GHANA chalked up another milestone in her progressive stride to consolidate her democratic credentials with the first of two presidential debates taking place last Wednesday in an atmosphere devoid of rancour.
The presidential debates, designed to help strengthen the pillars of democracy in the country and make Election 2008 issue driven, form part of the national commitment towards strengthening multiparty democracy not only in the country but across the continent.
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which made it possible for the first debate to take place in Accra in a peaceful environment, should be commended for a good job done.
The presidential candidates of the New Patriotic Party, Convention People’s Party, National Democratic Congress and People’s National Congress had the opportunity to answer the same questions on job creation, education, health, security, law and order, oil revenue, energy, women and children's rights, foreign direct investment, food security and intra-regional trade.
Some political analysts who attended the first round of the debate have, however, described the exercise as more of a question-and-answer session than a debate. They were of the view that in a debate the candidates should have had the chance to challenge each other's positions instead of answering questions from the moderators, with very little rebuttals. The moderators took turns and asked a total of 11 major questions and seven minor questions.
Considering time constraints, wouldn’t it have been better with a few strategic set of questions to allow the candidates enough time to answer the questions and back their claims with concrete steps, showing how they were going to execute their promises?
The moderators should have also done research on the subject areas to make sure that claims made by the candidates are really the facts on the ground.
Otherwise, the exercise is reduced to a mere question-and-answer session thereby showcasing the communicators among them as winners but without the substance required for the high office of President.
If the debates are to help the larger Ghanaian society make informed choices then candidates should not be allowed to make claims that the national economy can hardly support.
For instance, do the candidates know the capacity of the agricultural potential of the country and what it would take to move away from the use of the machete and hoe to mechanised farming?
Forty per cent of the national budget is spent on education. The question one may ask is, how are the candidates going to fund the extra free facility they are pledging to offer. Will it be from taxes from the already over-burdened Ghanaian worker or from luxury goods?
These and many more critical issues need to be known to elicit answers for the benefit of the electorate who will make the critical decision on December 7.
It is the hope of the DAILY GRAPHIC that the next debate in Tamale will take into consideration all the concerns raised so as to bring out the best in all the candidates.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
DEAL WITH THIS MENACE NOW (OCTOBER 30, 2008)
ANOTHER story of kidnapping and its related demand for the payment of ransom seem to have sent worrying signals and raised some security concerns.
Just a few days ago, an Israeli was kidnapped and there had been a demand for the payment of ransom before his release, while yesterday there was the story of a kidnapped Lebanese, with a demand for the payment of ransom.
There is no doubt that kidnapping is very alien to the Ghanaian society. Yet, with two of such acts in quite rapid succession, there is reason to be worried that these crimes have the potential to smear our reputation as a peace- loving people.
The fact that our world has become a global village is not in doubt. With the phenomenal strides made in ICT, the influence of foreign cultures through movies and music has been made very easy.
While this comes with its positive sides, negative issues related to these strides raise serious concerns.
Ghanaians have, for many generations, held high our cherished culture and avoided such sophistication in criminal activities.
Now it appears that the dawn of the globalised world stares us in the face and we have to find ways of addressing some of the challenges it brings along.
Obviously, in our modern world there is a greater demand for professionalism from the security agencies engaged in combating crime.
It is good to note that the security apparatus has acted swiftly in these cases of kidnapping and the demand for the payment of ransom.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appreciates the challenges that are likely to be encountered by our security agencies in their efforts to address such issues and arrest the culprits.
The security agencies have indicated that they are making some headway and that should come to many as a pleasant piece of news.
This notwoithstanding, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to caution that we have not reached the end of the tunnel yet, hence there is the need to press on until all the culprits are apprehended.
That will not require the vigilance of only the security agencies but also all Ghanaians. In our various communities, we need to be very alert and observe happenings around so that we can give the necessary leads to the police should the need arise.
There should be the recognition that in every modern society, because of the sophistication of crime, policing has become everybody’s responsibility.
While some people are paid to police the society, as a people we also have the responsibility to police ourselves and not leave our destinies entirely in the hands of only the security agencies.
Ghana should continue to be a safe haven for all, Ghanaians and foreigners alike, since that is critical to boost tourism and increase foreign investment in the country.
A society in which people perceived to be wealthy are kidnapped and huge ransoms demanded for their release holds little attraction for investors.
The present favourable investment climate has been created after years of hard work and there is the need to work in a concerted manner to preserve this environment.
Just a few days ago, an Israeli was kidnapped and there had been a demand for the payment of ransom before his release, while yesterday there was the story of a kidnapped Lebanese, with a demand for the payment of ransom.
There is no doubt that kidnapping is very alien to the Ghanaian society. Yet, with two of such acts in quite rapid succession, there is reason to be worried that these crimes have the potential to smear our reputation as a peace- loving people.
The fact that our world has become a global village is not in doubt. With the phenomenal strides made in ICT, the influence of foreign cultures through movies and music has been made very easy.
While this comes with its positive sides, negative issues related to these strides raise serious concerns.
Ghanaians have, for many generations, held high our cherished culture and avoided such sophistication in criminal activities.
Now it appears that the dawn of the globalised world stares us in the face and we have to find ways of addressing some of the challenges it brings along.
Obviously, in our modern world there is a greater demand for professionalism from the security agencies engaged in combating crime.
It is good to note that the security apparatus has acted swiftly in these cases of kidnapping and the demand for the payment of ransom.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appreciates the challenges that are likely to be encountered by our security agencies in their efforts to address such issues and arrest the culprits.
The security agencies have indicated that they are making some headway and that should come to many as a pleasant piece of news.
This notwoithstanding, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to caution that we have not reached the end of the tunnel yet, hence there is the need to press on until all the culprits are apprehended.
That will not require the vigilance of only the security agencies but also all Ghanaians. In our various communities, we need to be very alert and observe happenings around so that we can give the necessary leads to the police should the need arise.
There should be the recognition that in every modern society, because of the sophistication of crime, policing has become everybody’s responsibility.
While some people are paid to police the society, as a people we also have the responsibility to police ourselves and not leave our destinies entirely in the hands of only the security agencies.
Ghana should continue to be a safe haven for all, Ghanaians and foreigners alike, since that is critical to boost tourism and increase foreign investment in the country.
A society in which people perceived to be wealthy are kidnapped and huge ransoms demanded for their release holds little attraction for investors.
The present favourable investment climate has been created after years of hard work and there is the need to work in a concerted manner to preserve this environment.
THE BIG IEA DEBATE (OCTOBER 29, 2008)
THE first of the 2008 presidential debates instituted by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) to strengthen multiparty democracy takes place today and it is expected to pit the presidential candidates of the four leading political parties against one another in a battle of ideas.
The presidential candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) will articulate their visions for the country and debate issues that are of interest to Ghanaians.
This initiative by the IEA enforces the belief that politics is a battle of ideas in an organised and violence-free environment, with the objective of giving the electorate clear choices as to whom they prefer to govern them.
It is also often said that politics is a game of numbers and for that reason the competing parties have to come up with policies and vision statements that will appeal to the electorate.
There has always been an emphasis on the need for our politicians to concentrate on issues and avoid personal attacks in their quest to clinch political power.
Although it appears that some of our politicians are beginning to devise campaign strategies with that in mind, there are still concerns over the undue personalisation of political campaigns that sometimes get so reckless, with very wild personal accusations that only serve to muddy the waters.
The initiative by the IEA is, therefore, very welcome, especially because this time round, unlike in 2000 and 2004, all the leading candidates will be involved in the debate.
A trip down memory lane shows that in 2000, the then ruling NDC refused to partake in the debate, while in 2004 the NPP also refused to participate in it.
Now with no incumbent president as a flag bearer, the political parties have agreed to participate in the debate to deepen multiparty democracy.
We have come a long way as an independent and democratic country and no legitimate effort must be spared in our bid to consolidate our democracy and improve on our credentials.
Indeed, the beauty of democracy is the show of tolerance and understanding by all competing parties, no matter how fierce the competition is.
It is the belief of the DAILY GRAPHIC that today’s debate will be another shining showpiece of our political maturity and showcase Ghana as the beacon of hope and pacesetter on the continent.
It is also important for them to bear in mind that the electorate now, more than ever before, are discerning and will be looking out for candidates who demonstrate a firm grasp and understanding of the issues that confront us in the battle to improve the lot of Ghanaians.
At the end of the day, they all need to realise that the ultimate objective is to improve the standard of living of all Ghanaians and kick out poverty.
Thus, irrespective of their political differences, they should be able to engage one another in a fruitful and organised debate and give the electorate the opportunity to assess them.
It is heart-warming that the debate will be live on national television and thus provide millions of Ghanaians the opportunity to assess the candidates.
The presidential candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) will articulate their visions for the country and debate issues that are of interest to Ghanaians.
This initiative by the IEA enforces the belief that politics is a battle of ideas in an organised and violence-free environment, with the objective of giving the electorate clear choices as to whom they prefer to govern them.
It is also often said that politics is a game of numbers and for that reason the competing parties have to come up with policies and vision statements that will appeal to the electorate.
There has always been an emphasis on the need for our politicians to concentrate on issues and avoid personal attacks in their quest to clinch political power.
Although it appears that some of our politicians are beginning to devise campaign strategies with that in mind, there are still concerns over the undue personalisation of political campaigns that sometimes get so reckless, with very wild personal accusations that only serve to muddy the waters.
The initiative by the IEA is, therefore, very welcome, especially because this time round, unlike in 2000 and 2004, all the leading candidates will be involved in the debate.
A trip down memory lane shows that in 2000, the then ruling NDC refused to partake in the debate, while in 2004 the NPP also refused to participate in it.
Now with no incumbent president as a flag bearer, the political parties have agreed to participate in the debate to deepen multiparty democracy.
We have come a long way as an independent and democratic country and no legitimate effort must be spared in our bid to consolidate our democracy and improve on our credentials.
Indeed, the beauty of democracy is the show of tolerance and understanding by all competing parties, no matter how fierce the competition is.
It is the belief of the DAILY GRAPHIC that today’s debate will be another shining showpiece of our political maturity and showcase Ghana as the beacon of hope and pacesetter on the continent.
It is also important for them to bear in mind that the electorate now, more than ever before, are discerning and will be looking out for candidates who demonstrate a firm grasp and understanding of the issues that confront us in the battle to improve the lot of Ghanaians.
At the end of the day, they all need to realise that the ultimate objective is to improve the standard of living of all Ghanaians and kick out poverty.
Thus, irrespective of their political differences, they should be able to engage one another in a fruitful and organised debate and give the electorate the opportunity to assess them.
It is heart-warming that the debate will be live on national television and thus provide millions of Ghanaians the opportunity to assess the candidates.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
LET'S TRUST EC (OCTOBER 28, 2008)
WITH 40 days to go for the December polls, the Electoral Commission (EC) has declared its readiness to conduct free and fair elections, after taking delivery of essential materials for the elections.
The commission, according to media reports, has taken delivery of indelible ink, endorsing ink, validation stamps, stamp pads, thumbprint pads, ballot boxes and materials for the printing of ballot papers.
The Fourth Republic has already witnessed four elections and the EC has played a key role in making those elections successful.
The commission has demonstrated that it has the character and professionalism to appropriately deal with the competing demands from the various political parties.
Even on occasions when it has been unfairly condemned and criticised, it has refused to crumble under pressure.
As the nation draws closer to the December polls, political campaigns are getting heated up and politicians are making last minute efforts to woo voters and improve their chances of winning the elections.
In the heat of these campaigns, some politicians make utterances that tend to question the integrity and fairness of the EC, even when such accusations are baseless and cannot be substantiated. It is becoming quite evident that the EC is sometimes unfairly drawn into the politics of the day.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC does not intend to hold brief for the EC in any matter, it is the belief of the paper that the commission has demonstrated that it is capable of staying above partisanship and conducting its business in an objective and credible manner.
Thus any attempt to characterise the EC as a politically bias entity could serve as a potent distraction to the conduct of free and fair elections.
That is why the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on politicians to guard their utterances and ensure that they avoid casting the EC in a bad light and, thereby, erode the confidence of the electorate in it.
As has been duly acknowledged by all the political parties, the conduct of free and fair elections is not the responsibility of only the commission but also all Ghanaians, including political parties, the judiciary, the media, the security agencies and the electorate.
At the recent meeting between the Council of State and representatives of political parties, the issue of the unfair criticism and condemnation of the EC came up and some party representatives cautioned against the tendency of some of their colleagues to deride the commission.
We are happy that some political parties and politicians have recognised the potential harm such unhealthy characterisation of the EC can do to it and ultimately to our young democracy.
It is, therefore, the hope of the DAILY GRAPHIC that this recognition will find greater practical expression and save the EC from any further unfair bashing.
We also wish to encourage the EC to continuously live above reproach and maintain or even improve the high standards set over the years.
The confidence of the people can only be sustained if the EC refuses to bow to any pressure from any quarter and rather rededicates itself to the ideals required for free and fair elections.
The commission, according to media reports, has taken delivery of indelible ink, endorsing ink, validation stamps, stamp pads, thumbprint pads, ballot boxes and materials for the printing of ballot papers.
The Fourth Republic has already witnessed four elections and the EC has played a key role in making those elections successful.
The commission has demonstrated that it has the character and professionalism to appropriately deal with the competing demands from the various political parties.
Even on occasions when it has been unfairly condemned and criticised, it has refused to crumble under pressure.
As the nation draws closer to the December polls, political campaigns are getting heated up and politicians are making last minute efforts to woo voters and improve their chances of winning the elections.
In the heat of these campaigns, some politicians make utterances that tend to question the integrity and fairness of the EC, even when such accusations are baseless and cannot be substantiated. It is becoming quite evident that the EC is sometimes unfairly drawn into the politics of the day.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC does not intend to hold brief for the EC in any matter, it is the belief of the paper that the commission has demonstrated that it is capable of staying above partisanship and conducting its business in an objective and credible manner.
Thus any attempt to characterise the EC as a politically bias entity could serve as a potent distraction to the conduct of free and fair elections.
That is why the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on politicians to guard their utterances and ensure that they avoid casting the EC in a bad light and, thereby, erode the confidence of the electorate in it.
As has been duly acknowledged by all the political parties, the conduct of free and fair elections is not the responsibility of only the commission but also all Ghanaians, including political parties, the judiciary, the media, the security agencies and the electorate.
At the recent meeting between the Council of State and representatives of political parties, the issue of the unfair criticism and condemnation of the EC came up and some party representatives cautioned against the tendency of some of their colleagues to deride the commission.
We are happy that some political parties and politicians have recognised the potential harm such unhealthy characterisation of the EC can do to it and ultimately to our young democracy.
It is, therefore, the hope of the DAILY GRAPHIC that this recognition will find greater practical expression and save the EC from any further unfair bashing.
