AS should be evident to everybody living especially in the national capital of Accra, there has been a water crisis since the latter part of last year and it appears that the situation gets worse by the day.
It is now a common sight in Accra and elsewhere to see all manner of people — young, old, men, women — carrying receptacles of all kind, but mostly empty oil containers, in search of water.
That water comprises the most basic and critical component of all aspects of human life and is an indispensable component of the life support system is what drives people to go in search of the commodity, without which life is not possible.
The most affected in this conundrum are schoolchildren who must, of necessity, take their bath before going to school, workers who must do same before getting to their workplaces, food sellers who need potable water to prepare their food, and industries which use water in the various processes of their operations.
The question the DAILY GRAPHIC wants to ask is: what has brought this critical situation about? The answers to this question may be many and varied, but the paper thinks a few are really critical to finding a lasting solution to the perennial problem of water shortage in Accra and elsewhere in Ghana.
First, the claim by Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), the managers of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), that since pipelines were laid over 60 years ago, they had not seen any major rehabilitation should be addressed seriously if we have to address the water crisis in the country in the foreseeable future.
If, indeed, the water system is run on obsolete equipment, then it is no wonder that there are frequent breakdowns in the system. One cannot also leave out the frequent bursting of major pipelines which lead to the loss of large volumes of treated water which should have gone into meeting the domestic, industrial and commercial needs of consumers.
Second, there is the gradual but systematic destruction and pollution of water resources, along with the progressive encroachment of incompatible activities, which have triggered water crises everywhere in the world.
Here in Ghana, water bodies are vanishing at a fast pace, mostly as a result of human activity, and if we consider that it is these water bodies which feed our rivers which supply water to our homes and factories, then we can appreciate the extent of the problem at hand.
Third, changing global climatic conditions, brought about by the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, have affected the rate of evaporation, which has, in turn, reduced the volume of water in reservoirs.
Add to these the increase in population, especially in the cities and urban centres, and you will realise why potable water is dwindling fast.
But, in spite of these problems, the people still need water to carry on with their lives. Also, one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to reduce the proportion of people without access to safe drinking by half by 2015.
All over the world, one of the most sustainable water supply management interventions is the adoption of policies towards water conservation.
In Ghana, the call has been made on several occasions to do this by harvesting rain water during the rainy season for use during the dry season. If this is made a national policy, such that new buildings will have the means to harvest rain water built into them, it will go a long way to reduce the stress that come with the shortage of water during the dry season.
We may also have to think about the possibility of water recycling and reclamation and control on water wastage, especially by way of burst pipes, loss by dripping and other such means.
We should not forget the prediction that in the 21st century if there is any world war, it would be on water.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
BUSINESS AS USUAL WON'T HELP
A SUPREME Court Judge, Professor Justice Samuel K. Date-Bah, could not have put it more succinctly when he admonished Ghanaians to jettison the “Fama Nyame” mentality and rather insist on their rights whenever those rights were being infringed upon.
Delivering the first in the series of the 41st J. B. Danquah Memorial Lectures in Accra on Monday, Prof Justice Date-Bah urged Ghanaians to protest the infringement of their rights or seek redress at the courts, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the National Media Commission (NMC) or other arbitration avenues.
For the DAILY GRAPHIC, what Prof Justice Date-Bah has advised Ghanaians to do is very pertinent in the scheme of things and the social and political milieu in which Ghanaians find themselves, especially in this election year when all manner of actions will be perpetrated against some people, all in the name of politics.
For us in the media, one area where the culture of impunity has taken roots concerns the ease with which some incorrigible media men and their newspapers and electronic outlets libel and defame perceived political opponents, without such libelled and defamed personalities seeking redress anywhere, all in the name of “Fama Nyame”.
Recently, there were a cacophony of noises concerning the health status of the flag bearers of two leading political parties. Other people even waded deeper into the gutter by alluding to the fact that one flag bearer was into cocaine use, for which reason he must go for a so-called test to clear his name, as if just anybody can compel another person to clear an imaginary allegation made against that person.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that if people began to fight for their right to their good name, liberty and privacy, others would think twice before making comments about people, when they know such comments will not be allowed to go free.
The “Fama Nyame” syndrome has eaten so deep into our national psyche that even when some people blatantly carry out acts which affect us individually and collectively, we are ready to turn a blind eye to them, not wanting to raise a hand in protest.
This docility, no doubt, encourages those whose stock in trade is to capitalise on others’ seeming inability to fight for their rights, to carry on doing whatever they do with impunity.
In our trotros and taxis, on a daily basis we come across drivers and their mates who are ready to act with impunity by cheating their passengers by either arbitrarily increasing the fares or refusing to give them change.
When that happens, woe betide any passenger who decides to insist on his or her right to change or pay the stipulated fare. The other passengers will label him or her “too known” (whatever that means) and quickly send such a person to Coventry for having insisted on his or her right.
In the Metro Mass Transit buses, we come across our fellow citizens who, under the guise of being shameless, would want to travel free on the buses. But we keep quiet over it because we don’t want to incur the ire of such lawless people.
At the same time, when conductors in those buses and some shop keepers intentionally refuse to give us tickets or receipts to reflect the fare we have paid or the VAT we are supposed to pay, instead of protesting, we helplessly grin and go away, allowing the people involved to pocket what should have gone to the state.
Let us all take Prof. Justice Date-Bah’s advice and insist on our rights wherever we find ourselves, for the “only condition for evil to thrive is for good men not to do anything”.
Delivering the first in the series of the 41st J. B. Danquah Memorial Lectures in Accra on Monday, Prof Justice Date-Bah urged Ghanaians to protest the infringement of their rights or seek redress at the courts, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the National Media Commission (NMC) or other arbitration avenues.
For the DAILY GRAPHIC, what Prof Justice Date-Bah has advised Ghanaians to do is very pertinent in the scheme of things and the social and political milieu in which Ghanaians find themselves, especially in this election year when all manner of actions will be perpetrated against some people, all in the name of politics.
For us in the media, one area where the culture of impunity has taken roots concerns the ease with which some incorrigible media men and their newspapers and electronic outlets libel and defame perceived political opponents, without such libelled and defamed personalities seeking redress anywhere, all in the name of “Fama Nyame”.
Recently, there were a cacophony of noises concerning the health status of the flag bearers of two leading political parties. Other people even waded deeper into the gutter by alluding to the fact that one flag bearer was into cocaine use, for which reason he must go for a so-called test to clear his name, as if just anybody can compel another person to clear an imaginary allegation made against that person.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that if people began to fight for their right to their good name, liberty and privacy, others would think twice before making comments about people, when they know such comments will not be allowed to go free.
The “Fama Nyame” syndrome has eaten so deep into our national psyche that even when some people blatantly carry out acts which affect us individually and collectively, we are ready to turn a blind eye to them, not wanting to raise a hand in protest.
This docility, no doubt, encourages those whose stock in trade is to capitalise on others’ seeming inability to fight for their rights, to carry on doing whatever they do with impunity.
In our trotros and taxis, on a daily basis we come across drivers and their mates who are ready to act with impunity by cheating their passengers by either arbitrarily increasing the fares or refusing to give them change.
When that happens, woe betide any passenger who decides to insist on his or her right to change or pay the stipulated fare. The other passengers will label him or her “too known” (whatever that means) and quickly send such a person to Coventry for having insisted on his or her right.
In the Metro Mass Transit buses, we come across our fellow citizens who, under the guise of being shameless, would want to travel free on the buses. But we keep quiet over it because we don’t want to incur the ire of such lawless people.
At the same time, when conductors in those buses and some shop keepers intentionally refuse to give us tickets or receipts to reflect the fare we have paid or the VAT we are supposed to pay, instead of protesting, we helplessly grin and go away, allowing the people involved to pocket what should have gone to the state.
Let us all take Prof. Justice Date-Bah’s advice and insist on our rights wherever we find ourselves, for the “only condition for evil to thrive is for good men not to do anything”.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
LET'S CLEAN OUR ENVIRONMENT
YESTERDAY, the Local Government Minister, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, launched the International Year of Sanitation in Accra with the startling revelation that data available at health facilities in the country indicated that more than 60 per cent of all morbidity and mortality cases were water and sanitation-related.
The theme for the launch was, “Building Partnerships for Improved Sanitation”. Rightly so, the United Nations (UN) had set aside this year as the year for sanitation to highlight the problems of sanitation and how, through partnerships among civil society, governments and individuals, solutions to the problems of sanitation could be found.
Needless to say, the theme is very important for us all, for it brings to the fore issues of sanitation and the need for attitudinal change towards our environment.
For, as a people, our attitude to survival, which translates into a determination to survive and make it in life, regardless of the cost to our communities and the larger society, has, in a large measure, accounted for the sanitation mess we find ourselves in today.
In our part of the world, survival, more than anything else, drives rural/urban migration and what compounds the problem is that most of those who migrate are the youth who have no employable skills.
As a result, most of them take to petty trading on the streets, at the lorry parks and other open places such as around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, while others engage in menial jobs, some very dehumanising.
The greater number of these people cannot afford decent accommodation, and urged on by the survival instinct, they sleep, cook, bathe and do practically everything at the places where they ply their trades and at other obscure places.
Over time, their indiscriminate littering and disposal of other waste result in rubbish pile ups and their insanitary conditions.
Indeed it has been proved that poor sanitation and water supplies are the engines that drive cycles of disease and poverty in developing countries like ours.
There is the need, therefore, for the nation to invest massively in sanitation and improve its water supplies.
It is clear that investing in sanitation generates massive returns on health, the environment and the economy.
In fact, as the UN states, the evidence is that there is no single development policy intervention that brings greater public health returns than investment in basic sanitation and hygienic practices.
It is in line with this that the DAILY GRAPHIC would like to call for a collaboration among government agencies, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, NGOs, private companies and the universities to work out solutions to clean our environment which is being engulfed in filth.
There should also be a national programme that will help raise awareness of our people to stop creating filth in our communities, thereby reducing the incidents of malaria and sanitation-related diseases.
The theme for the launch was, “Building Partnerships for Improved Sanitation”. Rightly so, the United Nations (UN) had set aside this year as the year for sanitation to highlight the problems of sanitation and how, through partnerships among civil society, governments and individuals, solutions to the problems of sanitation could be found.
Needless to say, the theme is very important for us all, for it brings to the fore issues of sanitation and the need for attitudinal change towards our environment.
For, as a people, our attitude to survival, which translates into a determination to survive and make it in life, regardless of the cost to our communities and the larger society, has, in a large measure, accounted for the sanitation mess we find ourselves in today.
In our part of the world, survival, more than anything else, drives rural/urban migration and what compounds the problem is that most of those who migrate are the youth who have no employable skills.
As a result, most of them take to petty trading on the streets, at the lorry parks and other open places such as around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, while others engage in menial jobs, some very dehumanising.
The greater number of these people cannot afford decent accommodation, and urged on by the survival instinct, they sleep, cook, bathe and do practically everything at the places where they ply their trades and at other obscure places.
Over time, their indiscriminate littering and disposal of other waste result in rubbish pile ups and their insanitary conditions.
Indeed it has been proved that poor sanitation and water supplies are the engines that drive cycles of disease and poverty in developing countries like ours.
There is the need, therefore, for the nation to invest massively in sanitation and improve its water supplies.
It is clear that investing in sanitation generates massive returns on health, the environment and the economy.
In fact, as the UN states, the evidence is that there is no single development policy intervention that brings greater public health returns than investment in basic sanitation and hygienic practices.
It is in line with this that the DAILY GRAPHIC would like to call for a collaboration among government agencies, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, NGOs, private companies and the universities to work out solutions to clean our environment which is being engulfed in filth.
There should also be a national programme that will help raise awareness of our people to stop creating filth in our communities, thereby reducing the incidents of malaria and sanitation-related diseases.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
THAT OIL BENEFITS ALL
IN some countries oil is seen as a curse because of the problems associated with it. Lack of transparency in accounting for oil revenue, environmental problems associated with oil exploration and lopsided development initiatives combine to rob indigenes of what is due them.
That is why the country is taking steps to ensure that the discovery of oil in the Tano Basin does not end up becoming the nemesis of our development process, as is the case with some countries which have been plagued by the rather sordid paradox of oil money.
The steps so far being taken by the government and, indeed, all Ghanaians are to make sure that the discovery of oil turns out to be a blessing rather than a curse.
It is against this background that the DAILY GRAPHIC welcomes the efforts by the government to prepare a comprehensive national oil and gas policy and master plan for the development of the emerging oil and gas industry in the country.
It is noteworthy that Ghana is very much aware of the curse of oil money in some countries and is prepared to learn from their experiences.
As noted by President J. A. Kufuor at the first National Consultative Forum on Ghana’s emerging oil and gas industry in Accra yesterday, the forum was expected to provide the platform to brainstorm on how well the nation’s emerging oil industry, both upstream and downstream, could be effectively and efficiently managed.
The president definitely must be applauded for the vision he has exhibited, even as he prepares to leave office, come next January. Clearly, he is determined to leave behind a cherished legacy that will stand the test of time.
Indeed, all Ghanaians should resolve now that they cannot fail posterity, since how well the emerging oil and gas industry is managed will be a reference point for any future assessment by generations to come.
As a country, we have been at the throes of an erratic crude oil price regime that leaves the poor even more impoverished and perhaps no description is more apt than to say that the oil find in the Tano Basin is God-send.
