MEDIA practitioners question the competence and integrity of all public office holders without being accountable to anybody. The media have become so powerful in recent times that some commentators conclude that the freedom of press and of expression guaranteed by the Constitution has led to the tyranny of the media.
It is generally agreed that a free press is the tool of public criticism. It holds public officials accountable, opening them up to the judgement of people who can decide whether the government is doing good or whether it has anything to hide.
Article 162 Clause 5 of the Constitution states that “All agencies of the mass media shall, at all times, be free to uphold the principles, provisions and objectives of this Constitution and shall uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana.”
The activities of the media have come under scrutiny since the December 7, 2008 general election for very obvious reasons. The media play a very critical role in setting the agenda.
Given that by the nature of journalism profession, journalists are entrusted with empowering the citizenry to make informed decisions, it is imperative that they relentlessly pursue fairness and truth in their reportage.
Shortly after the elections, certain media houses pitted brother against sister just on account that they belonged to different political persuasions. Indeed, during that time keen observers of the media scene had cause to worry about the blatant abuse of the code of ethics of journalism.
This provision imposes a heavy responsibility on all journalists to act as watchdogs of the actions of public officials.
The media of Ghana is one of the most free in Africa, and had previously undergone a series of government overthrows by military leaders and periods of severe restriction.
Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarentees freedom of the press and independence of the media, while Chapter 2 prohibts censorship. Post independence, the government and media often had a tense relationship, with private outlets closed during the military coups and strict media laws that prevent criticism of government.
The media freedoms were restored in 1992, and after the election in 2000 of John Kufuor the tensions between the private media and government decreased. Kufuor was a supporter of press freedom and repealed a libel law, though maintained that the media had to act responsibily. The Ghanian media has been described as "one of the most unfettered" in Africa, operating with little restriction on private media. The private press often carries criticism of government policy. The media were vigourous in their coverage of the 2008 Ghanian presidential election, and the Ghanian Journalists Association (GJA) praised John Atta Mills on his election, hoping to foster a good media-government relationship.
Unfortunately, sometimes some media practitioners abuse this responsibility imposed on them by the Constitution and engage in acts that are not protected by the laws of the land.
To recall again Mr Cofie’s admonition to the media when he asked, “Is it not painful that the great job some of you sought to do during the general election was marred by the bizarre distortion of facts, broadcast of false information and the undue fuelling of passions by others?”
Other professionals have questioned the moral authority of media practitioners to hold public office holders accountable when such values and principles are missing in the discharge of duty by certain journalists, even including trained ones.
There is still believes in the power of the media to help the people to make informed decisions through independent political agenda setting.
The time has come for the media, particularly its professional body, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), to intensify continuing education of its members and those who do not belong to the association to compel them to respect the ethics, values and principles of the profession.
Great men like Thomas Jefferson had so much faith in the media because of their power to change society for the better. That was why, confronted with his preference for government or media, he declared, “The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
There is a call on all media practitioners to resolve to respect their code of ethics and other best practices in order to continue to earn the respect of the public to inform them.
A democratic and free society is dependent on the ability of the media to inform, educate and entertain. But if we allow public resentment for the media to mount because we have become “Jacks of all trades but masters of none”, interest groups from politics, the business community and the clergy will gang up to curtail media freedoms.
Let us, therefore, demonstrate to the people we serve that we shall exercise the freedom guaranteed in the Constitution with responsibility.
We should bear in mind that no society makes progress in a state of nature. The press will continue to provide a forum for public debate and public scrutiny of government if journalists respect the cardinal principles of fairness, accuracy and balance in their reportage.
The need for journalists to live up to their role as neutral referees was crucial and a precondition for successful polls.
So important is the media’s role that their task of educating the electorates to help them to make wise political decisions and not to prejudge the issues.
The call to practitioners of the noble profession, which has become known as the Fourth Estate of the Realm in the country.
Rightly so, journalists have a crucial role in shaping opinions and empowering the voting public with information with which to make informed decisions.
The fourth President of the United States, James Madison, an ardent promoter of free press and free society, once noted that “knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives”.
The freedom that has been accorded the media needs to be used responsibly, as there is no absolute freedom. Everybody in society identifies with the media in one way or another and anything the media churns out is likely to make an impact, either negatively or positively, on different segments of society.
It is for this reason that the state endorses the call on the media to play a leading and responsible role in the run up, during and after the December polls.
There is no better time than now for the media to show their readiness to promote peace, reconciliation and development and there is yet no better journalism than development journalism in which even the bleakest incidents, events and behaviours are looked at and shaped from a development perspective.
This will mean that every act of the media will be guided by the overriding interest of promoting the cause of the larger society, a fair balance of exercising responsibility in freedom.
It is only proper for the media to aspire to promote national peace and stability through the use of temperate and refined language.
It is commended that the GJA use the awards ceremony for journalists as the platform to drum support for efforts by other organisations to sensitise the electorate to the need for free and fair polls.
With a few weeks to the highly anticipated polls on December 7, Ghanaians were encouraged to play their roles as responsible citizens and in this national assignment the media cannot afford to distort the peace with irresponsible reportage.
I believe members of the media fraternity joined the peace-loving Ghanaians to work towards successful elections that established Ghana as a model democratic state in Africa.
The Fourth Republic has already witnessed four elections and the Electoral Commission (EC) has played a key role in making those elections successful.
The commission has demonstrated that it has the character and professionalism to appropriately deal with the competing demands from the various political parties.
Even on occasions when it has been unfairly condemned and criticised, it has refused to crumble under pressure.
As the nation drew closer to the December polls, political campaigns got heated and politicians made last minute efforts to woo voters and improve their chances of winning the elections.
In the heat of these campaigns, some politicians made utterances that tend to question the integrity and fairness of the EC, even when such accusations were baseless and could not be substantiated. It is becoming quite evident that the EC is sometimes unfairly drawn into the politics of the day.
Thus any attempt to characterise the EC as a politically bias entity could serve as a potent distraction to the conduct of free and fair elections.
That is why politicians are called upon to guard their utterances and ensure that they avoid casting the media in a bad light and, thereby, erode the confidence of the electorate in it.
Interestingly, some politicians who are always quick to chastise the media are actually the very people who have been implicated in one shameful electoral malpractice or another.
As has been duly acknowledged by all the political parties, the conduct of free and fair elections is not the responsibility of only the media but also all Ghanaians, including political parties, the judiciary, the media, the security agencies and the electorate.
It is, therefore, hoped that this recognition will find greater practical expression and save the media from any further unfair bashing.
The confidence of the people can only be sustained if the media refuse to bow to any pressure from any quarter and rather rededicates itself to the ideals required for free and fair elections.
And, with the rest of the world closely watching us, Ghana, as a peace-loving country, have demonstrated that we are not only determined to consolidate the gains made so far on our democratic journey, but also committed to maintaining our position as a shining example on the continent.
We have confirmed Ghana as a democratic country, which is offering hope to the continent and our conduct yesterday was a positive way of trying to redeem Africa’s image.
Indeed, apart from isolated cases of misunderstandings and physical aggression, there is a lot to commend ourselves for and it will not be in the least misplaced to remark that this is one of the best elections in the country since 1992.
All over the country it was evident that Ghanaians are more than ever enthralled by multi-party democracy which offers the opportunity for the conduct of periodic elections to select those who will represent the best path towards the future.
The Electoral Commission (EC), security agencies, various political parties and candidates, the media, civil society organisations and the electorate all need to be commended for their role in ensuring peaceful and orderly polls.
The massive turnout devoid of the pre-election tension teaches one lesson that through collaborative efforts, we can find solutions to the challenges that confront us.
Electorate are reminded of the challenges of the post-election thrills and disappointment after the declaration of validated results. If these difficulties are not properly managed, our celebrations can be short-lived as the trouble makers can create doubts in the minds of the people about the credibility of the polls.
However, it is believed that the transparent nature of the polls would be a deterrent to anyone who may choose the path of violence to address whatever concerns that may emerge.
A government of the people, by the people and for the people should in essence harness whatever potential is available irrespective of the political affiliation of the individual who has demonstrated ample competence and has requisite qualification for the task ahead.
The use of a tribal card in an election or nation-building can pose a threat to national unity and civility and be inimical to progress. Again, such an approach can engender divide-and-rule tactics and discrimination and feed into the psyche of the electorate the dangerous mindset of “us and them”, the media has a responsibility to set the agenda to eschew such occurences.
The Ghanaian media performed creditably in the last elections and hope that the practitioners will continue to play their gate-keeping role to prevent any situation where they can be used as agents of ethnic politics by politicians.
Elections are not a life-and-death issue. Rather, they are a democratic process of taking a decision and exercising one’s preferences for the ideas and programmes presented by a candidate and a party through the ballot box.
The political parties should continue to be modest in their electioneering and refrain from the use of abusive and intemperate language which can inflame passions. Again, it is expectated that the electorate, the Electoral Commission and the security personnel will once again rise up to the task and live up to the expectation of organising a transparent peaceful election in the future.
We should not do anything to mar the beauty of our development process by playing the ethnic card which can sow seeds of discord and disunity and prepare the grounds for confusion, social upheavals and violence.
We are now on the plateau of giving further impetus to our development and nature has been kind to us to bestow on us resources such as oil to leap-frog our socio-economic transformation.
There can be ownership of and participation in the decision-making process only if the people know their rights and responsibilities in order to hold the government accountable. Indeed, Article 11 of the Constitution states categorically that "The Sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in the Constitution."
The struggle over who gets what, when and how is largely carried out in the mass media. Reporters and news editors usually deny that they are powerful political actors, claiming they only mirror society; but the "myth of the mirror" is that the media do play key roles in setting the political agenda by determining what news is to be covered, how much, and in what context.
Agenda Setting: This is the real power of the media. The media do not just passively report the news. They select what is to be covered, thereby setting a political agenda. Conversely, media inattention can allow governments to continue ineffective policies or worse. The media can even propel a latent issue into a "crisis" with which government must deal.
The media have effects in setting the political agenda and in helping form new opinions, but they are less effective in changing existing opinions or in changing political behavior.
"Information overload" also diminishes the effects of the media, as does the relative disinterest of many Ghanaians in the political news. Moreover, the public exercises selective perception, mentally screening out information and opinions with which they disagree. The result of the media performing their self-declared watchdog role can be alienation rather than reform.
Diverging political agenda-setting studies concerning the mass media’s impact on society are as old as the media themselves.
Opposing views and conflicting research results have led to different conclusions ranging from minimal-effects to powerful mass media. During the last three decades the notion of agenda-setting has probably provided the most influential and fertile paradigm in media and communications research. The mass media determine the political agenda to boost political attention for issues.
The field of media and political agenda-setting is disparate and undertheorized.
As media and political agenda-setting studies are slowly increasing and the subfield is growing to maturity, such an integrative effort comes timely. Only by confronting, comparing and systematizing the available evidence generated by previous studies can we make inroads in understanding the media’s political agenda-setting power.
Political agenda-setting implies a time gap between issue coverage and issue adoption by political parties.
Both election and non-election periods times are fundamentally different and that behaviour of political actors, and their reaction on media coverage, follows different logics in both periods.
Depending on the political system, the nature of the media agenda, the specific issues, the methodology, the nature of the political agenda, and the period under study, the results of similar studies can vary extensively.
It is obvious, however, that there are crucial differences between public and political agenda-setting.
As a rule government’s political agenda is less flexible, more cemented by previous arrangements and meticulously balanced agreements. Especially when it comes to coalition governments built on a lengthy government agreement, governments’ substantial policy actions are immunized against media impact. Pressures to react and to show leadership especially regarding to crisis situations or negative news might, in contrast, lead government to react swiftly and symbolically. Its better media access guarantees that even minister’s verbal reactions void of any serious consequence can pass the media gates and become news. More or less the opposite applies to parliament. Parliament, however, is an ambivalent institution with majority and minority initiatives mixed. The legislative part of parliaments’ activities, especially the actual passing of new bills, goes probably through even lengthier checked and balanced procedures than governments actions do. But the daily surveillance and monitoring of government is more flexible and, hence, prone to media impact. Procedures are relatively short, and (opposition) MPs are free to raise whichever topic they want. In terms of strong presidential systems, we expect an even more media responsive presidential agenda than for parliaments. Presidential initiatives are normally less constrained by institutional rules - he/she can communicate about anything anytime - nor are presidents bound by their party, by a government agreement or by internal decision making procedures. Moreover, presidents are expected to react on tidings of misfortune, to show leadership and to reassure the nation that they are in charge. Their media access is almost unlimited since they personify the state’s power. In many presidential regimes the president is a generalist policy maker whose competences encompass all policy domains. So we expect presidents to be especially susceptible for media coverage and the presidential agenda to be continuously affected by news’ issue attention. The more presidential systems entrust the president with a lot of powers and the less it contains veto players, the easier and faster a president can induce policy changes. The more powerful the president, hence, the more his instant reactions on media coverage might result in real policy outcomes.
