to clear the heaps of refuse in the municipality and gave the project a fresh breath after years of the indiscriminate dumping of refuse along the beach.
The assembly has engaged 960 senior secondary school leavers in its environmental sanitation project under National Youth Employment Programme.
Zoomlion, a waste management company, has also provided the assembly with 14 containers and two trucks for the execution of the project.
According to the municipal chief executive, the government’s budgetary allocation for health delivery in the area would reduce considerably when the root cause of malaria, which is the insanitary conditions in the area was tackled with all the seriousness it deserved.
He commended the assembly for approving his nomination as the municipal chief executive of the area to continue with the development of the Nungua-Teshie corridors.
He said there was a great potential for private sector participation in environmental sanitation and the assembly would take the necessary measures to facilitate private sector participation in refuse collection and disposal in the area.
The municipal chief executive said because the rainy season had started and mosquitoes were breeding, the assembly would move into full action and cart the refuse to the compost plant site.
He hinted that an educational campaign would be mounted alongside the refuse evacuation exercise to prevent people from littering the environment.
Mr Osekre said after the campaign the assembly would enforce its sanitation bye-laws and offenders would be sanctioned.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
80 ARBITRATORS PASS OUT (PAGE 32)
Story: Abdul Aziz
The first eighty arbitrators of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators to operate the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Courts have passed out with a call on them to help decongest the courts in the country.
Dr S. K. B. Asante, Chairman of Ghana Arbitration Centre, who made the call, urged the Judiciary to fully incorporate ADR into the judicial procedures of the country.
He explained that arbitration could achieve its aims when conducted side by side court proceedings so that ADR becomes the first option while the courts remain as the last resort for justice delivery.
He said the courts, which were the last resort by their nature of delving deeper into cases, could take more time to arrive at their judgement while the ADRs granted awards at the settlement of cases.
He, therefore, urged the participants not to mimic the traditional courts in the handling of their cases but to conduct their procedures in a more informal and friendly atmosphere.
He said ADR had become a normal path of modern legal practice especially when Ghana had struck oil and business activities related to oil rights were bound to bring some issues that would need to be looked at by the courts.
He said presently the Arbitration Centre was handling 10 cases and that was bound to increase, with the education of the professional classes and the business community.
Dr Asante said the commercial courts in the country also used ADR to settle some commercial disputes so that both parties when satisfied could continue their partnership.
Mr Bayo Ojo, a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who was a resource person on arbitration, urged Ghana to pass a legislation in Parliament to give legal backing to arbitrators in the country.
He said now that Ghana had succeeded in building some human resource capacity in arbitration what was left was to give them legal backing to carry out their work without hesitation.
He said the 1961 legislation that gave legal backing to arbitration had become outmoded and required a second legislation to update the existing law.
Mr F.Y. Addo, a Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators, London, organisers of the course, said the London Institute of Arbitrators had accepted to train Ghanaians to become members of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
He said students who were desirous of furthering their course could pursue more courses to become Fellows of the institute where they could open offices as arbitration centres.
The first eighty arbitrators of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators to operate the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Courts have passed out with a call on them to help decongest the courts in the country.
Dr S. K. B. Asante, Chairman of Ghana Arbitration Centre, who made the call, urged the Judiciary to fully incorporate ADR into the judicial procedures of the country.
He explained that arbitration could achieve its aims when conducted side by side court proceedings so that ADR becomes the first option while the courts remain as the last resort for justice delivery.
He said the courts, which were the last resort by their nature of delving deeper into cases, could take more time to arrive at their judgement while the ADRs granted awards at the settlement of cases.
He, therefore, urged the participants not to mimic the traditional courts in the handling of their cases but to conduct their procedures in a more informal and friendly atmosphere.
He said ADR had become a normal path of modern legal practice especially when Ghana had struck oil and business activities related to oil rights were bound to bring some issues that would need to be looked at by the courts.
He said presently the Arbitration Centre was handling 10 cases and that was bound to increase, with the education of the professional classes and the business community.
Dr Asante said the commercial courts in the country also used ADR to settle some commercial disputes so that both parties when satisfied could continue their partnership.
Mr Bayo Ojo, a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who was a resource person on arbitration, urged Ghana to pass a legislation in Parliament to give legal backing to arbitrators in the country.
He said now that Ghana had succeeded in building some human resource capacity in arbitration what was left was to give them legal backing to carry out their work without hesitation.
He said the 1961 legislation that gave legal backing to arbitration had become outmoded and required a second legislation to update the existing law.