Ghanaians need to rise above selfish interests and ensure that the oil is harnessed for our collective good and not for a few “smart” individuals to line their pockets at the expense of the masses.
While we encourage fruitful debate on the various contractual terms and decisions being taken, we dare say that our leaders must be sharp, professional and business-minded and also very selfless in all their negotiations and deliberations.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the right calibre of people have been assembled to draft the comprehensive national oil and gas policy and master plan for the industry. At the end of the day, Ghanaians should go to sleep, convinced that their interests have been well secured.
That is why the country is taking steps to ensure that the discovery of oil in the Tano Basin does not end up becoming the nemesis of our development process, as is the case with some countries which have been plagued by the rather sordid paradox of oil money.
The steps so far being taken by the government and, indeed, all Ghanaians are to make sure that the discovery of oil turns out to be a blessing rather than a curse.
It is against this background that the DAILY GRAPHIC welcomes the efforts by the government to prepare a comprehensive national oil and gas policy and master plan for the development of the emerging oil and gas industry in the country.
It is noteworthy that Ghana is very much aware of the curse of oil money in some countries and is prepared to learn from their experiences.
As noted by President J. A. Kufuor at the first National Consultative Forum on Ghana’s emerging oil and gas industry in Accra yesterday, the forum was expected to provide the platform to brainstorm on how well the nation’s emerging oil industry, both upstream and downstream, could be effectively and efficiently managed.
The president definitely must be applauded for the vision he has exhibited, even as he prepares to leave office, come next January. Clearly, he is determined to leave behind a cherished legacy that will stand the test of time.
Indeed, all Ghanaians should resolve now that they cannot fail posterity, since how well the emerging oil and gas industry is managed will be a reference point for any future assessment by generations to come.
As a country, we have been at the throes of an erratic crude oil price regime that leaves the poor even more impoverished and perhaps no description is more apt than to say that the oil find in the Tano Basin is God-send.
Ghanaians need to rise above selfish interests and ensure that the oil is harnessed for our collective good and not for a few “smart” individuals to line their pockets at the expense of the masses.
While we encourage fruitful debate on the various contractual terms and decisions being taken, we dare say that our leaders must be sharp, professional and business-minded and also very selfless in all their negotiations and deliberations.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the right calibre of people have been assembled to draft the comprehensive national oil and gas policy and master plan for the industry. At the end of the day, Ghanaians should go to sleep, convinced that their interests have been well secured.
Monday, February 25, 2008
REVERSE THIS DISTURBING TREND
THE Upper West Regional Health Directorate has attributed the high maternal and under-five mortality rate in the region to the abuse of alcohol by expectant mothers.
This is definitely not a pleasant piece of news, especially considering the fact that issues of maternal and under-five mortality have serious development implications.
Placed against the background that the Upper West Region is one of the most impoverished regions in the country, the issue gets even more disturbing.
One is baffled as to why a region with tremendous development challenges and endemic poverty should have its pregnant mothers devoting their energies and resources to alcoholism.
Clearly, the Public Health Unit of the Upper West Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has a crisis on its hands that must be addressed with all the seriousness it deserves.
While we recognise that there may be other pressing health challenges, the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that alcoholism as a health challenge, especially among pregnant women, cannot be relegated to the background and dismissed as trivial.
In addressing this, the Public Health Directorate, with other relevant stakeholders, will also need to identify other social factors that lead to alcoholism among such mothers and find effective solutions to them.
Perhaps this is the time to seek the support of clinical psychologists to help address the issue, taking into consideration the psychological disposition of the expectant mothers in relation to their economic, cultural and social challenges.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also wishes to encourage the Upper West Regional Health Directorate to intensify its education on the need for proper ante-natal care or services.
While we may not dispute that those services are being provided, their poor patronage by the expectant mothers could also be a contributory factor to the alcohol abuse and the subsequent health effects.
In this regard, we welcome the efforts by the regional health directorate to embark on a vigorous campaign on alcoholism and suggest that such campaigns should also take into consideration the role of the male partners and relations of these mothers in promoting alcoholism among pregnant women in the region.
Certainly, the issue of alcoholism among pregnant women can be addressed effectively and the successes chalked up in our guinea worm eradication efforts, as well as AIDS control initiatives, should serve as useful guides and sources of inspiration.
It is, indeed, gratifying to note, for instance, that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has dropped from 2.2 per cent in 2006 to 1.9 per cent in 2007. Evidently, a contributory factor to the significant drop has been the implementation of an effective educational drive and the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that similar rigorously pursued educational programmes can help check the issue of alcoholism among expectant mothers in the Upper West Region and other parts of the country.
This is definitely not a pleasant piece of news, especially considering the fact that issues of maternal and under-five mortality have serious development implications.
Placed against the background that the Upper West Region is one of the most impoverished regions in the country, the issue gets even more disturbing.
One is baffled as to why a region with tremendous development challenges and endemic poverty should have its pregnant mothers devoting their energies and resources to alcoholism.
Clearly, the Public Health Unit of the Upper West Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has a crisis on its hands that must be addressed with all the seriousness it deserves.
While we recognise that there may be other pressing health challenges, the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that alcoholism as a health challenge, especially among pregnant women, cannot be relegated to the background and dismissed as trivial.
In addressing this, the Public Health Directorate, with other relevant stakeholders, will also need to identify other social factors that lead to alcoholism among such mothers and find effective solutions to them.
Perhaps this is the time to seek the support of clinical psychologists to help address the issue, taking into consideration the psychological disposition of the expectant mothers in relation to their economic, cultural and social challenges.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also wishes to encourage the Upper West Regional Health Directorate to intensify its education on the need for proper ante-natal care or services.
While we may not dispute that those services are being provided, their poor patronage by the expectant mothers could also be a contributory factor to the alcohol abuse and the subsequent health effects.
In this regard, we welcome the efforts by the regional health directorate to embark on a vigorous campaign on alcoholism and suggest that such campaigns should also take into consideration the role of the male partners and relations of these mothers in promoting alcoholism among pregnant women in the region.
Certainly, the issue of alcoholism among pregnant women can be addressed effectively and the successes chalked up in our guinea worm eradication efforts, as well as AIDS control initiatives, should serve as useful guides and sources of inspiration.
It is, indeed, gratifying to note, for instance, that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has dropped from 2.2 per cent in 2006 to 1.9 per cent in 2007. Evidently, a contributory factor to the significant drop has been the implementation of an effective educational drive and the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that similar rigorously pursued educational programmes can help check the issue of alcoholism among expectant mothers in the Upper West Region and other parts of the country.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
A SPIN TOO FAR
DAYS after the President of the United States, Mr George Bush, had left the shores of Ghana after his historic three-day visit to the country, social commentators of every hue and colour have begun putting a spin on the essence of the visit.
The Daily Graphic has said in these columns before that the visit by President Bush was worthwhile, if for nothing at all at least on account of enhancing ties between the US and Ghana.
But, in real terms, the visit brought us something more than just an enhancement of diplomatic ties. There were also social and economic benefits which may not be immediately felt but whose effects can be felt in the nearest future.
During his visit, President Bush announced a $17 million initiative to fight malaria over a three-year period and additional support in the fight against neglected diseases such as onchocerciasis. The US President also cleared the air on the vexed issue of whether or not the US government intended to build a military base in Ghana.
More important, all discerning Ghanaians should accept the undeniable fact that the visit has brought a lot of good things to Ghana, to all intents and purposes.
For one thing, for the 36 hours that President Bush was here, Ghana was the focus of the international media, thereby projecting the country for business, diplomacy and international relations.
If we consider that President Bush’s visit came in the wake of the Ghana 2008 soccer tournament, during which the country was the cynosure of the international media, then we can say that Ghana has become the centrepiece of democracy, good governance and a determined effort to improve the well-being of its people.
Probably the best thing that came out of the Bush visit, in the estimation of this paper, is the waving of the magic wand that brought arguably the two most popular political figures in the country — President J. A. Kufuor and former President J. J. Rawlings — together to exchange pleasantries. The last time the two did so was in 2003!
Before that memorable occasion last Wednesday, social commentators had been at pains explaining why Flt Lt Rawlings and the leadership of the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress, would not attend the State Banquet in honour of the visiting US President.
Such commentators should have been at the banquet to witness the ambience there. It was an atmosphere better felt than described, as the banquet provided the opportunity for the leading political figures of the country from across the political divide to share ideas and exchange pleasantries.
The Daily Graphic can only say a big thank you to President Bush for providing that magic wand that seemed to have melted away the cold relationship between President Kufuor and former President Rawlings.
Our belief is that things will not end just there but the two, with the backing of their friends and families, will build on the opportunity offered by the banquet for President Bush to Ghanaians to sit and dine together, despite our political differences.
We must all appreciate the fact that as a nation, what unites us is bigger than our differences, for which reason the interest of corporate Ghana must always be the guiding principle in our national endeavours.
At this particular point in our existence, a lot seem to be going well for us and the country is highly regarded in international circles. What we are sure of is that things can only get better when all Ghanaians agree to distance themselves from objectionable things like the polarisation of our body politic along party lines and instead build unity in diversity.
The Daily Graphic has said in these columns before that the visit by President Bush was worthwhile, if for nothing at all at least on account of enhancing ties between the US and Ghana.
But, in real terms, the visit brought us something more than just an enhancement of diplomatic ties. There were also social and economic benefits which may not be immediately felt but whose effects can be felt in the nearest future.
During his visit, President Bush announced a $17 million initiative to fight malaria over a three-year period and additional support in the fight against neglected diseases such as onchocerciasis. The US President also cleared the air on the vexed issue of whether or not the US government intended to build a military base in Ghana.
More important, all discerning Ghanaians should accept the undeniable fact that the visit has brought a lot of good things to Ghana, to all intents and purposes.
For one thing, for the 36 hours that President Bush was here, Ghana was the focus of the international media, thereby projecting the country for business, diplomacy and international relations.
If we consider that President Bush’s visit came in the wake of the Ghana 2008 soccer tournament, during which the country was the cynosure of the international media, then we can say that Ghana has become the centrepiece of democracy, good governance and a determined effort to improve the well-being of its people.
Probably the best thing that came out of the Bush visit, in the estimation of this paper, is the waving of the magic wand that brought arguably the two most popular political figures in the country — President J. A. Kufuor and former President J. J. Rawlings — together to exchange pleasantries. The last time the two did so was in 2003!
Before that memorable occasion last Wednesday, social commentators had been at pains explaining why Flt Lt Rawlings and the leadership of the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress, would not attend the State Banquet in honour of the visiting US President.
Such commentators should have been at the banquet to witness the ambience there. It was an atmosphere better felt than described, as the banquet provided the opportunity for the leading political figures of the country from across the political divide to share ideas and exchange pleasantries.
The Daily Graphic can only say a big thank you to President Bush for providing that magic wand that seemed to have melted away the cold relationship between President Kufuor and former President Rawlings.
Our belief is that things will not end just there but the two, with the backing of their friends and families, will build on the opportunity offered by the banquet for President Bush to Ghanaians to sit and dine together, despite our political differences.
We must all appreciate the fact that as a nation, what unites us is bigger than our differences, for which reason the interest of corporate Ghana must always be the guiding principle in our national endeavours.
At this particular point in our existence, a lot seem to be going well for us and the country is highly regarded in international circles. What we are sure of is that things can only get better when all Ghanaians agree to distance themselves from objectionable things like the polarisation of our body politic along party lines and instead build unity in diversity.
Friday, February 22, 2008
THIS INITIATIVE MUST SUCCEED
PRESIDENT George Walker Bush announced a $17-million support to Ghana to fight malaria during his just-ended visit to the country.
While we commend the US government for its tremendous support to the country in its fight against malaria, the DAILY GRAPHIC again wishes to use this platform to remind Ghanaians of their responsibility towards the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Malaria is a major health concern in Ghana and other African countries, although it is a disease which can easily be brought under control through simple preventive measures.
Some of the commentaries and reports in sections of the foreign media that accompanied President Bush to Ghana are not in the least complimentary.
These reports touch on filth near the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel where President Bush lodged and areas near the Maamobi Polyclinic.
Concerns have been raised as to whether the financial support being provided for malaria prevention can yield the right dividends when we are surrounded by filth, stagnant water and other breeding places of the mosquito, which is the vector of the malaria parasite.
The menace of malaria can be checked if the breeding sites of mosquitoes are eliminated through simple hygienic measures.
It is a shame that in this technological age drains in the city are always choked, while garbage is dumped everywhere.
The DAILY GRAPHIC challenges Ghanaians to return to the old values of cleanliness, which take their root from the dictum, “cleanliness is next to Godliness” and ensure that our environment is kept clean.
In the good old days, sanitary inspectors, popularly called “Tankanse”, had the mandate to inspect every home and even check kitchens, cooking utensils, drinking pots and drains to ensure that strict environmental cleanliness was observed.
It is a tragedy that these basic human values have been abandoned because of urbanisation, thereby condemning most of our children to the dangers of malaria.
Our children and even adults can be saved from the menace of malaria if society abides by simple environmental guidelines so that donor support can be channelled into other sectors.
Some time last year, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment re-launched the sanitary inspection unit and introduced the “Saman Saman” system in a number of districts on a pilot scale.
