Monday, December 1, 2008

DECEMBER 7, DAY OF PEACE (DEC 1, 2008)

GRADUALLY but steadily, we are inching towards the D-day for the December 7 elections. And as we gear up for the polls, tension and anxiety, understandably, have heightened among the electorate.
Interestingly, all the political parties and other individuals in the race are upbeat about victory at the polls. Even the obvious underdogs believe they will win the elections.
All over the world, the electorate are always passionate about electoral contests and in societies where the contests have not been managed properly, the outcomes have led to violence and humanitarian crises.
Ghana nearly fell into that trap following inflammatory remarks by a section of politicians and the media. Fortunately, our religious and traditional leaders and other public-spirited personalities prevailed on the politicians and the media to safeguard the peace and stability of the country.
The Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) have spared no efforts to educate the people about their civic responsibilities, as far as the December polls are concerned. These two bodies were compelled to do so because of the near confusion that characterised the limited registration exercise during which many minors registered.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reminds Ghanaians, particularly parents, not to allow their children to be deceived into getting involved in electoral malpractices. Leaders of the political parties will themselves not engage in electoral malpractices or encourage their children to do so.
It is against this background that we urge the electorate to heed the call by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, on all Ghanaians to resolve not to allow anyone to mislead them into conflict, before, during or after Sunday’s general election.
Ghana’s forthright and great man of God says it is wrong for anyone to compare what happened in Kenya and Zimbabwe to what would happen in Ghana after Sunday’s elections, saying that “we shall not take guns and we should not allow anyone to lead us into conflict after the polls.”
It is unfortunate that certain politicians have made it a habit to cry wolf on the least suspicion and threaten mayhem if things are not done right or do not go according to their plans.
What is more worrying is that despite repeated assurances from the EC that it will be difficult to rig the polls, the doomsday prophets think otherwise and continue to predict violence on Election Day.
It is important to remind those who still doubt the credibility of the EC that the processes for the conduct of elections and the release of the results are quite different from those of most African countries, including Kenya and Zimbabwe. The transparent nature of Ghana’s electoral system was manifest in the way the results in the Pru Constituency were overturned in 2004 even after some hoodlums had burnt down some ballot boxes.
We encourage the political parties that will raise the red flag after the polls to proceed to the courts instead of taking to arms or resorting to violence.
In our collective efforts to conduct the best polls on the continent, the Judiciary has launched a manual on election dispute adjudication and set in motion the processes for the early adjudication of election-related disputes.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reminds the violent characters or the hawks in all political parties that the adoption of self-help to seek redress, instead of relying on the law courts, can only send us back into the state of nature, where violence and confusion reign and the fittest survive.
The last four elections established Ghana as the model of democracy. December 7 will neither be a day for war nor conflict. Ghanaians are a peace-loving people. Election 2008 will be highly competitive and historic but equally free and fair and the outcome will be accepted by all contestants.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

GHANA TO SET ANOTHER RECORD (NOV 29)

WE have lost count of the number of times we have drawn attention to the essence of free, fair and peaceful elections as a prerequisite to the country’s development.
We are also aware that sometimes our readers get bored with the constant reminders of imminent danger or chaos, if certain measures are not put in place before December 7.
With this impression created in the minds of some people, such characters, with the support of a section of the media, managed to poison the atmosphere with the looming Armageddon, if the outcome of the polls did not favour them.
Ghana is on the threshold of a fifth democratic election and on previous occasions, the tension was not that high to compel a section of foreigners to compile a register of their nationals in the country. This was done apparently in anticipation of election-related violence.
And to aggravate the situation, a section of the media also put out information to the effect that some prominent citizens had left the country with their families to escape from the anticipated violence on Election Day.
With the events in Kenya and Zimbabwe very fresh in our minds, the doomsday prophets lost no opportunity to make reference to those countries and warned that should they lose the polls, Ghana would go the way of these two countries.
Even the persistent assurances from the Electoral Commission (EC) to all the political players that it will conduct peaceful polls will not allay their fears as they continue to undermine the credibility of the EC and other governance institutions with their unsubstantiated claims.
The Daily Graphic believes that all genuine concerns should be put on the table for discussion with the view to arriving at a consensus.
It is very dangerous to sweep people’s concerns under the carpet because that attitude has the tendency to bottle up grievances and the consequences can be disastrous.
The Daily Graphic heaves a sigh of relief that almost about a week to the elections next week Sunday, the electorate is beginning to have faith in the security agencies to be in firm control of the situation.
The appeal from the National Security Co-ordinator, Dr Sam G. Amoo, to all Ghanaians to go out and vote as their security is guaranteed is quite refreshing and we urge the security agencies to walk the talk by ensuring the safety of all on Election Day.
The contest for power on December 7 is not about war, so all Ghanaians should approach the event in the same spirit that we went about the four previous polls.
The Daily Graphic warns those who are beating the war drums to desist from such unpatriotic acts and confront the reality of our times by simply engaging the electorate in dialogue by prescribing their visions to the people.
We salute the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for consistently engaging journalists in round-table discussions to remind them of the need to apply professional and ethical standards to their reportage during the run-up to the polls.
The GJA is not teaching journalists any new ethical values but reinforcing what is already in their professional code and the guidelines drawn up by the National Media Commission (NMC).
At a workshop for political reporters in Accra yesterday, the Charge d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission in Accra said "the whole world is asking if there is a future for democracy in Africa. Ghana is able to provide the answer."
With responsible reportage and the facilitating role of the media, our democracy will be on course and become an example to the rest of the continent.
Consequently, the Daily Graphic urges the GJA to purge journalists of the tendency to descend into the gutter and smear the profession with irresponsible reportage that would bring the elections into disrepute and destroy our fledgling democracy.
e

Friday, November 28, 2008

LESSONS FROM TECHIMAN EXPLOSION (NOV 28, 2008)

IT was like a nightmare. The roasting of 25 able-bodied human beings alive in an explosion from an overturned fuel tanker in Tanoso, near Techiman, last Wednesday was a national tragedy.
According to reports, the incident occurred while the people were trying to scoop petrol that was spilling from the vehicle and in the process, the truck exploded, with fire engulfing the crowd.
The dead were said to have been burnt beyond recognition and were buried hours later in a mass grave in the town. At least 50 others, who received various degrees of burns, are in hospital — some at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital while those with cases perceived to be severe have been airlifted to the Okomfo Anokye Hospital in Kumasi and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
And as was to be expected, the story received international publicity and while we were still trying to come to terms with the disaster, some of the Western media insulted our integrity by linking poverty to whatever happened.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is really saddened by this unfortunate incident and, on behalf of our numerous readers, we express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
What makes it even more pathetic is the fact that the incident of people being killed while looting fuel is not a common feature in our country. Such incidents are more common in Cameroon and Nigeria. Indeed, barely four months ago, a similar incident happened in northern Cameroon, while in May, last year, 98 people died as they tried to scoop fuel from a broken-down tanker in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
But since this phenomenon has now caught up with us, it behoves all of us to rally round and educate our people on the danger of scooping fuel from overturned vehicles and other unorthodox sources, if we must avoid another calamity in future.
Furthermore, given the nation’s oil find and the numerous oil pipeline accidents recorded world-wide, it is important that we treat this matter with the urgency it deserves.
Certainly, one sure way to make inroads is to mount an intensive campaign on radio, television and in the newspapers, highlighting the dangers one is exposed to in handling fuel unprofessionally.
In this regard, we are happy that the father of the nation, President J. A. Kufuor, took the lead yesterday to visit the town to mourn with the people and also to advise the chiefs, elders and opinion leaders to educate the people never to go near vehicles of any kind involved in accidents to siphon fuel.
While applauding the President’s timely action, we hope it won’t be the end of the matter, but will be followed by a sustained effort to get everybody to appreciate the danger fuel poses to us in our everyday life. Fuel serves a very useful purpose in our daily endeavours but we can have our fingers burnt if not handled with care.
Finally, we pray for those currently on admission at various hospitals. We wish them speedy recovery.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

BOOST FOR EDUCATION (NOV 27)

