PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills has constituted a 10-member Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to advise him on key economic policy issues and policy options in managing the impact of the current global and domestic economic challenges.
The council, made up of experienced and knowledgeable people — Dr Gobind Nankani, Togbe Afede XIV, Prof. K. N. Afful, Dr Emmanuel Ablo, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Dr K. Y. Amoako, Mr Joel Hyde, Dr Cadman Atta Mills, Mr Ishmael Yamson and Mr Fred Ohene-Kena — will also advise the President on how to maximise the full potential of existing opportunities.
The EAC comes into existence at a particularly difficult period in the country’s history when a government which is barely four months in office is expected to evolve measures to withstand challenges, including growing inflation, unemployment, the continuous depreciation of the cedi which analysts predict will continue into the second quarter of the year and the short-term economic imbalance created by the downturn in developed economies.
To add to this is the strong stance of some people that the situation presents an opportunity for a paradigm shift in the structure of the economy to reap opportunities from the international macroeconomic challenges, in addition to withstanding those same challenges.
Before the downturn, Ghana, and some sub-Saharan African countries, enjoyed an appreciable economic growth that strengthened their balance sheets. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) concedes that these achievements were attributable to sound economic policies, a favourable external environment and increased external support in the form of debt relief and higher inflows.
Another contributory factor to that achievement was foreign remittances, which had been growing until the crunch. Indeed, according to the IMF remittances to sub-Saharan Africa are projected to drop by between five and eight per cent this year.
Aside from a decline in foreign exchange, the livelihoods of many people in the country who depend mainly on such remittances will be jeopardised.
These are some of the immediate challenges that the new EAC will have to help the government to solve.
The members of the council should bring their wisdom and expertise to bear on the formulation and implementation of the government’s economic plan.
They must combine their knowledge and experiences and come up with fresh thinking to offer an independent and non-partisan source of advice and oversight on the Ghanaian economy.
In doing this, the members of the council must be candid and unsparing in their assessment of the government’s economic policies.
We would urge them to work with existing think tanks to give impetus to the challenge of putting the economy on track.
We hope and strongly believe that their combined efforts will provide the government with workable ideas to solve the complex and novel problems confronting the people and the government of this country.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
REVIEW OF SALE OF BUNGALOWS IN ORDER (APRIL 29, 2009)
THERE is no doubt that over a long period of time, the problem of accommodation has been acute for all manner of people across the country including some public officials whose conditions of service make it mandatory for the state to house them.
Various governments have, over the period, made attempts towards shelter delivery, with the objective of reducing the housing deficit.
Some successes have no doubt been achieved but because of the magnitude of the problem these have tended to be largely negligible.
This is why news that some government bungalows that serve as duty posts for public officers have been sold to their tenants who were ministers of state, private individuals and hotels and the conversion of others into offices for private use is disturbing.
According to the Subcommittee on Transfer of Executive Assets of the Government Transitional Team, preliminary investigations have established that 14 state bungalows had either been sold off to then sitting tenants or demolished and the land transferred to non-public officials.
Since the act breaches Article 284 of the Constitution, which states that “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the performance of the functions of his office” (Conflict of Interest), the committee recommends that the government should review the sale, which was done while the officials were still in occupation.
In the face of the housing deficit and the resultant headache and hassle that the government, newly appointed officials, and some transferred civil servants entitled to state accommodation face, nothing can be more appropriate than a review of the sale of all state bungalows.
Indeed, as the committee states in its report, government bungalows are not to be sold under any circumstance and therefore the review should aim at taking back what rightfully belongs to the state and, where necessary, as in the case of those that have been demolished, the total cost of the buildings and their contents (furnishings, etc) before the demolition be recovered from all those who will be found culpable.
This is necessary to serve as a deterrent to people who go into politics in the hope that when they are appointed to high public offices, they can use their positions to acquire wealth cheaply.
At the same time, the recovery of those bungalows will assuage the pain of the ordinary people whose taxes went into acquiring those state assets but who, under no circumstance, even if it were legal, would have had the chance to purchase some of those state assets.
It is common knowledge that most of those bungalows that were built in the pre-independence and early independence days cover comparatively very large land sizes.
The reasonable thing to do now, in the face of increased population and dwindling land, is for the state to pull down those bungalows and replace them with modern condominium or high-rise apartments which will make for a more judicious use of those same pieces of land.
These apartments could be given as duty posts to Members of Parliament and other high government officials.
Various governments have, over the period, made attempts towards shelter delivery, with the objective of reducing the housing deficit.
Some successes have no doubt been achieved but because of the magnitude of the problem these have tended to be largely negligible.
This is why news that some government bungalows that serve as duty posts for public officers have been sold to their tenants who were ministers of state, private individuals and hotels and the conversion of others into offices for private use is disturbing.
According to the Subcommittee on Transfer of Executive Assets of the Government Transitional Team, preliminary investigations have established that 14 state bungalows had either been sold off to then sitting tenants or demolished and the land transferred to non-public officials.
Since the act breaches Article 284 of the Constitution, which states that “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the performance of the functions of his office” (Conflict of Interest), the committee recommends that the government should review the sale, which was done while the officials were still in occupation.
In the face of the housing deficit and the resultant headache and hassle that the government, newly appointed officials, and some transferred civil servants entitled to state accommodation face, nothing can be more appropriate than a review of the sale of all state bungalows.
Indeed, as the committee states in its report, government bungalows are not to be sold under any circumstance and therefore the review should aim at taking back what rightfully belongs to the state and, where necessary, as in the case of those that have been demolished, the total cost of the buildings and their contents (furnishings, etc) before the demolition be recovered from all those who will be found culpable.
This is necessary to serve as a deterrent to people who go into politics in the hope that when they are appointed to high public offices, they can use their positions to acquire wealth cheaply.
At the same time, the recovery of those bungalows will assuage the pain of the ordinary people whose taxes went into acquiring those state assets but who, under no circumstance, even if it were legal, would have had the chance to purchase some of those state assets.
It is common knowledge that most of those bungalows that were built in the pre-independence and early independence days cover comparatively very large land sizes.
The reasonable thing to do now, in the face of increased population and dwindling land, is for the state to pull down those bungalows and replace them with modern condominium or high-rise apartments which will make for a more judicious use of those same pieces of land.
These apartments could be given as duty posts to Members of Parliament and other high government officials.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
CONTAINING THE SWINE FLU
THE outbreak of a new swine virus in Mexico, the US and Canada has prompted fears of a global pandemic and governments around the world are hurrying to contain its spread.
But one may as well ask: What is swine flu? What is its mode of transmission?
According to medical history, swine flu is a respiratory disease believed to spread through coughing and sneezing. Its symptoms mimic those of normal flu but the frightening thing about the newly detected version is that it is said to contain genetic material from versions of flu which usually affects birds and pigs.
To date, the world has witnessed three major flu pandemics — the Spanish flu pandemic in 1968 that killed more than 50 million people and remains the most devastating; the Asian flu that occurred in 1957 and killed two million people and the Hong Kong flu in 1968 that claimed some one million lives.
In Mexico, where more than 100 people are already feared dead, churches stood empty and football matches were played to vacant stadia as soldiers and health workers patrolled the subway in an effort to prevent the spread of a deadly strain of the swine flu.
Furthermore, schools, bars and public buildings remain closed and many people have decided to stay indoors. Some people are beginning to worry about the effects swine flu is having on their livelihoods and the Mexican economy in general.
And in the US, where 20 cases of swine flu has been confirmed at the time of going to press, doctors have advised the people to wear masks as a precautionary measure.
The Canadian cases were recorded at opposite ends of the country: Two in British Columbia in the west and four in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia. Other people are being tested for the virus in countries around the world.
A number of countries in Asia, Latin America and Europe have also begun screening airport passengers for symptoms.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated in very clear terms that the current outbreak has “pandemic potential” and countries have been advised to step up surveillance and preparation in case the infection spreads rapidly.
There may be no cause for alarm in Ghana, except that the outbreak of the swine flu brings back memories of the mad cow disease and bird flu.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is, therefore, happy that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has declared its readiness to battle the virus.
In an interview with our paper yesterday, Dr Elias Sory, the Director-General of the GHS, said categorically that a team had already been put in place to keep surveillance. He also urged the people to practise personal hygiene now more than ever.
But beyond that, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls for the immediate banning of raw pork and pig products from Mexico and other parts of the US for as long as the pandemic persists. It is on record that Russia, China and Thailand have already taken a similar stance and other countries are expected to follow suit in the days to come.
No country can afford to toy with the health of its people and an emergency case such as this requires emergency measures to deal decisively with the situation.
But one may as well ask: What is swine flu? What is its mode of transmission?
According to medical history, swine flu is a respiratory disease believed to spread through coughing and sneezing. Its symptoms mimic those of normal flu but the frightening thing about the newly detected version is that it is said to contain genetic material from versions of flu which usually affects birds and pigs.
To date, the world has witnessed three major flu pandemics — the Spanish flu pandemic in 1968 that killed more than 50 million people and remains the most devastating; the Asian flu that occurred in 1957 and killed two million people and the Hong Kong flu in 1968 that claimed some one million lives.
In Mexico, where more than 100 people are already feared dead, churches stood empty and football matches were played to vacant stadia as soldiers and health workers patrolled the subway in an effort to prevent the spread of a deadly strain of the swine flu.
Furthermore, schools, bars and public buildings remain closed and many people have decided to stay indoors. Some people are beginning to worry about the effects swine flu is having on their livelihoods and the Mexican economy in general.
And in the US, where 20 cases of swine flu has been confirmed at the time of going to press, doctors have advised the people to wear masks as a precautionary measure.
The Canadian cases were recorded at opposite ends of the country: Two in British Columbia in the west and four in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia. Other people are being tested for the virus in countries around the world.
A number of countries in Asia, Latin America and Europe have also begun screening airport passengers for symptoms.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated in very clear terms that the current outbreak has “pandemic potential” and countries have been advised to step up surveillance and preparation in case the infection spreads rapidly.
There may be no cause for alarm in Ghana, except that the outbreak of the swine flu brings back memories of the mad cow disease and bird flu.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is, therefore, happy that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has declared its readiness to battle the virus.
In an interview with our paper yesterday, Dr Elias Sory, the Director-General of the GHS, said categorically that a team had already been put in place to keep surveillance. He also urged the people to practise personal hygiene now more than ever.
But beyond that, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls for the immediate banning of raw pork and pig products from Mexico and other parts of the US for as long as the pandemic persists. It is on record that Russia, China and Thailand have already taken a similar stance and other countries are expected to follow suit in the days to come.
No country can afford to toy with the health of its people and an emergency case such as this requires emergency measures to deal decisively with the situation.
Monday, April 27, 2009
OTUMFUO, AYEKOO (APRIL 26, 2009)
THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, yesterday celebrated 10 years of his ascension to the Golden Stool, an epoch-making event that brought together many Ghanaians from all parts of the country and beyond to witness aspects of the rich Ghanaian culture.
Held on the theme, “Ten years of inspirational leadership”, the celebration was used to showcase how the stewardship of Asantehene on the Golden Stool has defined a new direction for his people.
The Otumfuo Education Fund, which he launched shortly on his enstoolment, has offered scholarships to many Ghanaians. What is more, the idea has been replicated by chiefs in other areas of the country.
The persona of Otumfuo Osei Tutu has inspired support for other initiatives, such as the HIV/AIDS programme and the World Bank support fund for traditional authorities in Ghana.
Perhaps one of the most monumental achievements of the Asantehene is his resolution of about 400 chieftaincy and land disputes in Asanteman. By that achievement, the Asantehene has become a symbol of unity and peace in the Ashanti Region and a role model for many in other parts of the country.
Admittedly, the Asantehene has not been able to solve all the problems within his domain, but his efforts over the years are clear manifestations of how our traditional institution of chieftaincy can make a unique contribution to national development.
Some reputable institutions in Ghana and abroad, in recognition of the Otumfuo’s contributions to education in the country, have bestowed honorary doctorate degrees on him.
We believe that, as the legendary Nelson Mandela once put it, “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same,” the Asantehene’s efforts will impact positively on the lives of others, particularly the vulnerable in society.
The pomp and pageantry displayed by all the guests at the durbar, particularly when most of them were adorned in the rich Kente or other traditional attire, also demonstrates the unity of purpose at such gatherings.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, reminds Ghanaians that since the things that unite us are stronger than those that put us apart, it will be essential for all to explore the opportunities in our diversity.
We are especially happy that the durbar brought together dignitaries from all walks of life, including leaders from the political divide, thereby providing the platform for the people to celebrate what is good in our culture, tradition and governance.
The Daily Graphic shares in the best wishes extended to the Asantehene by President J. E. A. Mills on behalf of the people of Ghana, in the hope that everybody, notwithstanding his or her political belief, will support the government to achieve its objective of building a better Ghana.