Mr F.Y. Addo, a Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators, London, organisers of the course, said the London Institute of Arbitrators had accepted to train Ghanaians to become members of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
He said students who were desirous of furthering their course could pursue more courses to become Fellows of the institute where they could open offices as arbitration centres.
Monday, May 19, 2008
EU URGED TO HARMONISE PROCUREMENT LAWS (PAGE 55)
Story: Abdul Aziz
THE Government of Ghana has called on the European Union (EU) to harmonise its procurement laws to make trading with developing countries flexible.
The Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mr Andrew Adjei-Yeboah, who made the call, said developing countries such as Ghana had to meet 27 different procurement policies when dealing with EU countries.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah, who was leading a Ghanaian delegation to negotiate a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU on reforms in the timber industry in Accra, explained that because of those different procurement policies, Ghana was unable to maintain its share on the EU timber market.
He said the need for the harmonisation of procurement policies in EU member countries was critical to the sustainability of the VPA.
He suggested that EU policies on timber procurement should take into consideration the capacity of VPA partner countries to meet those different international standards.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said in developing the VPA, the framers also ought to make provision for flexibility in order to address emerging issues as the agreement was being implemented and lessons were being learnt.
He stressed the need for adequate development assistance to meet the challenges that entry into the agreement posed, especially the attendant social implications.
He appealed to the EU to provide support and technical assistance for developing the domestic market and the restructuring of the forestry industry.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said in providing for the activities of VPA, such as forest laws enforcement, governance and trade programme and licensing scheme, the framers needed to find a mechanism that met the requirement of their governments for the agreement to be sustainable.
The Director at the Directorate General for Development of the European Commission, Mr Luis Riera, who led the EU delegation, commended Ghana for involving all the stakeholders in the timber industry, including civil society, to fashion out reforms for the forestry sector in the country.
He said the pioneering role by Ghana had set a good example for other countries which had been queuing to have agreement with the EU on reforms and good governance in the forestry industry.
Mr Riera said Ghana was well positioned to be one of the first countries to sign a VPA with the EU to ensure that forests in the country were preserved and well managed for posterity.
THE Government of Ghana has called on the European Union (EU) to harmonise its procurement laws to make trading with developing countries flexible.
The Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mr Andrew Adjei-Yeboah, who made the call, said developing countries such as Ghana had to meet 27 different procurement policies when dealing with EU countries.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah, who was leading a Ghanaian delegation to negotiate a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU on reforms in the timber industry in Accra, explained that because of those different procurement policies, Ghana was unable to maintain its share on the EU timber market.
He said the need for the harmonisation of procurement policies in EU member countries was critical to the sustainability of the VPA.
He suggested that EU policies on timber procurement should take into consideration the capacity of VPA partner countries to meet those different international standards.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said in developing the VPA, the framers also ought to make provision for flexibility in order to address emerging issues as the agreement was being implemented and lessons were being learnt.
He stressed the need for adequate development assistance to meet the challenges that entry into the agreement posed, especially the attendant social implications.
He appealed to the EU to provide support and technical assistance for developing the domestic market and the restructuring of the forestry industry.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah said in providing for the activities of VPA, such as forest laws enforcement, governance and trade programme and licensing scheme, the framers needed to find a mechanism that met the requirement of their governments for the agreement to be sustainable.
The Director at the Directorate General for Development of the European Commission, Mr Luis Riera, who led the EU delegation, commended Ghana for involving all the stakeholders in the timber industry, including civil society, to fashion out reforms for the forestry sector in the country.
He said the pioneering role by Ghana had set a good example for other countries which had been queuing to have agreement with the EU on reforms and good governance in the forestry industry.
Mr Riera said Ghana was well positioned to be one of the first countries to sign a VPA with the EU to ensure that forests in the country were preserved and well managed for posterity.
AYIKOI OTOO WINS NPP KROWOR (PAGE 16)
Story: Abdul Aziz
The former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Nii Ayikoi Otoo has won the Krowor Constituency primaries of New Patriotic Party by clinging 29 votes.
The sitting Member of Parliament, Mr Abraham Laryea came second with 20 votes while Mrs Patience Nii Okpe had 18 votes.
The fourth contestant, Mr Adjei Boye snatched 10 votes of the delegates while Slyvanus Botwe failed to secure any vote.
The Krowor constituency primary was conducted by the Electoral Commission. Mrs Vivian Gashon, second vice chairman of Greater Accra Region of NPP, led the regional executive to observe the polls.