Subject to Article 167 of the 1992 constitution, the National Media Commission (NMC) shall not exercise any control or direction over the professional functions of a person engaged in the production of newspapers or other means of communication.
All state-owned media shall afford fair opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting oppinions.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Marshallans Donation
FRIENDS of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall of the Adabraka Holy Spirit Cathedral have donated assorted items to the female ward of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.
The items, worth GH¢2,000, included bed spreads, aluminium cooking utensils, disinfectants, bags of rice and toilet rolls.
The Noble Lady of Court 67, Sister Caroline Akakpo, who presented the items on behalf of the group, said the donation formed part of the association’s social responsibility.
She said the items were to supplement the needs of the ward and that the gesture was also part of its widow’s mite towards meeting the needs of the inmates.
The Senior Nursing Officer of the unit, Ms Edith Bonney, who received the items on behalf of the hospital, thanked the association for the gesture, which she said would go a long way to address the needs of the inmates of the hospital.
She asked members of the association to continue to support the hospital in order to improve upon the living standards of the less fortunate in society.
In a related development, the association organised mass for 15 sick and aged people of the church.
The Deputy Noble Lady, Mrs Elizabeth Bulley, told the Daily Graphic that the service was held yearly for people who could not leave their home to socialise with them and also present them with some awards.
According to her, the Ladies of Marshall visited the aged and the sick at home twice a year, that is, in March and December, to offer them charity.
The items, worth GH¢2,000, included bed spreads, aluminium cooking utensils, disinfectants, bags of rice and toilet rolls.
The Noble Lady of Court 67, Sister Caroline Akakpo, who presented the items on behalf of the group, said the donation formed part of the association’s social responsibility.
She said the items were to supplement the needs of the ward and that the gesture was also part of its widow’s mite towards meeting the needs of the inmates.
The Senior Nursing Officer of the unit, Ms Edith Bonney, who received the items on behalf of the hospital, thanked the association for the gesture, which she said would go a long way to address the needs of the inmates of the hospital.
She asked members of the association to continue to support the hospital in order to improve upon the living standards of the less fortunate in society.
In a related development, the association organised mass for 15 sick and aged people of the church.
The Deputy Noble Lady, Mrs Elizabeth Bulley, told the Daily Graphic that the service was held yearly for people who could not leave their home to socialise with them and also present them with some awards.
According to her, the Ladies of Marshall visited the aged and the sick at home twice a year, that is, in March and December, to offer them charity.
Barclays Partnership
BARCLAYS Bank has entered into a $150,000 partnership agreement with the Junior Achievement of Ghana to harness entrepreneurship skills for young adults in the country.
Consequently, the agreement was initiated to help disadvantaged young adults to work towards financial independence and security as well as supporting access to education.
Speaking at the official launch of the Barclays/Junior Achievement Partnership in Accra, the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, said the government had initiated a number of interventions to resolve some of the challenges that confront the educational system.
He said, the youth should be made agents of change in local communities to ensure efficiency in the education sector, promote job opportunities and improve growth in the country.
Mr Tettey-Enyo urged Barclays and other corporate bodies to continue to support efforts aimed at developing the educational system in Ghana.
He urged students to take advantage of the training programme to upgrade their skills to get them ready for the job market.
The Minister expressed his appreciation to Barclays Bank for their financial support and partnership with Junior Achievement to enable the programme become a reality.
The Executive Director of Junior Achievement of Ghana, Mr Jefferson Worlanyo Agbai, said, the group was to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy.
He said, for the past 90 years, Junior Achievement had helped young people by showing them how to generate wealth and manage it and also apply entrepreneurial thinking at the workplace.
Mr Agbai said Junior Achievement had imparted business and economic values to over 3,000 students and the programme sought to reach at least one per cent of the 4.5 million young people by 2013.
He noted that, the initiative would have a positive and profound impact on students’ ability to succeed on the job market.
The Managing Director of Barclays Bank, Mr Benjamin Dabrah noted that the grant would help to bring out the untapped talents of over 80,000 young people whom he said, were future employees and customers of the bank.
We are happy to be working with Junior Achievement, an organisation with a track record and experience to provide what young people need to realise their full potentials, Mr Dabrah stated.
For his part, the American Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Donald Teitelbaum was optimistic that, many young professionals would be great achievers in future.
Consequently, the agreement was initiated to help disadvantaged young adults to work towards financial independence and security as well as supporting access to education.
Speaking at the official launch of the Barclays/Junior Achievement Partnership in Accra, the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, said the government had initiated a number of interventions to resolve some of the challenges that confront the educational system.
He said, the youth should be made agents of change in local communities to ensure efficiency in the education sector, promote job opportunities and improve growth in the country.
Mr Tettey-Enyo urged Barclays and other corporate bodies to continue to support efforts aimed at developing the educational system in Ghana.
He urged students to take advantage of the training programme to upgrade their skills to get them ready for the job market.
The Minister expressed his appreciation to Barclays Bank for their financial support and partnership with Junior Achievement to enable the programme become a reality.
The Executive Director of Junior Achievement of Ghana, Mr Jefferson Worlanyo Agbai, said, the group was to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy.
He said, for the past 90 years, Junior Achievement had helped young people by showing them how to generate wealth and manage it and also apply entrepreneurial thinking at the workplace.
Mr Agbai said Junior Achievement had imparted business and economic values to over 3,000 students and the programme sought to reach at least one per cent of the 4.5 million young people by 2013.
He noted that, the initiative would have a positive and profound impact on students’ ability to succeed on the job market.
The Managing Director of Barclays Bank, Mr Benjamin Dabrah noted that the grant would help to bring out the untapped talents of over 80,000 young people whom he said, were future employees and customers of the bank.
We are happy to be working with Junior Achievement, an organisation with a track record and experience to provide what young people need to realise their full potentials, Mr Dabrah stated.
For his part, the American Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Donald Teitelbaum was optimistic that, many young professionals would be great achievers in future.
Friday, March 20, 2009
UCDAG Demonstration
USED Car Dealers Association of Ghana (UCDAG) has organised a demonstration to petition to the government to resettle them to enable the construction of the George Walker Bush Motorway.
Consequently, the demonstration came as a result of information they heard from Peace FM, a private radio station in Accra and publication by the Daily Graphic on March 17, 2009 to vacate the road by Friday, March 20, 2009 to enable the contractor to start construction works.
Some members of the association, told the Daily Graphic that, there was no official letter to that effect and also, the notice came at short intervals with five days ultimatum given them.
The demonstration according to them was not being politicised, but rather they wanted their rights to be respected as citizens of the country.
They said, compensation was agreed to be paid to members, and that, but as at now about 80% of them have not been paid.
“We create employment for about 3,000 people in the country, as well as contribute to about the highest revenue to the government”, they said.
They added that if nothing was done about their petition, they would continue to resist and were even prepared to go court.
Some members of the association noted with concern that, the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) had connived with the Ghana Armed Forces to deploy about 1,000 men to collect all cars from their premises if they refused to move.
According the Chairman of the association, Mr Peter Yeboah, they heard the information from the radio station that, the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) together with the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) issued the final warning that all those Car Dealers in and around the Corridors of the proposed site for the construction of the George Walker Bush Motorway should vacate their garages or else they would be forced to move after the deadline.
Mr Yeboah said, MiDA promised to compensate and relocate them of which they spent over 200 million to design the site plan but later, they were disappointed since they could not get a sizeable land in Accra for them.
For his part, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, Rev Solomon Francis Okrah, said, we are aware of the importance for the construction of the motorway but, what will be the effect of not relocating our members, some can be armed robbers, phone snatches and the likes.
They however, petitioned to the government, Ministry of Lands and Forestry, MiDA, and the America government to resettle them to a suitable place, in the interest of on peace.
Consequently, the demonstration came as a result of information they heard from Peace FM, a private radio station in Accra and publication by the Daily Graphic on March 17, 2009 to vacate the road by Friday, March 20, 2009 to enable the contractor to start construction works.
Some members of the association, told the Daily Graphic that, there was no official letter to that effect and also, the notice came at short intervals with five days ultimatum given them.
The demonstration according to them was not being politicised, but rather they wanted their rights to be respected as citizens of the country.
They said, compensation was agreed to be paid to members, and that, but as at now about 80% of them have not been paid.
“We create employment for about 3,000 people in the country, as well as contribute to about the highest revenue to the government”, they said.
They added that if nothing was done about their petition, they would continue to resist and were even prepared to go court.
Some members of the association noted with concern that, the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) had connived with the Ghana Armed Forces to deploy about 1,000 men to collect all cars from their premises if they refused to move.
According the Chairman of the association, Mr Peter Yeboah, they heard the information from the radio station that, the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) together with the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) issued the final warning that all those Car Dealers in and around the Corridors of the proposed site for the construction of the George Walker Bush Motorway should vacate their garages or else they would be forced to move after the deadline.
Mr Yeboah said, MiDA promised to compensate and relocate them of which they spent over 200 million to design the site plan but later, they were disappointed since they could not get a sizeable land in Accra for them.
For his part, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, Rev Solomon Francis Okrah, said, we are aware of the importance for the construction of the motorway but, what will be the effect of not relocating our members, some can be armed robbers, phone snatches and the likes.
They however, petitioned to the government, Ministry of Lands and Forestry, MiDA, and the America government to resettle them to a suitable place, in the interest of on peace.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Child right
THE Children’s Rights International (CRI), a non-governmental organisation, has launched the 2009 Easter School for Children in Accra.
The annual event, which started nine years ago, was instituted by the CRI and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), to inculcate in the children a sense of responsibility to participate effectively in issues affecting them.
The theme for this year’s Easter school is: “Growing child participation through service learning”, and it is aimed at involving children in discussing national issues.
The Executive Director of CRI, Mr Bright Appiah, said the Easter school was a medium to promote child participation in the country and also involve them in issues that affect them.
Mr Appiah said: “Child participation ensures and enhances expression of opinion, self-confidence, self-involvement and provides understanding for children to better appreciate issues that affect them,”.
He noted that the Easter school, since its inception in 2000, had provided the platform for children to discuss and share issues.
He expressed optimism that at the end of this year’s school, the Ghanaian child would be factored into the broader decision-making process.
The acting Director at the Children’s Department of the Ministry for Women and Children’s Affairs, Mr Peter Eduful, who delivered the speech on behalf of the minister, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, said the biggest challenge to society was how to raise children and prepare them adequately to take up adult roles and responsibilities and also contribute effectively to future national development.
She said children continued to suffer various forms of discrimination and deprivation including their inability to express their minds freely and participate fully in matters which affected them in the family and society.
She said: “Participation is one of the guiding principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Ghana proudly signed as the first UN nation in 1991.”
She urged children to take their education seriously and also abstain from negative practices such as drinking, patronising pornography, premarital sex and using narcotic drugs.
Speaking on behalf of the acting Inspector of Police (IGP), Mrs Elizabeth Mills- Robertson, the Director of Community Policing, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Florence Arthur, said policemen who violated the rights and freedom of children should be arrested and prosecuted.
She also said children should report any form of violence against them for the necessary action to be taken.
For his part, the Programme Support Manager of Plan Ghana, Mr William Agyekum Acquah, said the unit would support children to be key actors in their own development.
Mr Acquah reiterated that resources should be used to harness the development of the Ghanaian child.
Ghana ratified the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the child. This Convention has a fundamental principle and an internationally agreed framework necessary for ensuring minimum standards for the well-being of the child and to which every child is entitled.
The CRI was registered in 1997 as a non-governmental organisation committed to the principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
The CRI also helps in building the capacity of students to be able to effectively participate in the discussion of issues that bother on the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children.
This year’s programme is scheduled to take place in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region from April 18 to 23, 2009.
The annual event, which started nine years ago, was instituted by the CRI and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), to inculcate in the children a sense of responsibility to participate effectively in issues affecting them.
The theme for this year’s Easter school is: “Growing child participation through service learning”, and it is aimed at involving children in discussing national issues.
The Executive Director of CRI, Mr Bright Appiah, said the Easter school was a medium to promote child participation in the country and also involve them in issues that affect them.
Mr Appiah said: “Child participation ensures and enhances expression of opinion, self-confidence, self-involvement and provides understanding for children to better appreciate issues that affect them,”.
He noted that the Easter school, since its inception in 2000, had provided the platform for children to discuss and share issues.
He expressed optimism that at the end of this year’s school, the Ghanaian child would be factored into the broader decision-making process.
