THE ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) takes a major step towards its efforts at consolidating power in 2012 with the holding of its national delegates congress in the Northern Regional capital of Tamale.
The congress is being held at a time when disagreements over the direction of the government have created a semblance of division in the party.
As is to be expected, the teeming supporters of the NDC and Ghanaians at large expected the Mills administration to deliver the better Ghana agenda early in its four-year mandate.
The challenges confronting the ruling party right from the time it assumed the reins of power are not an indication of a failed administration. They are only a manifestation of the normal challenges that confront a growing democracy such as our fledging participatory governance system.
What is happening in the NDC should not be seen as a crack in the ranks of the party.
A party with a large following such as the NDC cannot manage its affairs based on a consensual approach. The members can only agree without being disagreeable.
Listening to the 65 candidates seeking positions in the party, the common theme emerging in their messages to their supporters is a call on the delegates to make the right choices to give a head start to the NDC to retain power in 2012.
Sometimes those who are not supporters of a particular political party are indifferent towards the goings-on in other parties or wish those parties hard times, but that development will not help nurture our multi-party democracy.
There is no way democracy can endure in our country without vibrant political parties. One of the key drivers of good governance is the existence of political parties. As students of democracy, Ghanaians should not only be interested in the formation of political parties but also encourage the parties to grow, contest elections and even form forces to provide alternatives to ruling governments.
Instead of mauling those who suggest alternatives to strengthening internal democracy in the political parties, the leaders should work harder to restore the parties to the ideals of their founding fathers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that all the candidates seeking office in the NDC mean well; perhaps the only difference is the approach to attain the goal of building a strong political party that can retain power in 2012.
We hope the party leaders and the delegates will use the unique opportunity of the congress to identify specific challenges and address them for the effective management of the NDC as the ruling party focused to deliver on its manifesto pledges.
Voters are keenly watching developments in Tamale and the NDC will be better off if it avoids the pitfalls of its past congresses.
Although it is its own internal party affair, Ghanaians expect the ruling NDC to use the congress to reshape certain national issues, such as economic development, gender, employment creation and youth policies in relation to governance, anti-corruption and the delivery of the government’s mandate.
We do not want to believe that there will be no fireworks at the Tamale congress. All the candidates will present their positions on the direction of the party very forcefully.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, however, calls on all of them to impress upon their supporters to be civil in canvassing for votes at the grounds of the congress so that they do not incur the wrath of their opponents.
The party supporters know too well that a peaceful congress will determine the strength and direction of the party and they dare not fail by plunging the congress into violence, for the NDC is bigger than any individual.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls for calm and wishes the NDC a successful congress in Tamale. May the best candidates emerge victorious.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
MOTIVATING RICE FARMERS (JAN 15, 2010)
Ghana’s annual rice import is estimated at about 300,000 tonnes, valued at millions of dollars.
The local production of the produce falls below demand, creating a lucrative market for imported rice.
The irony of our situation is that Ghana abounds in arable land for the cultivation of paddy rice and other varieties of the staple.
Like the needle in the midst of tonnes of fabric but which is always naked, Ghana has the capacity to produce rice for local consumption and for export, yet we are always in want of the produce, necessitating large tonnes of imports.
The country stands to gain immensely from the mass cultivation of rice because while the local market exists, there is the potential for export to the sub-region and beyond.
Rice is the favourite food of majority of the people and it is consumed in all homes at Christmas, Eid-Ul-Fitr and other festive occasions.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the country can break away from its over-dependence on imported rice to rely on local production if our farmers are motivated to do so.
We recall the glorious era of the Operation Feed Yourself (OFY) programme when the three northern regions and other water-logged areas were turned into rice fields.
The outcome of that endeavour was so overwhelming that rice production exceeded local demand and the surplus was exported.
Out of this state intervention emerged big time rice farmers, especially in the three northern regions, and a rice mill was established to process the rice.
More than 30 years on, we have not been able to improve on our production techniques to turn out quality rice to meet the taste of the people.
Thus the often repeated complaint against local rice is that the produce is not properly milled to compete with the imported one.
