THE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has phased out the manual registration of candidates for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Indeed, the candidates for this year’s BECE, to be written in April, were all registered via the electronic system throughout the country.
The Head of the National Examination Administration Department of WAEC, Mr Kweku Nyamekye-Aidoo, explaining the process of computer registration, which he also described as “batch registration”, indicated its advantages over the manual system of registration.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC welcomes this new development in the administration of examinations at the basic education level, it is of the opinion that WAEC must tread cautiously so that the new system does not create more problems than the system it has come to replace.
We agree with WAEC in trying to solve some of the problems associated with the manual system of registration, especially the errors that were associated with that system. We also welcome the new system inasmuch as it will reduce paper work and make the registration process more efficient.
It is also common knowledge that when the registration was done manually, candidates made errors in the way they shaded the forms, creating a myriad of problems later when selection of candidates for senior high schools came.
It is good that Ghana, as part of the global village which the world has now become, also swims with the current and does things the way they are done elsewhere, so that we do not become Rip Van Winkles.
However, even as we strive to move with the times, we must also take our circumstances into consideration, so that at the end of the day we do not put any sections of our people into disadvantage because they do not have what it takes to be part of the current trend.
In other words, even though the DAILY GRAPHIC appreciates the movement by WAEC towards modernity and technology, that movement must be such that it does not create any undue problem for schools which do not have what it takes to come on board.
There is no denying the fact that many of the schools in the rural areas do not have electricity, so they cannot use computers (that is, even if they have them) to carry out the registration on computer. If the arrangement is that schools without computers (and there should be many of them) should go to nearby senior high schools and district assembly offices to use the computers there, then the question we ask is: Who foots the transportation bills of those schools?
If one considers the endemic poverty in some of our rural communities, parents who are called upon to transport their children elsewhere to be registered would be burdened unnecessarily and we find this unacceptable.
We also entertain the fear that some unscrupulous heads of junior high schools in the rural areas may take advantage of ignorant parents and pupils to dupe them.
That is why the DAILY GRAPHIC would like to counsel WAEC to do the phasing out gradually, just the way the junior secondary school system started in the early 1980s at places like Kinbu, Winneba, Oda, etc.
There should also be a lot of sensitisation along with the phasing out, so that stakeholders at the basic level of education — parents, pupils, school management committees, heads of schools — will gradually imbibe what it takes and be prepared to go along with the process.
We also call on the government to use the introduction of the computer registration exercise as an impetus to speed up the computerisation of all schools, since the need for computers in basic schools now has become imperative. The policy of providing schools with computers and connecting them to the Internet should be hastened, now that the schools need the computers to register their BECE candidates.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
MPS HAVE NO ROLE IN DISTRIC ASSEMBLIES
THE 1992 Constitution provides elaborate provision on the devolution of economic and political power to the people at the grass roots level.
Almost four years before the adoption of the Constitution with a broad framework for local government administration, the then Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) increased the number of the administrative districts of the country from 65 to 110 by creating new districts from the existing ones. Today, Ghana has 138 administrative districts.
Then the framers of our Constitution decided to make decentralisation an important element of participatory democracy, which represents a substantial reduction in the authority of the Central Government over the needs of the people at the grass-roots level.
Article 241(3) of the Constitution states that: Subject to this Constitution, a District Assembly shall be the highest political authority in the district and shall have deliberative, legislative and executive powers.
Effective decentralisation and democratic local governance require authority, resources and skills to enable the people to make responsive choices and to act effectively in a transparent and accountable way.
For this to be successful, it is incumbent on the Central Government to recognise the need to improve the capacity of District Assemblies and individual citizens to take responsibilities for their communities by way of local priority setting, assisting in the implementation of such priorities and evaluating them to ensure that they are successful.
We know the Central Government is doing all it can to improve the capacity of the District Assemblies and individuals in various ways.
However, concerns raised at a symposium on “Resourcing District Assemblies for Effective Local Governance”, which was part of the 59th New Year School held in Accra, indicate that all is not well with our decentralisation system or process.