Our chieftaincy institution is unique in rallying the people for accelerated development, but the institution can retain its relevance in our body politic if the unscrupulous persons who want to give it a bad name are checked.
Chieftaincy loses its shine and relevance when it promotes division in society. King-makers should stop offering stools and skins to the highest bidder so that the sacred nature of the institution can be preserved.
The Daily Graphic congratulates the Asantehene on the auspicious occasion of his 10th anniversary on the Golden Stool and hopes that he will continue to inspire the people to greater heights.
Otumfuo, yema wo ayekoo!
Held on the theme, “Ten years of inspirational leadership”, the celebration was used to showcase how the stewardship of Asantehene on the Golden Stool has defined a new direction for his people.
The Otumfuo Education Fund, which he launched shortly on his enstoolment, has offered scholarships to many Ghanaians. What is more, the idea has been replicated by chiefs in other areas of the country.
The persona of Otumfuo Osei Tutu has inspired support for other initiatives, such as the HIV/AIDS programme and the World Bank support fund for traditional authorities in Ghana.
Perhaps one of the most monumental achievements of the Asantehene is his resolution of about 400 chieftaincy and land disputes in Asanteman. By that achievement, the Asantehene has become a symbol of unity and peace in the Ashanti Region and a role model for many in other parts of the country.
Admittedly, the Asantehene has not been able to solve all the problems within his domain, but his efforts over the years are clear manifestations of how our traditional institution of chieftaincy can make a unique contribution to national development.
Some reputable institutions in Ghana and abroad, in recognition of the Otumfuo’s contributions to education in the country, have bestowed honorary doctorate degrees on him.
We believe that, as the legendary Nelson Mandela once put it, “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same,” the Asantehene’s efforts will impact positively on the lives of others, particularly the vulnerable in society.
The pomp and pageantry displayed by all the guests at the durbar, particularly when most of them were adorned in the rich Kente or other traditional attire, also demonstrates the unity of purpose at such gatherings.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, reminds Ghanaians that since the things that unite us are stronger than those that put us apart, it will be essential for all to explore the opportunities in our diversity.
We are especially happy that the durbar brought together dignitaries from all walks of life, including leaders from the political divide, thereby providing the platform for the people to celebrate what is good in our culture, tradition and governance.
The Daily Graphic shares in the best wishes extended to the Asantehene by President J. E. A. Mills on behalf of the people of Ghana, in the hope that everybody, notwithstanding his or her political belief, will support the government to achieve its objective of building a better Ghana.
Our chieftaincy institution is unique in rallying the people for accelerated development, but the institution can retain its relevance in our body politic if the unscrupulous persons who want to give it a bad name are checked.
Chieftaincy loses its shine and relevance when it promotes division in society. King-makers should stop offering stools and skins to the highest bidder so that the sacred nature of the institution can be preserved.
The Daily Graphic congratulates the Asantehene on the auspicious occasion of his 10th anniversary on the Golden Stool and hopes that he will continue to inspire the people to greater heights.
Otumfuo, yema wo ayekoo!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
MAKE WOMEN'S WEEK MEANINGFUL (APRIL 25, 2009)
The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs has revived the celebration of Women’s Week in the country. The celebration, which began on April 17, this year, is part of the government’s agenda to create awareness of women’s rights and encourage their participation in the decision-making process.
This year’s celebration, which was marked on the theme, 'Women and men working together for a better Ghana', was climaxed with a forum that brought together representatives of various women's groups and organisations, members of the Diplomatic Corps and a former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who has been at the forefront of women's empowerment through the 31st December Women's Movement.
Elaborating on the importance of the event, the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who addressed the forum, said the government deemed it necessary to revive the celebration in conformity with its commitment to ensure that the fundamental rights and freedoms of women were protected as enshrined in the Constitution.
Despite laudable programmes by the government to improve on the welfare of women, the fact still remains that a number of challenges still confront women, which the nation needs to work hard to address.
Statistics indicate that maternal mortality figures in the country are still high as a result of other associated risks and ill health conditions, while a number of women remain largely excluded from the upper ranks of government and business.
Records at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service indicate that more women continue to suffer domestic violence, while more children are defiled, with a number of women lacking access to justice.
The Daily Graphic contends that while the government has demonstrated commitment to the empowerment of women with the appointment of more females to key decision-making positions to enable them to participate effectively in the governance of the country, we need to do more, since women constitute about 51 per cent of the nation’s population.
We also need concerted efforts to protect women from rape, defilement and other forms of domestic abuse and also step up the fight against harmful practices and discrimination against women in the country.
The celebration of Women’s Week should help to expand the scope of women’s empowerment. The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and other related agencies need to work in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organisations and the business community to actualise resolutions, policies and programmes for women's advancement and empowerment.
The attainment of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) depends on our support for women, who are in the majority in the country, to contribute to nation-building.
All hands must be on deck towards the implementation of the Platform for Action and strategies to accelerate processes towards empowering women and achieving gender equality.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, commends the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs for reintroducing the celebration of Women’s Week to focus on the challenges facing women with the view to finding solutions to them.
This year’s celebration, which was marked on the theme, 'Women and men working together for a better Ghana', was climaxed with a forum that brought together representatives of various women's groups and organisations, members of the Diplomatic Corps and a former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who has been at the forefront of women's empowerment through the 31st December Women's Movement.
Elaborating on the importance of the event, the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who addressed the forum, said the government deemed it necessary to revive the celebration in conformity with its commitment to ensure that the fundamental rights and freedoms of women were protected as enshrined in the Constitution.
Despite laudable programmes by the government to improve on the welfare of women, the fact still remains that a number of challenges still confront women, which the nation needs to work hard to address.
Statistics indicate that maternal mortality figures in the country are still high as a result of other associated risks and ill health conditions, while a number of women remain largely excluded from the upper ranks of government and business.
Records at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service indicate that more women continue to suffer domestic violence, while more children are defiled, with a number of women lacking access to justice.
The Daily Graphic contends that while the government has demonstrated commitment to the empowerment of women with the appointment of more females to key decision-making positions to enable them to participate effectively in the governance of the country, we need to do more, since women constitute about 51 per cent of the nation’s population.
We also need concerted efforts to protect women from rape, defilement and other forms of domestic abuse and also step up the fight against harmful practices and discrimination against women in the country.
The celebration of Women’s Week should help to expand the scope of women’s empowerment. The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and other related agencies need to work in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organisations and the business community to actualise resolutions, policies and programmes for women's advancement and empowerment.
The attainment of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) depends on our support for women, who are in the majority in the country, to contribute to nation-building.
All hands must be on deck towards the implementation of the Platform for Action and strategies to accelerate processes towards empowering women and achieving gender equality.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, commends the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs for reintroducing the celebration of Women’s Week to focus on the challenges facing women with the view to finding solutions to them.
Friday, April 24, 2009
GIVE MINING BETTER IMAGE (FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2009)
UNDER normal circumstances, there should be no controversy over the position that communities from where resources are derived should not be adversely affected by the extraction of such natural endowments.
Unfortunately, that appears to be the lot of many mining communities in the country.
Apart from the hazards associated with extraction, the communities face the challenges of poverty, deprivation and squalor.
The typical scene that confronts any visitor to a mining community is the sharp contrast between the beauty that adorns the settlements of mining executives and the squalor of the communities who actually owe the mineral resources.
The many years of neglect of the communities by mining companies has left a sour taste in the mouths of many Ghanaians, particularly our leaders. But the concerns of mining communities were yesterday articulated by President John Evans Atta Mills when he received a delegation of AngloGold Ashanti at the Castle, Osu.
There is no doubt that mining companies have discharged their social responsibilities by building clinics and schools, making handsome donations, providing electricity, among other social amenities. As of now, the mining sector offers employment to 36,000 people and contributes 38 per cent of the national export revenue.
That notwithstanding, the DAILY GRAPHIC cannot agree more with the President when he said considering the wealth generated from the extraction of mineral resources in the mining areas, in comparison with the poverty levels among the people, it was quite clear that mining concerns had relegated, to a considerable extent, the well-being of the people to the periphery of their activities.
The message to the mining companies is simple: They should do more than they have done so far. They should be able to initiate programmes to minimise the environmental impact of their operations and ensure that the people in their immediate vicinities benefit from their heritage.
A study indicates that 79 per cent of people affected by mining operations are not satisfied with their compensation packages. Compensation should not only cover the payment of cash but should be extended to land for farming activities and financial investment.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, proposes the establishment of a mining development fund along the lines of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) devoted to the development of mining communities.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should also be more aggressive and hold the mining companies to their environmental assessment programmes.
We are of the view that we should have a second look at our mining laws. The area that deals with the payment of compensation for land, crops and buildings is not favourable to the mining communities. Any review of the law should also adjust upwards the percentage of mineral revenue paid as royalty so that the people can benefit more from their resources.
But while a look is being taken at the broad legal framework guiding mining operations, the government should seek partnership to bring to fruition the dreams of our forebears to add value to our natural resources. The time for a gold refinery is now to help the country to earn more from its gold resources.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls for joint efforts between players in the mining sector and the government to find lasting solutions to the concerns of mining communities.
Unfortunately, that appears to be the lot of many mining communities in the country.
Apart from the hazards associated with extraction, the communities face the challenges of poverty, deprivation and squalor.
The typical scene that confronts any visitor to a mining community is the sharp contrast between the beauty that adorns the settlements of mining executives and the squalor of the communities who actually owe the mineral resources.
The many years of neglect of the communities by mining companies has left a sour taste in the mouths of many Ghanaians, particularly our leaders. But the concerns of mining communities were yesterday articulated by President John Evans Atta Mills when he received a delegation of AngloGold Ashanti at the Castle, Osu.
There is no doubt that mining companies have discharged their social responsibilities by building clinics and schools, making handsome donations, providing electricity, among other social amenities. As of now, the mining sector offers employment to 36,000 people and contributes 38 per cent of the national export revenue.
That notwithstanding, the DAILY GRAPHIC cannot agree more with the President when he said considering the wealth generated from the extraction of mineral resources in the mining areas, in comparison with the poverty levels among the people, it was quite clear that mining concerns had relegated, to a considerable extent, the well-being of the people to the periphery of their activities.
The message to the mining companies is simple: They should do more than they have done so far. They should be able to initiate programmes to minimise the environmental impact of their operations and ensure that the people in their immediate vicinities benefit from their heritage.
A study indicates that 79 per cent of people affected by mining operations are not satisfied with their compensation packages. Compensation should not only cover the payment of cash but should be extended to land for farming activities and financial investment.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, proposes the establishment of a mining development fund along the lines of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) devoted to the development of mining communities.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should also be more aggressive and hold the mining companies to their environmental assessment programmes.
We are of the view that we should have a second look at our mining laws. The area that deals with the payment of compensation for land, crops and buildings is not favourable to the mining communities. Any review of the law should also adjust upwards the percentage of mineral revenue paid as royalty so that the people can benefit more from their resources.
But while a look is being taken at the broad legal framework guiding mining operations, the government should seek partnership to bring to fruition the dreams of our forebears to add value to our natural resources. The time for a gold refinery is now to help the country to earn more from its gold resources.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls for joint efforts between players in the mining sector and the government to find lasting solutions to the concerns of mining communities.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
SUPPORT ENERGY SECTOR (THRUSDAY, APRIL 23, 2009)
ONE of the driving forces of industrialisation in developing countries such as Ghana is energy. It was for that reason that the Akosombo Dam was built in the 1960s to generate electricity to serve as the engine of the country’s industrialisation efforts.
Subsequent power projects such as the Kpong, Aboadze Thermal Power and Mines Reserve Plant and Bui were initiated to supplement power generation from the Akosombo Dam but the country continues to experience energy shortfalls partly due to factors such as increasing population, as well as technical challenges of the generation, transmission and distribution of power.
A total nationwide blackout early this week, once more, brought to the fore the technical problems facing the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the distribution of energy.
At a press conference organised in Accra on Tuesday, the Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, did not mince words to drum home the challenges of the energy sector and financial resources required to solve them.
According to the minister, the nation needs about $10 billion over the next five years to finance the numerous initiatives in the energy sector. This is a major challenge that requires the collaboration of the agencies in the energy sector to surmount.
The DAILY GRAPHIC considers action in the sector very imperative and implore VRA, GRIDCO, ECG and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to explore all avenues to raise the necessary funds to generate power to meet national needs. This is very important in the realisation of the government’s vision to ensure universal access and choice of modern energy forms to all Ghanaians by 2020.
While efforts are underway to raise funds for additional power generation, especially at the time when the nation has discovered oil, the DAILY GRAPHIC is gratified that the weather outlook is good and will help to improve the water level in the Akosombo Dam.
Such a healthy development gives hope that the nation can be spared the agony of intermittent power outages, at least, for now.
In February 2009, the ECG announced efforts to secure $194 million to expand its facilities to halt incessant power outages that affect consumers, especially in the southern sector of the country.
