Peace is a prerequisite for development and for this reason everybody is enjoined to be a troubleshooter in the society in order to facilitate growth, development and prosperity. Anything to the contrary will lead to stunted growth and the deterioration of living standards and conditions.
Ghana has become the beacon of hope on a continent with many trouble spots because for more than two decades the country has enjoyed peace and stability despite the existence of a few flash points.
We have held five successful elections since 1992 to usher in new regimes or remove ruling governments from power without any serious security problems.
It is recalled that before, during and after the last general election many of our friends thought that the country would fall apart because of the tempo of the campaign for power by the political parties.
The dividends of democracy cannot be reaped fully if peace and tranquillity are taken for granted, for good governance, rule of law, respect for civil liberties, and the conduct of regular elections cannot be guaranteed in an atmosphere of war or disturbances.
All eyes are on Ghana now from all over the world because of our success at promoting democratic governance. Investors, tourists and everybody feel safe in the country as a result of our respect for rule of law. It is only when those who feel aggrieved can seek redress in the law courts and are guaranteed a fair hearing that they will risk their capital in the country.
Nonetheless, when certain internal developments threaten the peace and stability of the country then there is cause for worry.
We make reference to the one-time peaceful environment on the Akuapem Ridge that has been rocked in recent times by disputes among residents of towns that used to sit together to discuss matters of mutual interest.
The Akuapems are noted for their discipline and respect to such an extent that it is said that if an Akuapem wants to be rude he or she will precede such a remark with an apology.
Thus for a very long time the people of the Ridge have enjoyed peace and development until the 1990s when the Akuapem Traditional Council disintegrated with some of the wings breaking away from the centre to claim their autonomy as paramountcies because of a dispute between the people of Akropong and Abiriw.
The latest dispute between the people of Abiriw and Dawu that led to the death of one person over a land dispute will further aggravate the volatile situation in the area.
The dispute between Abiriw and Dawu will also retard mediation efforts by the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council to bring peace onto the Akuapem Ridge.
The Daily Graphic appeals to the parties in the dispute to bury the hatchet and come together as one people determined to fight their common enemy of poverty, disease and ignorance.
We are concerned about the developments on the Ridge just like any flash points in the country because conflicts distract us from the serious business of providing for the needs of the people.
It costs a lot of money to maintain peace in any conflict zone and it behoves all to maintain the peace so that the government can channel resources for the deployment of security personnel into the provision of basic amenities such as schools, roads and hospitals.
The Daily Graphic calls on all people of goodwill on the Ridge and beyond to impress upon the troublemakers to give peace a chance in order to maintain the area as a tourist hub and a citadel of education.
Monday, January 31, 2011
MAKING OUR ROADS SAFE (PAGE 7, JAN, 31, 2011)
For some time now members of the public have expressed disquiet over the carnage on our roads. The statistics indicate that this month alone about 123 people lost their lives through road accidents, while many hundreds sustained various degrees of injury.
Suddenly road accidents have become a major cause of death, relegating factors such as malaria, maternal and child mortality and HIV/AIDS to the background. These road accidents have become both a social and a health dilemma for policy makers in the country.
The unfortunate thing is that the death of these precious citizens of the land could have been avoided if the people behind the steering wheels had taken extra precautionary measures by adhering strictly to road traffic regulations. It is on record that most road accidents are caused by human error such as drink driving, over speeding, overloading, overtaking at unauthorised places and the abandoning of breakdown vehicles on the highways.
The Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of Roads and Highways and, indeed, the government have initiated many interventions to address the carnage, but with little success. Perhaps looking at the spate of accidents so far, it may not be out of place to conclude that the actions initiated by the authorities have not been results-oriented, which means that more must be done to get the motoring public to abide by road traffic regulations.
The Daily Graphic believes that there are no shortcuts to the challenges facing the road transport industry.
The only solution lies in naming and shaming; that is, those who break the regulations must be punished, instead of the present system where sometimes the police look on helplessly while drivers break the regulations.