A senior lecturer of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, has proposed the scrapping of the Members of Parliament (MPs) share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for a separate fund captured in the annual budget.
He cited the power struggle between District Chief Executives (DCEs) and MPs concerning the DACF and the constitutionality of its disbursement as some of the problems associated with the DACF.
The Chairman of the Local Government Council, Nana Boakye-Danquah, also said parliamentarians were not development agents, hence the development of the districts was not part of their jurisdiction.
Since MPs are legislators and not development agents, it will be in their interest to remain legislators and leave the development of the districts to the District Assemblies.
This way, the persistent conflicts between DCEs and MPs as a result of the struggle for the control over the DACF and by extension the development of the district would cease.
The guidelines regulating the disbursement and especially use of the Common Fund by the Assemblies constitute another sore point.
The guidelines have restricted the District Assemblies in their use of the Common Fund such that they cannot use any part of it to meet the needs of the people once these particular needs fall outside the guidelines.
The Daily Graphic believes this affects effective decentralisation and so some concessions could be made so that the Assemblies, particularly the less endowed ones, could meet some peculiar needs.
The Daily Graphic again believes that the time has come for a review of our decentralisation process to achieve the spirit and letter of the Constitution by way of ensuring total devolution of power and resources to the people through the District Assemblies.
It would be worthwhile if the review considers the need to re-visit the idea of electing DCEs so that they would be accountable to the people rather than the President.
In the meantime, MPs should look at the Constitutional provision on the decentralisation process vis-à-vis their role as legislators and legislate themselves out of the District Assemblies.
Almost four years before the adoption of the Constitution with a broad framework for local government administration, the then Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) increased the number of the administrative districts of the country from 65 to 110 by creating new districts from the existing ones. Today, Ghana has 138 administrative districts.
Then the framers of our Constitution decided to make decentralisation an important element of participatory democracy, which represents a substantial reduction in the authority of the Central Government over the needs of the people at the grass-roots level.
Article 241(3) of the Constitution states that: Subject to this Constitution, a District Assembly shall be the highest political authority in the district and shall have deliberative, legislative and executive powers.
Effective decentralisation and democratic local governance require authority, resources and skills to enable the people to make responsive choices and to act effectively in a transparent and accountable way.
For this to be successful, it is incumbent on the Central Government to recognise the need to improve the capacity of District Assemblies and individual citizens to take responsibilities for their communities by way of local priority setting, assisting in the implementation of such priorities and evaluating them to ensure that they are successful.
We know the Central Government is doing all it can to improve the capacity of the District Assemblies and individuals in various ways.
However, concerns raised at a symposium on “Resourcing District Assemblies for Effective Local Governance”, which was part of the 59th New Year School held in Accra, indicate that all is not well with our decentralisation system or process.
A senior lecturer of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, has proposed the scrapping of the Members of Parliament (MPs) share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for a separate fund captured in the annual budget.
He cited the power struggle between District Chief Executives (DCEs) and MPs concerning the DACF and the constitutionality of its disbursement as some of the problems associated with the DACF.
The Chairman of the Local Government Council, Nana Boakye-Danquah, also said parliamentarians were not development agents, hence the development of the districts was not part of their jurisdiction.
Since MPs are legislators and not development agents, it will be in their interest to remain legislators and leave the development of the districts to the District Assemblies.
This way, the persistent conflicts between DCEs and MPs as a result of the struggle for the control over the DACF and by extension the development of the district would cease.
The guidelines regulating the disbursement and especially use of the Common Fund by the Assemblies constitute another sore point.
The guidelines have restricted the District Assemblies in their use of the Common Fund such that they cannot use any part of it to meet the needs of the people once these particular needs fall outside the guidelines.
The Daily Graphic believes this affects effective decentralisation and so some concessions could be made so that the Assemblies, particularly the less endowed ones, could meet some peculiar needs.
The Daily Graphic again believes that the time has come for a review of our decentralisation process to achieve the spirit and letter of the Constitution by way of ensuring total devolution of power and resources to the people through the District Assemblies.
It would be worthwhile if the review considers the need to re-visit the idea of electing DCEs so that they would be accountable to the people rather than the President.