The project, which had already started, involve the provision of more sub-stations to ease the pressure and load on existing facilities.
We call on the ECG to expedite action on the execution of the project to minimise load-shedding and power cuts.
Uninterrupted power generation and supply is necessary to attract the much needed investors to the country.
Unfortunately, the power providers have lost the goodwill they used to enjoy from the public because of the contempt with which they have treated their customers. Customer-care is lacking in the lexicon of these organisations to such an extent that services are disrupted without regard for the concerns of customers.
These days the ECG would hardly inform its customers of planned outages for maintenance. This culture must change.
We also call on the government to explore other sources of power generation such as wind, solar and nuclear. There is also the need for the public to contribute their quota towards energy conservation.
Unless we are able to have sustainable power supply, achieving our dream of becoming a middle-income economy in the shortest possible time would remain a mirage.
Subsequent power projects such as the Kpong, Aboadze Thermal Power and Mines Reserve Plant and Bui were initiated to supplement power generation from the Akosombo Dam but the country continues to experience energy shortfalls partly due to factors such as increasing population, as well as technical challenges of the generation, transmission and distribution of power.
A total nationwide blackout early this week, once more, brought to the fore the technical problems facing the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the distribution of energy.
At a press conference organised in Accra on Tuesday, the Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, did not mince words to drum home the challenges of the energy sector and financial resources required to solve them.
According to the minister, the nation needs about $10 billion over the next five years to finance the numerous initiatives in the energy sector. This is a major challenge that requires the collaboration of the agencies in the energy sector to surmount.
The DAILY GRAPHIC considers action in the sector very imperative and implore VRA, GRIDCO, ECG and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to explore all avenues to raise the necessary funds to generate power to meet national needs. This is very important in the realisation of the government’s vision to ensure universal access and choice of modern energy forms to all Ghanaians by 2020.
While efforts are underway to raise funds for additional power generation, especially at the time when the nation has discovered oil, the DAILY GRAPHIC is gratified that the weather outlook is good and will help to improve the water level in the Akosombo Dam.
Such a healthy development gives hope that the nation can be spared the agony of intermittent power outages, at least, for now.
In February 2009, the ECG announced efforts to secure $194 million to expand its facilities to halt incessant power outages that affect consumers, especially in the southern sector of the country.
The project, which had already started, involve the provision of more sub-stations to ease the pressure and load on existing facilities.
We call on the ECG to expedite action on the execution of the project to minimise load-shedding and power cuts.
Uninterrupted power generation and supply is necessary to attract the much needed investors to the country.
Unfortunately, the power providers have lost the goodwill they used to enjoy from the public because of the contempt with which they have treated their customers. Customer-care is lacking in the lexicon of these organisations to such an extent that services are disrupted without regard for the concerns of customers.
These days the ECG would hardly inform its customers of planned outages for maintenance. This culture must change.
We also call on the government to explore other sources of power generation such as wind, solar and nuclear. There is also the need for the public to contribute their quota towards energy conservation.
Unless we are able to have sustainable power supply, achieving our dream of becoming a middle-income economy in the shortest possible time would remain a mirage.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
TIME TO REDEFINE NHIS (APRIL 22, 2009)
THERE is no doubt that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is contributing immensely to healthcare delivery in the country. Currently about 12 million people who have signed onto the scheme are reaping the benefits.
However, pressures that have been brought to bear on the scheme require that certain aspects of the innovation should be examined to make it more sustainable and beneficial to the people.
Reports that there is a high rate of intrusion by Fulani nomads and other nationals from some neighbouring West African countries into the scheme are worrying and deserve attention and immediate intervention.
The challenge confronting the scheme now stems from the policy framework that establishes the parameters for the operation of the scheme, as well as the eligibility criteria.
According to the National Health Policy Framework for Ghana (August 2004), “it is compulsory for every person living in Ghana to belong to a health insurance scheme type”. The policy further states that “Every person living in Ghana shall contribute according to the principle of ability to pay in order to enjoy a package of health services covering over 95 per cent of diseases afflicting Ghanaians.”
The fact that the policy guideline does not state whether the scheme is limited to only Ghanaians or that foreigners living in Ghana must have resident status or permit to be eligible for the scheme is the grey area that is being exploited by some of our West African neighbours.
Currently the scheme is funded by premiums paid by the policy holders, 2.5 per cent VAT levy on selected goods and services and 2.5 per cent of SSNIT contributions of workers.
Once the person living in Ghana irrespective of his or her residential status undertakes the health insurance policy under the scheme, there is a contractual obligation on the part of the NHIS to roll out the scheme to his or her benefit. The consequence of such blanket coverage is that we might not be able to sustain the scheme.
After almost four years of operating the scheme, there is the need to review its management and operation, as well as the policy framework, to guarantee its success and financial sustainability.
Fortunately, during the presentation of the 2009 budget, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, reiterated the commitment of the government to have a second look at the scheme.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the government for its commitment not only to maintain the scheme but to make it more beneficial to the people. We believe that we can enhance the operational capacity of the scheme if other problems such as non-conformity to standard treatment protocols with wide varying cost, inadequate and skewed distribution of health professionals, and delays in the transfers of funds are addressed and the deficiencies inherent in the policy framework removed.
We believe that the critical issue that should be considered by the authorities is the question of illegal migrants. It may be a step in the right direction for the government to continue with the implementation of the issuance of national identity cards, since it holds the key to resolving the question of who is a Ghanaian or resident or an illegal migrant.
The NHIS has great potential to enhance the health service delivery system and, therefore, everything should be done to make the scheme sustainable.
However, pressures that have been brought to bear on the scheme require that certain aspects of the innovation should be examined to make it more sustainable and beneficial to the people.
Reports that there is a high rate of intrusion by Fulani nomads and other nationals from some neighbouring West African countries into the scheme are worrying and deserve attention and immediate intervention.
The challenge confronting the scheme now stems from the policy framework that establishes the parameters for the operation of the scheme, as well as the eligibility criteria.
According to the National Health Policy Framework for Ghana (August 2004), “it is compulsory for every person living in Ghana to belong to a health insurance scheme type”. The policy further states that “Every person living in Ghana shall contribute according to the principle of ability to pay in order to enjoy a package of health services covering over 95 per cent of diseases afflicting Ghanaians.”
The fact that the policy guideline does not state whether the scheme is limited to only Ghanaians or that foreigners living in Ghana must have resident status or permit to be eligible for the scheme is the grey area that is being exploited by some of our West African neighbours.
Currently the scheme is funded by premiums paid by the policy holders, 2.5 per cent VAT levy on selected goods and services and 2.5 per cent of SSNIT contributions of workers.
Once the person living in Ghana irrespective of his or her residential status undertakes the health insurance policy under the scheme, there is a contractual obligation on the part of the NHIS to roll out the scheme to his or her benefit. The consequence of such blanket coverage is that we might not be able to sustain the scheme.
After almost four years of operating the scheme, there is the need to review its management and operation, as well as the policy framework, to guarantee its success and financial sustainability.
Fortunately, during the presentation of the 2009 budget, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, reiterated the commitment of the government to have a second look at the scheme.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the government for its commitment not only to maintain the scheme but to make it more beneficial to the people. We believe that we can enhance the operational capacity of the scheme if other problems such as non-conformity to standard treatment protocols with wide varying cost, inadequate and skewed distribution of health professionals, and delays in the transfers of funds are addressed and the deficiencies inherent in the policy framework removed.
We believe that the critical issue that should be considered by the authorities is the question of illegal migrants. It may be a step in the right direction for the government to continue with the implementation of the issuance of national identity cards, since it holds the key to resolving the question of who is a Ghanaian or resident or an illegal migrant.
The NHIS has great potential to enhance the health service delivery system and, therefore, everything should be done to make the scheme sustainable.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
DECENTRALISATION IN ACTION (APRIL 21, 2009)
THE 4th Republican Constitution establishes the district assemblies as the highest political authorities in the district and empowers them with deliberative, legislative and executive functions.
Act 240 (1) states that “Ghana shall have a system of local governance and administration, which shall as far as practicable, be decentralised”.
It also says in 240 (2e) that “to ensure accountability of local government authorities, people in particular local government areas shall, as far as practicable, be afforded the opportunity to participate effectively in their governance”.
Perhaps, the people who reacted in various ways to the announcement of nominees for the position of chief executives of Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies must have exercised their constitutional rights to participate in local governance.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yileh Chireh, has indicated the preparedness of the government to examine the concerns raised by some of the traditional leaders, party activists and residents of the districts and if possible review some of the decisions.
The President had earlier, in an interaction with the National House of Chiefs, pledged to engage traditional authorities in the nomination process. In line with that the NDC administration decided to engage in broad consultations throughout the country to select the Municipal/Metropolitan/District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
The pockets of agitation indicate the growing interest of the people in the persons who govern their districts and by extension, the decentralisation process.
The process of appointment of MMDCEs does not end with the nomination by the President, because Article 243 (1) of the Constitution states that “there shall be a district chief executive for every district who shall be appointed by the President with prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the assembly present and voting at the meeting”.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the President for listening to the concerns of the people in some of the districts and deciding to review his own decision.
He has subsequently withdrawn six of the nominations announced earlier.
We appeal to those who have decided to protest against the nominations of MMDCEs to avoid taking the law into their own hands by avoiding confrontation and rather adopt the path of dialogue to seek redress for their grievances.
The President has shown clearly that if there are merits in the concerns of the people, they will be addressed accordingly. To those still pressing for more of the nominations to be withdrawn, we counsel that their militant posture will not yield positive dividends.
The development needs of the people will not wait while a section of the public struggles over who becomes the President’s representative in a district.
The development challenges are legion in the districts and countryside and the Mills administration requires the support of all the people to help it “hit the ground running”.
Let’s rally round our political appointees to break the back of poverty by creating jobs and wealth.
Act 240 (1) states that “Ghana shall have a system of local governance and administration, which shall as far as practicable, be decentralised”.
It also says in 240 (2e) that “to ensure accountability of local government authorities, people in particular local government areas shall, as far as practicable, be afforded the opportunity to participate effectively in their governance”.
Perhaps, the people who reacted in various ways to the announcement of nominees for the position of chief executives of Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies must have exercised their constitutional rights to participate in local governance.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yileh Chireh, has indicated the preparedness of the government to examine the concerns raised by some of the traditional leaders, party activists and residents of the districts and if possible review some of the decisions.
The President had earlier, in an interaction with the National House of Chiefs, pledged to engage traditional authorities in the nomination process. In line with that the NDC administration decided to engage in broad consultations throughout the country to select the Municipal/Metropolitan/District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
The pockets of agitation indicate the growing interest of the people in the persons who govern their districts and by extension, the decentralisation process.
The process of appointment of MMDCEs does not end with the nomination by the President, because Article 243 (1) of the Constitution states that “there shall be a district chief executive for every district who shall be appointed by the President with prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the assembly present and voting at the meeting”.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the President for listening to the concerns of the people in some of the districts and deciding to review his own decision.
He has subsequently withdrawn six of the nominations announced earlier.
We appeal to those who have decided to protest against the nominations of MMDCEs to avoid taking the law into their own hands by avoiding confrontation and rather adopt the path of dialogue to seek redress for their grievances.
The President has shown clearly that if there are merits in the concerns of the people, they will be addressed accordingly. To those still pressing for more of the nominations to be withdrawn, we counsel that their militant posture will not yield positive dividends.
The development needs of the people will not wait while a section of the public struggles over who becomes the President’s representative in a district.
The development challenges are legion in the districts and countryside and the Mills administration requires the support of all the people to help it “hit the ground running”.
Let’s rally round our political appointees to break the back of poverty by creating jobs and wealth.
Monday, April 20, 2009
BEST WISHES, BECE CANDIDATES (APRIL 20, 2099)
THis year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) begins today. A total of 395,582 candidates from junior high schools (JHSs) across the country are expected to participate in the exams.
Although there is a school of thought that an examination is not the best yardstick to assess the intelligence and capacity of students, it remains the acceptable standard of assessment world-wide.
At a time when our sons and daughters are taking this crucial step in their academic progression and human capacity development, the Daily Graphic can only wish them success in the BECE.
We know that they have prepared adequately for the BECE. They should, therefore, resist any temptation to cheat and also avoid carrying foreign materials on them.
The Daily Graphic is conscious of the fact that anxiety and fear can create problems for candidates during any examination but we are convinced that the only way to success is through hard work.
We are confident that the students will come out with flying colours, partly because they have spent time to study their books under the guidance of their teachers.
We also believe that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has put in place all the structures to protect the integrity of this year’s BECE. The situation where some candidates cannot find their names at examination centres should not pose a challenge during the period to compound the anxiety among the candidates.
The WAEC should make sure that unauthorised staff do not gain access to question papers for their selfish gain to compromise the integrity of the exams.