It is, therefore, refreshing that some steps are being taken, albeit slowly, to make our local rice the produce of choice for all our people, especially the big-time stakeholders such as educational institutions, the security agencies, hospitals and food vendors.
The Chinese say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step and we are convinced that Continental Commodities Trading Company (CCTC) Limited, a subsidiary of the Finatrade Group, began the journey yesterday when it took delivery of 761 bags of perfumed local rice produced by farmers in the Hohoe municipality and surrounding villages.
We have noticed that one major bottleneck in our effort to produce rice in abundance is the lack of a guaranteed market for local rice producers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends Finatrade for this bold effort to support local rice producers and we urge all rice merchants to buy from local producers.
This is the only way to stimulate the local economy because besides creating the market for farmers, more young persons will be encouraged to take to agriculture to rejuvenate the rural economy as promised in the 2010 budget statement.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to make the agenda to promote the consumption of local rice a major national endeavour, with businesses that will assist us to achieve that objective being offered special incentives.
It is not going to be easy to break into the cartel of rice importers and get our people to patronise local rice. The journey will be long and rough but if we are determined to change our destiny for the better, we can break away from the past.
The local production of the produce falls below demand, creating a lucrative market for imported rice.
The irony of our situation is that Ghana abounds in arable land for the cultivation of paddy rice and other varieties of the staple.
Like the needle in the midst of tonnes of fabric but which is always naked, Ghana has the capacity to produce rice for local consumption and for export, yet we are always in want of the produce, necessitating large tonnes of imports.
The country stands to gain immensely from the mass cultivation of rice because while the local market exists, there is the potential for export to the sub-region and beyond.
Rice is the favourite food of majority of the people and it is consumed in all homes at Christmas, Eid-Ul-Fitr and other festive occasions.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the country can break away from its over-dependence on imported rice to rely on local production if our farmers are motivated to do so.
We recall the glorious era of the Operation Feed Yourself (OFY) programme when the three northern regions and other water-logged areas were turned into rice fields.
The outcome of that endeavour was so overwhelming that rice production exceeded local demand and the surplus was exported.
Out of this state intervention emerged big time rice farmers, especially in the three northern regions, and a rice mill was established to process the rice.
More than 30 years on, we have not been able to improve on our production techniques to turn out quality rice to meet the taste of the people.
Thus the often repeated complaint against local rice is that the produce is not properly milled to compete with the imported one.
It is, therefore, refreshing that some steps are being taken, albeit slowly, to make our local rice the produce of choice for all our people, especially the big-time stakeholders such as educational institutions, the security agencies, hospitals and food vendors.
The Chinese say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step and we are convinced that Continental Commodities Trading Company (CCTC) Limited, a subsidiary of the Finatrade Group, began the journey yesterday when it took delivery of 761 bags of perfumed local rice produced by farmers in the Hohoe municipality and surrounding villages.
We have noticed that one major bottleneck in our effort to produce rice in abundance is the lack of a guaranteed market for local rice producers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends Finatrade for this bold effort to support local rice producers and we urge all rice merchants to buy from local producers.
This is the only way to stimulate the local economy because besides creating the market for farmers, more young persons will be encouraged to take to agriculture to rejuvenate the rural economy as promised in the 2010 budget statement.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to make the agenda to promote the consumption of local rice a major national endeavour, with businesses that will assist us to achieve that objective being offered special incentives.
It is not going to be easy to break into the cartel of rice importers and get our people to patronise local rice. The journey will be long and rough but if we are determined to change our destiny for the better, we can break away from the past.
MOTIVATING RICE FARMERS (JAN 15, 2010)
Ghana’s annual rice import is estimated at about 300,000 tonnes, valued at millions of dollars.
The local production of the produce falls below demand, creating a lucrative market for imported rice.
The irony of our situation is that Ghana abounds in arable land for the cultivation of paddy rice and other varieties of the staple.
Like the needle in the midst of tonnes of fabric but which is always naked, Ghana has the capacity to produce rice for local consumption and for export, yet we are always in want of the produce, necessitating large tonnes of imports.
The country stands to gain immensely from the mass cultivation of rice because while the local market exists, there is the potential for export to the sub-region and beyond.