The decision by the Police Administration to ban the movement of heavy duty trucks after 6 p.m. as part of measures to curb the carnage on the country’s roads can only achieve the desired results if it is implemented alongside existing regulations.
Many vehicles plying our roads are death traps, as they are not road worthy and lack the necessary documentation. But they do business every day with the acquiescence of some police personnel.
Meanwhile, we remember that heavy duty trucks were banned from operating in the night some time ago. It is recalled that the ban was lifted, in part, as a result of agitation from our neighbours in the sub-region who use our country as a transit point.
Already, some heavy duty truck drivers are protesting against the move, saying it lacks any scientific basis. We believe that the Police Administration has very cogent reasons for imposing the ban on heavy duty trucks, so that when the issues are subjected to serious interrogation by members of the public, it will stand the test of time.
It is obvious that everybody is concerned about the carnage on our roads and we believe that Ghanaians will support any intervention that will restore sanity on the roads.
As things stand now, the decision by anybody to travel brings about anxious moments in every home and if this is allowed to persist, every human endeavour, including the movement of goods and services, will suffer and the economy will stagnate.
We share in the concerns of the Police Administration to stem the carnage and we urge our compatriots to join the crusade to make our roads safe.
Suddenly road accidents have become a major cause of death, relegating factors such as malaria, maternal and child mortality and HIV/AIDS to the background. These road accidents have become both a social and a health dilemma for policy makers in the country.
The unfortunate thing is that the death of these precious citizens of the land could have been avoided if the people behind the steering wheels had taken extra precautionary measures by adhering strictly to road traffic regulations. It is on record that most road accidents are caused by human error such as drink driving, over speeding, overloading, overtaking at unauthorised places and the abandoning of breakdown vehicles on the highways.
The Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of Roads and Highways and, indeed, the government have initiated many interventions to address the carnage, but with little success. Perhaps looking at the spate of accidents so far, it may not be out of place to conclude that the actions initiated by the authorities have not been results-oriented, which means that more must be done to get the motoring public to abide by road traffic regulations.
The Daily Graphic believes that there are no shortcuts to the challenges facing the road transport industry.
The only solution lies in naming and shaming; that is, those who break the regulations must be punished, instead of the present system where sometimes the police look on helplessly while drivers break the regulations.
The decision by the Police Administration to ban the movement of heavy duty trucks after 6 p.m. as part of measures to curb the carnage on the country’s roads can only achieve the desired results if it is implemented alongside existing regulations.
Many vehicles plying our roads are death traps, as they are not road worthy and lack the necessary documentation. But they do business every day with the acquiescence of some police personnel.
Meanwhile, we remember that heavy duty trucks were banned from operating in the night some time ago. It is recalled that the ban was lifted, in part, as a result of agitation from our neighbours in the sub-region who use our country as a transit point.
Already, some heavy duty truck drivers are protesting against the move, saying it lacks any scientific basis. We believe that the Police Administration has very cogent reasons for imposing the ban on heavy duty trucks, so that when the issues are subjected to serious interrogation by members of the public, it will stand the test of time.
It is obvious that everybody is concerned about the carnage on our roads and we believe that Ghanaians will support any intervention that will restore sanity on the roads.
As things stand now, the decision by anybody to travel brings about anxious moments in every home and if this is allowed to persist, every human endeavour, including the movement of goods and services, will suffer and the economy will stagnate.
We share in the concerns of the Police Administration to stem the carnage and we urge our compatriots to join the crusade to make our roads safe.
Friday, January 28, 2011
CHANGING HOUSING LANDSCAPE (Jan 28, 2011)
A HISTORIC ceremony took place at Tesano in Accra yesterday to mark the commencement of work on the Ghana National Housing Project.
The Ghana government partnership with STX Korea to build 30,000 houses for our security agencies did not come to fruition without the manifestation of the deep-seated political division in the country, with the Minority in Parliament walking out during the debate on the deal.
Although both sides of the divide agree that something must be done to improve our housing stock, the means to achieve that goal has always been parallel.
Conservative estimates put the housing deficit at about one million units and those in need are in the lower to middle- income bracket.