The acting Director at the Children’s Department of the Ministry for Women and Children’s Affairs, Mr Peter Eduful, who delivered the speech on behalf of the minister, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, said the biggest challenge to society was how to raise children and prepare them adequately to take up adult roles and responsibilities and also contribute effectively to future national development.
She said children continued to suffer various forms of discrimination and deprivation including their inability to express their minds freely and participate fully in matters which affected them in the family and society.
She said: “Participation is one of the guiding principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Ghana proudly signed as the first UN nation in 1991.”
She urged children to take their education seriously and also abstain from negative practices such as drinking, patronising pornography, premarital sex and using narcotic drugs.
Speaking on behalf of the acting Inspector of Police (IGP), Mrs Elizabeth Mills- Robertson, the Director of Community Policing, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Florence Arthur, said policemen who violated the rights and freedom of children should be arrested and prosecuted.
She also said children should report any form of violence against them for the necessary action to be taken.
For his part, the Programme Support Manager of Plan Ghana, Mr William Agyekum Acquah, said the unit would support children to be key actors in their own development.
Mr Acquah reiterated that resources should be used to harness the development of the Ghanaian child.
Ghana ratified the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the child. This Convention has a fundamental principle and an internationally agreed framework necessary for ensuring minimum standards for the well-being of the child and to which every child is entitled.
The CRI was registered in 1997 as a non-governmental organisation committed to the principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
The CRI also helps in building the capacity of students to be able to effectively participate in the discussion of issues that bother on the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children.
This year’s programme is scheduled to take place in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region from April 18 to 23, 2009.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Mills Robertson
SINCE assuming office early this year as the first policewoman to act as Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mrs Elizabeth Mills-Robertson has made known her commitment to wage a relentless war on criminal activities throughout the country.
In furtherance of her pledge, the police undertook an operation to flush out criminals in some parts of Accra soon after she assumed office while she announced her long term commitment to offer maximum security for the nation and sustain the fight against crime, particularly armed robbery.
Assuming office at a time when crime is said to have become very sophisticated, Mrs Mills-Robertson faces a Herculean task but she is counting on the maximum support of officers and men of the service and the cordial relationship between the police and the general public to succeed.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview after she was awarded with an Executive Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) degree at the 2007/2008 congregation of the University of Ghana, Legon, on Saturday, Mrs Mills-Robertson, re-emphasise her commitment to develop a more cordial working relationship between the police and the public.
She said that was necessary to erode the negative perception of the public about the police and give the police service a positive image to enhance crime detection and prevention.
The acting IGP, who is the first female police head since policing was introduced in the country in the 1800s, is a product of Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast and the University of Ghana, and a Barrister at Law from the Ghana School of Law.
She stated that more police personnel would be deployed to patrol the principal streets of Accra and other business districts in the Accra metropolis as well as other municipalities and districts.
She said her administration would address some of the challenges confronting the police, and mentioned that the issue of accommodation, which affected the efficient operation of some service personnel, would be addressed, stressing that accommodation for service men and women would be improved.
Mrs Mills-Robertson said challenges confronting her were similar to those encountered by women in other key positions, and called for maximum support from officers and men of the service to enhance efficiency.
The acting IGP promised to inspire other female police officers to rise to the top and advised them not to rest on their laurels.
In furtherance of her pledge, the police undertook an operation to flush out criminals in some parts of Accra soon after she assumed office while she announced her long term commitment to offer maximum security for the nation and sustain the fight against crime, particularly armed robbery.
Assuming office at a time when crime is said to have become very sophisticated, Mrs Mills-Robertson faces a Herculean task but she is counting on the maximum support of officers and men of the service and the cordial relationship between the police and the general public to succeed.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview after she was awarded with an Executive Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) degree at the 2007/2008 congregation of the University of Ghana, Legon, on Saturday, Mrs Mills-Robertson, re-emphasise her commitment to develop a more cordial working relationship between the police and the public.
She said that was necessary to erode the negative perception of the public about the police and give the police service a positive image to enhance crime detection and prevention.
The acting IGP, who is the first female police head since policing was introduced in the country in the 1800s, is a product of Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast and the University of Ghana, and a Barrister at Law from the Ghana School of Law.
She stated that more police personnel would be deployed to patrol the principal streets of Accra and other business districts in the Accra metropolis as well as other municipalities and districts.
She said her administration would address some of the challenges confronting the police, and mentioned that the issue of accommodation, which affected the efficient operation of some service personnel, would be addressed, stressing that accommodation for service men and women would be improved.
Mrs Mills-Robertson said challenges confronting her were similar to those encountered by women in other key positions, and called for maximum support from officers and men of the service to enhance efficiency.
The acting IGP promised to inspire other female police officers to rise to the top and advised them not to rest on their laurels.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Transparency
THE 2007 budget was not transparent, an Open Budget Survey and Index for 2008 has revealed.
This was because the government did not produce and disseminate four of the eight key budget documents required by international good practices.
The eight key budget documents included the Executive’s budget proposal, Enacted budget, Citizens budget and In-year report on execution which were made available and transparent and the Pre-budget statement, Mid-year review, Year-end report and Auditor’s report which were not made transparent and publicly available.
The survey which was conducted in 85 countries and aimed at ensuring budget transparency, was a collaboration between International Budget Partnership (IBP) and Civil Society Experts in which seven African countries participated.
The Budget Analyst of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Mr Nicholas Adamtey stressed the need for budget documents to be made available to the general public without hindrances.
He suggested that the budget should be made available to the public within a period of two to three months for thorough review and analyses before it is presented to parliament.
This he said, would ensure transparency and accountability for the effective use of public resources, as well as help the citizens of the country make informed decisions about the budget statement.
Mr Adamtey said the survey was not to measure corruption but to measure budget transparency and accountability.
He however added that, lack of transparency created opportunity for corruption and wasteful spending.
The survey stated that, the government of Ghana provided the public with about 49 per cent information on its budget and financial activities during the course of the budget year.
It stated that the budget proposal provided substantial information to the public which meant that citizens had a fairly comprehensive idea of governments plans for taxes and expenditure.
However it stated that, it was difficult to track spending, revenue collection and borrowing during the year, adding that, assessing the budget performance in Ghana was difficult once the budget year was over.
It indicated that a year-end report which was not published, prevented comparisons between what was budgeted and what was actually spent and collected at the end of the year.
“These make it difficult for citizens to hold the government accountable for its management of the public’s money”, the survey stated.
It therefore stated that citizen participation should go beyond improving access to key budget documents and also involve organisations and individuals to participate in budget debates.
This was because the government did not produce and disseminate four of the eight key budget documents required by international good practices.
The eight key budget documents included the Executive’s budget proposal, Enacted budget, Citizens budget and In-year report on execution which were made available and transparent and the Pre-budget statement, Mid-year review, Year-end report and Auditor’s report which were not made transparent and publicly available.
The survey which was conducted in 85 countries and aimed at ensuring budget transparency, was a collaboration between International Budget Partnership (IBP) and Civil Society Experts in which seven African countries participated.
The Budget Analyst of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Mr Nicholas Adamtey stressed the need for budget documents to be made available to the general public without hindrances.
He suggested that the budget should be made available to the public within a period of two to three months for thorough review and analyses before it is presented to parliament.
This he said, would ensure transparency and accountability for the effective use of public resources, as well as help the citizens of the country make informed decisions about the budget statement.
Mr Adamtey said the survey was not to measure corruption but to measure budget transparency and accountability.
He however added that, lack of transparency created opportunity for corruption and wasteful spending.
The survey stated that, the government of Ghana provided the public with about 49 per cent information on its budget and financial activities during the course of the budget year.
It stated that the budget proposal provided substantial information to the public which meant that citizens had a fairly comprehensive idea of governments plans for taxes and expenditure.
However it stated that, it was difficult to track spending, revenue collection and borrowing during the year, adding that, assessing the budget performance in Ghana was difficult once the budget year was over.
It indicated that a year-end report which was not published, prevented comparisons between what was budgeted and what was actually spent and collected at the end of the year.
“These make it difficult for citizens to hold the government accountable for its management of the public’s money”, the survey stated.
It therefore stated that citizen participation should go beyond improving access to key budget documents and also involve organisations and individuals to participate in budget debates.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Drivers on Fares
THE between five and 10 per cent reduction in fuel prices will not significantly affect commercial transport fares.
Daily Graphic surveys at some lorry stations in the metropolis show that while generally most trotro fares have been maintained after the reduced fuel prices took effect, some drivers have increased their fares by about 5Gp.
The fare from Mallam to Kasoa before the announced decreases was 70 Gp and is now 75Gp, while that from Mallam to Accra, which was formerly 40Gp is now 45Gp.
Other trotro drivers are running on transit basis. That is, they pick up people at a point and take them half the distance, insist on all passengers getting down and then reload the vehicles again for the other half of the journey.
Passengers, most often struggling to make it to and from work, are thereby forced to pay sometimes double of what they would spend for the journey.
Some taxi drivers said they charged between GH¢3 and GH¢10 for short distance, depending on how heavy traffic was.
Some executive members of the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council (GRTCC), the umbrella body of all commercial vehicles in the country, said the decreases in fuel prices were negligible and did not significantly change fares of their members.
The practice in the reduction of fuel prices has included consultation between the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and transport owners and drivers’ unions.
Such consultations take place within an 11-member committee made up of two representatives of the National NPA, three representatives of the Ministry of Transport and six representatives of the GTRCC.
The 11-member committee, however, met after the announcement of the price reduction and reached the decision that the price reduction was negligible, while bank interest on loans used to purchase vehicles, station tolls, spare parts for cars and servicing prices were all increasing.
Mr Mathew Hayford, the Chairman of the GRTCC, said drivers were currently barely able to break even with prevailing increases in spare parts, thus the decreases in fuel prices would rather benefit private vehicle owners and corporate organisations and not Ghanaians who used commercial vehicles.
Random interviews conducted at the Mallam-Kaneshie and Agbogbloshie lorry stations showed drivers were not enthused about the reduction in fuel prices, saying that, to them, it was insignificant.
Mr Gideon Akakpo, a driver, said the high oil prices globally was negatively impacting on Ghana, thus the reductions by the government could affect the nation’s economy.
Another driver, Mr John Ayitey, said traffic congestion in the metropolis was very bad and consumed all the fuel he purchased.
Due to that, he could not reduce transport fares, as what he gained in buying fuel at a lesser price was further used in buying more.
Daily Graphic surveys at some lorry stations in the metropolis show that while generally most trotro fares have been maintained after the reduced fuel prices took effect, some drivers have increased their fares by about 5Gp.
The fare from Mallam to Kasoa before the announced decreases was 70 Gp and is now 75Gp, while that from Mallam to Accra, which was formerly 40Gp is now 45Gp.
Other trotro drivers are running on transit basis. That is, they pick up people at a point and take them half the distance, insist on all passengers getting down and then reload the vehicles again for the other half of the journey.
Passengers, most often struggling to make it to and from work, are thereby forced to pay sometimes double of what they would spend for the journey.
Some taxi drivers said they charged between GH¢3 and GH¢10 for short distance, depending on how heavy traffic was.
Some executive members of the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council (GRTCC), the umbrella body of all commercial vehicles in the country, said the decreases in fuel prices were negligible and did not significantly change fares of their members.
The practice in the reduction of fuel prices has included consultation between the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and transport owners and drivers’ unions.
Such consultations take place within an 11-member committee made up of two representatives of the National NPA, three representatives of the Ministry of Transport and six representatives of the GTRCC.
The 11-member committee, however, met after the announcement of the price reduction and reached the decision that the price reduction was negligible, while bank interest on loans used to purchase vehicles, station tolls, spare parts for cars and servicing prices were all increasing.
Mr Mathew Hayford, the Chairman of the GRTCC, said drivers were currently barely able to break even with prevailing increases in spare parts, thus the decreases in fuel prices would rather benefit private vehicle owners and corporate organisations and not Ghanaians who used commercial vehicles.
Random interviews conducted at the Mallam-Kaneshie and Agbogbloshie lorry stations showed drivers were not enthused about the reduction in fuel prices, saying that, to them, it was insignificant.
Mr Gideon Akakpo, a driver, said the high oil prices globally was negatively impacting on Ghana, thus the reductions by the government could affect the nation’s economy.
Another driver, Mr John Ayitey, said traffic congestion in the metropolis was very bad and consumed all the fuel he purchased.
Due to that, he could not reduce transport fares, as what he gained in buying fuel at a lesser price was further used in buying more.
Health problems
THE Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa Yankey, has called for a by-partisan approach to resolving health issues in the country.
That, he said would ensure progress in the health sector as policies were put in place for the benefit of Ghanaians irrespective of political affiliations.