Rice is the favourite food of majority of the people and it is consumed in all homes at Christmas, Eid-Ul-Fitr and other festive occasions.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the country can break away from its over-dependence on imported rice to rely on local production if our farmers are motivated to do so.
We recall the glorious era of the Operation Feed Yourself (OFY) programme when the three northern regions and other water-logged areas were turned into rice fields.
The outcome of that endeavour was so overwhelming that rice production exceeded local demand and the surplus was exported.
Out of this state intervention emerged big time rice farmers, especially in the three northern regions, and a rice mill was established to process the rice.
More than 30 years on, we have not been able to improve on our production techniques to turn out quality rice to meet the taste of the people.
Thus the often repeated complaint against local rice is that the produce is not properly milled to compete with the imported one.
It is, therefore, refreshing that some steps are being taken, albeit slowly, to make our local rice the produce of choice for all our people, especially the big-time stakeholders such as educational institutions, the security agencies, hospitals and food vendors.
The Chinese say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step and we are convinced that Continental Commodities Trading Company (CCTC) Limited, a subsidiary of the Finatrade Group, began the journey yesterday when it took delivery of 761 bags of perfumed local rice produced by farmers in the Hohoe municipality and surrounding villages.
We have noticed that one major bottleneck in our effort to produce rice in abundance is the lack of a guaranteed market for local rice producers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends Finatrade for this bold effort to support local rice producers and we urge all rice merchants to buy from local producers.
This is the only way to stimulate the local economy because besides creating the market for farmers, more young persons will be encouraged to take to agriculture to rejuvenate the rural economy as promised in the 2010 budget statement.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to make the agenda to promote the consumption of local rice a major national endeavour, with businesses that will assist us to achieve that objective being offered special incentives.
It is not going to be easy to break into the cartel of rice importers and get our people to patronise local rice. The journey will be long and rough but if we are determined to change our destiny for the better, we can break away from the past.
The local production of the produce falls below demand, creating a lucrative market for imported rice.
The irony of our situation is that Ghana abounds in arable land for the cultivation of paddy rice and other varieties of the staple.
Like the needle in the midst of tonnes of fabric but which is always naked, Ghana has the capacity to produce rice for local consumption and for export, yet we are always in want of the produce, necessitating large tonnes of imports.
The country stands to gain immensely from the mass cultivation of rice because while the local market exists, there is the potential for export to the sub-region and beyond.
Rice is the favourite food of majority of the people and it is consumed in all homes at Christmas, Eid-Ul-Fitr and other festive occasions.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the country can break away from its over-dependence on imported rice to rely on local production if our farmers are motivated to do so.
We recall the glorious era of the Operation Feed Yourself (OFY) programme when the three northern regions and other water-logged areas were turned into rice fields.
The outcome of that endeavour was so overwhelming that rice production exceeded local demand and the surplus was exported.
Out of this state intervention emerged big time rice farmers, especially in the three northern regions, and a rice mill was established to process the rice.
More than 30 years on, we have not been able to improve on our production techniques to turn out quality rice to meet the taste of the people.
Thus the often repeated complaint against local rice is that the produce is not properly milled to compete with the imported one.
It is, therefore, refreshing that some steps are being taken, albeit slowly, to make our local rice the produce of choice for all our people, especially the big-time stakeholders such as educational institutions, the security agencies, hospitals and food vendors.
The Chinese say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step and we are convinced that Continental Commodities Trading Company (CCTC) Limited, a subsidiary of the Finatrade Group, began the journey yesterday when it took delivery of 761 bags of perfumed local rice produced by farmers in the Hohoe municipality and surrounding villages.
We have noticed that one major bottleneck in our effort to produce rice in abundance is the lack of a guaranteed market for local rice producers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends Finatrade for this bold effort to support local rice producers and we urge all rice merchants to buy from local producers.
This is the only way to stimulate the local economy because besides creating the market for farmers, more young persons will be encouraged to take to agriculture to rejuvenate the rural economy as promised in the 2010 budget statement.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the government to make the agenda to promote the consumption of local rice a major national endeavour, with businesses that will assist us to achieve that objective being offered special incentives.
It is not going to be easy to break into the cartel of rice importers and get our people to patronise local rice. The journey will be long and rough but if we are determined to change our destiny for the better, we can break away from the past.