In the meantime, MPs should look at the Constitutional provision on the decentralisation process vis-à-vis their role as legislators and legislate themselves out of the District Assemblies.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
GETFUND MUST STAY FOCUSSED
WHILE delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 59th Annual New Year School at the University of Ghana, Legon, yesterday, Professor Emmanuel Adow-Obeng, expressed concern over the financial demands being made on the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
He said the fund was under intense pressure from demands which the fund was originally not supposed to support and called for a preservation of its original purpose.
Another concern of Prof. Adow-Obeng was that the GETFund was gradually becoming the only source of funding tertiary education in Ghana, when in reality it was supposed to supplement government funding.
The vice-chancellor couldn’t have been more succinct in his concerns over the gradual diversification of the GETFund from its original objective. It is common knowledge that Members of Parliament (MPs) are allocated some funds from the GETFund to support education (not tertiary) in their constituencies. There is also a proposal to use part of it to support youth employment under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
These demands on the fund were never part of the original objective for the setting it up and, if things continue this way, the fund’s support to its original benefactors will dwindle.
Since the establishment of our universities, successive governments have not given them the needed support to help them to expand. This state of affairs could be partly due to the frequent downturns in our economy over the years.
This has resulted in the deterioration of the original infrastructure in our universities, while facilities are bursting at the seams.
It is this rather pathetic situation of our public universities that the GETFund came to save, even though the fund itself was not initially welcomed by all.
A visit to the campuses of all our public tertiary institutions confirms that the GETFund is really our saviour. There are structures being put up all over the place to enhance teaching and learning in those institutions.
For us, the challenge now is for the government to play a lead role in getting the support of all stakeholders — parents, communities, corporate bodies, and all who are interested in quality manpower — for our tertiary institutions.
Elsewhere, university authorities do not concern themselves with residential facilities on their campuses. Indeed, the statutes of our universities indicate that they are centres of teaching, learning and research.
Those of our compatriots who advocate free education, even up to the tertiary level, must re-examine their stance, because it is something the state will find difficult to attain.
The 1992 Constitution says among other things, in Article 38, (3) that: “The state shall, subject to the availability of resources, provide — (a) equal and balanced access to secondary and other appropriate pre-university education, equal access to university or equivalent education, with emphasis on science and technology.”
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that whatever the present challenges facing the GETFund, it has been able to ease pressure on the university authorities for both residential and academic facilities.
We, therefore, counsel the government, the Administrator of the GETFund and the beneficiaries of the fund to get together and take steps to prevent the deviation of the fund from its original purpose, if really that is the case.
He said the fund was under intense pressure from demands which the fund was originally not supposed to support and called for a preservation of its original purpose.
Another concern of Prof. Adow-Obeng was that the GETFund was gradually becoming the only source of funding tertiary education in Ghana, when in reality it was supposed to supplement government funding.
The vice-chancellor couldn’t have been more succinct in his concerns over the gradual diversification of the GETFund from its original objective. It is common knowledge that Members of Parliament (MPs) are allocated some funds from the GETFund to support education (not tertiary) in their constituencies. There is also a proposal to use part of it to support youth employment under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
These demands on the fund were never part of the original objective for the setting it up and, if things continue this way, the fund’s support to its original benefactors will dwindle.
Since the establishment of our universities, successive governments have not given them the needed support to help them to expand. This state of affairs could be partly due to the frequent downturns in our economy over the years.
This has resulted in the deterioration of the original infrastructure in our universities, while facilities are bursting at the seams.
It is this rather pathetic situation of our public universities that the GETFund came to save, even though the fund itself was not initially welcomed by all.
A visit to the campuses of all our public tertiary institutions confirms that the GETFund is really our saviour. There are structures being put up all over the place to enhance teaching and learning in those institutions.
For us, the challenge now is for the government to play a lead role in getting the support of all stakeholders — parents, communities, corporate bodies, and all who are interested in quality manpower — for our tertiary institutions.
Elsewhere, university authorities do not concern themselves with residential facilities on their campuses. Indeed, the statutes of our universities indicate that they are centres of teaching, learning and research.