Since reforms in the mid 1980s which also led to increased access to education, one of the challenges that we have not been able to address is the expansion of facilities in second-cycle schools to absorb most of the students who complete JHS.
The Daily Graphic acknowledges that education holds the key to accelerated and sustainable development. Although the ends are competing for the scarce national resources, it behoves the authorities to find more innovative ways of mobilising resources to invest in the people.
When the quality of human resource improves, its input also improves, leading to improved productivity and the creation of wealth. But while majority of the students come face-to-face with the defining moment in their career progression, some of their colleagues will be biting their nails because their head teachers failed to register them for the BECE.
The failure of some heads of schools to register their students has surfaced during all examinations but the authorities have not been able to deal with the challenge decisively.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, appeals to the Ministry of Education not to allow such characters to get away with such unpardonable actions this time around.
The future of our youth requires proper guidance so that they will grow up to become responsible citizens. Let all the stakeholders in education collaborate to ensure the success of the BECE.
To the candidates, we wish them success in the BECE.
Although there is a school of thought that an examination is not the best yardstick to assess the intelligence and capacity of students, it remains the acceptable standard of assessment world-wide.
At a time when our sons and daughters are taking this crucial step in their academic progression and human capacity development, the Daily Graphic can only wish them success in the BECE.
We know that they have prepared adequately for the BECE. They should, therefore, resist any temptation to cheat and also avoid carrying foreign materials on them.
The Daily Graphic is conscious of the fact that anxiety and fear can create problems for candidates during any examination but we are convinced that the only way to success is through hard work.
We are confident that the students will come out with flying colours, partly because they have spent time to study their books under the guidance of their teachers.
We also believe that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has put in place all the structures to protect the integrity of this year’s BECE. The situation where some candidates cannot find their names at examination centres should not pose a challenge during the period to compound the anxiety among the candidates.
The WAEC should make sure that unauthorised staff do not gain access to question papers for their selfish gain to compromise the integrity of the exams.
Since reforms in the mid 1980s which also led to increased access to education, one of the challenges that we have not been able to address is the expansion of facilities in second-cycle schools to absorb most of the students who complete JHS.
The Daily Graphic acknowledges that education holds the key to accelerated and sustainable development. Although the ends are competing for the scarce national resources, it behoves the authorities to find more innovative ways of mobilising resources to invest in the people.
When the quality of human resource improves, its input also improves, leading to improved productivity and the creation of wealth. But while majority of the students come face-to-face with the defining moment in their career progression, some of their colleagues will be biting their nails because their head teachers failed to register them for the BECE.
The failure of some heads of schools to register their students has surfaced during all examinations but the authorities have not been able to deal with the challenge decisively.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, appeals to the Ministry of Education not to allow such characters to get away with such unpardonable actions this time around.
The future of our youth requires proper guidance so that they will grow up to become responsible citizens. Let all the stakeholders in education collaborate to ensure the success of the BECE.
To the candidates, we wish them success in the BECE.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A REFRESHING GESTURE (APRIL 18, 2009)
THE return of land to the Nungua Stool in Accra by the government is refreshing news.
Although the offer has come late in the day, as it is said, it is better late than never. From colonial times, governments have acquired lands for various economic activities, such as the construction of schools, health facilities and residential accommodation.
However, along the line some of those lands were either not used or under-utilised.
Article 20 Clause Six of the Constitution says: “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 is commensurate with the value of the property at the time of the re-acquisition.”
Even with this unambiguous and explicit provision, the state decided to ignore the condition, compelling the people, particularly those in the Greater Accra Region, to express concern in order to safeguard their heritage.
A few weeks ago, there were pockets of agitation over land and the resources in the Greater Accra Region because certain people felt that they had been marginalised in the distribution of the national wealth. This resulted in other people in some parts of the country also demanding that they take custody of the resources in their areas.
Thankfully, many peace-loving people condemned those actions as divisive and a recipe for the breakdown of the state.
Now that good reason has prevailed, the DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the government to fulfil its pledge of extending the gesture to all parts of the country where others have lost their land to the state.
The youth who are interested in undertaking agricultural ventures in some parts of the country have nowhere to turn to except to migrate to the cities in search of non-existent jobs because their lands have been acquired by the government or business interests.
It is also true that Ghana’s land tenure system has become the bane of our development challenges because large tracts of land lie fallow, while the people and investors search in vain for land to create jobs and wealth.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the time has come for major reforms of the land tenure system such that it will be less cumbersome for people to acquire land for investment.
We also appeal to chiefs and landowners to avoid the multiple sale of land in order not to compound the already complex situation in the country.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the Nungua Stool, the first beneficiaries of the government’s gesture, not to be embroiled in needless litigation over the use of the land, since the government’s gesture will be defeated if this situation persists.
We also call on the government to use this opportunity to carry out wholesale land reforms in the country to serve as a catalyst for accelerated development.
Although the offer has come late in the day, as it is said, it is better late than never. From colonial times, governments have acquired lands for various economic activities, such as the construction of schools, health facilities and residential accommodation.
However, along the line some of those lands were either not used or under-utilised.
Article 20 Clause Six of the Constitution says: “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 is commensurate with the value of the property at the time of the re-acquisition.”
Even with this unambiguous and explicit provision, the state decided to ignore the condition, compelling the people, particularly those in the Greater Accra Region, to express concern in order to safeguard their heritage.
A few weeks ago, there were pockets of agitation over land and the resources in the Greater Accra Region because certain people felt that they had been marginalised in the distribution of the national wealth. This resulted in other people in some parts of the country also demanding that they take custody of the resources in their areas.
Thankfully, many peace-loving people condemned those actions as divisive and a recipe for the breakdown of the state.
Now that good reason has prevailed, the DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the government to fulfil its pledge of extending the gesture to all parts of the country where others have lost their land to the state.
The youth who are interested in undertaking agricultural ventures in some parts of the country have nowhere to turn to except to migrate to the cities in search of non-existent jobs because their lands have been acquired by the government or business interests.
It is also true that Ghana’s land tenure system has become the bane of our development challenges because large tracts of land lie fallow, while the people and investors search in vain for land to create jobs and wealth.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the time has come for major reforms of the land tenure system such that it will be less cumbersome for people to acquire land for investment.
We also appeal to chiefs and landowners to avoid the multiple sale of land in order not to compound the already complex situation in the country.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the Nungua Stool, the first beneficiaries of the government’s gesture, not to be embroiled in needless litigation over the use of the land, since the government’s gesture will be defeated if this situation persists.
We also call on the government to use this opportunity to carry out wholesale land reforms in the country to serve as a catalyst for accelerated development.
Friday, April 17, 2009
LET ACTION SPEAK NOW (APRIL 17, 2009)
LAST Wednesday, the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, launched Vodafone Ghana and appealed to the company to improve on its services.
As a nation, we have come a long way from the days of Post and Telecom Corporation (P&T) and state monopoly over telecommunication to our current state of private sector participation and engagement in the sector. Currently, five mobile networks are actively operational in the country with the sixth yet to be launched.
With Vodafone Ghana being part of the global communication giant that boasts more than 280 million customers worldwide, it is our expectation that the new owners of Ghana Telecom will work and provide customers with the highest quality, as well as most reliable mobile network in the country.
Subscribers of mobile phone networks have had cause to worry about services rendered to them. Very often, subscribers have had to contend with frequent call drops. Responses such as the subscriber cannot be reached or the phone is either switched off or outside the coverage area have become the usual refrain and chorus. Even in the capital city, many places are not covered by mobile services.
Notwithstanding the challenges, Ghana has become part of the mobile telephony revolution worldwide through which telecommunication is being used to enhance commerce, health and even governance processes.
Today, we have such innovations as e-commerce, e-mail, e-governance, e-health among other products and the business opportunities that have been created by the advent of mobile telephony are just amazing.
The value chain of mobile telephony is quite immense; the sale of credits and mobile chips has provided job opportunities for our youth even in rural communities to put bread on the table.
In spite of the benefits, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the service operators to play by the rules and make the interest of the customers supreme in their operations.
We also appeal to the government to ensure that the players in the field are not only in competition but that the competition comes with quality services.
The DAILY GRAPHIC does not doubt the pledge by the new management of the company that it will operate a network that works following the rebranding of Onetouch to Vodafone.
It is early in the day yet to expect major transformation from Vodafone but it is the expectation of the DAILY GRAPHIC that the new management will live up to its pledge to provide efficient service to the people.
As a nation, we have come a long way from the days of Post and Telecom Corporation (P&T) and state monopoly over telecommunication to our current state of private sector participation and engagement in the sector. Currently, five mobile networks are actively operational in the country with the sixth yet to be launched.
With Vodafone Ghana being part of the global communication giant that boasts more than 280 million customers worldwide, it is our expectation that the new owners of Ghana Telecom will work and provide customers with the highest quality, as well as most reliable mobile network in the country.
Subscribers of mobile phone networks have had cause to worry about services rendered to them. Very often, subscribers have had to contend with frequent call drops. Responses such as the subscriber cannot be reached or the phone is either switched off or outside the coverage area have become the usual refrain and chorus. Even in the capital city, many places are not covered by mobile services.
Notwithstanding the challenges, Ghana has become part of the mobile telephony revolution worldwide through which telecommunication is being used to enhance commerce, health and even governance processes.
Today, we have such innovations as e-commerce, e-mail, e-governance, e-health among other products and the business opportunities that have been created by the advent of mobile telephony are just amazing.
The value chain of mobile telephony is quite immense; the sale of credits and mobile chips has provided job opportunities for our youth even in rural communities to put bread on the table.
In spite of the benefits, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the service operators to play by the rules and make the interest of the customers supreme in their operations.
We also appeal to the government to ensure that the players in the field are not only in competition but that the competition comes with quality services.
The DAILY GRAPHIC does not doubt the pledge by the new management of the company that it will operate a network that works following the rebranding of Onetouch to Vodafone.
It is early in the day yet to expect major transformation from Vodafone but it is the expectation of the DAILY GRAPHIC that the new management will live up to its pledge to provide efficient service to the people.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
DIALOGUE WILL HELP (THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2009)
THE suggestion by the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, for the cancellation of extra classes in schools and at home has attracted hot debates among a cross section of the public.
At a function at Pute in Ada to inaugurate a health facility for the Ada Presbyterian Primary School at the weekend, the minister said through the practice of extra classes, parents and teachers had imposed unbearable pressure and stress on children of all ages, including toddlers, and left them with no time for recreation or physical exercises.
However, key stakeholders have called for the proper regulation of extra classes in schools, instead of their total cancellation.
While the minister was concerned about the abuse of extra classes, some parents have argued that there are many average students who can perform better or be helped by extra or added tuition.
Extra classes became part of the teaching and learning process in our schools especially during the 1980s when many teachers joined the exodus bandwagon to Nigeria and standards of education began to fall.
Before then, extra tuition at the basic level and in second-cycle schools was provided free of charge by teachers or for a token.
In the 1970s, many teachers were committed to the job and were prepared to sacrifice their time and even money to provide extra tuition for students.
Such teachers were content with the excellent performance by their students in the Common Entrance, the Middle School Leaving Certificate and the School Certificate examinations.
But what has changed? Perhaps economic difficulties have compelled everyone to be more materialistic than being satisfied with the mere expression of gratitude from those who have benefited from the benevolence of others.
For some time now the wages and salaries of working people, including teachers, have not been enough to take them home, forcing workers to look for other opportunities to make extra income.
Then came the craze for extra classes in schools throughout the country. Initially, they were clothed as a gesture by teachers to assist average students to make the grade to secondary and tertiary institutions.
But the call for the streamlining of extra classes, instead of their total ban, appears more practicable because of the circumstances of our times.
On the surface, it does not make sense to ask those in kindergarten to attend extra classes because even adults reach their saturation point at a certain stage in the teaching and learning process.
However, parents and guardians are willing to pay some extra fees to enable teachers to take care of their children and wards because when classes end officially, there is no one at home to take care of their children and wards.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that an outright ban on extra classes, without the provision of facilities and the necessary incentives to improve teaching and learning, will not resolve the problem. For, if the demand for extra classes persists, a ban will only drive the activities underground where they will be difficult to monitor and regulate.
We, therefore, call on the Minister of Education to liaise with all stakeholders in this matter — school authorities, teachers, students and parents — to look at the best way of dealing with the craze, such that extra burden is not placed on parents.
Extra classes are not bad, provided they can be regulated, so that they do not interfere with planned teaching and learning processes in our schools, as well as impose an extra burden on beneficiaries.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls for dialogue to resolve this matter because its proper handling or the lack of it can compound the problems in the educational sector.
At a function at Pute in Ada to inaugurate a health facility for the Ada Presbyterian Primary School at the weekend, the minister said through the practice of extra classes, parents and teachers had imposed unbearable pressure and stress on children of all ages, including toddlers, and left them with no time for recreation or physical exercises.
However, key stakeholders have called for the proper regulation of extra classes in schools, instead of their total cancellation.