RIDDING SOCIETY OF CRIME (JAN 14, 2010)
THE activities of criminals have always created a sense of insecurity in any society.
This was the situation the criminals nearly created in the country some time last year when, on a daily basis, armed robbers terrorised business operators and individuals whom they robbed of their valuables.
Thankfully, the police and other security agencies took the fight to the criminals and managed to smoke many of them out of their hideouts.
The professionalism of our police and other security personnel has never been in doubt. A section of society is normally sceptical, not cynical, about the willingness and the capacity of the security agencies to make our society largely free of the activities of miscreants.
Majority of the public have always co-operated with the police to combat crime, except that sometimes scepticism sets in this collaboration because of the betrayal of the public trust by some policemen and women.
The activities of these bad lots are the exception rather than the norm, as the police have always responded swiftly to deal with distressed calls from people who are under attack by criminals.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is, therefore, encouraged by the determination of the Police Administration to reduce violent crime by 20 per cent this year, with special focus on armed robbery and drug trafficking.
It is our wish that the agenda of the police to fight crime yields positive results because the activities of drug traffickers and armed robbers nearly dented the reputation of Ghana among the comity of nations.
We are happy that the statistics indicate that these violent crimes are on the decline and the trend, if sustained, will lead us to the ‘good old days’ when our society was not associated with armed robbers and drug traffickers.
Even the sceptics cannot contest the assertion by Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), that the crime situation is largely under control, especially armed robbery that caused havoc and concern among the populace.
It is also essential for the people to take note of the expectations of the IGP that “what is expected of us is to consider our role as stakeholders to collectively fight crime, reduce criminality, provide justice for all and ensure the transformation and reformation of the miscreants so that they can revert to society reformed and changed to help with the economic development of communities and the country at large”.
It is common knowledge that some convicts are released from our prisons to become hardened criminals and they pose more challenges to society.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks our penal system requires reforms in order to attain a crime-free society.
Our criminal justice system should not only be retributive but also provide the opportunity for criminals to reform so that they can become useful citizens.
We may not be doing ourselves any good if majority of prisoners return from the prisons to become hardened criminals, instead of personalities who have learnt their lessons and are resolved to contribute more to the development of the country.
It is said that the level of crime is a reflection of the type of society that we have, but that assertion does not have the force of the argument because the deviants are always in the minority who do not want to conform with the norms of society.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the police and other security agencies to step up their fight against criminals so that the majority of law-abiding citizens can go about their endeavours in a very secure environment.
This was the situation the criminals nearly created in the country some time last year when, on a daily basis, armed robbers terrorised business operators and individuals whom they robbed of their valuables.
Thankfully, the police and other security agencies took the fight to the criminals and managed to smoke many of them out of their hideouts.
The professionalism of our police and other security personnel has never been in doubt. A section of society is normally sceptical, not cynical, about the willingness and the capacity of the security agencies to make our society largely free of the activities of miscreants.
Majority of the public have always co-operated with the police to combat crime, except that sometimes scepticism sets in this collaboration because of the betrayal of the public trust by some policemen and women.
The activities of these bad lots are the exception rather than the norm, as the police have always responded swiftly to deal with distressed calls from people who are under attack by criminals.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is, therefore, encouraged by the determination of the Police Administration to reduce violent crime by 20 per cent this year, with special focus on armed robbery and drug trafficking.
It is our wish that the agenda of the police to fight crime yields positive results because the activities of drug traffickers and armed robbers nearly dented the reputation of Ghana among the comity of nations.
We are happy that the statistics indicate that these violent crimes are on the decline and the trend, if sustained, will lead us to the ‘good old days’ when our society was not associated with armed robbers and drug traffickers.
Even the sceptics cannot contest the assertion by Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), that the crime situation is largely under control, especially armed robbery that caused havoc and concern among the populace.
It is also essential for the people to take note of the expectations of the IGP that “what is expected of us is to consider our role as stakeholders to collectively fight crime, reduce criminality, provide justice for all and ensure the transformation and reformation of the miscreants so that they can revert to society reformed and changed to help with the economic development of communities and the country at large”.