Those of our compatriots who advocate free education, even up to the tertiary level, must re-examine their stance, because it is something the state will find difficult to attain.
The 1992 Constitution says among other things, in Article 38, (3) that: “The state shall, subject to the availability of resources, provide — (a) equal and balanced access to secondary and other appropriate pre-university education, equal access to university or equivalent education, with emphasis on science and technology.”
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that whatever the present challenges facing the GETFund, it has been able to ease pressure on the university authorities for both residential and academic facilities.
We, therefore, counsel the government, the Administrator of the GETFund and the beneficiaries of the fund to get together and take steps to prevent the deviation of the fund from its original purpose, if really that is the case.
Friday, January 4, 2008
A WICKED DISTORTION
IT is rather unfortunate that a circular making the rounds in the United States alleges that “Children are tied to trees and subjected to inhuman treatment on cocoa farms” in Ghana.
For that reason, two US Senators, Messrs Thomas Harkin and Eliot Engel, are to visit the country to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the allegations.
This development, in the opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC, portends ill for the country and its cocoa industry, on which depends the sustenance of the economy.
Apart from the allegation denting the reputation of the country, the sale of its cocoa on the international market is also bound to be affected.
The situation calls for urgent and immediate steps to be taken to correct the negative impression created by outsiders that, to a large extent, the cocoa industry in the country is fuelled by child labour.
The DAILY GRAPHIC feels that this impression is far from the truth, and that is why we agree with the Communications Officer of the National Programme for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in Cocoa (NPCLC), Ms Patience Dapaah, when she categorically denied the existence of child slavery in the cocoa-growing areas of the country.
We also agree with the Chief Director of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Mr Emmanuel A. Akuffo, when he called on researchers on the issue of child labour in the country’s cocoa industry to let their research findings reflect the true situation on the ground.
The DAILY GRAPHIC strongly believes that any such research, whether by Ghanaians or foreigners, must take the social, cultural and historical milieu into consideration because what outsiders consider as “child labour” is different from what Ghanaians perceive as a child preparing himself or herself for the future.
In the social and cultural context, cocoa farms are family property passed on from father to son, mother to daughter or uncle to nephew. In that wise, family labour is one of the means by which the cocoa farms are maintained, since the family income is not big enough to hire labourers.
We find it difficult to comprehend the allegation that “children are tied to trees”, since the greater number of children who work on cocoa farms live with their parents.
It is common knowledge in Ghana, especially for adults who grew up in cocoa-growing areas, that during weeding and harvesting time, all hands are needed on deck to make the work lighter and to bring in the money that will sustain the family and cater for the very needs of the children — school fees, clothes, health care, etc.
In any case, the children carry out only part-time work on the cocoa farms, since most go to farm only once a week, during holidays and after school hours. This, in no way, can be classified under “the worst forms of child labour” which, under the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, comprises, among other issues: “Work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children”.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC is wholeheartedly against the exploitation of children, especially those of school age, it believes that using foreign standards to measure what is purely a practical way of making children appreciate the value of the family heirloom, as it were, is not fair.
We shall be the first to condemn any attempts by cocoa farmers to jeopardise the future of Ghanaian children, but when so much noise is made about a practice which, in our social set up, is meant to prepare children for the future, then we must fight it in no uncertain terms.
Our researchers must tell our story from our own perspective, using our own standards and social context, so that the outside world does not use what is so harmless against us.
For that reason, two US Senators, Messrs Thomas Harkin and Eliot Engel, are to visit the country to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the allegations.
This development, in the opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC, portends ill for the country and its cocoa industry, on which depends the sustenance of the economy.
Apart from the allegation denting the reputation of the country, the sale of its cocoa on the international market is also bound to be affected.
The situation calls for urgent and immediate steps to be taken to correct the negative impression created by outsiders that, to a large extent, the cocoa industry in the country is fuelled by child labour.
The DAILY GRAPHIC feels that this impression is far from the truth, and that is why we agree with the Communications Officer of the National Programme for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in Cocoa (NPCLC), Ms Patience Dapaah, when she categorically denied the existence of child slavery in the cocoa-growing areas of the country.