Dr Yankey said this at his first meeting with the Inter-Agency Leadership Committee (IALC) in Accra last Thursday.
He said programmes were underway to refurbish the health services in the country to deal with problems confronting the ministry and other health institutions.
He, therefore, asked the various agencies to furnish the ministry with the necessary logistics for health issues that needed interventions.
The minister proposed a two-day workshop with the agencies to tackle some of the major problems confronting the ministry, which would include a critical look at some conflicts among these agencies.
Another challenge, he said, was financing which had become a problem due to the world economic crisis but added that the government had initiated measures to generate money for health care in the country.
Sixteen representatives of IALC outlined issues of concern and called on the minister to look at them critically.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr Ken Sagoe, noted that, the hospital was indebted to a tune of GH¢1.4 million which was retarding its progress.
He also mentioned the huge cost of repairs and maintenance and the deterioration of infrastructure.
The Registrar of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Mr F.K. Hlortsi-Akakpo, noted that 100 herbal medicine shops would be licensed as part of their activities.
He expressed concern about the misinterpretation of Act 575, and called on the government to finalise the Legislative Instrument (LI) for the Act.
For her part, the Registrar of the Nurses and Midwives Council (NMC), Mrs Veronica Darko, said the non-existence of a governing board and the increased number of accredited training schools to 81 had created congestion at the council.
Mrs Darko appealed to the government to give more attention to midwifery practice in Ghana.
The Director of the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine, Prof Laud Okine, announced that three new products had been developed for the cure of diabetes, hypertension and HIV/AIDS, while there were plans for a botanical garden for medicinal plants.
The Director of National Ambulance Service (NAS), Dr Ahmed Zakariah, called on the government to fund the service in order to embark on training for additional staff.
The Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Dr Philibert Kankye, said 35 to 40 per cent of patients were being catered for by CHAG to relieve the burdens of other health institutions.
He, however, asked churches to be involved in the provision of quality health services for Ghanaians.
That, he said would ensure progress in the health sector as policies were put in place for the benefit of Ghanaians irrespective of political affiliations.
Dr Yankey said this at his first meeting with the Inter-Agency Leadership Committee (IALC) in Accra last Thursday.
He said programmes were underway to refurbish the health services in the country to deal with problems confronting the ministry and other health institutions.
He, therefore, asked the various agencies to furnish the ministry with the necessary logistics for health issues that needed interventions.
The minister proposed a two-day workshop with the agencies to tackle some of the major problems confronting the ministry, which would include a critical look at some conflicts among these agencies.
Another challenge, he said, was financing which had become a problem due to the world economic crisis but added that the government had initiated measures to generate money for health care in the country.
Sixteen representatives of IALC outlined issues of concern and called on the minister to look at them critically.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr Ken Sagoe, noted that, the hospital was indebted to a tune of GH¢1.4 million which was retarding its progress.
He also mentioned the huge cost of repairs and maintenance and the deterioration of infrastructure.
The Registrar of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Mr F.K. Hlortsi-Akakpo, noted that 100 herbal medicine shops would be licensed as part of their activities.
He expressed concern about the misinterpretation of Act 575, and called on the government to finalise the Legislative Instrument (LI) for the Act.
For her part, the Registrar of the Nurses and Midwives Council (NMC), Mrs Veronica Darko, said the non-existence of a governing board and the increased number of accredited training schools to 81 had created congestion at the council.
Mrs Darko appealed to the government to give more attention to midwifery practice in Ghana.
The Director of the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine, Prof Laud Okine, announced that three new products had been developed for the cure of diabetes, hypertension and HIV/AIDS, while there were plans for a botanical garden for medicinal plants.
The Director of National Ambulance Service (NAS), Dr Ahmed Zakariah, called on the government to fund the service in order to embark on training for additional staff.
The Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Dr Philibert Kankye, said 35 to 40 per cent of patients were being catered for by CHAG to relieve the burdens of other health institutions.
He, however, asked churches to be involved in the provision of quality health services for Ghanaians.
Budget Advocacy
THE 2009 budget has elements of a pro-poor budget, but too far from being a social democratic budget.
Ghanaians have, therefore, been cautioned that any permutations of policy that threaten the core of society would land the country into irreversible and irreparable damage as had been witnessed in other countries.
The budget, therefore, needs to be re-established to balance the economic and social in its political orientation and tax allocation.
This was contained in a press statement prepared by the Centre for Budget Advocacy (CBA) on the 2009 policy and budget statement and read by the Executive Director of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Mr Bishop Akolgo, in Accra.
He said the press statement was released in the hope of contributing to a better understanding of the budget for informed public discussion towards the improvement of the quality of the lives of Ghanaians.
He noted that an effective and efficient economy required a stock of goodwill, trust and acceptance, obedience to the law, as well as the presence of institutions that provided social stability and security.
He said citizens inputs into the budget process in the past, though limited, was truncated this year during the preparation of the 2009 budget.
Mr Akolgo called on the government to formalise the public input into the budget process and said the process should go beyond request for input from the public to the situation where the budget process would be publicised to enable stakeholders to participate effectively.
He also said the Right and Access to Information Bill must be passed into law to enable citizens to make informed inputs into the budget and public finance including helping to reduce corruption and mismanagement of public resources.
He said it was important for the government to make loan transactions and grants transparent and involve civil society organisations, businesses, labour groups and Parliament before such loans were contracted.
Mr Akolgo commended the government for seeking to run a transparent, lean, efficient and effective government and recommended that the country’s natural resources management be brought under the discipline of the extractive industry transparency initiative.
He also suggested that immediate steps should be taken to review and adjust the fiscal regime for the extraction of resources.
He said that would help generate revenue to reduce dependence on external loans and provide resources to invest in the productive and social sectors.
Ghanaians have, therefore, been cautioned that any permutations of policy that threaten the core of society would land the country into irreversible and irreparable damage as had been witnessed in other countries.
The budget, therefore, needs to be re-established to balance the economic and social in its political orientation and tax allocation.
This was contained in a press statement prepared by the Centre for Budget Advocacy (CBA) on the 2009 policy and budget statement and read by the Executive Director of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Mr Bishop Akolgo, in Accra.
He said the press statement was released in the hope of contributing to a better understanding of the budget for informed public discussion towards the improvement of the quality of the lives of Ghanaians.
He noted that an effective and efficient economy required a stock of goodwill, trust and acceptance, obedience to the law, as well as the presence of institutions that provided social stability and security.
He said citizens inputs into the budget process in the past, though limited, was truncated this year during the preparation of the 2009 budget.
Mr Akolgo called on the government to formalise the public input into the budget process and said the process should go beyond request for input from the public to the situation where the budget process would be publicised to enable stakeholders to participate effectively.
He also said the Right and Access to Information Bill must be passed into law to enable citizens to make informed inputs into the budget and public finance including helping to reduce corruption and mismanagement of public resources.
He said it was important for the government to make loan transactions and grants transparent and involve civil society organisations, businesses, labour groups and Parliament before such loans were contracted.
Mr Akolgo commended the government for seeking to run a transparent, lean, efficient and effective government and recommended that the country’s natural resources management be brought under the discipline of the extractive industry transparency initiative.
He also suggested that immediate steps should be taken to review and adjust the fiscal regime for the extraction of resources.
He said that would help generate revenue to reduce dependence on external loans and provide resources to invest in the productive and social sectors.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
TEACHERS
THE Deputy Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ms Benedicta Naana Biney has cautioned school heads against conspiring with their teachers to receive salaries for work they have not done.
She cited the non-working staff as major contributors to indiscipline and unprofessionalism in the educational field.
She, therefore, called on heads of institutions to maintain high standards of professionalism and integrity by attending to their duties promptly.
She said the teaching profession was a noble one and any teacher who did not behave in the proper manner must be made to face the rigors of the law.
“Instead of rewarding such teachers, they must rather face the disciplinary committee for the appropriate sanctions to be meted out to them”, she reiterated.
Ms Biney advised parents to compliment the efforts of teachers by giving incentive packages to their wards to motivate them to study hard.
"As educators, we must understand the children’s needs and create both social and academic opportunities that would motivate them to learn and develop their intelligence quotient".
She cited the non-working staff as major contributors to indiscipline and unprofessionalism in the educational field.
She, therefore, called on heads of institutions to maintain high standards of professionalism and integrity by attending to their duties promptly.
She said the teaching profession was a noble one and any teacher who did not behave in the proper manner must be made to face the rigors of the law.
“Instead of rewarding such teachers, they must rather face the disciplinary committee for the appropriate sanctions to be meted out to them”, she reiterated.
Ms Biney advised parents to compliment the efforts of teachers by giving incentive packages to their wards to motivate them to study hard.
"As educators, we must understand the children’s needs and create both social and academic opportunities that would motivate them to learn and develop their intelligence quotient".
BUDGET STATEMENT
THE announcement by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffour to slash taxes on petroleum products at his first budget statement to Parliament has attracted mixed reactions from members of the public.
While some say they support the idea because it will reduce expenditure on the tax payers income on fuel, others say it will truncate the smooth rule of the Mill’s administration.
In separate interviews with the Daily Graphic, they therefore, called for a dispassionate discussion of the issue so as not to jeopardise the future of the small income earner.
Some of the people the Daily Graphic spoke to expressed the view that the decision which was in fulfilment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC’s) campaign promise, would help alleviate the hardships of Ghanaians.
Others on the other hand complained that although, taxes on petroleum products had been slashed, commercial drivers would not reduce fares for the benefit of the ordinary person.
A spare-parts dealer at Abossey-Okai, a suburb of Accra, Mr Benjamin Anson, expressed optimism that the initiative which the Mill’s administration had taken to fulfil his campaign promises would go a long way to help the youth in the country.
For his part, Mr Kweku Boateng, also a spare-parts dealer said: “I think the reduction in the prices of petroleum products was not proper because “even the world economy is facing serious challenges and if Ghana should reduce the prices of petroleum products at this crucial time, it would have a negative effect on the country’s economy.
Parliament has passed the Customs and Excise (Petroleum Taxes and Petroleum Levies (Amendment) Bill 2009 to reduce excise duty on petroleum products.
This was in response to proposals to reduce taxes on petroleum products as announced by minister of finance when he presented the 2009 budget to Parliament.
Dr Duffour said, the government would be committed to pursuing the agenda in fulfilment of the campaign promise of the NDC to reduce the high cost of fuel and its attendant impact on the standard of living of the Ghanaian.
While some say they support the idea because it will reduce expenditure on the tax payers income on fuel, others say it will truncate the smooth rule of the Mill’s administration.
In separate interviews with the Daily Graphic, they therefore, called for a dispassionate discussion of the issue so as not to jeopardise the future of the small income earner.
Some of the people the Daily Graphic spoke to expressed the view that the decision which was in fulfilment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC’s) campaign promise, would help alleviate the hardships of Ghanaians.
Others on the other hand complained that although, taxes on petroleum products had been slashed, commercial drivers would not reduce fares for the benefit of the ordinary person.
A spare-parts dealer at Abossey-Okai, a suburb of Accra, Mr Benjamin Anson, expressed optimism that the initiative which the Mill’s administration had taken to fulfil his campaign promises would go a long way to help the youth in the country.
For his part, Mr Kweku Boateng, also a spare-parts dealer said: “I think the reduction in the prices of petroleum products was not proper because “even the world economy is facing serious challenges and if Ghana should reduce the prices of petroleum products at this crucial time, it would have a negative effect on the country’s economy.
Parliament has passed the Customs and Excise (Petroleum Taxes and Petroleum Levies (Amendment) Bill 2009 to reduce excise duty on petroleum products.
This was in response to proposals to reduce taxes on petroleum products as announced by minister of finance when he presented the 2009 budget to Parliament.
Dr Duffour said, the government would be committed to pursuing the agenda in fulfilment of the campaign promise of the NDC to reduce the high cost of fuel and its attendant impact on the standard of living of the Ghanaian.
BEGGARS
BEGGING for alms is becoming a viable and lucrative business for many people with disabilities in Accra instead of going to learn some trade that would provide them their livelihood and some dignity.
In doing this, they also involve very healthy youth in this business when they could be engaging in some productive venture.
Some also use children, some as young as five years as a bait to beg for them.
What is worrying however is that while these adults sit back, the children are on the streets begging for them to enjoy from the toils of this minors.
This is contrary to the provisions of?? SECTION?? 91 of the Children’s Act, 1998, which states that "the minimum age for the engagement of a person in hazardous work is 18 years".
A study of the begging trade in the municipality has shown that the business thrives around children trafficked from many communities in Accra who never profit personally from their lucrative daily takings and who are sometimes beaten to make them objects of greater pity.
The section defines hazardous work as work which poses a danger to the health, safety or morals of a person”.