ONE refreshing news that will surely gladden the hearts of the people of the Northern Region is the decision by the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) to construct 30 schools in five districts in the region.
The $2.8 million project, which has already been awarded to contractors, will be located in the Savelugu/Nanton, West Mamprusi, Karaga and Tolon-Kumbungu districts, as well as the Tamale metropolis.
The project, which marks the first phase of the construction of school infrastructure, will have such basic amenities as water reservoirs, information and communications technology (ICT) centres, teachers’ quarters, canteens, sanitation facilities, electricity, potable water, among others.
This is a very progressive step in skills empowerment to position our next generation in good stead to contribute to nation-building.
It is hoped that the selection of districts for the first phase of the project was not linked to any political consideration but was done transparently to help in reducing poverty to promote sustainable economic growth.
The Northern Region, arguably the biggest region in Ghana, is one of the highly deprived regions and it is our expectation that the injection of the investment will help to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the beneficiary communities and in the long term engender a paradigm shift in dealing with the challenges of our times.
The DAILY GRAPHIC concedes that the MCA may not have the magic wand for the development challenges, but it is our hope that just like elsewhere where the MCA has supported the people’s endeavours, the fund will make a significant impact on the development of the physical infrastructure, as well as the human resource base, of the country to boost agricultural production.
Similarly, the professional competence of the Ghanaian contractors executing those projects will be put to test, as they are expected to deliver to specifications as a testament to our preparedness to maximise returns from the investment. This is so important because they are expected to deliver the works within six months and the client’s insistence on quality explains why some of the sites for the construction of the schools have been relocated to places where the menace of floods and disasters will be avoided.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the confidence reposed in the local contractors must not be undermined in any way, so that the general perception about the Ghanaian contractor carrying out shoddy work will be a thing of the past.
If they fail in this bid to deliver quality work, their iniquities will surely affect the schoolchildren, the country’s future leaders, and eventually impact negatively on the demand by local contractors to be given preference over their foreign counterparts.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes that within the five-year span of the project, which covers $241 million for agriculture, $143 million for transportation and $101 million for rural development, nearly 230,000 Ghanaians will be lifted from poverty.
The MCA support alone will not yield the desired results without the resolve of the beneficiaries, civil society groups and the government to co-operate with the contractors to achieve value for money and thereby change the fortunes of school-going children in the catchment areas. Let us use our own resources to complement those of the MCA to end the “under-tree schools” syndrome by constructing more school blocks throughout the country.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

GIVE US A BREAK, MALLAM ISA (NOV 26)

GHANAIANS last Monday woke up to another defection story on our political landscape and the man at the centre of the latest event is Mallam Yusuf Isa, a former Minister of Youth and Sports in the Kufuor administration who was jailed for causing financial loss to the state.
Ordinarily, such a development should not raise eyebrows because many people have become used to the ‘politricks’ of our times, especially as the D-day for the elections fast approaches.
However, in the statement he read to the press announcing his decision to defect to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mallam Isa said certain things that cannot be swept under the carpet.
Hear him: “I am meeting you today to correct an erroneous impression created by the NPP government and its cohorts that I, Mallam Isa, stole and wilfully caused financial loss to the state while serving in the Kufuor administration. I have to do so especially because recent events have confirmed my long-held position that the NPP fraternity SET ME UP.” (caps ours)
The DAILY GRAPHIC is fully aware that under the tenets of the 1992 Constitution, freedom of movement and association is fully guaranteed. Mallam Isa, therefore, has every right under the sun to associate with any political party of his choice. That is his inalienable right.
But, for goodness sake, in so doing he must not insult the sensibilities of Ghanaians by propagating falsehood, untruth, fiction and plain lies. He must appreciate that in all things, comment is free but facts are always sacred.
Were we all not in this country barely seven years ago when Mallam Isa was found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction for causing financial loss of $46,000 meant as imprest and payment of the bonuses of members of the senior national team, the Black Stars, during a World Cup qualifying match in The Sudan on February 25, 2001?
A year later — on April 2, 2002 — did Mallam Isa not get the opportunity to appeal against his conviction, only for him to lose again? So why is he being economical with the truth? Or has he, so soon, forgotten the facts of the case?
After the players and some officials had left for The Sudan, it was agreed that Mallam Isa should send the money for the payment of per diem and imprest when it was released. He said the release of the money had been processed on February 23 and Mr James Piimi, the Principal Accountant, had given it to the ex-minister. The money was in three parcels of $46,000 for the winning bonus and imprest, $8,686 for per diem and $1,042 per diem for the ex-minister himself.
Pleading for bail, Alhaji Nuhu-Billa, counsel for Mallam Isa, said he accepted the charge of fraudulently causing financial loss to the state, adding, "We are prepared to mobilise funds to pay back."
In our desperation to score cheap political points, let us not belittle the intelligence of Ghanaians by throwing the basic rule of truth, justice and fair play to the dogs.
Nobody is interested in raking old wounds, but as a responsible newspaper we cannot turn a blind eye when facts are being twisted on the altar of political expediency.
For now, we advise Mallam Isa to give discerning Ghanaians a break.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

WE NEED TO WORK HARDER (NOV 25)

THE global financial crisis is taking a toll on the economies of the world’s industrialised countries, and since most developing and emerging economies are linked to those of the developed world, the likelihood that developing countries will suffer most cannot be underestimated.
However, the good news is that the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have said that Ghana’s economy is still robust and can withstand any likely difficulties from the fallout from the world economic crisis.
At the launch of the Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu Finance and Economic Journalist of the Year Award and economic seminar series in Accra yesterday, the three institutions were quick to add that there was the need for the country to focus more on domestic revenue mobilisation. The institutions also called for more expenditure control to ensure that the government did not over run its budget.
These disclosures should gladden the heart of every Ghanaian, but it must equally be noted that we should not become complacent just because the economy has scored good marks from the Breton Woods institutions.
The government should seriously be thinking of how to generate more revenue, while at the same time bringing its expenditure under control. The country has a sizeable current account deficit which it has, in part, funded through foreign borrowing, including the eurobond issue.
It is equally becoming a challenge to keep a lid on fiscal expenditure in the run-up to the elections. The temptation for ruling governments to spend heavily during election periods is very high and for that matter it will be difficult for Ghana to escape this trap. Be that as it may, the government should muster the political and economic will to control unnecessary and unplanned expenditure in the interest of sound economic growth.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes the future of the economy rests on the government’s attitude to the country’s agricultural programmes to ensure that the country will be self-sufficient in food production all-year round.
With lower food prices, there is the likelihood that inflation will be contained, as the food component constitutes more than 50 per cent of the basket of the Consumer Price Index. The evidence is there for all to see, since the prices of foodstuffs dropped, the rate of inflation has inched slightly downwards over the last two months.
Furthermore, the government, in its efforts at making life easier for the ordinary man, recently reduced the ex-pump prices of petroleum products. This, however, has not trickled down to the ordinary person who uses tro-tros or taxis regularly. Drivers have refused to reduce their fares. The only beneficiaries of the reduction in the prices of petroleum products are private car owners.
Our position is that the government should have maintained the level of prices and channelled the revenue accruing from that into other important sectors such as the expansion of the school feeding programme, improving the road network or extending it to the food-producing areas and establishing small dams for irrigation.
It is our cherished hope that the various safety nets to absorb the meltdown of the global financial crisis between now and next year should be programmes that can be sustained till 2010 when we begin to factor in revenue from the oil boom and the West African Gas Pipeline project.
For now, Ghana has avoided the snares of the financial crisis. But what we are not sure of is the effect of the policy interventions from the industrialised nations next year. But our trump card lies in revenue mobilisation and expenditure control by growing what we eat and eating what we grow.

Monday, November 24, 2008

ENCOURAGING WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC LIFE (NOV 24)

THROUGHOUT the world women face obstacles in their bid to participate in the decision-making process. These barriers exist in prevailing social and economic systems, as well as existing political structures.
In 2007, the rate of female representation in national legislatures stood at merely 18 per cent globally. Only 19 countries in the world have achieved the goal of 30+ per cent women’s representation, a goal which was adopted in Beijing in 1995.
The situation in Ghana is not different from the trend of low representation of women in the world. Currently, women constitute only 10.8 per cent of the 230-member Parliament in the country, although they constitute 51 per cent of the national population.
The fact that only few women find themselves in Parliament implies that a sizeable proportion of people in the country are under-represented and the ideal situation of ensuring parity between men and women still remains distant.
Last Friday, some women aspiring to become parliamentarians in the December 7 election made a call for the setting up of a fund to support women who will contest parliamentary seats in the future.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes the appeal for support from aspiring women parliamentarians deserves attention.
In 2006, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, having realised that lack of financial support was the major obstacle to the aspirations of women who wished to aspire to decision-making positions, put in place a fund known as the Women In Local Governance Fund (WILGF) to support women who aspired to contest district level elections.
Apart from the setting up of funds, we can explore the possibility of introducing quota systems to ensure that women are fairly represented in Parliament. During the First Republic in 1960, there were 10 women in Parliament. Those women were appointed by the then President through an affirmative action policy.
The current Parliament has 25 women but what is disturbing is that fewer women are contesting the December 7 parliamentary election. Of the large number of women who showed interest, only 53 successfully went through the primaries. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is presenting 11 women; the Convention People’s Party (CPP), 15; the New Patriotic Party (NPP), 16; the People’s National Convention (PNC), 13, with the rest coming from the other political parties.
The world is moving from rhetoric to action to ensure that women play more active roles in national development. We still live in a man’s world but we need a more gender sensitive approach to national development so that women’s contribution in society can be felt in all endeavours.
The myth that certain professions are the preserve of men has long been broken, as women are currently engaged in areas such as agriculture, engineering, aviation, auto mechanics, among other sectors.
Women have won the best teacher and best farmer awards and excelled in the academic field, obtaining First Class honours in our universities.
What more evidence do we need to recognise the need for a fruitful partnership between males and their female counterparts for progress in society?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

WELL DONE, PRESIDENT (NOV 22, 2008)