We also wish to encourage the EC to continuously live above reproach and maintain or even improve the high standards set over the years.
The confidence of the people can only be sustained if the EC refuses to bow to any pressure from any quarter and rather rededicates itself to the ideals required for free and fair elections.
Monday, October 27, 2008
WELL SAID, CJ (OCTOBER 27, 2008)
THE Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, at the weekend called on the media to play their role in ensuring credible elections in December.
For her, the need for journalists to live up to their role as neutral referees was crucial and a precondition for successful polls.
So important is the media’s role that the Chief Justice described as “awesome” their task of educating the electorate to help them to make wise political decisions and not to prejudge the issues.
Her call to practitioners of the noble profession, which has become known as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, at a dinner packed with journalists, media practitioners and corporate organisations to celebrate excellence in journalism is, indeed, very welcome.
Her appeal to the media comes at a time when the electioneering has gathered steam, with pockets of election- related violence already being reported in some areas of the country.
Rightly so, journalists have a crucial role in shaping opinions and empowering the voting public with information with which to make informed decisions.
The fourth President of the United States, James Madison, an ardent promoter of free press and free society, once noted that “knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives”.
The ancient historian, William Bernbach, also noted that “all of us who professionally use the mass media are the shapers of society. We can vulgarise that society. We can brutalise it. Or we can help lift it onto a higher level”.
The freedom that has been accorded the media needs to be used responsibly, as there is no absolute freedom. Everybody in society identifies with the media in one way or another and anything the media churn out is likely to make an impact, either negatively or positively, on different segments of society.
It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic endorses the Chief Justice’s call on the media to play a leading and responsible role in the run up to, during and after the December polls.
There is no better time than now for the media to show their readiness to promote peace, reconciliation and development and there is yet no better journalism than development journalism in which even the bleakest incidents, events and behaviours are looked at and shaped from a development perspective.
This will mean that every act of the media will be guided by the overriding interest of promoting the cause of the larger society, a fair balance of exercising responsibility in freedom.
The Uruguayan journalist, Eduardo Galeano, describes the media as something that symbolises the community’s favourite way of dreaming, living, dancing, playing or loving, and if we may add, “of voting”.
It is only proper for the media to aspire to promote national peace and stability through the use of temperate and refined language.
The Daily Graphic also commends the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for using the awards ceremony platform to drum support for efforts by other organisations to sensitise the electorate to the need for free and fair polls.
With a few weeks to the highly anticipated polls on December 7, all Ghanaians are encouraged to play their roles as responsible citizens, and in this national assignment the media cannot afford to distort the peace with irresponsible reportage.
We believe members of the media fraternity are ready to join peace-loving Ghanaians to work towards successful elections that will anchor Ghana as a model democratic state in Africa.
For her, the need for journalists to live up to their role as neutral referees was crucial and a precondition for successful polls.
So important is the media’s role that the Chief Justice described as “awesome” their task of educating the electorate to help them to make wise political decisions and not to prejudge the issues.
Her call to practitioners of the noble profession, which has become known as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, at a dinner packed with journalists, media practitioners and corporate organisations to celebrate excellence in journalism is, indeed, very welcome.
Her appeal to the media comes at a time when the electioneering has gathered steam, with pockets of election- related violence already being reported in some areas of the country.
Rightly so, journalists have a crucial role in shaping opinions and empowering the voting public with information with which to make informed decisions.
The fourth President of the United States, James Madison, an ardent promoter of free press and free society, once noted that “knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives”.
The ancient historian, William Bernbach, also noted that “all of us who professionally use the mass media are the shapers of society. We can vulgarise that society. We can brutalise it. Or we can help lift it onto a higher level”.
The freedom that has been accorded the media needs to be used responsibly, as there is no absolute freedom. Everybody in society identifies with the media in one way or another and anything the media churn out is likely to make an impact, either negatively or positively, on different segments of society.
It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic endorses the Chief Justice’s call on the media to play a leading and responsible role in the run up to, during and after the December polls.
There is no better time than now for the media to show their readiness to promote peace, reconciliation and development and there is yet no better journalism than development journalism in which even the bleakest incidents, events and behaviours are looked at and shaped from a development perspective.
This will mean that every act of the media will be guided by the overriding interest of promoting the cause of the larger society, a fair balance of exercising responsibility in freedom.
The Uruguayan journalist, Eduardo Galeano, describes the media as something that symbolises the community’s favourite way of dreaming, living, dancing, playing or loving, and if we may add, “of voting”.
It is only proper for the media to aspire to promote national peace and stability through the use of temperate and refined language.
The Daily Graphic also commends the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for using the awards ceremony platform to drum support for efforts by other organisations to sensitise the electorate to the need for free and fair polls.
With a few weeks to the highly anticipated polls on December 7, all Ghanaians are encouraged to play their roles as responsible citizens, and in this national assignment the media cannot afford to distort the peace with irresponsible reportage.
We believe members of the media fraternity are ready to join peace-loving Ghanaians to work towards successful elections that will anchor Ghana as a model democratic state in Africa.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
JOURNALISTS' DAY OF HONOUR (OCTOBER 25)
TODAY marks the 13th awards ceremony of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and this evening, at the Banquet Hall of the State House, 10 distinguished men and women in the profession will step up for recognition in their various fields of endeavour.
Whichever way one looks at it, this is a moment of pride, a moment of self-esteem for all those whose efforts are being appreciated and rewarded for excellence in journalism.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, salutes all the award winners for their hard work and dedication which have put them head and shoulder above their colleagues in the year under review. We urge them to work harder in the years ahead to justify the honour conferred on them. For those who will not win any award, we encourage them to work hard.
The fact is that having climbed the ladder of success, it is obvious that the work of the award winners will, henceforth, come under greater scrutiny by society and so they owe it a duty to themselves, their various media houses and the association to be ambassadors of the profession wherever they find themselves.
We also find it fitting and proper to congratulate all the members of this year’s Awards Committee, headed by Mr Berifi Apenteng, a media consultant, on doing marvellous work, while we say a prayer for the soul of Mr Harry Mouzalas who, until his untimely death, was the secretary to the committee.
It is gratifying that the association has decided to confer a posthumous award on Mr Mouzalas tonight. Indeed, he paid his due to the GJA, having served as its General Secretary in its formative years. In more ways than one, we think this honour will be an inspiration to the present generation of journalists.
We also commend the executive of the association for the decision to honour some retired journalists and two former Ministers of Information for their various contributions to the growth and development of the profession.
The theme for this year’s awards is: ‘Using the media to promote national unity in an election year’, and we find it most appropriate. With only 43 days to this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections, which some have already tagged ‘do-or-die’, ‘final of finals’, ‘the decider’ and what have you, it is only proper to remind the media of the huge responsibility they shoulder in helping to preserve the peace of our dear country.
The fact that the Rwanda crisis was fuelled by ethnic sentiments expressed on radio speaks volumes of the power and authority of the media in matters of this nature, for which reason our men and women of the inky fraternity will have to exercise good judgement in deciding what to write and say as the D-day fast approaches.
The repeal of the Criminal Libel Law has certainly given journalists more space to exercise their freedom, but the media must not abuse it by practising gutter journalism. That will be the height of irresponsibility.
Press freedom is always exercised with responsibility, and in the run-up to the polls journalists can contribute to the peace and stability of the country by refusing to be carried away by the euphoria generated by the season.
Whichever way one looks at it, this is a moment of pride, a moment of self-esteem for all those whose efforts are being appreciated and rewarded for excellence in journalism.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, salutes all the award winners for their hard work and dedication which have put them head and shoulder above their colleagues in the year under review. We urge them to work harder in the years ahead to justify the honour conferred on them. For those who will not win any award, we encourage them to work hard.
The fact is that having climbed the ladder of success, it is obvious that the work of the award winners will, henceforth, come under greater scrutiny by society and so they owe it a duty to themselves, their various media houses and the association to be ambassadors of the profession wherever they find themselves.
We also find it fitting and proper to congratulate all the members of this year’s Awards Committee, headed by Mr Berifi Apenteng, a media consultant, on doing marvellous work, while we say a prayer for the soul of Mr Harry Mouzalas who, until his untimely death, was the secretary to the committee.
It is gratifying that the association has decided to confer a posthumous award on Mr Mouzalas tonight. Indeed, he paid his due to the GJA, having served as its General Secretary in its formative years. In more ways than one, we think this honour will be an inspiration to the present generation of journalists.
We also commend the executive of the association for the decision to honour some retired journalists and two former Ministers of Information for their various contributions to the growth and development of the profession.
The theme for this year’s awards is: ‘Using the media to promote national unity in an election year’, and we find it most appropriate. With only 43 days to this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections, which some have already tagged ‘do-or-die’, ‘final of finals’, ‘the decider’ and what have you, it is only proper to remind the media of the huge responsibility they shoulder in helping to preserve the peace of our dear country.
The fact that the Rwanda crisis was fuelled by ethnic sentiments expressed on radio speaks volumes of the power and authority of the media in matters of this nature, for which reason our men and women of the inky fraternity will have to exercise good judgement in deciding what to write and say as the D-day fast approaches.
The repeal of the Criminal Libel Law has certainly given journalists more space to exercise their freedom, but the media must not abuse it by practising gutter journalism. That will be the height of irresponsibility.
Press freedom is always exercised with responsibility, and in the run-up to the polls journalists can contribute to the peace and stability of the country by refusing to be carried away by the euphoria generated by the season.
NO SLAVE TRADE HERE (OCTOBER 24)
THAT cocoa is the nation’s biggest foreign exchange earner has never been in doubt. That is why anything that poses a threat to the industry cannot be swept under the carpet but must be given priority attention.
A few months ago — in April, to be precise — we were all taken aback when World Vision Australia produced a video documentary which claimed, among other things, that Ghanaian children were deprived of education and made to work on cocoa farms in the same way slaves were made to work during the era of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
As was to be expected, the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment did not take matters lying down. A team was quickly commissioned to undertake a survey of the country’s cocoa-producing areas to establish the veracity or otherwise of the said report.
And, after many months of painstaking effort, which covered 60 per cent of the country’s cocoa-producing areas, the ministry yesterday laid bare the facts before the public. They are, in the main, the following:
One: That no child engaged in the production of cocoa in the country is working under conditions of slavery.
Two: That 92 per cent of children in cocoa-growing areas in Ghana are enrolled in schools and attend school regularly.
Three: That 99 per cent of children working on cocoa farms live with their parents or close relatives and that work is allotted to children according to their age.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the ministry for its hands-on approach to dealing with the matter and we hope this will put to rest the fabrications and lies being peddled about our cocoa industry.
As a country, we have always been at the forefront of the struggle against child labour, for which reason such misinformation would have dealt a big blow to our image and integrity in the eyes of the international community.
Furthermore, the Deputy Sector Minister, Mrs Frema Osei-Opare, personally enjoys international recognition for her role in addressing child labour in the cocoa industry and she would have been greatly embarrassed if the claims had not been investigated.
It is refreshing that we can now walk in international corridors with our chest out and continue to generate a passionate discourse on the rights of children while our cocoa industry flourishes.
Despite the wave of excitement the outcome of the survey brings, we are delighted that the ministry is not resting on its laurels but has put in place district and community child protection committees in 13 districts and 110 communities to plan ways of eliminating the worst forms of child labour, taking into account the practices of the localities.
Nonetheless, the DAILY GRAPHIC expresses its displeasure at the revelation that about 54 per cent of lower primary schoolchildren in cocoa-growing areas cannot read nor write.
This is really alarming and we urge the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to rise up to the challenge and institute measures that will change the situation for the better.
Education is the cornerstone of our development and nothing must stand in our way in our quest to achieve that goal.
A few months ago — in April, to be precise — we were all taken aback when World Vision Australia produced a video documentary which claimed, among other things, that Ghanaian children were deprived of education and made to work on cocoa farms in the same way slaves were made to work during the era of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
As was to be expected, the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment did not take matters lying down. A team was quickly commissioned to undertake a survey of the country’s cocoa-producing areas to establish the veracity or otherwise of the said report.
And, after many months of painstaking effort, which covered 60 per cent of the country’s cocoa-producing areas, the ministry yesterday laid bare the facts before the public. They are, in the main, the following:
One: That no child engaged in the production of cocoa in the country is working under conditions of slavery.
Two: That 92 per cent of children in cocoa-growing areas in Ghana are enrolled in schools and attend school regularly.
Three: That 99 per cent of children working on cocoa farms live with their parents or close relatives and that work is allotted to children according to their age.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the ministry for its hands-on approach to dealing with the matter and we hope this will put to rest the fabrications and lies being peddled about our cocoa industry.
As a country, we have always been at the forefront of the struggle against child labour, for which reason such misinformation would have dealt a big blow to our image and integrity in the eyes of the international community.
Furthermore, the Deputy Sector Minister, Mrs Frema Osei-Opare, personally enjoys international recognition for her role in addressing child labour in the cocoa industry and she would have been greatly embarrassed if the claims had not been investigated.
It is refreshing that we can now walk in international corridors with our chest out and continue to generate a passionate discourse on the rights of children while our cocoa industry flourishes.
Despite the wave of excitement the outcome of the survey brings, we are delighted that the ministry is not resting on its laurels but has put in place district and community child protection committees in 13 districts and 110 communities to plan ways of eliminating the worst forms of child labour, taking into account the practices of the localities.
Nonetheless, the DAILY GRAPHIC expresses its displeasure at the revelation that about 54 per cent of lower primary schoolchildren in cocoa-growing areas cannot read nor write.
This is really alarming and we urge the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to rise up to the challenge and institute measures that will change the situation for the better.
Education is the cornerstone of our development and nothing must stand in our way in our quest to achieve that goal.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
NO 'MACHOISM' ON DECEMBER 7 (OCT. 23, 2008)
THE Police Administration has stated categorically that it will not permit the use of “machomen” as polling assistants during the December 7 elections.
The acting Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Kwesi Ofori, gave the warning when he addressed a forum organised by the Ghana First Forum, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Secretariat, on the topic, “Peaceful Elections 2008”, in Accra yesterday.
The DAILY GRAPHIC shares the sentiments of the Police Administration and we urge all the political parties and their supporters to comply to ensure that the electorate exercise their franchise in a conducive atmosphere.
Fact is that since our return to constitutional rule in 1992, one common feature that has dented an otherwise successful electoral process has been the vandalisation of polling centres and the trading of gunshots which have, sometimes, culminated in the hijacking of ballot boxes.
And at the centre of these disturbances have been well-built men hired by various political parties to perform one duty or another during the polls.
This time around, there seems to be an upsurge in pre-election violence. The recent limited registration exercise, for instance, was not spared the hostilities, particularly in northern Ghana, and experts fear this will continue in the months leading to the December presidential and parliamentary elections if security is not tightened.