We also agree with the Chief Director of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Mr Emmanuel A. Akuffo, when he called on researchers on the issue of child labour in the country’s cocoa industry to let their research findings reflect the true situation on the ground.
The DAILY GRAPHIC strongly believes that any such research, whether by Ghanaians or foreigners, must take the social, cultural and historical milieu into consideration because what outsiders consider as “child labour” is different from what Ghanaians perceive as a child preparing himself or herself for the future.
In the social and cultural context, cocoa farms are family property passed on from father to son, mother to daughter or uncle to nephew. In that wise, family labour is one of the means by which the cocoa farms are maintained, since the family income is not big enough to hire labourers.
We find it difficult to comprehend the allegation that “children are tied to trees”, since the greater number of children who work on cocoa farms live with their parents.
It is common knowledge in Ghana, especially for adults who grew up in cocoa-growing areas, that during weeding and harvesting time, all hands are needed on deck to make the work lighter and to bring in the money that will sustain the family and cater for the very needs of the children — school fees, clothes, health care, etc.
In any case, the children carry out only part-time work on the cocoa farms, since most go to farm only once a week, during holidays and after school hours. This, in no way, can be classified under “the worst forms of child labour” which, under the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, comprises, among other issues: “Work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children”.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC is wholeheartedly against the exploitation of children, especially those of school age, it believes that using foreign standards to measure what is purely a practical way of making children appreciate the value of the family heirloom, as it were, is not fair.
We shall be the first to condemn any attempts by cocoa farmers to jeopardise the future of Ghanaian children, but when so much noise is made about a practice which, in our social set up, is meant to prepare children for the future, then we must fight it in no uncertain terms.
Our researchers must tell our story from our own perspective, using our own standards and social context, so that the outside world does not use what is so harmless against us.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
LET'S PASS ELECTION 2008 TEST
ON the map, Kenya is thousands of miles away from Ghana, but what is happening there should remind all Ghanaians to continuously guard our fledgling democracy. Events in that country should prompt all of us to be eternally vigilant, including constitutional bodies charged with ensuring transparency in governance.
Kenya, until the violence that erupted there after the elections of last week Thursday, was touted as one of the most stable countries in Africa. While it may not be anybody’s perfect example of a true democracy, it has been stable over the years, demonstrating the people’s willingness to be tolerant of one another’s views.
That stability, in great measure, accounted for the thriving economy of Kenya and the large number of tourists who visited that country annually.
Needless to say, this time round the people of Kenya failed the test, an indication that democratic societies must collectively resolve to maintain peace and stability at all times.
It is in the context of what is happening in Kenya that the admonition by President J. A. Kufuor in his New Year message to all political parties in the country must be taken seriously.
In his message, the President spoke about preparations being made by all the parties towards the December elections and advised that “as the contending parties engage one another in their various campaigns, they must be mindful of the progress made thus far and do nothing to undermine further progress”.
As we all know, Ghana has chalked up many firsts — first to gain independence in sub-Saharan African, first to sign onto the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), etc. Fortunately, too, the four successful elections we have conducted since 1992 have become the benchmarks on the African continent.
What all these mean is that nothing should be done to disturb this enviable record so that we can continue to set the pace in Pan-African unity, progress and development.
As we have noted in a previous editorial, if our politicians avoid insulting language and chicanery in their electioneering, Ghana can avoid the pitfalls that will lead to a Kenya-like situation here.
While Ghana has become a show piece all over the world and is cited as a growing democracy and an emerging economy, there are certain things we must continue to do right in order to attain our goals.
This is why the DAILY GRAPHIC finds it worrying that the people of Bawku decided to welcome the New Year with factional fighting which has so far claimed six lives.
Every Ghanaian, no matter his or her ethnic, religious or political persuasion, looked forward to 2008 with great hope, yet our brothers and sisters in Bawku forced us to enter the New Year on a note of despondency.
The DAILY GRAPHIC only hopes that all Ghanaians will demonstrate good faith this year and resort to the appropriate procedures for resolving conflicts and we urge the factions in the Bawku conflict to do the same.