These include going to sea, mining and quarrying, porterage of heavy loads, working in manufacturing industries where chemicals are produced or used, places where machines are used and work in drinking bars, hotels and places of entertainment where a person may be exposed to immoral behaviour.
A survey conducted by the Daily Graphic has revealed that economic hardship was the commonest excuse most of those begging for alms give for taking to the streets to beg for alms.
They complain that due to this economic hardship, their standard of living is low and coming by money and three square meals a day has become difficult.
Most of the people the Daily Graphic spoke to said begging for alms was the best alternative to living in extreme poverty without any livelihood, apart from engaging in robbery and seeking for help from close relatives.
"Begging for alms is an act mostly considered by many cultures in Ghana as disgraceful and degrading but most of us who live in extreme poverty, vis avis the nature of the economy have no option than to beg for alms.
It is necessary for every man to work in order to earn some income and his or her daily bread," some beggars explained.
Many of the beggars who can be are found on the streets of Accra either suffer from vision impairment or are physically challenged and their children go round begging for alms.
While many of these needy people have decided not to rely on anybody to make ends meet and would rather learn a craft or sit in wheel chairs and sell, others have capitalised on their condition to beg for alms.
Madam Stella Adu, a food vendor, complained that some of these less endowed people prefer being on the streets than having a decent job.
"If one gives them capital to start a business, they delight in spending the money and going back on the street again," she said.
She added that teaching them craft was something many of them loathe. Others are on the streets because they earn more from begging than being in self-employment.
Thus many of them have strong and able bodied persons serving as their guides and aides.
One wonders why many of the beggars do not want to learn a trade that would give them their livelihood but many of them complained that their relatives were not helpful to them or they had lost their bread winners in the family.
Some children, who beg on the street, are there mainly because of the lack of parental guidance.
According to an eight-year-old boy found begging on the street, he had been compelled to be on the streets begging because his parents were divorced, and each had gone their separate ways so he had no other choice than to beg to make ends meet.
"This problem has landed me into the begging business. Even though I wish to stop and at least go to school, my relatives are not prepared to invest their money in my education, “he told the Daily Graphic.
The Co-ordinator of the Care Reform Initiative (CRI) at the Department of Social Welfare, Mrs Helena Obeng Asamoah, told the Daily Graphic that the unit was embarking on outreach programmes to take children get off the streets in the metropolis.
In a related development, the Focal Person of the project, Mr Alois K. Mohl, said the unit had been able to sponsor about 150 street children in school.
“The unit also looks at the calibre of street children and their capacity in terms of livelihood development, ” he said.
He added that, an Italian non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ricerca en Cooperazione was providing some support for the project.
In doing this, they also involve very healthy youth in this business when they could be engaging in some productive venture.
Some also use children, some as young as five years as a bait to beg for them.
What is worrying however is that while these adults sit back, the children are on the streets begging for them to enjoy from the toils of this minors.
This is contrary to the provisions of?? SECTION?? 91 of the Children’s Act, 1998, which states that "the minimum age for the engagement of a person in hazardous work is 18 years".
A study of the begging trade in the municipality has shown that the business thrives around children trafficked from many communities in Accra who never profit personally from their lucrative daily takings and who are sometimes beaten to make them objects of greater pity.
The section defines hazardous work as work which poses a danger to the health, safety or morals of a person”.
These include going to sea, mining and quarrying, porterage of heavy loads, working in manufacturing industries where chemicals are produced or used, places where machines are used and work in drinking bars, hotels and places of entertainment where a person may be exposed to immoral behaviour.
A survey conducted by the Daily Graphic has revealed that economic hardship was the commonest excuse most of those begging for alms give for taking to the streets to beg for alms.
They complain that due to this economic hardship, their standard of living is low and coming by money and three square meals a day has become difficult.
Most of the people the Daily Graphic spoke to said begging for alms was the best alternative to living in extreme poverty without any livelihood, apart from engaging in robbery and seeking for help from close relatives.
"Begging for alms is an act mostly considered by many cultures in Ghana as disgraceful and degrading but most of us who live in extreme poverty, vis avis the nature of the economy have no option than to beg for alms.
It is necessary for every man to work in order to earn some income and his or her daily bread," some beggars explained.
Many of the beggars who can be are found on the streets of Accra either suffer from vision impairment or are physically challenged and their children go round begging for alms.
While many of these needy people have decided not to rely on anybody to make ends meet and would rather learn a craft or sit in wheel chairs and sell, others have capitalised on their condition to beg for alms.
Madam Stella Adu, a food vendor, complained that some of these less endowed people prefer being on the streets than having a decent job.
"If one gives them capital to start a business, they delight in spending the money and going back on the street again," she said.
She added that teaching them craft was something many of them loathe. Others are on the streets because they earn more from begging than being in self-employment.
Thus many of them have strong and able bodied persons serving as their guides and aides.
One wonders why many of the beggars do not want to learn a trade that would give them their livelihood but many of them complained that their relatives were not helpful to them or they had lost their bread winners in the family.
Some children, who beg on the street, are there mainly because of the lack of parental guidance.
According to an eight-year-old boy found begging on the street, he had been compelled to be on the streets begging because his parents were divorced, and each had gone their separate ways so he had no other choice than to beg to make ends meet.
"This problem has landed me into the begging business. Even though I wish to stop and at least go to school, my relatives are not prepared to invest their money in my education, “he told the Daily Graphic.
The Co-ordinator of the Care Reform Initiative (CRI) at the Department of Social Welfare, Mrs Helena Obeng Asamoah, told the Daily Graphic that the unit was embarking on outreach programmes to take children get off the streets in the metropolis.
In a related development, the Focal Person of the project, Mr Alois K. Mohl, said the unit had been able to sponsor about 150 street children in school.
“The unit also looks at the calibre of street children and their capacity in terms of livelihood development, ” he said.
He added that, an Italian non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ricerca en Cooperazione was providing some support for the project.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Assualt
AN EIGHT-year-old girl who was assaulted by her mother in Gbawe, a suburb of Accra ran to the bush where she fainted has been treated and returned to the custody of her parents by police officials.
Her mother, Madam Forgive Nanator assaulted her and in the process the little girl sought refuge in a nearby bush where she was found unconscious.
A complainant, Mr Emmanuel Amartey Adjaye told the Daily Graphic in an interview on Thursday that, on September 1, 2008, at about 2p.m., the victim, name (with-held), ran into a nearby bush in a torn dress with blood all over her body, where she eventually became unconscious.
According to Mr Adjaye, he, accompanied by his daughter, Ms Comfort Adjaye rushed the victim to the Samalla Clinic Limited at Gbawe where she was treated at a cost of GH¢ 50.00.
He said the case was then reported to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Odorkor Police headed by Edith Ama Yeboah.
“On October 5, the victim’s father came to my house and issued a verbal threat to the effect that if I do not release his child, hell will break loose”, he noted.
Mr Adjaye explained that he complained to Constable Ashia at the Odorkor Police who did virtually nothing about the case until he saw the child in the custody of her parents without any information.
According to him, the reply to his petition signed by the Deputy Superintendent, S. A . Sadique Osei was full of blatant lies and wilful attempt to attenuate and play down on the rights of the victim.
He said, he later took the matter to the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on December 1, for further investigation.
“Till date, the case is still under the cover of the CHRAJ”, he stated.
He, however, called on the government to issue measures to warn against parents involved in such criminal acts to deter will-be parents and guardians.
Her mother, Madam Forgive Nanator assaulted her and in the process the little girl sought refuge in a nearby bush where she was found unconscious.
A complainant, Mr Emmanuel Amartey Adjaye told the Daily Graphic in an interview on Thursday that, on September 1, 2008, at about 2p.m., the victim, name (with-held), ran into a nearby bush in a torn dress with blood all over her body, where she eventually became unconscious.
According to Mr Adjaye, he, accompanied by his daughter, Ms Comfort Adjaye rushed the victim to the Samalla Clinic Limited at Gbawe where she was treated at a cost of GH¢ 50.00.
He said the case was then reported to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Odorkor Police headed by Edith Ama Yeboah.
“On October 5, the victim’s father came to my house and issued a verbal threat to the effect that if I do not release his child, hell will break loose”, he noted.
Mr Adjaye explained that he complained to Constable Ashia at the Odorkor Police who did virtually nothing about the case until he saw the child in the custody of her parents without any information.
According to him, the reply to his petition signed by the Deputy Superintendent, S. A . Sadique Osei was full of blatant lies and wilful attempt to attenuate and play down on the rights of the victim.
He said, he later took the matter to the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on December 1, for further investigation.
“Till date, the case is still under the cover of the CHRAJ”, he stated.
He, however, called on the government to issue measures to warn against parents involved in such criminal acts to deter will-be parents and guardians.
Political Stability
THE general election are over and it was a question of who had the best ideas and policy directions that met the people’s aspirations, however, skirmishes involving the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the defeated New Patriotic Party (NPP) must be a thing of the past.
In this regard, it is the duty of all citizens to reject violence related issues and discredit those who preach the politics of divide and rule.
As John F. Kennedy declared, “Man must put an end to war or war will put an end to man.”
The maintenance of peace and a political stable environment is paramount to our survival and development agenda; hence, a religious obligation of all as pertained in the United States of America under the leadership of President Barrack Obama.
In modern times, democracy has come to assume a more demanding and challenging meaning .
The political system in Ghana in modern times is a system that practices free elections, multiplicity of political parties, political decisions made through an independent judiciary.
Democracy, which is derived from the Greek word "demos," or "people," is defined, basically, as government in which the supreme power is vested in the people. In some forms, democracy can be exercised directly by the people; in large societies, it is by the people through their elected agents. Or, in the memorable phrase of President Abraham Lincoln, democracy is government "of the people, by the people and for the people."
Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous. Democracy is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of practices and procedures that have been moulded through a long, often tortuous history. Democracy is the institutionalisation of freedom.
People living in a democratic society must serve as the ultimate custodians of their own freedom and must forge their own path toward the ideals set forth in the preamble to the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human genealogy is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world."
Other institutions define it as a system where people effectively and meaningfully participate in the decision-making processes through which people could vote and be voted for in elections.
Citizens have a responsibility to report offences and suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities and in doing so, we must exercise a sort of circumspection to avoid any form of mayhem.
Ghana, like most African countries is a secular state.
Unfortunately, some Christians contend that since politics is so dirty, it should be steadfastly avoided.
It is ironic that these same people participate in the selection of political candidates through exercising the voting franchise.
A philosopher once said; “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” If we ask our selves on what causes and conditions good government depends, we find that the principle which transcends all others, is the quality of human beings composing the society over which government is only as good as we want it to be.
We should become involved, concerned about and dedicated to the principle of orderly change within our governmental process.
Our political parties are not promoting issue-oriented campaigns for the simple reason that the electorate as a whole is not really interested in issues.
We find ourselves in the era of the “new politics”, where personal attractiveness, oratorical ability, potential appeal to various interest groups.
Democracy is a means for the people to choose their leaders and to hold their leaders accountable for their policies and their conduct in office.
The people are free to criticise their elected leaders and representatives and to observe how they conduct the business of government.
Elected representatives at the national and local levels should listen to the people and respond to their needs and suggestions.
Those in power cannot extend their terms in office without asking for the consent of the people again in an election.
This is why it takes a lot of time to organise a good, democratic election.
Any country can hold an election, but for an election to be free and fair requires a lot of organisation, preparation and training of political parties, electoral officials and civil society organisations who monitor the process.
Citizens have an obligation to become informed about public issues, to watch carefully how their political leaders and representatives use their powers and to express their own opinions and interests.
In a democracy, participation in civic groups should be voluntary. No one should be forced to join an organisation against their will.
Political parties are vital organisations in a democracy and democracy is stronger when citizens become active members of political parties.
In this regard, it is the duty of all citizens to reject violence related issues and discredit those who preach the politics of divide and rule.
As John F. Kennedy declared, “Man must put an end to war or war will put an end to man.”
The maintenance of peace and a political stable environment is paramount to our survival and development agenda; hence, a religious obligation of all as pertained in the United States of America under the leadership of President Barrack Obama.
In modern times, democracy has come to assume a more demanding and challenging meaning .
The political system in Ghana in modern times is a system that practices free elections, multiplicity of political parties, political decisions made through an independent judiciary.
Democracy, which is derived from the Greek word "demos," or "people," is defined, basically, as government in which the supreme power is vested in the people. In some forms, democracy can be exercised directly by the people; in large societies, it is by the people through their elected agents. Or, in the memorable phrase of President Abraham Lincoln, democracy is government "of the people, by the people and for the people."
Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous. Democracy is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of practices and procedures that have been moulded through a long, often tortuous history. Democracy is the institutionalisation of freedom.