It is common knowledge that some convicts are released from our prisons to become hardened criminals and they pose more challenges to society.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks our penal system requires reforms in order to attain a crime-free society.
Our criminal justice system should not only be retributive but also provide the opportunity for criminals to reform so that they can become useful citizens.
We may not be doing ourselves any good if majority of prisoners return from the prisons to become hardened criminals, instead of personalities who have learnt their lessons and are resolved to contribute more to the development of the country.
It is said that the level of crime is a reflection of the type of society that we have, but that assertion does not have the force of the argument because the deviants are always in the minority who do not want to conform with the norms of society.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the police and other security agencies to step up their fight against criminals so that the majority of law-abiding citizens can go about their endeavours in a very secure environment.
RECIPROCATE THIS GESTURE (JAN 13, 2010)
Investments in road infrastructure are key drivers of economic and national development, as well as employment creation.
This explains why governments, since independence, have invested heavily in roads in order to facilitate accessibility to all parts of the country.
A good and dependable road infrastructure allows businesses to receive inputs at production facilities on time and transport finished goods to the markets in an efficient manner.
It is against this background that the Daily Graphic is enthused about the decision of the government to release GH¢160 million to clear the arrears owed to contractors from last year.
The release of the funds to the contractors will surely boost the economy, as the payment will stimulate economic activities and enhance the quality of life of the people.
In the words of the Finance Minster, “the swift payment has become necessary because of the importance the government attaches to infrastructure development, as captured in the 2010 budget statement”.
Over the last two decades, Ghanaians have been living witnesses to improvement in road infrastructure in the major cities and towns and other roads that lead to food producing areas.
In Accra, one can attest to the enhancement of the road from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Achimota, the Mallam-Yamoransa highway, the ongoing works from Achimota to Ofankor, the Tetteh Quarshie-Mallam highway, the Tetteh Quarshie-Adenta-Pantang-Mamfe road, among other networks.
The government has initiated many more road projects or awarded existing roads on contract for spot improvement in order to open up the countryside for business.
The state of the road network requires that the government invests millions of Ghana cedis into its rehabilitation to get the roads in conditions that will facilitate economic rejuvenation.
The job at hand to reshape the road network and even construct new ones, especially in emerging communities in the cities and towns, is a Herculean one which requires more innovative ways to accomplish.
Besides funding for the projects from the Consolidated Fund, our development partners and the Road Fund, the country needs more resources to achieve first-class or all-weather roads.
The Daily Graphic thinks our reliance on donor support will not help us to achieve the levels of road construction to facilitate economic development and growth.
We know that some of our people complain of the heavy tax burden on them and it will be suicidal for the government to impose more taxes on the people.
Nonetheless, the government can find ways of imposing levies where payments are not fully felt by the generality of the people to support the road sector.
The government should consider building toll booths on all major and first-class roads to raise more money for their rehabilitation, while existing tolls can be adjusted upwards.
The payment by the government has come as a result of the prudent management of the economy and sacrifices by the people and the only way to reciprocate this gesture is for the contractors to execute the works well.
The spectacle of shoddy works executed by contractors abounds in our communities and, unfortunately, these works are executed by local contractors.
But we need to empower our people to lead the process for economic development and the construction sector is one key area that requires government support to achieve that objective.
The situation makes it difficult for the Daily Graphic to advocate that more contracts be awarded to our local contractors.
We plead with them to give the taxpayer value for money by executing quality works.
Also, our technocrats must live up to their professional calling by showing their engineering competence through good road designs and supervising the contractors to work strictly to specifications.
This explains why governments, since independence, have invested heavily in roads in order to facilitate accessibility to all parts of the country.
A good and dependable road infrastructure allows businesses to receive inputs at production facilities on time and transport finished goods to the markets in an efficient manner.
It is against this background that the Daily Graphic is enthused about the decision of the government to release GH¢160 million to clear the arrears owed to contractors from last year.
The release of the funds to the contractors will surely boost the economy, as the payment will stimulate economic activities and enhance the quality of life of the people.
In the words of the Finance Minster, “the swift payment has become necessary because of the importance the government attaches to infrastructure development, as captured in the 2010 budget statement”.