The examples of failed states in Africa must be a wake-up call for us to keep our nation united and stable in order to attain our cherished goals.
We should also seek God’s guidance in our preparations towards Election 2008, so that the country can come out of it unscathed to continue its development agenda in peace and unity.
Kenya, until the violence that erupted there after the elections of last week Thursday, was touted as one of the most stable countries in Africa. While it may not be anybody’s perfect example of a true democracy, it has been stable over the years, demonstrating the people’s willingness to be tolerant of one another’s views.
That stability, in great measure, accounted for the thriving economy of Kenya and the large number of tourists who visited that country annually.
Needless to say, this time round the people of Kenya failed the test, an indication that democratic societies must collectively resolve to maintain peace and stability at all times.
It is in the context of what is happening in Kenya that the admonition by President J. A. Kufuor in his New Year message to all political parties in the country must be taken seriously.
In his message, the President spoke about preparations being made by all the parties towards the December elections and advised that “as the contending parties engage one another in their various campaigns, they must be mindful of the progress made thus far and do nothing to undermine further progress”.
As we all know, Ghana has chalked up many firsts — first to gain independence in sub-Saharan African, first to sign onto the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), etc. Fortunately, too, the four successful elections we have conducted since 1992 have become the benchmarks on the African continent.
What all these mean is that nothing should be done to disturb this enviable record so that we can continue to set the pace in Pan-African unity, progress and development.
As we have noted in a previous editorial, if our politicians avoid insulting language and chicanery in their electioneering, Ghana can avoid the pitfalls that will lead to a Kenya-like situation here.
While Ghana has become a show piece all over the world and is cited as a growing democracy and an emerging economy, there are certain things we must continue to do right in order to attain our goals.
This is why the DAILY GRAPHIC finds it worrying that the people of Bawku decided to welcome the New Year with factional fighting which has so far claimed six lives.
Every Ghanaian, no matter his or her ethnic, religious or political persuasion, looked forward to 2008 with great hope, yet our brothers and sisters in Bawku forced us to enter the New Year on a note of despondency.
The DAILY GRAPHIC only hopes that all Ghanaians will demonstrate good faith this year and resort to the appropriate procedures for resolving conflicts and we urge the factions in the Bawku conflict to do the same.
The examples of failed states in Africa must be a wake-up call for us to keep our nation united and stable in order to attain our cherished goals.
We should also seek God’s guidance in our preparations towards Election 2008, so that the country can come out of it unscathed to continue its development agenda in peace and unity.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM
ANY moment from now the rest of Africa and, indeed, the football world will be heading for Ghana for the 26th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
It will be an opportunity for Ghanaians to host the most prestigious football festival in Africa and put at the pleasure of thousands of visitors what is unique about Ghanaian hospitality and tourism.
But beyond the side shows of tourism and hospitality, there is also the Ghanaian desire to win the ultimate prize at stake.
Among other things, that desire is rooted in the fact that since 1982, the Africa Cup, the symbol of supremacy in continental football, has proved an elusive treasure for Ghana.
Added to that is the notion of “host-to-win”, a slogan couched out of the tournament’s recent trend and Ghana’s own history of hosting and winning in 1963 and 1978.
Over the past few days, however, pieces of disturbing news have come from the international network to the effect that Stephen Appiah, the inspirational captain of the Ghanaian team, the Black Stars, and his colleague midfielder, Laryea Kingston, have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries.
The local reaction to the injury of the two key players has been that of disappointment.
How else would Ghanaians have reacted to such unfortunate news, since Appiah’s skills and commitment have made him stand out as the soul of the Black Stars, with Laryea as one of the team’s most talented and hardworking members?
Understandably, the local media have also joined in the mass grief over the fate of Kingston and Appiah, but we need to caution against over-exaggerating the blow which the absence of the two could deal to the Stars.
The impression gaining ground now seems to suggest that without the two, the Stars could not aspire to anything and the team doomed even before the tournament kicks off.
Any such suggestion has the potential of weakening team morale and undermining the collective spirit upon which football is founded.