People living in a democratic society must serve as the ultimate custodians of their own freedom and must forge their own path toward the ideals set forth in the preamble to the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human genealogy is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world."
Other institutions define it as a system where people effectively and meaningfully participate in the decision-making processes through which people could vote and be voted for in elections.
Citizens have a responsibility to report offences and suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities and in doing so, we must exercise a sort of circumspection to avoid any form of mayhem.
Ghana, like most African countries is a secular state.
Unfortunately, some Christians contend that since politics is so dirty, it should be steadfastly avoided.
It is ironic that these same people participate in the selection of political candidates through exercising the voting franchise.
A philosopher once said; “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” If we ask our selves on what causes and conditions good government depends, we find that the principle which transcends all others, is the quality of human beings composing the society over which government is only as good as we want it to be.
We should become involved, concerned about and dedicated to the principle of orderly change within our governmental process.
Our political parties are not promoting issue-oriented campaigns for the simple reason that the electorate as a whole is not really interested in issues.
We find ourselves in the era of the “new politics”, where personal attractiveness, oratorical ability, potential appeal to various interest groups.
Democracy is a means for the people to choose their leaders and to hold their leaders accountable for their policies and their conduct in office.
The people are free to criticise their elected leaders and representatives and to observe how they conduct the business of government.
Elected representatives at the national and local levels should listen to the people and respond to their needs and suggestions.
Those in power cannot extend their terms in office without asking for the consent of the people again in an election.
This is why it takes a lot of time to organise a good, democratic election.
Any country can hold an election, but for an election to be free and fair requires a lot of organisation, preparation and training of political parties, electoral officials and civil society organisations who monitor the process.
Citizens have an obligation to become informed about public issues, to watch carefully how their political leaders and representatives use their powers and to express their own opinions and interests.
In a democracy, participation in civic groups should be voluntary. No one should be forced to join an organisation against their will.
Political parties are vital organisations in a democracy and democracy is stronger when citizens become active members of political parties.
Marriage Registration
THE Chief Personnel and Marriage Officer of the Registrar-General’s Department, Mr J. Akufo Kisiedu, has expressed concern over the abuse of the law by some people who register marriages based on contracts to enable them to process their documents.
He said about 70 per cent of marriages registered by the department “are contract based”, explaining that most young people registered their marriages in order to use the certificates to process their documents, after which the marriages were dissolved.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Kisiedu explained conditions under which the department registered marriages, including the fact that the would-be couple should be of sound mind, 18 and above and not engaged or married to other persons.
He expressed concern over the rate at which unplanned marriages were impacting negatively on the lives of young men and women and said most of such marriages resulted in domestic violence.
Mr Kisiedu said 1,821 marriages were registered during the last half of 2008, while 550 were registered within the period of January to date.
Asked if a person could register his/her marriage twice with the department, he answered in the affirmative and explained that, “provided the first marriage is dissolved, you can re-register your marriage with another person” and indicated that. “The law requires couples to file a notice which has a life-span of 90 days”.
According to him, the department registers about 10 marriages a day in the lean seasons and about 30 during festive occasions.
Amount charged for marriage registration ranges between GH¢10 which is issued by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to GH¢50 for Special Marriage Licences from the Registrar General’s Department which is reviewed under the Legislative Instrument (LI) by Parliament.
He said while marriages between would-be couples aged above 40 years as real, a number of marriages between those below that age were contract based.
He said about 70 per cent of marriages registered by the department “are contract based”, explaining that most young people registered their marriages in order to use the certificates to process their documents, after which the marriages were dissolved.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Kisiedu explained conditions under which the department registered marriages, including the fact that the would-be couple should be of sound mind, 18 and above and not engaged or married to other persons.
He expressed concern over the rate at which unplanned marriages were impacting negatively on the lives of young men and women and said most of such marriages resulted in domestic violence.
Mr Kisiedu said 1,821 marriages were registered during the last half of 2008, while 550 were registered within the period of January to date.
Asked if a person could register his/her marriage twice with the department, he answered in the affirmative and explained that, “provided the first marriage is dissolved, you can re-register your marriage with another person” and indicated that. “The law requires couples to file a notice which has a life-span of 90 days”.
According to him, the department registers about 10 marriages a day in the lean seasons and about 30 during festive occasions.
Amount charged for marriage registration ranges between GH¢10 which is issued by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to GH¢50 for Special Marriage Licences from the Registrar General’s Department which is reviewed under the Legislative Instrument (LI) by Parliament.
He said while marriages between would-be couples aged above 40 years as real, a number of marriages between those below that age were contract based.
Indece Celebration
TWENTY-THREE first and second cycle schools within the Ablekuma South Constituency and its environs, the Red Cross and the Zoomlion held a pre-independence day parade to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the country’s independence.
About 600 schoolchildren participated in the march past at the parade, which took place at the Dansoman Datus Complex School in Accra.
The parade, which was organised by the National Cadet Corps, Ghana was held on the theme: “Uniting Ghana; the role of the youth”.
It sought to bring children together and create the awareness of nation building in them.
The guest of honour, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ablekuma South Constituency, Mr Fritz Baffour, delivered the key note address on behalf of the president, John Evans Atta Mills. He commended the National Cadet Corps for their wonderful turnout and impressive parade to commemorate the 52nd anniversary.
He said: “I congratulate all Ghanaians for keeping faith with our nation and their endeavours to make Ghana great and strong”.
He implored the schoolchildren to be determined, honest and hardworking in everything they did in order to maintain the peace the nation was experiencing.
He added: “I wish to admonish you, the future leaders, movers and shakers of our land to be determined, diligent, and conscious in everything you do, so that this country will be a true home for all Ghanaians”.
The National Cadet Corps, Ghana which is an amalgamation of the Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, Fire and Prisons cadet groups is aimed at developing responsible, disciplined and resourceful youth to become useful citizens through multi-purpose activities such as clean-up exercises and adventure training.
It also promotes interaction among school cadet corps to forster harmony and patriotism among them.
It aims to “install.........???????????in young Ghanaians through multi-faceted cadet programmes, which are physically and mentally challenging and rewarding, as well as promoting drug-free and gang-free youth”.
Students of the Baptist Academy were adjudged the winners, followed by the Emmanuel Presbyterian and Mount Olivet schools which came second and third respectively.
Also, the Ave Maria Cadet Corps came out with the first position, while May’s Fire Cadet and Glow Lamps schools took the second and third positions respectively.Certificates were awarded to other participating schools and cadet corps.
About 600 schoolchildren participated in the march past at the parade, which took place at the Dansoman Datus Complex School in Accra.
The parade, which was organised by the National Cadet Corps, Ghana was held on the theme: “Uniting Ghana; the role of the youth”.
It sought to bring children together and create the awareness of nation building in them.
The guest of honour, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ablekuma South Constituency, Mr Fritz Baffour, delivered the key note address on behalf of the president, John Evans Atta Mills. He commended the National Cadet Corps for their wonderful turnout and impressive parade to commemorate the 52nd anniversary.
He said: “I congratulate all Ghanaians for keeping faith with our nation and their endeavours to make Ghana great and strong”.
He implored the schoolchildren to be determined, honest and hardworking in everything they did in order to maintain the peace the nation was experiencing.
He added: “I wish to admonish you, the future leaders, movers and shakers of our land to be determined, diligent, and conscious in everything you do, so that this country will be a true home for all Ghanaians”.
The National Cadet Corps, Ghana which is an amalgamation of the Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, Fire and Prisons cadet groups is aimed at developing responsible, disciplined and resourceful youth to become useful citizens through multi-purpose activities such as clean-up exercises and adventure training.
It also promotes interaction among school cadet corps to forster harmony and patriotism among them.
It aims to “install.........???????????in young Ghanaians through multi-faceted cadet programmes, which are physically and mentally challenging and rewarding, as well as promoting drug-free and gang-free youth”.
Students of the Baptist Academy were adjudged the winners, followed by the Emmanuel Presbyterian and Mount Olivet schools which came second and third respectively.
Also, the Ave Maria Cadet Corps came out with the first position, while May’s Fire Cadet and Glow Lamps schools took the second and third positions respectively.Certificates were awarded to other participating schools and cadet corps.
Cocoa
THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a $6 million project to improve the level of education and the livelihood of youth in the cocoa-growing communities in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
Under the project, children in cocoa-growing areas in the two countries are to be given vocational training to improve their livelihoods.
The programme, being implemented in partnership with the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), is dubbed: Empowering Cocoa Households with Opportunities and Education Solutions (ECHOES).
At a stakeholders’ meeting in Accra yesterday, where the programme was launched, the Director of the Ghana Mission of USAID, Mr Robert Hellyer, expressed his commitment to ensuring poverty was mitigated in the cocoa-growing areas.
He mentioned lack of adequately trained teachers and low level of functional literacy among out-of-school youth as major challenges confronting the communities.
That, he pointed out, was the main reason why USAID was seeking to strengthen its partnership with African countries, as well as support research in areas including industry, health and agriculture to help to improve access to quality and relevant education for thousands of children living in the cocoa farming communities in Ghana and Cote d' Ivoire.
"Ultimately, an innovative public-private-partnership approach will provide children on cocoa farms with a better future," Mr Hellyer said.
He urged stakeholders to come out with recommendations that would help to strengthen cocoa-growing communities and expand opportunities for the youth and adults through relevant education.
The National Community Participation Co-ordinator for the Basic Education Division (BED) of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mrs Josephine Kuffour-Duah, noted that there had been tremendous improvement in the relationship between ECHOES staff and the government officials and added that the division had watched it grow into a successful and useful programme for some selected schools in the cocoa-growing communities.
She appealed to stakeholders to judiciously help the programme to be a success.
Under the project, children in cocoa-growing areas in the two countries are to be given vocational training to improve their livelihoods.
The programme, being implemented in partnership with the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), is dubbed: Empowering Cocoa Households with Opportunities and Education Solutions (ECHOES).
At a stakeholders’ meeting in Accra yesterday, where the programme was launched, the Director of the Ghana Mission of USAID, Mr Robert Hellyer, expressed his commitment to ensuring poverty was mitigated in the cocoa-growing areas.
He mentioned lack of adequately trained teachers and low level of functional literacy among out-of-school youth as major challenges confronting the communities.
That, he pointed out, was the main reason why USAID was seeking to strengthen its partnership with African countries, as well as support research in areas including industry, health and agriculture to help to improve access to quality and relevant education for thousands of children living in the cocoa farming communities in Ghana and Cote d' Ivoire.
"Ultimately, an innovative public-private-partnership approach will provide children on cocoa farms with a better future," Mr Hellyer said.
He urged stakeholders to come out with recommendations that would help to strengthen cocoa-growing communities and expand opportunities for the youth and adults through relevant education.
The National Community Participation Co-ordinator for the Basic Education Division (BED) of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mrs Josephine Kuffour-Duah, noted that there had been tremendous improvement in the relationship between ECHOES staff and the government officials and added that the division had watched it grow into a successful and useful programme for some selected schools in the cocoa-growing communities.
She appealed to stakeholders to judiciously help the programme to be a success.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Alhaji Mohamed Mumuni
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, has pledged to resign his position should it be proven that he has stolen “a single pesewa of the taxpayer’s money”.
He said he was not only prepared to resign from his present position but that he would also offer himself for prosecution and suffer any penalties prescribed by law.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, Alhaji Mumuni declared, “Should it be shown or proven that I, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, have stolen a single pesewa of the taxpayer’s money or taken a personal benefit, whether directly or indirectly, or been corrupt or abused my office or been guilty of wrongdoing, I am prepared not only to resign from my present appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration but I will also offer myself for prosecution and suffer any penalties prescribed by law.”
He was responding to calls by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a pressure group, the Alliance for Accountable Government (AFAG), for him to resign his position following the dismissal of his defamation suit against the Daily Guide newspaper and three others by an Accra High Court.
Alhaji Mumuni reiterated the fact that he had never sighted any Auditor-General’s report signed or authenticated by the Auditor-General or on his behalf, neither could the Appointments Committee of Parliament show him a copy or even vouch for the existence of any such report.
He said by the requirements of Article 187, Section 23 (1) of the Audit Service Act, Act 584, the Auditor-General’s report was published only when it had been presented to the Speaker of Parliament and laid before Parliament, saying that no such report had been so laid in Parliament up to date.
He noted that by customs, practices and usage of auditors, persons who were subjects of audit inspections were informed of the fact and allowed to participate in same.
According to him, until the Daily Guide started serialising a purported audit report on him, “I never had the slightest hint that I was the subject of an audit inspection”.
Alhaji Mumuni explained that he was also never given the opportunity to contradict or explain anything alleged against him by the so-called auditors, stressing that “this is obviously contrary to the elementary rules of natural justice”.
