THE need for the creation of another region out of the Northern Region, which is a fifth of the total land mass of the country, is, indeed, timely.
And the reasons cannot be far fetched — it will guarantee the effective administration and development of the area and the creation of more manageable regions in the north will facilitate the operations of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) which is dear to the heart of the Mills-led administration.
The sheer size of the region and the lack of the requisite resources to undertake development projects there enhance the case for more accessible administrative areas.
That the north holds the key to food self-sufficiency is not in doubt. What we are uncertain of now is our ability to mobilise the needed resources to make this dream a reality.
Article Five (1) of the 1992 Constitution, clearly spells out the creation, alteration or merger of regions. It states, “Subject to the provisions of this article, the President may, by constitutional instrument, (a) create a new region; (b) alter the boundaries of a region; or (c) provide for the merger of two or more regions.”
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on all the stakeholders to fast-track the process to split the Northern Region to ensure effective administration and development.
Our fear is that if we fail to seek consensus on the creation of the region and where to site the regional capital, the processes will be stalled by endless litigation and even communal violence.
The DAILY GRAPHIC needs not remind the chiefs and people of the Northern Region who have presented the petition for the creation of the new region of the needless litigation that characterised the creation of new districts in the past.
We think that if the chiefs and people do not bury their personal differences and allow those biases to rear their ugly heads, the objectives contained in the petition cannot be fulfilled.
The DAILY GRAPHIC finds it refreshing that the government has indicated its readiness to refer the resolution back to the chiefs to iron out the grey areas to facilitate the process.
We think that the creation of the new region will come with extra cost, as new administrative offices and other infrastructure must be provided.
However, in the long term, the creation of a new region will reduce the bottlenecks and drudgery associated with the management of an unwieldy region such as the Northern Region.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reminds the government of the agitation from other parts of the country, such as northern Volta, for the creation of other regions.
And since the creation of a new region can only be accomplished through a referendum, which will come at a cost to the national budget, we think it is only fair to consider requests from other parts of the country so that the issue can be put to rest in a single referendum to review the Constitution holistically.
The opportunity has come for a review of the 1992 Constitution and it must not be missed.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A CASE FOR PEASANT FARMERS (OCT 29)
GHANA’S economy is agrarian and it is likely to remain so for a very long time.
In our attempt to improve productivity in the agricultural sector, many novelty ideas have been supported by past and present governments.
The Farmers Day, instituted more than 20 years ago, has been sustained, irrespective of the government in power at any period.
Recently, the government introduced a pension scheme for cocoa farmers and re-introduced the Youth-in-Agriculture programme to support the youth to cultivate the land.
These are laudable initiatives which must be expanded to cover many farmers, including peasants, if we are to expand the frontiers of food production.
Unfortunately, peasant farmers feel excluded from policies designed to motivate farmers to improve the food basket and reduce our expenditure on food.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the time has come for the expansion of agricultural services and support to cover peasant farmers for them to expand their yields. There are many of these peasant farmers across the length and breadth of the country who, with a little support, can grow to become big-time farmers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the government’s policy on agriculture should give more space to peasant farmers, whose small contributions collectively bring food to the tables of many Ghanaians in the country.
As reported in yesterday’s issue of the DAILY GRAPHIC, the members of the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition, which articulates the concerns of peasant farmers, has observed that 80 per cent of all food staples are produced by small-scale farmers.
However, there seems not to be any co-ordinated policy that has been fashioned out to support this very important group of people.
That the Farmers Day does not even recognise the efforts of peasant farmers is a direct affront to the country’s policy on agriculture.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that any agricultural policy that neglects small-scale farmers is bound to fail because it is support to such farmers that will ensure their growth to become mechanised farmers in the not-too-distant future.
Support to such farmers is not something beyond the means of the government or state institutions tasked with the management of the agricultural sector.
Support in the form of agricultural extension services, fertilisers, access to credit and technical support is just one of the few things peasant farmers need.
Again, the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) which Ghana has signed up to is a classic example of how the government hopes to support farming activities in the country, especially peasant farmers, with improved access to markets and inputs.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, adds its voice to the call for a comprehensive programme that will rope in peasant farmers into the overall agricultural policy framework of the country.
It is our conviction that such support will help to attract the youth into agriculture, while serving as a tool for poverty alleviation and economic independence from food handouts.
In our attempt to improve productivity in the agricultural sector, many novelty ideas have been supported by past and present governments.
The Farmers Day, instituted more than 20 years ago, has been sustained, irrespective of the government in power at any period.
Recently, the government introduced a pension scheme for cocoa farmers and re-introduced the Youth-in-Agriculture programme to support the youth to cultivate the land.
These are laudable initiatives which must be expanded to cover many farmers, including peasants, if we are to expand the frontiers of food production.
Unfortunately, peasant farmers feel excluded from policies designed to motivate farmers to improve the food basket and reduce our expenditure on food.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the time has come for the expansion of agricultural services and support to cover peasant farmers for them to expand their yields. There are many of these peasant farmers across the length and breadth of the country who, with a little support, can grow to become big-time farmers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the government’s policy on agriculture should give more space to peasant farmers, whose small contributions collectively bring food to the tables of many Ghanaians in the country.
As reported in yesterday’s issue of the DAILY GRAPHIC, the members of the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition, which articulates the concerns of peasant farmers, has observed that 80 per cent of all food staples are produced by small-scale farmers.
However, there seems not to be any co-ordinated policy that has been fashioned out to support this very important group of people.
That the Farmers Day does not even recognise the efforts of peasant farmers is a direct affront to the country’s policy on agriculture.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that any agricultural policy that neglects small-scale farmers is bound to fail because it is support to such farmers that will ensure their growth to become mechanised farmers in the not-too-distant future.
Support to such farmers is not something beyond the means of the government or state institutions tasked with the management of the agricultural sector.
Support in the form of agricultural extension services, fertilisers, access to credit and technical support is just one of the few things peasant farmers need.
Again, the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) which Ghana has signed up to is a classic example of how the government hopes to support farming activities in the country, especially peasant farmers, with improved access to markets and inputs.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, adds its voice to the call for a comprehensive programme that will rope in peasant farmers into the overall agricultural policy framework of the country.
It is our conviction that such support will help to attract the youth into agriculture, while serving as a tool for poverty alleviation and economic independence from food handouts.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
WANTED: A NEW DEV MODEL (OCT 28)
FOR many people in our part of the world, a greater part of the problems impeding the development of Africa in particular can be linked to our dealings with the Breton Woods institutions, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Here in Ghana, the view is held that the country’s resources, if properly managed, can be used to change the fortunes of the citizenry for the better by relying entirely on our indigenous ways and means.
The thinking informing this position is that the country is in the doldrums because of our over-reliance on donor agencies, instead of relying on the human and material resources that God has endowed us with to provide better opportunities for our people.
The point must, however, be made that in the current globalised world the country cannot be an island, as we all need to collaborate or trade among ourselves for mutual survival and growth.
This brings in another school of thought which totally dismisses orthodoxy in the management of the economy because no single model is able to resolve the challenges of our times.
Whatever the viewpoint, there appears to be some unanimity that the country is richly endowed and that if the resources are applied well, poverty levels will reduce considerably.
In large measure, the development challenges we face as a nation appear to be the result of the misapplication of our own resources and whatever we get from donor nations. There is also the problem of lack of transparency in the use of our resources.
In the circumstance, the point has been made over and over again that we cannot forever continue to depend on donors for our survival and that is why whatever they give us in the form of aid must be used to change the development landscape.
While we gloat over our continuous reliance on the Breton Woods institutions, the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the people should be concerned about how their leaders spend their taxes and donor money.
We should all make it our duty to demand that our leaders account for every pesewa that comes into our coffers.
In this light, The DAILY GRAPHIC shares the concerns of the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, when he made the point that the government’s stabilisation policy, with the support of the World Bank and the IMF, was being done cautiously.
It may just be right that if the support is used judiciously, the country will be able to leverage opportunities for all Ghanaians in order to achieve the “better Ghana” agenda.
That is why whatever support we get from the World Bank, the IMF and other donors must be applied for the common good, that is, to fight poverty, create jobs and wealth, etc.
What some of those countries did was not to practise autarky or shut their doors completely to the outside world. Indeed, they invited partners who invested in their economy to create jobs and other opportunities for their people.
It is not enough to continue to bemoan our problems, for the time has come to put in place concrete measures to lift the economy out of the doldrums through the judicious use of both local and foreign wealth.
Since it is said that necessity is the mother of invention, the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that our current challenges can galvanise us into thinking about alternative economic models that can transform our society for the better.
The DAILY GRAPHIC encourages the partnership with the donor community but the conditionalities therefrom must not suffocate the people.
Here in Ghana, the view is held that the country’s resources, if properly managed, can be used to change the fortunes of the citizenry for the better by relying entirely on our indigenous ways and means.
The thinking informing this position is that the country is in the doldrums because of our over-reliance on donor agencies, instead of relying on the human and material resources that God has endowed us with to provide better opportunities for our people.
The point must, however, be made that in the current globalised world the country cannot be an island, as we all need to collaborate or trade among ourselves for mutual survival and growth.
This brings in another school of thought which totally dismisses orthodoxy in the management of the economy because no single model is able to resolve the challenges of our times.
Whatever the viewpoint, there appears to be some unanimity that the country is richly endowed and that if the resources are applied well, poverty levels will reduce considerably.
In large measure, the development challenges we face as a nation appear to be the result of the misapplication of our own resources and whatever we get from donor nations. There is also the problem of lack of transparency in the use of our resources.
In the circumstance, the point has been made over and over again that we cannot forever continue to depend on donors for our survival and that is why whatever they give us in the form of aid must be used to change the development landscape.
While we gloat over our continuous reliance on the Breton Woods institutions, the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the people should be concerned about how their leaders spend their taxes and donor money.
We should all make it our duty to demand that our leaders account for every pesewa that comes into our coffers.
In this light, The DAILY GRAPHIC shares the concerns of the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, when he made the point that the government’s stabilisation policy, with the support of the World Bank and the IMF, was being done cautiously.
It may just be right that if the support is used judiciously, the country will be able to leverage opportunities for all Ghanaians in order to achieve the “better Ghana” agenda.
That is why whatever support we get from the World Bank, the IMF and other donors must be applied for the common good, that is, to fight poverty, create jobs and wealth, etc.
What some of those countries did was not to practise autarky or shut their doors completely to the outside world. Indeed, they invited partners who invested in their economy to create jobs and other opportunities for their people.
It is not enough to continue to bemoan our problems, for the time has come to put in place concrete measures to lift the economy out of the doldrums through the judicious use of both local and foreign wealth.
Since it is said that necessity is the mother of invention, the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that our current challenges can galvanise us into thinking about alternative economic models that can transform our society for the better.
The DAILY GRAPHIC encourages the partnership with the donor community but the conditionalities therefrom must not suffocate the people.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
DEALING WITH ILLEGAL ARMS TRADE (OCT 27)
ONCE again we have had to return to plans by the police to retrieve all arms in unauthorised hands.
The DAILY GRAPHIC considers the two-week ultimatum given by the Ashanti Regional Police Command to persons in possession of illegal weapons to hand them to the police as routine in nature but very critical to the fight against hardened criminals.
However, our concern now is the piece-meal approach to the issue of illegal arms in the hands of some members of the public. This is because every time the police have issued an ultimatum to criminals to hand over their weapons, the response has not been very encouraging.
A similar exercise in Bawku in January yielded very little by way of result and in the end the authorities had to do what was called the “cash-for-arms” deal.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks these directives have not really worked, except, of course, to be treated with contempt by those in possession of illegal arms.
We are yet to also see any major seizure of arms beyond the ultimatum date anytime such directives are issued.
In spite of the challenges, the DAILY GRAPHIC shares the concerns of the police over the activities of armed robbers and the proliferation of arms in the country.
The police operate on information from reliable sources, and we know that they have intelligence information on the arms trade in the country.
Therefore, beyond the issue of ultimatums, the police should act on intelligence information to trace the arms in the country.
There have been instances when the Police Administration has complained about missing arms from its Armoury.
It is, therefore, imperative that the fight against arms be tackled from within the ranks of the police, in addition to the ultimatum to those involved in illegal arms.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that so long as the trade in illegal arms flourishes, with the increasing number of flashpoints for conflicts, the police have a Herculean task to clamp down on the illegal business.
This is why the police and the people have a collective responsibility to deal with the activities of the criminals.
The DAILY GRAPHIC endorses the present directive from the Ashanti Regional Police Command and we also plead for support from members of the public for this move by the police.
We must act now to curb the rising incidents of robbery which have assumed a high level of sophistication, with the armed robbers prepared to gun down anybody within sight, even including armed police personnel.
As the police turn attention to the illegal arms trade, it will also be worthwhile to examine the business of arms importation with the view to streamlining the trade.
The exercise to control the trade must also look at the activities of local artisans who manufacture guns so that those involved in the trade can be monitored.
It is only when we show a sense of commitment to these acts that we can make any meaningful progress in controlling the arms trade and guarantee the safety of all Ghanaians and foreigners in the country.
We need a peaceful environment to carry out the task of nation building, which cannot be carried out in an insecure environment.
The DAILY GRAPHIC considers the two-week ultimatum given by the Ashanti Regional Police Command to persons in possession of illegal weapons to hand them to the police as routine in nature but very critical to the fight against hardened criminals.
However, our concern now is the piece-meal approach to the issue of illegal arms in the hands of some members of the public. This is because every time the police have issued an ultimatum to criminals to hand over their weapons, the response has not been very encouraging.
A similar exercise in Bawku in January yielded very little by way of result and in the end the authorities had to do what was called the “cash-for-arms” deal.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks these directives have not really worked, except, of course, to be treated with contempt by those in possession of illegal arms.
We are yet to also see any major seizure of arms beyond the ultimatum date anytime such directives are issued.
In spite of the challenges, the DAILY GRAPHIC shares the concerns of the police over the activities of armed robbers and the proliferation of arms in the country.
The police operate on information from reliable sources, and we know that they have intelligence information on the arms trade in the country.
Therefore, beyond the issue of ultimatums, the police should act on intelligence information to trace the arms in the country.
There have been instances when the Police Administration has complained about missing arms from its Armoury.
It is, therefore, imperative that the fight against arms be tackled from within the ranks of the police, in addition to the ultimatum to those involved in illegal arms.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that so long as the trade in illegal arms flourishes, with the increasing number of flashpoints for conflicts, the police have a Herculean task to clamp down on the illegal business.
This is why the police and the people have a collective responsibility to deal with the activities of the criminals.
The DAILY GRAPHIC endorses the present directive from the Ashanti Regional Police Command and we also plead for support from members of the public for this move by the police.
We must act now to curb the rising incidents of robbery which have assumed a high level of sophistication, with the armed robbers prepared to gun down anybody within sight, even including armed police personnel.
As the police turn attention to the illegal arms trade, it will also be worthwhile to examine the business of arms importation with the view to streamlining the trade.
The exercise to control the trade must also look at the activities of local artisans who manufacture guns so that those involved in the trade can be monitored.
It is only when we show a sense of commitment to these acts that we can make any meaningful progress in controlling the arms trade and guarantee the safety of all Ghanaians and foreigners in the country.
We need a peaceful environment to carry out the task of nation building, which cannot be carried out in an insecure environment.
MCA PROJECTS MUST IMPACT ON PEOPLE (OCT 26)
FUNDS from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) of the United States of America (USA) is helping to re-shape the destiny of rural communities in some selected communities in the country.
The MCA compact, which was signed on August 1, 2006 between Ghana and the USA and formally ratified on February 7, 2007, is to help promote agricultural production, the rehabilitation and construction of schools and roads and the networking of rural and community banks in the country.
Basically, the compact was designed by Ghana, with full support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, to provide practical intervention to stimulate the economy of farming communities and move farming from subsistence to commercial agriculture with in-built value chain supplies such as cold stores, transportation and credit facilities to create jobs and wealth in order to reduce poverty.
Some of these projects are already impacting positively on enrolment in schools as support from the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has transformed some schools into conducive centres of teaching and learning.
The worrying development, however, is that some of the contractors engaged on the projects are not putting in their best.
Addressing contractors in Tamale recently, the Chief Executive Officer of MiDA, Mr Martin Esson-Benjamin, urged those executing projects under the MCA compact programme to complete them within the stipulated time, since the compact expires after its mandatory term.
The Daily Graphic considers the advice from the Chief Executive of MiDA very timely, especially at a time when more contractors are bidding to undertake projects under the programme.
It behoves us as a people to police the execution of the projects so that the peoples of Ghana and the USA will have value for money.
The Daily Graphic reminds the people to always demand quality performance from officials engaged on public-funded projects to ensure that the support from the donors will not go down the drain.
We are happy that part of the funding from the MCA is being used to construct the 75.21-kilometre Agogo-Dome trunk road to give a major push to the government’s road expansion project.
The Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, cutting the sod for work to begin on the project, said the road would provide a reliable link between food producing areas and commercial centres in the southern sector.