The unit must be made to work to enforce the regulations on environmental cleanliness. For this reason, the DAILY GRAPHIC reminds all that the major aspect of the fight against malaria depends on personal discipline. Let us encourage the donor community to continue to support efforts to tame the menace of malaria by ensuring the success of the intervention by President Bush. Savings made as a result of the eradication of malaria can be directed at the provision of other basic needs of the people.
The success of malaria control measures is key to the attainment of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and improved economic conditions in the country.
We, therefore, call on all individuals, family members, communities and the entire Ghanaian populace to police the environment and make sure that people do not litter indiscriminately.
While we commend the US government for its tremendous support to the country in its fight against malaria, the DAILY GRAPHIC again wishes to use this platform to remind Ghanaians of their responsibility towards the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Malaria is a major health concern in Ghana and other African countries, although it is a disease which can easily be brought under control through simple preventive measures.
Some of the commentaries and reports in sections of the foreign media that accompanied President Bush to Ghana are not in the least complimentary.
These reports touch on filth near the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel where President Bush lodged and areas near the Maamobi Polyclinic.
Concerns have been raised as to whether the financial support being provided for malaria prevention can yield the right dividends when we are surrounded by filth, stagnant water and other breeding places of the mosquito, which is the vector of the malaria parasite.
The menace of malaria can be checked if the breeding sites of mosquitoes are eliminated through simple hygienic measures.
It is a shame that in this technological age drains in the city are always choked, while garbage is dumped everywhere.
The DAILY GRAPHIC challenges Ghanaians to return to the old values of cleanliness, which take their root from the dictum, “cleanliness is next to Godliness” and ensure that our environment is kept clean.
In the good old days, sanitary inspectors, popularly called “Tankanse”, had the mandate to inspect every home and even check kitchens, cooking utensils, drinking pots and drains to ensure that strict environmental cleanliness was observed.
It is a tragedy that these basic human values have been abandoned because of urbanisation, thereby condemning most of our children to the dangers of malaria.
Our children and even adults can be saved from the menace of malaria if society abides by simple environmental guidelines so that donor support can be channelled into other sectors.
Some time last year, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment re-launched the sanitary inspection unit and introduced the “Saman Saman” system in a number of districts on a pilot scale.
The unit must be made to work to enforce the regulations on environmental cleanliness. For this reason, the DAILY GRAPHIC reminds all that the major aspect of the fight against malaria depends on personal discipline. Let us encourage the donor community to continue to support efforts to tame the menace of malaria by ensuring the success of the intervention by President Bush. Savings made as a result of the eradication of malaria can be directed at the provision of other basic needs of the people.
The success of malaria control measures is key to the attainment of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and improved economic conditions in the country.
We, therefore, call on all individuals, family members, communities and the entire Ghanaian populace to police the environment and make sure that people do not litter indiscriminately.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
ENHANCING GHANA-US TIES
A MAJOR highlight of the visit of the US President, Mr George Walker Bush, was a joint press conference with his host, President J. A. Kufuor, at the Castle, Osu, during which he raised a number of important issues concerning his trip.
One of the critical issues Mr Bush dealt with was to dispel any suggestions that the United States had plans to build new military bases across Africa, with the view to expanding its military presence on the continent. Mr Bush said the idea that he was currently visiting Africa looking for sites for US bases was “baloney”.
He said the new command, Africom, was to provide African states with military training and assistance so that they could handle Africa's problems better.
The Daily Graphic hopes that the explanation by Mr Bush on this matter, which has been drummed up by some commentators, will finally put the issue to rest. We recall that when the issue first came up a year or so ago, the government was quick to state categorically that there was no iota of truth in the claim. But it was not to end there.
Indeed, days to Mr Bush’s visit to the country, the matter somehow resurfaced on many media fronts, with some commentators suggesting that it was one of the hidden agenda of the US President’s trip. Nothing could, therefore, be more gratifying than the assurance from Mr Bush himself that America had no such plans.
It is now clear that the real agenda for Mr Bush’s visit are three-fold: one, to engage in talks on economic development; two, to review progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS and, three, to help fight malaria and tropical diseases. The visit was also intended to strengthen ties between the two countries.
And to give real meaning to his intentions, Mr Bush yesterday announced a grant of $17m to help the government in the fight against malaria and a $350m five-year plan to fight what he described as “neglected tropical diseases” such as hookworm or river blindness.
Malaria has plagued mankind since ancient times and these days it is said to threaten 40 per cent of the world's population, mostly in poor tropical and sub-tropical countries.
Such a significant injection of capital from the US will, no doubt, go a long way in our efforts at fighting malaria and President Kufuor hit the nail right on the head when he said, “we pledge to support research with some of the money and also infuse efforts we’ve already started.”
On the economic front, Ghana is receiving $547m in funds under the Millennium Challenge Account, a US initiative which assists governments with good governance record to fight poverty.
For us, this trip is very worthwhile. Not only will it go a long way to deepen the friendly relations between our two nations but also it has given Mr Bush the unique opportunity to demonstrate further his commitment to help Ghana and other African states to meet challenges that confront them.
It is an over-simplification of the visit to say that self-interest inspired Mr Bush to visit Africa. National interest is a key element in the foreign policy of any country, but in a globalised world relations founded on mutual respect are likely to endure and promote sustainable partnerships, instead of handouts from the developed world.
We are convinced that Bush’s visit will yield positive results and complement the government’s efforts at promoting good governance, reducing poverty and enhancing human resource empowerment.
The Daily Graphic believes that the visit will also place Mr Bush in a better position to appreciate the development challenges facing African countries in order to throw his full weight behind global initiatives to reverse the trend.
It is hoped that the outcome of the business and diplomatic interaction during the visit will facilitate Ghana’s efforts at attaining a middle income status by 2015.
One of the critical issues Mr Bush dealt with was to dispel any suggestions that the United States had plans to build new military bases across Africa, with the view to expanding its military presence on the continent. Mr Bush said the idea that he was currently visiting Africa looking for sites for US bases was “baloney”.
He said the new command, Africom, was to provide African states with military training and assistance so that they could handle Africa's problems better.
The Daily Graphic hopes that the explanation by Mr Bush on this matter, which has been drummed up by some commentators, will finally put the issue to rest. We recall that when the issue first came up a year or so ago, the government was quick to state categorically that there was no iota of truth in the claim. But it was not to end there.
Indeed, days to Mr Bush’s visit to the country, the matter somehow resurfaced on many media fronts, with some commentators suggesting that it was one of the hidden agenda of the US President’s trip. Nothing could, therefore, be more gratifying than the assurance from Mr Bush himself that America had no such plans.
It is now clear that the real agenda for Mr Bush’s visit are three-fold: one, to engage in talks on economic development; two, to review progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS and, three, to help fight malaria and tropical diseases. The visit was also intended to strengthen ties between the two countries.
And to give real meaning to his intentions, Mr Bush yesterday announced a grant of $17m to help the government in the fight against malaria and a $350m five-year plan to fight what he described as “neglected tropical diseases” such as hookworm or river blindness.
Malaria has plagued mankind since ancient times and these days it is said to threaten 40 per cent of the world's population, mostly in poor tropical and sub-tropical countries.
Such a significant injection of capital from the US will, no doubt, go a long way in our efforts at fighting malaria and President Kufuor hit the nail right on the head when he said, “we pledge to support research with some of the money and also infuse efforts we’ve already started.”
On the economic front, Ghana is receiving $547m in funds under the Millennium Challenge Account, a US initiative which assists governments with good governance record to fight poverty.
For us, this trip is very worthwhile. Not only will it go a long way to deepen the friendly relations between our two nations but also it has given Mr Bush the unique opportunity to demonstrate further his commitment to help Ghana and other African states to meet challenges that confront them.
It is an over-simplification of the visit to say that self-interest inspired Mr Bush to visit Africa. National interest is a key element in the foreign policy of any country, but in a globalised world relations founded on mutual respect are likely to endure and promote sustainable partnerships, instead of handouts from the developed world.
We are convinced that Bush’s visit will yield positive results and complement the government’s efforts at promoting good governance, reducing poverty and enhancing human resource empowerment.
The Daily Graphic believes that the visit will also place Mr Bush in a better position to appreciate the development challenges facing African countries in order to throw his full weight behind global initiatives to reverse the trend.
It is hoped that the outcome of the business and diplomatic interaction during the visit will facilitate Ghana’s efforts at attaining a middle income status by 2015.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
THAT'S THE SPIRIT, AGLOW
LAST Saturday, hundreds of Ghanaians gathered at the Independence Square in Accra to give thanks to God for the successful hosting of the Ghana 2008 soccer tournament.
The service, which was organised by the Women’s Aglow International, also served as a platform to honour the mothers of the players of the Black Stars.
That gesture and initiative by the Women’s Aglow International is very laudable and must be applauded.
When Ghana won the bid to host the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, there were many sceptics who believed that the country could not live up to the standards set in previous competitions.
But the Local Organising Committee (LOC), headed by Dr Kofi Amoah, kept their spirits high, worked hard and regularly sought God’s guidance in prayer for a successful tournament. For this reason, it was just right that we returned to God to say, “Thank you for a successful tournament.”
The DAILY GRAPHIC also wishes to commend Women’s Aglow for the honour it bestowed on the mothers of the players for their roles in nurturing them to become world-class players and also doing the country such great honour.
Some of these players, including the likes of Michael Essien and John Mensah, have consistently highlighted the key roles their mothers played in helping them to attain iconic status.
No one can ignore the role mothers play in the character formation of their children to become successful and responsible people in society.
We believe that this should challenge mothers and, indeed, fathers to take particular interest in the total development of their children to become successful in their adult lives.
In the past, many parents were averse to their children actively engaging in sporting activities, even when the children showed amazing talents in their areas of interest.
Parents need to recognise that child development goes beyond academic excellence and should embrace other areas, with a very good balance of the key areas of child development, including positive, social and cultural interaction with their environment.
Extra curricula activities, including sports, should also be taken seriously and children need the support of their parents to excel in whatever sporting endeavour they pursue.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also wishes to salute the mothers of the players of the Black Stars and even mothers whose children are yet to break into international limelight.
We encourage them to support their children to help the nation to produce more successful individuals in order to bring honour to us all.
The service, which was organised by the Women’s Aglow International, also served as a platform to honour the mothers of the players of the Black Stars.
That gesture and initiative by the Women’s Aglow International is very laudable and must be applauded.
When Ghana won the bid to host the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, there were many sceptics who believed that the country could not live up to the standards set in previous competitions.
But the Local Organising Committee (LOC), headed by Dr Kofi Amoah, kept their spirits high, worked hard and regularly sought God’s guidance in prayer for a successful tournament. For this reason, it was just right that we returned to God to say, “Thank you for a successful tournament.”
The DAILY GRAPHIC also wishes to commend Women’s Aglow for the honour it bestowed on the mothers of the players for their roles in nurturing them to become world-class players and also doing the country such great honour.
Some of these players, including the likes of Michael Essien and John Mensah, have consistently highlighted the key roles their mothers played in helping them to attain iconic status.
No one can ignore the role mothers play in the character formation of their children to become successful and responsible people in society.
We believe that this should challenge mothers and, indeed, fathers to take particular interest in the total development of their children to become successful in their adult lives.
In the past, many parents were averse to their children actively engaging in sporting activities, even when the children showed amazing talents in their areas of interest.
Parents need to recognise that child development goes beyond academic excellence and should embrace other areas, with a very good balance of the key areas of child development, including positive, social and cultural interaction with their environment.
Extra curricula activities, including sports, should also be taken seriously and children need the support of their parents to excel in whatever sporting endeavour they pursue.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also wishes to salute the mothers of the players of the Black Stars and even mothers whose children are yet to break into international limelight.
We encourage them to support their children to help the nation to produce more successful individuals in order to bring honour to us all.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
AKWAABA, MR BUSH
TODAY, Mr George Walker Bush, the President of the United States of America, begins a three-day visit to Ghana. He is the second sitting US President to visit Ghana, the first being former President Bill Clinton who came here in March 1998 on a 12-hour visit.
President Bush’s visit to Ghana is worthwhile, contrary to what a few of our compatriots think, for many reasons.
First, the simple reason that a major power like the US has found it worth its while to cement its relationship with us with a visit to our country by its first gentleman should make us feel proud and happy.
Second, the visit will enable the US President to learn at firsthand how initiatives being supported by the US in Ghana and the other African countries he is visiting are faring.
It is worthy of note that since assuming the reins of power in the US in 2001, President Bush has more than doubled America’s official development assistance to Africa from about $10 billion in 2000 to $23 billion in 2006, an increase which is regarded as the largest in terms of development assistance since the Marshall Plan of 1945.
One such development assistance that readily comes to mind is the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), by which the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is helping to reduce poverty in the country through investments in agricultural development, transportation and market accessibility with about $547 million as part of a $5.8 billion support for 15 developing countries worldwide.
There is also the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) which has also been introduced to stimulate economic growth and facilitate the integration of the economies of sub-Saharan Africa into the global economy.
Already, some Ghanaian entrepreneurs are making inroads into the hitherto protected US market with locally-produced fabric, vegetables and artefacts.
We cannot leave out the African Education Initiative which was launched in 2002 and given a further boost by President Bush in May 2007. This initiative is making US international educational programmes more effective by helping to provide basic education for four million children in Ghana, Mali, Ethiopia, Liberaia, Honduras and Yemen.