Ghana has made some giant strides in its democratic credentials from the 1992 elections to date and we can only improve upon that achievement. From non-transparent ballot boxes in 1992, we moved on to transparent boxes. Voter ID cards with photographs for urban voters and without photographs for voters in rural areas were issued by 1996.
We did not stop there. In our desire to correct further lapses, by 2000 all eligible voters — both urban and rural — had been issued with voter ID cards with pictures. All these were in direct response to complaints of impersonation, pre-stuffing of ballot boxes and the lack of transparency in the voting process.
These changes have, no doubt, reactivated the confidence of the people in elections, given credibility to the process and made our dear nation a showpiece not only in the West African sub-region but also the world at large.
It is, therefore, not surprising that the eyes of the world are keenly focused on us as we approach this year’s landmark elections to decide whom the sitting President hands over power peacefully to after serving the maximum constitutionally mandated eight-year term. While we prepare to consolidate our democratic governance, we cannot allow the dastardly acts of “machomen” to bring our elections into disrepute and halt our advancement.
In addition to the efforts to nip in the bud the menace caused by “machomen”, the leadership of the security agencies must ensure that they work out a special strategy to deal with any violence at the flash points in the country and score full marks on December 7.
If Ghana burns because of politics, we have nowhere else to go, so it is in our interest to do everything possible to preserve the peace we are known for in the sub-region.
Everybody has a part to play in the peace process. The importance of the elections can never be a justification to destabilise the country.
The acting Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Kwesi Ofori, gave the warning when he addressed a forum organised by the Ghana First Forum, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Secretariat, on the topic, “Peaceful Elections 2008”, in Accra yesterday.
The DAILY GRAPHIC shares the sentiments of the Police Administration and we urge all the political parties and their supporters to comply to ensure that the electorate exercise their franchise in a conducive atmosphere.
Fact is that since our return to constitutional rule in 1992, one common feature that has dented an otherwise successful electoral process has been the vandalisation of polling centres and the trading of gunshots which have, sometimes, culminated in the hijacking of ballot boxes.
And at the centre of these disturbances have been well-built men hired by various political parties to perform one duty or another during the polls.
This time around, there seems to be an upsurge in pre-election violence. The recent limited registration exercise, for instance, was not spared the hostilities, particularly in northern Ghana, and experts fear this will continue in the months leading to the December presidential and parliamentary elections if security is not tightened.
Ghana has made some giant strides in its democratic credentials from the 1992 elections to date and we can only improve upon that achievement. From non-transparent ballot boxes in 1992, we moved on to transparent boxes. Voter ID cards with photographs for urban voters and without photographs for voters in rural areas were issued by 1996.
We did not stop there. In our desire to correct further lapses, by 2000 all eligible voters — both urban and rural — had been issued with voter ID cards with pictures. All these were in direct response to complaints of impersonation, pre-stuffing of ballot boxes and the lack of transparency in the voting process.
These changes have, no doubt, reactivated the confidence of the people in elections, given credibility to the process and made our dear nation a showpiece not only in the West African sub-region but also the world at large.
It is, therefore, not surprising that the eyes of the world are keenly focused on us as we approach this year’s landmark elections to decide whom the sitting President hands over power peacefully to after serving the maximum constitutionally mandated eight-year term. While we prepare to consolidate our democratic governance, we cannot allow the dastardly acts of “machomen” to bring our elections into disrepute and halt our advancement.
In addition to the efforts to nip in the bud the menace caused by “machomen”, the leadership of the security agencies must ensure that they work out a special strategy to deal with any violence at the flash points in the country and score full marks on December 7.
If Ghana burns because of politics, we have nowhere else to go, so it is in our interest to do everything possible to preserve the peace we are known for in the sub-region.
Everybody has a part to play in the peace process. The importance of the elections can never be a justification to destabilise the country.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
LET'S DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS (OCTOBER 22)
IT is usually said that water is life and perhaps many Ghanaians are living this realisation if recent statistics are anything to go by.
Understandably, more than half of the rural communities in the country had been provided access to potable water as of the end of last year.
According to the Minister of State for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Madam Cecilia Dapaah, 54.86 per cent of our people now enjoy potable water.
By the current rate, government’s target of 54.73 per cent has been exceeded, a development which places the country on course to achieve the 75 per cent target set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Again, it is worthy to note that water supply in urban areas has also gone up by 60 per cent, with indications that with the completion of other water supply systems the figure will shoot up to 65 per cent.
The MDGs represent a global partnership that has grown from the commitments and targets established at the world summits of the 1990s. They primarily aim at promoting poverty reduction and improving upon the standard of living.
There is no doubt that access to quality water is one of the important indicators of the quality of living of a group or community.
Over the years, there have been concerns that access to potable water remains a major challenge in many Ghanaian communities.
Although there is every cause to celebrate the gains made in the provision of potable water, as a country we cannot hold our chests out yet, since there are still many rural and urban communities that do not have access to potable water.
There are many Ghanaian lives that have been ‘sustained’ at a rather painful cost by some of the most polluted water sources one can ever think of.
Diarrhoeal diseases continue to kill many children in some of our rural communities and perhaps the gains made should serve as a source of inspiration to re-engineer the kind of self-belief that would rapidly help to improve upon the supply of potable water to Ghanaians.
Indeed, we have come a long way as a country in the provision of potable water for the people since 1928 when the first piped water supply system was constructed in Cape Coast.
From the Water Supply Division of the Public Works Department, today the country can boast of the Ghana Water Company Limited and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to ensure that both urban and rural settlers have access to potable water.
It is also heart-warming to note that at long last the country this year launched a National Water Policy to provide clear guidelines in the water sector.
The cost of water treatment continues to be one of the main drawbacks to the attainment of universal access to potable water and this is because of the pollution of water sources used by treatment plants.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the protection of water bodies should not be the responsibility of only regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency but a responsibility shared by all Ghanaians, particularly those who live close to water bodies.
Understandably, more than half of the rural communities in the country had been provided access to potable water as of the end of last year.
According to the Minister of State for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Madam Cecilia Dapaah, 54.86 per cent of our people now enjoy potable water.
By the current rate, government’s target of 54.73 per cent has been exceeded, a development which places the country on course to achieve the 75 per cent target set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Again, it is worthy to note that water supply in urban areas has also gone up by 60 per cent, with indications that with the completion of other water supply systems the figure will shoot up to 65 per cent.
The MDGs represent a global partnership that has grown from the commitments and targets established at the world summits of the 1990s. They primarily aim at promoting poverty reduction and improving upon the standard of living.
There is no doubt that access to quality water is one of the important indicators of the quality of living of a group or community.
Over the years, there have been concerns that access to potable water remains a major challenge in many Ghanaian communities.
Although there is every cause to celebrate the gains made in the provision of potable water, as a country we cannot hold our chests out yet, since there are still many rural and urban communities that do not have access to potable water.
There are many Ghanaian lives that have been ‘sustained’ at a rather painful cost by some of the most polluted water sources one can ever think of.
Diarrhoeal diseases continue to kill many children in some of our rural communities and perhaps the gains made should serve as a source of inspiration to re-engineer the kind of self-belief that would rapidly help to improve upon the supply of potable water to Ghanaians.
Indeed, we have come a long way as a country in the provision of potable water for the people since 1928 when the first piped water supply system was constructed in Cape Coast.
From the Water Supply Division of the Public Works Department, today the country can boast of the Ghana Water Company Limited and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to ensure that both urban and rural settlers have access to potable water.
It is also heart-warming to note that at long last the country this year launched a National Water Policy to provide clear guidelines in the water sector.
The cost of water treatment continues to be one of the main drawbacks to the attainment of universal access to potable water and this is because of the pollution of water sources used by treatment plants.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the protection of water bodies should not be the responsibility of only regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency but a responsibility shared by all Ghanaians, particularly those who live close to water bodies.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
NORTHERN CHIEFS CHART NEW PATH (OCT. 21, 2008)
IT is refreshing that chiefs from northern Ghana have assured the nation of their willingness to contribute towards the promotion of peace in the area.
Coming at a time when some deviants from the area have given northern Ghana a bad name by their frequent resort to violence to seek redress for their grievances, the rest of Ghanaians can only heave a sigh of relief and encourage the chiefs to pursue this agenda to the letter.
Sometimes worrying signals from the three regions in the north give the impression that Ghana is on the brink of violence, following on the experiences of failed states in the sub-region and beyond.
What makes the situation more frustrating is the fact that when the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS) was conducted, those three regions were found to be the most deprived in the country. Therefore, the least we expect from its citizens is that they would give peace a chance so that law-abiding citizens can go about their duties without let or hindrance.
Northern Ghana can be the bread basket of the country if the necessary incentives and inputs are provided for the people to cultivate the land. Whenever the rains are good and the people till the land, the harvest has been good for crops such as tomatoes, rice, millet, sorghum, yams, groundnuts and beans.
Presently, tomato farmers are faced with a glut because the market is incapable of absorbing the excess production relative to the demand for the produce. We want to remind the people that they can reap the benefits of their sweat only in an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence.
Ghana’s Constitution has elaborate mechanisms for seeking redress, even to the highest court of the land. The procedure can be cumbersome, time and money consuming, but those who believe in the rule of law have obtained justice even in some delicate cases.
It is against this background that the DAILY GRAPHIC encourages our brothers and sisters up north to tolerate one another, even in extreme cases of provocation, and those who feel that their rights have been trampled upon should not adopt self-help approaches to the problem. That option is objectionable and can only result in violence, leading to the destruction of lives and property.
We are a great nation with a common destiny and the potential to attain economic prosperity. For this reason, we must unite in our resolve to break the back of poverty, disease and squalor.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the chiefs to get their people also committed to the pledge that they have made to promote peace in the area so that collectively they can seek solutions to the development challenges facing the north.
Much as the commitment expressed by the chiefs to peace is a useful step, we call on them to go beyond the expression of intent to take concrete action, such as the setting up of mechanisms to ensure early detection of conflicts, so that they can douse the flames before they become uncontrollable fires.
Furthermore, they should be mindful of the utterances and activities of some politicians who may want to use them during this political season to achieve their political objectives by taking advantage of any misunderstanding among the people to stoke the fires of conflict.
The DAILY GRAPHIC makes a passionate appeal to people from the north to rally behind their chiefs to re-brand the north for further advancement.
For now, we doff our hats in support of the commitment of the chiefs, but they must remember that action speaks louder than words.
Coming at a time when some deviants from the area have given northern Ghana a bad name by their frequent resort to violence to seek redress for their grievances, the rest of Ghanaians can only heave a sigh of relief and encourage the chiefs to pursue this agenda to the letter.
Sometimes worrying signals from the three regions in the north give the impression that Ghana is on the brink of violence, following on the experiences of failed states in the sub-region and beyond.
What makes the situation more frustrating is the fact that when the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS) was conducted, those three regions were found to be the most deprived in the country. Therefore, the least we expect from its citizens is that they would give peace a chance so that law-abiding citizens can go about their duties without let or hindrance.
Northern Ghana can be the bread basket of the country if the necessary incentives and inputs are provided for the people to cultivate the land. Whenever the rains are good and the people till the land, the harvest has been good for crops such as tomatoes, rice, millet, sorghum, yams, groundnuts and beans.
Presently, tomato farmers are faced with a glut because the market is incapable of absorbing the excess production relative to the demand for the produce. We want to remind the people that they can reap the benefits of their sweat only in an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence.
Ghana’s Constitution has elaborate mechanisms for seeking redress, even to the highest court of the land. The procedure can be cumbersome, time and money consuming, but those who believe in the rule of law have obtained justice even in some delicate cases.
It is against this background that the DAILY GRAPHIC encourages our brothers and sisters up north to tolerate one another, even in extreme cases of provocation, and those who feel that their rights have been trampled upon should not adopt self-help approaches to the problem. That option is objectionable and can only result in violence, leading to the destruction of lives and property.
We are a great nation with a common destiny and the potential to attain economic prosperity. For this reason, we must unite in our resolve to break the back of poverty, disease and squalor.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the chiefs to get their people also committed to the pledge that they have made to promote peace in the area so that collectively they can seek solutions to the development challenges facing the north.
Much as the commitment expressed by the chiefs to peace is a useful step, we call on them to go beyond the expression of intent to take concrete action, such as the setting up of mechanisms to ensure early detection of conflicts, so that they can douse the flames before they become uncontrollable fires.
Furthermore, they should be mindful of the utterances and activities of some politicians who may want to use them during this political season to achieve their political objectives by taking advantage of any misunderstanding among the people to stoke the fires of conflict.
The DAILY GRAPHIC makes a passionate appeal to people from the north to rally behind their chiefs to re-brand the north for further advancement.
For now, we doff our hats in support of the commitment of the chiefs, but they must remember that action speaks louder than words.
Monday, October 20, 2008
PROTECT INTEGRITY OF JUDICIARY (OCT 20, 2008)
THE Judiciary is one of the three arms of government and its effectiveness thrives on the doctrine of separation of powers. The principle that an independent judiciary is essential for the proper administration of justice is deeply embedded in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Article 125, Clause One of the Constitution unequivocally states that “Justice emanates from the people and shall be administered in the name of the Republic by the Judiciary, which shall be independent and subject to only this Constitution”.
Clause Three of the same article says, “The judicial power of Ghana shall be vested in the Judiciary. Accordingly, neither the President nor Parliament nor any organ or agency of the President or Parliament shall have or be given final judicial power.”
The Constitution prescribes the rule of law, a legal regime under which no one is above the law, and also ensures the protection of the rights of citizens from arbitrary and abusive use of government power as the cornerstone of the governance system in Ghana.
Therefore, although the President appoints the Chief Justice and other members of the bench, based on the recommendations of the Judicial Council, the judiciary is insulated from any control by the Executive or the Legislature. This beautiful arrangement should be able to inspire the confidence of the people in the independence of the judiciary.
During a courtesy call on her in Accra last Thursday by the executive members of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, asked Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of the perception that the judiciary was under the thumb of influential persons in society, particularly the Executive arm of government.
In spite of the challenges confronting the judiciary, the country can boast of a strong judicial system and it is important for us to be proud of it and provide the necessary support for it to work more effectively.
The Daily Graphic is not opposed to fair comment on actions of the bench, but this must not be done to impugn the integrity of judges. The judiciary in all democratic dispensations is not sacrosanct and can, therefore, be criticised.
The worry is that sometimes the attacks on it create the impression that members of the bench have no mind of their own. We should be mindful of the danger of reducing criticisms to character assassination.
If for nothing at all, the people should be re-assured that the Constitution guarantees the independence of the judiciary and those so appointed to the bench are required to dispense justice without fear or favour, without ill will or affection.
We have made a break from the past and today cases are tried in open courts, while suspects and litigants have the right to counsel and also the right of appeal if they disagree with the decision of the lower courts. Even those dissatisfied with Supreme Court rulings can call for reviews.