The fear of paying high rent advances to Shylock landlords has forced many ordinary people to acquire land to put up their own houses.
In the emerging communities in Accra and other urban centres, both estate and private developers have encroached on public lands earmarked for schools, playing grounds and green belts.
We believe that the haphazard development in the country will cease if the state plays a major role in the construction of houses.
Whatever the disagreements that characterised the negotiations with STX Korea, the Daily Graphic thinks we need all hands on deck now that the sod-cutting ceremony for the project has been performed by President J.E.A. Mills.
Anybody who has visited the barracks of our security agencies will be saddened by the state of the accommodation facilities provided for our soldiers and policemen and women.
In some cases, rooms meant for new entrants into the security services are occupied by families of between four and eight, compelling them to keep most of their belongings such as refrigerators and deep freezers in the balconies.
It is important, therefore, that we all embrace the Ghana National Housing Project that will provide safe and decent accommodation for all our security personnel.
Sometimes the fanfare that greets new projects is not sustained, leading to the neglect of the projects because of lack of supervision and commitment from all the stakeholders.
The Ghana National Housing Project, it is hoped, will provide the catalyst for a housing boom in which every working person can afford very decent accommodation.
The Daily Graphic reminds the authorities not to limit the project to the first phase but build all the 200,000 houses and more to ensure the availability of decent housing for all.
In our bid to achieve this dream of transforming the housing industry, we appeal to the government to try and secure the resources to complete the houses started by the previous administration, so that the squatters do not gain at the expense of the taxpayer. Again, it is important to factor local content into the project by involving local real estate developers in its execution.
The Daily Graphic congratulates all the partners in the Ghana National Housing Project on their efforts to bring to fruition this huge investment that will create jobs and wealth.
It is our prayer that the monitoring and evaluation of the project will be at its best, so that the taxpayer will get value for money and we will also avoid shoddy work that the President warned against.
The Ghana government partnership with STX Korea to build 30,000 houses for our security agencies did not come to fruition without the manifestation of the deep-seated political division in the country, with the Minority in Parliament walking out during the debate on the deal.
Although both sides of the divide agree that something must be done to improve our housing stock, the means to achieve that goal has always been parallel.
Conservative estimates put the housing deficit at about one million units and those in need are in the lower to middle- income bracket.
The fear of paying high rent advances to Shylock landlords has forced many ordinary people to acquire land to put up their own houses.
In the emerging communities in Accra and other urban centres, both estate and private developers have encroached on public lands earmarked for schools, playing grounds and green belts.
We believe that the haphazard development in the country will cease if the state plays a major role in the construction of houses.
Whatever the disagreements that characterised the negotiations with STX Korea, the Daily Graphic thinks we need all hands on deck now that the sod-cutting ceremony for the project has been performed by President J.E.A. Mills.
Anybody who has visited the barracks of our security agencies will be saddened by the state of the accommodation facilities provided for our soldiers and policemen and women.
In some cases, rooms meant for new entrants into the security services are occupied by families of between four and eight, compelling them to keep most of their belongings such as refrigerators and deep freezers in the balconies.
It is important, therefore, that we all embrace the Ghana National Housing Project that will provide safe and decent accommodation for all our security personnel.
Sometimes the fanfare that greets new projects is not sustained, leading to the neglect of the projects because of lack of supervision and commitment from all the stakeholders.
The Ghana National Housing Project, it is hoped, will provide the catalyst for a housing boom in which every working person can afford very decent accommodation.
The Daily Graphic reminds the authorities not to limit the project to the first phase but build all the 200,000 houses and more to ensure the availability of decent housing for all.
In our bid to achieve this dream of transforming the housing industry, we appeal to the government to try and secure the resources to complete the houses started by the previous administration, so that the squatters do not gain at the expense of the taxpayer. Again, it is important to factor local content into the project by involving local real estate developers in its execution.
The Daily Graphic congratulates all the partners in the Ghana National Housing Project on their efforts to bring to fruition this huge investment that will create jobs and wealth.