As we regret the absence of the two key players in the squad, the Daily Graphic wishes to look at the more positive side of things and affirm our belief in the ability of the other members of the squad to take up the fight.
The essence of teamwork is to create conditions where in the absence of any player, another would be inspired and encouraged to take up the role and deliver for the collective good.
Let us all have the hope that with determination, the Stars shall triumph. President J. A. Kufuor demonstrated that expectation when he said in his New Year message to the nation on Monday that “the whole nation is looking up to the Stars to be victorious and lift the trophy once again. We count on the privileged players to conduct themselves in the true spirit of sportsmanship and high patriotism”.
It is this spirit we salute the Black Stars and urge them on with the feeling of “we can do it.”
It will be an opportunity for Ghanaians to host the most prestigious football festival in Africa and put at the pleasure of thousands of visitors what is unique about Ghanaian hospitality and tourism.
But beyond the side shows of tourism and hospitality, there is also the Ghanaian desire to win the ultimate prize at stake.
Among other things, that desire is rooted in the fact that since 1982, the Africa Cup, the symbol of supremacy in continental football, has proved an elusive treasure for Ghana.
Added to that is the notion of “host-to-win”, a slogan couched out of the tournament’s recent trend and Ghana’s own history of hosting and winning in 1963 and 1978.
Over the past few days, however, pieces of disturbing news have come from the international network to the effect that Stephen Appiah, the inspirational captain of the Ghanaian team, the Black Stars, and his colleague midfielder, Laryea Kingston, have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries.
The local reaction to the injury of the two key players has been that of disappointment.
How else would Ghanaians have reacted to such unfortunate news, since Appiah’s skills and commitment have made him stand out as the soul of the Black Stars, with Laryea as one of the team’s most talented and hardworking members?
Understandably, the local media have also joined in the mass grief over the fate of Kingston and Appiah, but we need to caution against over-exaggerating the blow which the absence of the two could deal to the Stars.
The impression gaining ground now seems to suggest that without the two, the Stars could not aspire to anything and the team doomed even before the tournament kicks off.
Any such suggestion has the potential of weakening team morale and undermining the collective spirit upon which football is founded.
As we regret the absence of the two key players in the squad, the Daily Graphic wishes to look at the more positive side of things and affirm our belief in the ability of the other members of the squad to take up the fight.
The essence of teamwork is to create conditions where in the absence of any player, another would be inspired and encouraged to take up the role and deliver for the collective good.
Let us all have the hope that with determination, the Stars shall triumph. President J. A. Kufuor demonstrated that expectation when he said in his New Year message to the nation on Monday that “the whole nation is looking up to the Stars to be victorious and lift the trophy once again. We count on the privileged players to conduct themselves in the true spirit of sportsmanship and high patriotism”.
It is this spirit we salute the Black Stars and urge them on with the feeling of “we can do it.”
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
WELCOME, PROMISING 2008
TODAY, humankind has ushered in the New Year, 2008, an event which comes with both high hopes and uncertainty over what the year holds for us.
As should be expected, all and sundry look forward to good things happening all over the world. We also expect that the New Year will mark a drastic reduction in all the troubles in the world — natural disasters, wars, terrorism, famine, pestilence, etc.
For us in Ghana, 2008 is bound to go down as one of the most momentous years in the post-colonial history of the country, probably surpassed only by March 6, 1957, the year in which the country won its independence.
From all indications, 2008 is going to be as exciting as possible and we at the DAILY GRAPHIC call on Ghanaians of all social hue, all religious persuasions and political affiliations to share in the excitement in a positive way.
In less than three weeks, Ghana will host the rest of Africa and the world in the Ghana 2008 soccer fiesta, during which 16 top African soccer nations will vie for the ultimate prize in football on the continent. Apart from the attention that the tournament will bring on the country, we also stand the chance of boosting our tourism, since everybody who comes here for the tournament — supporters, officials, media men and women, players — would want to savour the famed Ghanaian hospitality and culture.