Indeed, those who are familiar with the conditions under which many farmers cultivate the land in our rural areas will encourage the government to do everything within its power to execute all the projects earmarked for the beneficiary district.
The Daily Graphic believes that if the projects under the MCA programme are properly executed, they can help to transform the lives of the people.
However, to achieve the desired impact, all the stakeholders must expedite action on whatever assignments they have been given, so that part of the money is not returned to the USA because Ghana could not meet the expectations of the donors.
The people in charge of the project are competent professionals who cannot let the nation down. Slowly, but steadily, these professionals can guide the process to accomplish all the projects under the compact.
For it will be a tragedy if the money is not used for the intended purpose to transform lives for the better.
The MCA compact, which was signed on August 1, 2006 between Ghana and the USA and formally ratified on February 7, 2007, is to help promote agricultural production, the rehabilitation and construction of schools and roads and the networking of rural and community banks in the country.
Basically, the compact was designed by Ghana, with full support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, to provide practical intervention to stimulate the economy of farming communities and move farming from subsistence to commercial agriculture with in-built value chain supplies such as cold stores, transportation and credit facilities to create jobs and wealth in order to reduce poverty.
Some of these projects are already impacting positively on enrolment in schools as support from the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has transformed some schools into conducive centres of teaching and learning.
The worrying development, however, is that some of the contractors engaged on the projects are not putting in their best.
Addressing contractors in Tamale recently, the Chief Executive Officer of MiDA, Mr Martin Esson-Benjamin, urged those executing projects under the MCA compact programme to complete them within the stipulated time, since the compact expires after its mandatory term.
The Daily Graphic considers the advice from the Chief Executive of MiDA very timely, especially at a time when more contractors are bidding to undertake projects under the programme.
It behoves us as a people to police the execution of the projects so that the peoples of Ghana and the USA will have value for money.
The Daily Graphic reminds the people to always demand quality performance from officials engaged on public-funded projects to ensure that the support from the donors will not go down the drain.
We are happy that part of the funding from the MCA is being used to construct the 75.21-kilometre Agogo-Dome trunk road to give a major push to the government’s road expansion project.
The Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, cutting the sod for work to begin on the project, said the road would provide a reliable link between food producing areas and commercial centres in the southern sector.
Indeed, those who are familiar with the conditions under which many farmers cultivate the land in our rural areas will encourage the government to do everything within its power to execute all the projects earmarked for the beneficiary district.
The Daily Graphic believes that if the projects under the MCA programme are properly executed, they can help to transform the lives of the people.
However, to achieve the desired impact, all the stakeholders must expedite action on whatever assignments they have been given, so that part of the money is not returned to the USA because Ghana could not meet the expectations of the donors.
The people in charge of the project are competent professionals who cannot let the nation down. Slowly, but steadily, these professionals can guide the process to accomplish all the projects under the compact.
For it will be a tragedy if the money is not used for the intended purpose to transform lives for the better.
NO PETROL POLITICS, PLEASE( SATURDAY, OCT 24)
THE swift move by President John Evans Atta Mills to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to assure workers of our only refinery of the government’s support and plans for the refinery is commendable.
Besides, the sense of humour displayed by the President during his interaction with the workers helped to calm nerves.
However, the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that beyond the assurance, the government needs to demonstrate by clear action its commitment to make the oil flow at TOR, and in good time, too.
As a potential producer and exporter of oil by late next year, we should have a national strategy now to take care of the rapid expansion of TOR, instead of the prevailing state of affairs.
Examples abound in many parts of our continent where some countries export crude oil but import finished products at rather higher prices, to the detriment of their citizenry.
This is because of the machinations of many interest groups that benefit from the importation of refined oil.
If the country hopes to avoid this unhealthy practice, then every attempt must be made to salvage TOR by ensuring that all the obstacles are cleared for it to operate smoothly.
The other reason we should treat the TOR issue with dispatch and all the urgency it deserves has to do with the sustainability and viability of the residual fluidised catalytic cracker (RFCC) plant which has been renovated but has no raw material to start operations.
This, indeed, is worrying because the nation has spent millions of hard earned currency to service the plant in anticipation that the oil will flow. With the expectation that Ghana will be an important player in the oil industry, we should be planning towards the building of another refinery to take advantage of that business, bearing in mind that TOR, at its present capacity, is only able to refine 60 per cent of the country’s demand.
The DAILY GRAPHIC supports the President’s concern over those engaged in all sorts of malpractices in the petroleum sector and we see the warning that such people would not get away with their acts which were harming the economy as appropriate.
We appeal to all stakeholders and the social commentators from both sides of the political divide to desist from politicising the TOR issue.
After all, one does not go to the fuel pump to buy petrol bearing a party card. We must treat this frequent petrol shortages as a national concern and make a collective resolve to address it for the public good.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on those responsible for procuring oil for the refinery to be forthcoming with reasonable excuses for any challenges so that the citizenry can buy into the solutions so decided for the benefit of all.
We believe that if there had been constant information flow and transparency, the recent outburst by the workers of TOR would have been avoided.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes the government will take the necessary and urgent steps to deal with the TOR problem head-on and assure the people of the availability of oil on a regular basis.
Besides, the sense of humour displayed by the President during his interaction with the workers helped to calm nerves.
However, the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that beyond the assurance, the government needs to demonstrate by clear action its commitment to make the oil flow at TOR, and in good time, too.
As a potential producer and exporter of oil by late next year, we should have a national strategy now to take care of the rapid expansion of TOR, instead of the prevailing state of affairs.
Examples abound in many parts of our continent where some countries export crude oil but import finished products at rather higher prices, to the detriment of their citizenry.
This is because of the machinations of many interest groups that benefit from the importation of refined oil.
If the country hopes to avoid this unhealthy practice, then every attempt must be made to salvage TOR by ensuring that all the obstacles are cleared for it to operate smoothly.
The other reason we should treat the TOR issue with dispatch and all the urgency it deserves has to do with the sustainability and viability of the residual fluidised catalytic cracker (RFCC) plant which has been renovated but has no raw material to start operations.
This, indeed, is worrying because the nation has spent millions of hard earned currency to service the plant in anticipation that the oil will flow. With the expectation that Ghana will be an important player in the oil industry, we should be planning towards the building of another refinery to take advantage of that business, bearing in mind that TOR, at its present capacity, is only able to refine 60 per cent of the country’s demand.
The DAILY GRAPHIC supports the President’s concern over those engaged in all sorts of malpractices in the petroleum sector and we see the warning that such people would not get away with their acts which were harming the economy as appropriate.
We appeal to all stakeholders and the social commentators from both sides of the political divide to desist from politicising the TOR issue.
After all, one does not go to the fuel pump to buy petrol bearing a party card. We must treat this frequent petrol shortages as a national concern and make a collective resolve to address it for the public good.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on those responsible for procuring oil for the refinery to be forthcoming with reasonable excuses for any challenges so that the citizenry can buy into the solutions so decided for the benefit of all.
We believe that if there had been constant information flow and transparency, the recent outburst by the workers of TOR would have been avoided.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes the government will take the necessary and urgent steps to deal with the TOR problem head-on and assure the people of the availability of oil on a regular basis.
Friday, October 23, 2009
RE-TOOL FIRE SERVICE NOW (OCT 23, 2009)
THE Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is seriously under resourced and the fire that completely ravaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Accra last Wednesday night is a clear testimony to this.
The Daily Graphic thinks the GNFS needs to be re-tooled, and with great urgency too, considering that the fire at the ministry exposed the service to serious lapses in our management of natural disasters, especially with regard to fire outbreaks.
We are worried because the service cannot perform its core duties effectively when the tools needed to undertake those duties are not available.
But the situation really goes far beyond the provision of logistics for the service; it also has to do with the planning of our cities and urban centres all over the country.
In the districts, the GNFS operates like an ordinary office, with no sense of urgency, because of the apparent lack of resources.
In cases where there are fire hydrants, the lack of proper planning and monitoring has led to water in those hydrants drying up.
Furthermore, the lack of planning has ensured that fire fighters would have to meander their way through heavy traffic and by the time they reach a disaster zone the fire must have completely devastated lives and property.
What is really worrying is the fact that Ghana is catching up with modernity in terms of high-rise buildings. And if the GNFS cannot deal with challenges in a 10-storey building in this modern day, then the lives of many Ghanaians and foreigners cannot simply be guaranteed.
We also know that the response of the service to distress calls leaves much to be desired.
But, by and large, the personnel have proved incapable on many occasions, not for want of trying but because the tools are not there to help them to deliver.
However, the GNFS cannot be treated with such contempt. It is one of the key institutions that we need if we are to protect lives and property. We should stop pretending that we are poor and, therefore, cannot resource such an important institution, only for us to turn around to pass the buck when natural calamity strikes.
What we have lost to the fire at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is quite unfortunate. Indeed, the loss is not only staggering but irreparable.
The tragedy should be a wake-up call for us to put in place some strategies to protect our heritage and national property. It also calls for the creation of a data bank in which records of all important national files will be kept as back ups which can be retrieved in case of an emergency.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes that the report of the committee that will be set up to look into the circumstances that led to the fire outbreak will not gather dust in the files but will be implemented to bring about reforms in disaster prevention and management.
The Daily Graphic thinks the GNFS needs to be re-tooled, and with great urgency too, considering that the fire at the ministry exposed the service to serious lapses in our management of natural disasters, especially with regard to fire outbreaks.
We are worried because the service cannot perform its core duties effectively when the tools needed to undertake those duties are not available.
But the situation really goes far beyond the provision of logistics for the service; it also has to do with the planning of our cities and urban centres all over the country.
In the districts, the GNFS operates like an ordinary office, with no sense of urgency, because of the apparent lack of resources.
In cases where there are fire hydrants, the lack of proper planning and monitoring has led to water in those hydrants drying up.
Furthermore, the lack of planning has ensured that fire fighters would have to meander their way through heavy traffic and by the time they reach a disaster zone the fire must have completely devastated lives and property.
What is really worrying is the fact that Ghana is catching up with modernity in terms of high-rise buildings. And if the GNFS cannot deal with challenges in a 10-storey building in this modern day, then the lives of many Ghanaians and foreigners cannot simply be guaranteed.
We also know that the response of the service to distress calls leaves much to be desired.
But, by and large, the personnel have proved incapable on many occasions, not for want of trying but because the tools are not there to help them to deliver.
However, the GNFS cannot be treated with such contempt. It is one of the key institutions that we need if we are to protect lives and property. We should stop pretending that we are poor and, therefore, cannot resource such an important institution, only for us to turn around to pass the buck when natural calamity strikes.
What we have lost to the fire at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is quite unfortunate. Indeed, the loss is not only staggering but irreparable.
The tragedy should be a wake-up call for us to put in place some strategies to protect our heritage and national property. It also calls for the creation of a data bank in which records of all important national files will be kept as back ups which can be retrieved in case of an emergency.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes that the report of the committee that will be set up to look into the circumstances that led to the fire outbreak will not gather dust in the files but will be implemented to bring about reforms in disaster prevention and management.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
SAFETY ON VOLTA LAKE (OCT 22, 2009)
ANOTHER boat tragedy hit a community along the Volta Lake last Monday, claiming about 20 lives.
The latest disaster occurred at Wusuta in the Kpando District of the Volta Region.
Eyewitnesses said the casualty rate would have been higher but for the efforts of a schoolteacher, Mr Raphael Nanikuma, who rescued some of the victims.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends him for this show of valour.
We think the time has come for the authorities to initiate remedies for the recurrent boat tragedies on the Volta Lake.
It is not possible, for instance, for the government to provide pontoons for all the communities along the Volta Lake and other major water bodies throughout the country.
For now and the foreseeable future, private boat owners will continue to play critical roles in transporting people and goods across the lake.
Our resources will not be able to provide for the construction of bridges over the Volta Lake and from Adawso to Ekye Amanfrom in the Afram Plains, for instance, to reduce travel time and eliminate the use of boats to cross the lake.
The state, therefore, has an obligation to facilitate the safety of the people whose mobility depends on boats.
The recurrent tragedy shows that there are no standards regulating the activities of boat owners and their operations on the Volta Lake and other water bodies.
The Ghana Maritime Authority is mandated to regulate the activities of boat owners and set standards for them to ensure the safety of lives and property on the Volta Lake.
The DAILY GRAPHIC would, at this stage, want to know what has happened to plans to phase out wooden boats for fibre glass boats that can withstand storms on the lake. But guess what, now that we have been hit by this boat disaster, officials of state will pontificate about measures that will be adopted to prevent the recurrence of the Wusuta tragedy.
Indeed, the basic rules and regulations required to ensure marine safety are on our statutes but the challenge has always been with enforcement.
The DAILY GRAPHIC recalls that a few years ago when the country was hit by a similar tragedy, the authorities were mandated to enforce safety measures on the lake.
Consequently, boat owners were directed to comply strictly with the weight requirements when plying their trade on the lake.
Judging by the rising levels of boat disasters, the DAILY GRAPHIC is convinced that the stakeholders have been flouting these guidelines with impunity.
Public education is key to achieving behavioural change in society but that does not mean that if people deliberately flout the law they should not be penalised to serve as a deterrent to others.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that because we have allowed boat owners and passengers to ignore the basic rules of engagement, avoidable tragedies continue to occur on the lake.
The challenge is a Herculean one but if we all put our shoulders to the wheel, we may be able to reduce the fatalities on the Volta Lake.
While efforts are made to enforce safety regulations on the lake, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to expedite action on the acquisition of new pontoons for use on the Volta Lake to reduce the reliance on boats.
Meanwhile, the DAILY GRAPHIC expresses its condolences to the bereaved families. We wish them renewed strength and God’s guidance during these trying times.
The latest disaster occurred at Wusuta in the Kpando District of the Volta Region.
Eyewitnesses said the casualty rate would have been higher but for the efforts of a schoolteacher, Mr Raphael Nanikuma, who rescued some of the victims.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends him for this show of valour.
We think the time has come for the authorities to initiate remedies for the recurrent boat tragedies on the Volta Lake.
It is not possible, for instance, for the government to provide pontoons for all the communities along the Volta Lake and other major water bodies throughout the country.
For now and the foreseeable future, private boat owners will continue to play critical roles in transporting people and goods across the lake.
Our resources will not be able to provide for the construction of bridges over the Volta Lake and from Adawso to Ekye Amanfrom in the Afram Plains, for instance, to reduce travel time and eliminate the use of boats to cross the lake.
The state, therefore, has an obligation to facilitate the safety of the people whose mobility depends on boats.
The recurrent tragedy shows that there are no standards regulating the activities of boat owners and their operations on the Volta Lake and other water bodies.
The Ghana Maritime Authority is mandated to regulate the activities of boat owners and set standards for them to ensure the safety of lives and property on the Volta Lake.
The DAILY GRAPHIC would, at this stage, want to know what has happened to plans to phase out wooden boats for fibre glass boats that can withstand storms on the lake. But guess what, now that we have been hit by this boat disaster, officials of state will pontificate about measures that will be adopted to prevent the recurrence of the Wusuta tragedy.
Indeed, the basic rules and regulations required to ensure marine safety are on our statutes but the challenge has always been with enforcement.
The DAILY GRAPHIC recalls that a few years ago when the country was hit by a similar tragedy, the authorities were mandated to enforce safety measures on the lake.
Consequently, boat owners were directed to comply strictly with the weight requirements when plying their trade on the lake.
Judging by the rising levels of boat disasters, the DAILY GRAPHIC is convinced that the stakeholders have been flouting these guidelines with impunity.
Public education is key to achieving behavioural change in society but that does not mean that if people deliberately flout the law they should not be penalised to serve as a deterrent to others.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that because we have allowed boat owners and passengers to ignore the basic rules of engagement, avoidable tragedies continue to occur on the lake.
The challenge is a Herculean one but if we all put our shoulders to the wheel, we may be able to reduce the fatalities on the Volta Lake.
While efforts are made to enforce safety regulations on the lake, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to expedite action on the acquisition of new pontoons for use on the Volta Lake to reduce the reliance on boats.
Meanwhile, the DAILY GRAPHIC expresses its condolences to the bereaved families. We wish them renewed strength and God’s guidance during these trying times.
SAFETY ON VOLTA LAKE (OCT 22, 2009)
ANOTHER boat tragedy hit a community along the Volta Lake last Monday, claiming about 20 lives.
The latest disaster occurred at Wusuta in the Kpando District of the Volta Region.
Eyewitnesses said the casualty rate would have been higher but for the efforts of a schoolteacher, Mr Raphael Nanikuma, who rescued some of the victims.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends him for this show of valour.
We think the time has come for the authorities to initiate remedies for the recurrent boat tragedies on the Volta Lake.
It is not possible, for instance, for the government to provide pontoons for all the communities along the Volta Lake and other major water bodies throughout the country.
For now and the foreseeable future, private boat owners will continue to play critical roles in transporting people and goods across the lake.