It is our prayer that the monitoring and evaluation of the project will be at its best, so that the taxpayer will get value for money and we will also avoid shoddy work that the President warned against.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
rLG SHOWS THE WAY (JAN 27, 2011)
IT is said that every big thing has a small or humble beginning. That is why any river, no matter its size, flows from a very small source.
Many big companies start from humble beginnings and by dint of hard work they grow to become the blue chip companies.
Companies which began as backyard operations but which today have grown to be blue chip companies include Kasapreko, Zoomlion, Sikkens, UT Bank, Manet, Comet and Regimanuel Estates. A few of these companies are listed among the Ghana Club 100 companies or are preparing to be listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange.
During the First Republic, the then government created many industrial zones, with local and foreign industrialists establishing small, medium and large-scale enterprises with various forms of incentives. But that momentum could not be sustained because of various factors, key among them being the lack of raw materials and credit to run the factories.
It appears we have not yet recovered from the collapse of many of these businesses in the North Industrial Area in Accra where most of these factories have been turned into warehouses to keep cheap imports from all parts of the world.
The Daily Graphic thinks that the government should put in place deliberate policies to support local industries to grow to create employment and wealth.
The growth of the economy does not lie in the hands of foreign investors but indigenous people who understand our circumstances.
We call on the government to initiate the necessary policy interventions that will provide the framework for support for all local industries as part of the Better Ghana Agenda.
The Daily Graphic has no doubt that the future of the country lies in the hands of Ghanaians, not on aid from our development partners. The development partners have played their part and we have reached a stage where we should say ‘thank you’ to them and take our destiny into our own hands.
It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic is excited about the decision of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) to secure 3,000 computers from rLG Communications Company to be distributed to schools nation-wide.
The rationale behind the intervention requires everybody’s support because it is intended to boost digital learning relevant to local curricula in disciplines such as Mathematics, Science and Technology in schools.
The collaboration between the ministry and rLG, under the Better Ghana ICT Project, should help achieve many objectives, such as bridging the digital divide between well-endowed schools and those in deprived areas, as well as expanding the scope of operations of rLG to create jobs and wealth.
Certainly, rLG Communications has blazed the trail in assembling mobile phones in the country and through this venture it has offered employment to many young people throughout the country under one of the modules of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
The Daily Graphic suggests to the government and the banks to continue to support companies such as rLG to grow to compete on the international market to generate the needed revenue for development.
We salute the young and enterprising owner of rLG, Mr Roland Agambire, for demonstrating entrepreneurial skills to grow the company into a major partner in national development.
The Daily Graphic believes that more of such government interventions will help develop the potential in our local industries.
Many big companies start from humble beginnings and by dint of hard work they grow to become the blue chip companies.
Companies which began as backyard operations but which today have grown to be blue chip companies include Kasapreko, Zoomlion, Sikkens, UT Bank, Manet, Comet and Regimanuel Estates. A few of these companies are listed among the Ghana Club 100 companies or are preparing to be listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange.
During the First Republic, the then government created many industrial zones, with local and foreign industrialists establishing small, medium and large-scale enterprises with various forms of incentives. But that momentum could not be sustained because of various factors, key among them being the lack of raw materials and credit to run the factories.
It appears we have not yet recovered from the collapse of many of these businesses in the North Industrial Area in Accra where most of these factories have been turned into warehouses to keep cheap imports from all parts of the world.
The Daily Graphic thinks that the government should put in place deliberate policies to support local industries to grow to create employment and wealth.
The growth of the economy does not lie in the hands of foreign investors but indigenous people who understand our circumstances.
We call on the government to initiate the necessary policy interventions that will provide the framework for support for all local industries as part of the Better Ghana Agenda.
The Daily Graphic has no doubt that the future of the country lies in the hands of Ghanaians, not on aid from our development partners. The development partners have played their part and we have reached a stage where we should say ‘thank you’ to them and take our destiny into our own hands.
It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic is excited about the decision of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) to secure 3,000 computers from rLG Communications Company to be distributed to schools nation-wide.