While the minister was concerned about the abuse of extra classes, some parents have argued that there are many average students who can perform better or be helped by extra or added tuition.
Extra classes became part of the teaching and learning process in our schools especially during the 1980s when many teachers joined the exodus bandwagon to Nigeria and standards of education began to fall.
Before then, extra tuition at the basic level and in second-cycle schools was provided free of charge by teachers or for a token.
In the 1970s, many teachers were committed to the job and were prepared to sacrifice their time and even money to provide extra tuition for students.
Such teachers were content with the excellent performance by their students in the Common Entrance, the Middle School Leaving Certificate and the School Certificate examinations.
But what has changed? Perhaps economic difficulties have compelled everyone to be more materialistic than being satisfied with the mere expression of gratitude from those who have benefited from the benevolence of others.
For some time now the wages and salaries of working people, including teachers, have not been enough to take them home, forcing workers to look for other opportunities to make extra income.
Then came the craze for extra classes in schools throughout the country. Initially, they were clothed as a gesture by teachers to assist average students to make the grade to secondary and tertiary institutions.
But the call for the streamlining of extra classes, instead of their total ban, appears more practicable because of the circumstances of our times.
On the surface, it does not make sense to ask those in kindergarten to attend extra classes because even adults reach their saturation point at a certain stage in the teaching and learning process.
However, parents and guardians are willing to pay some extra fees to enable teachers to take care of their children and wards because when classes end officially, there is no one at home to take care of their children and wards.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that an outright ban on extra classes, without the provision of facilities and the necessary incentives to improve teaching and learning, will not resolve the problem. For, if the demand for extra classes persists, a ban will only drive the activities underground where they will be difficult to monitor and regulate.
We, therefore, call on the Minister of Education to liaise with all stakeholders in this matter — school authorities, teachers, students and parents — to look at the best way of dealing with the craze, such that extra burden is not placed on parents.
Extra classes are not bad, provided they can be regulated, so that they do not interfere with planned teaching and learning processes in our schools, as well as impose an extra burden on beneficiaries.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls for dialogue to resolve this matter because its proper handling or the lack of it can compound the problems in the educational sector.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
RIDING THE CHALLENGES (APRIL 15, 2009)
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills yesterday met a cross-section of the media to make public some of his achievements and challenges during his first 100 days in office.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), in its manifesto, signed a social contract with the people to fulfil certain deliverables within 100 days in office.
Those promises, which were echoed during the electioneering, include operating a lean government, avoiding extravagant and proliferate spending, reviewing petroleum taxes downwards and constituting a Cabinet and a Council of State.
Speaking about other pledges that are contained in the NDC manifesto, the President told the journalists that his administration had achieved a lot within the first 100 days in office, in spite of the formidable challenges confronting the country.
The DAILY GRAPHIC applauds the government for what it has been able to achieve within a little over three months in office.
We concede that the President will not be able to satisfy all Ghanaians within this period, but nobody can conclude that it was for want of trying because normally the first 100 days in office is regarded as a period for honeymoon.
All over the world, every country is struggling to come to terms with the global credit crunch and Ghana cannot be said to be an exception.
Indeed, what all these challenges mean is that Ghanaians must look within to find solutions to the problems.
This is why we agree with the President that “a country that cannot feed itself has no hope of building a self-reliant economy”.
Also, many people who harbour fears of vengeance from government functionaries should be convinced by the assurance from the President that the government would operate within the confines of the Constitution and other legal framework.
The DAILY GRAPHIC encourages the government to expedite action on its programmes for a better Ghana, now that it is about ending the honeymoon.
The people are looking forward to improvement in their living standards and the government is required to provide the needed stimulus to galvanise them into action.
The road ahead will require a lot of sacrifices from both the government and the people for us to be able to attain the objective of building a better Ghana.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also commends President Mills for opening the doors of the Castle to a cross-section of the media to assess his government’s stewardship over the last 100 days.
In this day and age, information holds the key to building a knowledge-based society and the interface between the Presidency and the media provides the vehicle for a two-way communication between President Mills and the people.
It is our hope that yesterday’s encounter will become a regular feature of the Mills administration so that journalists will not have an excuse to peddle untruths and distorted images of government actions and the country.
Since the media are a partner in development, without necessarily sacrificing the independent role assigned to them by the Constitution, we expect them to reciprocate the openness demonstrated by the Mills administration so far and make it a cardinal principle to always cross-check their facts.
Let us join the government to reconstruct the road to recovery to offer a glimmer of hope to our people in these trying times.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), in its manifesto, signed a social contract with the people to fulfil certain deliverables within 100 days in office.
Those promises, which were echoed during the electioneering, include operating a lean government, avoiding extravagant and proliferate spending, reviewing petroleum taxes downwards and constituting a Cabinet and a Council of State.
Speaking about other pledges that are contained in the NDC manifesto, the President told the journalists that his administration had achieved a lot within the first 100 days in office, in spite of the formidable challenges confronting the country.
The DAILY GRAPHIC applauds the government for what it has been able to achieve within a little over three months in office.
We concede that the President will not be able to satisfy all Ghanaians within this period, but nobody can conclude that it was for want of trying because normally the first 100 days in office is regarded as a period for honeymoon.
All over the world, every country is struggling to come to terms with the global credit crunch and Ghana cannot be said to be an exception.
Indeed, what all these challenges mean is that Ghanaians must look within to find solutions to the problems.
This is why we agree with the President that “a country that cannot feed itself has no hope of building a self-reliant economy”.
Also, many people who harbour fears of vengeance from government functionaries should be convinced by the assurance from the President that the government would operate within the confines of the Constitution and other legal framework.
The DAILY GRAPHIC encourages the government to expedite action on its programmes for a better Ghana, now that it is about ending the honeymoon.
The people are looking forward to improvement in their living standards and the government is required to provide the needed stimulus to galvanise them into action.
The road ahead will require a lot of sacrifices from both the government and the people for us to be able to attain the objective of building a better Ghana.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also commends President Mills for opening the doors of the Castle to a cross-section of the media to assess his government’s stewardship over the last 100 days.
In this day and age, information holds the key to building a knowledge-based society and the interface between the Presidency and the media provides the vehicle for a two-way communication between President Mills and the people.
It is our hope that yesterday’s encounter will become a regular feature of the Mills administration so that journalists will not have an excuse to peddle untruths and distorted images of government actions and the country.
Since the media are a partner in development, without necessarily sacrificing the independent role assigned to them by the Constitution, we expect them to reciprocate the openness demonstrated by the Mills administration so far and make it a cardinal principle to always cross-check their facts.
Let us join the government to reconstruct the road to recovery to offer a glimmer of hope to our people in these trying times.
POSITIVE SIGNS FROM BAWKU (APRIL 14, 2009)
THE conflict in Bawku, one of the richly endowed areas in the country, has deprived the people of the area of the development required to uplift their status.
The area has not known peace since the end of December 2007 after the celebration of the Samanpiid Festival. Immediately after the celebration of the festival, violence erupted between the Kusasis and Mamprusis, compelling the government to impose a state of emergency there in order to maintain law and order.
The government is spending a fortune in the maintenance of law and order by deploying military and police personnel to the area and paying their allowances and rations from scarce resources which could have been channelled into upgrading educational, health and social infrastructure there.
Bawku, an otherwise sprawling municipality with a big market and other commercial outlets, has been reduced to a “ghost” town, with many civil and public servants deserting their posts.
The real effects of the conflict will be felt a few years’ time when the people begin to count its cost.
Fortunately, the people have, at long last, recognised the need to make peace with one another in order to benefit from the rich resources in the area, as well as the government’s development agenda.
Last weekend, they put behind them their differences and came together to celebrate the Samanpiid Festival.
Reports indicate that the grand occasion was celebrated in an atmosphere of peace, giving hope that the people are prepared to promote peaceful co-existence.
It is the wish of every well-meaning Ghanaian that peace and tranquillity returns to Bawku immediately so that the people can contribute their quota towards national development. If that happens, schools that were deserted by pupils and teachers will bounce back with serious teaching and learning processes and hospitals will offer medical care to the sick and the aged, while trading activities will resume in the markets to revive the local economy.
The DAILY GRAPHIC agrees with the President in the address read on his behalf in Bawku that “the incessant conflicts in Bawku and its surroundings have retarded the development of the area” and his appeal to the chiefs to use the festival to mend broken relationships with their neighbours for peaceful and harmonious co-existence in Bawku and its environs.
We have, time and again, urged all parties in dispute to recognise the strength in dialogue and insist on remaining at the negotiation table until a compromise is reached.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reminds the people of Bawku that it will never be in their interest to be fighting among themselves, destroying lives and property when they know that their bitterest enemy is poverty.
The celebration of the festival at the weekend is an indication that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is convinced that the chiefs and people of the area will rise above parochial considerations and show by word and deed that they are ready for peace.
Nobody has profited from wars because even those who claim victory count some losses.
The leaders of the area should be courageous to embrace the peace overtures and forgive their enemies, so that with one accord they can pursue the path of meaningful development.
The area has not known peace since the end of December 2007 after the celebration of the Samanpiid Festival. Immediately after the celebration of the festival, violence erupted between the Kusasis and Mamprusis, compelling the government to impose a state of emergency there in order to maintain law and order.
The government is spending a fortune in the maintenance of law and order by deploying military and police personnel to the area and paying their allowances and rations from scarce resources which could have been channelled into upgrading educational, health and social infrastructure there.
Bawku, an otherwise sprawling municipality with a big market and other commercial outlets, has been reduced to a “ghost” town, with many civil and public servants deserting their posts.
The real effects of the conflict will be felt a few years’ time when the people begin to count its cost.
Fortunately, the people have, at long last, recognised the need to make peace with one another in order to benefit from the rich resources in the area, as well as the government’s development agenda.
Last weekend, they put behind them their differences and came together to celebrate the Samanpiid Festival.
Reports indicate that the grand occasion was celebrated in an atmosphere of peace, giving hope that the people are prepared to promote peaceful co-existence.
It is the wish of every well-meaning Ghanaian that peace and tranquillity returns to Bawku immediately so that the people can contribute their quota towards national development. If that happens, schools that were deserted by pupils and teachers will bounce back with serious teaching and learning processes and hospitals will offer medical care to the sick and the aged, while trading activities will resume in the markets to revive the local economy.
The DAILY GRAPHIC agrees with the President in the address read on his behalf in Bawku that “the incessant conflicts in Bawku and its surroundings have retarded the development of the area” and his appeal to the chiefs to use the festival to mend broken relationships with their neighbours for peaceful and harmonious co-existence in Bawku and its environs.
We have, time and again, urged all parties in dispute to recognise the strength in dialogue and insist on remaining at the negotiation table until a compromise is reached.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reminds the people of Bawku that it will never be in their interest to be fighting among themselves, destroying lives and property when they know that their bitterest enemy is poverty.
The celebration of the festival at the weekend is an indication that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is convinced that the chiefs and people of the area will rise above parochial considerations and show by word and deed that they are ready for peace.
Nobody has profited from wars because even those who claim victory count some losses.
The leaders of the area should be courageous to embrace the peace overtures and forgive their enemies, so that with one accord they can pursue the path of meaningful development.
Monday, April 13, 2009
LET'S SHOWCASE VALUES OF EASTER (APRIL 13, 2009)
Christians throughout the world yesterday celebrated Easter, which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after His crucifixion more than 2000 years ago.
Jesus’ death and resurrection symbolise mankind’s triumph over death.
In Ghana, Christians marked the day with church services, while in many communities the people used the occasion to organise fund-raising activities to undertake development projects.
The people of Kwahu in the Eastern Region, consistent with their tradition, used the occasion for community and family gatherings to brainstorm on challenges facing them.
Of special significance is the Special Easter Soup Kitchen organised by ‘Joy FM’ to show love and care for vulnerable people in society.
For many of those who converged on the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra to benefit from the largesse provided by ‘Joy FM’ yesterday, they wished the occasion recurred very often to, at least, put the smiles on their faces.
The spectacle of deprivation exhibited by the street children, beggars, porters and the physically challenged exposes a decay in our support system for the poor.
Perhaps the gesture by ‘Joy FM’ yesterday was to remind us of the essence of Easter, a period when Jesus Christ triumphed over death to show love to mankind.
That renewal of love gives mankind hope that with more sacrifices we can also overcome evil and champion what is good in society.
The Daily Graphic is aware that for many people this year’s Easter was just like previous celebrations and those yet to come. But for the occasion to be meaningful, Easter should mark a new beginning in the lives of all Ghanaians.
It is our expectation that everybody will rededicate himself/herself to the virtues of hard work, honesty and integrity.
This year’s Easter can mark a turning point in our lives if, as a people, we pledge to reject all bad habits and practices such as corruption, wickedness and vindictiveness.
The Daily Graphic believes that nobody wields the magic wand to find solutions to our numerous problems. The solutions lie in our commitment to the rule of law and insisting that those who flout regulations are brought to book.