THE Council of State held a meeting with President J.A. Kufuor last Thursday, during which the council commended the President for his selfless service to Ghanaians.
In his introductory remarks at the quarterly meeting with the President, the Chairman of the council, Professor Daniel Adzei-Bekoe, congratulated the President warmly on his many achievements — from overcoming the HIPC economic condition at the beginning of his tenure in 2001 to the several successes and legacies which he was about to leave for his successor.
The council also mentioned physical monuments such as impressive football stadia in Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale, as well as the magnificent Golden Jubilee House, which seems to have generated so much discussion over priorities and values.
We are not unaware that a section of the public will misconstrue the commendation of the President by the council, but this is to be expected in a diverse and polarised society.
Whatever our political differences, we should be able to recognise the performance of even our arch political opponents and publicly acknowledge their contributions to national development efforts.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that President Kufuor has paid his due during his tenure and that it will be a mark of ingratitude to ignore his achievements while the international community trumpets his contributions to world peace and development.
The list of policy initiatives will be inexhaustive but suffice it, on this occasion, to enumerate a few.
At the beginning of his tenure, President Kufuor adopted the HIPC initiative, much against the popular position at the time, repealed the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law, introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme, Free Health Care for Pregnant Women and embarked on major infrastructural renewal in the road, health and educational sectors.
No matter the spin that is given to an assessment of President Kufuor’s tenure, the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks his tenure deserves to be celebrated because he has brought honour to Ghana.
The country’s rating in the international community is quite impressive because of our remarkable economic and political credentials. We have held four successful elections since 1992 without the violence associated with elections in other countries, while our economy remains relatively stable, even when advanced economies are on the brink of recession.
The DAILY GRAPHIC concedes that there are other areas that the government could have performed better, such us confronting corruption in a more robust manner, dealing with the unemployment problem, as well as better service conditions for all public sector workers.
As the President works hard to end his tenure, let us give praise where it is due and graciously draw attention to the shortcomings, so that his successor can avoid those pitfalls.
Furthermore, we urge all well-meaning Ghanaians to share in the glory of the President, for although leadership is a heavy responsibility, the present government has performed creditably with the support of the people.
However, for those who still think that the President deserves no such commendation, we remind them of the Akan adage, “Se wotan okwaduo a, na wayi ne mmrika”, to wit, “even if you hate the duiker, you must acknowledge its speed”.

Friday, November 21, 2008

PROTECTING OUR WATER BODIES (NOV 21, 2008)

WATER resources in the country have been under threat as a result of human activities. There is widespread encroachment on water bodies through farming activities and the construction of structures on water courses.
Years ago it was a taboo for anybody to engage in any endeavour near water bodies. In some communities, rivers are considered as gods and sacrifices are offered periodically to protect them. For these reasons, green belts are always created along the rivers in order to avoid unnecessary siltation and evaporation.
Today, through our utter disregard for the basic rules prescribed by our traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure order, we cannot sustain development processes.
As a result, the population boom, industrial expansion and our lack of respect for the exploitation of natural resources in a responsible manner have rendered us poor.
Thus we are unable to produce abundant food to feed ourselves, while water too is becoming a scarce resource throughout the world. It is acknowledged at all international conferences that the next world war is likely to be fought over water, in apparent reference to the dwindling nature of water resources.
Ghana can boast of many water bodies, for which reason the impression is created that the country cannot be in need of water. The threat posed to all these water bodies is manifested during the dry season when the water recedes, making it difficult for the systems to pump water to consumers.
Earlier this year, the looming water scarcity was evident throughout the country when every day residents of major cities, particularly Accra, carried yellow gallons, popularly called “Kufuor gallons”, in search of water.
The spectacle appeared quite embarrassing in Accra, the gateway to the country, compelling some commentators to say that the situation reflected the failure of the government to deliver on its mandate to improve the standard of living of the people.
The government did not relent in the face of the criticisms but assured the people that it had initiated moves to renew the country’s water systems.
This week, President J.A. Kufuor has fulfilled that promise by inaugurating three water plants at Sekyere Hemang and Bafikrom in the Central Region and Weija in Accra.
Residents of Accra, especially those in the eastern part, will be happy that with the interconnection of the Weija supply system with the Kpong system, water supply to places such as Adentan, Madina, Teshie, Nungua and La will be enhanced considerably.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends all the stakeholders — the government, MTN and other donors — who supported all the water system renewal projects in the country.
Nonetheless, the threat to water availability will not end with the provision of these facilities if, collectively, we do not protect our water bodies.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that there are other things that we need to desist from, such as the use of potable water for gardening and washing of cars, so that we can conserve this scarce resource for human survival.
The abuse of the environment must also stop so that the water bodies can support the country’s development agenda. We must also pay our bills regularly, while those who tamper with pipelines should desist from the practice in order to make one of the basic necessities of life — water — accessible to all.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

LET'S CONTINUE TO DIALOGUE (NOV 20)

WITH barely 17 days left for the December 7 general election, some concerned citizens in the country from different political persuasions and backgrounds have initiated programmes and activities to sensitise Ghanaians to the need to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
Already, some religious denominations and other peace-loving Ghanaians have been on their knees since the beginning of the year to seek divine intervention so that some of the nasty incidents that erupted in some countries in the sub-region and other parts of the continent as a result of disputed elections do not rear their ugly heads in our dear country.
Various concerns have been expressed over the pockets of violence that were recorded in some parts of the country, particularly clashes between some supporters and sympathisers of the two major political parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
As we draw closer to the polls, accusations and counter-accusations from both the NPP and the NDC have heightened the political temperature in the country.
It is based on this fact that the DAILY GRAPHIC applauds the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac Manu, for calling for a meeting between the leadership of the NPP and that of the NDC, the leading contenders in the December polls, to deliberate on some of the thorny issues with the view to eliminating all the suspicions and mistrust that have characterised their relationship, especially in the run up to the polls.
However, it is unfortunate that the leadership of the NDC has turned down the gesture for building a rapport between supporters of the two parties.
The DAILY GRAPHIC begrudges nobody for rejecting an offer to dialogue when disagreements emerge in society. But the time-tested traditions of Ghanaians include their commitment to remain at the dialogue table to “jaw jaw” until they reach a consensus.
We believe that in spite of the frustrations of the NDC over the apparent feet dragging over the prosecution of those perceived to have wronged NDC supporters, the leadership of the NDC should welcome the gesture and use the platform to expose whoever is trying to shield the suspected criminals.
As the ruling political party, the NPP can raise a voice against perceived injustices in the system, but when the cases are being handled by the police or the courts, it is only appropriate to allow the processes to continue.
The time has come for all Ghanaians to respect state institutions charged with the responsibility of delivering certain mandates and co-operate with them to achieve such goals.
It is unfortunate that less than three weeks to the elections, some political parties believe the Electoral Commission (EC) is working against them. Yet, when the EC delivered 50 vehicles to the political parties, they sang from the same hymn book and sheet in their commendation of the EC.
No state institution is a perfect creation so long as it is manned by human beings. That is why constant exchanges among parties in disagreement offer the best platform to interrogate the issues for the best remedies to be found.
The alternative is objectionable, as it can only engender passion, emotions and tension, instead of cool-headedness, compromises, compassion and concensus-building during the run-up to December 7.
It is important to remind Ghanaians that all over the world no disagreement or conflict has been resolved outside the framework of a dialogue. The end to the conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone is a classic example of what dialogue and accommodation can achieve even after the parties in dispute had spilled blood unnecessarily.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

STATUTORY BODIES MUST BITE NOW (NOV 19)

THE explosion at Ablekuma NIC, near Accra, last Monday that reduced a warehouse to rubble has once again exposed the weaknesses in the country’s regulatory framework.
As expected, the blame game has begun, with the revelation that warehouses are not supposed to be sited at residential areas. It is unfortunate that as a people we have never been able to punish those who flout laws, resulting in calamities or major casualties such as the Ablekuma explosion.
The Greater Accra Regional Fire Officer, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mr Ayarko Atobrah, blamed the explosion on the inappropriate siting of the warehouse, emphasising that warehouses were not supposed to be sited at residential areas.
The obvious question, then, is, which authority gave the owner the permission to site the warehouse at a residential area? Since district assemblies have statutory jurisdiction over physical development, that remit falls within the authority of the Ga West District Assembly, within whose administrative area Ablekuma falls.
The DAILY GRAPHIC feels the sense of frustration among residents of areas where some developers have decided to flout the regulations with impunity because of the failure of the system to deal with deviants.
This is not least expected in a society where vice has become a virtue and law-abiding persons are exposed to public ridicule and referred to as docile and weak.
There is hope, however, that the Ghana National Fire Service will be alive to its pledge to investigate the cause of the explosion, as it has been alleged that the warehouse belonged to a Nigerian business woman who deals in children’s toys and fire crackers.
It is very early in the day to draw any conclusions because it is yet to be confirmed that fire crackers were stored in the warehouse.
Our mantra with this revelation is that in November 2006, the Police Administration reminded the public that under Executive Instrument (EI) 21, which was made on September 9, 1999, the manufacture, possession or carrying of fire crackers, often known as knockout, display shells, artillery shells and ball and canister shells were prohibited.
The regulations about fire crackers are very unambiguous and it is our expectation that the axe will fall on the owner of the warehouse if it is established that the banned explosives caused the explosion.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that if strong signals are given by punishing public officials who connive with developers to site structures at unauthorised places, everybody will learn to make respect for rules the most virtuous behaviour.
The collapse of the warehouse brings painful memories of those who died through similar circumstances in the past because our statutory institutions, such as the district assemblies, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Town and Country Planning Department, shirked their responsibilities.
As we mourn the painful loss of the five persons and wish those injured speedy recovery, we call on the government to descend heavily on anybody found to have failed to discharge his or her duties well in the siting of the warehouse at Ablekuma.
We can no longer look on in helpless amazement while a few unscrupulous persons take the law into their own hands and condemn majority of the people to avoidable pain and loss of lives.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