The rationale behind the intervention requires everybody’s support because it is intended to boost digital learning relevant to local curricula in disciplines such as Mathematics, Science and Technology in schools.
The collaboration between the ministry and rLG, under the Better Ghana ICT Project, should help achieve many objectives, such as bridging the digital divide between well-endowed schools and those in deprived areas, as well as expanding the scope of operations of rLG to create jobs and wealth.
Certainly, rLG Communications has blazed the trail in assembling mobile phones in the country and through this venture it has offered employment to many young people throughout the country under one of the modules of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
The Daily Graphic suggests to the government and the banks to continue to support companies such as rLG to grow to compete on the international market to generate the needed revenue for development.
We salute the young and enterprising owner of rLG, Mr Roland Agambire, for demonstrating entrepreneurial skills to grow the company into a major partner in national development.
The Daily Graphic believes that more of such government interventions will help develop the potential in our local industries.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
WINDOW OF HOPE, INDEED (JAN 26, 2011)
FOR quite some time now senior high school (SHS) graduates have had to stay at home for at least one year before entering the public universities in the country.
That is because while the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is written in May/June of any ensuing year, the academic year for the public universities begins in September, for which reason they close admissions in March.
Therefore, SHS leavers are forced to mark time until the following year when they can buy the admission forms of the universities to put the process of gaining admission to the institutions in motion.
It is against this backdrop that the declaration by Vice-Chancellors, Ghana (VCG), the umbrella body of the heads of our public universities, that this year, final-year SHS students will be given the opportunity to gain admission to the various public universities comes as welcome relief.
The universities say they are going to offer this opportunity to this year’s SHS leavers by delaying admissions, so that the leavers can purchase admission forms, fill and submit them immediately the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) releases their results.
The WAEC will also play its part by making sure that it releases the results early to enable the students to complete the filling of the admission forms.
When all these go according to plan, then the public universities will begin the 2011/2012 academic year in late September or early October.
The Daily Graphic wholeheartedly welcomes this move to do away with the one-year waiting period that had hitherto become the norm before SHS leavers could get admission to the public universities.
Apart from the fact that the one-year waiting period prolonged the number of years our youth spent in school, which, in itself, defeated one of the aims of the educational reforms of 1987 of cutting down the number of years spent in school, there were other negative effects of the delay.
It is said that many female SHS leavers waiting to gain admission to tertiary institutions became pregnant, while some of the boys fell into bad company, with its concomitant effects, such as drug use, Internet fraud, stealing, etc.
Now that it is going to be possible for SHS leavers to go to university in October after writing their examination in May/June, it is our hope that our students will work harder than before, so that they can take advantage of this new window of hope opened to them.
Until now, the common perception among many SHS final-year students was to relax in their studies because they knew they had a whole year within which to re-write the WASSCE (if they didn’t do well at the first attempt) before they could fill university admission forms.
The Daily Graphic takes its hat off to the stakeholders who have agreed to bring about this innovation — Vice Chancellors, Ghana, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service — and prays that they sustain the programme into the future to make the one-year waiting a thing of the past.
After all, that was the situation before the education reforms brought about two batches of secondary school leavers — sixth formers and SHS — to compel the university authorities to adopt the one-year waiting policy.
That is because while the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is written in May/June of any ensuing year, the academic year for the public universities begins in September, for which reason they close admissions in March.
Therefore, SHS leavers are forced to mark time until the following year when they can buy the admission forms of the universities to put the process of gaining admission to the institutions in motion.
It is against this backdrop that the declaration by Vice-Chancellors, Ghana (VCG), the umbrella body of the heads of our public universities, that this year, final-year SHS students will be given the opportunity to gain admission to the various public universities comes as welcome relief.
The universities say they are going to offer this opportunity to this year’s SHS leavers by delaying admissions, so that the leavers can purchase admission forms, fill and submit them immediately the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) releases their results.
The WAEC will also play its part by making sure that it releases the results early to enable the students to complete the filling of the admission forms.
When all these go according to plan, then the public universities will begin the 2011/2012 academic year in late September or early October.