Our resources will not be able to provide for the construction of bridges over the Volta Lake and from Adawso to Ekye Amanfrom in the Afram Plains, for instance, to reduce travel time and eliminate the use of boats to cross the lake.
The state, therefore, has an obligation to facilitate the safety of the people whose mobility depends on boats.
The recurrent tragedy shows that there are no standards regulating the activities of boat owners and their operations on the Volta Lake and other water bodies.
The Ghana Maritime Authority is mandated to regulate the activities of boat owners and set standards for them to ensure the safety of lives and property on the Volta Lake.
The DAILY GRAPHIC would, at this stage, want to know what has happened to plans to phase out wooden boats for fibre glass boats that can withstand storms on the lake. But guess what, now that we have been hit by this boat disaster, officials of state will pontificate about measures that will be adopted to prevent the recurrence of the Wusuta tragedy.
Indeed, the basic rules and regulations required to ensure marine safety are on our statutes but the challenge has always been with enforcement.
The DAILY GRAPHIC recalls that a few years ago when the country was hit by a similar tragedy, the authorities were mandated to enforce safety measures on the lake.
Consequently, boat owners were directed to comply strictly with the weight requirements when plying their trade on the lake.
Judging by the rising levels of boat disasters, the DAILY GRAPHIC is convinced that the stakeholders have been flouting these guidelines with impunity.
Public education is key to achieving behavioural change in society but that does not mean that if people deliberately flout the law they should not be penalised to serve as a deterrent to others.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that because we have allowed boat owners and passengers to ignore the basic rules of engagement, avoidable tragedies continue to occur on the lake.
The challenge is a Herculean one but if we all put our shoulders to the wheel, we may be able to reduce the fatalities on the Volta Lake.
While efforts are made to enforce safety regulations on the lake, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to expedite action on the acquisition of new pontoons for use on the Volta Lake to reduce the reliance on boats.
Meanwhile, the DAILY GRAPHIC expresses its condolences to the bereaved families. We wish them renewed strength and God’s guidance during these trying times.
The latest disaster occurred at Wusuta in the Kpando District of the Volta Region.
Eyewitnesses said the casualty rate would have been higher but for the efforts of a schoolteacher, Mr Raphael Nanikuma, who rescued some of the victims.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends him for this show of valour.
We think the time has come for the authorities to initiate remedies for the recurrent boat tragedies on the Volta Lake.
It is not possible, for instance, for the government to provide pontoons for all the communities along the Volta Lake and other major water bodies throughout the country.
For now and the foreseeable future, private boat owners will continue to play critical roles in transporting people and goods across the lake.
Our resources will not be able to provide for the construction of bridges over the Volta Lake and from Adawso to Ekye Amanfrom in the Afram Plains, for instance, to reduce travel time and eliminate the use of boats to cross the lake.
The state, therefore, has an obligation to facilitate the safety of the people whose mobility depends on boats.
The recurrent tragedy shows that there are no standards regulating the activities of boat owners and their operations on the Volta Lake and other water bodies.
The Ghana Maritime Authority is mandated to regulate the activities of boat owners and set standards for them to ensure the safety of lives and property on the Volta Lake.
The DAILY GRAPHIC would, at this stage, want to know what has happened to plans to phase out wooden boats for fibre glass boats that can withstand storms on the lake. But guess what, now that we have been hit by this boat disaster, officials of state will pontificate about measures that will be adopted to prevent the recurrence of the Wusuta tragedy.
Indeed, the basic rules and regulations required to ensure marine safety are on our statutes but the challenge has always been with enforcement.
The DAILY GRAPHIC recalls that a few years ago when the country was hit by a similar tragedy, the authorities were mandated to enforce safety measures on the lake.
Consequently, boat owners were directed to comply strictly with the weight requirements when plying their trade on the lake.
Judging by the rising levels of boat disasters, the DAILY GRAPHIC is convinced that the stakeholders have been flouting these guidelines with impunity.
Public education is key to achieving behavioural change in society but that does not mean that if people deliberately flout the law they should not be penalised to serve as a deterrent to others.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that because we have allowed boat owners and passengers to ignore the basic rules of engagement, avoidable tragedies continue to occur on the lake.
The challenge is a Herculean one but if we all put our shoulders to the wheel, we may be able to reduce the fatalities on the Volta Lake.
While efforts are made to enforce safety regulations on the lake, the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to expedite action on the acquisition of new pontoons for use on the Volta Lake to reduce the reliance on boats.
Meanwhile, the DAILY GRAPHIC expresses its condolences to the bereaved families. We wish them renewed strength and God’s guidance during these trying times.
REDUCING BURDEN ON SERVICE PERSONS (OCT 21)
THE National Service Scheme (NSS) has come up against huge challenges this year due mainly to the fallout from the global economic crisis.
Consequently, some service persons are being rejected by the organisations to which they have been posted because of limited vacancies and economic challenges.
Thus a little over 10 days after the 2009/2010 postings, some of the service persons are yet to know their fate.
Some service persons are unable to access the website of the NSS to know their placements, while certain institutions have failed to absorb those posted to those institutions.
Established in 1974, the scheme has been structured to offer graduates of tertiary institutions the opportunity to offer services in critical areas of national development which, otherwise, would have attracted skilled manpower.
It was originally meant to provide teachers for the classrooms in second-cycle institutions and also offer the service persons the platform to express their gratitude to society for sponsoring their education.
So when it all began, the scheme deployed graduates to every nook and cranny of the country to offer their services to deprived institutions and communities that cannot pay for such personnel from their own resources.
In spite of the challenges, the scheme continues to assist the Ghana Education Service (GES) especially with personnel for the classrooms which would have been empty every academic year.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the only challenge that threatens the future of the scheme is our inability to plan towards its phenomenal growth over the years.
When the scheme took off, there were only three public institutions in the country whose graduates were mandated to do national service.
Presently, besides the public universities that have shot up from three to six, with many campuses across the country, many private universities have been set up, as well as the polytechnics and other tertiary institutions whose products must be posted to institutions as service persons.
That is why the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the traditional public and private institutions cannot be relied upon to absorb the large number of service persons who are posted every year.
We think the scheme was not conceived to send out service persons to compete for the limited vacancies in the offices for clerical duties but to offer services to the communities, especially the deprived ones.
Even as institutions such as the banks, public boards and corporations reject the service persons for lack of vacancies, our classrooms and health posts are still without teachers and health workers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on parents and service persons to help the scheme by desisting from putting pressure on officials of the scheme to post service persons to the urban centres only.
The scheme will achieve the desired impact if public officials also stop influencing the postings so that the service persons will be posted to areas where their services are needed most.
Some of the present challenges are not the making of the NSS because it responded to requests from the organisations. We can only advise that in the present circumstances the organisations that are rejecting the service persons reconsider their decision.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is aware of the financial challenges but the organisations should do well to absorb the service persons as their contribution to the sustenance of the NSS, for the present bottleneck is just a passing cloud.
Consequently, some service persons are being rejected by the organisations to which they have been posted because of limited vacancies and economic challenges.
Thus a little over 10 days after the 2009/2010 postings, some of the service persons are yet to know their fate.
Some service persons are unable to access the website of the NSS to know their placements, while certain institutions have failed to absorb those posted to those institutions.
Established in 1974, the scheme has been structured to offer graduates of tertiary institutions the opportunity to offer services in critical areas of national development which, otherwise, would have attracted skilled manpower.
It was originally meant to provide teachers for the classrooms in second-cycle institutions and also offer the service persons the platform to express their gratitude to society for sponsoring their education.
So when it all began, the scheme deployed graduates to every nook and cranny of the country to offer their services to deprived institutions and communities that cannot pay for such personnel from their own resources.
In spite of the challenges, the scheme continues to assist the Ghana Education Service (GES) especially with personnel for the classrooms which would have been empty every academic year.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the only challenge that threatens the future of the scheme is our inability to plan towards its phenomenal growth over the years.
When the scheme took off, there were only three public institutions in the country whose graduates were mandated to do national service.
Presently, besides the public universities that have shot up from three to six, with many campuses across the country, many private universities have been set up, as well as the polytechnics and other tertiary institutions whose products must be posted to institutions as service persons.
That is why the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the traditional public and private institutions cannot be relied upon to absorb the large number of service persons who are posted every year.
We think the scheme was not conceived to send out service persons to compete for the limited vacancies in the offices for clerical duties but to offer services to the communities, especially the deprived ones.
Even as institutions such as the banks, public boards and corporations reject the service persons for lack of vacancies, our classrooms and health posts are still without teachers and health workers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on parents and service persons to help the scheme by desisting from putting pressure on officials of the scheme to post service persons to the urban centres only.
The scheme will achieve the desired impact if public officials also stop influencing the postings so that the service persons will be posted to areas where their services are needed most.
Some of the present challenges are not the making of the NSS because it responded to requests from the organisations. We can only advise that in the present circumstances the organisations that are rejecting the service persons reconsider their decision.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is aware of the financial challenges but the organisations should do well to absorb the service persons as their contribution to the sustenance of the NSS, for the present bottleneck is just a passing cloud.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
LESSONS FROM SATELLITES VICTORY (OCT 20, 2009)
THE victory of the Satellites teaches us one great lesson — that with unity of purpose every obstacle can be surmounted.
That is why it is said that no success is achieved without struggle. And again, the Satellites demonstrated to the whole world that hard work crowns success and sacrifices.
The President spoke about what could be achieved through teamwork when he said in Koforidua last Friday that, "The feat chalked up by the Black Satellites is also an indication of what a united people driven by a common destiny can achieve in the face of adversity and seeming impossibility."
The players demonstrated the can-do spirit throughout 120 minutes of play and during the dramatic penalty shoot-out when they pressed on with determination to die for Mother Ghana.
What was clear during the 21-day tournament in Egypt was that all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliations, prayed and gave their total support to the national Under-20 team every step of the way to annex the ultimate prize.
It, therefore, came as no surprise when teeming football fans, enthusiastic young men, women, children, as well as the elderly, poured onto the streets to celebrate the historic and sweet victory.
Everything we did was about patriotism and if we are able to extend such unity of purpose and demonstrate exceptional love for our dear nation and ourselves, there is no difficulty that we cannot overcome.
Unfortunately, sometimes we allow extreme politics and trivialities to divide our front for very parochial interests.
In football circles and other disciplines, players are able to achieve success when they demonstrate teamwork, unity and, above all, love for one another, knowing very well that the end result of their engagements depends on their collective effort and responsibility.
The word 'team' means a lot and if that is appreciated, there is no way a people determined to achieve greatness cannot do so. Simply put, 'team' means 'together everybody achieves more' and, therefore, if we bind together, our individual achievements will be as spectacular as the Satellites’ victory over Brazil last Friday.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the time has come for the people to unite for nation building, for in unity lies strength.
Another lesson is that in the face of daunting challenges, we should not despair, since the greatest harm that we can do to ourselves is to lose confidence in our capacity to overcome.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak for mobilising the support of his countrymen and women behind the Satellites’ during their match against Brazil. This was a rare show of African brotherhood and friendship and we doff our hats for him.
The Satellites have shown that "Yes, We Can".
We think the nation, at the moment, needs a united front to transform the economy and improve the quality of life of the people.
That is why it is said that no success is achieved without struggle. And again, the Satellites demonstrated to the whole world that hard work crowns success and sacrifices.
The President spoke about what could be achieved through teamwork when he said in Koforidua last Friday that, "The feat chalked up by the Black Satellites is also an indication of what a united people driven by a common destiny can achieve in the face of adversity and seeming impossibility."
The players demonstrated the can-do spirit throughout 120 minutes of play and during the dramatic penalty shoot-out when they pressed on with determination to die for Mother Ghana.
What was clear during the 21-day tournament in Egypt was that all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliations, prayed and gave their total support to the national Under-20 team every step of the way to annex the ultimate prize.
It, therefore, came as no surprise when teeming football fans, enthusiastic young men, women, children, as well as the elderly, poured onto the streets to celebrate the historic and sweet victory.
Everything we did was about patriotism and if we are able to extend such unity of purpose and demonstrate exceptional love for our dear nation and ourselves, there is no difficulty that we cannot overcome.
Unfortunately, sometimes we allow extreme politics and trivialities to divide our front for very parochial interests.
In football circles and other disciplines, players are able to achieve success when they demonstrate teamwork, unity and, above all, love for one another, knowing very well that the end result of their engagements depends on their collective effort and responsibility.
The word 'team' means a lot and if that is appreciated, there is no way a people determined to achieve greatness cannot do so. Simply put, 'team' means 'together everybody achieves more' and, therefore, if we bind together, our individual achievements will be as spectacular as the Satellites’ victory over Brazil last Friday.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the time has come for the people to unite for nation building, for in unity lies strength.
Another lesson is that in the face of daunting challenges, we should not despair, since the greatest harm that we can do to ourselves is to lose confidence in our capacity to overcome.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak for mobilising the support of his countrymen and women behind the Satellites’ during their match against Brazil. This was a rare show of African brotherhood and friendship and we doff our hats for him.
The Satellites have shown that "Yes, We Can".
We think the nation, at the moment, needs a united front to transform the economy and improve the quality of life of the people.
Monday, October 19, 2009
ABUAKWA PLANT MUST NOT DIE (OCT 19, 2009)
THE government last Wednesday announced an upward adjustment in the producer price of cocoa in order to motivate cocoa farmers to increase production.
Under the package, the government introduced an insurance scheme for all cocoa farmers to alleviate their hardships when they retire from farming.
While cocoa farmers have generally hailed the intervention by the government, something happening in the cocoa sector does not signal good things to happen in the industry.
It is, however, shocking that at the time the government is taking steps to raise cocoa production to about one million tonnes per annum, the Abuakwa Formulation Plant in Kumasi has already been closed down.
The plant, which produces Confidor, the insecticide used for the mass cocoa spraying exercise, has been shut down and the appointment of all management members and other staff terminated.
Reports say the decision to close down the plant followed the pulling out of the majority shareholder, Bayer Crop Science Limited of Germany, and the inability of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the minority shareholder, to carry on with the operations.
It is rather unfortunate that the partnership has broken down and COCOBOD has to contract a private company to import the insecticide from Germany for the mass spraying exercise.
Through the rationale for the closure of the plant has not been disclosed, certainly, this piece of news is not refreshing. Besides posing major challenges for the mass spraying exercise, the closure will lead to loss of jobs and hardships for the workers and their dependants.
We concede that sometimes an organisation needs to cede some of its functions to other partners in order to concentrate on its core business, but we beg to say in this instance that COCOBOD cannot pass on the production of insecticides, key ingredient in its efforts to maximise cocoa output, to another party.
Perhaps COCOBOD has very cogent reasons for not taking over control of the plant to produce the insecticide locally, but decided rather to import it. From economics standpoint, that may be the most prudent thing to do.
However, the social and political costs, if not considered properly, can cause tension and confusion, not only within the circles of the workers who have been affected by the closure, but also among farmers who may not get their allocation of insecticide to spray their farms.
What really baffles the DAILY GRAPHIC is the feet-dragging attitude that characterised the closure of the plant.
We think if the authorities were bent on saving the plant, something concrete could have been done when the workers appealed to the government last year to intervene in order to suspend plans about closing down the company.
The DAILY GRAPHIC urges the government to investigate the circumstances leading to the closure of the plant, because sometimes, personal considerations can be at the heart of the shutdown of the plant.
We know all public officials are supposed to discharge their duties for the benefit of society, but it will also be naive to assume that all actions of public officials are informed by the larger public interest.
Cocoa is our lifeblood, for which reason we must collectively, work hard to protect our heritage.
Under the package, the government introduced an insurance scheme for all cocoa farmers to alleviate their hardships when they retire from farming.
While cocoa farmers have generally hailed the intervention by the government, something happening in the cocoa sector does not signal good things to happen in the industry.
It is, however, shocking that at the time the government is taking steps to raise cocoa production to about one million tonnes per annum, the Abuakwa Formulation Plant in Kumasi has already been closed down.
The plant, which produces Confidor, the insecticide used for the mass cocoa spraying exercise, has been shut down and the appointment of all management members and other staff terminated.
Reports say the decision to close down the plant followed the pulling out of the majority shareholder, Bayer Crop Science Limited of Germany, and the inability of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the minority shareholder, to carry on with the operations.
It is rather unfortunate that the partnership has broken down and COCOBOD has to contract a private company to import the insecticide from Germany for the mass spraying exercise.
Through the rationale for the closure of the plant has not been disclosed, certainly, this piece of news is not refreshing. Besides posing major challenges for the mass spraying exercise, the closure will lead to loss of jobs and hardships for the workers and their dependants.
We concede that sometimes an organisation needs to cede some of its functions to other partners in order to concentrate on its core business, but we beg to say in this instance that COCOBOD cannot pass on the production of insecticides, key ingredient in its efforts to maximise cocoa output, to another party.
Perhaps COCOBOD has very cogent reasons for not taking over control of the plant to produce the insecticide locally, but decided rather to import it. From economics standpoint, that may be the most prudent thing to do.
