Thursday, April 29, 2010

DIALOGUE PROVIDES WAY OUT (APRIL 29, 2010)

IN some parts of the world, boundary conflicts have provided troubling times and served to bitterly divide otherwise very friendly nations.
While such conflicts usually provoke intense emotions and sentiments that sometimes see nations at war, they are ignited by issues that could have been amicably resolved through dispassionate negotiation and dialogue.
In this regard, it is impressive to note that Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have opted to pursue dialogue to address whatever differences are emerging over the maritime boundary between the two countries. Which ever way one looks at it, this is a very important milestone in entrenching the friendship and good neighbourliness between the two countries.
At the opening of the meeting, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr Desire Tagro, emphasised that the issue was about the demarcation of the maritime boundary between the two countries and not oil fields.
Indeed, while there have been many allusions to the oil find in the country, it is important that, as noted by Mr Tagro, the real issue of maritime boundary demarcation is highlighted.
The DAILY GRAPHIC shares Mr Tagro’s view that the friendship and relationship between President John Evans Atta Mills and his Ivorian counterpart, President Laurent Gbagbo, had been qualitatively built and had to be guarded.
Indeed, traditionally, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have been very good neighbours and the good neighbourliness between them has been expressed in co-operation between them, particularly in the area of electricity generation and supply.
Both Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have benefited from each other with regard to the supply of electricity in times of need and such a strong bond of friendship and co-operation must not be allowed to wither as a result of differences the two countries may have over their maritime boundary.
It is heart-warming to note that both countries have shown commitment to resolve the issue in the most amicable manner and in pursuit of that commitment.
Prior to the meeting, there had been other meetings held earlier in the year and it is gratifying to note that the Ivorian President has extended an invitation to his Ghanaian counterpart to visit Cote d’Ivoire after the Accra meeting to dispassionately look at the boundary issue between the two countries.
Even as leaders of the two countries pursue the option of dialogue, the DAILY GRAPHIC urges them to continuously adopt a dispassionate posture and engage in their discussions in a manner that emphasises their reputation as good neighbours, with the peace, security and economic empowerment of their people as the key considerations.
While one cannot rule out the likelihood of both parties encountering some challenges in the course of the negotiations, it is our hope that such challenges will be addressed in an objective manner devoid of fever-pitch emotions and acrimony.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also wishes to caution the media to be circumspect in their reportage of the issue and the ongoing negotiations and avoid the use of inflammatory language, considering the sometimes very volatile nature of border issues.
With the present commitment expressed by the two countries, there are strong indications that there will be an amicable demarcation of the maritime boundary to further strengthen the good relations between the two countries.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

POLICY FAIR, BOLD INITIATIVE (APRIL 28, 2010)

THE government yesterday took a significant step towards highlighting key policy initiatives and programmes when the first-ever policy fair in the country was opened.
Touted as a timely and innovative showpiece, the fair is expected to provide a platform for making public institutions to make their products, policies and services available to the public.
It is also expected to showcase the government’s plans and programmes and also demystify the governance process.
The theme for the fair: “Engaging the citizenry for a better Ghana”, emphasises the government’s commitment to bring governance to the doorstep of every Ghanaian to ensure the participation of the masses in the governance process.
This year’s fair is the first of what is expected to be an annual event, and in the true spirit of making its impact felt, the DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the noble ideals that inspired the organisation of the five-day fair will be translated into tangible gains.
All over the world, development has been founded on sound policies and programmes and one of the efficient ways of attracting the people’s interest in the development agenda of the country is to continuously apprise them of the policies and the interventions that the government is pursuing.
It is a fact that once the people understand the policy initiatives and programmes of the government, they will be in a better position to support more effectively those policies and programmes and also offer their inputs as to how best the policies can be shaped or pursued to achieve the desired results.
Indeed, more often than not, good policies have been derailed even before they are allowed to be fully operational because of misinformation about their objectives and the thrust of those policies.
In a country with a high illiteracy rate, any misrepresentation of government actions can derail the development agenda of the country.
It is for this reason that the DAILY GRAPHIC commends the government for the initiative, as it has the potential to remove whatever veils that cover government policies and programmes and make the boring documents inspiring blueprints for developing the country.
As noted by Vice-President John Mahama at the opening of the fair, the initiative was underscored by the conviction that the enterprise of nation-building was a collective effort of the entire populace.
According to Mr Mahama, the government intended to use the policy fair to further open up governance and get the ordinary Ghanaian to be part of the development process of the country.
The initiative is certainly a good step, but we also wish to remind the government that the success of the initiative cannot be realised in a day hence the need to sustain it by directing ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) not to make the initiative a public relations gimmick.
It is also important for Ghanaians to avail themselves of this opportunity and become educated and enlightened on government policies and programmes.
The objectives of the fair cannot be achieved if it is poorly patronised. In this regard we urge Ghanaians to visit the fair to get first-hand information on government policies and programmes.
We need to appreciate the fact that the electorate can only hold the government accountable if they closely monitor the activities and development initiatives of the government and its agencies.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

CHECK THE FULANI MENACE (APRIL 27, 2010)

THE issue of Fulani herdsmen and their unlawful activities in the country continue to make headlines in the media, despite numerous efforts to nip a very nagging trend in the bud.
Some of the herdsmen have been implicated in the destruction of farmlands in the country, the rape of Ghanaian women and criminal activities such as robbery and assault, among other worrying developments.
The issue has become so nauseating that it was recently raised on the floor of Parliament to solicit the views of members of the House on how to curb the menace.
While new and effective strategies are being evolved to contain these herdsmen, the reported indictment of some chiefs and landlords in the country for contributing to the menace of these herdsmen is very disturbing.
According to a report by the Ghana Police Service, the indicted chiefs and landlords took money and cows from the Fulani herdsmen and allowed them to settle on their lands.
The police also noted in their report that the trend was rampant in the Northern, Eastern, Volta, Brong Ahafo, Upper East and Upper West regions and the Accra Plains.
The report noted that the issue had created a stand-off between landowners and the local political authorities who perceived the herdsmen as illegal aliens.
There is no doubt that a few selfish individuals are bent on selling their peace and security for material wealth.
Although the right to exercise ownership over those lands by the landlords and chiefs cannot be disputed, the DAILY GRAPHIC shares the concern of the police that given the history of the mess some of the Fulani herdsmen had created in the past, such ownership rights must be exercised more responsibly.
The revelation that chiefs prefer to give out lands to the Fulani herdsmen who are rich in cattle and can pay substantial amounts as settlement fees should attract the attention of the government.
Land constitutes a vital resource and is a prime requirement for many development projects, for which reason its management must be done in a very responsible manner, bearing in mind the sovereignty of Ghanaians and also the peace and security of the people.
While it is obviously wrong to act in a manner that contravenes ECOWAS protocols on the free movement of persons and goods within the sub-region, it is important to ensure that the hospitable nature of Ghanaians is not allowed to be toyed with and negatively exploited by the herdsmen who are not Ghanaians.
Ultimately, the welfare, peace and security of Ghanaians should be more important to every Ghanaian than whatever payments the Fulani herdsmen make to give them settlement rights over Ghanaian lands.
We believe that the government is closely monitoring the situation and taking appropriate steps to ensure that the issue is dealt with in an effective and decisive manner.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also duly acknowledges that the issue is a sensitive one and that the solution does not lie only in prosecuting chiefs and landowners who may be giving out their lands to these herdsmen.
We call for urgent steps to improve land administration in the country to take into consideration key issues such as the conditions to be met by foreigners before they acquire a vital resource like land in the country.