DETERMINED TO LEAVE A LEGACY (NOV 18, 2008)

PRESIDENT J.A. Kufuor has decided to leave no stone unturned in finishing hard what he promised to do during his eight-year tenure — to touch the lives of majority of Ghanaians.
Although some of the policies were not intended for self-gratification, the beneficiaries have named some of them after him. Thus we have the “Kufuor dollar” as a result of the redenomination exercise and the “Kufuor bus” in recognition of the relief the Metro Mass Transit offers to commuters.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends President Kufuor for inaugurating 250 new buses for the Private Sector Fleet Renewal Project to improve the capacity of the private sector transport industry to provide safe and affordable transport services for the public.
This initiative must be informed by the fact that an effective road transport system enhances the movement of people and goods for social interaction and trade boom.
In countries where rail transport has collapsed and air travel costs a fortune, the best bet for any commuter is by road.
And from time immemorial the private sector has helped to make available fleets of buses on our roads. But for their involvement, the state would have found it very difficult providing efficient transport services for the public.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has, for many years, operated in a more organised and efficient manner, for which reason its buses can be found in all corners of the country.
Other transport organisations such as the Ghana Co-operative Transport Society and the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) have also demonstrated their readiness to play key roles in the running of intra and inter-city transport services.
A couple of years ago, the GPRTU was considered a very disciplined transport union whose leadership would not tolerate indiscipline and was quick to “name and shame” those who flouted road traffic regulations with impunity in order to avoid carnage on our roads.
Unfortunately, the liberalised atmosphere that offers opportunity for the formation of many transport unions has led to a situation whereby some drivers operate under no strict guidelines on our roads. This group of drivers, popularly called “overlapping drivers” or “floating drivers”, hardly submit to any discipline or respect road traffic regulations.
It is our expectation that the collaboration among the Yutong Company of China, J. A. Plant Pool, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), the Intercontinental Bank, the GPRTU and the Ministry of Transportation will endure, yield positive results and lead to a boom in the transport industry in the country.
We are delighted that this latest initiative has taken into account the high operation cost and factored after-sales services into the sales agreement. In the past initiatives like this were launched with a lot of fanfare but faded into history because the buses were not made to suit the conditions of our roads. Thankfully, the present arrangement has recognised our peculiar circumstances in order to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
The DAILY GRAPHIC encourages the parties in the partnership to heed President Kufuor’s advice to Ghanaians to improve on their work ethics and general discipline, since they were the drivers of productivity, without which investments would fail.
We echo the admonition that the success of the partnership lies in a new sense of commitment to work and respect for road traffic regulations. It is only when the operators of the vehicles observe the rules that they can provide safe, efficient and affordable services for the public.

Monday, November 17, 2008

NO ARMEGEDDON ON DECEMBER 7

AS the nation inches to December 7, when Ghanaians will elect the successor to President J. A. Kufuor, as well as 230 Members of Parliament (MPs), the atmosphere continues to be poisoned day in and day out by the same people who are seeking the mandate to govern.
It is, indeed, unfortunate that some have referred to the sad events in Kenya and Zimbabwe as possible repercussions in our dear country, should the election results not favour their political parties.
The tension is further aggravated by the constant claim by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is planning to rig the upcoming elections.
Sadly enough, some social commentators are feeding fat on this propaganda and have frequently made reference to the elections as a period when Ghana would experience an Armageddon. Reports indicate that the hate propaganda by these personalities has created panic in a section of the global society, particularly the international community.
However, the DAILY GRAPHIC would like to re-echo the words of Dr Sam Amoo, the National Security Co-ordinator, that “the December 7 polls would lead to a consolidation of our democratic governance and serve as a model for the rest of the countries in the sub-region, some of whom had experienced violence and even civil wars”.
Indeed, we urge all Ghanaians not to see the elections as a war but just a regular contest for the leadership of the country and have absolute faith that they will be conducted in a peaceful manner.
In 1992, after about 11 years of military dictatorship, elections were held, despite protestations from many of the political parties which thought that the then military government, which had transformed itself into a political party, was both a referee and a player and, therefore, they did not find the electoral process transparent enough.
Some of parties that contested the presidential election claimed the poll was rigged, leading to the boycott of the subsequent parliamentary election. Supporters of those aggrieved parties threatened to take to the streets but their leadership impressed upon them not to do so. What one party could do was to write ‘THE STOLEN VERDICT’.
Since then, there have been major reforms in the electoral process. We used to have opaque ballot boxes; they were changed for transparent ones. We did not have photo ID cards for voters throughout the country; but now, all that is history as every registered voter has a photo ID card. Another feather in our cap is that voting is done in the open and ballots are counted at polling stations and the results so declared are certified by the various party agents.
The threat of violence and Armageddon awaiting us on December 7 is, therefore, uncalled-for and can only be the chorus from prophets of doom. Anybody who is contesting for power in this year’s elections and has been able to convince the electorate about his programmes and messages should be confident that he or she will get the endorsement of the people, come December 7. There is, therefore, no need for violence or for people to shout wolf when what we all can see are pets.
As a nation, we have the collective responsibility to assure the international community that the accolades given to us as a hospitable people and an oasis of peace in a volatile sub-region are no fluke and that, truly, we deserve the recognition.
Ghana is our only heritage and we cannot trade it for personal gain. Let us put the prophets of doom to shame on December 7.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

FOCUSSING ON FISHING INDUSTRY (NOV 15)

THE importance of modern fishing harbours and cold stores in the economic empowerment of any nation has never been in doubt.
In more ways than one, such projects contribute immensely to national food security and poverty reduction, not to mention the increase in domestic fish production to meet the protein needs of the people.
It is against this background that the DAILY GRAPHIC is delighted that President J.A. Kufuor yesterday cut the sod for work to begin on a fishing harbour, landing sites and a cold store at James Town in Accra and five other places along the coast in the Greater Accra, Western, Volta and Central regions.
The projects, estimated at $148 million, are being funded by the government, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the governments of The Netherlands and Spain.
The other good news is that each of the landing sites will be fitted with facilities for mending nets, a premix fuel depot, crèches or day care centres, an administration block, a power station, a fish market and net storage facilities.
By all standards these are very laudable projects and we urge whoever succeeds President Kufuor to give them priority attention and ensure that they are completed within the shortest possible time for the good of our people.
But even before the projects are completed, the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks it is only appropriate that the Ministry of Fisheries organises programmes directed at improving local artisanal fishing, with components to specifically address issues such as capacity building (training in modern fishing, improved fish handling and fish processing techniques), credit schemes, numeracy, the establishment of co-operative societies, etc, with the view to fully equipping our fishermen for the task ahead.
Today, fish processing is still traditional in nature and limited to fish smoking and fermentation, to a lesser extent. The increasing demand for fuel wood for fish smoking is causing deforestation in coastal areas and the loss of mangrove forests — a situation which is unacceptable, especially when global warming is staring us in the face.
As we make efforts to introduce modern equipment and processes into the industry, one issue we must deal with decisively is pair trawling, which is threatening to destroy the industry. We cannot afford to pump so much money into the industry only to watch it go down the drain as a result of the negative activities of intruders.
Much as these projects would serve as morale boosters to the fishing industry, we pray that we do not allow our poor maintenance culture to run down the facilities when they become functional.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes that the government’s investment in the fishing industry will yield positive results and put to rest claims that the industry has been neglected.