However, the social and political costs, if not considered properly, can cause tension and confusion, not only within the circles of the workers who have been affected by the closure, but also among farmers who may not get their allocation of insecticide to spray their farms.
What really baffles the DAILY GRAPHIC is the feet-dragging attitude that characterised the closure of the plant.
We think if the authorities were bent on saving the plant, something concrete could have been done when the workers appealed to the government last year to intervene in order to suspend plans about closing down the company.
The DAILY GRAPHIC urges the government to investigate the circumstances leading to the closure of the plant, because sometimes, personal considerations can be at the heart of the shutdown of the plant.
We know all public officials are supposed to discharge their duties for the benefit of society, but it will also be naive to assume that all actions of public officials are informed by the larger public interest.
Cocoa is our lifeblood, for which reason we must collectively, work hard to protect our heritage.
BRAVO, SATELLITES (OCT 17, 2009)
Ghana’s Black Satellites yesterday rolled back the years of glorious moments of Ghana football after defying the odds for 120 minutes of pulsating football to become the first African country to win the World Youth championship. And history could not have been better timed than for them to win it on African soil, with Egypt playing perfect host for Andre Dede Ayew and his team-mates to rewrite the books.
It’s been long awaited and Ghana was third-time lucky. Twice the Satellites reached the summit of world youth football and failed in 1993 and 2001. However, yesterday the long wait came to an end and the Satellites finally went into orbit by defying the odds to win the FIFA Under-20 Championship 5-4 on penalties over the dreaded Brazil who denied Ghana the first taste of glory in Australia in 1993.
The invisible hand of God was at play, particularly in the tie-breaking penalty shoot-out. Ghana’s victory did not come by chance.
Throughout the tournament, Sellas Tetteh’s team showed a winning mentality to emerge group winners and conquered all they surveyed in the run up to the dream final.
At the heart of Ghana’s dominant display was Dominic Adiyiah, whose scoring prowess contributed half of Ghana’s total goal haul of 16 to finish as the tournament’s most outstanding player, as well as the top scorer, with eight goals. It was, indeed, the first time a Ghanaian player had won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe awards in a single tournament, honours that propel Adiyiah into the global limelight as the world’s premier youth footballer.
Not only was revenge over Brazil a pleasant feat; yesterday’s victory was made sweeter as the Satellites displayed courage and resilience even after centre-back Daniel Addo had been shown the red card in the first half at a time when the Brazilians were dominating play — the mark of champions.
In the face of injury and uncertainty over his availability for the final, Captain Ayew showed true leadership qualities by playing through the pain barrier to lead his team-mates to victory and scoring the first penalty kick that opened the flood gates.
And when it mattered most, goalkeeper Daniel Agyei stood tall with heroic saves during regulation time and in particular in the course of the tie-breaking penalty shoot-out.
As African champions, the Satellites had the mandate to fly not only the Ghana flag but also become worthy ambassadors of African football, particularly with the continent staging the tournament, while other African representatives fell along the way.
Indeed, it was a good advertisement of African football, coming just months ahead of the first FIFA World Cup on African soil in South Africa next year.
Ghana’s success provides hope for the future of Ghana football in particular and African football in general. Over the years, the world youth championship has been the nursery ground for the world’s future superstars such as Brazil’s Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, Xavi Hernandez of Spain, Xavier Saviola of Argentina, Ghana’s Sammy Kuffour and Michael Essien, among other world greats.
In fact, the Black Stars is dominated by members of the 2001 World Youth Championship silver medal-winning team and it is most gratifying that players such as Adiyiah, Ransford Osei, Ayew, Opoku Agyemang and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu have shown they have what it takes to be considered for the Black Stars, having shown great promise among the world’s most talented youth players.
It’s been long awaited and Ghana was third-time lucky. Twice the Satellites reached the summit of world youth football and failed in 1993 and 2001. However, yesterday the long wait came to an end and the Satellites finally went into orbit by defying the odds to win the FIFA Under-20 Championship 5-4 on penalties over the dreaded Brazil who denied Ghana the first taste of glory in Australia in 1993.
The invisible hand of God was at play, particularly in the tie-breaking penalty shoot-out. Ghana’s victory did not come by chance.
Throughout the tournament, Sellas Tetteh’s team showed a winning mentality to emerge group winners and conquered all they surveyed in the run up to the dream final.
At the heart of Ghana’s dominant display was Dominic Adiyiah, whose scoring prowess contributed half of Ghana’s total goal haul of 16 to finish as the tournament’s most outstanding player, as well as the top scorer, with eight goals. It was, indeed, the first time a Ghanaian player had won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe awards in a single tournament, honours that propel Adiyiah into the global limelight as the world’s premier youth footballer.
Not only was revenge over Brazil a pleasant feat; yesterday’s victory was made sweeter as the Satellites displayed courage and resilience even after centre-back Daniel Addo had been shown the red card in the first half at a time when the Brazilians were dominating play — the mark of champions.
In the face of injury and uncertainty over his availability for the final, Captain Ayew showed true leadership qualities by playing through the pain barrier to lead his team-mates to victory and scoring the first penalty kick that opened the flood gates.
And when it mattered most, goalkeeper Daniel Agyei stood tall with heroic saves during regulation time and in particular in the course of the tie-breaking penalty shoot-out.
As African champions, the Satellites had the mandate to fly not only the Ghana flag but also become worthy ambassadors of African football, particularly with the continent staging the tournament, while other African representatives fell along the way.
Indeed, it was a good advertisement of African football, coming just months ahead of the first FIFA World Cup on African soil in South Africa next year.
Ghana’s success provides hope for the future of Ghana football in particular and African football in general. Over the years, the world youth championship has been the nursery ground for the world’s future superstars such as Brazil’s Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, Xavi Hernandez of Spain, Xavier Saviola of Argentina, Ghana’s Sammy Kuffour and Michael Essien, among other world greats.
In fact, the Black Stars is dominated by members of the 2001 World Youth Championship silver medal-winning team and it is most gratifying that players such as Adiyiah, Ransford Osei, Ayew, Opoku Agyemang and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu have shown they have what it takes to be considered for the Black Stars, having shown great promise among the world’s most talented youth players.
Friday, October 16, 2009
SATELLITES MISSION TO FULFIL (OCT 16, 2009)
IN a fitting climax to the FIFA Under 20 football championship in Cairo, the Satellites of Ghana will tonight engage Brazil in a football thriller that must be the dream of the football world.
The pedigree of the two teams, as well as their performance in the tournament so far, leaves no one in doubt that what will be on show tonight in the Egyptian capital will be nothing less than a football classic: One fit for the gods.
But here in Ghana and, indeed, in Brazil, the anxiety, excitement and expectation go beyond the beauty of football. To the players, their coaches, officials, as well as the millions of their supporters back home, what is at stake is more than an exhibition of individual brilliance.
It is about the diadem at stake and the title as monarchs of world Under 20 football.
This is so because in both countries football means more than just entertainment — it is business, a way of life and a safety valve through which the feelings of all social classes find expression.
In Brazil, as well as Ghana, football fever knows no class boundaries and it afflicts all, including Presidents, kings, queens, as well as their servants, with equal measure.
And, especially at the youth level of the game, the tension has always reached fever pitch any time the path of Ghana has crossed that of Brazil. The last time the two teams met in the final of the Under 20 World Cup in Australia in 1993, it was Brazil who triumphed.
Therefore, as the two teams revisit that drama in Cairo tonight, the Satellites have a disposition to approach their mission with a sense of vengeance. And, thus far, they have demonstrated the character worthy of champions.
In midfield and attack, the Satellites are the most accomplished in the tournament, with Dominic Adiyiah as the prospective goal king.
Fortunately, Coach Sellas Tetteh has publicly stated that he has found a few lapses in his defensive arrangement and it is our wish that he had dealt with it early enough to ensure a compact team and total victory over the Brazilians.
The likes of Mohammed Gargo, Odartey-Lamptey and Isaac Asare did it at Italia ‘91. It is now the turn of Adiyiah, Dede Ayew and co to do it.
And Ghanaians know they can! We want nothing short of a convincing victory today.
The pedigree of the two teams, as well as their performance in the tournament so far, leaves no one in doubt that what will be on show tonight in the Egyptian capital will be nothing less than a football classic: One fit for the gods.
But here in Ghana and, indeed, in Brazil, the anxiety, excitement and expectation go beyond the beauty of football. To the players, their coaches, officials, as well as the millions of their supporters back home, what is at stake is more than an exhibition of individual brilliance.
It is about the diadem at stake and the title as monarchs of world Under 20 football.
This is so because in both countries football means more than just entertainment — it is business, a way of life and a safety valve through which the feelings of all social classes find expression.
In Brazil, as well as Ghana, football fever knows no class boundaries and it afflicts all, including Presidents, kings, queens, as well as their servants, with equal measure.
And, especially at the youth level of the game, the tension has always reached fever pitch any time the path of Ghana has crossed that of Brazil. The last time the two teams met in the final of the Under 20 World Cup in Australia in 1993, it was Brazil who triumphed.
Therefore, as the two teams revisit that drama in Cairo tonight, the Satellites have a disposition to approach their mission with a sense of vengeance. And, thus far, they have demonstrated the character worthy of champions.
In midfield and attack, the Satellites are the most accomplished in the tournament, with Dominic Adiyiah as the prospective goal king.
Fortunately, Coach Sellas Tetteh has publicly stated that he has found a few lapses in his defensive arrangement and it is our wish that he had dealt with it early enough to ensure a compact team and total victory over the Brazilians.
The likes of Mohammed Gargo, Odartey-Lamptey and Isaac Asare did it at Italia ‘91. It is now the turn of Adiyiah, Dede Ayew and co to do it.
And Ghanaians know they can! We want nothing short of a convincing victory today.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
THE NEW PRODUCER PRICE (OCT 15, 2009)
COCOA farmers throughout the country have welcomed the new producer price for the produce and the introduction of the insurance package as a progressive move to rejuvenate the cocoa industry.
Although for some time now our governments have taken steps to diversify the economy, cocoa continues to earn the bulk of the country’s foreign exchange, albeit with some challenges.
The price of cocoa has been going up since last year, against the general global economic decline, and Ghana stands to gain tremendously if cocoa farmers are motivated to increase their yield.
When we faced challenges with the declining price of cocoa on the world market some years ago, the government decided to encourage farmers and business men and women to venture into the cultivation of non-traditional export crops.
In no time Ghana made inroads into the international market with produce such as pineapples, considered to be of high quality, pepper, cashew, mangoes and pawpaw. The list is inexhaustible and the results showed in the performance of the sector as a major foreign exchange earner for the country.
But the stakeholders in the sector, especially the farmers, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the government, still felt that with the right practices, cocoa could continue to earn a fortune for the country.
Indeed, anytime the price of the commodity has fallen on the world market, there has been trouble with Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves.
The government has made certain interventions, such as the mass spraying of cocoa farms and the supply of fertiliser to the farmers to help boost yield, and the result has been quite astounding.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the periodic review of the producer price of cocoa has helped to sustain at least the interest of our aged farmers in the industry.
We commend the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and COCOBOD for the latest interventions to motivate cocoa farmers and assure the youth that if they venture into cocoa farming their toils will not be in vain.
While these steps taken by the government are refreshing, it should quickly deal with other bottlenecks in the system that frustrate farmers not to either maintain their farms or undertake new ventures.
The liberalisation of the purchases of cocoa has introduced competition into the sector but on some occasions certain licensed buying companies (LBCs) have defaulted in paying the farmers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the time has come for the stakeholders to find an antidote to this challenge in order to sustain the interest of the farmers in the industry.
The directive to the review committee to undertake a quarterly review of the producer price, instead of the seasonal ritual, should give hope to farmers that the government is determined to address the challenges facing the industry.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the farmers also have to honour their side of the bargain by not only increasing production but also exposing those who engage in the smuggling of the produce to neighbouring countries.
We believe the package announced by the government is good enough to improve the welfare of the farmers but the DAILY GRAPHIC expects the farmers to keep to good practices in order to sustain the premium placed on Ghana’s cocoa beans.
Although for some time now our governments have taken steps to diversify the economy, cocoa continues to earn the bulk of the country’s foreign exchange, albeit with some challenges.
The price of cocoa has been going up since last year, against the general global economic decline, and Ghana stands to gain tremendously if cocoa farmers are motivated to increase their yield.
When we faced challenges with the declining price of cocoa on the world market some years ago, the government decided to encourage farmers and business men and women to venture into the cultivation of non-traditional export crops.
In no time Ghana made inroads into the international market with produce such as pineapples, considered to be of high quality, pepper, cashew, mangoes and pawpaw. The list is inexhaustible and the results showed in the performance of the sector as a major foreign exchange earner for the country.
But the stakeholders in the sector, especially the farmers, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the government, still felt that with the right practices, cocoa could continue to earn a fortune for the country.
Indeed, anytime the price of the commodity has fallen on the world market, there has been trouble with Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves.
The government has made certain interventions, such as the mass spraying of cocoa farms and the supply of fertiliser to the farmers to help boost yield, and the result has been quite astounding.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the periodic review of the producer price of cocoa has helped to sustain at least the interest of our aged farmers in the industry.
We commend the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and COCOBOD for the latest interventions to motivate cocoa farmers and assure the youth that if they venture into cocoa farming their toils will not be in vain.
While these steps taken by the government are refreshing, it should quickly deal with other bottlenecks in the system that frustrate farmers not to either maintain their farms or undertake new ventures.
The liberalisation of the purchases of cocoa has introduced competition into the sector but on some occasions certain licensed buying companies (LBCs) have defaulted in paying the farmers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the time has come for the stakeholders to find an antidote to this challenge in order to sustain the interest of the farmers in the industry.
The directive to the review committee to undertake a quarterly review of the producer price, instead of the seasonal ritual, should give hope to farmers that the government is determined to address the challenges facing the industry.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the farmers also have to honour their side of the bargain by not only increasing production but also exposing those who engage in the smuggling of the produce to neighbouring countries.
We believe the package announced by the government is good enough to improve the welfare of the farmers but the DAILY GRAPHIC expects the farmers to keep to good practices in order to sustain the premium placed on Ghana’s cocoa beans.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
WE MUST WIN WAR AGAINST ROBBERS (OCT 14, 2009)
ARMED robbery in this country has been taken to a new level following what can be described as a Hollywood-style robbery that led to the death of a policeman on the Spintex Road on Monday.
This is not to say that the DAILY GRAPHIC has not reported worse crimes in the past; it is the sheer dexterity and precision with which these armed robbers strike these days, going to the extent of killing police officers in the line of duty, that baffles our imagination.
It appears that these operations can only be the work of trained assassins and robbers who have gained a certain amount of confidence in the way they carry out their activities.
The latest operation by the robbers is an indication that the fight against armed robbery is far from over and that we have to step up our efforts in order to break the back of the robbers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the policeman and at the same time points out the need to provide more logistics for our policemen.
In line with the government’s pledge to create a secure environment for people to carry out their daily endeavours peacefully, the police and the military established a task force to deal with the armed robbery menace.
The force with which the armed robbers are regrouping shows that they have come up with new tricks to outwit the security agencies.
Past experiences should have taught us that these miscreants in society only take a back seat in the belief that the security agencies will relax their patrols and intensive policing duties.
It is for this reason that the DAILY GRAPHIC again reminds the people that effective policing requires the support of members of society.
We, therefore, call for constant support for the police if we intend to tackle the armed robbery threat head-on. If the robbers are allowed to have their way, they will make the country insecure. For, if the lives of those tasked to protect us cannot be safe, can the citizenry be protected from these criminals whose aim is to rob, kill or maim innocent citizens?
The courage with which the robbers are going about their activities gives a clear signal that they are equally well equipped to carry out their evil deeds.
But there is a very useful lesson to learn from the Spintex Road robbery — it is the responsibility of every citizen in the country to expose wrongdoing and wrongdoers. These armed robbers live among us and very often we know their trade and yet we are unwilling to expose them because in some cases their deeds are never extended to the communities in which we reside.
It is our civic responsibility to report the conduct of those who have made it their duty to rob to make a living.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on all individuals to support the police to fight crime, otherwise more deviants will have their way.
Today, the life of a policeman has been lost; tomorrow it may be you or any member of your family and, therefore, let us make the fight against armed robbery a collective resolve and responsibility.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC calls for more support for the police in their fight against crime, we think the time has come for the Ghana Police Service to revive the neighbourhood watch committees in all communities so that the committees can complement the efforts of the security agencies in fighting crime.
This is not to say that the DAILY GRAPHIC has not reported worse crimes in the past; it is the sheer dexterity and precision with which these armed robbers strike these days, going to the extent of killing police officers in the line of duty, that baffles our imagination.
It appears that these operations can only be the work of trained assassins and robbers who have gained a certain amount of confidence in the way they carry out their activities.
The latest operation by the robbers is an indication that the fight against armed robbery is far from over and that we have to step up our efforts in order to break the back of the robbers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the policeman and at the same time points out the need to provide more logistics for our policemen.