Monday, April 26, 2010

WORRYING SIGNS FROM ECG (APRIL 26, 2010)

THE importance of electricity to the world has never been in doubt. It has a hand in the creation, production, transportation and delivery of all the things we use in our everyday life.
The water we drink and use to wash, the toothpaste in the tube and the brush we apply it with and the soap in the dish or dispenser are all ours because electricity helps make them and get them to us.
Indeed, without electricity, we cannot do anything. We cannot use microwaves and fridges; we cannot get access to the Internet; or even shower. We can go on and on and on, but suffice it to say that without electricity, life will be horrible; it will be pure hell.
It is against this background that the news that Ghanaians would have to make do with the erratic electricity supply being experienced in parts of the country for the next 12 to 18 months has come as a huge surprise to everybody.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) says the current erratic power supply is the result of faults. It says during the period, it will replace cables, upgrade its systems and also replace faulty cables.
The sad part of it all is that the ECG says it is unable to announce the power cuts in advance because they are not planned. According to its Director of Operations, Mr Tetteh Okine, “The company has lost up to 85 megawatts of electricity as a result of the faults. So when the load goes high, we have to drop people off and this is not planned so it is difficult to announce it.”
But the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) is not amused by the explanation being thrown out by the ECG.
For the chamber, what is worrying is the fact that the intermittent power cuts would impact negatively on the economy and so the ECG must be up and doing to fix the problem, period.
It said what was more worrying was the fact that most businesses were computerised and the erratic power supply would not only destroy equipment but vital installations as well, not to mention the disastrous effect on small and medium-scale entrepreneurs such as barbers, hairdressers, tailors, seamstresses and dealers in sachet water.
For its part, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), in a seven-point proposal to the utility companies, said the traditional tariff increases had outlived their usefulness as a solution to the challenges facing the utility providers and asked for a multi-faceted alternative solution to energy generation, supply and distribution, as well as infrastructure expansion and financing.
The Daily Graphic shares the position of the AGI and also welcomes its suggestion that the government must make it a priority to redeem its huge outstanding public utility bills, stressing that the move would go a long way to offset the cash flow problems currently being experienced by the utility providers.
Of course, we are not unaware of the recent decision of the government to get the ECG to fix prepaid meters at all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). This, no doubt, will be beneficial to the ECG in the near future, but for now, its greatest concern is the lack of capital, thereby allowing inefficiencies to creep into its operations.
We also hope the ECG will heed the directive by the President that utility companies should notify consumers before their services are disrupted in order to reduce the pain of disrupted services on their customers.
Again, the Daily Graphic shares the view of the AGI that the respective boards and management of the utility providers must endeavour to unearth all cases of illegal power connections which are rife in the country and allegedly carried out with the active connivance of some corrupt company officials.
We are aware that the ECG has been up and doing in recent times and we doff our hats for its efforts. We only hope that this will not be a nine days’ wonder in the effort to purge the company of some of the glaring inefficiencies in its service delivery.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

A HEALTHY SIGN (APRIL 24, 2010)

IT is gratifying that a number of countries and the investor community are expressing interest and growing confidence in Ghana’s economy. The latest to say so loud and clear is Britain, Ghana’s biggest trading partner over the decades.
At a reception to mark the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in Accra last Wednesday, the British High Commissioner, Dr Nicholas Westcott, said, among other things, that the confidence in the country’s economy was buoyed by the number of British companies doing business in Ghana and the interest shown by more British firms to do business in the country.
According to the High Commissioner, Land Rover would relaunch itself on the Ghanaian market with its latest and best products in May and a few days later, Virgin Atlantic would also launch its first service between the Heathrow and the Kotoka airports.
This is good news, especially against the backdrop of the financial crisis that recently hit the global community, as well as the fierce competition one has to go through in order to attract foreign investors.
Indeed, last year was a rather difficult one for the country, as it was faced with high lending rates, considered as one of the key reasons for low business confidence.
However, after prudent measures had been put in place, expectations of an improved economy became a reality rather than a mirage. Today, Ghana can relatively boast a stabilised currency and an economy which is moving in the right direction and on a positive track.
Of course, there are still the challenges of unemployment, high interest rates and an uncompetitive foreign exchange regime.
But the good thing is that since the beginning of the year, inflation has persistently dropped, recording 13.32 per cent as of March, as well as a drop in the prime rate, forcing interest rates down marginally.
As a country, the journey to the “promised land” is still far away but we can get there through hard work and sacrifice.
It is true that some countries have overcome economic difficulties through the support of the donor community. The Marshall Plan is a case in point, but Ghana can ride the storm through reliance on its own human and material resource.
In this age of globalisation, it makes no sense to attempt to practise autarky because Ghana is not an island unto itself. We can leverage the positive attributes of globalisation such as free trade and the free movement of people and harmonise the tax regime to rebuild our economy.
Ghana has comparative advantage over many of the countries in the sub-region because it produces large tonnes of cocoa, gold, bauxite and non-traditional exports. Luckily, we have been blessed with oil and gas that will attract many investors to our land.
The Daily Graphic believes that despite the challenges, there are greater opportunities that people can exploit to improve incomes and livelihoods. We, therefore, plead with the government and its economic management team to remain focused on the plans to put the economy on a sound footing.
But to do that, the government must tackle the challenges that make it difficult for our financial institutions to reduce their interest rates to be at par with the drop in the policy (prime) rate.
The Daily Graphic commends the government for the success so far but adds that for the way forward, it must not only target a single digit inflation but the efforts must be geared towards the policy that will stimulate growth, create jobs and improve the incomes of all working people.

Friday, April 23, 2010

FISHERMEN, BEWARE (APRIL 23, 2010)

THE reported threat posed to a very sensitive installation of the Volta River Authority (VRA) by fishermen in the Western Region is, indeed, worrying, especially because of the potential threat to human life.
The Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility, which is used to pump light crude oil from tankers at sea to the Takoradi Thermal Plant, understandably is sometimes invaded by the fishermen who cook food there. Others also throw their nets into areas described as security zones.
The concerns expressed by officials of the VRA are very justified, since the facility is a very vital installation that works towards ensuring the smooth operation of the plant.
Considering the fact that the facility, located 4.5km offshore Aboadze, contains light crude oil used to fire the turbine operations of the plant, one wonders why the fishermen would want to work in the area, with little regard for their own safety.
Definitely, something must be amiss — either the fishermen are ignorant of the threat to their lives or they are bent on embarking on a dangerous and obviously reckless adventure in their quest to make ends meet.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that these are very disturbing developments that deserve prompt action, especially from our security agencies.
Fishermen in the country, especially those in the Western Region, appear quite daring. Recently, an oil rig on the high seas was the subject of concern after the DAILY GRAPHIC reported on the activities of some fishermen around the rig.
Usually, such daring activities are driven by survival instincts; yet it makes sense to argue that the quest to make ends meet must not be pursued under the most dangerous of conditions.
This development again highlights the issue of security patrols on our high seas, especially in the light of the discovery of oil and its subsequent production, which is set to commence in the last quarter of this year.
The Ghana Navy is expected to play a lead role in such patrols but, unfortunately, it has faced serious resource constraints over the years.
There is, however, the need for the government to provide more resources for the Navy to enable Naval personnel to guard and monitor operations on our high seas.
It is gratifying to note that efforts are already underway to bring in the Navy to restore sanity in this particular instance and it is hoped that the involvement of the Navy will not be short-lived.
In addressing such issues, we also believe that education is key, for which reason we commend officials of the VRA for pursuing that option and mobilising the fishermen to educate them on the dangers of their activities.
It is our hope that such initiatives will be sustained to continuously remind the fishermen of their obligation to go about their activities in a safe and responsible manner.
At the heart of this is the need to ensure that the appropriate laws regulating maritime operations in the country are passed so that such breaches of safety precautions are addressed and offenders appropriately punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
As noted by the SPM Co-ordinator, Mr Seth Akweitey, when the Ghana Maritime Authority Services Amendment Bill, which is presently before Parliament, was passed, all offshore installations, including the SPM, oil rigs and the West African Gas Pipeline Project, would be covered by the law so that fishing and other activities would not be allowed near those installations.
Considering the importance of the energy sector and sometimes the very explosive nature of oil production, the DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to Members of Parliament to expeditiously attend to this bill so that it can be passed in good time.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