UNDER-TREE SCHOOLS' HINDER EDUCATION (NOV 13)

MAJOR strides have been made in the provision of educational infrastructure throughout the country since our attainment of nationhood.
Successive governments since independence have allocated the lion’s share of the national budget to finance the educational sector. This is in recognition of the fact that human resource empowerment is the backbone of national development.
The country’s forward march lies in the availability of a large corps of skilled manpower ready to lead the assault on the challenges that hold back our development.
Unfortunately, hard as we try as a nation to modernise educational curricula, update infrastructure and improve conditions of service of educational workers, we are still far away from the goals captured in the reports of the various educational reform committees.
The DAILY GRAPHIC considers the introduction of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) as a bold attempt to break the hurdles that hindered education financing in the past.
The GETFund is helping to renew infrastructure and other educational facilities in both basic and second-cycle institutions. One positive manifestation of the fund is the request from proprietors of private educational institutions to be allowed to access the fund to improve facilities in their institutions.
The DAILY GRAPHIC finds it refreshing that pragmatic steps are being taken now to stop the practice of pupils in certain parts of the country attending classes under trees.
They are known as “under-tree schools” and at the last count in 2004 about 2,000 schools were found to have existed under trees, a situation which caught the attention of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports and the GETFund for redress.
The Administrator of the GETFund, Mr Fosuaba Mensah Banahene, told the DAILY GRAPHIC that since last year the GETFund had provided funding for the construction of 1,000 school blocks to provide classroom accommodation for schools which held classes under trees.
Many Ghanaians have always been stunned by the spectacle of children studying under trees or in classrooms without chairs.
We commend the GETFund for its support for these schools to reduce the stress on teachers who teach under such conditions and make the school environment attractive to all children of school age.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to take immediate steps to provide modern classroom blocks for the rest of the schools under trees.
Ghana is touted as one of the few countries on the road to meeting some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and since access to primary education is one of the measurable goals, it is only proper for the government to end the spectacle of “under-tree schools”.
It can only be a relic of backwardness which must change immediately if we must attain universal access to education. We are not only interested in access to education nation-wide but also qualitative education that can churn out the skilled manpower to champion our development agenda.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

WE CHERISH PEACE IN POVERTY (NOV 12, 2008)

PARTICIPATORY democracy can endure only in an environment where the people observe certain critical benchmarks.
These include the right to form political parties, the holding of regular elections, the existence of an independent electoral regulatory body and a free media landscape.
Other prerequisites include peaceful electioneering based on issues, instead of personality attacks, the refusal of the incumbent to abuse incumbency and the impartial attitude of security and electoral officials in the discharge of their duties.
A few weeks to the general election on December 7, 2008, some politicians and concerned citizens have expressed apprehension concerning the readiness of the Electoral Commission (EC) to superintend free and fair polls. Their concerns stem from the registration of minors during the limited registration exercise, the bloated register, the frequent violent confrontation between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the lack of confidence in the security agencies to be professional in the performance of their duties on polling day.
It is worrying that, in spite of the assurances by the government and the institutions charged with working towards peaceful polls, some elements still act as doomsday prophets, predicting mayhem if they lose the elections.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the time has come for all to go into the December 7 contest with a clear mind, in the hope that a level-playing field will be provided. We cannot have a foolproof system, but the checks and balances put in place by the EC, some of them agreed upon at Inter-Party Advisory Committee meetings, should allay the fears of those who still doubt the credibility of the EC.
We cannot afford to take any false steps because the run-up to the polls and the period thereafter are under the watchful eyes of the international community, hence its decision to deploy observers in numbers that are unparalleled in the electoral history of the country.
The DAILY GRAPHIC expects all stakeholders to play their part as effectively as possible to ensure peace before, during and after the polls to establish Ghana’s record as a growing democracy in Africa.
We are concerned that it is in the spirit of fairness at the polls that the Ministry of the Interior has decided to assign security details to all the eight presidential candidates, as well as efforts to arrange general security for all parliamentary candidates.
The DAILY GRAPHIC recalls a similar offer in the past which was turned down by some of the presidential candidates, apparently for lack of trust in the security personnel. That notwithstanding, we should build bridges of friendship, regardless of our political differences, for the sake of our common heritage.
The slogans of the ruling party and the parties in opposition indicate their readiness to promote improved standards of living. Once again, we are on a journey to attain the dreams of our forebears. The only difference is the platform on which the parties stand to propagate the means by which they will realise those dreams.
For this reason, it makes no sense to shed blood or break the limbs of those we want to lift out of poverty in our attempt to win political power.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the electorate to reject all those who preach violence at the polls in order to send strong signals to politicians that in the midst of our poverty, we shall jealously guard and cherish our peace, stability and freedom.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

KORLE BU DOES IT AGAIN (NOVEMBER 10, 2008)

MANY people yesterday heaved a sigh of relief at the news that the country’s premier hospital, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, had performed the first kidney transplant in the history of medical practice in Ghana.
The reports said an 11-member team from the Birmingham University Hospital, with support from Transplant Links in the United Kingdom, assisted their Ghanaian counterparts to undertake the kidney transplant on a 24-year-old man.
This medical feat also brought to the fore the large number of people in need of kidney transplant in the country. More than 200 Ghanaians throughout the country need kidney transplant, some of whom have had to depend on renal dialysis to survive. A dialysis costs 100 euros per session and kidney patients require three sessions of dialysis a week.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends all those whose efforts led to that medical intervention to offer relief to people suffering from renal failure.
The fatality rates resulting from kidney failure are not readily available but if renal failure accounts for 10 per cent of medical admissions at Korle-Bu, then the kidney failure challenge is legion.
It appears that extra support for our national health system can lead to major savings in the healthcare budget as treatment for most deadly diseases can be done by our doctors, with international collaboration.
Under the programme, the team will visit Ghana three times next year and the collaboration will continue until a fully trained Ghanaian team has been put in place within two years to undertake the transplant on its own.
Until recently, heart patients had had to seek medical treatment abroad until Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, an internationally acclaimed heart surgeon, braved all odds and established the National Cardiothoracic Centre.
It was not easy to convince the authorities to buy into the idea to establish the Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle-Bu, but Prof. Frimpong-Boateng persisted and today the centre has become famous in the entire sub-region for the treatment of heart diseases.
As a developing nation, it will not be easy to satisfy the requests from all sectors of the economy because of competition for scarce resources.
Be that as it may, the onus rests on the government to prioritise its activities in order to allocate a substantial portion of national revenue to cater for the health needs of the people to give expression to the dictum of “a healthy mind in a healthy body.”
The DAILY GRAPHIC considers the kidney transplant breakthrough as a source of great joy and hope to those suffering from renal failure. The nation has lost many of its skilled and unskilled manpower through kidney failure and the transplant, although expensive, offers a ray of hope to those with kidney problems.
We call on the government to support all our teaching hospitals with the necessary equipment to provide treatment for the illnesses that afflict our people for which treatment can only be accessed abroad.
Let this feat not be a nine days’ wonder and dash the hopes of many people with kidney problems. The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has shown the way as a centre of excellence in Ghana and beyond.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, urges all Ghanaians to demonstrate their benevolence towards the Kidney Foundation so that all those in the queue for kidney transplant can be saved.

Monday, November 10, 2008

CONCERTED ACTION NEEDED NOW (NOV 10, 2008)

PUBLIC condemnation of the cause of last Saturday’s fatal accident on the outskirts of Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region again reinforces the directive by President J. A. Kufuor to the police to enforce road traffic regulations in order to stem the carnage on our roads.
From the look of things, road accidents are claiming more lives than any of the killer diseases, although we have no survey data to buttress our viewpoint.
We are stunned by the sheer number of fatalities that are recorded in a single road accident to conclude that the spate of accidents and the concomitant high rate of deaths caused have assumed epidemic proportions. What makes the trend worrying is the fact that many of the accidents are caused by human error.
In the accident involving a 207 Benz bus and a KIA truck at Twimea Nkwanta, near Techiman, it was alleged that a task force of the Forestry Services Division allegedly shot a front tyre of the KIA truck which was carrying sawn timber, making the driver to lose control of the truck, which then collided head on with the bus, resulting in the death of 20 people on the spot.
The irony of the tragedy that confronts us in recent times is that many of the fatal accidents occur on very good roads. The trend, therefore, confirms the general belief that drivers plying deplorable roads tend to be more circumspect and observe road traffic regulations.
Occasionally, and at regular intervals, the police and the National Road Safety Commission organise road safety campaigns to educate motorists and commuters on the need to observe regulations on the road.
Perhaps road safety campaigns should be made part and parcel of the routine exercises that all road users, particularly drivers, must undergo every day before being allowed to sit behind steering wheels. The present practice, whereby the campaigns are vigorous during festive occasions such as Easter and Christmas, is not good enough.
Except for the complaints from a section of drivers that some policemen on motor checks allegedly extort money from drivers, we think that the presence of the police on the roads helps to reduce acts of indiscipline among drivers.
Sometimes our collective failure to call deviants in society to order has led to avoidable calamities, thereby depriving many households of their breadwinners.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the only way to stem the carnage on our roads is to review the process of licensing drivers, particularly those who want to drive commercial vehicles.
Road accidents have become a big drain on the national economy in terms of loss of lives, loss of man-hours and expenditure on the treatment of the injured.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, calls on the government to institute an inquiry into the cause of the Techiman accident in order to establish the identity of the members of the timber task force so that they can face the law.
The behaviour of members of timber task forces has become an embarrassment to those who constituted them. Their actions have always led to avoidable deaths. A few months ago, police reinforcement had to be called in to quell mob action at Ofankor when a stray bullet hit one of the dealers in timber products there.
We are faced with many other challenges and the country cannot afford the cost of the incompetence of public officers who are paid by the taxpayer. Heads must roll now to serve as a deterrent to members of timber task forces who have become laws unto themselves.
The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes the injured speedy recovery. To the families of the deceased, we extend our heartfelt condolences.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

AYEKOO TO OUR FARMERS (NOV 7, 2008)