The Daily Graphic wishes to appeal to the public to protect our judiciary by having abiding faith and confidence in it, since the alternative of having no judiciary will be a return to the state of nature where violence reigns supreme, an outcome that will be too costly for the nation to bear.
The Daily Graphic cautions against frivolous attacks on members of the bench. For, if nothing changes, a time will come when otherwise competent lawyers will refuse appointment to the bench.
Article 125, Clause One of the Constitution unequivocally states that “Justice emanates from the people and shall be administered in the name of the Republic by the Judiciary, which shall be independent and subject to only this Constitution”.
Clause Three of the same article says, “The judicial power of Ghana shall be vested in the Judiciary. Accordingly, neither the President nor Parliament nor any organ or agency of the President or Parliament shall have or be given final judicial power.”
The Constitution prescribes the rule of law, a legal regime under which no one is above the law, and also ensures the protection of the rights of citizens from arbitrary and abusive use of government power as the cornerstone of the governance system in Ghana.
Therefore, although the President appoints the Chief Justice and other members of the bench, based on the recommendations of the Judicial Council, the judiciary is insulated from any control by the Executive or the Legislature. This beautiful arrangement should be able to inspire the confidence of the people in the independence of the judiciary.
During a courtesy call on her in Accra last Thursday by the executive members of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, asked Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of the perception that the judiciary was under the thumb of influential persons in society, particularly the Executive arm of government.
In spite of the challenges confronting the judiciary, the country can boast of a strong judicial system and it is important for us to be proud of it and provide the necessary support for it to work more effectively.
The Daily Graphic is not opposed to fair comment on actions of the bench, but this must not be done to impugn the integrity of judges. The judiciary in all democratic dispensations is not sacrosanct and can, therefore, be criticised.
The worry is that sometimes the attacks on it create the impression that members of the bench have no mind of their own. We should be mindful of the danger of reducing criticisms to character assassination.
If for nothing at all, the people should be re-assured that the Constitution guarantees the independence of the judiciary and those so appointed to the bench are required to dispense justice without fear or favour, without ill will or affection.
We have made a break from the past and today cases are tried in open courts, while suspects and litigants have the right to counsel and also the right of appeal if they disagree with the decision of the lower courts. Even those dissatisfied with Supreme Court rulings can call for reviews.
The Daily Graphic wishes to appeal to the public to protect our judiciary by having abiding faith and confidence in it, since the alternative of having no judiciary will be a return to the state of nature where violence reigns supreme, an outcome that will be too costly for the nation to bear.
The Daily Graphic cautions against frivolous attacks on members of the bench. For, if nothing changes, a time will come when otherwise competent lawyers will refuse appointment to the bench.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
IEA'S INITIATIVE VERY TIMELY (SATURDAY, OCT 18, 2008)
THE launch of the first Democracy Consolidation Strategy Paper (DCSP) in Accra to address the gaps and shortcomings in the country’s democracy is very timely.
Launched last Wednesday, the comprehensive historical document, an initiative of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana Political Parties (GPP), among other organisations, seeks to analyse the challenges of Ghana’s democratic practice since the inception of the 1992 Constitution. It proposes practical reforms in the micro-political environment by examining the Constitution, the political parties and the electoral system.
It also seeks to examine the governance agenda of the country, covering decentralisation, anti-corruption, human rights, media independence, the role of women and the youth in governance, the legislative framework for governance involving how to make Parliament effective, judicial independence and the justice system, civil society participation in public policy formulation, implementation and monitoring.
We doff our hats for the IEA and the GPP initiative because it will go a long way in contributing to the nurturing and stabilisation of democracy in the country. It is refreshing that since the early 1990s the IEA has played a very pivotal role in the promotion of the growth of a democratic society in which the rights of every individual will be guaranteed.
But we must state categorically that this document can only benefit society if the challenges highlighted are addressed by the Ghanaian society. The major challenges include having majority of ministers from Parliament, the crisis that will unfold should a Vice-President defect from a ruling government and the constitutional ceiling on the number of ministerial appointees.
Other issues have to do with the indemnity clause for past presidents who came to power through coups d’etat and those who worked with them, as well as the decoupling of the office of the Attorney-General from that the Minister of Justice. Another challenge which was identified is the absence of a cap on the number of Supreme Court judges.
In other discussions, some analysts have pointed to the fact that the present tenure of four years for both the President and Parliament is inadequate to enable the Executive and the Legislature to implement their programmes and instead they have proposed a five or seven-year tenure.
These issues, undoubtedly, are being raised now in good faith, with the view to finding permanent solutions to them. As Ghana moves on to consolidate the practice of democracy, it is important that the identified challenges and bottlenecks are thoroughly debated in a non-partisan manner in order to make a giant leap forward in our development endeavours.
The Daily Graphic is aware that some chiefs and students of politics have questioned the decision to ban chiefs from engaging in active partisan politics. We, therefore, think it is only fair that the role to be played by chiefs and traditional rulers in contemporary politics is also be reviewed.
Society is dynamic, and so is the Ghanaian society. Since 1993, Ghana has remained recognisably democratic. Nonetheless, certain provisions in the Constitution must be amended to enable the people to look into the future with a positive outlook.
We believe that Ghana can develop and entrench its democracy if we implement the recommendations in the document. The DCSP must be seen as a positive signal to simplify the Constitution into a more functional document to provide the necessary guidance to offer hope and inspiration to the people.
The Daily Graphic calls for constructive engagements with all interest groups in order to make Ghanaians owners of the final document.
We also call on the Executive and Parliament to scrutinise the document and initiate broad consultations to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations in it to deepen and consolidate multi-party democracy in the country.
Launched last Wednesday, the comprehensive historical document, an initiative of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana Political Parties (GPP), among other organisations, seeks to analyse the challenges of Ghana’s democratic practice since the inception of the 1992 Constitution. It proposes practical reforms in the micro-political environment by examining the Constitution, the political parties and the electoral system.
It also seeks to examine the governance agenda of the country, covering decentralisation, anti-corruption, human rights, media independence, the role of women and the youth in governance, the legislative framework for governance involving how to make Parliament effective, judicial independence and the justice system, civil society participation in public policy formulation, implementation and monitoring.
We doff our hats for the IEA and the GPP initiative because it will go a long way in contributing to the nurturing and stabilisation of democracy in the country. It is refreshing that since the early 1990s the IEA has played a very pivotal role in the promotion of the growth of a democratic society in which the rights of every individual will be guaranteed.
But we must state categorically that this document can only benefit society if the challenges highlighted are addressed by the Ghanaian society. The major challenges include having majority of ministers from Parliament, the crisis that will unfold should a Vice-President defect from a ruling government and the constitutional ceiling on the number of ministerial appointees.
Other issues have to do with the indemnity clause for past presidents who came to power through coups d’etat and those who worked with them, as well as the decoupling of the office of the Attorney-General from that the Minister of Justice. Another challenge which was identified is the absence of a cap on the number of Supreme Court judges.
In other discussions, some analysts have pointed to the fact that the present tenure of four years for both the President and Parliament is inadequate to enable the Executive and the Legislature to implement their programmes and instead they have proposed a five or seven-year tenure.
These issues, undoubtedly, are being raised now in good faith, with the view to finding permanent solutions to them. As Ghana moves on to consolidate the practice of democracy, it is important that the identified challenges and bottlenecks are thoroughly debated in a non-partisan manner in order to make a giant leap forward in our development endeavours.
The Daily Graphic is aware that some chiefs and students of politics have questioned the decision to ban chiefs from engaging in active partisan politics. We, therefore, think it is only fair that the role to be played by chiefs and traditional rulers in contemporary politics is also be reviewed.
Society is dynamic, and so is the Ghanaian society. Since 1993, Ghana has remained recognisably democratic. Nonetheless, certain provisions in the Constitution must be amended to enable the people to look into the future with a positive outlook.
We believe that Ghana can develop and entrench its democracy if we implement the recommendations in the document. The DCSP must be seen as a positive signal to simplify the Constitution into a more functional document to provide the necessary guidance to offer hope and inspiration to the people.
The Daily Graphic calls for constructive engagements with all interest groups in order to make Ghanaians owners of the final document.
We also call on the Executive and Parliament to scrutinise the document and initiate broad consultations to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations in it to deepen and consolidate multi-party democracy in the country.
ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET.... (FRIAY, OCT 17, 2008)
BY the close of work today the filing of nominations for the December 7 general election would have ended. Then the flag bearers of the various political parties who have been criss-crossing the length and breadth of this country soliciting for votes from the electorate will be certified by the Electoral Commission (EC) to contest the polls.
According to reports, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) have concluded the formalities and filed their papers with the EC to contest the December presidential election.
The exercise continues this morning with other presidential and parliamentary aspirants expected to file their papers for the December polls. By the end of this important exercise, the various flag bearers and aspiring parliamentarians will be given the necessary recognition to become the candidates of their respective political parties.
The Daily Graphic hopes that all the presidential aspirants who have gone through the process of certification by the EC will, together with their teeming supporters and accredited agents, tackle the issues that confront this nation objectively and without malice.
We are all aware of the gloomy economic reports that have engulfed the world and have signalled a global economic recession. Unemployment is said to have soared and markets plummeted further yesterday as economists forecast terrible times ahead.
This and the many peculiar issues that confront Ghanaians should be of prime concern to those seeking the highest office of the land. Certainly, issues that are high on the agenda for every Ghanaian include the economy, housing, food security, health, education, employment creation, improved standard of living, poverty reduction and the disease burden.
The Daily Graphic urges politicians to make these issues the basis of their campaign messages and the pragmatic ways they are going to adopt to address these problems and offer hope to Ghanaians. Whatever they say on their campaign trail must be decorous and civil for the electorate to make informed choices. The leadership of the political parties must object to hate speech that could inflame passions.
It is also the expectation of the Daily Graphic that the meticulous way of campaigning, devoid of insults and impunity, will guide the presidential aspirants on how to present and package their messages when they mount the podium during the two presidential debates.
Our politicians need not be reminded that sarcastic comments, like any other communication content which tend to inflame passions or incite other people to be reckless and violent, need to be avoided.
It is no wonder that, among other issues, James 1:19 advises us to be slow to speak. Let us beware of what we say and if we have nothing honourable to say, let us keep mute because sometimes silence is golden.
Focusing on the issues will, to a large extent, ensure peaceful elections on December 7. And we all owe it a duty to ourselves and posterity to promote whatever is honourable, whatever is true and whatever is right.
God bless our homeland Ghana.
According to reports, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) have concluded the formalities and filed their papers with the EC to contest the December presidential election.
The exercise continues this morning with other presidential and parliamentary aspirants expected to file their papers for the December polls. By the end of this important exercise, the various flag bearers and aspiring parliamentarians will be given the necessary recognition to become the candidates of their respective political parties.
The Daily Graphic hopes that all the presidential aspirants who have gone through the process of certification by the EC will, together with their teeming supporters and accredited agents, tackle the issues that confront this nation objectively and without malice.
We are all aware of the gloomy economic reports that have engulfed the world and have signalled a global economic recession. Unemployment is said to have soared and markets plummeted further yesterday as economists forecast terrible times ahead.
This and the many peculiar issues that confront Ghanaians should be of prime concern to those seeking the highest office of the land. Certainly, issues that are high on the agenda for every Ghanaian include the economy, housing, food security, health, education, employment creation, improved standard of living, poverty reduction and the disease burden.
The Daily Graphic urges politicians to make these issues the basis of their campaign messages and the pragmatic ways they are going to adopt to address these problems and offer hope to Ghanaians. Whatever they say on their campaign trail must be decorous and civil for the electorate to make informed choices. The leadership of the political parties must object to hate speech that could inflame passions.
It is also the expectation of the Daily Graphic that the meticulous way of campaigning, devoid of insults and impunity, will guide the presidential aspirants on how to present and package their messages when they mount the podium during the two presidential debates.
Our politicians need not be reminded that sarcastic comments, like any other communication content which tend to inflame passions or incite other people to be reckless and violent, need to be avoided.
It is no wonder that, among other issues, James 1:19 advises us to be slow to speak. Let us beware of what we say and if we have nothing honourable to say, let us keep mute because sometimes silence is golden.
Focusing on the issues will, to a large extent, ensure peaceful elections on December 7. And we all owe it a duty to ourselves and posterity to promote whatever is honourable, whatever is true and whatever is right.
God bless our homeland Ghana.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
A WELCOME GESTURE (OCT 16, 2008)
THE government took another major step towards reconciling the nation by its decision to deconfiscate the assets of some prominent Ghanaians whose assets were confiscated by various military regimes in the country.
The move, said to be part of the recommendations of the National Reconciliation Commission established in 2002 to heal the wounds inflicted on those whose rights were trampled upon during the country’s military regimes, can only be described as fitting and refreshing.
Under military regimes, there was utter disregard for the rule of law, freedom of expression and other civil liberties. The press was gagged, Parliament dissolved and the Judiciary made an appendage of the executive arm of government, thereby denying the people their right to seek redress.
Thus, some of the personalities whose assets are being disconfiscated today were tried in very bizarre circumstances without the right to appeal. They were insulted and humiliated, and yet they could do little or nothing under those very trying circumstances.
The deconfiscation of the assets by the state, therefore, is a step in the right direction to heal the wounds of those who were wrongfully treated.
Unfortunately, many of those whose assets were confiscated have died, perhaps out of frustration in seeking redress. Be that as it may, the original owners definitely have family members who can benefit from the government gesture.
We are reliably informed that the return of the assets will be on a “where is, as is basis”. In other words, the owners will take them in whatever condition they find them. But the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the state cannot just hand over assets to the rightful owners without due regard to the transformation that some of the properties have undergone.
Beneficiaries of such properties deserve better and the state should, in addition to handing over those properties to their owners, pay some monetary compensation so that the owners can rehabilitate them.
The gesture to reconcile the nation must be total and the government’s move should not leave any lingering doubts in the minds of the people. The gesture should also remind us, as a people, to respect the rights of every citizen and not trample upon them with impunity.
The rule of law can only endure if we follow benchmarks for attaining such a goal. As a people, we must exercise restraint and seek redress in our law courts, instead of deciding to cut corners, only to return to a state of nature where violence and brute force prevail.
Never again should our dear nation go through the harrowing experiences of a military rule. We should not allow our rights to be trampled upon by a few self-seekers, and never again should we kowtow to the whims and caprices of so-called liberators, redeemers and revolutionaries.
A line in our National Anthem urges us to “resist oppressor’s rule” and we must all be prepared to do just that if this country is to consolidate the few gains it has chalked up under the democratic dispensation.
As the various beneficiaries wait with bated breath for the government to formally hand over their assets to them, the DAILY GRAPHIC sincerely appeals to each and every one of them to forgive and forget the bitter past in order that we may forge ahead in unity.