Mr Otoo commended members of the party in the constituency for exhibiting a great sense of unity during and after the primaries.
He said when elected he would make it his priority to have a community rural bank to serve the peasant farmers working on the Nungua portions of the Accra Plains.
He said women who made majority of the small-scale farms and fishing ventures would be the target of the credit facilities to be allocated to the area.
He appealed to the youth to exercise patience and maintain the prevailing peace in the area to ensure sustainable development that had alluded the area because of land disputes.
The former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Nii Ayikoi Otoo has won the Krowor Constituency primaries of New Patriotic Party by clinging 29 votes.
The sitting Member of Parliament, Mr Abraham Laryea came second with 20 votes while Mrs Patience Nii Okpe had 18 votes.
The fourth contestant, Mr Adjei Boye snatched 10 votes of the delegates while Slyvanus Botwe failed to secure any vote.
The Krowor constituency primary was conducted by the Electoral Commission. Mrs Vivian Gashon, second vice chairman of Greater Accra Region of NPP, led the regional executive to observe the polls.
Mr Otoo commended members of the party in the constituency for exhibiting a great sense of unity during and after the primaries.
He said when elected he would make it his priority to have a community rural bank to serve the peasant farmers working on the Nungua portions of the Accra Plains.
He said women who made majority of the small-scale farms and fishing ventures would be the target of the credit facilities to be allocated to the area.
He appealed to the youth to exercise patience and maintain the prevailing peace in the area to ensure sustainable development that had alluded the area because of land disputes.
Friday, May 16, 2008
PRIVATE HEALTH PERSONNEL URGED TO EXPOSE QUACK DOCTORS (PAGE 31)
Story: Abdul Aziz
Private medical practitioners have been called upon to improve their image by helping to expose the quacks among them.
Dr Edward Abbah-Foli, the Chairman of the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners who made the call, urged private practitioners to belong to the society in order that its disciplinary committee could correct improper professional practice.
Dr Abbah-Foli, who was speaking at the launch of the 40th anniversary of the society in Accra on Tuesday, said a recent study by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) showed that private medical practitioners attended to the medical needs of about 30 to 35 per cent of the population.
He said the number of people attending private clinics and hospitals was so high that they could not allow quack doctors whose main desire was to make money to toy with the lives of patients.
He said the challenge facing health delivery in the country was that it was becoming difficult by the day to find replacement for ageing doctors, as younger doctors were still leaving the shores of the country in search of greener pastures.
The chairman said as its contribution towards curbing the brain drain in the country, the society was engaged on a pilot project to construct 40 new hospitals and clinics with modern facilities to engage younger doctors.
He said each of the 10 regions would benefit from the clinics as a way of stemming the drift of doctors to the urban centres, especially to Accra, and to ensure the even distribution of doctors in the country.
Dr Abbah-Foli said feasibility studies were ongoing and that the society was ready to accept any help from any quarter provided it was genuine and transparent.
On the achievements of the society, he said some members of the society had made some breakthroughs in the area of pioneering work done by Dr John Manu of Pro-Vita Hospital, Tema, and Dr E. K Hadzi of the Lister Hospital, Accra.
He said their brave endeavours had put the smiles on the faces of childless couples with invitro fertilisation.
He appealed to the government to make the registration of private medical practitioners who wanted to operate with the National Health Insurance Scheme less cumbersome.
Dr Abbah-Foli said because of the frustrations private medical practitioners were confronted with in accessing the national scheme, the practitioners had found solace in the Nationwide Mutual Healthcare, a private health insurance scheme.
Mr Abdulai Salifu, the General Manager of the Business and Financial Times (BFT), organisers of the maiden edition of the Ghana Medical Awards, said the awards were meant to recognise excellence in the private medical and dental health sectors.
Mr Salifu said for the past years the BFT had spearheaded and funded a number of awards of recognition, leadership training and youth empowerment projects as a way of giving back to society.
Private medical practitioners have been called upon to improve their image by helping to expose the quacks among them.
Dr Edward Abbah-Foli, the Chairman of the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners who made the call, urged private practitioners to belong to the society in order that its disciplinary committee could correct improper professional practice.
Dr Abbah-Foli, who was speaking at the launch of the 40th anniversary of the society in Accra on Tuesday, said a recent study by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) showed that private medical practitioners attended to the medical needs of about 30 to 35 per cent of the population.
He said the number of people attending private clinics and hospitals was so high that they could not allow quack doctors whose main desire was to make money to toy with the lives of patients.