One of the health problems confronting Africa is malaria, and President Bush’s malaria initiative and the emergency plan for AIDS relief, by which the Bush administration intends to reduce by half the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 African countries, cannot be glossed over.
In that same initiative, there is a component to make anti-retroviral drugs available to HIV victims in Africa to prolong their lives.
Now, as is obvious to observers of the world scene, US support goes to countries that claim to be building democratic and accountable institutions of governance. Thus for us to have been part of the support from the US means that we are making a serious attempt at best practices in the management of the affairs of state and public affairs generally.
That does not mean that we have not got some difficult terrain to traverse in our march towards attaining a middle-income status. But the modest gains made are quite commendable.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks there is a lot to gain from President Bush’s visit to the country, and it is for that reason that we wish Mr Bush a warm welcome and an enjoyable stay in the country.
We hope that our ties with the US will grow for the mutal benefit of the two countries.
President Bush’s visit to Ghana is worthwhile, contrary to what a few of our compatriots think, for many reasons.
First, the simple reason that a major power like the US has found it worth its while to cement its relationship with us with a visit to our country by its first gentleman should make us feel proud and happy.
Second, the visit will enable the US President to learn at firsthand how initiatives being supported by the US in Ghana and the other African countries he is visiting are faring.
It is worthy of note that since assuming the reins of power in the US in 2001, President Bush has more than doubled America’s official development assistance to Africa from about $10 billion in 2000 to $23 billion in 2006, an increase which is regarded as the largest in terms of development assistance since the Marshall Plan of 1945.
One such development assistance that readily comes to mind is the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), by which the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is helping to reduce poverty in the country through investments in agricultural development, transportation and market accessibility with about $547 million as part of a $5.8 billion support for 15 developing countries worldwide.
There is also the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) which has also been introduced to stimulate economic growth and facilitate the integration of the economies of sub-Saharan Africa into the global economy.
Already, some Ghanaian entrepreneurs are making inroads into the hitherto protected US market with locally-produced fabric, vegetables and artefacts.
We cannot leave out the African Education Initiative which was launched in 2002 and given a further boost by President Bush in May 2007. This initiative is making US international educational programmes more effective by helping to provide basic education for four million children in Ghana, Mali, Ethiopia, Liberaia, Honduras and Yemen.
One of the health problems confronting Africa is malaria, and President Bush’s malaria initiative and the emergency plan for AIDS relief, by which the Bush administration intends to reduce by half the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 African countries, cannot be glossed over.
In that same initiative, there is a component to make anti-retroviral drugs available to HIV victims in Africa to prolong their lives.
Now, as is obvious to observers of the world scene, US support goes to countries that claim to be building democratic and accountable institutions of governance. Thus for us to have been part of the support from the US means that we are making a serious attempt at best practices in the management of the affairs of state and public affairs generally.
That does not mean that we have not got some difficult terrain to traverse in our march towards attaining a middle-income status. But the modest gains made are quite commendable.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks there is a lot to gain from President Bush’s visit to the country, and it is for that reason that we wish Mr Bush a warm welcome and an enjoyable stay in the country.
We hope that our ties with the US will grow for the mutal benefit of the two countries.
Monday, February 18, 2008
MAKING GHANA GUINEA-WORM FREE
THE news that the country has, for the first time since the Guinea worm eradication programme began in 1989, recorded the lowest number of infections is really refreshing.
Indeed, it gives us the hope and inspiration that it will not be long before we see the total eradication of the debilitating disease from the country.
Figures indicate that last year Ghana recorded 3,432 cases of Guinea worm infestation, as against 8,432 in 1994 and 9,027 in 1999.
If one views this modest achievement against the backdrop that for many years Ghana was ranked number two in Guinea worm infestation in Africa, just behind war-torn Sudan, then one can appreciate the need for back-patting.
It was really embarrassing for Ghana to record so many Guinea worm infestations, knowing that the disease could easily be prevented through simple control mechanisms. Yet it wreaked enormous havoc on victims and the country as a whole.
What was worse, with the number of cases rising by the day and reaching alarming proportions, the disease ceased to be a simple health problem to become a social and economic menace. That was because those infested became burdens on the society, since they could not carry out any meaningful economic activity, having been immobilised by the disease.
Needless to say, the effect of the Guinea worm disease on endemic areas, particularly the north, was very devastating. Farmers could not till the land, mothers could not attend to the needs of their children and families, and schoolchildren could not attend school.
Thankfully, the government, with support from its development partners, took the bull by the horn and decided to pursue measures to bring the disease under control.
The efforts seemed to have yielded some positive results because figures showed that the country recorded its lowest cases of 167 for the first time from October to December last year, as against 1,165 cases for the same period in 2006.
At a media briefing in Accra on Friday, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and their development partners renewed their determination to sustain the fight against the disease so that in no time the country could be certified as a Guinea worm-free society.
That, in itself, is welcome news, because it assures the people that the government and the Health Ministry are not resting on their laurels and basking in the modest gains made.
The tendency for institutions to become complacent after some gains had been made in their efforts is known to have scuttled many a good move to solve a problem and so we encourage all who are involved in the task to rid Ghana of Guinea worm infestations to put their shoulders to the wheel and work harder until the ultimate has been achieved.
Guinea worm can be controlled if efforts at providing potable water for residents of even the remotest communities are accomplished. This is because, being a water-borne disease, Guinea worm is more prevalent in areas where there is scarcity of potable water.
The Daily Graphic would, therefore, urge the government to do all it can to extend potable water to every remote corner of the country to safeguard the health of the people.
We also believe that the intervention by the government must be multi-sectoral, so that efforts to control the disease will involve other sectors of the economy, not only the Health Ministry.
In that vain, we commend the management of Barclays Bank for presenting a cheque for GH¢68,941 to support the Guinea worm eradication programme.
Let others emulate that laudable gesture, for, collectively, we can achieve a lot.
Indeed, it gives us the hope and inspiration that it will not be long before we see the total eradication of the debilitating disease from the country.
Figures indicate that last year Ghana recorded 3,432 cases of Guinea worm infestation, as against 8,432 in 1994 and 9,027 in 1999.
If one views this modest achievement against the backdrop that for many years Ghana was ranked number two in Guinea worm infestation in Africa, just behind war-torn Sudan, then one can appreciate the need for back-patting.
It was really embarrassing for Ghana to record so many Guinea worm infestations, knowing that the disease could easily be prevented through simple control mechanisms. Yet it wreaked enormous havoc on victims and the country as a whole.
What was worse, with the number of cases rising by the day and reaching alarming proportions, the disease ceased to be a simple health problem to become a social and economic menace. That was because those infested became burdens on the society, since they could not carry out any meaningful economic activity, having been immobilised by the disease.
Needless to say, the effect of the Guinea worm disease on endemic areas, particularly the north, was very devastating. Farmers could not till the land, mothers could not attend to the needs of their children and families, and schoolchildren could not attend school.
Thankfully, the government, with support from its development partners, took the bull by the horn and decided to pursue measures to bring the disease under control.
The efforts seemed to have yielded some positive results because figures showed that the country recorded its lowest cases of 167 for the first time from October to December last year, as against 1,165 cases for the same period in 2006.
At a media briefing in Accra on Friday, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and their development partners renewed their determination to sustain the fight against the disease so that in no time the country could be certified as a Guinea worm-free society.
That, in itself, is welcome news, because it assures the people that the government and the Health Ministry are not resting on their laurels and basking in the modest gains made.
The tendency for institutions to become complacent after some gains had been made in their efforts is known to have scuttled many a good move to solve a problem and so we encourage all who are involved in the task to rid Ghana of Guinea worm infestations to put their shoulders to the wheel and work harder until the ultimate has been achieved.
Guinea worm can be controlled if efforts at providing potable water for residents of even the remotest communities are accomplished. This is because, being a water-borne disease, Guinea worm is more prevalent in areas where there is scarcity of potable water.
The Daily Graphic would, therefore, urge the government to do all it can to extend potable water to every remote corner of the country to safeguard the health of the people.
We also believe that the intervention by the government must be multi-sectoral, so that efforts to control the disease will involve other sectors of the economy, not only the Health Ministry.
In that vain, we commend the management of Barclays Bank for presenting a cheque for GH¢68,941 to support the Guinea worm eradication programme.
Let others emulate that laudable gesture, for, collectively, we can achieve a lot.
SUSTAIN NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY CELEBRATION
LAST Thursday, February 14, was marked in Ghana as National Chocolate Day to coincide with the celebration of St Valentine’s Day.
The celebration of Valentine’s Day was virtually unknown in the past, except among a few secondary school students who, on that day in those days, went about picking flowers for their lovers.
Suddenly, in the immediate past few years, the day became a day of big celebrations, with their attendant commercial value and raising serious issues of morality.
Valentine’s Day celebrations so upset moralists that a vigorous campaign was waged to reduce the influence of the day and the numerous events that went with its celebration, particularly among the youth.
Needless to say, this year’s Valentine’s Day was marked on a rather low key, partly as a result of the Ghana 2008 soccer fiesta which took the wind out of the sail of Valentine’s Day and partly as a result of the campaign to water down its celebration.
In place of the obnoxious events marking Valentine’s Day came the National Chocolate Day which was instituted two years ago by the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations. It was meant to be an alternative to the vulgar celebration of Valentine’s Day and a day on which gifts of chocolate and other cocoa products could be exchanged among friends, lovers and family members.
The National Chocolate Day is significant in our setting because since the introduction of cocoa into the country by Tetteh Quarshie in 1876, we have never consumed the crop or its products in any appreciable commercial quantity, apart from exporting the beans in their raw from or in a semi-processed form.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that as an agricultural country, Ghana must be seen to be growing what it eats and eating what it grows. That way, we can collectively cut down on the importation of exotic food products and at the same time put more money into the pockets of our farmers.
It is in this vein that we commend the efforts by the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations to popularise the consumption of cocoa and cocoa products, particularly chocolate and cocoa powder.
It is ironic that while we do not produce tea in Ghana and produce only a little coffee, these products are served at functions, instead of cocoa which is in abundance in the country. This is in spite of the fact that cocoa and its products are known to have health values.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is in no doubt at all about the fact that the consumption of cocoa and cocoa products will motivate our cocoa farmers to increase production to increase national revenue for development.
But two years into the institution of the National Chocolate Day, the day has not become popular with the people and so we think more needs to be done to create awareness of the day and what it stands for.
The Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations can use the period between now and the next celebration of the National Chocolate Day to launch a major campaign involving all stakeholders — farmers, cocoa processors, consumers and trading outlets — to get everybody to put premium on the celebration of the day.
When that happens, it won’t take long before we see every home serving a bar of chocolate at each meal time every day and schoolchildren walking into shops to purchase chocolate and other cocoa products at affordable prices.
The celebration of Valentine’s Day was virtually unknown in the past, except among a few secondary school students who, on that day in those days, went about picking flowers for their lovers.
Suddenly, in the immediate past few years, the day became a day of big celebrations, with their attendant commercial value and raising serious issues of morality.
Valentine’s Day celebrations so upset moralists that a vigorous campaign was waged to reduce the influence of the day and the numerous events that went with its celebration, particularly among the youth.
Needless to say, this year’s Valentine’s Day was marked on a rather low key, partly as a result of the Ghana 2008 soccer fiesta which took the wind out of the sail of Valentine’s Day and partly as a result of the campaign to water down its celebration.
In place of the obnoxious events marking Valentine’s Day came the National Chocolate Day which was instituted two years ago by the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations. It was meant to be an alternative to the vulgar celebration of Valentine’s Day and a day on which gifts of chocolate and other cocoa products could be exchanged among friends, lovers and family members.
The National Chocolate Day is significant in our setting because since the introduction of cocoa into the country by Tetteh Quarshie in 1876, we have never consumed the crop or its products in any appreciable commercial quantity, apart from exporting the beans in their raw from or in a semi-processed form.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that as an agricultural country, Ghana must be seen to be growing what it eats and eating what it grows. That way, we can collectively cut down on the importation of exotic food products and at the same time put more money into the pockets of our farmers.
It is in this vein that we commend the efforts by the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations to popularise the consumption of cocoa and cocoa products, particularly chocolate and cocoa powder.
It is ironic that while we do not produce tea in Ghana and produce only a little coffee, these products are served at functions, instead of cocoa which is in abundance in the country. This is in spite of the fact that cocoa and its products are known to have health values.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is in no doubt at all about the fact that the consumption of cocoa and cocoa products will motivate our cocoa farmers to increase production to increase national revenue for development.
But two years into the institution of the National Chocolate Day, the day has not become popular with the people and so we think more needs to be done to create awareness of the day and what it stands for.
The Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations can use the period between now and the next celebration of the National Chocolate Day to launch a major campaign involving all stakeholders — farmers, cocoa processors, consumers and trading outlets — to get everybody to put premium on the celebration of the day.
When that happens, it won’t take long before we see every home serving a bar of chocolate at each meal time every day and schoolchildren walking into shops to purchase chocolate and other cocoa products at affordable prices.
Friday, February 15, 2008
OUR DEMOCRACY ADVANCES
PRESIDENT J. A. Kufuor yesterday delivered his last State of the Nation Address as the Chief Executive of the country.
The tone of his address might have assuaged the deep divide between the two sides of the political divide in Parliament.