During the peak of Jesus Christ’s suffering on the cross, He demonstrated love even to His enemies and asked God to forgive them.
Our society has similar episodes like what Jesus Christ endured during His crucifixion.
After all, a week prior to His crucifixion, the Jews had joined Him to make a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, but the same people called for His crucifixion a few days later.
The Daily Graphic calls on Ghanaians to learn to forgive one another and embrace even those who share different ideologies, so that in the spirit of unity all hands will be on deck to solve society’s problems.
The divisions in society and the acrimony we exhibit towards one another cannot help us to heal the wounds. The good news is that majority of our people are Christians who were in church during the Easter and share in the values of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection or were in their communities to participate in activities for the uplift of the standard of living among their less fortunate brothers and sisters.
The Daily Graphic encourages everybody to use the occasion of Easter to get over the pettiness of life that has retarded our progress and team up to do more for ourselves and generations yet unborn.
Jesus’ death and resurrection symbolise mankind’s triumph over death.
In Ghana, Christians marked the day with church services, while in many communities the people used the occasion to organise fund-raising activities to undertake development projects.
The people of Kwahu in the Eastern Region, consistent with their tradition, used the occasion for community and family gatherings to brainstorm on challenges facing them.
Of special significance is the Special Easter Soup Kitchen organised by ‘Joy FM’ to show love and care for vulnerable people in society.
For many of those who converged on the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra to benefit from the largesse provided by ‘Joy FM’ yesterday, they wished the occasion recurred very often to, at least, put the smiles on their faces.
The spectacle of deprivation exhibited by the street children, beggars, porters and the physically challenged exposes a decay in our support system for the poor.
Perhaps the gesture by ‘Joy FM’ yesterday was to remind us of the essence of Easter, a period when Jesus Christ triumphed over death to show love to mankind.
That renewal of love gives mankind hope that with more sacrifices we can also overcome evil and champion what is good in society.
The Daily Graphic is aware that for many people this year’s Easter was just like previous celebrations and those yet to come. But for the occasion to be meaningful, Easter should mark a new beginning in the lives of all Ghanaians.
It is our expectation that everybody will rededicate himself/herself to the virtues of hard work, honesty and integrity.
This year’s Easter can mark a turning point in our lives if, as a people, we pledge to reject all bad habits and practices such as corruption, wickedness and vindictiveness.
The Daily Graphic believes that nobody wields the magic wand to find solutions to our numerous problems. The solutions lie in our commitment to the rule of law and insisting that those who flout regulations are brought to book.
During the peak of Jesus Christ’s suffering on the cross, He demonstrated love even to His enemies and asked God to forgive them.
Our society has similar episodes like what Jesus Christ endured during His crucifixion.
After all, a week prior to His crucifixion, the Jews had joined Him to make a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, but the same people called for His crucifixion a few days later.
The Daily Graphic calls on Ghanaians to learn to forgive one another and embrace even those who share different ideologies, so that in the spirit of unity all hands will be on deck to solve society’s problems.
The divisions in society and the acrimony we exhibit towards one another cannot help us to heal the wounds. The good news is that majority of our people are Christians who were in church during the Easter and share in the values of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection or were in their communities to participate in activities for the uplift of the standard of living among their less fortunate brothers and sisters.
The Daily Graphic encourages everybody to use the occasion of Easter to get over the pettiness of life that has retarded our progress and team up to do more for ourselves and generations yet unborn.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
BLACKMAIL WON'T HELP (APRIL 9, 2009)
THE agitation that greeted the announcement of the President’s nominees for the positions of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives in certain parts of the country was quite worrying.
Our Constitution guarantees the right of assembly by any group of people to express solidarity with a cause or condemn it.
For this reason, it will be unfair to condemn all those who, in a peaceful manner, registered their disapproval with some of the nominees of the President.
Nonetheless, the DAILY GRAPHIC is appalled by the behaviour of those who vandalised properties as a sign of their disapproval.
We call on all aggrieved persons to exercise restraint in raising their concerns over the President’s nominees because the use of unorthodox means to achieve results can only be counter-productive.
After 20 years of the decentralisation process, the grass-root structures should have been familiar with the basic tenets of the process in order to offer the necessary support to sustain local governance.
The selection processes adopted by the President Mills administration this year were very embracing, to such an extent that a committee was set up to tour the country to vet those who applied for the positions.
Unfortunately, certain members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the constituency levels have protested vehemently against some of the nominees because, according to them, they had not been in the trenches with some of them during the hectic electioneering process last year.
The DAILY GRAPHIC does not have the full background of the protests by some of the party activists but we can appreciate their concerns, in view of the fact that some of them had hoped that at least many of the foot soldiers would be given the opportunity to be their leaders at the grass roots.
However, the solution does not lie in violent action to disturb the peace of their districts and in the end derail the stability of the country.
There are laid-down regulations to seek redress at the local and national levels and the prudent path for those who are against certain nominees to follow should be the due process. We reject the use of force or violence to blackmail the authorities to rescind their decision.
After all, the aggrieved persons or factions have one more chance to express their grievances if the government refuses to withdraw those nominees.
They can mobilise assembly members to reject the President’s nominees at the confirmation stage in the various assemblies if they can convince the assembly members that the nominees are unknown in their districts or do not qualify to be confirmed.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, commends the Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, for his efforts at calming the nerves of the aggrieved factions by his assurance that the concerns raised would be examined.
Although the government consulted major stakeholders in the decentralisation process during the vetting of the nominees, it must be explained to the people that the Constitution confers the sole prerogative of appointing MMDCEs on the President.
The DAILY GRAPHIC adds it voice to the appeal from various quarters to the aggrieved persons to reject the option of violence as a means of forcing the President to do their bidding.
Our democracy, especially at the local level, can endure when all stakeholders play by the rules, even if they are convinced of their standpoints.
Our Constitution guarantees the right of assembly by any group of people to express solidarity with a cause or condemn it.
For this reason, it will be unfair to condemn all those who, in a peaceful manner, registered their disapproval with some of the nominees of the President.
Nonetheless, the DAILY GRAPHIC is appalled by the behaviour of those who vandalised properties as a sign of their disapproval.
We call on all aggrieved persons to exercise restraint in raising their concerns over the President’s nominees because the use of unorthodox means to achieve results can only be counter-productive.
After 20 years of the decentralisation process, the grass-root structures should have been familiar with the basic tenets of the process in order to offer the necessary support to sustain local governance.
The selection processes adopted by the President Mills administration this year were very embracing, to such an extent that a committee was set up to tour the country to vet those who applied for the positions.
Unfortunately, certain members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the constituency levels have protested vehemently against some of the nominees because, according to them, they had not been in the trenches with some of them during the hectic electioneering process last year.
The DAILY GRAPHIC does not have the full background of the protests by some of the party activists but we can appreciate their concerns, in view of the fact that some of them had hoped that at least many of the foot soldiers would be given the opportunity to be their leaders at the grass roots.
However, the solution does not lie in violent action to disturb the peace of their districts and in the end derail the stability of the country.
There are laid-down regulations to seek redress at the local and national levels and the prudent path for those who are against certain nominees to follow should be the due process. We reject the use of force or violence to blackmail the authorities to rescind their decision.
After all, the aggrieved persons or factions have one more chance to express their grievances if the government refuses to withdraw those nominees.
They can mobilise assembly members to reject the President’s nominees at the confirmation stage in the various assemblies if they can convince the assembly members that the nominees are unknown in their districts or do not qualify to be confirmed.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, commends the Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, for his efforts at calming the nerves of the aggrieved factions by his assurance that the concerns raised would be examined.
Although the government consulted major stakeholders in the decentralisation process during the vetting of the nominees, it must be explained to the people that the Constitution confers the sole prerogative of appointing MMDCEs on the President.
The DAILY GRAPHIC adds it voice to the appeal from various quarters to the aggrieved persons to reject the option of violence as a means of forcing the President to do their bidding.
Our democracy, especially at the local level, can endure when all stakeholders play by the rules, even if they are convinced of their standpoints.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
STUDENTS' HOUR OF RECKONING (WED., APRIL 8, 2009)
FINAL-year students in second-cycle schools throughout the country began their transition to higher academic pursuit with the commencement of the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The future of 157,997 candidates from 577 schools depends on their performance in the WASSCE.
This is the hour of reckoning for the students to account for the investments that their parents, teachers and, indeed, society at large have made towards their responsible adulthood.
We appreciate the tension and anxiety in our students at this time of their academic endeavours but those who have dedicated themselves to their books will reap good dividends.
We do not pretend to be unaware of the challenges in our educational system, such as inadequate budgetary support, resulting in the late release of feeding grants, and the dearth of teaching and residential infrastructure, but as a developing country these challenges will be with us for some years to come.
Even under these trying conditions, some students have graduated from all levels of education with flying colours to receive higher recognition from society.
There is no shortcut to success and those who abandoned their books and engaged in unproductive activities, such as prolonged periods of leisure, cannot have a bright future ahead of them.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, cautions final-year students in our secondary schools to be wary of fraudsters who invade the schools around this time trying to con candidates into buying fake question papers.
Already the police in Accra have arrested two persons who allegedly attempted to sell fake WASSCE question papers to some students of Achimota School.
The action of the students of Achimota School in exposing the two alleged fraudsters are commendable, in view of the fact that our society hardly motivates those who place integrity above other considerations.
Collectively, we can avoid the situation where, because of the greed of a few elements in society, thousands of students are compelled to go through the pain of re-sitting an entire examination.
For this reason, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on all stakeholders to support the appeal made by the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, to society to help to uphold the integrity of the WASSCE.
This enterprise can be a challenging one, especially in our society where those who pursue the path of virtue are ridiculed, while those who practise vice are acknowledged as successful.
We salute the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for some of the stringent measures it has adopted to protect the integrity of all public examinations. But we dare say that without the support of parents, teachers and students, unscrupulous persons will always cut corners to put honest people at a disadvantage.
The reward and punitive system must be strengthened so that those who respect regulation and do good are rewarded, while greedy characters are exposed to serve as a deterrent to others.
The DAILY GRAPHIC encourages the strengthening of the partnership among all stakeholders in education, such as students, parents, teachers and the government, to maintain integrity and vigilance over the conduct of the ongoing examination.
We appeal to the students to resist any temptation to fall prey to the activities of unscrupulous characters parading examination centres to sell question papers to them.
The solution to success lies in serious studies, not the reliance on leaked question papers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes all students success in the WASSCE.
The future of 157,997 candidates from 577 schools depends on their performance in the WASSCE.
This is the hour of reckoning for the students to account for the investments that their parents, teachers and, indeed, society at large have made towards their responsible adulthood.
We appreciate the tension and anxiety in our students at this time of their academic endeavours but those who have dedicated themselves to their books will reap good dividends.
We do not pretend to be unaware of the challenges in our educational system, such as inadequate budgetary support, resulting in the late release of feeding grants, and the dearth of teaching and residential infrastructure, but as a developing country these challenges will be with us for some years to come.
Even under these trying conditions, some students have graduated from all levels of education with flying colours to receive higher recognition from society.
There is no shortcut to success and those who abandoned their books and engaged in unproductive activities, such as prolonged periods of leisure, cannot have a bright future ahead of them.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, cautions final-year students in our secondary schools to be wary of fraudsters who invade the schools around this time trying to con candidates into buying fake question papers.
Already the police in Accra have arrested two persons who allegedly attempted to sell fake WASSCE question papers to some students of Achimota School.
The action of the students of Achimota School in exposing the two alleged fraudsters are commendable, in view of the fact that our society hardly motivates those who place integrity above other considerations.
Collectively, we can avoid the situation where, because of the greed of a few elements in society, thousands of students are compelled to go through the pain of re-sitting an entire examination.
For this reason, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on all stakeholders to support the appeal made by the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, to society to help to uphold the integrity of the WASSCE.
This enterprise can be a challenging one, especially in our society where those who pursue the path of virtue are ridiculed, while those who practise vice are acknowledged as successful.
We salute the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for some of the stringent measures it has adopted to protect the integrity of all public examinations. But we dare say that without the support of parents, teachers and students, unscrupulous persons will always cut corners to put honest people at a disadvantage.
The reward and punitive system must be strengthened so that those who respect regulation and do good are rewarded, while greedy characters are exposed to serve as a deterrent to others.
The DAILY GRAPHIC encourages the strengthening of the partnership among all stakeholders in education, such as students, parents, teachers and the government, to maintain integrity and vigilance over the conduct of the ongoing examination.
We appeal to the students to resist any temptation to fall prey to the activities of unscrupulous characters parading examination centres to sell question papers to them.
The solution to success lies in serious studies, not the reliance on leaked question papers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes all students success in the WASSCE.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
LET'S HAVE SANITY ON ROADS (APRIL 7, 2009)
IN a few days Ghanaians will join the rest of the world to celebrate Easter to mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As is common with such festive occasions, there will be an “exodus” of people from various locations to their home towns to join their families and community members to celebrate the occasion.