The minister stated that the first time he became aware of a forensic audit report on him by Messrs Baffour Awuah & Associates was on May 4, 2004 when the Daily Guide started serialising the draft, which continued on May 6, 18 and 21, 2004.
He said he wrote to the then Minister of Manpower Development, Mr Yaw Barimah, for copies of specified documents and correspondence, which the minister provided under the cover of his letter.
“Armed with these documents which, in the report, the auditors said were not available or never even existed, I called a press conference here in this very hall on May 19, 2004. I addressed the media and in the process debunked the allegations against me and demonstrated that in so far as it related to me, the so-called audit report was a complete fabrication,” he added.
Surprisingly, he said, the very night of the press conference, Mr Barimah’s office was burgled and the CPU to his computer and back-ups were stolen.
Alhaji Mumuni said the case was still being investigated by the Ministries Police.
He said he filed a civil suit at the High Court, claiming damages for defamation of character arising from the libellous words contained in the Daily Guide publications and also obtained an interim injunction against the defendants, restraining them from re-publishing, repeating or publishing similar words against him.
He said in spite of the subsistence of the injunction, the auditors purported to finalise the audit report in September 2004, a conduct which he said was clearly in contempt of the court.
Alhaji Mumuni said the dismissal of his claim for damages against the defendants did not mean that he had been found guilty of any criminal charge.
“I have never been charged with any criminal conduct before a court of law, nor has any charge been brought against me before the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ),” he said.
The minister drew the attention of the media to the fact that it was the same auditors, Baffour Awuah & Associates, who conducted forensic audits involving other NDC officials such as Messrs Dan Abodakpi, Kwame Peprah, Ibrahim Adam and Dr Ato Quarshie.
“During Mr Abodakpi’s trial, it emerged that it was the then National Security Co-ordinator who had appointed Baffour Awuah & Associates to conduct the so-called audit. This firm was handpicked to do political hatchet jobs,” he alleged.
Alhaji Mumuni said during Mr Abodakpi’s trial, “the Auditor-General claimed that the audit had been authorised by him to give the cover of his office to what had clearly been initiated by the National Security Co-ordinator’s office”.
He said the misuse of the audit function of the Auditor-General for purely political purposes over the past eight years had been remarkable and cited the cases against the Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata and Mr Kwesi Pratt, the publisher of a privately owned newspaper, although its accounts were outside the purview of the Auditor-General, as well as queries against the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, when he raised issue with the NPP government regarding its attempt to control the procurement processes of the EC.
The minister said an audit report on the 31st December Women’s Movement was also conducted by the Auditor-General which was used in criminal proceedings which were subsequently discontinued.
He said the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, instituted an action against the Daily Guide for publishing those allegations, saying the matter was currently at the Court of Appeal, after an unsuccessful attempt at the High Court.
He said he was not only prepared to resign from his present position but that he would also offer himself for prosecution and suffer any penalties prescribed by law.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, Alhaji Mumuni declared, “Should it be shown or proven that I, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, have stolen a single pesewa of the taxpayer’s money or taken a personal benefit, whether directly or indirectly, or been corrupt or abused my office or been guilty of wrongdoing, I am prepared not only to resign from my present appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration but I will also offer myself for prosecution and suffer any penalties prescribed by law.”
He was responding to calls by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a pressure group, the Alliance for Accountable Government (AFAG), for him to resign his position following the dismissal of his defamation suit against the Daily Guide newspaper and three others by an Accra High Court.
Alhaji Mumuni reiterated the fact that he had never sighted any Auditor-General’s report signed or authenticated by the Auditor-General or on his behalf, neither could the Appointments Committee of Parliament show him a copy or even vouch for the existence of any such report.
He said by the requirements of Article 187, Section 23 (1) of the Audit Service Act, Act 584, the Auditor-General’s report was published only when it had been presented to the Speaker of Parliament and laid before Parliament, saying that no such report had been so laid in Parliament up to date.
He noted that by customs, practices and usage of auditors, persons who were subjects of audit inspections were informed of the fact and allowed to participate in same.
According to him, until the Daily Guide started serialising a purported audit report on him, “I never had the slightest hint that I was the subject of an audit inspection”.
Alhaji Mumuni explained that he was also never given the opportunity to contradict or explain anything alleged against him by the so-called auditors, stressing that “this is obviously contrary to the elementary rules of natural justice”.
The minister stated that the first time he became aware of a forensic audit report on him by Messrs Baffour Awuah & Associates was on May 4, 2004 when the Daily Guide started serialising the draft, which continued on May 6, 18 and 21, 2004.
He said he wrote to the then Minister of Manpower Development, Mr Yaw Barimah, for copies of specified documents and correspondence, which the minister provided under the cover of his letter.
“Armed with these documents which, in the report, the auditors said were not available or never even existed, I called a press conference here in this very hall on May 19, 2004. I addressed the media and in the process debunked the allegations against me and demonstrated that in so far as it related to me, the so-called audit report was a complete fabrication,” he added.
Surprisingly, he said, the very night of the press conference, Mr Barimah’s office was burgled and the CPU to his computer and back-ups were stolen.
Alhaji Mumuni said the case was still being investigated by the Ministries Police.
He said he filed a civil suit at the High Court, claiming damages for defamation of character arising from the libellous words contained in the Daily Guide publications and also obtained an interim injunction against the defendants, restraining them from re-publishing, repeating or publishing similar words against him.
He said in spite of the subsistence of the injunction, the auditors purported to finalise the audit report in September 2004, a conduct which he said was clearly in contempt of the court.
Alhaji Mumuni said the dismissal of his claim for damages against the defendants did not mean that he had been found guilty of any criminal charge.
“I have never been charged with any criminal conduct before a court of law, nor has any charge been brought against me before the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ),” he said.
The minister drew the attention of the media to the fact that it was the same auditors, Baffour Awuah & Associates, who conducted forensic audits involving other NDC officials such as Messrs Dan Abodakpi, Kwame Peprah, Ibrahim Adam and Dr Ato Quarshie.
“During Mr Abodakpi’s trial, it emerged that it was the then National Security Co-ordinator who had appointed Baffour Awuah & Associates to conduct the so-called audit. This firm was handpicked to do political hatchet jobs,” he alleged.
Alhaji Mumuni said during Mr Abodakpi’s trial, “the Auditor-General claimed that the audit had been authorised by him to give the cover of his office to what had clearly been initiated by the National Security Co-ordinator’s office”.
He said the misuse of the audit function of the Auditor-General for purely political purposes over the past eight years had been remarkable and cited the cases against the Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata and Mr Kwesi Pratt, the publisher of a privately owned newspaper, although its accounts were outside the purview of the Auditor-General, as well as queries against the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, when he raised issue with the NPP government regarding its attempt to control the procurement processes of the EC.
The minister said an audit report on the 31st December Women’s Movement was also conducted by the Auditor-General which was used in criminal proceedings which were subsequently discontinued.
He said the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, instituted an action against the Daily Guide for publishing those allegations, saying the matter was currently at the Court of Appeal, after an unsuccessful attempt at the High Court.
Vanguard Training
VANGUARD Assurance Ltd has instituted a refresher training programme for its members of staff to help broaden their horizon in the corporate environment.
The programme, which is the maiden edition, took 21 staff members through marketing and customer service training.
It is expected to last six months and will involve staff from the other regions.
Launching the maiden training programme, the Board Chairman of Vanguard Assurance, Mr William Obuobisa Keteku, said, "Continuing education is very important, no matter the level of a person. It is important to broaden one’s horizon."
He urged the participants to take advantage of the training in order to broaden their horizon in the business society.
He also implored them to demonstrate familyhood to enhance unity in the company.
He complained that there was a lack of integrity in the business world, which was the cause of the setbacks in the corporate society.
Mr Keteku asked them to show good attitude towards customers, as well as treat them with care and respect.
“Develop a different approach to customers,” he added.
The acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Mr Gideon Amenyedor, said the training programme was purposed to sharpen the skills of the staff to enable them to provide good customer care services.
He was optimistic that at the end of the six-month training, which is scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays, Vanguard would be the best company in the insurance sector.
The programme, which is the maiden edition, took 21 staff members through marketing and customer service training.
It is expected to last six months and will involve staff from the other regions.
Launching the maiden training programme, the Board Chairman of Vanguard Assurance, Mr William Obuobisa Keteku, said, "Continuing education is very important, no matter the level of a person. It is important to broaden one’s horizon."
He urged the participants to take advantage of the training in order to broaden their horizon in the business society.
He also implored them to demonstrate familyhood to enhance unity in the company.
He complained that there was a lack of integrity in the business world, which was the cause of the setbacks in the corporate society.
Mr Keteku asked them to show good attitude towards customers, as well as treat them with care and respect.
“Develop a different approach to customers,” he added.
The acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Mr Gideon Amenyedor, said the training programme was purposed to sharpen the skills of the staff to enable them to provide good customer care services.
He was optimistic that at the end of the six-month training, which is scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays, Vanguard would be the best company in the insurance sector.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Mental Health
THE Accra Psychiatric Hospital recorded a total of 30,904 mental cases during the last quarter of 2008 as against 26,261 patients who were admitted in 2007, the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Akwasi Osei, has told the Daily Graphic.
He attributed the increase to schizophrenia, depression, mania and substance abuse. Out of these new cases, there were 2,066 males against 1,854 females.
He expressed regret about the rate at which the youth continued to indulge in alcohol and drug abuse against all advice which were the major causes of mental health in the country.
He advised the public especially the youth to stay away from drugs and alcohol to curb mental illness in the country.
Dr Osei said the challenges faced the hospital included inadequate human resources and financial problems which had compelled the hospital’s authorities to begin mass repatriation of some patients to their respective homes.
Dr Osei appealed to the government to pass the Mental Health Bill (MHB) into law in order to eschew maltreatment of patients by some healers at prayer camps.
He attributed the increase to schizophrenia, depression, mania and substance abuse. Out of these new cases, there were 2,066 males against 1,854 females.
He expressed regret about the rate at which the youth continued to indulge in alcohol and drug abuse against all advice which were the major causes of mental health in the country.
He advised the public especially the youth to stay away from drugs and alcohol to curb mental illness in the country.
Dr Osei said the challenges faced the hospital included inadequate human resources and financial problems which had compelled the hospital’s authorities to begin mass repatriation of some patients to their respective homes.
Dr Osei appealed to the government to pass the Mental Health Bill (MHB) into law in order to eschew maltreatment of patients by some healers at prayer camps.
Ghana benefits
GHANA has started benefiting from a programme to enable it to manage the forest resources of the country in a sustainable manner.
The programme, dubbed, “Moving forward in the implementation of the Non-Legally Binding Instrument (NLBI) in Ghana”, seeks to strengthen the commitment of the government and other key stakeholders in the forestry sector to effectively and sustainably manage all types of forests in the country and achieve common global objectives.
The NLBI is the result of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and is a voluntary adherence to global core principles to put a stop to emerging challenges from depleted and degraded forests, such as climate change conditions and loss of livelihoods.
The NLBI will run for two years, with the Forestry Commission (FC) as the implementing agency and funding from the World Bank.
Funding will be made available through agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the GTZ and the International Union for the Conservation of Forests (IUCN), which will also provide technical support, while the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will back the effort with critical policy initiatives.
It will run concurrently with the Growing Forest Partnerships (GFPs), which is an initiative of the FAO, the IUCN, the World Bank and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), and provides the mechanism for bringing together local and international partnerships and investments to support the forestry sector, sustain livelihoods and preserve ecosystems.
The Technical Director of Forests of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Fredua Agyeman, explaining why Ghana was the first country to benefit from the support of international organisations in the implementation of the NLBI, said the country depended heavily on its forest for livelihood and energy, with about 14 million cubic metres of wood being used as domestic fuel energy yearly.
In six of the country’s 10 regions, the livelihoods of a majority of people also depended on the timber industry.
The challenge, then, he added, was for the country to maintain its forests and sustainably ensure that it stayed above the difficulties of the current climatic and global economic changes.
The Executive Director of the FC, Prof Nii Ashie Kotey, said in preparation for the programme, a steering committee with representation from a cross-section of society had already been set up to oversee the process, adding that a work plan had been approved to feed into the designing of a process to identify gaps in policies for redress.
He was confident that the country was going to utilise resources efficiently to achieve goals under the programme.
The Chief, Forestry Policy Services of the FAO, Ms Eva MÜller, said the programme Ghana experienced in the implementation of the programme might be the model upon which other countries could base their programmes.
She said the preliminary steps of the programme would focus on creating awareness and identifying issues that needed strengthening.
An official of the IUCN, Mr Chris Buss, said the two programmes were in no way going to re-invent the wheel but were geared towards improving existing measures and building the capacity of all.