The Daily Graphic wholeheartedly welcomes this move to do away with the one-year waiting period that had hitherto become the norm before SHS leavers could get admission to the public universities.
Apart from the fact that the one-year waiting period prolonged the number of years our youth spent in school, which, in itself, defeated one of the aims of the educational reforms of 1987 of cutting down the number of years spent in school, there were other negative effects of the delay.
It is said that many female SHS leavers waiting to gain admission to tertiary institutions became pregnant, while some of the boys fell into bad company, with its concomitant effects, such as drug use, Internet fraud, stealing, etc.
Now that it is going to be possible for SHS leavers to go to university in October after writing their examination in May/June, it is our hope that our students will work harder than before, so that they can take advantage of this new window of hope opened to them.
Until now, the common perception among many SHS final-year students was to relax in their studies because they knew they had a whole year within which to re-write the WASSCE (if they didn’t do well at the first attempt) before they could fill university admission forms.
The Daily Graphic takes its hat off to the stakeholders who have agreed to bring about this innovation — Vice Chancellors, Ghana, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service — and prays that they sustain the programme into the future to make the one-year waiting a thing of the past.
After all, that was the situation before the education reforms brought about two batches of secondary school leavers — sixth formers and SHS — to compel the university authorities to adopt the one-year waiting policy.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
REVAMPING RAIL TRANSPORT (JAN 25, 2011)
RAIL transport is the most efficient and reliable mode of travelling in any country. Most people who were born in the immediate post-independent Ghana enjoyed the comfort of rail transport or witnessed how efficient the system was in the areas trains plied.
Commuters, especially traders and students, preferred rail transport to any other mode of travelling across the length and breadth of the country. Whatever the destination of travellers, they never missed the services of the trains by either starting the journey with trains or connecting rail services from various areas.
Until the major rail disaster at Asuoyaa near Koforidua in the 1980s, there had been no serious accident on the western, central or eastern railway lines, making the system the safest mode of transportation.
Unfortunately, the decay that characterised the governance system and the conduct of public affairs in the country from the mid 1970s also affected the operations of the railway network.
The quality of services began to decline, forcing many travellers to abandon rail transport. A few of the traders who continued to patronise the services were also forced to stop because of their dwindling fortunes.
Patrons of rail services in the past always look back to the days of the “rail romance” with a feeling of nostalgia, hoping that one day the authorities will raise the necessary capital to revamp the existing services and extend same to other parts of the country.
Residents of towns and villages where railway stations are located are not happy that the infrastructure of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) Limited has been left to deteriorate and, in many instances, reduced to rubbles.
The good news, however, is that the government has secured support from the Chinese government to rehabilitate the rail system and extend the service to other parts of the country.
As a result of the decay in services, GRC properties have been taken over by certain unscrupulous individuals, in many cases with the connivance of some railway workers.
It was well-known in communities where the rail system served that a few metres of land on each side of the rail line was the property of the GRC and nobody dared to put up permanent structures on it. Farmers cultivated that stretch of land free of charge but those who put up permanent structures on it did so at their own risk.
Today, the picture is different. The properties of the GRC have been encroached upon in cities and villages throughout the country.
But, one may ask, where were the authorities looking when this massive encroachment took place? Does it confirm fears that these acts were done with the connivance of the big wigs at the GRC?
It is against this background that the Daily Graphic endorses the decision of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to demolish all structures that are within 100 feet of railway lines in the metropolis to pave way for work to begin on the project to extend the Accra sub-urban railway network.
We know that such an exercise will not be easy to accomplish, with all interest groups exerting pressure on the AMA to either delay the programme or cancel it.
The time has come for all men of goodwill or people with conviction to stand up to defend this laudable stance of the AMA so that efforts to rebuild the economy through the renewal of infrastructure and the creation of jobs can bear fruits.
The Chief Executive of the AMA, Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, has what it takes to set the example for other state appointees to take steps to protect government property. We urge the Accra Mayor to carry on with his statutory duties without fear or favour.