In line with the government’s pledge to create a secure environment for people to carry out their daily endeavours peacefully, the police and the military established a task force to deal with the armed robbery menace.
The force with which the armed robbers are regrouping shows that they have come up with new tricks to outwit the security agencies.
Past experiences should have taught us that these miscreants in society only take a back seat in the belief that the security agencies will relax their patrols and intensive policing duties.
It is for this reason that the DAILY GRAPHIC again reminds the people that effective policing requires the support of members of society.
We, therefore, call for constant support for the police if we intend to tackle the armed robbery threat head-on. If the robbers are allowed to have their way, they will make the country insecure. For, if the lives of those tasked to protect us cannot be safe, can the citizenry be protected from these criminals whose aim is to rob, kill or maim innocent citizens?
The courage with which the robbers are going about their activities gives a clear signal that they are equally well equipped to carry out their evil deeds.
But there is a very useful lesson to learn from the Spintex Road robbery — it is the responsibility of every citizen in the country to expose wrongdoing and wrongdoers. These armed robbers live among us and very often we know their trade and yet we are unwilling to expose them because in some cases their deeds are never extended to the communities in which we reside.
It is our civic responsibility to report the conduct of those who have made it their duty to rob to make a living.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on all individuals to support the police to fight crime, otherwise more deviants will have their way.
Today, the life of a policeman has been lost; tomorrow it may be you or any member of your family and, therefore, let us make the fight against armed robbery a collective resolve and responsibility.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC calls for more support for the police in their fight against crime, we think the time has come for the Ghana Police Service to revive the neighbourhood watch committees in all communities so that the committees can complement the efforts of the security agencies in fighting crime.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
MAXIMISING OIL REVENUE (OCT 13, 2009)
GHANA has been blessed with oil in commercial quantities, thanks to the efforts of many Ghanaians and their foreign counterparts who, through their labour, have brought to this country one of the most sought-after resources on earth.
Many in our part of the world have described oil as “a curse” rather than a blessing. And this is rightly so because some of our neighbours have not been able to use their oil find to reshape the destiny of their people.
We are reminded on a daily basis about the many problems that have engulfed such countries as a result of the inability of the authorities there to put in place the right structures to deal with the myriad of challenges associated with the oil find.
Ghana cannot claim to be insulated from these nagging challenges in communities which feel sidelined when it comes to the sharing of oil revenue.
The issue of “galamsey” mining and its threat to the environment reminds us of our collective failure to deal with problems associated with the exploitation and management of our natural resources for the benefit of all.
This is only one example of the systemic failure and political interference that have negatively impacted our national development agenda and this gives us cause to be apprehensive about the country’s oil find.
Already, there are reports of foreigners buying large tracts of land in and around the Western Region.
It is in this vein that the DAILY GRAPHIC welcomes the announcement by President J.E.A. Mills to the effect that a Petroleum Revenue Management Bill is to be passed by Parliament to ensure the prudent utilisation of our oil and gas find.
That is well said, but history has taught us that while we have laws to govern every facet of our national endeavour, such laws are on our statutes without their being applied.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the time has come for a comprehensive strategy on how revenue from the oil and gas business is to be used. We encourage transparency at all levels to ensure that every Ghanaian can, without any bureaucratic tendencies, access how such funds are applied.
This way, we can create a much deeper collaboration between the citizenry and the policy makers.
When there is no transparency, the communities feel the policy makers are feeding fat on their resources, while the communities lack basic amenities to improve their living standards.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the country can avoid the problems of the oil find if there is a shared responsibility on the part of both the citizenry and the policy makers to ensure the proper management of the oil revenue.
The paper calls on the authorities to begin the training of indigenous people in the required fields of operation that will ensure the transfer of skills to the local people.
It is only when such people find opportunities in the oil and gas business that they will be responsible to their communities.
If we fail to take the opportunities presented to us by the oil find to better the lives of our people, posterity will judge us for making the oil and gas business a curse instead of a blessing.
Many in our part of the world have described oil as “a curse” rather than a blessing. And this is rightly so because some of our neighbours have not been able to use their oil find to reshape the destiny of their people.
We are reminded on a daily basis about the many problems that have engulfed such countries as a result of the inability of the authorities there to put in place the right structures to deal with the myriad of challenges associated with the oil find.
Ghana cannot claim to be insulated from these nagging challenges in communities which feel sidelined when it comes to the sharing of oil revenue.
The issue of “galamsey” mining and its threat to the environment reminds us of our collective failure to deal with problems associated with the exploitation and management of our natural resources for the benefit of all.
This is only one example of the systemic failure and political interference that have negatively impacted our national development agenda and this gives us cause to be apprehensive about the country’s oil find.
Already, there are reports of foreigners buying large tracts of land in and around the Western Region.
It is in this vein that the DAILY GRAPHIC welcomes the announcement by President J.E.A. Mills to the effect that a Petroleum Revenue Management Bill is to be passed by Parliament to ensure the prudent utilisation of our oil and gas find.
That is well said, but history has taught us that while we have laws to govern every facet of our national endeavour, such laws are on our statutes without their being applied.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the time has come for a comprehensive strategy on how revenue from the oil and gas business is to be used. We encourage transparency at all levels to ensure that every Ghanaian can, without any bureaucratic tendencies, access how such funds are applied.
This way, we can create a much deeper collaboration between the citizenry and the policy makers.
When there is no transparency, the communities feel the policy makers are feeding fat on their resources, while the communities lack basic amenities to improve their living standards.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the country can avoid the problems of the oil find if there is a shared responsibility on the part of both the citizenry and the policy makers to ensure the proper management of the oil revenue.
The paper calls on the authorities to begin the training of indigenous people in the required fields of operation that will ensure the transfer of skills to the local people.
It is only when such people find opportunities in the oil and gas business that they will be responsible to their communities.
If we fail to take the opportunities presented to us by the oil find to better the lives of our people, posterity will judge us for making the oil and gas business a curse instead of a blessing.
Monday, October 12, 2009
MOTIVATING THE COCOA FARMER (OCT 12)
THE need to support cocoa farmers in the country has always been a top priority for any government.
This is because our cocoa industry is quite peculiar. It is dependent on individual holdings and family plantations, contrary to what pertains in other countries where there are large-scale cocoa plantations.
Therefore, the President’s call on the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to, within a week, announce a new producer price of cocoa is not only timely but also very refreshing indeed.
Contrary to forecasts of a downward turn in the country’s commodity exports as a result of the global economic downturn, we have seen an upward surge in cocoa prices, in particular, which currently stands at US$3,243 per metric tonne.
Again, Ghana’s cocoa is referred to as premium commodity because of its quality, hence it enjoys a much better price than the other cocoa exports on the international commodities market.
Given this healthy development, it is only proper to give back to cocoa farmers their fair share of the proceeds of their labour and toil.
Farming was once a lucrative venture for most of our rural dwellers and a source of wealth for people engaged in this business. However, over the years it is now a reverse of the former situation.
The Daily Graphic is aware of the many interventions by various governments over the years that have helped to enhance the country’s cocoa yield.
The mass spraying exercise, for instance, helped push our production from about 300,000 tonnes of annual exports to a record high of about 700,000 tonnes in recent times. Since then the country has been recording above 600,000 tonnes of cocoa exports yearly.
Indeed, the current government sees the need to continue this project started by its predecessor and has committed itself to the mass spraying exercise of cocoa throughout the country.
Only last month, the government signed a landmark cocoa syndicated loan amounting to US$1.2 billion for the 2009/10 crop season. Clearly, this shows the seriousness the country attaches to the country’s major foreign currency earner.
But, while the Daily Graphic commends the government and the authorities for these initiatives, it is important that the problems that have bedevilled the mass cocoa spraying exercise are dealt with quickly to ensure that the country’s projection for cocoa production this year is not undermined.
The government must show the same commitment to the programme as it has shown to other sectors of the economy to purge the mass cocoa spraying exercise of any perceived political interference.
Fact is that the contribution of the cocoa sector to the economy has far-reaching implications and our actions and inaction could either mar this sector or put it on the pedestal for rapid development.
So what is the best way forward? The Daily Graphic thinks we have no other option than to give the industry the support it deserves and everybody must get on board.
This is because our cocoa industry is quite peculiar. It is dependent on individual holdings and family plantations, contrary to what pertains in other countries where there are large-scale cocoa plantations.
Therefore, the President’s call on the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to, within a week, announce a new producer price of cocoa is not only timely but also very refreshing indeed.
Contrary to forecasts of a downward turn in the country’s commodity exports as a result of the global economic downturn, we have seen an upward surge in cocoa prices, in particular, which currently stands at US$3,243 per metric tonne.
Again, Ghana’s cocoa is referred to as premium commodity because of its quality, hence it enjoys a much better price than the other cocoa exports on the international commodities market.
Given this healthy development, it is only proper to give back to cocoa farmers their fair share of the proceeds of their labour and toil.
Farming was once a lucrative venture for most of our rural dwellers and a source of wealth for people engaged in this business. However, over the years it is now a reverse of the former situation.
The Daily Graphic is aware of the many interventions by various governments over the years that have helped to enhance the country’s cocoa yield.
The mass spraying exercise, for instance, helped push our production from about 300,000 tonnes of annual exports to a record high of about 700,000 tonnes in recent times. Since then the country has been recording above 600,000 tonnes of cocoa exports yearly.
Indeed, the current government sees the need to continue this project started by its predecessor and has committed itself to the mass spraying exercise of cocoa throughout the country.
Only last month, the government signed a landmark cocoa syndicated loan amounting to US$1.2 billion for the 2009/10 crop season. Clearly, this shows the seriousness the country attaches to the country’s major foreign currency earner.
But, while the Daily Graphic commends the government and the authorities for these initiatives, it is important that the problems that have bedevilled the mass cocoa spraying exercise are dealt with quickly to ensure that the country’s projection for cocoa production this year is not undermined.
The government must show the same commitment to the programme as it has shown to other sectors of the economy to purge the mass cocoa spraying exercise of any perceived political interference.
Fact is that the contribution of the cocoa sector to the economy has far-reaching implications and our actions and inaction could either mar this sector or put it on the pedestal for rapid development.
So what is the best way forward? The Daily Graphic thinks we have no other option than to give the industry the support it deserves and everybody must get on board.
CONFLICTS DRAW US BACK (OCT 10, 2009)
FOR any country to make meaningful progress towards development, peaceful co-existence is one of the cardinal ingredients for the attainment of such a goal.
All over the world the people who have been able to transform their societies and champion development are those who promote absolute peace through adherence to the principles of the rule of law.
Therefore, the admonition by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, to his people, at the Town Hall meeting at Bolgatanga on Thursday, that the region could only develop in an atmosphere of peace, is indeed spot on.
The three northern regions are the most deprived in terms of social infrastructure, further worsening the disparities between that area and the southern part of our country.
But ethnic tensions and political rivalry have been fuelled to deprive the people of the benefits outlined in government policies and programmes.
Many attempts have been made to resolve these conflicts but the actions seem unable to calm the nerves and engender peaceful co-existence.
We need to remind our contemporaries of the objectives contained in the Millennium Development Goals, which mandate every country to reduce poverty by half by 2015.
Although we have made some progress in this regard, more efforts need to be put in to bridge the divide between northern Ghana and the southern part of the country.
However, such efforts can only yield fruitful results in an atmosphere devoid of communal violence among the people in the same communities.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, thinks beyond the rhetoric of peaceful co-existence among the people in conflict areas such as Bawku and other troubled spots in the country, there is the need for all to walk the talk.
Oftentimes, our people in conflict zones declare to live in peace. However, their actions and inaction more or less contribute to the escalation of violence in our communities.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes the time has come for our leaders to dissociate criminal activities from political activism in order to deal with the root cause of violence and conflicts across the country.
State institutions must also act in a more responsible manner to gain the trust of the people and also to ensure that life and property are protected.
The DAILY GRAPHIC condemns the trend that encourages people to defy authority because they are well-connected in society.
Violence in any part of the world has never proven to help any individual or country in any way. Instead, it has more than polarised societies and threatened human co-habitation and survival.
In the event of conflict, we should resolve to remain at the dialogue table until a solution is found instead of cutting heads and maiming limbs.
While some conflicts have been with us for decades, it is not an impossibility to solve this “cancer” that has eaten deep into our social fabric, provided we acknowledge that we are one people with one great destiny.
The country needs everyone’s contribution towards achieving our collective national aspirations of building a better Ghana.
All over the world the people who have been able to transform their societies and champion development are those who promote absolute peace through adherence to the principles of the rule of law.
Therefore, the admonition by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, to his people, at the Town Hall meeting at Bolgatanga on Thursday, that the region could only develop in an atmosphere of peace, is indeed spot on.
The three northern regions are the most deprived in terms of social infrastructure, further worsening the disparities between that area and the southern part of our country.
But ethnic tensions and political rivalry have been fuelled to deprive the people of the benefits outlined in government policies and programmes.
Many attempts have been made to resolve these conflicts but the actions seem unable to calm the nerves and engender peaceful co-existence.
We need to remind our contemporaries of the objectives contained in the Millennium Development Goals, which mandate every country to reduce poverty by half by 2015.
Although we have made some progress in this regard, more efforts need to be put in to bridge the divide between northern Ghana and the southern part of the country.
However, such efforts can only yield fruitful results in an atmosphere devoid of communal violence among the people in the same communities.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, thinks beyond the rhetoric of peaceful co-existence among the people in conflict areas such as Bawku and other troubled spots in the country, there is the need for all to walk the talk.
Oftentimes, our people in conflict zones declare to live in peace. However, their actions and inaction more or less contribute to the escalation of violence in our communities.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes the time has come for our leaders to dissociate criminal activities from political activism in order to deal with the root cause of violence and conflicts across the country.
State institutions must also act in a more responsible manner to gain the trust of the people and also to ensure that life and property are protected.
The DAILY GRAPHIC condemns the trend that encourages people to defy authority because they are well-connected in society.
Violence in any part of the world has never proven to help any individual or country in any way. Instead, it has more than polarised societies and threatened human co-habitation and survival.
In the event of conflict, we should resolve to remain at the dialogue table until a solution is found instead of cutting heads and maiming limbs.
While some conflicts have been with us for decades, it is not an impossibility to solve this “cancer” that has eaten deep into our social fabric, provided we acknowledge that we are one people with one great destiny.
The country needs everyone’s contribution towards achieving our collective national aspirations of building a better Ghana.
LET'S HAVE SANITY IN LAND ADMINISTRATION (OCT 9, 2009)
TIME is running out for the statutory authorities to ensure that we have wholesome houses or accommodation in sprawling cities such as Accra where everybody is a practising developer because many residents think it is better to have one’s own house.
The practice has aggravated the chaotic situation in land use and tenure system in the country, especially when the system is not governed by any policy or regulatory framework. In some cases, there are conflicting claims of ownership of land.
There is another challenge — the fraudulent and multiple sale of land, leading to the situation where land guards are unleashed on innocent citizens by certain developers who want to protect their property.
The protection of life and property is the sole responsibility of the police but because they have been overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of the problem, it is left to individual developers to safeguard their investments.
The DAILY GRAPHIC supports the move by the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GIS) in drafting the Survey Council Bill and the Estates Agency Bill to regulate the system and encourage the prosecution of land guards and others who disregard statutory regulations.
We agree with the standpoint of the President of the GIS, Mr Osei Asante, that the chaotic and haphazard development in the country, particularly in Accra, was due to poor planning and disregard for the use of the services of professionals in the planning and development of the country.
Indeed, the challenges on the land market are compounded by those who do not have security to their titles and others who are just common criminals bent on creating confusion and pain to law-abiding citizens.
We should also take a critical look at the granting of permits by the statutory authorities because delays in the granting of permits to prospective developers can compel some developers to bend the rules.
The DAILY GRAPHIC encourages prospective developers to talk to the right professionals in the construction industry in order to address the chaos in the system because any land litigation has the potential to scare away prospective investors.
At the heart of the chaos in the system is the desire by everybody to own a house. Therefore, in addressing the housing problems, we should design policies that will take care of the needs of people in the lower brackets of society.
We think a systematic land use policy will put a stop to the phenomenon where people encroach on lands reserved for public use, so that the authorities can put order into the disorder in all settlements in the country.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to empower statutory authorities such as the Town and Country Planning Department to enforce the regulations governing spatial planning and development.
We think the lack of consistency in determining the ministry under which the department falls also gives the impression that there is no clear-cut direction on spatial planning.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes all is not lost yet, as the government can put in place the mechanisms to restore sanity into land acquisition and development in the country.
The practice has aggravated the chaotic situation in land use and tenure system in the country, especially when the system is not governed by any policy or regulatory framework. In some cases, there are conflicting claims of ownership of land.
There is another challenge — the fraudulent and multiple sale of land, leading to the situation where land guards are unleashed on innocent citizens by certain developers who want to protect their property.
The protection of life and property is the sole responsibility of the police but because they have been overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of the problem, it is left to individual developers to safeguard their investments.