ENHANCING OUR DECENTRALISATION PROCESS (APRIL 22, 2010)

THE mode of selecting and appointing district chief executives (DCEs) was revisited when the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, at the launch of a book on decentralisation, advocated the election of the district political heads.
The Vice-President’s suggestion was obviously borne out of the desire to institute measures that will enhance the governance system at the local level and also ensure the active participation of the people in the process.
At the launch of the book, authored by Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, one of the key actors of the decentralisation process introduced about 22 years ago, Mr Mahama also outlined other issues he said were key to the success of the decentralisation process.
Governance experts are quick to identify decentralisation as key to ensuring the success of any democratic process and the institution of a governance system that could be described as “people-centred”.
Over the years, the country has pursued a decentralised governance system that is anchored on the district assembly concept.
While there have been some pitfalls, there have also been some worthy gains that must be consolidated to usher in a new phase of governance with regard to the policy of decentralisation.
Other schools of thought also argue that for decentralisation to produce the desired dividend, measures need to be instituted to truly give a significant measure of power to the people and not create a system of tokenism.
The DAILY GRAPHIC shares the view that after having been in operation for a number of years, a review of the decentralisation process is critical to injecting a fresh lease of life into it to make it more effective.
The lack of fiscal and human resource to drive the noble ideals of the concept has been identified as a major bane that any review process must seek to address.
Related to that bane is what some describe as the over-reliance of the assemblies on the DACF, instead of introducing innovative and effective ways of mobilising resources internally.
Some recent developments have also raised serious questions about accountability and transparency processes that need to be observed to ensure that resources or funds are judiciously utilised at the local level.
These and other weaknesses threaten the effectiveness of the concept and until an expansive approach is adopted to improve the concept of decentralisation, the desired gains will be far-fetched.
As noted by the Vice-President, the concept was intended to have a positive effect on the country. However, any such hope had disappeared, hence the need to give the people new hope.
The stark reality today is that the system in some areas is treated with so much disdain and concepts such as the unit committees intended to provide a forum for grass-root participation in the governance process continue to suffer as a result of apathy.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, however, believes that the launch of the book on the decentralisation process will serve as a timely catalyst to revive the process, especially as the country prepares for district level elections in the course of the year.
We wish to congratulate Mr Ahwoi on taking time to write a book which will definitely help enhance the devolution of power and resources in the country.
As a former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Ahwoi played a key role in the introduction of the process of decentralisation and we hope that he will continue to enrich the process with his useful ideas and suggestions.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

WISHING YOU SUCCESS (APRIL 20 2010)

FINAL-YEAR students in junior high schools (JHSs) all over the country yesterday began an important phase in their academic lives as they commenced this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
A total of 350,888 candidates are expected to sit for the examination over a five-day period at various centres throughout the country.
For the candidates, this is an important terminal point in their academic lives expected to usher them into the next phase of their academic journey should they make good grades.
Parents and teachers, on the other hand, are expectant and praying that their children and students will make them proud.
Examinations, such as the BECE, are expected to test the knowledge acquired by candidates after going through a period of tutelage.
They are also expected to test the ability of candidates to apply whatever they have learnt to real life situations, thereby ensuring that the education they have acquired is meaningful to themselves and society.
The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes all BECE candidates well and hope that their hours of studying will be well rewarded with good grades in the examination.
In this regard, we urge them to remain calm as they strive to do their best, bearing in mind that the examination is also part of their training and that it is not anybody’s intention to fail them. It is just to test their ability to recall and apply what they have studied.
The candidates also need to note that examinations are part of their training as budding academics and professionals and in the course of writing their answers they are expected to exhibit discipline, composure and tact.
It is our hope that the candidates will exhibit a high sense of discipline and avoid the temptation to cheat in the examination.
One cannot discount the fact that there are some candidates who may find the going difficult in the course of the examination. These may include both those who may have studied hard and others who may have done very little or virtually nothing.
For such candidates, there is the need to emphasise that no matter the difficulty encountered in answering the questions, there should be no recourse to any examination malpractice or cheating.
Inasmuch as examination success is desired and very important, examinations are not a do-or-die affair that must be passed “at all cost”, even if it means ‘smuggling’ materials into the examination hall.
And while candidates have the right to predict the questions they expect to ‘drop’, it is our hope that such predictions will not form the foundation of their studies. In the same vein, we hope that candidates will avoid chasing supposed leaked questions that usually turn out to be the creation of a few ‘smart’ people who only seek to cash in on the anxiety of students.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, urges school heads, inviligators and officials of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to ensure that there is stringent invigilation of the students to ensure that the integrity of the examination is not tainted so that it will reflect the true picture of the output of the students.
The country’s education, despite the challenges, is still lauded across the continent and continues to attract many students from sister African countries and that must be preserved.
We appeal to all candidates, school heads, WAEC officials and inviligators to contribute towards a very successful BECE to again emphasise our collective commitment to the provision of quality education in the country.

Monday, April 19, 2010

CREATING MORE JOBS (APRIL 19, 2010)

PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills and his Cabinet ended a two-day retreat at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre in Accra on Friday, April 16, 2010, at which he emphasised that the priority of his administration was to ensure the expansion of the economy for more jobs to be created for Ghanaians.
The cabinet retreat took stock of the government’s performance since the Mills administration was ushered into office some 16 months ago.
Even before the retreat got underway, at a media briefing in Accra, Mr Koku Anyidoho, Director of Communications at the Presidency, had made it known that the issue of job creation would feature prominently in discussions and for good reasons.
He reiterated the fact that the availability of jobs would enable people to lead dignified and meaningful lives, certainly because they would have regular incomes and also pay taxes to aid national development.
Furthermore, Mr Anyidoho noted that the ability of the government to create more jobs for the people would go a long way to sustain the goodwill and confidence the people had in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
For so many years now, unemployment has been such a big national headache that without even a recourse to statistics, one could, with a high degree of certainty, describe the situation as very disturbing.
The army of youth on the streets selling all manner of items, including shoe laces and chewing gums, the crowds of youth who respond to enlistment notices put out by the police and the military, the growing numbers of unemployed graduates from our tertiary institutions, many of whom compete with others for jobs far below their qualification and skills, signify the unemployment situation in the country with its attendant problems.
It is very reasonable for the government, in the face of these and other challenges, to go back to the drawing board to take a look at its performance since taking office.
We are told that at the retreat the President emphasised to his Cabinet that expanding the economy in order to create more jobs for the youth was the priority of his administration and that they had the responsibility of fulfilling their part of the social contract by delivering the ‘Better Ghana’ agenda to the people.
It is heartening that the President is actually aware of his promises to the people and the need to fulfil these promises.
After forming and running the government for almost 16 months, Ghanaians can no longer accept anything than assurances that would translate into concrete proofs within the shortest possible time.
What better hope and assurance therefore, could President Mills have given Ghanaians than to say that the government’s priority was to create more jobs.
For, it is well accepted that political candidates can only make promises while campaigning. But while to promise is to pledge to do or not to do something, assurances give a certainty about that which has been promised.
At the retreat, the Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologo, tells us that the various sector ministers presented blueprints on how to work towards turning the stability achieved so far to a sustainable economic growth.
Much as this signifies that some appreciable efforts are being made towards economic expansions that would in turn create jobs, the ultimate that Ghanaians expect are jobs — plentiful and within the shortest possible time.
The bussing of the Cabinet members including the President and his Vice to the retreat, though some people have dismissed as nothing, was a bright idea, as it saved the country some amount of money albeit small.
The fuel that the individual ministers including the President and his Vice would have used was saved.
This kind of behaviour is what we need from our leaders as we all strive to sacrifice for the country’s good.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

THE SSSS ROW MUST END (APRIL 17, 2010)

DISAGREEMENTS over the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) continue to rage and the differences, no doubt, threaten the smooth implementation of the new salary structure.
The new structure, which is intended to replace the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS), has so far come under severe scrutiny by some organised groups such as the Ghana Medical Association and the Civil and Local Government Service Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG), resulting in some agitation from these groups.
These agitations are worrying as they do not only threaten the smooth implementation of what appears to be a well-intended scheme but also have the potential to mar the relationship between some organised labour groups in the country and the government.
The recent agitation by CLOGSAG throws into the spotlight other nagging issues that need to be addressed before the scheduled implementation of the scheme in July this year.
The quite combative nature of the agitation, as expressed in the outright rejection of the SSSS by some CLOGSAG members, is worrying, considering the fact that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has expressed its willingness to pursue the option of consultation to address whatever reservations the organised groups may have.
Over the years, there have been complaints about some weaknesses in the GUSS, necessitating the processes leading to the formulation of the SSSS.
Thus, one easily discerns that inasmuch as there may be some reservations by some group of workers with regard to the SSSS, there is the need to act cautiously in order not to create a very bad impression about a well–intended salary structure.
Indeed, it is disheartening to note that some members of CLOGSAG have reportedly refused to participate in any of the consultative meetings called by the FWSC.
The outright rejection of the structure by the members of CLOGSAG, as reported in the media, is unhealthy, especially as it shows that the group has taken an entrenched position.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that it is not the least helpful for any of the parties to adopt an entrenched position, especially when the option of dialogue has not been fully explored.
The Chief Executive of the FWSC, Mr Graham Smith, has consistently declared the commission’s intention to dialogue with any aggrieved party to address whatever reservations they may have.
In the heat of the dissension, it is pleasant to note that the Ashanti Regional branch of CLOGSAG has shown some commitment to pursue the option of dialogue and thus appealed to the government to impress on FWSC to open negotiations with the hierarchy of CLOGSAG to resolve their grievances.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, urges the FWSC to remain committed to the option of dialogue and not be discouraged by the agitations from some of the organised labour groups.
We, however, wish to caution that any effort at dialogue must be conducted in a sincere and dispassionate manner, to ensure that whatever grievances those organised groups have are effectively addressed.
We also wish to advise the parties to go into the consultations with utmost sincerity and amenable hearts but not entrenched positions.
For the ultimate goal is to find out how best both parties can ensure that there is equity and fairness in the salary structure.

Friday, April 16, 2010

NEED FOR EFFICIENT SUPPLY OF PREMIX FUEL (APRIL 16, 2010)

THE decision by the government to provide premix fuel for fishermen at subsidised rates is laudable because of the relief it brings to fishermen in the country.
Fishermen, naturally, play an important role in ensuring food security, but one of the challenges they encounter in their work is access to affordable fuel to enhance their output.
It is sad to note that there had been disturbing developments related to the supply and distribution of premix fuel to fishermen.
Sometimes we hear shocking reports of the diversion of premix fuel to fuel service stations to be sold to unsuspecting drivers as petrol.
Indeed, attempts to curb this practice with the provision of a peculiar coloration for premix fuel have come with their own challenges, as some people continue to circumvent the rules.
Indeed, there have been consistent reports of some underhand dealings by some people serving on premix landing beach committees and such reports have no doubt raised some concerns.
In the light of these challenges, one naturally expects that any auditing of the activities of premix landing beach committees will be treated with some urgency and seriousness.
Thus it is heart-warming to note that the government is committed to enforcing the directive on the auditing of all premix landing beach committees.
The move, understandably, is expected to ensure that there is transparency in the distribution of premix fuel and that fishing communities benefit from the sale of the commodity.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that this is a very important move that must be pursued in the most comprehensive manner in order to erase any misconception the local fisher folk may have about the operations of the committees.
It is important to note that already very useful findings have come out from the auditing of some of the landing beach committees, resulting in the issuance of new guidelines for the management of the committees.
As reported by the DAILY GRAPHIC last Wednesday, a directive has been issued for the takeover of the Tema, Prampram, Old Ningo and Chorkor landing beaches by the respective district assemblies.
Again, in the case of the James Town Beach, the acting Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr E. T. Mensah, is reported to have stated that his interaction with the fishermen in the area had confirmed intelligence reports that the formation of the landing beach committee had not been done in line with the government’s directive.
The government has demonstrated that it will stringently monitor the operations of such committees and rigorously pursue measures to ensure that they don’t become avenues for corruption.
Need we state that that is the spirit that must drive the operations of such very sensitive initiatives in order to disabuse the minds of Ghanaians that some of those committees are just created to provide “jobs for the boys” and enable party hangers-on to milk the system.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that the government is on the right track and wish to encourage it to defy any overtures from whatever quarters that may seek to derail the exercise or stall it any further.
It is incumbent on the government to recognise that it has a social contract with Ghanaians to create better living conditions for all, for which reason the interest of the masses must in no way be sacrificed for a few who may have walked the path of greed and corruption.
We believe that when people placed in responsible positions are made to account for their stewardship in a transparent manner, they are more inclined to appreciate better the true value of service to their communities and to the nation.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

TOMATO FARMERS NEED HELP (APRIL 15, 2010)