TODAY, the state will honour all hardworking farmers at ceremonies throughout the country, with the national awards durbar taking place in Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The awards were instituted in 1985 by the then PNDC regime to motivate our farmers to step up production to feed the nation and for export. Presently, the awards have grown in value beyond the expectations of those who conceived it, thereby engendering healthy competition for the Best Farmer award.
From a corn mill as the ultimate prize in 1985, the awards have been nurtured from that humble beginning to the level where the state provides a house for the Best Farmer at a place of his or her choice, while the two runners-up take home vehicles.
The contributions of our farmers to national development efforts are priceless and it will be difficult for the state to amply reward them for their labour. Thus the Farmers Day is just a token of the appreciation of the government and the people of Ghana for farmers’ dedication to work and patriotism.
Even in this technologically-advanced age most of our farmers still ply their trade with labour-intensive implements such as hoes and machetes. Unlike their counterparts in advanced societies where mechanised farming is the order of the day, our gallant farmers have to apply crude methods to till the land and depend on a favourable weather to obtain good yields.
On the occasion of the 24th Farmers Day, there must be useful lessons from our experiences as a nation for us to fashion out policies to begin the journey towards a self-reliant nation, as espoused in 1973 under the Operation Feed Yourself (OFY) programme. That programme caught on with the people, such that in no time Ghana was able to export some cereals to other African countries.
At this stage of our nationhood, first order needs, such as food, clothing and shelter, should not be beyond the reach of majority of our people because as an agricultural country, any extra support to our farmers should put at least a meal on the table of every household.
The DAILY GRAPHIC salutes our gallant farmers on the occasion of this year’s Farmers Day, largely on account of the fact that Ghana has avoided the harsh effects of the global food crisis.
We caution that if plans are not put in place to motivate the youth to take to agriculture, the country risks facing a food crisis pretty soon when our aged farmers phase out of the system. Poor harvests, on some occasions, can be attributed to the rural-urban drift by the youth, which depletes the labour needed on the farms.
The global food crisis that caused violent demonstrations in our neighbouring countries should be a wake-up call to us to put the necessary structures in place to increase agricultural production.
Thankfully, Ghana has been spared the harsh effects of high food prices but the experiences of others should guide us to avoid their challenges.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, calls on the government to provide more support in the form of credit facilities, high- yielding seedlings and extension services for the farmers to expand production.

SUSTAINING INVESTOR CONFIDENCE (NOV 8, 2008)

TIME and again the President has reiterated his commitment to free and fair elections on December 7 to help deepen democratic governance in the country.
Indeed, all Ghanaians have a stake in the outcome of the general election. The polls are crucial to all, not only on account of who emerges victorious but also how the process is managed to ensure that the results gain popular acclaim.
We do not need to look farther than our immediate neighbours to appreciate the challenges of effecting a peaceful transition from one regime to another or avoiding disputes when the ruling government is retained in power.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is happy that President J. A. Kufuor recognises the need for successful polls if the country is to continue to attract investments from its development partners.
It has been our desire, as a people, since we attained nationhood, to wean ourselves from donor support. We find it more dignifying to rely on our own resources to develop the country than continue with cup in hand begging for assistance.
The DAILY GRAPHIC does not, however, recommend the policy of autarky whereby the country decides to close its borders to any assistance from the international community. In the era of globalisation when the world has become a global village, we risk being left behind if our development model focuses solely on self-reliance.
Nonetheless, we concede that our problems can best be resolved through the adoption of local remedies and the use of local expertise. What that also means is that as we look inward for the solutions, we should seek help from friends who share in our dreams and aspirations.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the only way to make Ghana a competitive destination for foreign investment is to maintain the prevailing peace and stability.
Our present attractiveness to the international business community can be attributed to 16 years of democratic governance and stability.
There are competing ends for foreign capital in recent times. For this reason, no sane investor will risk his or her investment in any failed state where respect for civil liberties, the rule of law, a free press and an independent judiciary have been ignored.
No matter the expectations of the people, we cannot rule out some weaknesses in our preparations towards the December polls. But the only way we can build our democratic institutions to deliver to our satisfaction is for all to take action together to build the capacity of those agencies.
It will not help if we continue to act as prophets of doom just because we suspect our opponents of wrongdoing. There are channels for redress and we encourage everybody to take advantage of the processes in order to avoid heightening tension in the run-up to the polls.
The DAILY GRAPHIC advises that this contest for power to manage the affairs of the country should not lead to insults and name-calling. Rather, the contestants should demonstrate their grasp of the issues that have held back our progress.
We call on the political parties to go into the contest with the objective of introducing interventions that will help to improve the living standards of the people.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

US POLLS OPEN NEW CHAPTER (NOV 6, 2008)

VOTERS in the United States of America (USA) made a loud proclamation on Tuesday when they turned out in large numbers to elect Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the most influential country on earth.
The fierce race between Senator John McCain and President-elect Senator Obama offered the American people the opportunity to heal the wounds caused by the social divide that consigned African-Americans to the background.
In every part of the globe many people have been celebrating Obama’s victory, in the belief that the people of the USA are beginning to live what their founding fathers professed, that “All men are created equal, that everyone has the chance to succeed, that no matter what your race, gender or economic background, you can become President of America.”
But while the celebrations continue, the DAILY GRAPHIC is worried about the Herculean task ahead because of the expectations of the international community. Obama alluded to the challenges ahead when he said his presidency had two wars to contend with in the wake of the worst financial crisis to hit the US.
Since the victory inspired so much celebration, the symbolism of the election of the first African-American president, something which was considered an impossibility in this generation, can only portend good for global peace and economic renewal.
No matter the resentment against the US in recent times, the voters have used the election to tell the whole world that when times are rough, Americans will show the way. That is why President-elect Obama, in his victory speech, admonished his countrymen and women to resist the temptation to situate the victory in partisan space but to use the new spirit of service, sacrifice and patriotism to heal the divide that held back the country’s progress.
The DAILY GRAPHIC admonishes the citizens of America not to see the victory as a triumph of the Black race over White dominance but as one that inspires hope for change, opportunities and prosperity.
With this landmark event, the voters have redefined politics in Washington. The new leadership will recognise the need for co-operation with the rest of the world, instead of imposing its will and might on others, in the hope of maintaining American hegemony in the world.
We are also enthused by the graceful manner in which Senator McCain conceded defeated and promised to work with the President-elect to fix the challenges of their society. While we all join the people of the US to celebrate their momentous election, we urge Ghanaians to learn from the US experience as we prepare for the polls on December 7, 2008.
The beauty of democracy in the US, despite the long and bitter campaign, is the readiness of the contenders to exchange pleasantries even in defeat. In Africa, losers cry foul, citing all kinds of malpractice for their failure to win the polls.
Furthermore, the patience and tolerance of US voters must be emulated. Even when there were challenges with the ballot, compelling some voters to be in the queue for hours, they did not call their electoral officers names in order to demonise them. Even in this advanced society, they did not have a smooth voting process.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, calls on all political parties and the electorate to co-operate with the Electoral Commission (EC) during the December polls. We should have confidence in our institutions and offer our support, whenever possible, in order to make the EC more efficient.

PROCESSING PLANTS HOLD KEY (NOV 5, 2008)

ONE drawback to efforts at improving the economies of developing countries is the reliance on primary products whose prices are dictated by the buyers in the Western world.
This is against the background that the main products of most economies, such as minerals, cash crops and non-traditional exports, are sold at low prices because they are not processed. If there is any value addition at all, it is done on a very limited scale.
In Ghana, for instance, gold, timber, cocoa and the non-traditional crops have not earned the country the desired revenue because large tonnes of these products are shipped to markets in developed countries without any effort at making them competitive.
It is recalled that in the First Republic, the Nkrumah government adopted the import substitution policy by establishing factories to process some of the country’s raw materials. However, that enterprise did not receive popular acclaim, as a section of society criticised the regime for not providing the raw materials base before setting up the industries.
As a result, many people have advocated a paradigm shift to a model that encourages the growth of the raw material base before calling on the investor community to establish industries to process the country’s minerals, cocoa and fruits.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is happy that, after years in the wilderness, some positive steps are underway to add value to the country’s raw materials.
As a country, we have not been able to take advantage of globalisation to penetrate the international market because, unlike producers in advanced societies who are provided subsidies in order to be competitive, our local producers compete on the international market with little or no state support.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, welcomes the $100 million investment by Cargill Ghana Limited to process cocoa beans into high quality cocoa liquor, butter and powder for the international market.
With this investment, Cargill has joined a group of investors to take advantage of the country’s investment climate to stimulate industrial growth and job creation.
Inaugurating the plant in Tema yesterday, President J. A. Kufuor spoke about his government’s determination to reform the public sector to make it more effective and supportive of the private sector to promote economic growth.
It is also instructive that the Cargill investment was the result of President Kufuor’s investment drive to Europe and the United States to woo investors to put their money into the Ghanaian economy.
As the President prepares to exit the seat of government, it is good that his legacy is yielding fruitful results, vindicating his economic diplomacy policy to engage his counterparts in the world to fashion out an economic partnership to transform Ghana’s economy.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the government and Cargill for the partnership to promote the growth of the cocoa industry, for more money for the government means increased income for cocoa farmers whose sweat and toil has sustained our economy even in hard times.
We also salute the decision of the management of Cargill to safeguard the safety of its workers in a liberalised environment where many investors have trampled on the rights of labour.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC welcomes efforts by the government to woo more investors into the economy, we call on it never to hesitate to show investors who abuse our hospitality the exit.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