We do not have to miss this opportunity to right the ills of our society.
Commuters, especially traders and students, preferred rail transport to any other mode of travelling across the length and breadth of the country. Whatever the destination of travellers, they never missed the services of the trains by either starting the journey with trains or connecting rail services from various areas.
Until the major rail disaster at Asuoyaa near Koforidua in the 1980s, there had been no serious accident on the western, central or eastern railway lines, making the system the safest mode of transportation.
Unfortunately, the decay that characterised the governance system and the conduct of public affairs in the country from the mid 1970s also affected the operations of the railway network.
The quality of services began to decline, forcing many travellers to abandon rail transport. A few of the traders who continued to patronise the services were also forced to stop because of their dwindling fortunes.
Patrons of rail services in the past always look back to the days of the “rail romance” with a feeling of nostalgia, hoping that one day the authorities will raise the necessary capital to revamp the existing services and extend same to other parts of the country.
Residents of towns and villages where railway stations are located are not happy that the infrastructure of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) Limited has been left to deteriorate and, in many instances, reduced to rubbles.
The good news, however, is that the government has secured support from the Chinese government to rehabilitate the rail system and extend the service to other parts of the country.
As a result of the decay in services, GRC properties have been taken over by certain unscrupulous individuals, in many cases with the connivance of some railway workers.
It was well-known in communities where the rail system served that a few metres of land on each side of the rail line was the property of the GRC and nobody dared to put up permanent structures on it. Farmers cultivated that stretch of land free of charge but those who put up permanent structures on it did so at their own risk.
Today, the picture is different. The properties of the GRC have been encroached upon in cities and villages throughout the country.
But, one may ask, where were the authorities looking when this massive encroachment took place? Does it confirm fears that these acts were done with the connivance of the big wigs at the GRC?
It is against this background that the Daily Graphic endorses the decision of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to demolish all structures that are within 100 feet of railway lines in the metropolis to pave way for work to begin on the project to extend the Accra sub-urban railway network.
We know that such an exercise will not be easy to accomplish, with all interest groups exerting pressure on the AMA to either delay the programme or cancel it.
The time has come for all men of goodwill or people with conviction to stand up to defend this laudable stance of the AMA so that efforts to rebuild the economy through the renewal of infrastructure and the creation of jobs can bear fruits.
The Chief Executive of the AMA, Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, has what it takes to set the example for other state appointees to take steps to protect government property. We urge the Accra Mayor to carry on with his statutory duties without fear or favour.
We do not have to miss this opportunity to right the ills of our society.
Monday, January 24, 2011
LIGHT AT END OF TUNNEL (JAN 24, 2011)
Many Ghanaians heaved a sigh of relief last weekend following the announcement that two of Ghana’s major partners have offered budgetary support to the country.
The World Bank board approved a $215 million Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC) for the government of Ghana, while the UK government announced the disbursement of £36 million towards general budget support.
These inflows are anticipated to further stabilise the economy and reduce inflation and the prime rate to further accelerate efforts at job creation and growth.
The government, since assuming the reins of power in 2009, has initiated some policy interventions to reduce the budget deficit it inherited, reduce inflation and stabilise the cedi against other currencies.
Some modest gains have been made over the last 24 months, with inflation hitting the lowest level in 19 years, reserves improving and the right environment being created to enable the banks to reduce their interest rates further.
The cost of doing business is still high, though, but indications are that the factors militating against the steady growth of the economy are being removed.
The economy cannot take off if structural bottlenecks, such as high interest rates, unemployment, deficiencies in the supply of utilities, as well as high tariffs, are not addressed pretty soon.
We are yet to come out of the woods, as the policy interventions are yet to bear fruits. Perhaps the time has come for the government to start looking at deliberate pro-poor policies to reduce the burden on the poor.
The upward adjustment in utility tariffs last year and the recent rise in the prices of petroleum products will hit the poor harder than any segment of society.
That is why it behoves the social partners to expedite action on moves to introduce a new minimum wage.