TOMATO farmers in the Upper East Region are up in arms. And their frustration is two-fold: The absence of a guaranteed market for their produce and the lack of access to improved agricultural extension services.
In a communiqué issued after a day’s consultative forum involving stakeholders in the tomato industry in Bolgatanga, the farmers claimed that their call on the government over the past decade to complement their efforts by creating an enabling environment to help them increase production had yielded few or no results.
They did not stop there. The next moment, they dropped the bombshell — if the situation did not change, they would not go into tomato farming during the next season.
The importance of tomatoes in our diet cannot be overstated. Apart from being very healthy, they are a good source of vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is important for bone growth, cell division and differentiation, helping in the regulation of the immune system and maintaining the surface linings of the eyes, the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts. That is not all. Tomatoes are also very powerful antioxidants which can help prevent the development of many forms of cancer.
Currently, the tomato has a higher consumption rate in more developed countries and is often referred to as a luxury crop. In Israel, for example, it is such an important part of the diet that it is a major part of the food basket which is used when calculating the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In other words, a scarcity of tomatoes can cause the CPI to rise and influence the inflation rate.
Given the importance of the crop, researchers the world over are always anxious to introduce improved varieties, as well as new cultivars with better resistance to various diseases, with the view to making tomatoes an important part of the diet in developing countries as well.
We, therefore, wholeheartedly support the call by the farmers on the government to, as a matter of urgency, deploy a technical team from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to support tomato farmers with machines and inputs to ensure effective and efficient techniques in their operations.
It is sad to learn that the farmer/extension service official ratio currently stands at 1:500 and we urge the government to improve the situation and also invest more in research into the tomato disease in the region.
The fact that in 2007 tomato production across the country contributed about 1.4 per cent to the national GDP and about four per cent of agricultural GDP, even amidst serious challenges, is a clear signal that the future holds good and we cannot allow things to plunder.
Fortunately for us, the Northern Star Tomato Company (NSTC) — formerly the Pwalugu Tomato Factory — is ready and willing to play the role for which it was strategically established by the Dr Kwame Nkrumah administration many years ago and we cannot allow that dream to die.
Is it not ironical that Ghana has become Africa’s largest importer of tomato concentrate from the European Union (EU), with imports of more than 10,000 tonnes per year, when, in the early 1960s, the Pwalugu Factory was producing as much as 100 tonnes of concentrate a day before it was closed down?
But our failure to harness this opportunity has resulted in the loss of business and employment opportunities for many Ghanaians and a gain for workers and investors in Europe and America.
Dr Nkrumah saw the link between agriculture and state supported agro-processing factories and its benefits just as clearly as the developed nations did and continue to do and pursued it vigorously.
The ball is now clearly in our court and the Daily Graphic urges the government to explore all the opportunities to make the NSTC viable in order to serve the farmers better.

ENFORCE THIS DIRECTIVE (APRIL 14, 2010)

ELECTRICITY and water are vital resources that make life comfortable for people everywhere, hence any challenge encountered in the provision of those utilities raises grave concerns.
In recent times, there have been discussions on proposals for tariff increases by the utility service providers in the country. Some of the proposed increases are quite high and, naturally, the issue has stirred intense debate, particularly among consumers.
While the utility providers have often received the flak for what some perceive to be operational ineptitude, there are still some who believe that the unbridled consumption of water and electricity is one of the major challenges facing the utility companies.
Thus, the directive by the government to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to fix prepaid meters in all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) is, indeed, welcome.
Over the years, government’s indebtedness to the ECG has piled up and presently it is in the region of GH¢80 million. Such huge indebtedness is, no doubt, a contributory factor to the difficult financial situation the ECG presently finds itself in.
The government’s debt is also largely due to the usually unregulated consumption by some of the MDAs. These MDAs with post-paid meters do not seem to care how much is consumed, especially when it is the ‘government’ that has to pay.
Thus, the directive by the government, as disclosed by Vice-President John Mahama at the public hearing on the proposed increment of utility tariffs by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), is vital. It is an important step towards the regulation of energy consumption by the MDAs.
Yet, even as we welcome the directive, the DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to caution that stringent mechanisms need to be instituted to effectively regulate the pattern of electricity consumption to prevent a situation where there is the reckless dissipation of state resources to reload prepaid meters.
Indeed, there is the need to recognise that the solution does not lie in only introducing prepaid meters but also working towards an effective policy on power consumption by MDAs and setting well-defined limits for power consumption.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also urges the ECG to step up the installation of prepaid meters in homes and private businesses, since they also constitute an important mass of power consumers.
While the ECG pursues that option, there is also the need for it to clean its house and improve the efficiency of its operations. The situation where some individuals and organisations illegally connect electricity, with the connivance of staff of the ECG, must be checked, since it is not in the least healthy and mirrors the level of indiscipline among the workers of the ECG.
The Vice-President could not have said it any better when he admonished the management of the ECG to endeavour to ensure that losses due to illegal connections, as well as commercial and technical losses, were reduced.
Many consumers tend to argue that any proposal for drastic tariff increases is not justified, given the poor quality of service that is sometimes provided by the ECG.
Yet, there is another school of thought that posits that unless the ECG is supported by way of some upward tariff adjustment, the company will continue to provide poor services for Ghanaians. With these two contrasting positions, it will be helpful for both parties to make some concessions and avoid taking entrenched positions.
It is, therefore, the hope of the DAILY GRAPHIC that the ongoing public hearing will help provide clear guidelines to empower the ECG and other utility providers to operate more efficiently while insulating the consumer against exorbitant tariffs.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

FRUITS OF SOUTH-SOUTH CO-OPERATION (APRIL 13, 2010)

THE decision by a leading Brazilian firm to invest in the Ghanaian economy is an encouraging piece of news, especially to the unemployed youth who stand to benefit from the venture.
The planned venture by the Dias Branco Group to open its only factory in Africa in Ghana, one of the outcomes of the visit of the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, to Brazil, goes to enforce the growing reputation of the country as the gateway to Africa.
Indeed, the realisation of this dream will serve as a vital boost to the country’s economic and industrial fortunes to help improve the standard of living of Ghanaians.
When established, the factory is expected to provide about 1,000 jobs and thereby help ease the unemployment situation in the country.
One cannot dismiss the benefits that such a venture brings, especially as there are other perceived economic giants on the continent, some with larger populations and, therefore, should naturally have provided greater marketing appeal to the Brazilians.
Yet, as the country savours the prospect of playing host to the Dias Branco Group, it is important not to lose sight of the key indicators that positioned the country above the likes of Angola, which had originally been identified by the Brazilians.
More impressive, this initiative provides fresh impetus for South-South co-operation, now well referred to as South America-Africa Co-operation.
Indeed, over the years, the country has strengthened its collaboration with the West and also Asian countries such as China and Japan and this new partnership is expected to enhance further Ghana’s economic ties with one of the most important countries in South America.
The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to commend the government for its efforts at ensuring that the country becomes the African face for the leading manufacturer of cookies, crackers and pasta products in Brazil.
As noted by the Chief Executive Officer of the company during the visit by the Vice-President, the company changed its original plan to invest in Angola because of the stable political and economic climate in Ghana, coupled with the good leadership style of President John Evans Atta Mills and Vice-President Mahama.
Time and again, the country’s good political and economic climate has been the incentive to both local and foreign investors and it is hoped that in consolidating its position as the premier investment destination on the continent, Ghanaians will work together to entrench those strong attributes.
It is also hoped that the country will serve as a worthy host and provide the kind of environment that will benefit both Ghana and Brazil
The Vice-President was emphatic in his declaration that the country would not only serve as a host but also a viable market centre from where the whole of the West African sub-region could benefit from the products of the Dias Branco Group of Companies.
Indeed, as Ghana hopes to serve as the nerve centre for market activities in the sub-region, it is important to harp on the fact that bottlenecks that hamper effective trade within the sub-region will have to be effectively dealt with.
With a market force of about 240 million people, the sub-region holds a huge potential for investors and irrelevant bureaucratic procedures and corrupt practices should not be allowed to hamper this potential.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also hopes that this will serve to drive greater collaboration not only between Ghana and Brazil but also between the country and other South American countries.
The global economic challenges call for a strong requirement for more of such collaborations and it is hoped that Ghanaians will hail such partnerships with a very positive attitude.