The DAILY GRAPHIC supports the move by the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GIS) in drafting the Survey Council Bill and the Estates Agency Bill to regulate the system and encourage the prosecution of land guards and others who disregard statutory regulations.
We agree with the standpoint of the President of the GIS, Mr Osei Asante, that the chaotic and haphazard development in the country, particularly in Accra, was due to poor planning and disregard for the use of the services of professionals in the planning and development of the country.
Indeed, the challenges on the land market are compounded by those who do not have security to their titles and others who are just common criminals bent on creating confusion and pain to law-abiding citizens.
We should also take a critical look at the granting of permits by the statutory authorities because delays in the granting of permits to prospective developers can compel some developers to bend the rules.
The DAILY GRAPHIC encourages prospective developers to talk to the right professionals in the construction industry in order to address the chaos in the system because any land litigation has the potential to scare away prospective investors.
At the heart of the chaos in the system is the desire by everybody to own a house. Therefore, in addressing the housing problems, we should design policies that will take care of the needs of people in the lower brackets of society.
We think a systematic land use policy will put a stop to the phenomenon where people encroach on lands reserved for public use, so that the authorities can put order into the disorder in all settlements in the country.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to empower statutory authorities such as the Town and Country Planning Department to enforce the regulations governing spatial planning and development.
We think the lack of consistency in determining the ministry under which the department falls also gives the impression that there is no clear-cut direction on spatial planning.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes all is not lost yet, as the government can put in place the mechanisms to restore sanity into land acquisition and development in the country.
REVIVING HOPE IN THE ECONOMY (OCT 8)
THE failure of the regulatory mechanisms in the advanced economies has caused major ripples in the corridors of businesses all over the world.
In the case of Ghana, the economy has faced major challenges since 2007 when the economic gains made over the years began to show signs of erosion.
Hit by the economic challenges, the structures put in place to sustain the economy could not stand the shocks, resulting in rising cost of doing business and high cost of living in the country.
Presently, the rate of inflation is still high, although it has been falling for some time now, interest rates are high, while the cedi has fallen against the major currencies.
The threats posed by the global economic challenges have thrown out of gear the calculated attempts by our governments to attain a single-digit inflation, bring interest rates down and make our currency more competitive on the foreign exchange market.
The Mills-led administration has already put in place measures to arrest the economic decline in order to accelerate economic growth.
In the government’s budget statement and fiscal policy for 2009 and its mid-year review, the government outlined many policy interventions to halt the malaise that has afflicted the national economy.
We need to remind our compatriots that it is not going to be easy to fix the economy after the near collapse of the fundamentals, leading to uncontrolled government expenditure and borrowing from the banks, thereby crowding out the private sector.
It is for this reason that we welcome Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur to the saddle as the new Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
Having worked at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in the past as a Deputy Minister, the new governor should be very familiar with the challenges facing the national economy.
The DAILY GRAPHIC shares in the sentiments of President J.E.A. Mills when he charged the new governor on Tuesday to “lead the central bank to introduce innovative and prudent fiscal policies that will help address the current challenges facing the economy and also absorb unpredictable shocks on the international market”.
We have always been commended by renowned economists all over the world for doing our best to revive the economy, although the gains are yet to translate into better living standards for the people.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls for a stimulus package that will lead to a further fall in inflation, a drop in interest rates and the competitiveness of the cedi against the major currencies.
Under the present circumstances, businesses are suffocating under the high interest and inflationary rates because it has become more expensive to access credit from the banks.
Even though we do not think a deliberate influence of the market forces is the way to go, the present challenges require that well thought-out policies are put in place to stimulate the engine of growth.
The DAILY GRAPHIC congratulates Mr Amissah-Arthur on his appointment and wish him a successful tenure. May his tenure witness an economic boom and better living conditions in the country.
In the case of Ghana, the economy has faced major challenges since 2007 when the economic gains made over the years began to show signs of erosion.
Hit by the economic challenges, the structures put in place to sustain the economy could not stand the shocks, resulting in rising cost of doing business and high cost of living in the country.
Presently, the rate of inflation is still high, although it has been falling for some time now, interest rates are high, while the cedi has fallen against the major currencies.
The threats posed by the global economic challenges have thrown out of gear the calculated attempts by our governments to attain a single-digit inflation, bring interest rates down and make our currency more competitive on the foreign exchange market.
The Mills-led administration has already put in place measures to arrest the economic decline in order to accelerate economic growth.
In the government’s budget statement and fiscal policy for 2009 and its mid-year review, the government outlined many policy interventions to halt the malaise that has afflicted the national economy.
We need to remind our compatriots that it is not going to be easy to fix the economy after the near collapse of the fundamentals, leading to uncontrolled government expenditure and borrowing from the banks, thereby crowding out the private sector.
It is for this reason that we welcome Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur to the saddle as the new Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
Having worked at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in the past as a Deputy Minister, the new governor should be very familiar with the challenges facing the national economy.
The DAILY GRAPHIC shares in the sentiments of President J.E.A. Mills when he charged the new governor on Tuesday to “lead the central bank to introduce innovative and prudent fiscal policies that will help address the current challenges facing the economy and also absorb unpredictable shocks on the international market”.
We have always been commended by renowned economists all over the world for doing our best to revive the economy, although the gains are yet to translate into better living standards for the people.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls for a stimulus package that will lead to a further fall in inflation, a drop in interest rates and the competitiveness of the cedi against the major currencies.
Under the present circumstances, businesses are suffocating under the high interest and inflationary rates because it has become more expensive to access credit from the banks.
Even though we do not think a deliberate influence of the market forces is the way to go, the present challenges require that well thought-out policies are put in place to stimulate the engine of growth.
The DAILY GRAPHIC congratulates Mr Amissah-Arthur on his appointment and wish him a successful tenure. May his tenure witness an economic boom and better living conditions in the country.
RESOLVING THE HOUSING DEFICIT (OCT 7, 2009)
MONDAY, October 5 marked World Habitat Day, a day set aside by the United Nations in 1985 to help people reflect on the state of their towns and cities and the basic right to adequate shelter for all.
Here in Ghana, it also offered the opportunity to take a look at the state of our settlements.
It is not in doubt that the habitation standard in the country is not good enough, as the statutory authorities have allowed squatters and others to erect unauthorised structures everywhere.
The creation of slums in our cities especially gained a foothold a few decades ago when many of our compatriots decided to leave the countryside for greener pastures in Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Sekondi-Takoradi.
One of the development models, the “housing first” model, espouses the philosophy that before someone can work towards recovery or employment, a safe and comfortable home is necessary.
Although the solution to the housing deficit of almost one million units appears to be a Herculean task for our government, any pragmatic step may be an appropriate step towards the seeming homelessness among majority of the people, including workers in the cities.
No government can ignore the critical relevance of housing in scaling up the standard of living of the people because housing becomes the nexus point for the delivery of social services.
Indeed, the government is conscious of the task ahead of it and has been devising several strategies to provide accommodation for the people.
At a durbar at Mantse Agbonaa in Accra to mark World Habitat Day, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Albert Abongo, expressed optimism that more Ghanaians would have decent places to lay their heads once the construction of the Affordable Housing Project was completed.
Presently, the development activities of public institutions and individuals have overtaken the planning processes, leading to the creation of settlements ahead of the provision of infrastructure such as schools, roads, electricity, water and health facilities.
It is unfortunate that in our desperation to find a solution to the problems created by the sprawling slums in our cities, we seem to be singing conflicting tunes.
While human rights activists are against the eviction of squatters, the statutory authorities think that law-abiding citizens of the cities can no longer tolerate the nuisance of squatters.
The DAILY GRAPHIC does not think that it is the intention of the government to throw people onto the streets during these harsh times but these unwelcome guests in places such as Sodom and Gomorrah and other slums cannot be allowed to occupy the places where their sheer presence will impede development projects such as the Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project.
We may want to ask whether those who insist on the resettlement of the squatters are prepared to sacrifice part of the budgetary allocation for other sectors for the resettlement exercise.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the decision does not rest with a few civil society groups but all Ghanaians whose sacrifices will help to put a lid over the rigmarole of relocating the squatters.
And for the way forward, the government, private developers and even the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) should step up their interventions for the provision of affordable housing in order to address the sprawling slum challenges and homelessness facing the country.
Here in Ghana, it also offered the opportunity to take a look at the state of our settlements.
It is not in doubt that the habitation standard in the country is not good enough, as the statutory authorities have allowed squatters and others to erect unauthorised structures everywhere.
The creation of slums in our cities especially gained a foothold a few decades ago when many of our compatriots decided to leave the countryside for greener pastures in Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Sekondi-Takoradi.
One of the development models, the “housing first” model, espouses the philosophy that before someone can work towards recovery or employment, a safe and comfortable home is necessary.
Although the solution to the housing deficit of almost one million units appears to be a Herculean task for our government, any pragmatic step may be an appropriate step towards the seeming homelessness among majority of the people, including workers in the cities.
No government can ignore the critical relevance of housing in scaling up the standard of living of the people because housing becomes the nexus point for the delivery of social services.
Indeed, the government is conscious of the task ahead of it and has been devising several strategies to provide accommodation for the people.
At a durbar at Mantse Agbonaa in Accra to mark World Habitat Day, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Albert Abongo, expressed optimism that more Ghanaians would have decent places to lay their heads once the construction of the Affordable Housing Project was completed.
Presently, the development activities of public institutions and individuals have overtaken the planning processes, leading to the creation of settlements ahead of the provision of infrastructure such as schools, roads, electricity, water and health facilities.
It is unfortunate that in our desperation to find a solution to the problems created by the sprawling slums in our cities, we seem to be singing conflicting tunes.
While human rights activists are against the eviction of squatters, the statutory authorities think that law-abiding citizens of the cities can no longer tolerate the nuisance of squatters.
The DAILY GRAPHIC does not think that it is the intention of the government to throw people onto the streets during these harsh times but these unwelcome guests in places such as Sodom and Gomorrah and other slums cannot be allowed to occupy the places where their sheer presence will impede development projects such as the Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project.
We may want to ask whether those who insist on the resettlement of the squatters are prepared to sacrifice part of the budgetary allocation for other sectors for the resettlement exercise.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the decision does not rest with a few civil society groups but all Ghanaians whose sacrifices will help to put a lid over the rigmarole of relocating the squatters.
And for the way forward, the government, private developers and even the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) should step up their interventions for the provision of affordable housing in order to address the sprawling slum challenges and homelessness facing the country.
AYEKOO, TEACHERS (OCTOBER 6, 2009)
YESTERDAY, some teachers were honoured for their dedicated and selfless services towards the development of a highly skilled and efficient human resource for the country.
We salute them for their meritorious service to the country and urge those who did not receive any awards to be inspired to work harder because soon they will receive their reward here on earth, contrary to the popular perception that the teacher’s reward is in heaven.
It is also said that an army marches on its stomach and this, by extension, means that nobody can give of his or her best if the proper incentives are not put in place.
We, therefore, urge the government to step up efforts at improving the remuneration package for our teachers.
Meanwhile, it is heart-warming that the implementation of the single spine salary structure, which is expected to commence next year, will help to resolve this challenge and spur teachers on to give of their best to society.
Some time ago, teachers were highly regarded in our communities as the fountains of wisdom, knowledge and enlightenment. Teachers thus doubled as the spokespersons for the communities to which they were posted. They were held in high esteem as role models worthy to be emulated by children.
Unfortunately, by a combination of factors, including those known and unknown, teachers lost this pre-eminence in society.
They lost credibility in society because some of them indulged in negative behaviours such as drunkenness and absenteeism and left the children to their fate.
Those who remained in the classrooms did very little to improve educational standards or took extra money for extra tuition that they could have done during normal teaching hours.
In spite of these challenges however, the state considered it crucial to find a way of motivating teachers to give their best, hence the introduction of the Best Teachers Awards scheme, which is in its 15th year.
The Mills administration has, since assuming office, initiated some incentive packages for teachers, especially the announcement of a 20 per cent allowance for teachers who accept posting to deprived communities.
It is in line with this objective that President J.E.A. Mills said in Ho yesterday that teachers in deprived areas, as well as those who teach Science, Mathematics, Technical and Vocational subjects, would start enjoying special allowances from this academic year.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appreciates the initiative, as it fulfils the theme for the celebration, “Build the future; Invest in teachers now”.
The teaching confraternity should take the encouraging words by the President that they should take advantage of distance education as a convenient alternative for upgrading themselves as one of the government’s motivational packages for teachers.
It is about time the awards were expanded to cover more teachers, especially those in private educational institutions, as well as non-teaching personnel.
The DAILY GRAPHIC expects that the awards will inspire the winners to give their best because of the onerous challenges and responsibilities the honour places on them.
Similarly, this achievement should inspire and boost the confidence of all teachers to aspire to attain higher laurels in order to unearth the talents in children for a better Ghana.
We salute them for their meritorious service to the country and urge those who did not receive any awards to be inspired to work harder because soon they will receive their reward here on earth, contrary to the popular perception that the teacher’s reward is in heaven.
It is also said that an army marches on its stomach and this, by extension, means that nobody can give of his or her best if the proper incentives are not put in place.
We, therefore, urge the government to step up efforts at improving the remuneration package for our teachers.
Meanwhile, it is heart-warming that the implementation of the single spine salary structure, which is expected to commence next year, will help to resolve this challenge and spur teachers on to give of their best to society.
Some time ago, teachers were highly regarded in our communities as the fountains of wisdom, knowledge and enlightenment. Teachers thus doubled as the spokespersons for the communities to which they were posted. They were held in high esteem as role models worthy to be emulated by children.
Unfortunately, by a combination of factors, including those known and unknown, teachers lost this pre-eminence in society.
They lost credibility in society because some of them indulged in negative behaviours such as drunkenness and absenteeism and left the children to their fate.
Those who remained in the classrooms did very little to improve educational standards or took extra money for extra tuition that they could have done during normal teaching hours.
In spite of these challenges however, the state considered it crucial to find a way of motivating teachers to give their best, hence the introduction of the Best Teachers Awards scheme, which is in its 15th year.
The Mills administration has, since assuming office, initiated some incentive packages for teachers, especially the announcement of a 20 per cent allowance for teachers who accept posting to deprived communities.
It is in line with this objective that President J.E.A. Mills said in Ho yesterday that teachers in deprived areas, as well as those who teach Science, Mathematics, Technical and Vocational subjects, would start enjoying special allowances from this academic year.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appreciates the initiative, as it fulfils the theme for the celebration, “Build the future; Invest in teachers now”.
The teaching confraternity should take the encouraging words by the President that they should take advantage of distance education as a convenient alternative for upgrading themselves as one of the government’s motivational packages for teachers.
It is about time the awards were expanded to cover more teachers, especially those in private educational institutions, as well as non-teaching personnel.
The DAILY GRAPHIC expects that the awards will inspire the winners to give their best because of the onerous challenges and responsibilities the honour places on them.
Similarly, this achievement should inspire and boost the confidence of all teachers to aspire to attain higher laurels in order to unearth the talents in children for a better Ghana.
REAPING THE FRUITS OF DEMOCRACY (OCT 5)
Ghana has once again found itself among the best governed nations in Africa. Out of the continent’s 53 countries, Ghana has been ranked the sixth best governed in Africa.
No doubt this ranking is not only an improvement on the first governance index published in 2007 but also it confirms Ghana’s status as a maturing democratic nation.
When the report was first published in 2007, Ghana occupied the eighth position, making its current ranking an improvement on the first.
The data for the 2009 Index of African Governance looked at 57 indicators, including maternal mortality, gross domestic product per capita, respect for human rights and judicial independence, to rate governance in the 53 nations.
Refreshing as the news may be, Ghana’s enviable attainments in democratic governance should spur the people on to work harder to be among the three best governed countries.
Currently, Mauritius, The Seychelles and Cape Verde are the continent’s three best governed nations, according to the annual Index of African Governance report released by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Governance.
At the bottom of the list are Chad, The Sudan and Somalia.
To maintain Ghana’s success story in democratic governance, all and sundry are enjoined to abide by good governance indices, including working and sustaining human development efforts, creating more economic opportunities and security, as well as enhancing our human rights record.
This also requires that Ghana must strive to score highest marks in the areas of respect for civil and political rights and the rule of law.
In this regard, election-related violence must be eliminated from our polity and instead we should cultivate the culture of tolerance. We must encourage the involvement of all in this endeavour — from politicians, human rights activists, security personnel, media practitioners, among others — to engender democratic values and practices within society at all times.
Norms such as free and fair elections, the rule of law, separation of powers and respect for minority views and rights are all cardinal ingredients that we need to uphold and cherish at all times.
So far, what is killing Ghana is the winner-takes-all policy in our governance structure. We should bear in mind that after every election, Ghana becomes one big constituency where there is no partisan division but a united nation with a common goal of creating opportunities for all.
The Daily Graphic believes that the time has come for Ghana to strive towards attaining the goal of sharing the fruits of democracy among all the people and not only the ruling party.