The move, said to be part of the recommendations of the National Reconciliation Commission established in 2002 to heal the wounds inflicted on those whose rights were trampled upon during the country’s military regimes, can only be described as fitting and refreshing.
Under military regimes, there was utter disregard for the rule of law, freedom of expression and other civil liberties. The press was gagged, Parliament dissolved and the Judiciary made an appendage of the executive arm of government, thereby denying the people their right to seek redress.
Thus, some of the personalities whose assets are being disconfiscated today were tried in very bizarre circumstances without the right to appeal. They were insulted and humiliated, and yet they could do little or nothing under those very trying circumstances.
The deconfiscation of the assets by the state, therefore, is a step in the right direction to heal the wounds of those who were wrongfully treated.
Unfortunately, many of those whose assets were confiscated have died, perhaps out of frustration in seeking redress. Be that as it may, the original owners definitely have family members who can benefit from the government gesture.
We are reliably informed that the return of the assets will be on a “where is, as is basis”. In other words, the owners will take them in whatever condition they find them. But the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the state cannot just hand over assets to the rightful owners without due regard to the transformation that some of the properties have undergone.
Beneficiaries of such properties deserve better and the state should, in addition to handing over those properties to their owners, pay some monetary compensation so that the owners can rehabilitate them.
The gesture to reconcile the nation must be total and the government’s move should not leave any lingering doubts in the minds of the people. The gesture should also remind us, as a people, to respect the rights of every citizen and not trample upon them with impunity.
The rule of law can only endure if we follow benchmarks for attaining such a goal. As a people, we must exercise restraint and seek redress in our law courts, instead of deciding to cut corners, only to return to a state of nature where violence and brute force prevail.
Never again should our dear nation go through the harrowing experiences of a military rule. We should not allow our rights to be trampled upon by a few self-seekers, and never again should we kowtow to the whims and caprices of so-called liberators, redeemers and revolutionaries.
A line in our National Anthem urges us to “resist oppressor’s rule” and we must all be prepared to do just that if this country is to consolidate the few gains it has chalked up under the democratic dispensation.
As the various beneficiaries wait with bated breath for the government to formally hand over their assets to them, the DAILY GRAPHIC sincerely appeals to each and every one of them to forgive and forget the bitter past in order that we may forge ahead in unity.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
LET'S CREATE AND SHARE (OCT 15, 2008)
PRESIDENT J. A. Kufuor has reminded key players in the Ghanaian economy that without a concerted effort at raising productivity, attempts at increasing salaries and wages will remain elusive.
In a speech read on his behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA), the President cautioned that “unless we work hard to increase productivity to make our enterprises competitive in the global market and create the needed employment for our youth, increase in wages and salaries will elude us”.
Demands for increased salaries and wages are not new phenomena in the country. Such demands are always being made by all workers, including doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants and all manner of public sector employees. These annual demands have often been followed by industrial actions.
It is heart-warming that the President has served notice to hold ministers and their management teams accountable to the requirements set in the Public Service Customer Charters.
In the opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC, there is the need for an attitudinal change on the part of all workers if the national target of increased productivity and better quality of life is to be achieved.
Our health workers who are receiving extra duty allowances should commit themselves more to their oaths to protect the sanctity of life. It is disheartening when some health workers turn their backs on patients who are in desperate need of treatment. Others use official hours working in private hospitals, while some go to the extent of pilfering essential drugs and medical supplies for private use, thereby depriving the sick of these items purchased from the taxpayer’s sweat.
Our teachers are not left out of this attitudinal problem. Most teachers prefer running private classes and collecting money from their pupils to devoting official hours to teach these children. Meanwhile, they are at the forefront of those who are constantly making demands for higher salaries and wages.
The story is no better in the civil and public services. Absenteeism, lateness, loafing and habitual drunkenness are the order of the day. These are tendencies that collectively draw our national aspirations backward and stifle national development.
By all means workers deserve better wages and salaries to be able to take care of their needs and those of their families. But the money to provide these will not come if we do not work hard and attend to our official work with commitment, diligence and dedication.
That is the challenge the DAILY GRAPHIC is throwing to all. It is only when we work hard that we will have the moral strength to make more demands for better conditions of service.
In a speech read on his behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA), the President cautioned that “unless we work hard to increase productivity to make our enterprises competitive in the global market and create the needed employment for our youth, increase in wages and salaries will elude us”.
Demands for increased salaries and wages are not new phenomena in the country. Such demands are always being made by all workers, including doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants and all manner of public sector employees. These annual demands have often been followed by industrial actions.
It is heart-warming that the President has served notice to hold ministers and their management teams accountable to the requirements set in the Public Service Customer Charters.
In the opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC, there is the need for an attitudinal change on the part of all workers if the national target of increased productivity and better quality of life is to be achieved.
Our health workers who are receiving extra duty allowances should commit themselves more to their oaths to protect the sanctity of life. It is disheartening when some health workers turn their backs on patients who are in desperate need of treatment. Others use official hours working in private hospitals, while some go to the extent of pilfering essential drugs and medical supplies for private use, thereby depriving the sick of these items purchased from the taxpayer’s sweat.
Our teachers are not left out of this attitudinal problem. Most teachers prefer running private classes and collecting money from their pupils to devoting official hours to teach these children. Meanwhile, they are at the forefront of those who are constantly making demands for higher salaries and wages.
The story is no better in the civil and public services. Absenteeism, lateness, loafing and habitual drunkenness are the order of the day. These are tendencies that collectively draw our national aspirations backward and stifle national development.
By all means workers deserve better wages and salaries to be able to take care of their needs and those of their families. But the money to provide these will not come if we do not work hard and attend to our official work with commitment, diligence and dedication.
That is the challenge the DAILY GRAPHIC is throwing to all. It is only when we work hard that we will have the moral strength to make more demands for better conditions of service.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
OVERHAUL COMPUTERISED PLACEMENT SYSTEM (OCT 14)
ADMISSION period of pupils and students is always a headache for parents. Seeking admission for a child from one phase of the educational cycle to another is a pain in the neck.
Presently, parents whose children wrote the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and are seeking admission to senior high schools (SHSs) are facing a lot of difficulties. They are worried because their children have not been placed in SHSs yet, and even if they have, they are not sure which class of school their children will gain admission to.
In September 2005, a new system of selection into SHSs, known as the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), was introduced to replace the manual system. And as part of the process, BECE candidates have to complete specially designed selection cards and scannable forms for processing by a computer software developed for the exercise.
The CSSPS was introduced because the manual system of selection and placement was, for many years, a source of stress and frustration to parents and it was the expectation that the new system would minimise or address those concerns.
Unfortunately, the new system has not addressed the admission blues. The system takes into account scores of students without due regard for their prevailing circumstances and their schools.
For a long time, students in rural areas have found it difficult to compete with their counterparts in the urban centres because the rural schools lack the human and material resources necessary for their pupils to make the required grades. The problem has been aggravated by the lack of supervision of teachers by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The DAILY GRAPHIC agrees with parents whose children have not yet been placed in SHSs that the new placement system must be overhauled. Perhaps the model school concept introduced by the government could offer some solutions. The plan for the construction of model schools in each district is behind schedule and it will be in the interest of all if action is expedited on the concept of model schools.
In times past people dreaded the presence of inspectors on school compounds who checked the performance of teachers and pupils. It was a good opportunity for naming and shaming, by which excellent performance was rewarded, while those who were found wanting paid for mediocrity.
However, the paradox of our present predicament is that though in those days schools were manned by untrained teachers, those teachers were dedicated to their jobs, contrary to the present situation where well-trained teachers can be found in every nook and cranny of the country. Even under that predicament in the past, pupils from rural or less endowed schools competed with their mates from international schools to gain admission to top second-cycle schools in the country.
There is empirical evidence that students from rural settings, when offered the necessary exposure, will perform at the same level or even do better than their mates from the so-called good schools.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has started a pilot project under which it is admitting students from less endowed schools. Reports indicate that these students are doing well.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reiterates the role education plays in our national development agenda, for which reason all efforts should be made to ensure that all children of school age have equal access to education. Anything to the contrary will spell doom for our national crusade to create a classless society, as well as narrow the gulf between the rural and urban settings in terms of development programmes.
Presently, parents whose children wrote the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and are seeking admission to senior high schools (SHSs) are facing a lot of difficulties. They are worried because their children have not been placed in SHSs yet, and even if they have, they are not sure which class of school their children will gain admission to.
In September 2005, a new system of selection into SHSs, known as the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), was introduced to replace the manual system. And as part of the process, BECE candidates have to complete specially designed selection cards and scannable forms for processing by a computer software developed for the exercise.
The CSSPS was introduced because the manual system of selection and placement was, for many years, a source of stress and frustration to parents and it was the expectation that the new system would minimise or address those concerns.
Unfortunately, the new system has not addressed the admission blues. The system takes into account scores of students without due regard for their prevailing circumstances and their schools.
For a long time, students in rural areas have found it difficult to compete with their counterparts in the urban centres because the rural schools lack the human and material resources necessary for their pupils to make the required grades. The problem has been aggravated by the lack of supervision of teachers by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The DAILY GRAPHIC agrees with parents whose children have not yet been placed in SHSs that the new placement system must be overhauled. Perhaps the model school concept introduced by the government could offer some solutions. The plan for the construction of model schools in each district is behind schedule and it will be in the interest of all if action is expedited on the concept of model schools.
In times past people dreaded the presence of inspectors on school compounds who checked the performance of teachers and pupils. It was a good opportunity for naming and shaming, by which excellent performance was rewarded, while those who were found wanting paid for mediocrity.
However, the paradox of our present predicament is that though in those days schools were manned by untrained teachers, those teachers were dedicated to their jobs, contrary to the present situation where well-trained teachers can be found in every nook and cranny of the country. Even under that predicament in the past, pupils from rural or less endowed schools competed with their mates from international schools to gain admission to top second-cycle schools in the country.
There is empirical evidence that students from rural settings, when offered the necessary exposure, will perform at the same level or even do better than their mates from the so-called good schools.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has started a pilot project under which it is admitting students from less endowed schools. Reports indicate that these students are doing well.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reiterates the role education plays in our national development agenda, for which reason all efforts should be made to ensure that all children of school age have equal access to education. Anything to the contrary will spell doom for our national crusade to create a classless society, as well as narrow the gulf between the rural and urban settings in terms of development programmes.
Monday, October 13, 2008
ENOUGH OF THE 'FLYING COFFIN' (OCT 13, 2008)
THE nation was last Saturday spared what could have been a disaster when the presidential jet carrying President J. A. Kufuor and his entourage to Equatorial Guinea had to abort its flight mid-air.
What precipitated the abortion of the flight was the fact that the 32-year-old plane, which has gained notoriety as the ‘Flying Coffin’, developed a faulty pressure system that affected its capacity to maintain normal atmosphere in its cabin, thereby putting the lives of the passengers and crew at risk.
We cannot fail to join the rest of Ghanaians to express our gratitude to the Almighty God for saving the lives of the President and the rest of the entourage.
Barely a year ago, the President escaped unhurt from an accident at the Silver Star and Opeibea House intersection near the Kotoka International Airport and we are, indeed, grateful to the Lord that another calamity has been averted. We commend the crew for their technical advice and expertise to avert what could have been a national disaster.
Last year, when the Ghana Air Force Command submitted an urgent memorandum to the government on the poor state of its equipment and warned that the current fleet of aircraft would be grounded by 2010 because of old age, it was not the first time they were doing that. As far back as 1997 the Ghana Air Force had made recommendations to the then government to purchase a Falcon 900 and an Airbus for the presidential fleet.
The condition of the presidential jet (Fokker 28), apparently suffering from metal stress and fatigue, justified the decision by the government in March 2008 to seek the approval of Parliament for loans from France and China for the purchase of a 12-seater Falcon 900 to be used as a new presidential jet and an Airbus to replenish the fleet of the Ghana Air Force.
Although the planes would not be available for use by the current President, the proposal was subjected to various interpretations to create the impression that the President was looking for his personal comfort and safety, whereas the money could have been used to improve the conditions of the rural poor.
Similarly, various interpretations have been read into the construction of the Presidential Complex which, to all intents and purposes, is meant for the country and its future generations. Posterity will be the best judge of the wisdom in the purchase of a new presidential jet and national projects such as the Presidential Complex.
The Daily Graphic is of the view that as a nation we need to be careful the way we criticise our leaders, otherwise very important projects can either be suspended or abandoned if the government of the day does not have the much-needed conviction and political will.
More often than not, it appears that we are interested in firefighting measures, playing the blame game and carrying out post-mortems, instead of taking preventive measures to avert disasters. This attitude appears to be pervasive, particularly in the public sector.
It is our submission that the purchase of the presidential jet and the provision of other national projects are good investments and should be seen as well intended for the public good.
Until we stop viewing every important national project through some kind of political lenses, until we learn to be grateful for the little mercies the Good Lord has showered on us all these years, our dear nation cannot make the giant strides for the attainment of a middle-income status by 2015.
We think the ‘Flying Coffin’ has had enough and it must be rested from long journeys. We must not wait for a disaster to occur before we start propounding theories that won’t simply fly.
The time to act is now!
What precipitated the abortion of the flight was the fact that the 32-year-old plane, which has gained notoriety as the ‘Flying Coffin’, developed a faulty pressure system that affected its capacity to maintain normal atmosphere in its cabin, thereby putting the lives of the passengers and crew at risk.
We cannot fail to join the rest of Ghanaians to express our gratitude to the Almighty God for saving the lives of the President and the rest of the entourage.
Barely a year ago, the President escaped unhurt from an accident at the Silver Star and Opeibea House intersection near the Kotoka International Airport and we are, indeed, grateful to the Lord that another calamity has been averted. We commend the crew for their technical advice and expertise to avert what could have been a national disaster.
Last year, when the Ghana Air Force Command submitted an urgent memorandum to the government on the poor state of its equipment and warned that the current fleet of aircraft would be grounded by 2010 because of old age, it was not the first time they were doing that. As far back as 1997 the Ghana Air Force had made recommendations to the then government to purchase a Falcon 900 and an Airbus for the presidential fleet.
The condition of the presidential jet (Fokker 28), apparently suffering from metal stress and fatigue, justified the decision by the government in March 2008 to seek the approval of Parliament for loans from France and China for the purchase of a 12-seater Falcon 900 to be used as a new presidential jet and an Airbus to replenish the fleet of the Ghana Air Force.
Although the planes would not be available for use by the current President, the proposal was subjected to various interpretations to create the impression that the President was looking for his personal comfort and safety, whereas the money could have been used to improve the conditions of the rural poor.
Similarly, various interpretations have been read into the construction of the Presidential Complex which, to all intents and purposes, is meant for the country and its future generations. Posterity will be the best judge of the wisdom in the purchase of a new presidential jet and national projects such as the Presidential Complex.