HELPING ECG, GWCL TO DELIVER (APRIL 12, 2010)

FOR some time now, the country’s utility companies have been sensitising their consumers to the need for an upward adjustment in tariffs.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) have, however, faced stiff opposition from a section of the public over their planned increases in tariffs.
The two companies insist on upward adjustments soon to save the utilities from collapse, citing the non-payment of bills by consumers, illegal connections and obsolete equipment as reasons for their move.
Consumers of the services provided by the utility companies oppose any planned adjustments on the basis that it will be unfair to pass on the inefficiencies of the companies to consumers.
Some domestic and commercial consumers of the services provided by the utility companies are engaged in illegal connection of water and electricity.
It is a worrying trend that even for prepaid meters, some consumers have found a way around the technology to cheat the service providers, with the active connivance of certain officials of the two companies.
The services of these two utilities are very key in the country’s development process, as their non-availability or inadequate supply can retard efforts to stimulate the economy to create jobs and improve livelihoods.
This means that all stakeholders — the government, the utility companies and consumers — should collaborate more to make the services available and affordable to everybody in the country.
We all acknowledge that there is no substitute for water, but even in the case of electricity, those who operate high- tech machinery cannot power those plants with generating sets. And in cases where individuals and companies resort to generating sets because of power outages or other reasons, the cost is so prohibitive that it drives production cost and family budgets through the roof.
No matter the circumstances, the Daily Graphic thinks consumers are better off with strong and efficient utility companies in the country. Being state assets, it is the responsibility of all Ghanaians to protect and support the two utility companies to deliver on their mandate by exposing those engaged in illegal connection of water and power.
The Daily Graphic is, therefore, worried about the revelation in the April 1, 2010 issue of The Mirror that out of a population of 10 million users of electric energy nation-wide, there are only about two million account holders registered with the company who pay for the electricity they consume.
The woes of the ECG, for instance, are worsened by unscrupulous individuals and corporate bodies who tap power illegally and thereby deprive the company of adequate revenue to expand operations and renew its plants.
The utility companies, since last year, have been knocking on the door of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) with proposals for the upward adjustment in tariffs. But the government and the PURC appear to be in a dilemma now because they are aware of the quality of services being provided by the companies, making it very difficult to overburden consumers with the extra burden of tariff adjustment.
The Daily Graphic is of the view that both parties have the force of argument to back their positions but, moving forward, we suggest that the parties engage in further dialogue to iron out any disagreements.
Recent power outages and the frequent drying up of taps indicate clearly that the ECG and the GWCL are facing operational challenges for which reason urgent steps should be taken to resource them. We believe that the renewal of plant and machinery and the delivery of good services cannot be achieved with the same level of tariffs.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

A PLEA FOR PEACE IN BAWKU (APRIL 10, 2010)

THE Bawku conflict continues to create uneasy moments for the indigenes of Bawku and Ghanaians in general. For many years, the conflict has refused to be doused and in the past few days there have been disturbing events in the area, leading to the loss of some precious lives.
There appears to be a constant eerie feeling about the simmering Bawku conflict and the main undercurrent borders on the ethnic differences between the Kusasis and the Mamprusis.
Bawku presents the puzzle of a modern-day conflict fought with strategies that are so steeped in the past — crude and brutal; a conflict that has so far defied the most comprehensive efforts at peace-building.
But although the strategies have so far not yielded the desired result, this is not the time for Ghanaians to give up on Bawku. Indeed, this is the time for well-meaning indigenes of Bawku and Ghanaians in general to find a new zeal for peace-building.
The land of Bawku does not need a divided people filled with bitterness and stewing in ethnic strife. Rather, Bawku is in dire need of a united people who will, in a concerted manner, wage war against poverty and deprivation.
Bawku is not a hopeless case; the people of Bawku, zealous and passionate as they may be, can have their energies channelled towards a more worthy cause.
But, first, they need to be told in no uncertain terms that their destiny lies in their own hands. They also need to be told that no community ever develops in an environment of insecurity and constant conflict.
It is quite worrying that despite the numerous development challenges the people of Bawku face, there are still some lawless people there who appear to find pleasure in bizarre violent escapades and do not seem the least bothered when their violent activities draw back the clock of development.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes this is the time for all the people of Bawku of different intellectual shades, social status and ethnic belonging to rise with a common voice and denounce the acts of the violent few.
Everywhere in the world, knowledge has been the main driver of development, yet the children and youth of Bawku can do very little to educate themselves in an environment of constant conflict.
It is sad to note that money that should have been channelled into development initiatives in Bawku and other areas is being spent to resolve the conflict.
We urge all Ghanaians not to lose hope in Bawku but rather continue to support the efforts of the government, non- governmental organisations and other well-meaning Ghanaians to resolve the conflict.
The horrible situation must be a big scar on our conscience as a people and as a nation and we must move heaven and earth to bring peace to Bawku.
This is a task that must be accomplished.

Friday, April 9, 2010

BUILDING CAPACITY FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES (APRIL 9, 2010)

IN modern economic trends, the ability of a nation to develop, among others, depends on that country fostering good collaboration between local and foreign business interests to ensure that both parties benefit from the symbiotic relationship.
Over the years, concerns have been raised over the abysmal influence of local players in key sectors of the economy such as energy.
In the light of this, the interest expressed by some local companies in service stations and downstream assets of Shell in the country is a positive signal that must be hailed.
The global energy giant recently gave indications of its intention to sell its service stations and downstream assets in 21 African countries, including Ghana.
The government, in the true spirit of boosting local content in the country’s oil industry, has lent a hand of support to local enterprises seeking to acquire those assets.
In Wednesday’s issue of the DAILY GRAPHIC, the Energy Minister, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, was reported to have expressed the government’s resolve to assist local entrepreneurs to acquire those assets.
He gave indications that efforts were being made to mobilise interested local companies and entrepreneurs to form a cadre to ensure effective negotiations with Shell.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the government for exhibiting such great foresight that will no doubt help boost the local economy, considering the vital role energy plays in every economy.
Today, the capacity of the local players in the oil industry has improved from about five to more than 30 per cent and with this support the capacity of the players will be further enhanced to create jobs and improve livelihoods.
Now it is time for the local companies and entrepreneurs in the energy sector to demonstrate the will and the entrepreneurial fortitude that are required to place them ahead of the competition.
Ever since the country discovered oil in commercial quantities in its territorial waters, there has been talk of encouraging Ghanaians to own stakes in the oil industry. And even as the country strives for a local stake in the upstream and midstream of the oil business, it will also be helpful to boost local participation downstream.
Already, there are some local fuel service stations that are offering valuable services to Ghanaians and although they have faced challenges, the case is not one of hopelessness.
While the country seeks to encourage local players in the energy sector, it is important for the government to ensure that prevailing conditions continue to support the growth of these local companies.
Globally, the energy sector has suffered over the past few years as a result of the global financial melt down and although many countries are emerging from the woods, there is still the need to ensure that the local industry, fragile as it may seem, is well insulated against the shocks on the international market.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also wishes to encourage local players to build very good corporate images to be able to stay above the intense competition in the sector.
In recent times, there have been reports of adulteration of particularly petrol by some service stations. Additionally, there have been reports of some fuel attendants giving patrons less fuel than they have paid for. Such practices can derail whatever efforts the government is making to help improve the lot of local players in the industry and negatively affect the fortunes of the fuel stations in question.
Local players need to bear in mind that consumers are well aware of such bad practices and will avoid stations that are associated with them.
There are very bright prospects in the sector and it is our wish that local companies and players would position themselves well to enjoy the benefits that the industry offers them.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