Certainly the hospitality industry stands to be the greatest beneficiary of the good things that will come with the hosting of the Ghana 2008 tournament, but the ripple effect will be felt in other sectors.
In April, there will be the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting in Accra, where Presidents and heads of government of United Nations member countries will determine the future of world trade, development and co-operation.
Obviously, the most significant event of the year 2008 will be the elections in December. We expect the parties to put up one of the most competitive struggles for the leadership of the country.
If the congresses of the various parties to elect their flag bearers for the elections are anything to go by, then the electioneering will not be child’s play.
What we pray for is that our political leaders will raise issues and relegate personal attacks and smear campaigning to the background.
It is the belief of the DAILY GRAPHIC that the Ghanaian electorate are very discerning and so they cannot be taken for granted.
Consequently, any political party which makes insults, dirty tricks and chicanery its stock in trade will find, rather too late, that the electorate will vote against it, meaning it is not fit to lead the country.
We expect good quality leadership for the country, particularly leadership that will look for the solutions to the problems of unemployment, sanitation, the springing up of squatters quarters in our cities and towns and improved living conditions for our people through the payment of better wages and salaries to workers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is sure of one thing — that it will demand from the parties how they are going to solve those problems, how they are going to raise the money to fund development activities through taxation, how they are going to create jobs, and how they are going to address the dichotomy between rural and urban Ghana.
We shall not accept empty promises; practical and pragmatic policies capable of transforming the macro-economic indices into improved living conditions for the people are what we expect from those who will come and solicit for our votes.
May the new year bring us peace, unity and progress.
A very Happy New Year to you all!
As should be expected, all and sundry look forward to good things happening all over the world. We also expect that the New Year will mark a drastic reduction in all the troubles in the world — natural disasters, wars, terrorism, famine, pestilence, etc.
For us in Ghana, 2008 is bound to go down as one of the most momentous years in the post-colonial history of the country, probably surpassed only by March 6, 1957, the year in which the country won its independence.
From all indications, 2008 is going to be as exciting as possible and we at the DAILY GRAPHIC call on Ghanaians of all social hue, all religious persuasions and political affiliations to share in the excitement in a positive way.
In less than three weeks, Ghana will host the rest of Africa and the world in the Ghana 2008 soccer fiesta, during which 16 top African soccer nations will vie for the ultimate prize in football on the continent. Apart from the attention that the tournament will bring on the country, we also stand the chance of boosting our tourism, since everybody who comes here for the tournament — supporters, officials, media men and women, players — would want to savour the famed Ghanaian hospitality and culture.
Certainly the hospitality industry stands to be the greatest beneficiary of the good things that will come with the hosting of the Ghana 2008 tournament, but the ripple effect will be felt in other sectors.
In April, there will be the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting in Accra, where Presidents and heads of government of United Nations member countries will determine the future of world trade, development and co-operation.
Obviously, the most significant event of the year 2008 will be the elections in December. We expect the parties to put up one of the most competitive struggles for the leadership of the country.
If the congresses of the various parties to elect their flag bearers for the elections are anything to go by, then the electioneering will not be child’s play.
What we pray for is that our political leaders will raise issues and relegate personal attacks and smear campaigning to the background.
It is the belief of the DAILY GRAPHIC that the Ghanaian electorate are very discerning and so they cannot be taken for granted.
Consequently, any political party which makes insults, dirty tricks and chicanery its stock in trade will find, rather too late, that the electorate will vote against it, meaning it is not fit to lead the country.
We expect good quality leadership for the country, particularly leadership that will look for the solutions to the problems of unemployment, sanitation, the springing up of squatters quarters in our cities and towns and improved living conditions for our people through the payment of better wages and salaries to workers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is sure of one thing — that it will demand from the parties how they are going to solve those problems, how they are going to raise the money to fund development activities through taxation, how they are going to create jobs, and how they are going to address the dichotomy between rural and urban Ghana.
We shall not accept empty promises; practical and pragmatic policies capable of transforming the macro-economic indices into improved living conditions for the people are what we expect from those who will come and solicit for our votes.
May the new year bring us peace, unity and progress.
A very Happy New Year to you all!
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