The Daily Graphic is of the view that as a nation we need to be careful the way we criticise our leaders, otherwise very important projects can either be suspended or abandoned if the government of the day does not have the much-needed conviction and political will.
More often than not, it appears that we are interested in firefighting measures, playing the blame game and carrying out post-mortems, instead of taking preventive measures to avert disasters. This attitude appears to be pervasive, particularly in the public sector.
It is our submission that the purchase of the presidential jet and the provision of other national projects are good investments and should be seen as well intended for the public good.
Until we stop viewing every important national project through some kind of political lenses, until we learn to be grateful for the little mercies the Good Lord has showered on us all these years, our dear nation cannot make the giant strides for the attainment of a middle-income status by 2015.
We think the ‘Flying Coffin’ has had enough and it must be rested from long journeys. We must not wait for a disaster to occur before we start propounding theories that won’t simply fly.
The time to act is now!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
COMPUTER PER CHILD POLICY LAUDABLE (OCT 11, 2008)
IN December 2003 and November 2005, the United Nations (UN) organised two summits on the World Information Society in Geneva and Tunis, respectively, to encourage world leaders to lay the foundation for the establishment of the World Information Society.
According to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data, Africa, with a population of about 760 million people, representing about 13 per cent of the world’s population, has only two per cent of the world’s telephone lines. Africa’s teledensity (number of telephone lines per 100 people) of 7.4 is the lowest in the world.
To overcome the digital divide, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States (US) has designed laptops for children in the world and a foundation has been established to popularise the distribution of laptops across the globe.
At the 14th annual Teachers Awards ceremony in Sunyani last Wednesday, President J. A. Kufuor announced the programme of the government to provide all schoolchildren aged between 5 and 12 in public schools with personal computers to enable them to acquire skills in ICT, which is currently the most critical basic instrument of education world-wide.
The first batch of 10,000 units of the laptops, described as “Magic Computers for Children”, is expected to be rolled out next month and a formal agreement for delivery is set to be signed by the government and the MIT very soon. This initiative is laudable.
The Daily Graphic urges the government to ensure that the programme to provide all children with laptops succeeds. In the 2008 Budget statement presented to Parliament by the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the former Minister of Finance, only $3 million was provided for the supply of the computers to the schoolchildren.
The computer programme should be regarded as a key component of the educational reform introduced by the government in September 2007 and it is imperative that the distribution of the computers be fair.
The rural communities have already been denied adequate logistics that engender effective teaching and learning and they should not suffer further deprivation. We should avoid the situation where the distribution of the computers will be skewed in favour of schools in the metropolitan and urban centres, to the detriment of those in the rural areas.
Another difficulty that the government should address is the cost of Internet service. It should be made affordable so that many more Ghanaians, including the schoolchildren who will benefit from laptops, can access the technology.
In view of global trends in ICT knowledge and application, it would be necessary for children to be exposed to computer literacy programmes. However, its misuse or abuse raises serious concerns and it is important that while allowing children to use computers, they are given the needed guidance and counselling to put them in check.
The type of energy that the computers will use is also of great concern, since it is expected that children in deprived areas where there usually is no electricity are also covered.
Internet usage in Ghana hovers around 2.7 per cent, compared to 5.3 per cent in Africa, and statistics indicate that only 1.5 million Ghanaians have access to the Internet, partly due to the cost. A subscriber to the broadband Internet service of Ghana Telecom, for example, is required to pay as much as GH¢40 a month. A 2007 World Bank Report on Internet usage in the world cited Ghana as one of the African countries with the lowest record of Internet patronage, coming behind South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Senegal.
The world is becoming so sophisticated that the role of ICT in national development is obvious. In times past, the richest people in the world were basically merchants and industrialists, but now the trend of wealthy people, such as Bill Gates of Microsoft fame, is shifting to those who control ICT.
We believe that ICT holds the key to national development and that the future of Ghana depends upon its willingness to harness this resource for its socio-economic transformation. For, where there is a WILL, there is always a WAY.
According to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data, Africa, with a population of about 760 million people, representing about 13 per cent of the world’s population, has only two per cent of the world’s telephone lines. Africa’s teledensity (number of telephone lines per 100 people) of 7.4 is the lowest in the world.
To overcome the digital divide, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States (US) has designed laptops for children in the world and a foundation has been established to popularise the distribution of laptops across the globe.
At the 14th annual Teachers Awards ceremony in Sunyani last Wednesday, President J. A. Kufuor announced the programme of the government to provide all schoolchildren aged between 5 and 12 in public schools with personal computers to enable them to acquire skills in ICT, which is currently the most critical basic instrument of education world-wide.
The first batch of 10,000 units of the laptops, described as “Magic Computers for Children”, is expected to be rolled out next month and a formal agreement for delivery is set to be signed by the government and the MIT very soon. This initiative is laudable.
The Daily Graphic urges the government to ensure that the programme to provide all children with laptops succeeds. In the 2008 Budget statement presented to Parliament by the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the former Minister of Finance, only $3 million was provided for the supply of the computers to the schoolchildren.
The computer programme should be regarded as a key component of the educational reform introduced by the government in September 2007 and it is imperative that the distribution of the computers be fair.
The rural communities have already been denied adequate logistics that engender effective teaching and learning and they should not suffer further deprivation. We should avoid the situation where the distribution of the computers will be skewed in favour of schools in the metropolitan and urban centres, to the detriment of those in the rural areas.
Another difficulty that the government should address is the cost of Internet service. It should be made affordable so that many more Ghanaians, including the schoolchildren who will benefit from laptops, can access the technology.
In view of global trends in ICT knowledge and application, it would be necessary for children to be exposed to computer literacy programmes. However, its misuse or abuse raises serious concerns and it is important that while allowing children to use computers, they are given the needed guidance and counselling to put them in check.
The type of energy that the computers will use is also of great concern, since it is expected that children in deprived areas where there usually is no electricity are also covered.
Internet usage in Ghana hovers around 2.7 per cent, compared to 5.3 per cent in Africa, and statistics indicate that only 1.5 million Ghanaians have access to the Internet, partly due to the cost. A subscriber to the broadband Internet service of Ghana Telecom, for example, is required to pay as much as GH¢40 a month. A 2007 World Bank Report on Internet usage in the world cited Ghana as one of the African countries with the lowest record of Internet patronage, coming behind South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Senegal.
The world is becoming so sophisticated that the role of ICT in national development is obvious. In times past, the richest people in the world were basically merchants and industrialists, but now the trend of wealthy people, such as Bill Gates of Microsoft fame, is shifting to those who control ICT.
We believe that ICT holds the key to national development and that the future of Ghana depends upon its willingness to harness this resource for its socio-economic transformation. For, where there is a WILL, there is always a WAY.
Friday, October 10, 2008
EU's OBSERVATION MUST INSPIRE US (OCT 10)
GHANAIANS have come a long way in their political evolution from being a one-party state, being ruled by military regimes to the current multi party dispensation. The lessons that we have learnt from those political experiences should be able to guide us in our governance process to ensure that only the best is good for the country.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the current political dispensation has enhanced the reputation of the country as the shining star of Africa and beacon of hope for the continent.
For this reason, it behoves the citizenry to ensure that the December 7 elections are peaceful as much as possible. We should use dialogue and the due process to resolve any conflict and electoral disputes, instead of resorting to violence. Already, the country’s political landscape has been dogged by pockets of political violence, a situation that has raised concerns in the body politic.
However, it is refreshing that the ambassadors of the European Union (EU) have expressed optimism that the December polls will not threaten and undermine the gains Ghana has made so far in its democratic dispensation.
Indeed, after embarking on a two-day visit to some parts of the Northern Region, the ambassadors were of the view that a number of political incidents notwithstanding, there was no justification for them to worry about whether or not the elections would be successful.
The observation by the EU delegation should, in more ways than one, inspire us to continue to have confidence in ourselves and in the electoral process. Sociologists have argued that one greatest harm that a people can do to themselves is to lose faith and confidence in themselves and in their capacity to succeed in their human endeavours. This must not be the lot of Ghanaian.
The government, the Electoral Commission, the political parties and civil society groups should not leave anything to chance. Rather, they should all play their respective roles responsibly to ensure free and fair elections. The security agencies should also be proactive and constantly engage in environmental scanning to identify any potential flashpoints and nip them in the bud before they develop into full-blown violence.
Ghanaians are a peace-loving people. However, the human being is innately evil and can show his or her beastly instincts in the face of frustrations. And it is for this reason that we should not be swollen headed.
Ghana’s democratic experience has become an international showpiece because of the way we have managed our governance system. All eyes are on us and we cannot disappoint the international community, which is already encouraging us to make the election yet another landmark event.
This task is certainly not beyond our capabilities. Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel and move this nation forward.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the current political dispensation has enhanced the reputation of the country as the shining star of Africa and beacon of hope for the continent.
For this reason, it behoves the citizenry to ensure that the December 7 elections are peaceful as much as possible. We should use dialogue and the due process to resolve any conflict and electoral disputes, instead of resorting to violence. Already, the country’s political landscape has been dogged by pockets of political violence, a situation that has raised concerns in the body politic.
However, it is refreshing that the ambassadors of the European Union (EU) have expressed optimism that the December polls will not threaten and undermine the gains Ghana has made so far in its democratic dispensation.
Indeed, after embarking on a two-day visit to some parts of the Northern Region, the ambassadors were of the view that a number of political incidents notwithstanding, there was no justification for them to worry about whether or not the elections would be successful.
The observation by the EU delegation should, in more ways than one, inspire us to continue to have confidence in ourselves and in the electoral process. Sociologists have argued that one greatest harm that a people can do to themselves is to lose faith and confidence in themselves and in their capacity to succeed in their human endeavours. This must not be the lot of Ghanaian.
The government, the Electoral Commission, the political parties and civil society groups should not leave anything to chance. Rather, they should all play their respective roles responsibly to ensure free and fair elections. The security agencies should also be proactive and constantly engage in environmental scanning to identify any potential flashpoints and nip them in the bud before they develop into full-blown violence.
Ghanaians are a peace-loving people. However, the human being is innately evil and can show his or her beastly instincts in the face of frustrations. And it is for this reason that we should not be swollen headed.
Ghana’s democratic experience has become an international showpiece because of the way we have managed our governance system. All eyes are on us and we cannot disappoint the international community, which is already encouraging us to make the election yet another landmark event.
This task is certainly not beyond our capabilities. Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel and move this nation forward.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
A GOOD GESTURE (OCT 9, 2008)
LAND is very fundamental to our political, social, religious, cultural and economic development. And that is why it is not surprising that land administration has remained one of the biggest challenges our dear nation has faced over the years.
One vexed issue that, for some time now, has been agitating the Ga Traditional Council in particular is the demand on the government to release all acquired stool lands that have not been put to use to enable the chiefs and people to use such lands for development projects.
Indeed, the demand of the chiefs is in consonance with Article 20 (6) of the 1992 Constitution, which states, inter alia, that “Where the property is not used in the public interest or for the purpose for which it was acquired, the owner of the property immediately before the compulsory acquisition shall be given the first option for acquiring the property and shall, on such re-acquisition, refund the whole or part of the compensation paid to him as provided for by law or such other amount as commensurable with the value of the property at the time of the re-acquisition.”
The Daily Graphic recalls that four years ago — Saturday, September 11, 2004, to be precise — President Kufuor promised to hold discussions with the Ga Traditional Council on the release of Ga stool lands acquired by the state but which had not been used.
That was at a durbar held at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park to climax the celebrations of the annual Homowo Festival by the various traditional areas.
Four years on, the President has kept faith with the people and has moved on to start the process of returning excess lands acquired by the state to its original owners.
The first gesture was on October 2, this year, when the government handed over 1,016 acres, situated at Borteyman, in an area popularly known as Nungua Farms, to the Nungua Stool.
Then, only yesterday, another refreshing story was told. The government decided to return some parcels of lands it acquired in Accra to their original owners in a move geared towards “engendering trust and co-operation between the state and the land-owning groups, as well as promote optimal use of the land in Accra”.
The Daily Graphic is extremely delighted about these healthy developments and commends the government on its firm and committed position which provided the platform for us to give meaning to our Constitution.
In the same vein, we laud the chiefs and the membership of the Ga Traditional Council for exercising patience all these years while the critical issues were being addressed.
We, however, wish to appeal that whatever decisions have been taken in respect of Accra lands should be replicated throughout the country in dealing with lands acquired in the public interest but which could not be used for public good.
But knowing the intense nature of land acquisition in the country, we must throw in a word of caution now. Indeed, our hope and prayer is that the return of the lands would not mark the beginning of hostilities, acrimony, rancour and bitterness but rather a new dawn of peace and goodwill.
The time has come for our traditional authorities to establish customary secretariats and link up with professional associations for assistance in the proper management of their lands. This is crucial for accelerated development.
One vexed issue that, for some time now, has been agitating the Ga Traditional Council in particular is the demand on the government to release all acquired stool lands that have not been put to use to enable the chiefs and people to use such lands for development projects.
Indeed, the demand of the chiefs is in consonance with Article 20 (6) of the 1992 Constitution, which states, inter alia, that “Where the property is not used in the public interest or for the purpose for which it was acquired, the owner of the property immediately before the compulsory acquisition shall be given the first option for acquiring the property and shall, on such re-acquisition, refund the whole or part of the compensation paid to him as provided for by law or such other amount as commensurable with the value of the property at the time of the re-acquisition.”
The Daily Graphic recalls that four years ago — Saturday, September 11, 2004, to be precise — President Kufuor promised to hold discussions with the Ga Traditional Council on the release of Ga stool lands acquired by the state but which had not been used.
That was at a durbar held at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park to climax the celebrations of the annual Homowo Festival by the various traditional areas.
Four years on, the President has kept faith with the people and has moved on to start the process of returning excess lands acquired by the state to its original owners.
The first gesture was on October 2, this year, when the government handed over 1,016 acres, situated at Borteyman, in an area popularly known as Nungua Farms, to the Nungua Stool.
Then, only yesterday, another refreshing story was told. The government decided to return some parcels of lands it acquired in Accra to their original owners in a move geared towards “engendering trust and co-operation between the state and the land-owning groups, as well as promote optimal use of the land in Accra”.
The Daily Graphic is extremely delighted about these healthy developments and commends the government on its firm and committed position which provided the platform for us to give meaning to our Constitution.
In the same vein, we laud the chiefs and the membership of the Ga Traditional Council for exercising patience all these years while the critical issues were being addressed.
We, however, wish to appeal that whatever decisions have been taken in respect of Accra lands should be replicated throughout the country in dealing with lands acquired in the public interest but which could not be used for public good.
But knowing the intense nature of land acquisition in the country, we must throw in a word of caution now. Indeed, our hope and prayer is that the return of the lands would not mark the beginning of hostilities, acrimony, rancour and bitterness but rather a new dawn of peace and goodwill.