Yesterday’s State of the Nation Address touched on issues depicting the true state of the nation.
The President avoided the temptation of comparing the performance of his government with that of the previous administration.
Indeed, the country has come a long way in its attempt to build a united country, particularly as a result of the very divisive and partisan nature of politics in our part of the world.
The President hit the nail right on the head when he said, “To me, it is useless to pretend to be the inventor of the wheel. Rather, the mark of the successful leader is what to do with the wheel that one finds.
My account will, therefore, be restricted to the state of the nation as I found it on my assumption of office and how it has influenced decisions and policies that I have initiated in my bid to better the nation, so what I say today should not be thought of as an attempt at belittling what others did.”
This was a profound remark by President Kufuor. But the Daily Graphic believes that since example is better than precept, the First Gentleman of the Republic would lead the way and encourage others, including those in the Minority, to join hands with his government to build a united and vibrant society.
As the President pointed out in his address, many things seemed to be working in our favour. However, as a people we need to take advantage of the positive developments to inch towards halving poverty by 2015 in our bid to attain a middle-income status in the same year.
While most Ghanaians and the international community can see that there are signs of growth in Ghana, other things, such as frequent communal violence in certain parts of the country and the over-politicisation of issues, tend to derail efforts at improving living standards in our society.
What works in our favour again is that we have an electoral machinery which has been touted as being very efficient on the continent and that our faith in the electoral process and an elaborate legal framework, can provide the necessary platform for holding free and fair elections.
The means to success, even in advanced societies that we frequently acknowledge include respect for the rule of law, free and independent Electoral Commission and Judiciary, the conduct of regular elections, a vibrant legislature, a free and independent media and an active civil society.
All these benchmarks are clearly visible in the Ghanaian body politic. For this reason, political parties seeking the mandate of the people should not paint a picture that portends war during Election 2008.
This is why the electorate must reject those who would incite the people to violence during Election 2008.
Ghana can only progress and those who seek the mandate to rule can only do so in an atmosphere of peace and unity in diversity.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that Ghana can only move forward. It will not burn at the instigation of any politician.
Our politicians should rather explore ways of improving on the achievements of the Kufuor administration so that the next State of the Nation Address will present a better state of affairs in the country than we have today, all in the march towards achieving a middle-income status.
The tone of his address might have assuaged the deep divide between the two sides of the political divide in Parliament.
Yesterday’s State of the Nation Address touched on issues depicting the true state of the nation.
The President avoided the temptation of comparing the performance of his government with that of the previous administration.
Indeed, the country has come a long way in its attempt to build a united country, particularly as a result of the very divisive and partisan nature of politics in our part of the world.
The President hit the nail right on the head when he said, “To me, it is useless to pretend to be the inventor of the wheel. Rather, the mark of the successful leader is what to do with the wheel that one finds.
My account will, therefore, be restricted to the state of the nation as I found it on my assumption of office and how it has influenced decisions and policies that I have initiated in my bid to better the nation, so what I say today should not be thought of as an attempt at belittling what others did.”
This was a profound remark by President Kufuor. But the Daily Graphic believes that since example is better than precept, the First Gentleman of the Republic would lead the way and encourage others, including those in the Minority, to join hands with his government to build a united and vibrant society.
As the President pointed out in his address, many things seemed to be working in our favour. However, as a people we need to take advantage of the positive developments to inch towards halving poverty by 2015 in our bid to attain a middle-income status in the same year.
While most Ghanaians and the international community can see that there are signs of growth in Ghana, other things, such as frequent communal violence in certain parts of the country and the over-politicisation of issues, tend to derail efforts at improving living standards in our society.
What works in our favour again is that we have an electoral machinery which has been touted as being very efficient on the continent and that our faith in the electoral process and an elaborate legal framework, can provide the necessary platform for holding free and fair elections.
The means to success, even in advanced societies that we frequently acknowledge include respect for the rule of law, free and independent Electoral Commission and Judiciary, the conduct of regular elections, a vibrant legislature, a free and independent media and an active civil society.
All these benchmarks are clearly visible in the Ghanaian body politic. For this reason, political parties seeking the mandate of the people should not paint a picture that portends war during Election 2008.
This is why the electorate must reject those who would incite the people to violence during Election 2008.
Ghana can only progress and those who seek the mandate to rule can only do so in an atmosphere of peace and unity in diversity.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that Ghana can only move forward. It will not burn at the instigation of any politician.
Our politicians should rather explore ways of improving on the achievements of the Kufuor administration so that the next State of the Nation Address will present a better state of affairs in the country than we have today, all in the march towards achieving a middle-income status.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
NOT AGAIN, BAWKU
WE are very sad to be revisiting this issue of communal violence in the country, especially after the country seemed to have, in one unit, supported the Black Stars during the just-ended Ghana 2008 soccer fiesta.
This is because of renewed fighting between Kusasis and Mamprusis in Bawku in the Upper East Region.
The sad news is that three persons are alleged to have lost their lives in the fresh fighting following the firing of guns by irate youth from the two feuding ethnic groups in the neighbourhood of Sabongedi.
What makes this current skirmish very worrying is that the gun men opened fire on worshippers who were engaged in evening prayers in a mosque.
Only last Thursday, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, announced the extension of the curfew which was imposed on the Bawku area because of the volatile security situation there.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is aware that since the eruption of the conflict in late December last year, the government has spent millions of cedis to respond to the security situation in the area.
Indeed, when he briefed Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Bartels said more than 130 soldiers and 250 policemen had been deployed to the area to stabilise the situation and gave an indication that reinforcement would be sent if the need arose.
All this, we must note, entails some expenditure, not to talk about the fact that the security personnel sent there could have been put to other tasks elsewhere to maintain law and order or apprehend law breakers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC would, once again, like to appeal to the feuding factions to choose the path of dialogue in resolving their differences, instead of the use of violence which serves no purpose apart from turning the clock of progress back.
Everybody, including our brothers and sisters in Bawku, knows that violence is counter-productive and so the only option left for the factions is to respect the rule of law and seek redress to their grievances using the appropriate channels.
We are of the firm belief that whatever the bone of contention is, the laws of the land have elaborate provisions which can be used to address the issues in a more meaningful way.
While conceding that litigation can be expensive, time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, we also know that in the long run if both parties in the Bawku conflict submit to the rule of law, the benefits will be mutual, productive and far-reaching, facilitating unity and progress in the area.
Without any doubt, the situation as it exists now in the Bawku area can be likened to a state of nature where only the strongest and most powerful can survive.
But it is also obvious that no society can make progress or thrive in a state of nature where there are all the elements which retard progress — confusion, anarchy and lawlessness.
In the opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC, what makes the Bawku situation more painful is the unfortunate fact that the people have refused to heed good counsel from well-meaning people to dialogue.
Thus, instead of using all the resources at their disposal to fight poverty, disease and deprivation, the people spend time plotting to fight among themselves, thereby retarding their own forward march.
As if that were not enough, the government’s scarce resources that could have gone into other areas of national development such as education, infrastructure, health care, etc. are “wasted” on peace-keeping efforts.
What is more, public servants such as doctors, teachers, civil servants, nurses and others refuse posting to such conflict-prone areas, slowing down social development in those areas.
Peaceful co-existence is essential for the well-being of any society and it is for this reason that the people of Bawku must promote peace for the good of the area and Ghana as a whole.
This is because of renewed fighting between Kusasis and Mamprusis in Bawku in the Upper East Region.
The sad news is that three persons are alleged to have lost their lives in the fresh fighting following the firing of guns by irate youth from the two feuding ethnic groups in the neighbourhood of Sabongedi.
What makes this current skirmish very worrying is that the gun men opened fire on worshippers who were engaged in evening prayers in a mosque.
Only last Thursday, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, announced the extension of the curfew which was imposed on the Bawku area because of the volatile security situation there.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is aware that since the eruption of the conflict in late December last year, the government has spent millions of cedis to respond to the security situation in the area.
Indeed, when he briefed Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Bartels said more than 130 soldiers and 250 policemen had been deployed to the area to stabilise the situation and gave an indication that reinforcement would be sent if the need arose.
All this, we must note, entails some expenditure, not to talk about the fact that the security personnel sent there could have been put to other tasks elsewhere to maintain law and order or apprehend law breakers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC would, once again, like to appeal to the feuding factions to choose the path of dialogue in resolving their differences, instead of the use of violence which serves no purpose apart from turning the clock of progress back.
Everybody, including our brothers and sisters in Bawku, knows that violence is counter-productive and so the only option left for the factions is to respect the rule of law and seek redress to their grievances using the appropriate channels.
We are of the firm belief that whatever the bone of contention is, the laws of the land have elaborate provisions which can be used to address the issues in a more meaningful way.
While conceding that litigation can be expensive, time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, we also know that in the long run if both parties in the Bawku conflict submit to the rule of law, the benefits will be mutual, productive and far-reaching, facilitating unity and progress in the area.
Without any doubt, the situation as it exists now in the Bawku area can be likened to a state of nature where only the strongest and most powerful can survive.
But it is also obvious that no society can make progress or thrive in a state of nature where there are all the elements which retard progress — confusion, anarchy and lawlessness.
In the opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC, what makes the Bawku situation more painful is the unfortunate fact that the people have refused to heed good counsel from well-meaning people to dialogue.
Thus, instead of using all the resources at their disposal to fight poverty, disease and deprivation, the people spend time plotting to fight among themselves, thereby retarding their own forward march.
As if that were not enough, the government’s scarce resources that could have gone into other areas of national development such as education, infrastructure, health care, etc. are “wasted” on peace-keeping efforts.
What is more, public servants such as doctors, teachers, civil servants, nurses and others refuse posting to such conflict-prone areas, slowing down social development in those areas.
Peaceful co-existence is essential for the well-being of any society and it is for this reason that the people of Bawku must promote peace for the good of the area and Ghana as a whole.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
REVIEW INTEREST RATES NOW
TIME and again captains of business and politics have raised concerns over the high interest rates on bank credits and called on the banks to lower their rates.
Such calls for review have always been placed in the context of the need to encourage growth in key and productive sectors of the economy, such as construction and manufacturing, which depend on credit facilities from the banks to expand their operations and activities.
Some economic analysts have observed that despite the growth in the banking sector of the country over the past four to five years, characterised by the influx of some influential and aggressive foreign banks, the real impact on the productive sectors of the economy is yet to be felt.
The central bank has, in the true spirit of promoting a free market, divested itself of controlling or dictating interest rates to be charged by commercial banks.
Instead, the Bank of Ghana has relied on moral suasion to get the banks to realistically adjust their interest rates.
Interestingly, despite the growth in the banking sector, interest rates remain high. While the prime rate of the Bank of Ghana closed the year at 13.5 per cent, interest rates (lending rates) hovered between 19.9 per cent and 28.0 per cent.
In the past, the banks had cited high government borrowing and high risk in the economy as factors affecting the high adjustment in interest rates. These two factors have all eased.
The central bank, at its Monetray Policy Committee meeting early this month, gave credence to evidence of improved credit conditions in terms of access and terms of credit provision.
The question that comes to mind is, why do lending rates continue to be high in an economy that has remained stable for nearly a decade?
While recognising the commendable reduction in lending rates from the region of 45 per cent in 2000 to the present average rate of 20 per cent, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to identify itself with sentiments expressed by the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning that interest rates as they presently cannot stimulate the levels of economic growth the country needs to move into a middle-income status.
The high interest rates notwithstanding, the private sector has defied the odds in 2007 attracted some commendable amount of credits.
Over the years, there have been so many appeals made to banks and other financial institutions in the country to reduce interest rates but such calls have largely gone unheeded.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the Central Bank to move a step further away from moral suasion to introduce some innovative interventions that will help address the issue in a decisive and appropriate manner.
To achieve this goal, the Central Bank should critically examine the trends and consider possibilities such as incentives, setting quotas for credit to certain key sectors such as agriculture and industry to enable the banks to channel their resources there.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes it will not be out of place for a central bank in a developing country to make such strategic interventions to drive the growth of the economy in a guided fashion, since market forces can distort and delay the economic take-off so badly needed.
Such a timely intervention by the central bank is key and cannot be deferred to another time if the gains so far made by the economy should be maintained. The time for action is now!
Such calls for review have always been placed in the context of the need to encourage growth in key and productive sectors of the economy, such as construction and manufacturing, which depend on credit facilities from the banks to expand their operations and activities.
Some economic analysts have observed that despite the growth in the banking sector of the country over the past four to five years, characterised by the influx of some influential and aggressive foreign banks, the real impact on the productive sectors of the economy is yet to be felt.
The central bank has, in the true spirit of promoting a free market, divested itself of controlling or dictating interest rates to be charged by commercial banks.
Instead, the Bank of Ghana has relied on moral suasion to get the banks to realistically adjust their interest rates.
Interestingly, despite the growth in the banking sector, interest rates remain high. While the prime rate of the Bank of Ghana closed the year at 13.5 per cent, interest rates (lending rates) hovered between 19.9 per cent and 28.0 per cent.
In the past, the banks had cited high government borrowing and high risk in the economy as factors affecting the high adjustment in interest rates. These two factors have all eased.
The central bank, at its Monetray Policy Committee meeting early this month, gave credence to evidence of improved credit conditions in terms of access and terms of credit provision.
The question that comes to mind is, why do lending rates continue to be high in an economy that has remained stable for nearly a decade?