A GOOD ONE THERE, PRESIDENT (APRIL 8, 2010)

THE President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, over the past few days has paid unannounced visits to key institutions in the country to acquaint himself with their operations and offer some words of encouragement to the hardworking workers there.
Of particular interest to the Daily Graphic is the President’s visit to the revenue collecting agencies in Accra and Tema where he expressed concern over the attitude of some custom officials who engage in acts of economic sabotage.
The action of the President is known as “management by working about” in management circles and it is a good principle for any manager who wants to know exactly what is happening at the shop floor level.
The Daily Graphic strongly believes that the interaction of the President with the various levels of workers in these institutions will also serve as a form of motivation to the workers and enable them to do more with the limited resources they have at their disposal.
At those meetings with the workers, the President did not mince words and gave praise where it was due and equally sounded a note of warning and caution where it was most needed.
We think that both the advice and the warning from the President should serve as wake-up calls for those concerned and spur them on to do what is just, right and fair at all times.
The economy cannot grow on the back of people whose main aim is to enrich themselves through whatever means.
We have always insisted that unless the authorities crack the whip on those who break the regulations, the country cannot achieve much in its development agenda. Very often, we do not want to incur the displeasure of people who exploit the system in order not to disturb the industrial peace, but the activities of wrongdoers who exploit the loopholes create major challenges for the entire society.
The Daily Graphic believes that the challenges that the President’s visits have brought to the fore will be addressed without fear or favour in order to free the necessary revenue needed by the government to pursue the better Ghana agenda.
As the President pointed out, the acts of malfeasance had gone on for a very long time to enrich the pockets of the perpetrators but the time had come for the country to take decisive steps to deal with the economic saboteurs.
The thumbs up given to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, and his team for working hard to stabilise the economy means that there are still very hardworking people committed to the national interest, as against those concerned with personal gain.
Indeed, the Finance Minister has worked very hard over the last one year to put the economy on track and he needs the encouragement and support of well-meaning Ghanaians. The task of reconstruction cannot be accomplished by just a few individuals, while majority of the people, especially those at key revenue centres such as CEPS, decide to enrich themselves.
The President has sensitised all of us to the challenges ahead of the country. But he cannot do this every day, hence the need for every responsible citizen to insist on doing what is right. The Daily Graphic believes that we should not just talk about the challenges but act swiftly to bring all wrongdoers to book to serve as a deterrent to others who think the only way to make it in life is to cut corners.
When people suffer the penalty for breaking our laws, there will be order in our society. Presently, there is disorder because too many people get away with wrongdoing.
The Daily Graphic hopes that the President’s words of encouragement to Dr Duffuor will motivate all his colleagues in government to focus on the better Ghana agenda.
We also urge all Ghanaians, no matter their status, to resolve now to contribute their quota towards nation-building.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

CURBING SWINE FLU MENACE (APRIL 7, 2010)

THE H1N1 Influenza, commonly referred to as swine flu, continues to spread among Ghanaians and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has raised the red flag about a possible outbreak.
Recent reports indicate that the Central Region is becoming a trouble spot with regard to H1N1 influenza infections, with about 83 cases, Mfantsipim School being the hardest hit.
Now about 480 cases have been recorded nation-wide and given the very infectious nature of the disease, one shudders to think about what may happen if effective measures are not adopted to halt its further spread.
Anybody conversant with flu knows that it is a difficult disease to contain, especially when there is an outbreak.
If Ghanaians are to be concerned about the alert raised by NADMO, then there is the need to aggressively pursue measures that will effectively deal with the H1N1 influenza.
In this regard, education is key and the recognition that children or minors are the most vulnerable group should inform any strategy to avert the further spread of the disease.
Interestingly, experts make reference to simple healthy habits such as the washing of hands, especially after shaking the hands of others, and before touching the eyes, nose or mouth.
While these may be simple measures, they can easily escape one’s thoughts, while many acts, such as nose-picking, sneezing, coughing and rubbing of the eyes, are usually done unconsciously or without premeditation.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, wishes to advocate more aggressive and effective means of consistently communicating these preventive measures, especially at the workplaces and in schools.
It is unfortunate to note that despite the very infectious nature of the disease, workplace and school-based preventive interventions are virtually non-existent.
Indeed, over the past weeks, many schools have had to be closed down after some of the students were reported to have contracted the disease. However, based on the advice of health experts, the authorities at Mfantsipim have refused to close down the school, despite the reported infections, with the explanation that although some of the students may not be showing symptoms of the disease, they may be harbouring viruses at their incubation stages.
Indeed, there are many people who may have the virus but may not show symptoms because the virus may be at the incubation stage. Such people, although show no symptom, can easily transmit the virus. That is the reason why there is the need to observe simple healthy habits such as covering the nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing.
Health experts have identified some of the symptoms of the H1N1 influenza as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. In some cases, diarrhoea and vomiting have been reported.
Thus, every Ghanaian has a responsibility to be on the look out for those symptoms and promptly report to the appropriate health centres for screening to avert the spread of the disease.
NADMO has also cautioned the public to minimise crowding at social events, especially those meant for children, and it is hoped that Ghanaians will heed to this advice and not dismiss it as a piece of scare mongering.
So far, the country’s health authorities have been able to manage all reported cases and no death has been recorded.
While commending the health services for the good management of the disease, we wish to urge them not to get complacent but continue to do their best to ensure that all reported cases nation-wide are effectively managed.
The DAILY GRAPHIC urges the government to continue to support the health authorities with the necessary medicines and vaccines to help contain and effectively manage the disease.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

DEALING WITH LAWLESSNESS (APRIL 6,2010)