SUPPORT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (NOV 4, 2008)

PERSONS with disabilities have, time and again, reminded members of the public to stop looking down on them because of their physical predicament. According to them, those who are in doubt about their contributions to the growth of society should take note of their abilities, not their physical disabilities.
Although the spectacle of persons with disabilities begging along the major streets of all the cities and towns in the country is an eyesore, there are many physically-challenged persons who are contributing their quota to national development.
It is for this reason that many well-meaning people in the country do not understand why some physically-challenged persons are prepared to endure the scorn and insults of those they accost in traffic every day to part with a few pesewas and cedis.
Indeed, the country’s legal framework frowns on begging and stipulates clear penalties for both the giver and the taker, but for certain religious considerations this legislation is difficult to enforce.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that those who aid beggars to continue to find the streets more lucrative than productive endeavours are not helping the fight to clear the streets of beggars.
We know that in some isolated cases physically-challenged persons have abandoned their vocations to take to the streets to beg because of the lack of support from the government and the banks in the form of credit to sustain their vocations.
In view of the frustrations being faced by some physically-challenged persons to be productive, and the demeaning behaviour of those who beg on the streets, the DAILY GRAPHIC considers the intervention of the government to enable persons with disabilities to get adequate benefits from the District Assemblies Common Fund very welcome.
The Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomea, in a speech read on his behalf at the 50th anniversary and graduation ceremony of the Ghana Society of the Socially Disadvantaged in Accra at the weekend, said the government had directed that two per cent of the common fund be set aside for education and advocacy purposes to serve the needs of persons with disabilities.
This initiative, coupled with the National Social Protection Strategy, should empower vulnerable groups, especially persons with disabilities, to access credit to expand their busiensses or start new ones.
We appeal to persons with disabilities to take advantage of these facilities to contribute their quota to the development of the country. The facilities provide the platform for them to be part of the productive group of the country, for, after all, there is dignity in labour.
While commending the government for providing safety nets to address the concerns of the vulnerable in society, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the state apparatus charged with the responsibility to disburse the facilities not to be bogged down by red-tapeism.
Most of our offices are not disability-friendly and if the procedures are not simplified for the beneficiaries, the physically-challenged will turn their backs on the initiative.
All able-bodied persons who will be in charge of the exercise should see their mandate as their contribution to efforts to improve the production capacity and skills of the physically-challenged.

Monday, November 3, 2008

PEACEFUL POLLS, SHARED RESPONSIBILITY (NOV 3, 2008)

THE assurance by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, that security personnel who will be deployed to polling stations on December 7, 2008 will discharge their duties with honesty and integrity can be described as a soothing balm in the wake of rising tension in some communities during the run-up to the polls.
Some political parties have expressed apprehension about the readiness of the security agencies, particularly the Ghana Police Service, to keep watch over the polls in an impartial manner. According to these politicians, the police cannot be relied upon to perform their duties independently of external forces, especially the central government.
To some political players, the integrity of the polls can only be safeguarded through external vigilance, hence they have decided to train and equip polling agents with the skills to expose any attempts to rig the elections.
The Daily Graphic commends efforts by all the stakeholders - the Electoral Commission (EC), the political parties, the electorate, the security agencies and the media - to work towards peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.
It appears that the security agencies have recognised the seeming lack of confidence in their personnel, hence their decision to embark upon programmes that would help build public confidence in them to ward off unscrupulous people who will try to compromise the integrity of the December polls.
Furthermore, the decision by the security agencies to harmonise their operations and engage in mock exercises in preparation for the polls, is meant to prepare the minds of the public about the high presence of security personnel on election day.
Our security personnel have excelled in all their international assignments, especially those who participate in peacekeeping operations. Reports from international organisations indicate that Ghanaians who participate in peacekeeping operations are being sought after for international appointments.
For their exemplary performance on the international scene, our security personnel should accept our admonition that they should not give in to the perception that they cannot exercise their independent judgement and professionalism at home.
The December polls offer the platform for them to redeem their image by accepting the challenge imposed on them by the IGP to be “punctual and alert, treat everyone fairly, be open and honest, be team players, use minimum force when necessary, provide responsible, effective and high quality service” on election day.
The Daily Graphic believes the security agencies have the capacity to rise to the occasion on the election day, by warding off elements who would want to foment trouble. They acquitted themselves creditably during the past four elections, even if a few bad lots nearly dragged their name in the mud.
The international community is keenly watching us and we cannot afford to fail by our inaction or action. Ghana has become the reference point for peace, good governance and respect for civil liberties. We need to guard these enviable credentials by collectively ensuring peaceful, free and fair elections.
The calls on the security agencies to avoid any selective enforcement of the law during the run-up to the polls in order to tame the culture of impunity that is gaining root in a section of the society. Members of the public must also co-operate with the security agencies to expose the bad lots, since the maintenance of law and order is a shared responsibility.

LET'S SHARE TAX BURDEN (NOV 1, 2008)

IT is refreshing to note that the government is on course to exceed the targeted revenue of GH¢3,543.42 million in spite of the global economic crisis.
According to the Executive Secretary of the Revenue Agencies Governing Board (RAGB), Mr Harry Owusu, the positive indicators followed the collection of GH¢2,660.28 million as of the end of September, this year.
The revelation paints a positive outlook of the national economy during a period when all major players on the global stage are on their knees because of the present global economic crisis.
Trading on stock markets in all the economic capitals has slowed down while central banks of the major economies have reduced interest rates in an attempt to stop the global economy from moving into recession.
Even with all these efforts being put in place by the major economies, nothing seems to be working as the economic crisis has created hardships across the globe.
Food prices in the United States of America and other Western countries have shot up through the roof.
Before the crisis basic needs such as food items were within the reach of all ordinary people.
Many people who took advantage of mortgages have had to lose their houses because their incomes cannot maintain the facilities.
And notable industries are reducing their labour force for the same reason. Therefore, if Ghana has so far weathered the economic meltdown, then we need to pat the managers of our economy on the back.
It is against this background that the DAILY GRAPHIC commends all income earners, particularly companies that have lived up to their civic responsibilities by paying their taxes regularly to the state.
To the 10 companies, including the Graphic Communications Group Limited, and Mr Samuel Amoafo Denkyi, who received platinum awards at the Second Taxpayers Awards ceremony in Accra on Thursday, we say “Well done and keep it up” so that the state can have the wherewithal to carry on with its development agenda.
Furthermore, it is our expectation that the awards ceremony would stimulate compliance with our tax laws by business organisations.
Perhaps it is needless to remind them of their obligations but we do so because in some cases, they evade taxes while the working class whose taxes are deducted at source bear the tax burden.
All Ghanaians must understand that the only way we can develop our country is by contributing our quota to national revenue.
Indeed, it is demeaning for a sovereign state to always go globe-trotting with bowl in hand begging to be assisted to balance its budget.
While we demonstrate to the whole world that we can manage our economy well, we must salute our farmers for their hard work which has helped to keep prices of foodstuffs such as tubers, cereals and vegetables at reasonable levels and within the reach of majority of our people.
In this regard, the DAILY GRAPHIC shares the admonition of the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Prof. Gyan Baffour, that “we cannot always go to other countries with a bowl in our hand begging for what we can certainly provide for ourselves.”
It is the considered opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC that in order to sustain the enthusiasm of the farmers to till the land, we as a nation should provide our farmers with the ready market for their produce.
We believe that the government has a bigger responsibility to support the farmers with credit and market as a reward for their sweat and toil.
Our experiences during this harsh economic crisis demonstrate clearly that we can keep our heads above water, if we produce more to feed ourselves, and this is why we must all accept the challenge to promote the campaign to “eat what we grow and grow what we eat”.