The time has come for our traditional authorities to establish customary secretariats and link up with professional associations for assistance in the proper management of their lands. This is crucial for accelerated development.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
AYEKOO, TEACHERS (OCTOBER 8, 2008)
YESTERDAY was another occasion when teachers who have shown outstanding performance during the year were honoured.
In the past, some of the Best Teachers days had coincided with World Teachers Day, which falls on October 6 annually and is a day set aside by the UN for countries to show solidarity with and respect to teachers for their role in national development.
It should be recognised that the theme for the UN’s World Teachers Day holds for any nation which agrees that education is the bedrock of development and that it is teachers who drive education.
As Ghanaians, we should question ourselves whether we are showing our teachers enough solidarity and respect.
Some of us may have our own against some teachers, but the question is, is the teacher impacting positively on national development?
There is this inscription, “If you can read this, thank a teacher”. Do we recognise how strong this statement is?
We are in an era when knowledge propels development; it helps to know what to pursue and what to avoid. It also helps us to prosecute certain things we do not consider important.
Do you imagine how the situation would be if you could not fill that form, write that letter or send that text message on your phone?
Do we pause to consider the worth of the teacher? How often have we not ignored teachers as “good-for-nothing” people who should be ignored even when they have legitimate demands?
Problems confronting teachers — such as non-payment of salaries, lack of teaching materials, absence of incentives like leave and medical allowances, teachers not having the privilege of paying their children’s fees at least up to senior high school level — undermine the morale of most of them to put in their best.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that if we need our teachers to arrest the falling standards of education, then we as a state, should endeavour to solve the problems of teachers, especially those concerning their work and then some of the personal ones.
We also appeal to teachers that whatever their problems are, they should consider the fact that they have chosen a profession whose image they alone can help to enhance.
This means they must eschew all acts of misbehaviour, including those which are ethical, such as absenteeism, drunkenness and not preparing adequately for lessons.
Since the nation is celebrating our teachers, the DAILY GRAPHIC salutes all teachers, both award winners and the rest.
Teachers are professionals who always deal with competition one way or another — grading their children at examinations, picking better players at games, etc. — and so we believe that even those who did not win any awards would see it as a challenge and put in their best in the years ahead and surely they will receive the best of all awards, which are the good things their pupils and students say about them even when they have left school.
Congratulations, our teachers. May you keep shining and impacting our development.
In the past, some of the Best Teachers days had coincided with World Teachers Day, which falls on October 6 annually and is a day set aside by the UN for countries to show solidarity with and respect to teachers for their role in national development.
It should be recognised that the theme for the UN’s World Teachers Day holds for any nation which agrees that education is the bedrock of development and that it is teachers who drive education.
As Ghanaians, we should question ourselves whether we are showing our teachers enough solidarity and respect.
Some of us may have our own against some teachers, but the question is, is the teacher impacting positively on national development?
There is this inscription, “If you can read this, thank a teacher”. Do we recognise how strong this statement is?
We are in an era when knowledge propels development; it helps to know what to pursue and what to avoid. It also helps us to prosecute certain things we do not consider important.
Do you imagine how the situation would be if you could not fill that form, write that letter or send that text message on your phone?
Do we pause to consider the worth of the teacher? How often have we not ignored teachers as “good-for-nothing” people who should be ignored even when they have legitimate demands?
Problems confronting teachers — such as non-payment of salaries, lack of teaching materials, absence of incentives like leave and medical allowances, teachers not having the privilege of paying their children’s fees at least up to senior high school level — undermine the morale of most of them to put in their best.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that if we need our teachers to arrest the falling standards of education, then we as a state, should endeavour to solve the problems of teachers, especially those concerning their work and then some of the personal ones.
We also appeal to teachers that whatever their problems are, they should consider the fact that they have chosen a profession whose image they alone can help to enhance.
This means they must eschew all acts of misbehaviour, including those which are ethical, such as absenteeism, drunkenness and not preparing adequately for lessons.
Since the nation is celebrating our teachers, the DAILY GRAPHIC salutes all teachers, both award winners and the rest.
Teachers are professionals who always deal with competition one way or another — grading their children at examinations, picking better players at games, etc. — and so we believe that even those who did not win any awards would see it as a challenge and put in their best in the years ahead and surely they will receive the best of all awards, which are the good things their pupils and students say about them even when they have left school.
Congratulations, our teachers. May you keep shining and impacting our development.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
GHANA WILL TRIUMPH (OCTOBER 7, 2008)
LAST Sunday thousands of Ghanaians across the political and religious divide attended a special service to render their deep appreciation to God Almighty for His bountiful blessings to the nation so far.
The service, which was attended by President J.A. Kufuor, as well as political leaders such as Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Mr Dan Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), was also intended to ask God for His intervention for a peaceful general election in December.
The service, organised jointly by the Catholic Bishops Conference, the Ghana Pentecostal Council, the Association of Independent Churches and the Christian Council of Ghana, in response to a request by the President to them to join the nation in prayer to God for peaceful elections, was a step in the right direction.
For the Christian community to express gratitude to God, on behalf of the whole country, was a statement of the nation’s belief in God and a recognition of His influence in its affairs.
We have every cause to be thankful to God, since we have experienced His blessings in all facets of our lives as a nation and as individuals. It is instructive to recall the Jubilee Year celebrations in 2007, the challenges of the energy crisis and the consequences on the economy, rising fuel and food prices and the upsurge in ethnic conflicts.
Today, the water level of the Akosombo Dam has risen above 260 ft level, the looming conflicts that threatened the security of the nation have subsided and, above all, oil in commercial quantities has been discovered.
At a time when almost everything is going well for the nation, we need to be careful so that the December 7 general election does not degenerate into violence. A careful study of events in some parts of Africa can reveal that some of the conflicts there which have had catastrophic consequences came about as a result of the conduct of elections, which often had been regarded as not fair and transparent.
It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic has cause to add its voice to calls already made by different interest groups and individuals to political parties, their leaders and their followers, the media, the Electoral Commission (EC), as well as other stakeholders in the electoral process, to conduct their affairs responsibly to ensure free, fair, transparent and violence-free elections so that at the end of the exercise no political party or individual will have any reason to doubt the integrity of the results.
Ghanaians should rather be tolerant and open to divergent views and do away with narrow-mindedness and exclusivism, ethnic and religious hatred, family feud and communal conflicts.
For elections are not about war, nor are they life-or-death issues. In every election year, political parties present their programmes to the electorate for them to vote for the parties and candidates who, in their view, can best represent their interest and aspirations. Such an electioneering should not be made to degenerate into violence, personal attacks, insults and name calling.
Ghana’s democratic experience has become an international showpiece because of the way we have managed our governance system. All eyes are on us and we cannot disappoint the international community, which is already encouraging us to make the elections yet another landmark in our strides to achieve prosperity.
Religious and political leaders have shown the way and we expect all Ghanaians to walk the talk by demonstrating their belief in peace, a prerequisite for development.
It will be a tragedy if, after all the sermonising, supporters of political parties exhibit behaviours that will compromise the conduct of the polls on December 7. After all, example is better than precept.
The service, which was attended by President J.A. Kufuor, as well as political leaders such as Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Mr Dan Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), was also intended to ask God for His intervention for a peaceful general election in December.
The service, organised jointly by the Catholic Bishops Conference, the Ghana Pentecostal Council, the Association of Independent Churches and the Christian Council of Ghana, in response to a request by the President to them to join the nation in prayer to God for peaceful elections, was a step in the right direction.
For the Christian community to express gratitude to God, on behalf of the whole country, was a statement of the nation’s belief in God and a recognition of His influence in its affairs.
We have every cause to be thankful to God, since we have experienced His blessings in all facets of our lives as a nation and as individuals. It is instructive to recall the Jubilee Year celebrations in 2007, the challenges of the energy crisis and the consequences on the economy, rising fuel and food prices and the upsurge in ethnic conflicts.
Today, the water level of the Akosombo Dam has risen above 260 ft level, the looming conflicts that threatened the security of the nation have subsided and, above all, oil in commercial quantities has been discovered.
At a time when almost everything is going well for the nation, we need to be careful so that the December 7 general election does not degenerate into violence. A careful study of events in some parts of Africa can reveal that some of the conflicts there which have had catastrophic consequences came about as a result of the conduct of elections, which often had been regarded as not fair and transparent.
It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic has cause to add its voice to calls already made by different interest groups and individuals to political parties, their leaders and their followers, the media, the Electoral Commission (EC), as well as other stakeholders in the electoral process, to conduct their affairs responsibly to ensure free, fair, transparent and violence-free elections so that at the end of the exercise no political party or individual will have any reason to doubt the integrity of the results.
Ghanaians should rather be tolerant and open to divergent views and do away with narrow-mindedness and exclusivism, ethnic and religious hatred, family feud and communal conflicts.
For elections are not about war, nor are they life-or-death issues. In every election year, political parties present their programmes to the electorate for them to vote for the parties and candidates who, in their view, can best represent their interest and aspirations. Such an electioneering should not be made to degenerate into violence, personal attacks, insults and name calling.
Ghana’s democratic experience has become an international showpiece because of the way we have managed our governance system. All eyes are on us and we cannot disappoint the international community, which is already encouraging us to make the elections yet another landmark in our strides to achieve prosperity.
Religious and political leaders have shown the way and we expect all Ghanaians to walk the talk by demonstrating their belief in peace, a prerequisite for development.
It will be a tragedy if, after all the sermonising, supporters of political parties exhibit behaviours that will compromise the conduct of the polls on December 7. After all, example is better than precept.
Monday, October 6, 2008
STOP THE SABOTEURS (OCT 6, 2008)
ALTHOUGH there is the introduction of the fee-free education at the basic level under the Capitation Grant policy, it is regrettable that some unscrupulous heads are thwarting the government’s efforts by doing everything possible to sabotage this very laudable programme.
This is the picture the Daily Graphic captures after assessing the warning issued by the Ghana Education Service (GES) that it will deal ruthlessly with heads who are frustrating the programme of maintaining fee-free education at the basic level.
According to the GES, it has come to its notice that some unprincipled heads are charging unauthorised school fees from pupils when the government is paying GH¢3.00 per pupil in every basic school.
The Daily Graphic endorses the view of the GES that the action of those heads would undermine the government’s policy of Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education and defeat the purpose for the introduction of the Capitation Grant.
We, therefore, endorse the sanctions outlined by the GES in dealing with the problem — demotion, transfer or outright dismissal.
In the same vein, the Daily Graphic wholeheartedly agrees with the GES that “whereas Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) could agree among themselves to levy parents and guardians in order to undertake development projects in public basic schools upon receipt of approval from the service, pupils cannot be sacked from school for non-payment of such levies by parents or guardians”.
But in our effort to nip the nefarious activities of these heads in the bud, all of us — parents, guardians and directors of education at either district or regional level — would have to be willing and prepared to go the extra mile for the sake of mother Ghana.
As parents and guardians, we must quickly move away from the typical Ghanaian “give it to God” syndrome and readily report the imposition of any unapproved fees charged and any unlawful expulsion of our children or wards from any public schools.
The Daily Graphic calls on directors of education at all levels not to always wait for complaints from parents and guardians before taking the appropriate action. Rather, they must be seen to be on top of their job by initiating actions that would deter would-be offenders.
In the not-too-distant past, regular visits by education officers to various schools under their outfit were enough to put the “fear of God” into heads of public basic schools and made it difficult for heads of schools to deviate from laid-down policies. Is that too difficult to do now?
Secondly, we hope the directors would not sweep complaints from parents and guardians under the carpet but rather treat every matter with the urgency it deserves and probe deep into it with the view to exposing the saboteurs.
Without such concrete collaboration from parents, guardians and the various directors of education, our efforts to provide basic education to all children of school-age would be in vain and the nation wreckers would continue to have a field day.
Education is the bedrock of any nation’s development and that explains why the government introduced policies that would put our dear nation on a sound footing.
Any move to sabotage this great dream must, therefore, be fiercely resisted, no matter the cost.
This is the picture the Daily Graphic captures after assessing the warning issued by the Ghana Education Service (GES) that it will deal ruthlessly with heads who are frustrating the programme of maintaining fee-free education at the basic level.
According to the GES, it has come to its notice that some unprincipled heads are charging unauthorised school fees from pupils when the government is paying GH¢3.00 per pupil in every basic school.
The Daily Graphic endorses the view of the GES that the action of those heads would undermine the government’s policy of Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education and defeat the purpose for the introduction of the Capitation Grant.
We, therefore, endorse the sanctions outlined by the GES in dealing with the problem — demotion, transfer or outright dismissal.
In the same vein, the Daily Graphic wholeheartedly agrees with the GES that “whereas Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) could agree among themselves to levy parents and guardians in order to undertake development projects in public basic schools upon receipt of approval from the service, pupils cannot be sacked from school for non-payment of such levies by parents or guardians”.
But in our effort to nip the nefarious activities of these heads in the bud, all of us — parents, guardians and directors of education at either district or regional level — would have to be willing and prepared to go the extra mile for the sake of mother Ghana.
As parents and guardians, we must quickly move away from the typical Ghanaian “give it to God” syndrome and readily report the imposition of any unapproved fees charged and any unlawful expulsion of our children or wards from any public schools.
The Daily Graphic calls on directors of education at all levels not to always wait for complaints from parents and guardians before taking the appropriate action. Rather, they must be seen to be on top of their job by initiating actions that would deter would-be offenders.
In the not-too-distant past, regular visits by education officers to various schools under their outfit were enough to put the “fear of God” into heads of public basic schools and made it difficult for heads of schools to deviate from laid-down policies. Is that too difficult to do now?
Secondly, we hope the directors would not sweep complaints from parents and guardians under the carpet but rather treat every matter with the urgency it deserves and probe deep into it with the view to exposing the saboteurs.
Without such concrete collaboration from parents, guardians and the various directors of education, our efforts to provide basic education to all children of school-age would be in vain and the nation wreckers would continue to have a field day.
Education is the bedrock of any nation’s development and that explains why the government introduced policies that would put our dear nation on a sound footing.
Any move to sabotage this great dream must, therefore, be fiercely resisted, no matter the cost.
CATHOLICS SHOW THE WAY (OCT. 4, 2008)
THE fact that the date for this year’s general election, December 7, falls on a Sunday has generated various reactions from religious groups, particularly Christian denominations that worship on Sundays.
The beef of the Christian community is that being a Sunday, the voting day will interfere with their activities on the holy day of Sabbath, as the exercise is to run from 7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
There is, however, another school of thought that Christians can still observe the solemnity associated with the day and still exercise their franchise in line with their obligations as responsible citizens desirous of participating in the decision-making process.
To that school, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Christians combining their spiritual obligations with the call to national duty like voting on election day.