Over the last two decades, Ghanaians have been living witnesses to improvement in road infrastructure in the major cities and towns and other roads that lead to food producing areas.
In Accra, one can attest to the enhancement of the road from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Achimota, the Mallam-Yamoransa highway, the ongoing works from Achimota to Ofankor, the Tetteh Quarshie-Mallam highway, the Tetteh Quarshie-Adenta-Pantang-Mamfe road, among other networks.
The government has initiated many more road projects or awarded existing roads on contract for spot improvement in order to open up the countryside for business.
The state of the road network requires that the government invests millions of Ghana cedis into its rehabilitation to get the roads in conditions that will facilitate economic rejuvenation.
The job at hand to reshape the road network and even construct new ones, especially in emerging communities in the cities and towns, is a Herculean one which requires more innovative ways to accomplish.
Besides funding for the projects from the Consolidated Fund, our development partners and the Road Fund, the country needs more resources to achieve first-class or all-weather roads.
The Daily Graphic thinks our reliance on donor support will not help us to achieve the levels of road construction to facilitate economic development and growth.
We know that some of our people complain of the heavy tax burden on them and it will be suicidal for the government to impose more taxes on the people.
Nonetheless, the government can find ways of imposing levies where payments are not fully felt by the generality of the people to support the road sector.
The government should consider building toll booths on all major and first-class roads to raise more money for their rehabilitation, while existing tolls can be adjusted upwards.
The payment by the government has come as a result of the prudent management of the economy and sacrifices by the people and the only way to reciprocate this gesture is for the contractors to execute the works well.
The spectacle of shoddy works executed by contractors abounds in our communities and, unfortunately, these works are executed by local contractors.
But we need to empower our people to lead the process for economic development and the construction sector is one key area that requires government support to achieve that objective.
The situation makes it difficult for the Daily Graphic to advocate that more contracts be awarded to our local contractors.
We plead with them to give the taxpayer value for money by executing quality works.
Also, our technocrats must live up to their professional calling by showing their engineering competence through good road designs and supervising the contractors to work strictly to specifications.
RECIPROCATE THIS GESTURE (JAN 13, 2010)
Investments in road infrastructure are key drivers of economic and national development, as well as employment creation.
This explains why governments, since independence, have invested heavily in roads in order to facilitate accessibility to all parts of the country.
A good and dependable road infrastructure allows businesses to receive inputs at production facilities on time and transport finished goods to the markets in an efficient manner.
It is against this background that the Daily Graphic is enthused about the decision of the government to release GH¢160 million to clear the arrears owed to contractors from last year.
The release of the funds to the contractors will surely boost the economy, as the payment will stimulate economic activities and enhance the quality of life of the people.
In the words of the Finance Minster, “the swift payment has become necessary because of the importance the government attaches to infrastructure development, as captured in the 2010 budget statement”.
Over the last two decades, Ghanaians have been living witnesses to improvement in road infrastructure in the major cities and towns and other roads that lead to food producing areas.
In Accra, one can attest to the enhancement of the road from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Achimota, the Mallam-Yamoransa highway, the ongoing works from Achimota to Ofankor, the Tetteh Quarshie-Mallam highway, the Tetteh Quarshie-Adenta-Pantang-Mamfe road, among other networks.
The government has initiated many more road projects or awarded existing roads on contract for spot improvement in order to open up the countryside for business.
The state of the road network requires that the government invests millions of Ghana cedis into its rehabilitation to get the roads in conditions that will facilitate economic rejuvenation.
The job at hand to reshape the road network and even construct new ones, especially in emerging communities in the cities and towns, is a Herculean one which requires more innovative ways to accomplish.
Besides funding for the projects from the Consolidated Fund, our development partners and the Road Fund, the country needs more resources to achieve first-class or all-weather roads.
The Daily Graphic thinks our reliance on donor support will not help us to achieve the levels of road construction to facilitate economic development and growth.
We know that some of our people complain of the heavy tax burden on them and it will be suicidal for the government to impose more taxes on the people.
Nonetheless, the government can find ways of imposing levies where payments are not fully felt by the generality of the people to support the road sector.
The government should consider building toll booths on all major and first-class roads to raise more money for their rehabilitation, while existing tolls can be adjusted upwards.