While recognising the commendable reduction in lending rates from the region of 45 per cent in 2000 to the present average rate of 20 per cent, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to identify itself with sentiments expressed by the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning that interest rates as they presently cannot stimulate the levels of economic growth the country needs to move into a middle-income status.
The high interest rates notwithstanding, the private sector has defied the odds in 2007 attracted some commendable amount of credits.
Over the years, there have been so many appeals made to banks and other financial institutions in the country to reduce interest rates but such calls have largely gone unheeded.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the Central Bank to move a step further away from moral suasion to introduce some innovative interventions that will help address the issue in a decisive and appropriate manner.
To achieve this goal, the Central Bank should critically examine the trends and consider possibilities such as incentives, setting quotas for credit to certain key sectors such as agriculture and industry to enable the banks to channel their resources there.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes it will not be out of place for a central bank in a developing country to make such strategic interventions to drive the growth of the economy in a guided fashion, since market forces can distort and delay the economic take-off so badly needed.
Such a timely intervention by the central bank is key and cannot be deferred to another time if the gains so far made by the economy should be maintained. The time for action is now!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
EC, LET'S DIALOGUE ON THIS
THIS year’s elections fall on the statutory date of December 7, which is a Sunday (see page 3).
This is the first time since the inception of the 1992 Constitution that the statutory date of the election will fall on a Sunday, a day devoted to the worship of God by most Christians.
Holding the polls on Sunday, undoubtedly, will be in keeping with the statute, but some people hold the view that polling on a day most Christians in Ghana devote to the worship of God will be both unfair to and inconvenient for that large community in the country.
The likelihood of resentment in such a situation is high.
Besides, other people are apprehensive that church services and related activities on the day of the polls will keep a sizeable number of Christians away during the greater part of the voting hours. For those who will make the effort to vote after church service, which is normally around noon time, the likelihood of creating congestion at the polling stations, and its attendant problems, is there.
In 1996, when the elections day fell on a Saturday, members of the Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) Church protested because they contended that the day was their sabbath, it nevertheless went ahead.
Though the Christian Council of Ghana has indicated that it is going to meet on the issue and come up with its position, the council has even before then drawn attention to the fact that a lot of church premises are used as polling stations, a situation which the Electoral Commission (EC) should take cognisance of.
It is most likely that the day for this year’s elections will generate debate.
We have strong signals from the EC that the date for the elections will not be changed, but in the circumstances the DAILY GRAPHIC would urge the commission to hold a meeting with the political parties, religious and civil society organisations to deliberate on the issue.
As we consolidate our democracy, we should ensure that whatever we do, whether legally or by convention, does not cause resentment among large groups or sections of the populace.
The elections will be held for the people and not people for the elections. After all, of what use would it be when a large number of voters do not exercise their franchise because of one reason or another?
To conduct a successful election, a substantial number of voters should be seen to have cast their votes.
However in the event that the EC will not budge in its position, the DAILY GRAPHIC would call on all Christians to make the time to cast their votes on the polling day.
For, while Christians may argue that the Bible states that the law was made for man and not vice versa, the same Bible also exhorts Christians to give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is His.
This is the first time since the inception of the 1992 Constitution that the statutory date of the election will fall on a Sunday, a day devoted to the worship of God by most Christians.
Holding the polls on Sunday, undoubtedly, will be in keeping with the statute, but some people hold the view that polling on a day most Christians in Ghana devote to the worship of God will be both unfair to and inconvenient for that large community in the country.
The likelihood of resentment in such a situation is high.
Besides, other people are apprehensive that church services and related activities on the day of the polls will keep a sizeable number of Christians away during the greater part of the voting hours. For those who will make the effort to vote after church service, which is normally around noon time, the likelihood of creating congestion at the polling stations, and its attendant problems, is there.
In 1996, when the elections day fell on a Saturday, members of the Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) Church protested because they contended that the day was their sabbath, it nevertheless went ahead.
Though the Christian Council of Ghana has indicated that it is going to meet on the issue and come up with its position, the council has even before then drawn attention to the fact that a lot of church premises are used as polling stations, a situation which the Electoral Commission (EC) should take cognisance of.
It is most likely that the day for this year’s elections will generate debate.
We have strong signals from the EC that the date for the elections will not be changed, but in the circumstances the DAILY GRAPHIC would urge the commission to hold a meeting with the political parties, religious and civil society organisations to deliberate on the issue.
As we consolidate our democracy, we should ensure that whatever we do, whether legally or by convention, does not cause resentment among large groups or sections of the populace.
The elections will be held for the people and not people for the elections. After all, of what use would it be when a large number of voters do not exercise their franchise because of one reason or another?
To conduct a successful election, a substantial number of voters should be seen to have cast their votes.
However in the event that the EC will not budge in its position, the DAILY GRAPHIC would call on all Christians to make the time to cast their votes on the polling day.
For, while Christians may argue that the Bible states that the law was made for man and not vice versa, the same Bible also exhorts Christians to give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is His.
Monday, February 11, 2008
GHANA 2008, BIGGEST SOCCER FIESTA
THE Ghana 2008 soccer fiesta ended yesterday at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium with the final game played between Cameroun and Egypt. Egypt carried the day by beating Cameroun by one goal to nil and thus made history as the sixth- time winner of the trophy.
Indeed, it has been three weeks of an exuberant showpiece of African soccer and the players and technical men from the 16 qualifying countries must be congratulated on exhibiting the kind of soccer artistry that always places African soccer under international spotlight.
For many Ghanaians, Ghana 2008 will be a tournament worth remembering not necessarily for the pain of a semi-final exit but for the nationalism and patriotism it generated among many Ghanaians and even non-Ghanaians.
The evidence that soccer runs deep through the blood of many Ghanaians was overwhelming and even after the defeat to Cameroun, many soccer fans found their voices to cheer the Black Stars to a very fancied victory over pre-tournament favourites Cote d’Ivoire, to clinch the bronze medal.
As the euphoria gradually fades away, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to congratulate the government on giving Ghanaians the opportunity to celebrate with the rest of the continent, and indeed the world, African soccer at the highest level.
Many will agree that Ghana has played the worthy host and although there were a few organisational hitches, one can rate the tournament as being successful.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) also needs to be commended for the very key role it played towards making the tournament an exciting and passionate one.
The LOC might have taken so much flak for the ticketing woes of soccer fans but one cannot hold that against them so much considering the fact that there were millions of soccer fans all anxious to get seats in the stadia that could seat on the average 30,000 fans.
One recalls that even developed countries such as Germany, Japan and South Korea with their high organisational efficiency had to contend with issues of ticket availability to soccer fans when they hosted the World Cup.
We believe that the necessary lessons have been learnt to ensure that in future such challenges can be addressed more effectively and efficiently.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also congratulates the Black Stars on their performance. While Ghanaians may be disappointed that the Stars could not win the diadem to make our dream of "we host to win" a reality, we wish to caution against tagging the present crop of players in the Black Stars as failures as their performance was certainly above average. This is a very youthful team that must be maintained for the future and we forcefully wish to drive home the axiom that there is victory in patience and persistence.
Ghanaian soccer fans need to recognise that these are players who also wanted the cup so much to buoy their careers and also etch their names in the halls of fame. Like mortals they have their weaknesses and rather than condemn them, soccer fans should encourage and help them to overcome their weaknesses to help build a winsome team.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also wishes to congratulate the winners of the 2008 Cup of Nations, Egypt and also urge Angolans to get themselves ready for the next continental showpiece in 2010, when they host the rest of the continent, and indeed South Africa to showcase the African experience to the globe at the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Indeed, it has been three weeks of an exuberant showpiece of African soccer and the players and technical men from the 16 qualifying countries must be congratulated on exhibiting the kind of soccer artistry that always places African soccer under international spotlight.
For many Ghanaians, Ghana 2008 will be a tournament worth remembering not necessarily for the pain of a semi-final exit but for the nationalism and patriotism it generated among many Ghanaians and even non-Ghanaians.
The evidence that soccer runs deep through the blood of many Ghanaians was overwhelming and even after the defeat to Cameroun, many soccer fans found their voices to cheer the Black Stars to a very fancied victory over pre-tournament favourites Cote d’Ivoire, to clinch the bronze medal.
As the euphoria gradually fades away, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to congratulate the government on giving Ghanaians the opportunity to celebrate with the rest of the continent, and indeed the world, African soccer at the highest level.
Many will agree that Ghana has played the worthy host and although there were a few organisational hitches, one can rate the tournament as being successful.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) also needs to be commended for the very key role it played towards making the tournament an exciting and passionate one.
The LOC might have taken so much flak for the ticketing woes of soccer fans but one cannot hold that against them so much considering the fact that there were millions of soccer fans all anxious to get seats in the stadia that could seat on the average 30,000 fans.
One recalls that even developed countries such as Germany, Japan and South Korea with their high organisational efficiency had to contend with issues of ticket availability to soccer fans when they hosted the World Cup.
We believe that the necessary lessons have been learnt to ensure that in future such challenges can be addressed more effectively and efficiently.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also congratulates the Black Stars on their performance. While Ghanaians may be disappointed that the Stars could not win the diadem to make our dream of "we host to win" a reality, we wish to caution against tagging the present crop of players in the Black Stars as failures as their performance was certainly above average. This is a very youthful team that must be maintained for the future and we forcefully wish to drive home the axiom that there is victory in patience and persistence.
Ghanaian soccer fans need to recognise that these are players who also wanted the cup so much to buoy their careers and also etch their names in the halls of fame. Like mortals they have their weaknesses and rather than condemn them, soccer fans should encourage and help them to overcome their weaknesses to help build a winsome team.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also wishes to congratulate the winners of the 2008 Cup of Nations, Egypt and also urge Angolans to get themselves ready for the next continental showpiece in 2010, when they host the rest of the continent, and indeed South Africa to showcase the African experience to the globe at the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
STOP THE BLAME GAME, CHEER THE STARS
FOLLOWING the Black Stars’ loss to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun last Thursday at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra, the blame game was rife in the country, on the airwaves, in public transport, offices, indeed, everywhere.
Coach Claude Le Roy and his technical team’s selection for the encounter was flawed and that was the cause of the Stars’ defeat by the Indomitable Lions, the critics said.
In the main, they questioned why the coach selected certain players for the match and not others they believed were in better form to play.
To such critics, Le Roy’s selection affected the Black Stars’ formation on the field and the resultant ineffective positions played by some of the players resulted in Ghana’s defeat.
Admittedly, the Stars’ defeat was too much a pain for Ghanaians to bear and a disappointment too great for us all to endure, particularly so when, to many, the Black Stars had improved their performance from match to match and had reached the championship stage of the tournament on account of a good performance in the preceding match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
These developments, having psyched up the whole nation for an eventual win and a celebrations galore, also made an outpour of grief, resentment and fault-finding unavoidable, in the event of the defeat.
That is the reason we would ask our national coach, Claude Le Roy, the technical handlers and all who have responsibility for the Black Stars not to be overwhelmed by the public reaction to the Stars’ defeat.
Rather, they should do all they can to prepare our boys, put them in good shape so that they come out victorious in today’s encounter with the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
To all the great fans of the Black Stars, we say having let out the initial steam of bitterness arising out of the defeat, let us rally behind the Stars in our bid for the bronze medal.
Let us use this occasion to ignite in us the never-give-up spirit and live it forever in all national endeavours.
After all, while the Black Stars dazzled, we all joined in the euphoria and as a nation our pride soared.
So, while we play for the bronze today, we should all stand up as one people and give all the support we can muster to the Stars to win the match.
For one thing, the national spirit with which we supported the Stars to beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the quarter-final was not there last Thursday.
Let us remember that the failure of the Black Stars to win today will be our failure as a nation to make a mark in the tournament which we have proudly hosted.
Their win will be Ghana’s victory.
Coach Claude Le Roy and his technical team’s selection for the encounter was flawed and that was the cause of the Stars’ defeat by the Indomitable Lions, the critics said.
In the main, they questioned why the coach selected certain players for the match and not others they believed were in better form to play.
To such critics, Le Roy’s selection affected the Black Stars’ formation on the field and the resultant ineffective positions played by some of the players resulted in Ghana’s defeat.
Admittedly, the Stars’ defeat was too much a pain for Ghanaians to bear and a disappointment too great for us all to endure, particularly so when, to many, the Black Stars had improved their performance from match to match and had reached the championship stage of the tournament on account of a good performance in the preceding match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
These developments, having psyched up the whole nation for an eventual win and a celebrations galore, also made an outpour of grief, resentment and fault-finding unavoidable, in the event of the defeat.
That is the reason we would ask our national coach, Claude Le Roy, the technical handlers and all who have responsibility for the Black Stars not to be overwhelmed by the public reaction to the Stars’ defeat.
Rather, they should do all they can to prepare our boys, put them in good shape so that they come out victorious in today’s encounter with the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
To all the great fans of the Black Stars, we say having let out the initial steam of bitterness arising out of the defeat, let us rally behind the Stars in our bid for the bronze medal.
Let us use this occasion to ignite in us the never-give-up spirit and live it forever in all national endeavours.
After all, while the Black Stars dazzled, we all joined in the euphoria and as a nation our pride soared.
So, while we play for the bronze today, we should all stand up as one people and give all the support we can muster to the Stars to win the match.