THE directive from President John Evans Atta Mills to the Police Command to deal ruthlessly with those who fall foul of the law, regardless of their political, religious and other affiliations, is really heart-warming.
Coming after a wave of ethnic and politically motivated violent acts, it goes without saying that the directive is a timely response to an emerging trend of lawlessness.
Indeed, the President, at a meeting with the Police Command, demonstrated that he was concerned about the alarming state of anarchy in the country and committed to addressing them head-on.
Our society should have no room for political, social, ethnic and religious miscreants who consistently try to exploit the democratic ambience in the country to create a state of lawlessness.
While there is the recognition that in a democratic system the right of the people to express their dissent cannot be taken away, there is also the recognition that in the spirit of sound democratic practices, the expression of any such dissent must not infringe on the rights of others, as well as public safety and peace.
Many Ghanaians, no doubt, share the concerns of the President. Therefore, the emergence of flash points at Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo, Yendi and Tamale, all in the Northern Region, Tuobodom in the Brong Ahafo Region and some parts of the Ashanti Region should be a worrying development.
Again, as noted by the President, the law was no respecter of persons and people hiding under the cloak of political, social, economic and religious influence must be told brazenly that should they fall foul of the law, the law will take its course without fear or favour.
Now that the President has given such a bold directive, the ball has been thrown well into the court of the Police Service to live up to expectation and ensure that the directive is enforced to the letter.
The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to caution that any lapse in concentration on the part of the police will take away the momentum generated by the President’s directive and throw us back into another wave of violence and lawlessness.
This is an opportunity for the police to demonstrate that they are up to the task and remain unquestionably committed to stemming the wave of lawlessness that appears to be a new nemesis.
While the police are at it, it is also important to educate the citizenry, particularly political activists, as well as those embroiled in chieftaincy conflicts, to recognise that the recourse to violence provides no solution to their grievances.
Rather, it demonstrates that they are an intolerant lot who deserve no sympathy from the powers that be and well-meaning Ghanaians.
Dialogue should continue to serve as the foundation for the resolution of conflicts and aggrieved parties always need to bear in mind that violence usually begets violence, while dialogue provides worthy alternatives or solutions for what may seem to be stalemates or difficult situations.
The DAILY GRAPHIC urges the government to remain resolute in its quest to ensure that Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians resident in the country are law-abiding, while those who embark on violent and unlawful acts are appropriately dealt with.
Being a government by the people and for the people, it must seek to serve and preserve the interests of all Ghanaians, irrespective of their economic, social, religious or political status. That is only fair and proper.

Monday, April 5, 2010

THE QUEST FOR A BETTER GHANA (APRIL 5, 2010)

YESTERDAY, Christians all over the world celebrated the most important event on their calendar — the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead — which forms the very foundation of the Christian faith.
Indeed, for Christians, the resurrection is significant for many reasons.
First, it is one of the major pieces of evidence that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; second, Jesus’ resurrection represents an assurance that we have forgiveness from our sins. As Paul contended, “If Christ hath not been raised from the dead, our faith is futile; we are still in our sins” (1 Cor 15:17). Third, the resurrection tells the world that the Kingdom of God is ruled by a living sovereign and, fourth, Jesus’ resurrection proves that physical death is not the termination of human existence.
God, who is the Giver of life, has power to reanimate the human body and Christ’s triumph over the grave is Heaven’s pledge to us that we too shall be raised some day.
The fifth significance and perhaps the most powerful is that the Lord’s resurrection previews the ultimate victory of Christianity over all its enemies.
Sadly, however, we continue to grope in the dark, despite the huge price of redemption paid for us by the Lord Jesus Christ and the great assurances that come with it. Wars, famine, poverty and man’s inhumanity to man seem to have eroded any confidence in the future.
The story on our continent is no different and Rev J. N. N. Ocquaye of the Grace Baptist Church, Sakumono, hit the nail right on the head in his sermon yesterday when he traced the woes of Africa to failed leadership.
In terms of resources and endowments, Africa is blessed with all the resources that make for greatness — human, material and ecological. A continent so well endowed has actually no business with poverty. African history has been one sad story ever since.
So why has Africa consistently failed to engineer an escape from poverty? Why is Africa a cauldron of conflict, wars and death? Why is Africa entertaining a forlorn, dysfunctional and conflict-ridden conglomeration of failed states in its geo-polity? Why does Africa sustain the last frontiers of hunger, ignorance and disease? And why has it failed woefully to contrive a road map to a more prosperous existence for its teeming population?
Everything comes back, again and again, to corruption and misrule. Instead of galvanising the people for peace, development and progress to reflect the very nature of God, majority of our leaders only exhibit greed for power and wealth, to the detriment of the people they govern.
Our dear nation is also not without teething problems. Economic, educational and social issues aside, our chieftaincy institution, which used to be the centre of a cultural showpiece, is now gradually grinding into disarray. From Bawku in the Upper East Region, through Yendi, Bimbilla and Buipe in the Northern Region to Tuobodom and Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, as well as many coastal towns in the Greater-Accra and Volta Regions, are hydra-headed conflicts that do not make for peace and unity.
But no matter how appalling the situation may appear to be, we cannot throw up our arms in despair. That is why the Daily Graphic thinks that all of us — as a people and as a nation — must resolve here and now to use this year’s Easter celebration to mark a turning point in our individual lives and in the life of the nation at large.
No freedom comes without a price. And just as God allowed the shedding of the blood of His only begotten Son for the purchase of humanity’s freedom, so must we be prepared to give our all to change the destiny of our dear nation.
In our quest for the better Ghana agenda, no sacrifice must be too big or too small for anybody. Let us, therefore, from this moment straighten out all spheres of our lives for the betterment of the nation.
For, together we swim or sink.

LET'S BIND TOGETHER (APRIL 1, 2010)

FROM today, the Christian community will usher in the five-day celebration of Easter, the season of sacrifice, forgiveness, reconciliation and unity. It was during that period, more than 2,000 years ago, that our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified to atone for the sins of mankind.
Indeed, as he hung on the cross in fulfilment of the Scriptures, Jesus Christ, even at that critical moment, interceded for His accusers and those who crucified Him, asking God to “forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing”. (Luke 23:34)
During the Easter season, Christians and even non-Christians participate in the festivities, either to renew their faith in God or their bond with the communities from where they come from. The occasion also offers the opportunity for interaction, exchange of ideas and the renewal of people’s allegiance to their faiths or roots.
To commemorate the occasion, some religious leaders in the country have called on Ghanaians to bury their differences and begin life as a united people with a common vision.
As they indicated, the vices of selfishness, disobedience, anger, evil desire, greed, corruption, as well as disrespect and intolerance, had taken root in our society.
Even as the focus on diversity, with little emphasis on common values and vision, tends to tear us apart, very little is being done by our temporal and spiritual leaders to bridge the gulf that clearly shows in our daily endeavours.
If it is not about a fight for the control of land or traditional authority, it is about disagreement between supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the major opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
It appears that the country is fighting an identity crisis because we do not see ourselves as one people with a common destiny.
There is a lot that we can gain if we begin to bind together as Ghanaians with a strong belief in our religious values which must manifest in love for one another, respect for authority and tolerance.
We pride ourselves as a great nation and beacon of hope for many countries on the continent because of the successes we have chalked up in nurturing democratic governance since 1993.
Unfortunately, we are unable to build on these achievements that other countries have exploited to break away from the shackles of poverty, disease and squalor.
The Daily Graphic encourages all Ghanaians to use this Easter holidays to break away from sin and negative tendencies and open a new chapter in which we will be one another’s keeper.
We also believe that we can put behind us the negative tendency of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, develop a forgiving heart and, like Jesus Christ, forgive those who have sinned against us.
Indeed, when the Lord taught His disciples how to pray, He made it abundantly clear that our ability to receive forgiveness for our trespasses was contingent on our ability to forgive others who sinned against us. Yet, mankind appears to have turned a deaf ear to this important charge all these years.
As human beings, we have our frailties and shortcomings and, therefore, we cannot be perfect. That is why we should be ready to forgive one another in order to forge ahead in unity.
Far from asking that wrongs should be swept under the carpet, the Daily Graphic thinks that while the state apparatus deals swiftly with deviants in society, it is important to forge a bond of unity and friendship. This way, our collective endeavours will help to achieve better results in the country.