The payment by the government has come as a result of the prudent management of the economy and sacrifices by the people and the only way to reciprocate this gesture is for the contractors to execute the works well.
The spectacle of shoddy works executed by contractors abounds in our communities and, unfortunately, these works are executed by local contractors.
But we need to empower our people to lead the process for economic development and the construction sector is one key area that requires government support to achieve that objective.
The situation makes it difficult for the Daily Graphic to advocate that more contracts be awarded to our local contractors.
We plead with them to give the taxpayer value for money by executing quality works.
Also, our technocrats must live up to their professional calling by showing their engineering competence through good road designs and supervising the contractors to work strictly to specifications.
This explains why governments, since independence, have invested heavily in roads in order to facilitate accessibility to all parts of the country.
A good and dependable road infrastructure allows businesses to receive inputs at production facilities on time and transport finished goods to the markets in an efficient manner.
It is against this background that the Daily Graphic is enthused about the decision of the government to release GH¢160 million to clear the arrears owed to contractors from last year.
The release of the funds to the contractors will surely boost the economy, as the payment will stimulate economic activities and enhance the quality of life of the people.
In the words of the Finance Minster, “the swift payment has become necessary because of the importance the government attaches to infrastructure development, as captured in the 2010 budget statement”.
Over the last two decades, Ghanaians have been living witnesses to improvement in road infrastructure in the major cities and towns and other roads that lead to food producing areas.
In Accra, one can attest to the enhancement of the road from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Achimota, the Mallam-Yamoransa highway, the ongoing works from Achimota to Ofankor, the Tetteh Quarshie-Mallam highway, the Tetteh Quarshie-Adenta-Pantang-Mamfe road, among other networks.
The government has initiated many more road projects or awarded existing roads on contract for spot improvement in order to open up the countryside for business.
The state of the road network requires that the government invests millions of Ghana cedis into its rehabilitation to get the roads in conditions that will facilitate economic rejuvenation.
The job at hand to reshape the road network and even construct new ones, especially in emerging communities in the cities and towns, is a Herculean one which requires more innovative ways to accomplish.
Besides funding for the projects from the Consolidated Fund, our development partners and the Road Fund, the country needs more resources to achieve first-class or all-weather roads.
The Daily Graphic thinks our reliance on donor support will not help us to achieve the levels of road construction to facilitate economic development and growth.
We know that some of our people complain of the heavy tax burden on them and it will be suicidal for the government to impose more taxes on the people.
Nonetheless, the government can find ways of imposing levies where payments are not fully felt by the generality of the people to support the road sector.
The government should consider building toll booths on all major and first-class roads to raise more money for their rehabilitation, while existing tolls can be adjusted upwards.
The payment by the government has come as a result of the prudent management of the economy and sacrifices by the people and the only way to reciprocate this gesture is for the contractors to execute the works well.
The spectacle of shoddy works executed by contractors abounds in our communities and, unfortunately, these works are executed by local contractors.
But we need to empower our people to lead the process for economic development and the construction sector is one key area that requires government support to achieve that objective.
The situation makes it difficult for the Daily Graphic to advocate that more contracts be awarded to our local contractors.
We plead with them to give the taxpayer value for money by executing quality works.
Also, our technocrats must live up to their professional calling by showing their engineering competence through good road designs and supervising the contractors to work strictly to specifications.
LET'S LEARN BASIC FRENCH (JAN 12, 2010)
Either by divine or political design, Ghana finds itself surrounded by French-speaking countries. But, sad to say, it appears that most Ghanaians, even at the official level, are reluctant to learn French, a development which, to say the least, has deprived Ghanaians of the opportunity to interact more with people from neighbouring countries.
A tutor of French at the Ghana National College in Cape Coast, Nana Akomea, in an interview with the Chronicle, hit the nail right on the head when he said Ghanaians had been failing to utilise the many opportunities that abound in West Africa because of their inability to speak French.
“It is a linguistic and cultural handicap facing many women and men of scholarship and leadership in Ghana, to the disadvantage of economic and strategic positions in the sub-region,” he lamented, noting that since 1963 no Ghanaian had become the Secretary-General of the African Union (AU) Commission.