When the prices of utilities go up without a corresponding adjustment in wages and salaries, the purchasing power of working people declines and their living standards deteriorate.
The UK support for this year is very critical towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through the provision of improved health, education, water and sanitation.
Already, certain policy measures have been initiated in these sectors to achieve the MDGs which will be key drivers for the achievement of our development agenda.
The era of oil production will change the development equation in the country. Now Sekondi/Takoradi in particular and the entire Western Region have become a beehive of economic activities since the discovery of oil in 2007.
Ghanaians must position themselves well to take advantage of the boom that will be associated with the oil industry, instead of allowing foreigners to dominate the sector.
There are other nationals, even in the West African sub-region, who have expertise in the oil industry, but we can compete with them if the country develops the expertise of its people in oil and gas.
These can both be challenging and interesting times, depending on whichever way the situation in the country is looked at. The challenges come with many opportunities that can be exploited to our advantage.
The STX housing project and the Chinese support for the reconstruction of the railway network will inject substantial amounts of money into the economy and create jobs for many people.
With the declaration of 2011 as an Action Year, the expectation must be very high among the populace, especially the youth who look forward to new opportunities and challenges to achieve their career objectives.
The Daily Graphic believes that the signs for economic take-off this year are very bright, judging from the show of goodwill from our development partners.
However, we must bear in mind that no amount of foreign aid will help rebuild our economy if we do not empower the indigenous people to “take over the commanding heights of the country”.
The World Bank board approved a $215 million Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC) for the government of Ghana, while the UK government announced the disbursement of £36 million towards general budget support.
These inflows are anticipated to further stabilise the economy and reduce inflation and the prime rate to further accelerate efforts at job creation and growth.
The government, since assuming the reins of power in 2009, has initiated some policy interventions to reduce the budget deficit it inherited, reduce inflation and stabilise the cedi against other currencies.
Some modest gains have been made over the last 24 months, with inflation hitting the lowest level in 19 years, reserves improving and the right environment being created to enable the banks to reduce their interest rates further.
The cost of doing business is still high, though, but indications are that the factors militating against the steady growth of the economy are being removed.
The economy cannot take off if structural bottlenecks, such as high interest rates, unemployment, deficiencies in the supply of utilities, as well as high tariffs, are not addressed pretty soon.
We are yet to come out of the woods, as the policy interventions are yet to bear fruits. Perhaps the time has come for the government to start looking at deliberate pro-poor policies to reduce the burden on the poor.
The upward adjustment in utility tariffs last year and the recent rise in the prices of petroleum products will hit the poor harder than any segment of society.
That is why it behoves the social partners to expedite action on moves to introduce a new minimum wage.
When the prices of utilities go up without a corresponding adjustment in wages and salaries, the purchasing power of working people declines and their living standards deteriorate.
The UK support for this year is very critical towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through the provision of improved health, education, water and sanitation.
Already, certain policy measures have been initiated in these sectors to achieve the MDGs which will be key drivers for the achievement of our development agenda.
The era of oil production will change the development equation in the country. Now Sekondi/Takoradi in particular and the entire Western Region have become a beehive of economic activities since the discovery of oil in 2007.
Ghanaians must position themselves well to take advantage of the boom that will be associated with the oil industry, instead of allowing foreigners to dominate the sector.
There are other nationals, even in the West African sub-region, who have expertise in the oil industry, but we can compete with them if the country develops the expertise of its people in oil and gas.
These can both be challenging and interesting times, depending on whichever way the situation in the country is looked at. The challenges come with many opportunities that can be exploited to our advantage.
The STX housing project and the Chinese support for the reconstruction of the railway network will inject substantial amounts of money into the economy and create jobs for many people.
With the declaration of 2011 as an Action Year, the expectation must be very high among the populace, especially the youth who look forward to new opportunities and challenges to achieve their career objectives.
The Daily Graphic believes that the signs for economic take-off this year are very bright, judging from the show of goodwill from our development partners.
However, we must bear in mind that no amount of foreign aid will help rebuild our economy if we do not empower the indigenous people to “take over the commanding heights of the country”.
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