Indeed, when Jesus Christ was confronted on this same dilemma of combining worship with personal obligations by the Pharisees, He retorted in Luke 20:25 thus, “Render ye unto Caesar things that are Caesar’s, and unto God things that are God’s.”
In a similar vein, He wondered in Matthew 12:11, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?”
Along this line, the Daily Graphic considers the move by the Catholic Church to hold mass in the evening of Saturday, December 6, instead of on December 7, as progressive and in accord with the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
It is a step that could help dilute the dogmatic and fundamental approach with which some Christian faithful have often approached scripture and religion, making it look as if the Good Lord we all serve has not endowed us with the will to do what is appropriate and practical in trying circumstances in order to make life worth living for us on earth.
The same injunction applies in the temporal setting where we are quick to make reference to the fact that the law was made for man and not man for the law. Therefore, in any situation that we find ourselves, we must try to make adjustments so that we can make progress within the confines of the law and not allow the regulations to enslave us.
The Daily Graphic concedes that Sunday has a special place in the lives of all Christians, but granted that this is the case and all Christians must worship on Sunday, December 7, we share the concerns of the Catholic Bishops that “authentic democracy is possible only in a state ruled by law and not on the basis of a corrupt conception of the human person…. As Christian citizens, we ought to be concerned about the country’s stability and growth; we should seek to promote the common good and interest in all activities”.
It is our belief that the Catholic Church has set the tone for other Christian faiths to emulate so that all churches will find ways of observing their religious obligations during the weekend of the elections without compromising on the importance of the elections and their faith.
The beef of the Christian community is that being a Sunday, the voting day will interfere with their activities on the holy day of Sabbath, as the exercise is to run from 7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
There is, however, another school of thought that Christians can still observe the solemnity associated with the day and still exercise their franchise in line with their obligations as responsible citizens desirous of participating in the decision-making process.
To that school, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Christians combining their spiritual obligations with the call to national duty like voting on election day.
Indeed, when Jesus Christ was confronted on this same dilemma of combining worship with personal obligations by the Pharisees, He retorted in Luke 20:25 thus, “Render ye unto Caesar things that are Caesar’s, and unto God things that are God’s.”
In a similar vein, He wondered in Matthew 12:11, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?”
Along this line, the Daily Graphic considers the move by the Catholic Church to hold mass in the evening of Saturday, December 6, instead of on December 7, as progressive and in accord with the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
It is a step that could help dilute the dogmatic and fundamental approach with which some Christian faithful have often approached scripture and religion, making it look as if the Good Lord we all serve has not endowed us with the will to do what is appropriate and practical in trying circumstances in order to make life worth living for us on earth.
The same injunction applies in the temporal setting where we are quick to make reference to the fact that the law was made for man and not man for the law. Therefore, in any situation that we find ourselves, we must try to make adjustments so that we can make progress within the confines of the law and not allow the regulations to enslave us.
The Daily Graphic concedes that Sunday has a special place in the lives of all Christians, but granted that this is the case and all Christians must worship on Sunday, December 7, we share the concerns of the Catholic Bishops that “authentic democracy is possible only in a state ruled by law and not on the basis of a corrupt conception of the human person…. As Christian citizens, we ought to be concerned about the country’s stability and growth; we should seek to promote the common good and interest in all activities”.
It is our belief that the Catholic Church has set the tone for other Christian faiths to emulate so that all churches will find ways of observing their religious obligations during the weekend of the elections without compromising on the importance of the elections and their faith.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
THIS CULTURE IS WORRYING (OCTOBER 2, 2008)
AFTER the recent fire outbreaks at the Kantamanto and the Kokomba markets, discussions on how best to avert such outbreaks have again emerged.
There is very little to dispute that as a country we have traversed this course before where recommendations have been made to forestall future recurrence after fire outbreaks. But usually such recommendations produce the same pointers.
Just after the Makola fire outbreak in 1993, the government decided to investigate it to find the cause(s).
Strikingly, as we brood over the latest misfortunes at Kantamanto and Kokomba, the Public Relations Officer of the Tema branch of the Ghana National Fire Service, Mr Prince Anaglate, has taken us way back to that 1993 experience and has called for the implementation of the Makola Market Report.
It is interesting to note how fast time flies and memory fades into oblivion. The abandoned Makola Market Report of 1993 again highlights the extent to which we cry after disasters and then after a few weeks jump with joy as we go about business as usual in our markets with reckless abandon.
The causes of fire outbreaks in our markets are well known but somehow there is always the tendency to ignore the real issues and play down the threat until another disaster strikes.
As Mr Anaglate pointed out, the Makola Investigative Report of 1993 directed metropolitan, municipal and district authorities to provide firefighting equipment, including early fire detection and warning systems, fire extinguishers, hose reels and landing valves, to help detect and facilitate the initial fighting of fire when there was an outbreak.
The report also recommended the construction of fire posts in our markets or the provision of fire wardens to provide 24-hour service at the commercial centres to serve as a first line of defence in case of a fire outbreak.
Additionally, the markets were required to have adequate exit points to ensure smooth evacuation and accessibility by emergency workers.
After the Kantamanto fire outbreak, there was the general recognition that exit and entry points to the market for vehicle had been blocked by the traders.
It is very evident that while these recommendations had been made more than a decade ago and were supposed to serve as guides to avoid future fire outbreaks, they had simply been ignored.
Keeping exit and entry points to markets free of any impediments is so basic one cannot help but wonder why such a simple safety precaution cannot be observed in our country.
It is, therefore, worrying that even at the expense of human lives and property traders can act in such a manner that raises serious questions about our commitment to the protection of life and property at the markets.
For instance, at the Koforidua Market, space reserved for entry and exiting has been taken over by the traders, who appear more to have placed monetary interest above human life and property.
It is important for our traders to bear in mind that these little things that we tend to neglect are those that matter most.
On the provision of fire extinguishers, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to challenge the traders at our markets, as well as fire service personnel, to work towards ensuring that the markets are well fitted with such gadgets.
Although there have been reports that the traders have failed to avail themselves of training on firefighting, we believe that the issue must still be pursued to ensure that there is a mechanism in place to effectively deal with fire outbreaks.
It is quite surprising that markets that boast scores of able-bodied young men and women do not have firefighting brigades.
The DAILY GRAPHIC once again urges all relevant stakeholders to heed the call by Mr Anaglate to prevent any more fire outbreaks at our markets.
There is very little to dispute that as a country we have traversed this course before where recommendations have been made to forestall future recurrence after fire outbreaks. But usually such recommendations produce the same pointers.
Just after the Makola fire outbreak in 1993, the government decided to investigate it to find the cause(s).
Strikingly, as we brood over the latest misfortunes at Kantamanto and Kokomba, the Public Relations Officer of the Tema branch of the Ghana National Fire Service, Mr Prince Anaglate, has taken us way back to that 1993 experience and has called for the implementation of the Makola Market Report.
It is interesting to note how fast time flies and memory fades into oblivion. The abandoned Makola Market Report of 1993 again highlights the extent to which we cry after disasters and then after a few weeks jump with joy as we go about business as usual in our markets with reckless abandon.
The causes of fire outbreaks in our markets are well known but somehow there is always the tendency to ignore the real issues and play down the threat until another disaster strikes.
As Mr Anaglate pointed out, the Makola Investigative Report of 1993 directed metropolitan, municipal and district authorities to provide firefighting equipment, including early fire detection and warning systems, fire extinguishers, hose reels and landing valves, to help detect and facilitate the initial fighting of fire when there was an outbreak.
The report also recommended the construction of fire posts in our markets or the provision of fire wardens to provide 24-hour service at the commercial centres to serve as a first line of defence in case of a fire outbreak.
Additionally, the markets were required to have adequate exit points to ensure smooth evacuation and accessibility by emergency workers.
After the Kantamanto fire outbreak, there was the general recognition that exit and entry points to the market for vehicle had been blocked by the traders.
It is very evident that while these recommendations had been made more than a decade ago and were supposed to serve as guides to avoid future fire outbreaks, they had simply been ignored.
Keeping exit and entry points to markets free of any impediments is so basic one cannot help but wonder why such a simple safety precaution cannot be observed in our country.
It is, therefore, worrying that even at the expense of human lives and property traders can act in such a manner that raises serious questions about our commitment to the protection of life and property at the markets.
For instance, at the Koforidua Market, space reserved for entry and exiting has been taken over by the traders, who appear more to have placed monetary interest above human life and property.
It is important for our traders to bear in mind that these little things that we tend to neglect are those that matter most.
On the provision of fire extinguishers, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to challenge the traders at our markets, as well as fire service personnel, to work towards ensuring that the markets are well fitted with such gadgets.
Although there have been reports that the traders have failed to avail themselves of training on firefighting, we believe that the issue must still be pursued to ensure that there is a mechanism in place to effectively deal with fire outbreaks.
It is quite surprising that markets that boast scores of able-bodied young men and women do not have firefighting brigades.
The DAILY GRAPHIC once again urges all relevant stakeholders to heed the call by Mr Anaglate to prevent any more fire outbreaks at our markets.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
POLITICAL PARTIES, GIVE US A BREAK (OCTOBER 1, 2008)
LAST week, all the four political parties with representation in Parliament kicked against the filing fees announced by the Electoral Commission (EC) for presidential and parliamentary candidates for the December polls.
Their argument was that the GH¢5,000 for presidential candidates and GH¢500 for parliamentary candidates were prohibitive. According to them, the EC was a state-funded institution that did not need the filing fees to run its operations for the December polls.
Another argument against the fees was the fact that the matter had not been discussed by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
It is ironic and paradoxical that political parties are shouting themselves hoarse over the filing fees when, not too long ago, they had called for more funding for the EC from the government to enable the commission to run effective elections.
We agree that the state has a responsibility to ensure that democracy is in motion in the country, for which reason no impediment should be placed in the way of the political parties, but the EC, as an independent institution, has the right to raise the funds for its operation.
Is it not strange that political parties that demanded between GH¢10,000 and GH¢25,000 from their members seeking to run as presidential candidates of their parties are crying wolf this time round when what is being demanded by the EC is a drop in the ocean compared to what they requested from their own members?
Interestingly, some of these political parties demanded GH¢1,000 from persons seeking their mandate as parliamentary candidates but these parties have surprisingly criticised the GH¢500 being demanded as filing fees from parliamentary candidates.
One of the tenets of democratic governance is respect for the process of consultation. Therefore, the political parties may have a point with regard to their complaints that the EC did not consult them.
However, in so far as the IPAC is not a creation of law but a convenient arrangement by the EC and the political parties, the IPAC cannot be making demands on the EC as of right. After all, what is the locus of the IPAC in determining how much a statutory body can charge for its operations?
The DAILY GRAPHIC would have been the first to throw its weight behind the political parties if the EC had breached any law in coming up with the fees. Certainly, Ghana does not need men of straw to vie for the high office of President and the enviable office of a legislator if that person cannot marshal the monetary resources being demanded by the EC.
The next phase of our democratic governance and economic development requires resourceful people who are capable of leading the assault on poverty, disease and squalor through wealth and job creation.
Such personalities must be capable persons with eyes for the hidden talents of the country to be able to galvanise the people to exploit them. Thus, we need people with entrepreneurial skills and men and women of substance to lead the country.
Another argument that the offices they are seeking are purely sacrificial ones falls flat in the face because we all know that the state guarantees loans for MPs to buy cars and also provides them with accommodation.
Also, the President, apart from being accorded some special privileges and rights, is taken care of by the state, even on retirement. Therefore, what the EC is demanding from the political parties is not beyond the sacrifice every Ghanaian is called upon to make to develop the country.
Our political parties should end this debate and meet the demands of the EC so that we can pursue the serious business of putting forth the appropriate structures in place for peaceful, fair and free elections.
After all, each one of the candidates vying for the high office of the president will get a refund from the EC if he or she is able to garner 25 per cent of the votes at the poll while for the parliamentary poll any candidate who gets twelve-and-half per cent of the votes receives a refund. So what is the hullabaloo about?
Our mantra is that any further distraction will add to the challenges already facing us in the task to conduct yet another landmark election on December 7.
Their argument was that the GH¢5,000 for presidential candidates and GH¢500 for parliamentary candidates were prohibitive. According to them, the EC was a state-funded institution that did not need the filing fees to run its operations for the December polls.
Another argument against the fees was the fact that the matter had not been discussed by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
It is ironic and paradoxical that political parties are shouting themselves hoarse over the filing fees when, not too long ago, they had called for more funding for the EC from the government to enable the commission to run effective elections.
We agree that the state has a responsibility to ensure that democracy is in motion in the country, for which reason no impediment should be placed in the way of the political parties, but the EC, as an independent institution, has the right to raise the funds for its operation.
Is it not strange that political parties that demanded between GH¢10,000 and GH¢25,000 from their members seeking to run as presidential candidates of their parties are crying wolf this time round when what is being demanded by the EC is a drop in the ocean compared to what they requested from their own members?
Interestingly, some of these political parties demanded GH¢1,000 from persons seeking their mandate as parliamentary candidates but these parties have surprisingly criticised the GH¢500 being demanded as filing fees from parliamentary candidates.
One of the tenets of democratic governance is respect for the process of consultation. Therefore, the political parties may have a point with regard to their complaints that the EC did not consult them.
However, in so far as the IPAC is not a creation of law but a convenient arrangement by the EC and the political parties, the IPAC cannot be making demands on the EC as of right. After all, what is the locus of the IPAC in determining how much a statutory body can charge for its operations?
The DAILY GRAPHIC would have been the first to throw its weight behind the political parties if the EC had breached any law in coming up with the fees. Certainly, Ghana does not need men of straw to vie for the high office of President and the enviable office of a legislator if that person cannot marshal the monetary resources being demanded by the EC.
The next phase of our democratic governance and economic development requires resourceful people who are capable of leading the assault on poverty, disease and squalor through wealth and job creation.
Such personalities must be capable persons with eyes for the hidden talents of the country to be able to galvanise the people to exploit them. Thus, we need people with entrepreneurial skills and men and women of substance to lead the country.
Another argument that the offices they are seeking are purely sacrificial ones falls flat in the face because we all know that the state guarantees loans for MPs to buy cars and also provides them with accommodation.
Also, the President, apart from being accorded some special privileges and rights, is taken care of by the state, even on retirement. Therefore, what the EC is demanding from the political parties is not beyond the sacrifice every Ghanaian is called upon to make to develop the country.
Our political parties should end this debate and meet the demands of the EC so that we can pursue the serious business of putting forth the appropriate structures in place for peaceful, fair and free elections.
After all, each one of the candidates vying for the high office of the president will get a refund from the EC if he or she is able to garner 25 per cent of the votes at the poll while for the parliamentary poll any candidate who gets twelve-and-half per cent of the votes receives a refund. So what is the hullabaloo about?
Our mantra is that any further distraction will add to the challenges already facing us in the task to conduct yet another landmark election on December 7.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)