Mr Kyeretwie Opoku of Civic Response, an NGO that also hosts the secretariat of the Forestry Watch, said a basic representation that would be made was for communities to be able to have access to the forests, share in the benefits and participate in all initiatives.
The programme, dubbed, “Moving forward in the implementation of the Non-Legally Binding Instrument (NLBI) in Ghana”, seeks to strengthen the commitment of the government and other key stakeholders in the forestry sector to effectively and sustainably manage all types of forests in the country and achieve common global objectives.
The NLBI is the result of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and is a voluntary adherence to global core principles to put a stop to emerging challenges from depleted and degraded forests, such as climate change conditions and loss of livelihoods.
The NLBI will run for two years, with the Forestry Commission (FC) as the implementing agency and funding from the World Bank.
Funding will be made available through agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the GTZ and the International Union for the Conservation of Forests (IUCN), which will also provide technical support, while the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will back the effort with critical policy initiatives.
It will run concurrently with the Growing Forest Partnerships (GFPs), which is an initiative of the FAO, the IUCN, the World Bank and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), and provides the mechanism for bringing together local and international partnerships and investments to support the forestry sector, sustain livelihoods and preserve ecosystems.
The Technical Director of Forests of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Fredua Agyeman, explaining why Ghana was the first country to benefit from the support of international organisations in the implementation of the NLBI, said the country depended heavily on its forest for livelihood and energy, with about 14 million cubic metres of wood being used as domestic fuel energy yearly.
In six of the country’s 10 regions, the livelihoods of a majority of people also depended on the timber industry.
The challenge, then, he added, was for the country to maintain its forests and sustainably ensure that it stayed above the difficulties of the current climatic and global economic changes.
The Executive Director of the FC, Prof Nii Ashie Kotey, said in preparation for the programme, a steering committee with representation from a cross-section of society had already been set up to oversee the process, adding that a work plan had been approved to feed into the designing of a process to identify gaps in policies for redress.
He was confident that the country was going to utilise resources efficiently to achieve goals under the programme.
The Chief, Forestry Policy Services of the FAO, Ms Eva MÜller, said the programme Ghana experienced in the implementation of the programme might be the model upon which other countries could base their programmes.
She said the preliminary steps of the programme would focus on creating awareness and identifying issues that needed strengthening.
An official of the IUCN, Mr Chris Buss, said the two programmes were in no way going to re-invent the wheel but were geared towards improving existing measures and building the capacity of all.
Mr Kyeretwie Opoku of Civic Response, an NGO that also hosts the secretariat of the Forestry Watch, said a basic representation that would be made was for communities to be able to have access to the forests, share in the benefits and participate in all initiatives.
AIDS
THE Ghana AIDS Commission has received $11 million from development partners for the treatment, care and prevention of HIV/AIDS in Ghana.
That was part of the annual disbursement for HIV network to fight against HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
The HIV/AIDS network was supposed to deal with the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS in all sectors of development co-operation.
It is the core element of the policy on HIV/AIDS of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development.
Addressing the participants at the Anglophone Africa Network meeting in Accra yesterday, the Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Prof Sakyi Awuku Amoa, said more than half of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa experienced a generalised epidemic of the HIV/AIDS.
"Until we tackle this epidemic with all seriousness it deserves, the developmental gains achieved over the last century in Africa may be wiped away," Prof Amoa said.
He added that it was for that reason development partners and the United Nations agencies came together to support African countries with the technical and financial assistance to curb the pandemic.
He said three million people, on the average, died of HIV-related illnesses annually, with about 80 per cent of these deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
He explained that Eastern and Southern Africa reported the highest rates of HIV infection in the continent, of which more than half of the countries in the sub-Saharan Africa experienced a generalised epidemic.
"Stabilisation of the epidemic in Ghana could not have been achieved without the invaluable contribution of our development partners," he stated.
Prof Amoa noted that Ghana had made significant reduction in the rate of HIV from 2.22 per cent in 2006 to 1.9 per cent in 2007 from the support of the development partners.
That was part of the annual disbursement for HIV network to fight against HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
The HIV/AIDS network was supposed to deal with the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS in all sectors of development co-operation.
It is the core element of the policy on HIV/AIDS of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development.
Addressing the participants at the Anglophone Africa Network meeting in Accra yesterday, the Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Prof Sakyi Awuku Amoa, said more than half of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa experienced a generalised epidemic of the HIV/AIDS.
"Until we tackle this epidemic with all seriousness it deserves, the developmental gains achieved over the last century in Africa may be wiped away," Prof Amoa said.
He added that it was for that reason development partners and the United Nations agencies came together to support African countries with the technical and financial assistance to curb the pandemic.
He said three million people, on the average, died of HIV-related illnesses annually, with about 80 per cent of these deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
He explained that Eastern and Southern Africa reported the highest rates of HIV infection in the continent, of which more than half of the countries in the sub-Saharan Africa experienced a generalised epidemic.
"Stabilisation of the epidemic in Ghana could not have been achieved without the invaluable contribution of our development partners," he stated.
Prof Amoa noted that Ghana had made significant reduction in the rate of HIV from 2.22 per cent in 2006 to 1.9 per cent in 2007 from the support of the development partners.
Principal Sacked
THE Principal of Enchi Teacher Training College in the Western Region, Mrs Victoria Afo has been asked to vacate her post with immediate effect.
According to her, the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council told her that because she was not on the Director II position, she was not qualified to head a training college.
She, however, stated that there were other principals who were not holding the Director II grade but were still at post.
Mrs Afo told the Daily Graphic that she had been the principal of the college for the past two years.
She said she was later informed by the GES that because she did not pass a promotion interview held on January 16, 2009, she was not qualified to be the head of a training college.
She has since vacated her post.
Mr Gregory Amoah, the current head of Zamze Senior High School (SHS) in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region has since been appointed the principal of the college.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the GES, Mr Paul Krampah confirmed the story but could not give details.
He, therefore, directed the Daily Graphic to the Director General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah for details on the issue.
However, all attempts to get details of the matter from Mr Bannerman-Mensah had not been successful as he has been continuously postponing an interview with this writer.
According to her, the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council told her that because she was not on the Director II position, she was not qualified to head a training college.
She, however, stated that there were other principals who were not holding the Director II grade but were still at post.
Mrs Afo told the Daily Graphic that she had been the principal of the college for the past two years.
She said she was later informed by the GES that because she did not pass a promotion interview held on January 16, 2009, she was not qualified to be the head of a training college.
She has since vacated her post.
Mr Gregory Amoah, the current head of Zamze Senior High School (SHS) in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region has since been appointed the principal of the college.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the GES, Mr Paul Krampah confirmed the story but could not give details.
He, therefore, directed the Daily Graphic to the Director General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah for details on the issue.
However, all attempts to get details of the matter from Mr Bannerman-Mensah had not been successful as he has been continuously postponing an interview with this writer.
Council of Churches
A SIXTEEN-member executive for the Odododiodioo Constituency of Local Council of Churches have been officially sworn into office at the weekend in Accra.
The General Overseer, Global Revival Ministry, Dr Rev Ampiah-Kwofie, who sworn in the officers, urged them to work steadfastly in truth and have good functional relations with their various churches no matter their social status.
Two of the executives are females.
The sixteen officers were selected from the various churches within the constituency and registered through the Odododiodioo Local Council of Churches (OLCC) Secretariat.
The OLCC which was registered on June 15, 2007 is aimed at fostering good relations among churches within the constituency and its environs.
It is also aimed to liaise with local and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other governmental agencies to solicit for funds to support the council's developmental programmes.
The President of the OLCC, Prophet Bibioo Kwatelai Owoo, explained that, heads of the Churches within the constituency were disconnected through evil forces which was retarding the progress of the constituency.
He therefore, called on Christians within the locality to come together and fight those evil forces.
Prophet Owoo, urged heads of the various churches to unite and carry on the mission of God.
The new executives are Prophet Bibioo Kwatelai Owoo, President, Rev Seth Nortey, 1st Vice President, Rev Lloyd Annan, 2nd Vice President, Rev Isaac Pitman Ashley, as the Secretary and Rev George Agyepong, Asst Secretary.
Others are, Rev David Otoo, Treasurer, Rev Philip Okai, the Asst Treasurer, Ps Richard Sam Crabbe, Financial Secretary, Rev Isaac Owoo, Organiser, Ps Emmanuel Addo, Asst Organiser, Ps Albert Carlos Tetteh, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Elder Suzzer Coffie, Asst PRO, Rev James Quaye, Chaplain, Rev Richard A Ankrah, Asst Chaplain, Ms Charlotte Sai and Ms Jennifer Adzei as Porters respectively.
The General Overseer, Global Revival Ministry, Dr Rev Ampiah-Kwofie, who sworn in the officers, urged them to work steadfastly in truth and have good functional relations with their various churches no matter their social status.
Two of the executives are females.
The sixteen officers were selected from the various churches within the constituency and registered through the Odododiodioo Local Council of Churches (OLCC) Secretariat.
The OLCC which was registered on June 15, 2007 is aimed at fostering good relations among churches within the constituency and its environs.
It is also aimed to liaise with local and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other governmental agencies to solicit for funds to support the council's developmental programmes.
The President of the OLCC, Prophet Bibioo Kwatelai Owoo, explained that, heads of the Churches within the constituency were disconnected through evil forces which was retarding the progress of the constituency.
He therefore, called on Christians within the locality to come together and fight those evil forces.
Prophet Owoo, urged heads of the various churches to unite and carry on the mission of God.
The new executives are Prophet Bibioo Kwatelai Owoo, President, Rev Seth Nortey, 1st Vice President, Rev Lloyd Annan, 2nd Vice President, Rev Isaac Pitman Ashley, as the Secretary and Rev George Agyepong, Asst Secretary.
Others are, Rev David Otoo, Treasurer, Rev Philip Okai, the Asst Treasurer, Ps Richard Sam Crabbe, Financial Secretary, Rev Isaac Owoo, Organiser, Ps Emmanuel Addo, Asst Organiser, Ps Albert Carlos Tetteh, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Elder Suzzer Coffie, Asst PRO, Rev James Quaye, Chaplain, Rev Richard A Ankrah, Asst Chaplain, Ms Charlotte Sai and Ms Jennifer Adzei as Porters respectively.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Good mentors
YOUNG professional women have been advised to take good mentors in order to enhance their leadership skills and career development.
Speaking with the Daily Graphic, the General Manager of the Aviation Social Centre, Ms Brigritte Dzogbenuku, said young women should be able to jump-start their careers and build character and leadership skills through good mentorship from experienced women in order to erase the problem of inferiority complex.
Ms Dzogbenuku explained that good mentoring created an effective platform to change the livelihood of women in the society.
She added that Ghana currently had a large pool of women talents and resources that could contribute immensely towards inspiring a new cadre of young women leaders in the country.
This is the first time Ghana is holding the “Women Mentoring Women Partnership”, which is an annual global event aimed at connecting experienced women who are eager to give back, with younger women in mentoring relationships, a demonstration of the immeasurable value of mentorship in society.
The event created the opportunity for young professionals to interact with their mentors.
The Programme Officer of Africa Vital Voices Global Partnership, Ms Celena Green, asked the mentors to provide opportunities, as well as promote support networks, for their mentees to explore in their life choices and career developments.
She said mentors should initiate contacts with their mentees to develop cordial relationships.
On the other hand, she asked the mentees to communicate extensively with their mentors and also ask questions bordering on their careers.
“Invest in women to improve the world,” Ms Green said.
Speaking with the Daily Graphic, the General Manager of the Aviation Social Centre, Ms Brigritte Dzogbenuku, said young women should be able to jump-start their careers and build character and leadership skills through good mentorship from experienced women in order to erase the problem of inferiority complex.
Ms Dzogbenuku explained that good mentoring created an effective platform to change the livelihood of women in the society.
She added that Ghana currently had a large pool of women talents and resources that could contribute immensely towards inspiring a new cadre of young women leaders in the country.
This is the first time Ghana is holding the “Women Mentoring Women Partnership”, which is an annual global event aimed at connecting experienced women who are eager to give back, with younger women in mentoring relationships, a demonstration of the immeasurable value of mentorship in society.
The event created the opportunity for young professionals to interact with their mentors.
The Programme Officer of Africa Vital Voices Global Partnership, Ms Celena Green, asked the mentors to provide opportunities, as well as promote support networks, for their mentees to explore in their life choices and career developments.
She said mentors should initiate contacts with their mentees to develop cordial relationships.
On the other hand, she asked the mentees to communicate extensively with their mentors and also ask questions bordering on their careers.
“Invest in women to improve the world,” Ms Green said.
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