He said the challenge facing health delivery in the country was that it was becoming difficult by the day to find replacement for ageing doctors, as younger doctors were still leaving the shores of the country in search of greener pastures.
The chairman said as its contribution towards curbing the brain drain in the country, the society was engaged on a pilot project to construct 40 new hospitals and clinics with modern facilities to engage younger doctors.
He said each of the 10 regions would benefit from the clinics as a way of stemming the drift of doctors to the urban centres, especially to Accra, and to ensure the even distribution of doctors in the country.
Dr Abbah-Foli said feasibility studies were ongoing and that the society was ready to accept any help from any quarter provided it was genuine and transparent.
On the achievements of the society, he said some members of the society had made some breakthroughs in the area of pioneering work done by Dr John Manu of Pro-Vita Hospital, Tema, and Dr E. K Hadzi of the Lister Hospital, Accra.
He said their brave endeavours had put the smiles on the faces of childless couples with invitro fertilisation.
He appealed to the government to make the registration of private medical practitioners who wanted to operate with the National Health Insurance Scheme less cumbersome.
Dr Abbah-Foli said because of the frustrations private medical practitioners were confronted with in accessing the national scheme, the practitioners had found solace in the Nationwide Mutual Healthcare, a private health insurance scheme.
Mr Abdulai Salifu, the General Manager of the Business and Financial Times (BFT), organisers of the maiden edition of the Ghana Medical Awards, said the awards were meant to recognise excellence in the private medical and dental health sectors.
Mr Salifu said for the past years the BFT had spearheaded and funded a number of awards of recognition, leadership training and youth empowerment projects as a way of giving back to society.
Monday, May 12, 2008
INFLATION FOR FIRST QUARTER HIGH ...Govt Statistician (PAGE 28)
Story: Abdul Aziz
INFLATION rate for the first quarter of the year is still high, especially for non-food items, Dr Grace Bediako, Government
Statistician, has observed.
She explained that if the inflation rate on non-food items were higher than that of food items then it meant that food was more within the control of Ghana.
Dr Bediako, who was presenting the Consumer Price Index (CPI) compiled by the Ghana Statistical Service for the first quarter of the year, said major non-food contributors to inflation in the first quarter were the transport sector, hotels and restaurant, housing and household appliances.
She said the food items that were drivers of high inflation rate for the first quarter included oils and fats, coffee, tea, cocoa and cereals.
The Government Statistician said the major food items were not among the major groups that drove the inflation rate because the southern sector of the country had started harvesting food crops.
She said Eastern Region was the only region that recorded a decline in inflation rate, a situation which she said was the result of the fact that the harvest season had started in the region.
She said for the month of April, the Northern Region recorded the highest inflation rate and this could be attributed to the fact that the northern sector was at the peak of its lean season.
Dr Bediako said apart from the local drivers of inflation, global inflation trends had also contributed to high inflation and its impact, which was expected to drop at this period of the year.
She said the CPI also revealed that inflation rate for the rural areas was higher than the urban inflation rate and was quick to add that transport alone could not be blamed, since more than one factor could have conspired to make the rural areas the hardest hit.
INFLATION rate for the first quarter of the year is still high, especially for non-food items, Dr Grace Bediako, Government
Statistician, has observed.
She explained that if the inflation rate on non-food items were higher than that of food items then it meant that food was more within the control of Ghana.
Dr Bediako, who was presenting the Consumer Price Index (CPI) compiled by the Ghana Statistical Service for the first quarter of the year, said major non-food contributors to inflation in the first quarter were the transport sector, hotels and restaurant, housing and household appliances.
She said the food items that were drivers of high inflation rate for the first quarter included oils and fats, coffee, tea, cocoa and cereals.
The Government Statistician said the major food items were not among the major groups that drove the inflation rate because the southern sector of the country had started harvesting food crops.
She said Eastern Region was the only region that recorded a decline in inflation rate, a situation which she said was the result of the fact that the harvest season had started in the region.
She said for the month of April, the Northern Region recorded the highest inflation rate and this could be attributed to the fact that the northern sector was at the peak of its lean season.
Dr Bediako said apart from the local drivers of inflation, global inflation trends had also contributed to high inflation and its impact, which was expected to drop at this period of the year.
She said the CPI also revealed that inflation rate for the rural areas was higher than the urban inflation rate and was quick to add that transport alone could not be blamed, since more than one factor could have conspired to make the rural areas the hardest hit.
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