Friday, October 31, 2008

DEBATE USEFUL EXPERIMENT, BUT (OCTOBER 31, 2008)

GHANA chalked up another milestone in her progressive stride to consolidate her democratic credentials with the first of two presidential debates taking place last Wednesday in an atmosphere devoid of rancour.
The presidential debates, designed to help strengthen the pillars of democracy in the country and make Election 2008 issue driven, form part of the national commitment towards strengthening multiparty democracy not only in the country but across the continent.
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which made it possible for the first debate to take place in Accra in a peaceful environment, should be commended for a good job done.
The presidential candidates of the New Patriotic Party, Convention People’s Party, National Democratic Congress and People’s National Congress had the opportunity to answer the same questions on job creation, education, health, security, law and order, oil revenue, energy, women and children's rights, foreign direct investment, food security and intra-regional trade.
Some political analysts who attended the first round of the debate have, however, described the exercise as more of a question-and-answer session than a debate. They were of the view that in a debate the candidates should have had the chance to challenge each other's positions instead of answering questions from the moderators, with very little rebuttals. The moderators took turns and asked a total of 11 major questions and seven minor questions.
Considering time constraints, wouldn’t it have been better with a few strategic set of questions to allow the candidates enough time to answer the questions and back their claims with concrete steps, showing how they were going to execute their promises?
The moderators should have also done research on the subject areas to make sure that claims made by the candidates are really the facts on the ground.
Otherwise, the exercise is reduced to a mere question-and-answer session thereby showcasing the communicators among them as winners but without the substance required for the high office of President.
If the debates are to help the larger Ghanaian society make informed choices then candidates should not be allowed to make claims that the national economy can hardly support.
For instance, do the candidates know the capacity of the agricultural potential of the country and what it would take to move away from the use of the machete and hoe to mechanised farming?
Forty per cent of the national budget is spent on education. The question one may ask is, how are the candidates going to fund the extra free facility they are pledging to offer. Will it be from taxes from the already over-burdened Ghanaian worker or from luxury goods?
These and many more critical issues need to be known to elicit answers for the benefit of the electorate who will make the critical decision on December 7.
It is the hope of the DAILY GRAPHIC that the next debate in Tamale will take into consideration all the concerns raised so as to bring out the best in all the candidates.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

DEAL WITH THIS MENACE NOW (OCTOBER 30, 2008)

ANOTHER story of kidnapping and its related demand for the payment of ransom seem to have sent worrying signals and raised some security concerns.
Just a few days ago, an Israeli was kidnapped and there had been a demand for the payment of ransom before his release, while yesterday there was the story of a kidnapped Lebanese, with a demand for the payment of ransom.
There is no doubt that kidnapping is very alien to the Ghanaian society. Yet, with two of such acts in quite rapid succession, there is reason to be worried that these crimes have the potential to smear our reputation as a peace- loving people.
The fact that our world has become a global village is not in doubt. With the phenomenal strides made in ICT, the influence of foreign cultures through movies and music has been made very easy.
While this comes with its positive sides, negative issues related to these strides raise serious concerns.
Ghanaians have, for many generations, held high our cherished culture and avoided such sophistication in criminal activities.
Now it appears that the dawn of the globalised world stares us in the face and we have to find ways of addressing some of the challenges it brings along.
Obviously, in our modern world there is a greater demand for professionalism from the security agencies engaged in combating crime.
It is good to note that the security apparatus has acted swiftly in these cases of kidnapping and the demand for the payment of ransom.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appreciates the challenges that are likely to be encountered by our security agencies in their efforts to address such issues and arrest the culprits.
The security agencies have indicated that they are making some headway and that should come to many as a pleasant piece of news.
This notwoithstanding, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to caution that we have not reached the end of the tunnel yet, hence there is the need to press on until all the culprits are apprehended.
That will not require the vigilance of only the security agencies but also all Ghanaians. In our various communities, we need to be very alert and observe happenings around so that we can give the necessary leads to the police should the need arise.
There should be the recognition that in every modern society, because of the sophistication of crime, policing has become everybody’s responsibility.
While some people are paid to police the society, as a people we also have the responsibility to police ourselves and not leave our destinies entirely in the hands of only the security agencies.
Ghana should continue to be a safe haven for all, Ghanaians and foreigners alike, since that is critical to boost tourism and increase foreign investment in the country.
A society in which people perceived to be wealthy are kidnapped and huge ransoms demanded for their release holds little attraction for investors.
The present favourable investment climate has been created after years of hard work and there is the need to work in a concerted manner to preserve this environment.

THE BIG IEA DEBATE (OCTOBER 29, 2008)

THE first of the 2008 presidential debates instituted by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) to strengthen multiparty democracy takes place today and it is expected to pit the presidential candidates of the four leading political parties against one another in a battle of ideas.
The presidential candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) will articulate their visions for the country and debate issues that are of interest to Ghanaians.
This initiative by the IEA enforces the belief that politics is a battle of ideas in an organised and violence-free environment, with the objective of giving the electorate clear choices as to whom they prefer to govern them.
It is also often said that politics is a game of numbers and for that reason the competing parties have to come up with policies and vision statements that will appeal to the electorate.
There has always been an emphasis on the need for our politicians to concentrate on issues and avoid personal attacks in their quest to clinch political power.
Although it appears that some of our politicians are beginning to devise campaign strategies with that in mind, there are still concerns over the undue personalisation of political campaigns that sometimes get so reckless, with very wild personal accusations that only serve to muddy the waters.
The initiative by the IEA is, therefore, very welcome, especially because this time round, unlike in 2000 and 2004, all the leading candidates will be involved in the debate.
A trip down memory lane shows that in 2000, the then ruling NDC refused to partake in the debate, while in 2004 the NPP also refused to participate in it.
Now with no incumbent president as a flag bearer, the political parties have agreed to participate in the debate to deepen multiparty democracy.
We have come a long way as an independent and democratic country and no legitimate effort must be spared in our bid to consolidate our democracy and improve on our credentials.
Indeed, the beauty of democracy is the show of tolerance and understanding by all competing parties, no matter how fierce the competition is.
It is the belief of the DAILY GRAPHIC that today’s debate will be another shining showpiece of our political maturity and showcase Ghana as the beacon of hope and pacesetter on the continent.
It is also important for them to bear in mind that the electorate now, more than ever before, are discerning and will be looking out for candidates who demonstrate a firm grasp and understanding of the issues that confront us in the battle to improve the lot of Ghanaians.
At the end of the day, they all need to realise that the ultimate objective is to improve the standard of living of all Ghanaians and kick out poverty.
Thus, irrespective of their political differences, they should be able to engage one another in a fruitful and organised debate and give the electorate the opportunity to assess them.
It is heart-warming that the debate will be live on national television and thus provide millions of Ghanaians the opportunity to assess the candidates.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

LET'S TRUST EC (OCTOBER 28, 2008)

WITH 40 days to go for the December polls, the Electoral Commission (EC) has declared its readiness to conduct free and fair elections, after taking delivery of essential materials for the elections.
The commission, according to media reports, has taken delivery of indelible ink, endorsing ink, validation stamps, stamp pads, thumbprint pads, ballot boxes and materials for the printing of ballot papers.
The Fourth Republic has already witnessed four elections and the 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 draws closer to the December polls, political campaigns are getting heated up and politicians are making last minute efforts to woo voters and improve their chances of winning the elections.
In the heat of these campaigns, some politicians make utterances that tend to question the integrity and fairness of the EC, even when such accusations are baseless and cannot be substantiated. It is becoming quite evident that the EC is sometimes unfairly drawn into the politics of the day.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC does not intend to hold brief for the EC in any matter, it is the belief of the paper that the commission has demonstrated that it is capable of staying above partisanship and conducting its business in an objective and credible manner.
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 the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on politicians to guard their utterances and ensure that they avoid casting the EC in a bad light and, thereby, erode the confidence of the electorate in it.
As has been duly acknowledged by all the political parties, the conduct of free and fair elections is not the responsibility of only the commission but also all Ghanaians, including political parties, the judiciary, the media, the security agencies and the electorate.
At the recent meeting between the Council of State and representatives of political parties, the issue of the unfair criticism and condemnation of the EC came up and some party representatives cautioned against the tendency of some of their colleagues to deride the commission.
We are happy that some political parties and politicians have recognised the potential harm such unhealthy characterisation of the EC can do to it and ultimately to our young democracy.
It is, therefore, the hope of the DAILY GRAPHIC that this recognition will find greater practical expression and save the EC from any further unfair bashing.
We also wish to encourage the EC to continuously live above reproach and maintain or even improve the high standards set over the years.
The confidence of the people can only be sustained if the EC refuses to bow to any pressure from any quarter and rather rededicates itself to the ideals required for free and fair elections.

Monday, October 27, 2008

WELL SAID, CJ (OCTOBER 27, 2008)

THE Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, at the weekend called on the media to play their role in ensuring credible elections in December.
For her, 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 the Chief Justice described as “awesome” their task of educating the electorate to help them to make wise political decisions and not to prejudge the issues.
Her call to practitioners of the noble profession, which has become known as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, at a dinner packed with journalists, media practitioners and corporate organisations to celebrate excellence in journalism is, indeed, very welcome.
Her appeal to the media comes at a time when the electioneering has gathered steam, with pockets of election- related violence already being reported in some areas of 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 ancient historian, William Bernbach, also noted that “all of us who professionally use the mass media are the shapers of society. We can vulgarise that society. We can brutalise it. Or we can help lift it onto a higher level”.
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 churn out is likely to make an impact, either negatively or positively, on different segments of society.
It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic endorses the Chief Justice’s call on the media to play a leading and responsible role in the run up to, 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.
The Uruguayan journalist, Eduardo Galeano, describes the media as something that symbolises the community’s favourite way of dreaming, living, dancing, playing or loving, and if we may add, “of voting”.
It is only proper for the media to aspire to promote national peace and stability through the use of temperate and refined language.
The Daily Graphic also commends the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for using the awards ceremony 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, all Ghanaians are encouraged to play their roles as responsible citizens, and in this national assignment the media cannot afford to distort the peace with irresponsible reportage.
We believe members of the media fraternity are ready to join peace-loving Ghanaians to work towards successful elections that will anchor Ghana as a model democratic state in Africa.