Fortunately, President J.E.A. Mills keeps assuring the nation that he will be a father for all after the 2008 Election. This position of our President becomes even more heart-warming when one considers the close nature of the last elections.
The competitive nature of the polls and the tight outcome point to the fact that Ghanaians need to bind together in order to reap the benefits of democracy.
The authors of the survey have said, “Bettering the lives of all of Africa’s peoples is the overriding purpose of the index,” adding, “By noting which indicators lag and which have advanced, governments can improve the outcomes for their populations.”
The Daily Graphic urges all Ghanaians to use our current ranking to demonstrate to the comity of democratic states that Ghana, indeed, can be counted upon when it comes to democratic governance.
Kudos, Ghana.
No doubt this ranking is not only an improvement on the first governance index published in 2007 but also it confirms Ghana’s status as a maturing democratic nation.
When the report was first published in 2007, Ghana occupied the eighth position, making its current ranking an improvement on the first.
The data for the 2009 Index of African Governance looked at 57 indicators, including maternal mortality, gross domestic product per capita, respect for human rights and judicial independence, to rate governance in the 53 nations.
Refreshing as the news may be, Ghana’s enviable attainments in democratic governance should spur the people on to work harder to be among the three best governed countries.
Currently, Mauritius, The Seychelles and Cape Verde are the continent’s three best governed nations, according to the annual Index of African Governance report released by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Governance.
At the bottom of the list are Chad, The Sudan and Somalia.
To maintain Ghana’s success story in democratic governance, all and sundry are enjoined to abide by good governance indices, including working and sustaining human development efforts, creating more economic opportunities and security, as well as enhancing our human rights record.
This also requires that Ghana must strive to score highest marks in the areas of respect for civil and political rights and the rule of law.
In this regard, election-related violence must be eliminated from our polity and instead we should cultivate the culture of tolerance. We must encourage the involvement of all in this endeavour — from politicians, human rights activists, security personnel, media practitioners, among others — to engender democratic values and practices within society at all times.
Norms such as free and fair elections, the rule of law, separation of powers and respect for minority views and rights are all cardinal ingredients that we need to uphold and cherish at all times.
So far, what is killing Ghana is the winner-takes-all policy in our governance structure. We should bear in mind that after every election, Ghana becomes one big constituency where there is no partisan division but a united nation with a common goal of creating opportunities for all.
The Daily Graphic believes that the time has come for Ghana to strive towards attaining the goal of sharing the fruits of democracy among all the people and not only the ruling party.
Fortunately, President J.E.A. Mills keeps assuring the nation that he will be a father for all after the 2008 Election. This position of our President becomes even more heart-warming when one considers the close nature of the last elections.
The competitive nature of the polls and the tight outcome point to the fact that Ghanaians need to bind together in order to reap the benefits of democracy.
The authors of the survey have said, “Bettering the lives of all of Africa’s peoples is the overriding purpose of the index,” adding, “By noting which indicators lag and which have advanced, governments can improve the outcomes for their populations.”
The Daily Graphic urges all Ghanaians to use our current ranking to demonstrate to the comity of democratic states that Ghana, indeed, can be counted upon when it comes to democratic governance.
Kudos, Ghana.
BENEFITS FROM OUR RESOURCES (OCT 3, 2009)
IT is very common to hear Ghanaians bemoan pervasive poverty although the country is richly endowed. This is because the wealth does not reflect in the standard of living of the people.
The spectacle of want and deprivation hits any visitor to mining communities such as Obuasi, Tarkwa, Prestea and Nsuta.
Majority of the people in these communities live in abject poverty, while the few who control the mining operations and other economic ventures display affluence and the good things of life.
By the act of Providence, we have been blessed with other natural resources — oil and gas — which, by all indications, can lift us from the present low level of development to the stage where we can be in the class of the so-called advanced economies of the world, depending on how these resources are managed.
Already, we have been warned about the potential dangers in the exploration of oil and gas because in other jurisdictions the resources have turned out to be a curse rather than a blessing.
The DAILY GRAPHIC does not expect our leaders to re-invent the wheel but to grab the opportunities inherent in the challenges so that the oil find will help push our agenda of attaining a middle-income status by 2015 faster.
It is against this background that we welcome the advice by the Catholic Bishop of Ho, the Most Rev Francis Lodonu, to Ghanaians to be positive about the country’s natural resources in terms of their exploration, sustainable use and equity in revenue sharing.
A GHANAIAN TIMES report yesterday said the Catholic Bishop, speaking as a member of the National Peace Council (NPC) in Kumasi, said, “The NPC believes Ghana should not see gold and other minerals as a curse,” in apparent reference to the numerous conflicts among stakeholders in the exploration of natural resources.
Even though there is open discussion of a number of issues of national concern, the involvement of the people in determining what the royalties paid to the district assemblies and the stools or skins are used for is still very low.
Most of the conflicts in the country and other parts of the world are linked to the exploration of natural resources and the sharing of the revenue.
The DAILY GRAPHIC expects our leaders to spearhead the exploration of these resources for the good of the people.
Unfortunately, on a number of occasions these resources did not help to promote the good of the people because of lack of equity in the sharing of the resources and the use of force to suppress dissent in the mining communities.
Sustainable development is only about the exploitation of what God has endowed us with in such a way that future generations can be guaranteed a livelihood on earth.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, calls on mining companies to play by the rule, such that their operations will uplift the standard of living of the people.
Presently, many Ghanaians, especially those who live in the mining communities, are convinced that they will be better off if no one disturbs nature through mining operations that result in the pollution of their water sources and the degradation of their lands.
The price is counted in costs such as health problems, poverty and conflicts.
The spectacle of want and deprivation hits any visitor to mining communities such as Obuasi, Tarkwa, Prestea and Nsuta.
Majority of the people in these communities live in abject poverty, while the few who control the mining operations and other economic ventures display affluence and the good things of life.
By the act of Providence, we have been blessed with other natural resources — oil and gas — which, by all indications, can lift us from the present low level of development to the stage where we can be in the class of the so-called advanced economies of the world, depending on how these resources are managed.
Already, we have been warned about the potential dangers in the exploration of oil and gas because in other jurisdictions the resources have turned out to be a curse rather than a blessing.
The DAILY GRAPHIC does not expect our leaders to re-invent the wheel but to grab the opportunities inherent in the challenges so that the oil find will help push our agenda of attaining a middle-income status by 2015 faster.
It is against this background that we welcome the advice by the Catholic Bishop of Ho, the Most Rev Francis Lodonu, to Ghanaians to be positive about the country’s natural resources in terms of their exploration, sustainable use and equity in revenue sharing.
A GHANAIAN TIMES report yesterday said the Catholic Bishop, speaking as a member of the National Peace Council (NPC) in Kumasi, said, “The NPC believes Ghana should not see gold and other minerals as a curse,” in apparent reference to the numerous conflicts among stakeholders in the exploration of natural resources.
Even though there is open discussion of a number of issues of national concern, the involvement of the people in determining what the royalties paid to the district assemblies and the stools or skins are used for is still very low.
Most of the conflicts in the country and other parts of the world are linked to the exploration of natural resources and the sharing of the revenue.
The DAILY GRAPHIC expects our leaders to spearhead the exploration of these resources for the good of the people.
Unfortunately, on a number of occasions these resources did not help to promote the good of the people because of lack of equity in the sharing of the resources and the use of force to suppress dissent in the mining communities.
Sustainable development is only about the exploitation of what God has endowed us with in such a way that future generations can be guaranteed a livelihood on earth.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, calls on mining companies to play by the rule, such that their operations will uplift the standard of living of the people.
Presently, many Ghanaians, especially those who live in the mining communities, are convinced that they will be better off if no one disturbs nature through mining operations that result in the pollution of their water sources and the degradation of their lands.
The price is counted in costs such as health problems, poverty and conflicts.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
COMPUTER SELECTION BLUES (OCT 2)
WHEN, in 2005, the Ghana Education Service (GES) came up with the Computer Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) to replace the manual selection of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates into senior high schools (SHSs), it was for good reasons.
First, the new system was meant to reduce to the barest minimum issues of corruption associated with the old system which allowed less qualified candidates to gain admission to the so-called endowed schools, at the expense of those who made the grades.
Second, the CSSPS was touted to reduce the drudgery of parents moving from one school to another in search of admission for their children, with its attendant frustrations and potential need to bribe one’s way.
We do concede the fact that in the first three years of the new system there were teething problems which were to be expected, given that the number of candidates involved, as against the limited vacancies in the various SHSs, made it impossible to place every qualified candidate in school.
But one would have thought that those teething problems would gradually be resolved, such that in the fifth year of the system, we will not be talking about problems of gargantuan proportions as we are confronted with this year.
Since the GES announced that parents and BECE candidates can check the schools to which the candidates have been posted on the Internet, the airwaves and newspapers have been inundated with one complaint or another, all bordering on the single fact that the system has failed to do justice to the candidates.
There are even complaints that candidates who obtained grade one in all 10 subjects did not get placed in their first-choice schools!
The GES has come out to explain that it used the raw scores of the candidates in the placement exercise, not the grades, and that the fact that a candidate obtained 10 grade ones does not mean his or her raw score will qualify him or her for placement in his or her first-choice school.
The allegations of corruption being bandied about by frustrated parents may have some merit if one considers that while some schools insist on 10 grade ones before one is given admission, it is common to meet candidates with aggregates 15 and more in those schools.
While we are at it, we would like to find out about the policy of allocating about 20 per cent of admissions to candidates from the communities where the schools are sited.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is of the view that that policy should not be jettisoned on the altar of expediency because in some areas families and communities had to sacrifice their farmlands, their sources of livelihood, for the schools to be constructed.
In such cases, it is not wrong to allocate places for indigenes of those communities who pass the BECE but who do not necessarily obtain 10 grade ones or so.
The Akans say “Akyea na emmui”, to wit, although it is bent, it is not yet broken. Therefore, the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks we can rescue the CSSPS if we rid it of the alleged corruption it is associated with to make it a very powerful tool to improve standards in education.
First, the new system was meant to reduce to the barest minimum issues of corruption associated with the old system which allowed less qualified candidates to gain admission to the so-called endowed schools, at the expense of those who made the grades.
Second, the CSSPS was touted to reduce the drudgery of parents moving from one school to another in search of admission for their children, with its attendant frustrations and potential need to bribe one’s way.
We do concede the fact that in the first three years of the new system there were teething problems which were to be expected, given that the number of candidates involved, as against the limited vacancies in the various SHSs, made it impossible to place every qualified candidate in school.
But one would have thought that those teething problems would gradually be resolved, such that in the fifth year of the system, we will not be talking about problems of gargantuan proportions as we are confronted with this year.
Since the GES announced that parents and BECE candidates can check the schools to which the candidates have been posted on the Internet, the airwaves and newspapers have been inundated with one complaint or another, all bordering on the single fact that the system has failed to do justice to the candidates.
There are even complaints that candidates who obtained grade one in all 10 subjects did not get placed in their first-choice schools!
The GES has come out to explain that it used the raw scores of the candidates in the placement exercise, not the grades, and that the fact that a candidate obtained 10 grade ones does not mean his or her raw score will qualify him or her for placement in his or her first-choice school.
The allegations of corruption being bandied about by frustrated parents may have some merit if one considers that while some schools insist on 10 grade ones before one is given admission, it is common to meet candidates with aggregates 15 and more in those schools.
While we are at it, we would like to find out about the policy of allocating about 20 per cent of admissions to candidates from the communities where the schools are sited.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is of the view that that policy should not be jettisoned on the altar of expediency because in some areas families and communities had to sacrifice their farmlands, their sources of livelihood, for the schools to be constructed.
In such cases, it is not wrong to allocate places for indigenes of those communities who pass the BECE but who do not necessarily obtain 10 grade ones or so.
The Akans say “Akyea na emmui”, to wit, although it is bent, it is not yet broken. Therefore, the DAILY GRAPHIC thinks we can rescue the CSSPS if we rid it of the alleged corruption it is associated with to make it a very powerful tool to improve standards in education.
GIVE MORE POWER TO WOMEN (OCT 1)
bridging the gap between men and women in terms of representation in the body politic and other areas of decision-making is a positive step in advancing gender equality in the society.
According to the Women’s Manifesto for Ghana, which is a political document, although women form 51 per cent of the country’s population, meaning that they command the largest electoral vote and play a crucial role in the formation, organisation and electoral victories of political parties, they account for only 10 per cent of people in public office.
Although it was the hope of many gender activists that the various political parties would be influenced by the Affirmative Action policy to choose women to contest the Chereponi seat in the September 29 by-election, the two women who contested the election on the tickets of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) did not obtain enough votes to win the seat.
The outcome of the by-election means that the number of women in Ghana’s 230-member Parliament has reduced to 19 after the passing away of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chereponi, Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu, on August 1, 2009.
The reduction of women’s representation in Parliament is worrying, in view of the fact that the number reduced from 25 in 2004 to 20 in the 2008 elections.
The role of women during the country’s independence struggle and after independence cannot be contested.
Despite the pre-eminence of women in the independence struggle, the Women’s Manifesto maintains that Ghanaian women remain on the fringes of national affairs and are confronted by limited options and formidable social, economic and cultural barriers that place them at a great disadvantage.
We recall a statement made by Mrs Namana before the Chereponi by-election that it would be a credit to women’s development if the people of Chereponi re-elected a woman to replace their deceased MP to continue with her good work which made the electorate retain her.
The United Nations has assessed that a threshold of at least 30 per cent representation is needed in any country for women’s participation in decision-making to be meaningful.
Ghana is, however, far away reaching this goal, since in the last general election, women formed 8.7 per cent of MPs, a situation generally attributed to the lack of political will and commitment by political parties to put women in their safe seats to contest parliamentary elections.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the Women’s Manifesto Coalition for collaborating with ABANTU for Development to organise a forum that brought together defeated female candidates in the 2008 parliamentary elections to encourage them to sustain their interest in politics at the community and national levels.
The representation of more than 50 per cent women in the Rwandan Parliament should serve as an impetus for political parties to realise the key role women play in development and the need to promote women’s involvement in politics through public education and sensitisation programmes.
We agree with the convenor of the Women’s Manifesto Coalition, Mrs Hamida Harrison, that the “country needs to put in extra efforts to deal with the existence of strict gender roles and all societal norms that marginalise and undermine women’s abilities to aspire to leadership positions”.
According to the Women’s Manifesto for Ghana, which is a political document, although women form 51 per cent of the country’s population, meaning that they command the largest electoral vote and play a crucial role in the formation, organisation and electoral victories of political parties, they account for only 10 per cent of people in public office.
Although it was the hope of many gender activists that the various political parties would be influenced by the Affirmative Action policy to choose women to contest the Chereponi seat in the September 29 by-election, the two women who contested the election on the tickets of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) did not obtain enough votes to win the seat.
The outcome of the by-election means that the number of women in Ghana’s 230-member Parliament has reduced to 19 after the passing away of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chereponi, Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu, on August 1, 2009.
The reduction of women’s representation in Parliament is worrying, in view of the fact that the number reduced from 25 in 2004 to 20 in the 2008 elections.
The role of women during the country’s independence struggle and after independence cannot be contested.
Despite the pre-eminence of women in the independence struggle, the Women’s Manifesto maintains that Ghanaian women remain on the fringes of national affairs and are confronted by limited options and formidable social, economic and cultural barriers that place them at a great disadvantage.
We recall a statement made by Mrs Namana before the Chereponi by-election that it would be a credit to women’s development if the people of Chereponi re-elected a woman to replace their deceased MP to continue with her good work which made the electorate retain her.
The United Nations has assessed that a threshold of at least 30 per cent representation is needed in any country for women’s participation in decision-making to be meaningful.
Ghana is, however, far away reaching this goal, since in the last general election, women formed 8.7 per cent of MPs, a situation generally attributed to the lack of political will and commitment by political parties to put women in their safe seats to contest parliamentary elections.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the Women’s Manifesto Coalition for collaborating with ABANTU for Development to organise a forum that brought together defeated female candidates in the 2008 parliamentary elections to encourage them to sustain their interest in politics at the community and national levels.
The representation of more than 50 per cent women in the Rwandan Parliament should serve as an impetus for political parties to realise the key role women play in development and the need to promote women’s involvement in politics through public education and sensitisation programmes.
We agree with the convenor of the Women’s Manifesto Coalition, Mrs Hamida Harrison, that the “country needs to put in extra efforts to deal with the existence of strict gender roles and all societal norms that marginalise and undermine women’s abilities to aspire to leadership positions”.
LET THERE BE PEACE IN CHEREPONI (SEPT 29, 2009)
THE people of Chereponi go to the polls today to elect a successor to the late Member of Parliament (MP), Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu, who died in August this year.
Since the polls are coming on the heels of the polls at Akwatia, its outcome will go a long way to confirm Ghana’s place among the comity of democratic states, in spite of the pre-election challenges.
Ghana has been touted as a model democracy in Africa and we are currently basking in that glory. However, what is troubling is the emerging trend of violence experienced in the country’s recent by-elections.