Nana Akomea’s lamentations are well founded and it behoves the government and, indeed, every Ghanaian, to inculcate the learning of French into our daily activities, right from the basic level of the educational ladder.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that regional integration, a policy that has been espoused by successive governments, has not been attained partly because on a person-to-person basis, Ghanaians cannot interact with citizens from other countries in the sub-region. And if individuals in the sub-region cannot get along well because of the language barrier, we don’t see how the whole region can get along as one body.
What is significant is that while Ghanaians shy away from learning French, citizens of Francophone countries go to all lengths to learn English so that they can interact with people from Anglophone countries.
That is why many people from Francophone countries can speak passable English and get by with it, while those of us from Ghana cannot speak passable French, even those of us who studied it up to some stage in secondary school.
So desirous are people from Francophone countries to speak English that when the Togolese national team encountered that unfortunate incident in Angola, Ghanaian journalists were able to speak with some of the players in English to get first-hand information and also know about their reaction to the incident.
And wasn’t that beautiful?
We pause to ask: Had Ghanaian players been caught in any challenges, how many of them could have spoken with French-speaking journalists?
Let us, as a nation, resolve to turn over a new leaf and make the learning of French, both at the formal and informal levels, a priority, so that we will not be found wanting when the need arises.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that if we start from the basic level of education by teaching our nursery and kindergarten pupils the rudiments of French, we can make a headway in our effort to ‘Frenchify’ ourselves and our country.
Our senior high schools and universities have language centres which can carry on the task from those levels, with the
objective of ensuring that everybody who leaves SHS should have a working knowledge of French.
When that is achieved, Ghanaians can then interact more with their counterparts from Francophone countries and also seize the numerous opportunities that abound in those countries.
Then, and only then, can we talk about sub-regional integration in the real sense of the word.
Let us act now, for now is the opportune time.
A tutor of French at the Ghana National College in Cape Coast, Nana Akomea, in an interview with the Chronicle, hit the nail right on the head when he said Ghanaians had been failing to utilise the many opportunities that abound in West Africa because of their inability to speak French.
“It is a linguistic and cultural handicap facing many women and men of scholarship and leadership in Ghana, to the disadvantage of economic and strategic positions in the sub-region,” he lamented, noting that since 1963 no Ghanaian had become the Secretary-General of the African Union (AU) Commission.
Nana Akomea’s lamentations are well founded and it behoves the government and, indeed, every Ghanaian, to inculcate the learning of French into our daily activities, right from the basic level of the educational ladder.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that regional integration, a policy that has been espoused by successive governments, has not been attained partly because on a person-to-person basis, Ghanaians cannot interact with citizens from other countries in the sub-region. And if individuals in the sub-region cannot get along well because of the language barrier, we don’t see how the whole region can get along as one body.
What is significant is that while Ghanaians shy away from learning French, citizens of Francophone countries go to all lengths to learn English so that they can interact with people from Anglophone countries.
That is why many people from Francophone countries can speak passable English and get by with it, while those of us from Ghana cannot speak passable French, even those of us who studied it up to some stage in secondary school.
So desirous are people from Francophone countries to speak English that when the Togolese national team encountered that unfortunate incident in Angola, Ghanaian journalists were able to speak with some of the players in English to get first-hand information and also know about their reaction to the incident.
And wasn’t that beautiful?
We pause to ask: Had Ghanaian players been caught in any challenges, how many of them could have spoken with French-speaking journalists?
Let us, as a nation, resolve to turn over a new leaf and make the learning of French, both at the formal and informal levels, a priority, so that we will not be found wanting when the need arises.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that if we start from the basic level of education by teaching our nursery and kindergarten pupils the rudiments of French, we can make a headway in our effort to ‘Frenchify’ ourselves and our country.
Our senior high schools and universities have language centres which can carry on the task from those levels, with the
objective of ensuring that everybody who leaves SHS should have a working knowledge of French.
When that is achieved, Ghanaians can then interact more with their counterparts from Francophone countries and also seize the numerous opportunities that abound in those countries.
Then, and only then, can we talk about sub-regional integration in the real sense of the word.
Let us act now, for now is the opportune time.
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