The period from Thursday to next week Monday will witness an influx of commuters from various lorry stations to their destinations throughout the country.
During the period, commercial drivers will be in brisk business trying to capitalise on the occasion to make some extra income. Consequently, our roads will be very busy, with some drivers attempting to abuse the system to their advantage.
The nation was traumatised some few weeks ago when newspapers and radio stations were full of reports of multiple accidents on our roads.
These accidents were so fatal that it became scary to use our roads because statistics put the death toll at 300 within three months.
It is refreshing, however, that when the carnage on the roads was heading for epidemic proportions, the government moved in quickly to put in some interventions, in collaboration with the transport unions and other stakeholders.
The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service also decided to intensify patrols on the highways to bring recalcitrant drivers to book and encourage compliance with road traffic regulations.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends all stakeholders that moved quickly to stem the spate of road accidents in the country in order to reassure the travelling public of their safety on the roads.
Again, it is good news that the authorities have initiated road safety campaigns well ahead of the Easter holidays in order to sensitise drivers to the need to respect road traffic regulations.
It is against this background that we salute Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) for launching the Easter “Safe-Drive” campaign at various lorry stations in Accra.
Easter is a period of renewal of our faith in God, as well as for strengthening social bonds in our communities. Many communities also use the Easter period to organise activities, including fund-raising, to improve their well-being.
People’s plans for such celebrations should not be truncated by irresponsible drivers who drive recklessly on our roads.
It has been established that most of the accidents on our roads are caused by human error. This means that if our drivers pay attention to details, such as respect for road traffic regulations, we shall all be spared the pain of losing loved ones or breadwinners to accidents.
Alcoholism or drink-driving, which is a major offence in some jurisdictions, is one of the reasons for the carnage on our roads.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the police to intensify their education of the motoring public on road traffic regulations but they should not spare the rod when the laws are breached.
We also remind drivers to respect road traffic regulations because “it is better to be late to their destinations than being referred to as the late Mr X”.
As is common with such festive occasions, there will be an “exodus” of people from various locations to their home towns to join their families and community members to celebrate the occasion.
The period from Thursday to next week Monday will witness an influx of commuters from various lorry stations to their destinations throughout the country.
During the period, commercial drivers will be in brisk business trying to capitalise on the occasion to make some extra income. Consequently, our roads will be very busy, with some drivers attempting to abuse the system to their advantage.
The nation was traumatised some few weeks ago when newspapers and radio stations were full of reports of multiple accidents on our roads.
These accidents were so fatal that it became scary to use our roads because statistics put the death toll at 300 within three months.
It is refreshing, however, that when the carnage on the roads was heading for epidemic proportions, the government moved in quickly to put in some interventions, in collaboration with the transport unions and other stakeholders.
The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service also decided to intensify patrols on the highways to bring recalcitrant drivers to book and encourage compliance with road traffic regulations.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends all stakeholders that moved quickly to stem the spate of road accidents in the country in order to reassure the travelling public of their safety on the roads.
Again, it is good news that the authorities have initiated road safety campaigns well ahead of the Easter holidays in order to sensitise drivers to the need to respect road traffic regulations.
It is against this background that we salute Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) for launching the Easter “Safe-Drive” campaign at various lorry stations in Accra.
Easter is a period of renewal of our faith in God, as well as for strengthening social bonds in our communities. Many communities also use the Easter period to organise activities, including fund-raising, to improve their well-being.
People’s plans for such celebrations should not be truncated by irresponsible drivers who drive recklessly on our roads.
It has been established that most of the accidents on our roads are caused by human error. This means that if our drivers pay attention to details, such as respect for road traffic regulations, we shall all be spared the pain of losing loved ones or breadwinners to accidents.
Alcoholism or drink-driving, which is a major offence in some jurisdictions, is one of the reasons for the carnage on our roads.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the police to intensify their education of the motoring public on road traffic regulations but they should not spare the rod when the laws are breached.
We also remind drivers to respect road traffic regulations because “it is better to be late to their destinations than being referred to as the late Mr X”.
Monday, April 6, 2009
NEW MINIMUM WAGE AND PRODUCTIVITY (MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2009)
THE National Tripartite Committee (NTC) last Friday announced a new minimum wage which is an 18 per cent upward adjustment of the old one. The current minimum wage is GH¢2.65, as against the previous GH¢2.25.
The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao, was quoted as having said after the announcement that the government had been keen to see to it that workers earned a wage that was an improvement on what they were earning previously.
For some time now public sector wage administration has posed a big challenge to all the partners in the NTC. In some instances, certain organisations have not been able to pay the new minimum wage after very hard bargains, citing their inability to pay as a factor.
Already, some labour centres have described the new minimum wage as inadequate, in view of the current global economic crisis.
Before the conclusion of discussions on the new minimum wage, there had been long agitation among workers who demanded improved salaries and wages, as well as other conditions of service. The point at issue was the effective implementation of a single spine salary structure without causing distortions in existing conditions of service.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is aware of the challenges confronting our national economy and the sacrifices that have been made by the government, employers and unionised labour in arriving at the new minimum wage.
Even if the new package for workers cannot take them home, it is a major step by the social partners to ensure that workers have value for their labour.
Another area that must be of concern now relates to how to increase productivity, for productivity and wages cannot be said to be mutually exclusive because improvement in either of them can stimulate growth in the other.
In some of the so-called Asian Tigers, especially Singapore, their leaders, at certain stages, established productivity movements as a way of promoting increased productivity in all sectors of the economy.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the time has come for the government, employers and organised labour to put their heads together to find ways to motivate workers to increase productivity.
We are of the view that it is only by increasing productivity that any organisation can generate the necessary resources to share among its workers.
This problem of working out the appropriate synergy between productivity and wages has been an age-old one, just like the chicken and the egg situation, which has become a difficult puzzle to resolve in order to determine which of the two must take centre stage.
But until answers are found, we urge all the social partners to demonstrate commitment to the new minimum wage to avoid the situation where “employers pretend to be paying, while workers pretend to be working”.
Now is the time to chart a new path so that the social partners will enforce the payment of the minimum wage to all workers.
In fact, it is criminal for some employers to pay below the minimum wage at a time when we all acknowledge that the minimum wage is far below what will make workers sustain themselves and their dependants.
And since the minimum wage is backed by law, organised labour and the government should team up to prosecute those who breach the agreement on it.
The DAILY GRAPHIC urges all workers to reciprocate this latest gesture by the social partners by working hard, while steps are put in place to iron out other grievances confronting the working class.
The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao, was quoted as having said after the announcement that the government had been keen to see to it that workers earned a wage that was an improvement on what they were earning previously.
For some time now public sector wage administration has posed a big challenge to all the partners in the NTC. In some instances, certain organisations have not been able to pay the new minimum wage after very hard bargains, citing their inability to pay as a factor.
Already, some labour centres have described the new minimum wage as inadequate, in view of the current global economic crisis.
Before the conclusion of discussions on the new minimum wage, there had been long agitation among workers who demanded improved salaries and wages, as well as other conditions of service. The point at issue was the effective implementation of a single spine salary structure without causing distortions in existing conditions of service.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is aware of the challenges confronting our national economy and the sacrifices that have been made by the government, employers and unionised labour in arriving at the new minimum wage.
Even if the new package for workers cannot take them home, it is a major step by the social partners to ensure that workers have value for their labour.
Another area that must be of concern now relates to how to increase productivity, for productivity and wages cannot be said to be mutually exclusive because improvement in either of them can stimulate growth in the other.
In some of the so-called Asian Tigers, especially Singapore, their leaders, at certain stages, established productivity movements as a way of promoting increased productivity in all sectors of the economy.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the time has come for the government, employers and organised labour to put their heads together to find ways to motivate workers to increase productivity.
We are of the view that it is only by increasing productivity that any organisation can generate the necessary resources to share among its workers.
This problem of working out the appropriate synergy between productivity and wages has been an age-old one, just like the chicken and the egg situation, which has become a difficult puzzle to resolve in order to determine which of the two must take centre stage.
But until answers are found, we urge all the social partners to demonstrate commitment to the new minimum wage to avoid the situation where “employers pretend to be paying, while workers pretend to be working”.
Now is the time to chart a new path so that the social partners will enforce the payment of the minimum wage to all workers.
In fact, it is criminal for some employers to pay below the minimum wage at a time when we all acknowledge that the minimum wage is far below what will make workers sustain themselves and their dependants.
And since the minimum wage is backed by law, organised labour and the government should team up to prosecute those who breach the agreement on it.
The DAILY GRAPHIC urges all workers to reciprocate this latest gesture by the social partners by working hard, while steps are put in place to iron out other grievances confronting the working class.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
ETHNIC SENTIMENTS HINDER PROGRESS (SAT, APRIL 4, 2009)
THE National Peace Council (NPC) has expressed concern over the stirring up of ethnic sentiments on issues regarding land, saying they pose a threat to national unity and cohesion.
The Deputy Chairman of the NPC, Maulvi Wahab Adam, said having been together as a unified nation for the past 52 years, it was wrong for Ghanaians to stir up ethnic sentiments and make certain areas reserved for people from particular ethnic groups.
Article 35 Clause Five of the 1992 Constitution states that “the State shall actively promote the integration of the peoples of Ghana and prohibit discrimination and prejudice on the grounds of place of origin, circumstance of birth, ethnic origin, gender or religious creed or other beliefs”.
This provision requires that we foster a spirit of “one nation” that overrides sectional, ethnic and other considerations.
In recent times, peace-loving people have been alarmed by the rate of hate speech directed at those they perceive not to belong to their political or ethnic camps.
Our first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, tried, through certain initiatives, to unify the country in order to engender peaceful co-existence.
One such major initiative was the boarding school system where students travelled from their home regions to other parts of the country to attend school.
That socialisation process helped young students to appreciate and understand the culture and beliefs of their mates, as well as help to foster cohesion among the ethnic groups in the schools.
Countries that tried to fan ethnic hatred among their people have paid the price for it by becoming failed states, struggling now to rebuild from the ashes of war.
Neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire was a very successful country until the late 1990s when the country was torn apart by ethnic divisions because sections of its society felt that others did not deserve to be part of the political process.
As if we have not learnt useful lessons from the harm done to countries that chose the path of intolerance, suddenly some groups are emerging in the country trying to take dominion over areas they deem to be their bona fide lands.
We have come out of fiercely contested elections that some felt could have led to a break up of the country. Not even the broad dissemination of hate propaganda by a section of the media during the heat of the elections could lead to the break up of the country.
After such a historic general election, it is imperative for all to put the past behind so that we can chart the course of unity.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to all groups that have an axe to grind with anybody because of some perceived wrong done to it to use appropriate means to seek redress, instead of taking the law into their own hands or play the ethnic card.
We need to stay together as one great nation with a unity of purpose to rally round President Mills’s administration to move the country forward in the right direction.
The Deputy Chairman of the NPC, Maulvi Wahab Adam, said having been together as a unified nation for the past 52 years, it was wrong for Ghanaians to stir up ethnic sentiments and make certain areas reserved for people from particular ethnic groups.
Article 35 Clause Five of the 1992 Constitution states that “the State shall actively promote the integration of the peoples of Ghana and prohibit discrimination and prejudice on the grounds of place of origin, circumstance of birth, ethnic origin, gender or religious creed or other beliefs”.
This provision requires that we foster a spirit of “one nation” that overrides sectional, ethnic and other considerations.
In recent times, peace-loving people have been alarmed by the rate of hate speech directed at those they perceive not to belong to their political or ethnic camps.
Our first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, tried, through certain initiatives, to unify the country in order to engender peaceful co-existence.
One such major initiative was the boarding school system where students travelled from their home regions to other parts of the country to attend school.
That socialisation process helped young students to appreciate and understand the culture and beliefs of their mates, as well as help to foster cohesion among the ethnic groups in the schools.
Countries that tried to fan ethnic hatred among their people have paid the price for it by becoming failed states, struggling now to rebuild from the ashes of war.
Neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire was a very successful country until the late 1990s when the country was torn apart by ethnic divisions because sections of its society felt that others did not deserve to be part of the political process.
As if we have not learnt useful lessons from the harm done to countries that chose the path of intolerance, suddenly some groups are emerging in the country trying to take dominion over areas they deem to be their bona fide lands.
We have come out of fiercely contested elections that some felt could have led to a break up of the country. Not even the broad dissemination of hate propaganda by a section of the media during the heat of the elections could lead to the break up of the country.
After such a historic general election, it is imperative for all to put the past behind so that we can chart the course of unity.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to all groups that have an axe to grind with anybody because of some perceived wrong done to it to use appropriate means to seek redress, instead of taking the law into their own hands or play the ethnic card.