The Akwatia by-election has come and gone, with its concomitant challenges. What Ghanaians least expect in the Chereponi by-election is a repeat of the violence that reared its ugly head at Akwatia.
The DAILY GRAPHIC cautions all the political parties and their candidates involved in the election today to do everything possible to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls.
Posterity will not forgive us if we lose our balance in the exercise and spill innocent blood just because we want to be victorious at all cost.
The clash between supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Chereponi on Sunday, resulting in serious injuries to a number of people, is very disturbing, indeed.
Although there were no fatalities, the Chereponi scare must be a wake-up call to all and sundry, especially the security agencies, to work hard to protect the integrity of the polls and lives and property.
Political parties and prospective parliamentary candidates must bear in mind that they are seeking the mandate of the electorate in order to improve their living conditions.
The DAILY GRAPHIC has no doubt that the preoccupation of all those seeking political power is the mandate to serve the people to attain better standards of living.
We should not divide our ranks through unhealthy rivalry because after we have emerged victorious in the contest, we would need have a stable society to implement our policies and programmes.
We need human beings to help in the governance of the nation. Every Ghanaian is, therefore, required to put his or her shoulder to the wheel of development.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reminds everybody that despite our political differences, the country’s greatest enemies are poverty, ignorance and disease.
Political parties and parliamentarians mount platforms to present their visions that can help to solve these problems, not to incite their supporters to violence.
Our political opponents are not our enemies; they are our own compatriots who only share alternative ideologies but without whom democracy cannot endure.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, pleads with residents of Chereponi to pledge to go through today’s by-election peacefully and demonstrate to the global community that Ghana does, indeed, believe in the democratic culture.
By so doing, we will not only reap the dividends of democracy but also sustain the peaceful and stable society needed for accelerated growth.
Ghana cannot afford to weaken the platform on which it is receiving global applause for the sake of political expediency.
Since the polls are coming on the heels of the polls at Akwatia, its outcome will go a long way to confirm Ghana’s place among the comity of democratic states, in spite of the pre-election challenges.
Ghana has been touted as a model democracy in Africa and we are currently basking in that glory. However, what is troubling is the emerging trend of violence experienced in the country’s recent by-elections.
The Akwatia by-election has come and gone, with its concomitant challenges. What Ghanaians least expect in the Chereponi by-election is a repeat of the violence that reared its ugly head at Akwatia.
The DAILY GRAPHIC cautions all the political parties and their candidates involved in the election today to do everything possible to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls.
Posterity will not forgive us if we lose our balance in the exercise and spill innocent blood just because we want to be victorious at all cost.
The clash between supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Chereponi on Sunday, resulting in serious injuries to a number of people, is very disturbing, indeed.
Although there were no fatalities, the Chereponi scare must be a wake-up call to all and sundry, especially the security agencies, to work hard to protect the integrity of the polls and lives and property.
Political parties and prospective parliamentary candidates must bear in mind that they are seeking the mandate of the electorate in order to improve their living conditions.
The DAILY GRAPHIC has no doubt that the preoccupation of all those seeking political power is the mandate to serve the people to attain better standards of living.
We should not divide our ranks through unhealthy rivalry because after we have emerged victorious in the contest, we would need have a stable society to implement our policies and programmes.
We need human beings to help in the governance of the nation. Every Ghanaian is, therefore, required to put his or her shoulder to the wheel of development.
The DAILY GRAPHIC reminds everybody that despite our political differences, the country’s greatest enemies are poverty, ignorance and disease.
Political parties and parliamentarians mount platforms to present their visions that can help to solve these problems, not to incite their supporters to violence.
Our political opponents are not our enemies; they are our own compatriots who only share alternative ideologies but without whom democracy cannot endure.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, pleads with residents of Chereponi to pledge to go through today’s by-election peacefully and demonstrate to the global community that Ghana does, indeed, believe in the democratic culture.
By so doing, we will not only reap the dividends of democracy but also sustain the peaceful and stable society needed for accelerated growth.
Ghana cannot afford to weaken the platform on which it is receiving global applause for the sake of political expediency.
Friday, October 9, 2009
AVEYIME NEEDS OUR SUPPORT (SEPT 28)
THE Aveyime Rice project has bounced back with the production of quality local rice after years of court and political hamstrings that nearly threw away what many expected to be a viable project.
It is good news that the project has come on stream at a time when local imports have soared to unprecedented heights.
But there must be certain interventions by the government to protect the local production, if the venture is to remain viable.
As reported in our pages today, there is great potential for the rice produced locally. Besides that, the managers of the plantation say they require additional 20,000 acres of land to expand the rice farm. Currently, the company has acquired about 3,177 acres of land for cultivation.
The production of the 14,000 bags of rice was described as a “drop in the ocean”, considering the fact that we need to produce far beyond 100,000 bags of rice.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls for government support to make this project one that would become a lasting legacy.
There is a lesson to be learnt from the revival of the project and that is although the revamping of the project was done by the previous administration, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, which started this project in the 1990s, has decided to support the ongoing rice production at Aveyime.
Our call for government direct intervention stems from the fact that the government, together with the Ghana Commercial Bank, has majority stake and, therefore, must show keen interest in the development of the project.
Also at stake is the relevance of public-private partnership in promoting our national development agenda. Therefore, the successful implementation and future viability of this project would be a shining example of a shared partnership between the government and the private sector which many private operators would wish to emulate in the future.
The Daily Graphic thinks that the government’s intervention is needed to create the right atmosphere for the project to succeed.
This is the first of such a large-scale agriculture project in the country to revive the local economy by creating wealth and jobs.
The impact of the project would not be measured in terms of the reduction in Ghana’s rice import bill, but how this project will impact on the livelihoods of the communities where the project is located.
Aveyime has the potential to employ many people, give them the needed skills and also offer them an opportunity to undertake outgrower schemes.
However, the Daily Graphic draws attention to a growing concern among the communities in the area whose lands have been acquired for the project.
Such land owners are yet to be paid compensation but in the meantime their heritage has been taken over by the rice company without any consideration to convert their lands into equity so that their source of income can be guaranteed.
No
matter the challenges, the prospects look good and everything should be done to make the project viable.
The Daily Graphic believes that the Rice Bill, when passed into law, can provide ready market for rice producers, including Aveyime, because it will become mandatory for government institutions to buy from local producers to avoid a glut in future, which can subsequently kill the project.
It is good news that the project has come on stream at a time when local imports have soared to unprecedented heights.
But there must be certain interventions by the government to protect the local production, if the venture is to remain viable.
As reported in our pages today, there is great potential for the rice produced locally. Besides that, the managers of the plantation say they require additional 20,000 acres of land to expand the rice farm. Currently, the company has acquired about 3,177 acres of land for cultivation.
The production of the 14,000 bags of rice was described as a “drop in the ocean”, considering the fact that we need to produce far beyond 100,000 bags of rice.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls for government support to make this project one that would become a lasting legacy.
There is a lesson to be learnt from the revival of the project and that is although the revamping of the project was done by the previous administration, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, which started this project in the 1990s, has decided to support the ongoing rice production at Aveyime.
Our call for government direct intervention stems from the fact that the government, together with the Ghana Commercial Bank, has majority stake and, therefore, must show keen interest in the development of the project.
Also at stake is the relevance of public-private partnership in promoting our national development agenda. Therefore, the successful implementation and future viability of this project would be a shining example of a shared partnership between the government and the private sector which many private operators would wish to emulate in the future.
The Daily Graphic thinks that the government’s intervention is needed to create the right atmosphere for the project to succeed.
This is the first of such a large-scale agriculture project in the country to revive the local economy by creating wealth and jobs.
The impact of the project would not be measured in terms of the reduction in Ghana’s rice import bill, but how this project will impact on the livelihoods of the communities where the project is located.
Aveyime has the potential to employ many people, give them the needed skills and also offer them an opportunity to undertake outgrower schemes.
However, the Daily Graphic draws attention to a growing concern among the communities in the area whose lands have been acquired for the project.
Such land owners are yet to be paid compensation but in the meantime their heritage has been taken over by the rice company without any consideration to convert their lands into equity so that their source of income can be guaranteed.
No
matter the challenges, the prospects look good and everything should be done to make the project viable.
The Daily Graphic believes that the Rice Bill, when passed into law, can provide ready market for rice producers, including Aveyime, because it will become mandatory for government institutions to buy from local producers to avoid a glut in future, which can subsequently kill the project.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
WE ARE TIRED OF TIED AID (SEPT 26)
THE new thinking in international trade focuses on liberalised and unhindered market access for especially products from the developing countries to the developed world.
Leaders from developing countries have advocated a paradigm shift from aid to trade as the only guarantee to grow the economies of countries like Ghana.
This thinking is informed by the fact that aid packages had never been a panacea for rapid development.
It is on record that billions of United States dollars have been sunk into African or, for that matter, third world economies in the form of development assistance.
Regrettably, about half of such funds go back to these development partners in the form of payment for consultancies.
Thus, the true meaning of development aid losses its essence.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, shares the sentiments of President John Evans Atta Mills in his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly that “ for developing countries like Ghana, a meaningful liberalisation must be accompanied by predictable access to markets, eliminating abuse of anti-dumping measures and the reduction in tariff and non-tariff barriers”.
Trade barriers imposed by developed countries have been one of the long raging debates within the World Trade Organisation (WTO) championed by the developing countries.
The banana war, which also affected Ghana’s banana exports to Europe, and lately the use of phyto-sanitary, bar codes, and fumigation are all part of trade restrictions aimed at preventing products from the developed countries onto the international markets.
Ironically, the developed countries are pushing for further liberalisation of African markets to provide access to their products.
The Daily Graphic believes that if there must be a fair trading system, then there must be equal market access to ensure development for all and not just a few.
We think that beyond the rhetoric of the Western leaders, they must demonstrate their willingness to see a free world economic order in which poor countries have unhindered access to their markets.
Examples abound all over the world where trade between countries have lifted such partners from abject poverty to a position of hope and possibilities.
Trade has even assumed greater importance now than ever because of the globalised nature of the world economy. Therefore, so pervasive is the power of globalisation that no one country can develop in isolation.
The Daily Graphic thinks it is incumbent on all to ensure equity and fairness in world trade, where there is greater emphasis on trust and goodwill among countries.
The developed countries must know that their own future development cannot be guaranteed, if the rest of the world lives in poverty because the push-pull factor will draw the youth to seek greener pastures in developed economies.
Our government also needs to take the necessary policy actions that will maximise the opportunities available in the world trade arrangements to bring about development for the people.
The Daily Graphic is of the view that the government must re-think its agreement with the European Union under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to ensure that the country derives maximum benefits from the agreement.
All that we are saying is that “do not give us fish but teach us how to fish” because we are tired of tied aid.
Leaders from developing countries have advocated a paradigm shift from aid to trade as the only guarantee to grow the economies of countries like Ghana.
This thinking is informed by the fact that aid packages had never been a panacea for rapid development.
It is on record that billions of United States dollars have been sunk into African or, for that matter, third world economies in the form of development assistance.
Regrettably, about half of such funds go back to these development partners in the form of payment for consultancies.
Thus, the true meaning of development aid losses its essence.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, shares the sentiments of President John Evans Atta Mills in his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly that “ for developing countries like Ghana, a meaningful liberalisation must be accompanied by predictable access to markets, eliminating abuse of anti-dumping measures and the reduction in tariff and non-tariff barriers”.
Trade barriers imposed by developed countries have been one of the long raging debates within the World Trade Organisation (WTO) championed by the developing countries.
The banana war, which also affected Ghana’s banana exports to Europe, and lately the use of phyto-sanitary, bar codes, and fumigation are all part of trade restrictions aimed at preventing products from the developed countries onto the international markets.
Ironically, the developed countries are pushing for further liberalisation of African markets to provide access to their products.
The Daily Graphic believes that if there must be a fair trading system, then there must be equal market access to ensure development for all and not just a few.
We think that beyond the rhetoric of the Western leaders, they must demonstrate their willingness to see a free world economic order in which poor countries have unhindered access to their markets.
Examples abound all over the world where trade between countries have lifted such partners from abject poverty to a position of hope and possibilities.
Trade has even assumed greater importance now than ever because of the globalised nature of the world economy. Therefore, so pervasive is the power of globalisation that no one country can develop in isolation.
The Daily Graphic thinks it is incumbent on all to ensure equity and fairness in world trade, where there is greater emphasis on trust and goodwill among countries.
The developed countries must know that their own future development cannot be guaranteed, if the rest of the world lives in poverty because the push-pull factor will draw the youth to seek greener pastures in developed economies.
Our government also needs to take the necessary policy actions that will maximise the opportunities available in the world trade arrangements to bring about development for the people.
The Daily Graphic is of the view that the government must re-think its agreement with the European Union under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to ensure that the country derives maximum benefits from the agreement.
All that we are saying is that “do not give us fish but teach us how to fish” because we are tired of tied aid.
PREVENTING THE CARNAGE ON OUR ROADS (SEPT 25)
AN intended exercise to clamp down on cargo vehicles which have been converted into passenger cars by the Ministry of Transport should be supported by all commuters if the carnage on our roads is to be a thing of the past.
We demand support for this move because as a people we seem to be reactive instead of being proactive. Until a calamity or catastrophe hits the nation very hard, which leads to the loss of human lives and property, we are always in our sense of a deep slumber.
Even when our consciences are pricked to act, such actions do not go far enough to sustain the plans outlined.
Sometime in 2007, there were numerous accidents which claimed the lives of many of our people. Then we were told of a default in the brakes of the Mercedes Benz 207 bus, which is built as a cargo vehicle. But by the wisdom of certain Ghanaians such a vehicle is equally good as a passenger vehicle.
Frantic efforts were then made by the security agencies to seize such vehicles only after many people had been killed. What happened the day after? Obviously the action died a natural death.
Two years down the line, we are confronted with what to do with those engaged in this practice, especially at a time when more lives are being lost on our roads.
So the question is, how does a car produced for cargo gets registered to carry passengers? Officials at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) must answer why these vehicles are registered to carry passengers.
Is there no mechanism to make sure that cars are used solely for the purpose for which they are imported?
Until we begin to realise that our lives are precious and that we cannot afford to lose our human capital through our reckless actions and the greed of a few of our people and take steps to avert such mishaps, our roads will continue to claim lives and property.
The DAILY GRAPHIC supports the move by the Ministry of Transport to ban such vehicles on our roads. In doing so however, we should avoid the tendency to make this project yet another nine-day wonder.
We know that the ministry will face opposition from transport owners and associations who believe the policy will affect their businesses but we cannot sacrifice the lives of our people just because others want to make a living.
Any person who dies through such acts cannot be replaced.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the move is a progressive one which the ministry must implement no matter who is affected because for far too long we have tolerated indiscipline and lawlessness on our roads.
We are tempted to say that there are many policy interventions and laws already in place to compel people to behave in a responsible way but enforcement has been lacking. The proposed ban can only make the desired impact, if the authorities enforce the laws.
For, our inaction today, will cost us more lives tomorrow.
We demand support for this move because as a people we seem to be reactive instead of being proactive. Until a calamity or catastrophe hits the nation very hard, which leads to the loss of human lives and property, we are always in our sense of a deep slumber.
Even when our consciences are pricked to act, such actions do not go far enough to sustain the plans outlined.
Sometime in 2007, there were numerous accidents which claimed the lives of many of our people. Then we were told of a default in the brakes of the Mercedes Benz 207 bus, which is built as a cargo vehicle. But by the wisdom of certain Ghanaians such a vehicle is equally good as a passenger vehicle.
Frantic efforts were then made by the security agencies to seize such vehicles only after many people had been killed. What happened the day after? Obviously the action died a natural death.
Two years down the line, we are confronted with what to do with those engaged in this practice, especially at a time when more lives are being lost on our roads.
So the question is, how does a car produced for cargo gets registered to carry passengers? Officials at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) must answer why these vehicles are registered to carry passengers.
Is there no mechanism to make sure that cars are used solely for the purpose for which they are imported?
Until we begin to realise that our lives are precious and that we cannot afford to lose our human capital through our reckless actions and the greed of a few of our people and take steps to avert such mishaps, our roads will continue to claim lives and property.
The DAILY GRAPHIC supports the move by the Ministry of Transport to ban such vehicles on our roads. In doing so however, we should avoid the tendency to make this project yet another nine-day wonder.
We know that the ministry will face opposition from transport owners and associations who believe the policy will affect their businesses but we cannot sacrifice the lives of our people just because others want to make a living.
Any person who dies through such acts cannot be replaced.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the move is a progressive one which the ministry must implement no matter who is affected because for far too long we have tolerated indiscipline and lawlessness on our roads.
We are tempted to say that there are many policy interventions and laws already in place to compel people to behave in a responsible way but enforcement has been lacking. The proposed ban can only make the desired impact, if the authorities enforce the laws.
For, our inaction today, will cost us more lives tomorrow.
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