For one thing, the national spirit with which we supported the Stars to beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the quarter-final was not there last Thursday.
Let us remember that the failure of the Black Stars to win today will be our failure as a nation to make a mark in the tournament which we have proudly hosted.
Their win will be Ghana’s victory.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
VICTORIES and losses are a part of life, though victories are sweet and fulfilling and losses bitter and painful. In competitions such as the MTN Africa Cup of Nations, it is always victory for one and a loss for another for teams who make it to the top.
Undoubtedly, the failure of the Black Stars to play as one of the finalists and, as was expected by all, to win the cup for Ghana, has been a great disappointment to all.
No wonder, Accra went dead silent after the match yesterday and reports from other parts of the country speak of a people so hurt, a people who have had to shelve forever, the expected grandiose victory celebration because Ghana has not lived the theme for the celebration — Host and win.
As was pointed out earlier, in competitions, some lose, while others win, and in this particular case Ghana is the loser. But this defeat must not break the nation’s heart.
Why? Because the Black Stars fought gallantly and had fought really hard from the start. Even though it had not been smooth sailing, ultimately, at the end of each of their matches, the Black Stars had given Ghana the last laugh.
Yesterday, our boys really played a good game but luck was not on our side. But all is not lost. We should not be downhearted but continue to support the Stars because we have the chance to fight for the third position. We are down but not out.
We should learn to accept defeat and as we do so, we should also learn lessons from it so that come 2010 in Angola, we can make amends and lift the cup.
The odds weighed heavily against us — our Captain, Stephen Appiah, could not play in the tournament due to injury and our Rock of Gibraltar couldn’t play in yesterday’s match as a result of a dubious red card he received during the quarter-final match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
In spite of all these difficulties, our boys managed to get to the semi-final.
The DAILY GRAPHIC would want to urge all Ghanaians to continue to support the Black Stars as we play for the bronze, continue to fly the national flag and don the national colours.
The Black Stars have done well and even though our good was not enough, we believe that we will get the bronze.
In victory, we celebrate; in defeat we should not become so despondent as to soak ourselves in alcohol. That comes with its bad effects.
The DAILY GRAPHIC expects all of us — from the mightiest to the lowest — to cheer up and hope for the best in future, for that is the spirit of the game.
Undoubtedly, the failure of the Black Stars to play as one of the finalists and, as was expected by all, to win the cup for Ghana, has been a great disappointment to all.
No wonder, Accra went dead silent after the match yesterday and reports from other parts of the country speak of a people so hurt, a people who have had to shelve forever, the expected grandiose victory celebration because Ghana has not lived the theme for the celebration — Host and win.
As was pointed out earlier, in competitions, some lose, while others win, and in this particular case Ghana is the loser. But this defeat must not break the nation’s heart.
Why? Because the Black Stars fought gallantly and had fought really hard from the start. Even though it had not been smooth sailing, ultimately, at the end of each of their matches, the Black Stars had given Ghana the last laugh.
Yesterday, our boys really played a good game but luck was not on our side. But all is not lost. We should not be downhearted but continue to support the Stars because we have the chance to fight for the third position. We are down but not out.
We should learn to accept defeat and as we do so, we should also learn lessons from it so that come 2010 in Angola, we can make amends and lift the cup.
The odds weighed heavily against us — our Captain, Stephen Appiah, could not play in the tournament due to injury and our Rock of Gibraltar couldn’t play in yesterday’s match as a result of a dubious red card he received during the quarter-final match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
In spite of all these difficulties, our boys managed to get to the semi-final.
The DAILY GRAPHIC would want to urge all Ghanaians to continue to support the Black Stars as we play for the bronze, continue to fly the national flag and don the national colours.
The Black Stars have done well and even though our good was not enough, we believe that we will get the bronze.
In victory, we celebrate; in defeat we should not become so despondent as to soak ourselves in alcohol. That comes with its bad effects.
The DAILY GRAPHIC expects all of us — from the mightiest to the lowest — to cheer up and hope for the best in future, for that is the spirit of the game.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
GIVE US ANOTHER VICTORY, STARS
THIS evening, our Black Stars are involved in another crucial football battle against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra.
The two countries are playing in the first semi-final encounter of the ongoing 26th Africa Cup of Nations tournament, with the other clash between the Pharaohs of Egypt and the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire taking place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi in the night.
In tournaments of this nature, teams which make the semi-final berth are said to be in the medal zone, since they are within reach of the diadem. In other words, each of the four remaining teams is capable of lifting the coveted trophy, and with just the semi-final matches to play before they reach the final itself, each of the teams will go all out to carry the day.
Cameroun, by every measurable standard, is one of the giants of soccer on the African continent, with such a rich pedigree which, alone, can send the shivers down the spine of opposing teams.
In this present tournament, after their 2-4 loss to defending champions, Egypt, not many gave the Lions a dog’s chance of roaring into the semis. The fact that they are in there speaks volumes of their tenacity and determination to go for gold, even at the expense of the host country.
But the DAILY GRAPHIC, just like every Ghanaian, is confident in the ability of the Stars to deliver the goods. So far, the team has lived up to expectation, for which reason the whole country has rallied behind them in victory.
What makes us so confident is the fact that even with reduced strength in the match against our arch rivals in soccer on the continent, Nigeria, the Stars carried the day, thereby turning the country into one big arena of jubilation. That singular victory, clawed from the red-eyed Super Eagles, led to one of the biggest spontaneous celebrations nation-wide, probably surpassing the celebrations that came with the declaration of independence on March 6, 1957.
In spite of the confidence we have in the team, we are in no doubt at all that the Stars are in a match of their lives, particularly playing without their inspirational captain, John Mensah, who, thanks to the Algerian referee who decided to apply the rules to the letter, is on suspension. But nothing is humanly impossible if one sets the goal and works hard to attain it.
From the Black Stars, Ghanaians expect nothing but victory this evening and it is our expectation that as the players trot onto the field to begin hostilities, they will be reminded of the exhortation by the President, during his video conference with them on Tuesday, that “All Ghana expects from you is that you beat Cameroun soundly. As for this cup, Ghana is demanding it.”
As we call on the Stars to deliver, we also expect football fans and, indeed, all Ghanaians to support the team, even if the going gets tough.
The DAILY GRAPHIC knows that the match is crucial to both countries, since victory by either side will give the team the chance to go for a record-equalling fifth cup, since both countries have won the tournament four times already.
That is the more reason we believe the Black Stars should just stay focused and die a little for their country. It is only by doing this that they will be part of the epoch-making event, come Sunday, February 10.
We are also confident in Coach Le Roy’s ability to find a replacement for John Mensah and find a means to keep Eto’o in check, as the Tunisians did in their quarter-final clash with the Lions.
As we prepare for victory celebrations, the DAILY GRAPHIC reminds fans not to take the law into their own hands and put their own lives and those of others at risk.
We must celebrate in moderation, for Mother Ghana needs everybody for the bigger celebration on Sunday and beyond when we win the cup.
Stars, don’t let us down, for we need to celebrate.
The two countries are playing in the first semi-final encounter of the ongoing 26th Africa Cup of Nations tournament, with the other clash between the Pharaohs of Egypt and the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire taking place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi in the night.
In tournaments of this nature, teams which make the semi-final berth are said to be in the medal zone, since they are within reach of the diadem. In other words, each of the four remaining teams is capable of lifting the coveted trophy, and with just the semi-final matches to play before they reach the final itself, each of the teams will go all out to carry the day.
Cameroun, by every measurable standard, is one of the giants of soccer on the African continent, with such a rich pedigree which, alone, can send the shivers down the spine of opposing teams.
In this present tournament, after their 2-4 loss to defending champions, Egypt, not many gave the Lions a dog’s chance of roaring into the semis. The fact that they are in there speaks volumes of their tenacity and determination to go for gold, even at the expense of the host country.
But the DAILY GRAPHIC, just like every Ghanaian, is confident in the ability of the Stars to deliver the goods. So far, the team has lived up to expectation, for which reason the whole country has rallied behind them in victory.
What makes us so confident is the fact that even with reduced strength in the match against our arch rivals in soccer on the continent, Nigeria, the Stars carried the day, thereby turning the country into one big arena of jubilation. That singular victory, clawed from the red-eyed Super Eagles, led to one of the biggest spontaneous celebrations nation-wide, probably surpassing the celebrations that came with the declaration of independence on March 6, 1957.
In spite of the confidence we have in the team, we are in no doubt at all that the Stars are in a match of their lives, particularly playing without their inspirational captain, John Mensah, who, thanks to the Algerian referee who decided to apply the rules to the letter, is on suspension. But nothing is humanly impossible if one sets the goal and works hard to attain it.
From the Black Stars, Ghanaians expect nothing but victory this evening and it is our expectation that as the players trot onto the field to begin hostilities, they will be reminded of the exhortation by the President, during his video conference with them on Tuesday, that “All Ghana expects from you is that you beat Cameroun soundly. As for this cup, Ghana is demanding it.”
As we call on the Stars to deliver, we also expect football fans and, indeed, all Ghanaians to support the team, even if the going gets tough.
The DAILY GRAPHIC knows that the match is crucial to both countries, since victory by either side will give the team the chance to go for a record-equalling fifth cup, since both countries have won the tournament four times already.
That is the more reason we believe the Black Stars should just stay focused and die a little for their country. It is only by doing this that they will be part of the epoch-making event, come Sunday, February 10.
We are also confident in Coach Le Roy’s ability to find a replacement for John Mensah and find a means to keep Eto’o in check, as the Tunisians did in their quarter-final clash with the Lions.
As we prepare for victory celebrations, the DAILY GRAPHIC reminds fans not to take the law into their own hands and put their own lives and those of others at risk.
We must celebrate in moderation, for Mother Ghana needs everybody for the bigger celebration on Sunday and beyond when we win the cup.
Stars, don’t let us down, for we need to celebrate.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
LET'S SUPPORT LEAP
PEOPLE who live on one dollar a day all over the world are classified as the extremely poor and in Ghana, we have many such people. Most peasant farmers and some residents of urban slums are also extremely poor.
No doubt, one of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to halve poverty by the year 2015.
Although some developing countries, such as Ghana, are said to be working hard to attain the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a cursory look around indicates it is a very tall order, particularly in view of the mass migration of unemployed youth to urban centres for non-existent jobs.
This trend must account for the growing poverty in most urban centres.
It is for this reason that the DAILY GRAPHIC commends efforts by the government to introduce the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme meant to alleviate the suffering of the poor.
At a press briefing last Thursday, the Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomea, explained that under the programme, the government would spend less than one per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to achieve payment to extremely poor Ghanaian households, a major complementary measure to relieve “fellow citizens who at the moment found themselves in the category of extremely poor, vulnerable and excluded”.
The LEAP programme is a component of the National Social Protection Strategy, which aims at investing in people through social assistance schemes.
Poverty is everywhere in the world, including even the advanced societies; the difference, however, lies in measures put in place to alleviate poverty. In some countries, safety nets have been provided for the poor to eke out a living.
That is what the government has conceived, albeit on a modest scale to provide for the basic needs of the poor, the vulnerable and the excluded.
Whatever the challenges may be, it behoves all of us to support it instead of reading political meaning into it.
Unfortunately for us, we, as a people, appear to have lost our focus on a number of occasions when we introduce politics into purely development issues.
Our concerns should rather be on how accountable and transparent those implementing the various programmes should be to sustain those programmes for generations to come.
As to whether the government of the day would make politics or electoral gains this is a matter of conjecture.
What is of importance is the welfare of the poor and if the LEAP would reduce the burden on the extremely poor, then everybody is called upon to support it.
It is also essential for the government to clearly explain the benefits to all Ghanaians, particularly the beneficiaries, so that they in turn can preach the good news about the programme.
It is the taxpayer’s money being used for the programme and for this reason all Ghanaians, particularly through their representatives in Parliament, should be interested in the scheme so that those in charge would be accountable to the people of Ghana.
Let’s offer suggestions and constructively criticise the programme, as well as support it with the view to ensuring its success, rather than looking at the programme with a political lens.
No doubt, one of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to halve poverty by the year 2015.
Although some developing countries, such as Ghana, are said to be working hard to attain the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a cursory look around indicates it is a very tall order, particularly in view of the mass migration of unemployed youth to urban centres for non-existent jobs.
This trend must account for the growing poverty in most urban centres.
It is for this reason that the DAILY GRAPHIC commends efforts by the government to introduce the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme meant to alleviate the suffering of the poor.
At a press briefing last Thursday, the Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomea, explained that under the programme, the government would spend less than one per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to achieve payment to extremely poor Ghanaian households, a major complementary measure to relieve “fellow citizens who at the moment found themselves in the category of extremely poor, vulnerable and excluded”.
The LEAP programme is a component of the National Social Protection Strategy, which aims at investing in people through social assistance schemes.
Poverty is everywhere in the world, including even the advanced societies; the difference, however, lies in measures put in place to alleviate poverty. In some countries, safety nets have been provided for the poor to eke out a living.
That is what the government has conceived, albeit on a modest scale to provide for the basic needs of the poor, the vulnerable and the excluded.
Whatever the challenges may be, it behoves all of us to support it instead of reading political meaning into it.
Unfortunately for us, we, as a people, appear to have lost our focus on a number of occasions when we introduce politics into purely development issues.