We need to stay together as one great nation with a unity of purpose to rally round President Mills’s administration to move the country forward in the right direction.
PROTECTING OUR ECONOMY (FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009)
THE Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has given the assurance that the government has the capacity to complete on schedule all development projects, despite the global credit crunch.
A story carried in the GHANAIAN TIMES of yesterday quoted an official of the ministry as saying that between this year and 2011, the government had concluded agreements with the donor community to cover projects and programmes that had been incorporated into the budget.
The health of the economy must engage the attention of every Ghanaian who should be prepared to offer suggestions on how the country can ride the turbulence of the global scene.
Fortunately, we have not been bedevilled with economic problems on the scale that hit the advanced economies, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, but we cannot pretend that the danger signs are not knocking at our door.
That is why coming together to protect our economy in order to safeguard the well-being of our people, especially the vulnerable, has become an imperative.
All over the world, jobs are at risk, people have lost their homes, while the net worth of big-time businesses in the banks and in stocks has been wiped away.
Our economy has been making steady strides for more than two decades now and it is essential to sustain these gains, even if for now we cannot build on them because of the global crisis.
The DAILY GRAPHIC pleads with our leaders in government in the churches and the communities to unite to restore hope to those who are feeling the effects of the global crisis.
We, therefore, endorse the suggestion by Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, a leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), to the government to put together a team of experienced people and experts from the Bank of Ghana and the financial sector to be called the “Ghana Domestic Business Stimulus Committee” who will select some local industries to assist to build their capacities to make them globally competitive.
We should immediately begin to look within to find solutions to the challenges that have emerged as a result of the global credit crunch. For some time now the cedi has been depreciating against major currencies and inflation has become a bother, resulting in the high prices of goods and services.
Now is, therefore, the opportune time for the nation to be in tune with the Akan proverb that says, “Se wohu se egya ato wo yonko abogyese mu a, sa nsuo si wo dee ho,” to wit, when you see a neighbour’s beard on fire, get water handy.
The G-20 leaders representing the most influential countries in the world concluded their meeting yesterday, having agreed to the need to create a new consensus to reconstruct the world economy.
The DAILY GRAPHIC suggests that we take a cue by generating more revenue locally to finance our development activities, instead of always relying on the international community. We know that at their meeting in London, the richest nations restated their obligation to help developing countries to meet the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The way forward will be tough but if we all recognise the need to raise productivity, we can give hope to those who are worried about their jobs and living conditions.
It is also important for our people to recognise the need for more sacrifices in the days ahead and endeavour to show patriotism in our offices, communities and homes.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is optimistic that with commitment from every Ghanaian, we shall pull through these difficult times in order to make Ghana a better place.
A story carried in the GHANAIAN TIMES of yesterday quoted an official of the ministry as saying that between this year and 2011, the government had concluded agreements with the donor community to cover projects and programmes that had been incorporated into the budget.
The health of the economy must engage the attention of every Ghanaian who should be prepared to offer suggestions on how the country can ride the turbulence of the global scene.
Fortunately, we have not been bedevilled with economic problems on the scale that hit the advanced economies, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, but we cannot pretend that the danger signs are not knocking at our door.
That is why coming together to protect our economy in order to safeguard the well-being of our people, especially the vulnerable, has become an imperative.
All over the world, jobs are at risk, people have lost their homes, while the net worth of big-time businesses in the banks and in stocks has been wiped away.
Our economy has been making steady strides for more than two decades now and it is essential to sustain these gains, even if for now we cannot build on them because of the global crisis.
The DAILY GRAPHIC pleads with our leaders in government in the churches and the communities to unite to restore hope to those who are feeling the effects of the global crisis.
We, therefore, endorse the suggestion by Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, a leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), to the government to put together a team of experienced people and experts from the Bank of Ghana and the financial sector to be called the “Ghana Domestic Business Stimulus Committee” who will select some local industries to assist to build their capacities to make them globally competitive.
We should immediately begin to look within to find solutions to the challenges that have emerged as a result of the global credit crunch. For some time now the cedi has been depreciating against major currencies and inflation has become a bother, resulting in the high prices of goods and services.
Now is, therefore, the opportune time for the nation to be in tune with the Akan proverb that says, “Se wohu se egya ato wo yonko abogyese mu a, sa nsuo si wo dee ho,” to wit, when you see a neighbour’s beard on fire, get water handy.
The G-20 leaders representing the most influential countries in the world concluded their meeting yesterday, having agreed to the need to create a new consensus to reconstruct the world economy.
The DAILY GRAPHIC suggests that we take a cue by generating more revenue locally to finance our development activities, instead of always relying on the international community. We know that at their meeting in London, the richest nations restated their obligation to help developing countries to meet the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The way forward will be tough but if we all recognise the need to raise productivity, we can give hope to those who are worried about their jobs and living conditions.
It is also important for our people to recognise the need for more sacrifices in the days ahead and endeavour to show patriotism in our offices, communities and homes.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is optimistic that with commitment from every Ghanaian, we shall pull through these difficult times in order to make Ghana a better place.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
PROMOTING NATIONAL UNITY (THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2009)
A DEPUTY Minister of Education, Mr Joseph Annan, on Tuesday urged journalists to use the power of the media to foster unity among Ghanaians and shy away from tendencies that might polarise the country.
Launching the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), he said “the media must be used to assist our development efforts” and challenged all stakeholders to adopt a transformational shift to the pressing needs and aspirations of the country.
Our Constitution recognises the power and importance of the media, for which reason a whole chapter is devoted to the Freedom and Independence of the Media.
The present level of Ghana’s development, especially our democratic credentials as a fledgling democracy, can be largely attributed to the role of the media.
Sometimes media freedom and the extent to which the frontiers of media freedom are stretched call for worry among sections of our society.
The media industry is like the proverbial “santrofi” bird — if you leave it you miss a fortune, but if you take it you carry a curse.
To some sections of society, media practitioners have become a big nuisance, prying into people’s private affairs, while others think that if the media fail to give voice to the voiceless and do not uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana, we cannot continue with our present level of development.
When the attention of freedom lovers are drawn to the excesses of the media, they remind those who feel uncomfortable with the present level of media freedom to compare that to the days of the culture of silence and determine which of the two scenarios is desirable.
However, it is important to remind journalists that it is no longer acceptable for them and public officials to be in an adversarial relationship.
Journalists are required to walk the tight balance of exercising their freedom in order to hold public officials accountable for their actions, while supporting the government’s development agenda.
The media landscape has expanded in leaps and bounds and as the government takes steps to enact the Freedom of Information Bill and the Broadcasting Law, journalists will reciprocate these gestures by exercising media freedom with responsibility.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, calls on the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to intensify their continuing educational programmes and help to promote higher journalistic standards in the country.
We are worried about the future of media freedom in the country, in the light of the recklessness on the part of some journalists in the performance of their duties.
If this trend is not checked, the whole society can gang up to lobby lawmakers to curtail media freedom.
The DAILY GRAPHIC acknowledges the power of the media in promoting democracy, human rights and sustainable development, but the media can be relevant if media practitioners respect ethical values in order to promote national integration and cohesion.
Launching the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), he said “the media must be used to assist our development efforts” and challenged all stakeholders to adopt a transformational shift to the pressing needs and aspirations of the country.
Our Constitution recognises the power and importance of the media, for which reason a whole chapter is devoted to the Freedom and Independence of the Media.
The present level of Ghana’s development, especially our democratic credentials as a fledgling democracy, can be largely attributed to the role of the media.
Sometimes media freedom and the extent to which the frontiers of media freedom are stretched call for worry among sections of our society.
The media industry is like the proverbial “santrofi” bird — if you leave it you miss a fortune, but if you take it you carry a curse.
To some sections of society, media practitioners have become a big nuisance, prying into people’s private affairs, while others think that if the media fail to give voice to the voiceless and do not uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana, we cannot continue with our present level of development.
When the attention of freedom lovers are drawn to the excesses of the media, they remind those who feel uncomfortable with the present level of media freedom to compare that to the days of the culture of silence and determine which of the two scenarios is desirable.
However, it is important to remind journalists that it is no longer acceptable for them and public officials to be in an adversarial relationship.
Journalists are required to walk the tight balance of exercising their freedom in order to hold public officials accountable for their actions, while supporting the government’s development agenda.
The media landscape has expanded in leaps and bounds and as the government takes steps to enact the Freedom of Information Bill and the Broadcasting Law, journalists will reciprocate these gestures by exercising media freedom with responsibility.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, calls on the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to intensify their continuing educational programmes and help to promote higher journalistic standards in the country.
We are worried about the future of media freedom in the country, in the light of the recklessness on the part of some journalists in the performance of their duties.
If this trend is not checked, the whole society can gang up to lobby lawmakers to curtail media freedom.
The DAILY GRAPHIC acknowledges the power of the media in promoting democracy, human rights and sustainable development, but the media can be relevant if media practitioners respect ethical values in order to promote national integration and cohesion.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
NEVER AGAIN (APRIL 1, 2009)
EDUCATION holds the key to the development of a knowledge-based society and for this reason governments spend millions of their countries’ resources to provide formal and informal education in order to build a skilful human resource base to manage the affairs of state.
For some time now, the general decline in standards of education has affected both the quantity and quality of graduates who are trained, especially in tertiary institutions.
The universities and other tertiary institutions have become the preserve of only students from well-endowed schools and children of the rich.
Many Ghanaians, therefore, commended the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for deciding to admit students from less-endowed schools who show some academic brilliance.
The initiative offered the opportunity to many more people, particularly those from deprived communities, to access university education.
But news about the inability of 100 students from less-endowed schools in the country who gained admission to the KNUST to register because of financial problems is quite pathetic.
These students could not pay their registration fees of GH¢200 after they had been admitted to the university under a special dispensation for students from less-endowed schools.
However, some people have argued that once the university authorities identified them as coming from less-endowed schools, they could perhaps have made provision for their registration and academic user fees.
Others are of the view that it behoved parents and guardians of the students to have also mobilised resources to enable their children and wards to pursue university education.
It is worth noting that news about this unfortunate development became public during the presentation of scholarships by Nankani and Hagan to 10 students of the university.
We think that the university authorities should liaise with organisations such as Unilever Ghana Limited, the Otumfuo Education Fund, the Okyeman Education Fund, the MTN Foundation, the Northern Education Fund, churches, traditional authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and district assemblies to identify needy students for assistance.
The DAILY GRAPHIC welcomes the concession being extended to students from less-endowed schools.
The case of the 100 students should be a wake-up call to our educational authorities to work out more pragmatic ways to make education more accessible to all children of school age.
Already, a lot is being done by many well-meaning institutions, including the universities, to offer scholarships to needy, brilliant students, but the space needs to be expanded so that those who meet the admission requirement can be accommodated, regardless of their economic backgrounds.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the universities to make their bursary and grant facilities available to needy students to pursue university education without economic difficulties.
Never again should we allow any individual or group of individuals to endure deprivation when the state can initiate policy interventions to take care of the needs of the under-privileged in society. For the best way to improve the economy is through investment in people.
For some time now, the general decline in standards of education has affected both the quantity and quality of graduates who are trained, especially in tertiary institutions.
The universities and other tertiary institutions have become the preserve of only students from well-endowed schools and children of the rich.
Many Ghanaians, therefore, commended the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for deciding to admit students from less-endowed schools who show some academic brilliance.
The initiative offered the opportunity to many more people, particularly those from deprived communities, to access university education.
But news about the inability of 100 students from less-endowed schools in the country who gained admission to the KNUST to register because of financial problems is quite pathetic.
These students could not pay their registration fees of GH¢200 after they had been admitted to the university under a special dispensation for students from less-endowed schools.
However, some people have argued that once the university authorities identified them as coming from less-endowed schools, they could perhaps have made provision for their registration and academic user fees.
Others are of the view that it behoved parents and guardians of the students to have also mobilised resources to enable their children and wards to pursue university education.
It is worth noting that news about this unfortunate development became public during the presentation of scholarships by Nankani and Hagan to 10 students of the university.
We think that the university authorities should liaise with organisations such as Unilever Ghana Limited, the Otumfuo Education Fund, the Okyeman Education Fund, the MTN Foundation, the Northern Education Fund, churches, traditional authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and district assemblies to identify needy students for assistance.
The DAILY GRAPHIC welcomes the concession being extended to students from less-endowed schools.
The case of the 100 students should be a wake-up call to our educational authorities to work out more pragmatic ways to make education more accessible to all children of school age.
Already, a lot is being done by many well-meaning institutions, including the universities, to offer scholarships to needy, brilliant students, but the space needs to be expanded so that those who meet the admission requirement can be accommodated, regardless of their economic backgrounds.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the universities to make their bursary and grant facilities available to needy students to pursue university education without economic difficulties.
Never again should we allow any individual or group of individuals to endure deprivation when the state can initiate policy interventions to take care of the needs of the under-privileged in society. For the best way to improve the economy is through investment in people.
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