Our concerns should rather be on how accountable and transparent those implementing the various programmes should be to sustain those programmes for generations to come.
As to whether the government of the day would make politics or electoral gains this is a matter of conjecture.
What is of importance is the welfare of the poor and if the LEAP would reduce the burden on the extremely poor, then everybody is called upon to support it.
It is also essential for the government to clearly explain the benefits to all Ghanaians, particularly the beneficiaries, so that they in turn can preach the good news about the programme.
It is the taxpayer’s money being used for the programme and for this reason all Ghanaians, particularly through their representatives in Parliament, should be interested in the scheme so that those in charge would be accountable to the people of Ghana.
Let’s offer suggestions and constructively criticise the programme, as well as support it with the view to ensuring its success, rather than looking at the programme with a political lens.
A NATION'S JOY
Victory is sweet, more so if it is a hard-won victory.
Yesterday, the whole nation was thrown into a joyous mood when the Black Stars piped Nigeria 2-1 at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra.
Last Tuesday when the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire thrashed Eagles of Mali 3-0 and the Super Eagles of Nigeria beat the Squirrels of Benin 2-0, it became obvious that the Black Stars were going to meet the Super Eagles in the quarter-final berth.
The nation was thrown into despondency even though most Ghanaians were hopeful that the Black Stars would beat the Super Eagles.
The Black Stars took the bull by the horns although their stalwart defender was out of the game. The Black Stars played with 10 men and still beat the Super Eagles.
The Daily Graphic thanks all Ghanaians who thronged the stadium to support the Stars to victory.
The Black Stars have infused a strong urge of nationalism, unity and singleness of purpose into the populace which we, as a nation, should build on for a better Ghana now and for the benefit of generations unborn.
We also urge Ghanaians to continue to fly the national flag, adorn themselves in the national colours and display oneness and love for all ethnic groups within the borders of our dear country.
The great courage and resilience of the Stars in fighting back from one goal down to win the game were glowing testimony that Ghanaians have what it takes to build a middle income country.
The Daily Graphic calls on all Ghanaians to be single-minded and relentless in their support for the Black Stars because the ultimate is to lift the Nations Cup and keep it here in the country.
There are lessons in the Black Stars’ victory for all Ghanaians, the need to work hard and never giving up even in the face of daunting odds.
It certainly was demoralising to be down by one goal. But the Stars just concentrated on their game and working ever harder.
Similarly, if we face tough challenges in life, giving up should never be in our vocabulary. With determination, resilience and practical strategy we too can be victorious in life, no matter the present difficulties.
To the Black Stars, we say “ ayekoo”. Keep soaring until you achieve the ultimate for the nation, -winning the Nations Cup for a record fifth time.
Yesterday, the whole nation was thrown into a joyous mood when the Black Stars piped Nigeria 2-1 at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra.
Last Tuesday when the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire thrashed Eagles of Mali 3-0 and the Super Eagles of Nigeria beat the Squirrels of Benin 2-0, it became obvious that the Black Stars were going to meet the Super Eagles in the quarter-final berth.
The nation was thrown into despondency even though most Ghanaians were hopeful that the Black Stars would beat the Super Eagles.
The Black Stars took the bull by the horns although their stalwart defender was out of the game. The Black Stars played with 10 men and still beat the Super Eagles.
The Daily Graphic thanks all Ghanaians who thronged the stadium to support the Stars to victory.
The Black Stars have infused a strong urge of nationalism, unity and singleness of purpose into the populace which we, as a nation, should build on for a better Ghana now and for the benefit of generations unborn.
We also urge Ghanaians to continue to fly the national flag, adorn themselves in the national colours and display oneness and love for all ethnic groups within the borders of our dear country.
The great courage and resilience of the Stars in fighting back from one goal down to win the game were glowing testimony that Ghanaians have what it takes to build a middle income country.
The Daily Graphic calls on all Ghanaians to be single-minded and relentless in their support for the Black Stars because the ultimate is to lift the Nations Cup and keep it here in the country.
There are lessons in the Black Stars’ victory for all Ghanaians, the need to work hard and never giving up even in the face of daunting odds.
It certainly was demoralising to be down by one goal. But the Stars just concentrated on their game and working ever harder.
Similarly, if we face tough challenges in life, giving up should never be in our vocabulary. With determination, resilience and practical strategy we too can be victorious in life, no matter the present difficulties.
To the Black Stars, we say “ ayekoo”. Keep soaring until you achieve the ultimate for the nation, -winning the Nations Cup for a record fifth time.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
OUR STARS CAN'T FAIL
TOMORROW, at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra, the senior national football team, the Black Stars, and their arch rivals, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, will sell a crunch duel at the quarter-final stage of the ongoing Ghana 2008 football tournament and Ghanaians expect nothing but a clean win from the Stars.
Enriched by some of the best talents on the African continent, the Black Stars have, through the group stage performance, already done enough to position themselves as one of the favourites in the 16-team event.
There is no doubt about the team’s prowess, especially when the team coach has thrown the challenge that it is unbeatable, after sending the highly rated Moroccans packing home and amassing the maximum nine points from three matches.
The other teams that fell to the Ghanaian football power were Guinea and Namibia.
It must be noted that during football encounters between Ghana and Nigeria, two of the most formidable sides in the sub-region, whether at the friendly or competitive level, intense rivalry has been displayed not only on the field of play but sometimes outside it and among supporters who passionately engage in all forms of arguments.
As in previous games, the tension around tomorrow’s game is being felt all over, from Lagos to Accra. In Ghana, nothing less than a resounding victory is expected from the Black Stars, just as Nigerians also expect the same performance from the Super Eagles.
Having come this far, and playing against a Super Eagles team which was almost out of the competition until they were salvaged by Cote d’Ivoire’s 3-0 victory over Mali, the Stars can’t afford to disappoint their home fans.
And as crucial as their assignment is, the moment also calls for all Ghanaians to say some prayers for the national team and give them their unflinching support to enable them to win the game and proceed from there to the ultimate continental diadem for a fifth Nations Cup victory.
We urge the Stars to play their hearts out, since the Super Eagles, having faltered and wobbled to reach this stage, will go all out to portray to the rest of the world that their being number one on the continent is no fluke.
This is pertinent because, as the adage goes, “He who is down fears no fall”. It is in this light that the Nigerians will play a psychological prank on the Stars.
Both teams are expected to display good football and sell out great sportsmanship on the field of play.
We also urge the Stars to remain focused on their mission, play according to their game plan and to the rules of the game and be the main determinants of the match’s billing as the final before the final.
Similarly, spectators of both teams are expected to exhibit maturity in cheering their respective teams to victory, bearing in mind that much as the game is competitive and involves passion, it is one which must by all means produce a winner and definitely only one team can emerge as winner.
It is our fervent hope that at the end of the day, when the referee blows his final whistle, victory will go to the best team and may that team be our gallant Stars.
Enriched by some of the best talents on the African continent, the Black Stars have, through the group stage performance, already done enough to position themselves as one of the favourites in the 16-team event.
There is no doubt about the team’s prowess, especially when the team coach has thrown the challenge that it is unbeatable, after sending the highly rated Moroccans packing home and amassing the maximum nine points from three matches.
The other teams that fell to the Ghanaian football power were Guinea and Namibia.
It must be noted that during football encounters between Ghana and Nigeria, two of the most formidable sides in the sub-region, whether at the friendly or competitive level, intense rivalry has been displayed not only on the field of play but sometimes outside it and among supporters who passionately engage in all forms of arguments.
As in previous games, the tension around tomorrow’s game is being felt all over, from Lagos to Accra. In Ghana, nothing less than a resounding victory is expected from the Black Stars, just as Nigerians also expect the same performance from the Super Eagles.
Having come this far, and playing against a Super Eagles team which was almost out of the competition until they were salvaged by Cote d’Ivoire’s 3-0 victory over Mali, the Stars can’t afford to disappoint their home fans.
And as crucial as their assignment is, the moment also calls for all Ghanaians to say some prayers for the national team and give them their unflinching support to enable them to win the game and proceed from there to the ultimate continental diadem for a fifth Nations Cup victory.
We urge the Stars to play their hearts out, since the Super Eagles, having faltered and wobbled to reach this stage, will go all out to portray to the rest of the world that their being number one on the continent is no fluke.
This is pertinent because, as the adage goes, “He who is down fears no fall”. It is in this light that the Nigerians will play a psychological prank on the Stars.
Both teams are expected to display good football and sell out great sportsmanship on the field of play.
We also urge the Stars to remain focused on their mission, play according to their game plan and to the rules of the game and be the main determinants of the match’s billing as the final before the final.
Similarly, spectators of both teams are expected to exhibit maturity in cheering their respective teams to victory, bearing in mind that much as the game is competitive and involves passion, it is one which must by all means produce a winner and definitely only one team can emerge as winner.
It is our fervent hope that at the end of the day, when the referee blows his final whistle, victory will go to the best team and may that team be our gallant Stars.
Friday, February 1, 2008
LET'S SUSTAIN THE NYEP
ONE of the major challenges facing all governments, particularly those in developing countries, is the teeming mass of unemployed youth who roam the streets and engage in unproductive activities.
Since it is said that the devil finds work for idle hands, this group of unemployed people are exploited, sometimes by politicians, chieftaincy contractors and criminal elements in society to create tension.
In the opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC, it is this availability of unemployed youth to be used by any person with an ulterior motive which poses the greatest threat to any country that does not take steps to address this unemployment problem, not to talk about their marginalisation as far as productivity is concerned.
In an effort to go around these problems, the Kufuor government introduced the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to create job opportunities for the youth. Strangely enough, this rather laudable programme was met with stiff opposition from certain political quarters which looked at the programme through a pair of political binoculars. Apart from this, there was also the lack of resources which stiffled its smooth implementation.
At the initial stages, those engaged as co-ordinators of the programme attempted to kill the initiative by selling the forms meant for prospective applicants. When the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment managed to deal with those co-ordinators, then came the problem of prompt payment of salaries to those employed under the NYEP.
The NYEP is a laudable effort by the government to create jobs, empower the youth to lead more productive lives and contribute their quota to the development of the country.
That is why the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that whatever the challenges, the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment should take steps to address them, so that the lofty objectives outlined could be attained.
Therefore, we find it refreshing that the President has directed the Ministries of Manpower, Youth and Employment and Finance and Economic Planning to take the needed action to remove all the bottlenecks impeding the smooth implementation of the NYEP.
The unfortunate thing is that when the idea of the NYEP was mooted and plans put in place to implement it, the government had not put in place the financial arrangements to fund it.
That was why, at certain stages, attempts were made by the government to draw funds from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the HIPC Fund, the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and, recently, the determination to fall on the talk tax.
As a way of addressing the funding problem, we think it is good that the government has decided to put on hold further recruitment of personnel onto the programme until its cash flow problems have been streamlined.
While that is being done, we are of the opinion that the authorities should seek support from more interested groups, including political parties, in resolving the problems militating against the smooth implementation of the programme.
It is our considered opinion that all political parties and, indeed, the entire Ghanaian populace, must be interested in job creation, so that the high rate of unemployment in the country can be tamed. Unemployment is a problem that will continue to confront us into the foreseeable future and the earlier we collectively resolve to address it, the better it will be for the country and its people.
Since it is said that the devil finds work for idle hands, this group of unemployed people are exploited, sometimes by politicians, chieftaincy contractors and criminal elements in society to create tension.
In the opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC, it is this availability of unemployed youth to be used by any person with an ulterior motive which poses the greatest threat to any country that does not take steps to address this unemployment problem, not to talk about their marginalisation as far as productivity is concerned.
In an effort to go around these problems, the Kufuor government introduced the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to create job opportunities for the youth. Strangely enough, this rather laudable programme was met with stiff opposition from certain political quarters which looked at the programme through a pair of political binoculars. Apart from this, there was also the lack of resources which stiffled its smooth implementation.
At the initial stages, those engaged as co-ordinators of the programme attempted to kill the initiative by selling the forms meant for prospective applicants. When the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment managed to deal with those co-ordinators, then came the problem of prompt payment of salaries to those employed under the NYEP.
The NYEP is a laudable effort by the government to create jobs, empower the youth to lead more productive lives and contribute their quota to the development of the country.
That is why the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that whatever the challenges, the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment should take steps to address them, so that the lofty objectives outlined could be attained.
Therefore, we find it refreshing that the President has directed the Ministries of Manpower, Youth and Employment and Finance and Economic Planning to take the needed action to remove all the bottlenecks impeding the smooth implementation of the NYEP.
The unfortunate thing is that when the idea of the NYEP was mooted and plans put in place to implement it, the government had not put in place the financial arrangements to fund it.
That was why, at certain stages, attempts were made by the government to draw funds from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the HIPC Fund, the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and, recently, the determination to fall on the talk tax.
As a way of addressing the funding problem, we think it is good that the government has decided to put on hold further recruitment of personnel onto the programme until its cash flow problems have been streamlined.
While that is being done, we are of the opinion that the authorities should seek support from more interested groups, including political parties, in resolving the problems militating against the smooth implementation of the programme.
It is our considered opinion that all political parties and, indeed, the entire Ghanaian populace, must be interested in job creation, so that the high rate of unemployment in the country can be tamed. Unemployment is a problem that will continue to confront us into the foreseeable future and the earlier we collectively resolve to address it, the better it will be for the country and its people.
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