FOR many months now the Anlo State has been in the news because of a dispute over who should ascend the stool as Awoamefia. Lives have been lost, some people have fled Anloga for their dear lives and taken refuge in surrounding towns, economic activities have slowed down and a curfew has been imposed.
A heavy police presence maintained the uneasy calm, particularly when the curfew was imposed. Gradually, those who fled started returning to their homes and the dust started settling when assurances were given that no one would be molested for any reason.
During the heat of the chieftaincy dispute, factions developed. While some supported Torgbui Sir III, also known in private life as Mr Francis Nyonyo Agboada, as the legitimate heir to the Anlo Stool, others questioned his claim of legitimacy.
The Anlo State had become a house divided. Disintegration was in the offing.
Something concrete had to be done to defuse the mounting tension among a people who had hitherto been at peace with one another.
A measure proposed by the faction opposed to the installation of Mr Agboada demanded that he step down and a commission of enquiry set up to thoroughly examine the Anlo Stool issue with a view to finding amicable solutions.
The DAILY GRAPHIC added its voice and asked Mr Agboada not to place his personal ambition above the interest of the entire Anlo State. Mr Agboada “has finally renounced his claim to the Anlo Stool”, as we reported in our Monday issue. For that singular action, it is our considered opinion that Mr Agboada deserves glowing commendation, although we concede that if this gesture had come earlier, precious lives would not have been lost.
We submit that it takes courage to take this kind of decision in life. He did not say that he would lose face if he stepped down. Certainly his supporters would be disappointed, but Mr Agboada would rather risk disappointing his supporters than preside over a divided house.
Again, his singular action will avert any more loss of lives. We sincerely hope that the peace will now hold and that neither he nor any other person will overtly or covertly do anything whatsoever to mar the peace of the Anlo State.
There are vital lessons for all of us from what has transpired in Anlo in the recent past. We all need to ‘look before we leap’, as the saying goes, especially so if we are taking far-reaching decisions that may even touch the lives of fellow humans.
We also need to heed advice, as Mr Agboada has done. We commend him, once again, for the courage to step aside when he realised that his actions had caused pain and anguish to some people, as well as polarised the Anlo State.
Mr Agboada wants to devote his time to the pursuit of development projects. We sincerely hope that he will stick to his resolution and not get side-tracked.
There are useful lessons to be learnt from Mr Agboada’s gesture by people in areas where there are chieftaincy disputes.
Let’s give peace a chance, not only in the Anlo State but throughout the country — wherever there is conflict.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
RESOLVE THIS CONFUSION NOW
Polytechnics are generally expected to provide practical courses or hands-on education, a scope of education which is different from that of the university, which is expected to provide both practical and academic courses, and which awards its own certificates.
Thus in most cases, especially in Ghana, while the polytechnics as of now award the Higher National Diploma (HND) as the highest certificate, the universities can award the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), the ultimate in the string of certificates awarded by the university.
In the recent past polytechnic students agitated that the HND was also a tertiary certificate and so when it came to job placement, they expected that they would be placed on the same scale as the university products who hold degrees.
Even though the DAILY GRAPHIC would not want to be a judge in this case, it can only say it is obvious the course content of the HND, as well as its focus, and the content and focus of the degree courses are in different categories, in which case the two are not comparable.
However, we are of the firm belief that polytechnic education is such that it cannot be discounted in any economy because it is expected to push the technical activities in that economy.
This is why we would always want the problems of polytechnics in the country to be resolved with dispatch so that they can concentrate on their mission and prosecute it well, such that the products of these institutions would be content with the certificates awarded to them by their alma mater.
We were, therefore, happy when the Polytechnic Act (Act 745, 2007) was passed, but our happiness seems curtailed due to some confusion that a section of the stakeholders in polytechnic education is pointing to.
Hitherto, the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NABPTEX) had been awarding polytechnic products with the HND, but Act 745 says in section 5 (a) that “a polytechnic may award HND accredited by the National Accreditation Board (NAB).
This has caused NABPTEX to describe that section of the Polytechnic Act as being ‘dangerous’. According to it, the “National” in the “Higher National Diploma clearly implies that a national body should award the HND to avoid a situation where the 10 polytechnics would award their own HNDs in addition to the one to be awarded by NABPTEX.
The NABPTEX Act (Act 492, 1994) subsection 2(b) says that the board (that is, NABPTEX) “shall in consultation with the relevant polytechnics and professional institutions, conduct examination and award national certificates and diplomas based on the results of the examinations”.
The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to say that the polytechnics have various problems, some of which NABPTEX mentions as poor conditions of service and lack of equipment and facilities, and so it would be needless to create fresh ones such as the confusion over whether NABPTEX should award national HNDs or the polytechnics should award ‘institutional HNDs’.
The various stakeholders should study the concerns and, if possible, amend section 5 (a) of the Polytechnic Act or follow the line of action that would remove the confusion and at the same time enhance standards at our polytechnics.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes that the polytechnics in the country have not forgotten a piece of advice given in October 2001 by the Principal of the Takoradi Polytechnic, Dr Nicholas Aidoo-Taylor, that polytechnic administrators should assist academic and teaching staff to generate additional income to support the institutions and that there was the need to develop strategies to transform the polytechnics into institutions that could create wealth alongside their traditional roles.
We believe that when problems faced by the polytechnics are resolved, the country will benefit from their mission, which will greatly enhance our economy.
Thus in most cases, especially in Ghana, while the polytechnics as of now award the Higher National Diploma (HND) as the highest certificate, the universities can award the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), the ultimate in the string of certificates awarded by the university.
In the recent past polytechnic students agitated that the HND was also a tertiary certificate and so when it came to job placement, they expected that they would be placed on the same scale as the university products who hold degrees.
Even though the DAILY GRAPHIC would not want to be a judge in this case, it can only say it is obvious the course content of the HND, as well as its focus, and the content and focus of the degree courses are in different categories, in which case the two are not comparable.
However, we are of the firm belief that polytechnic education is such that it cannot be discounted in any economy because it is expected to push the technical activities in that economy.
This is why we would always want the problems of polytechnics in the country to be resolved with dispatch so that they can concentrate on their mission and prosecute it well, such that the products of these institutions would be content with the certificates awarded to them by their alma mater.
We were, therefore, happy when the Polytechnic Act (Act 745, 2007) was passed, but our happiness seems curtailed due to some confusion that a section of the stakeholders in polytechnic education is pointing to.
Hitherto, the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NABPTEX) had been awarding polytechnic products with the HND, but Act 745 says in section 5 (a) that “a polytechnic may award HND accredited by the National Accreditation Board (NAB).
This has caused NABPTEX to describe that section of the Polytechnic Act as being ‘dangerous’. According to it, the “National” in the “Higher National Diploma clearly implies that a national body should award the HND to avoid a situation where the 10 polytechnics would award their own HNDs in addition to the one to be awarded by NABPTEX.
The NABPTEX Act (Act 492, 1994) subsection 2(b) says that the board (that is, NABPTEX) “shall in consultation with the relevant polytechnics and professional institutions, conduct examination and award national certificates and diplomas based on the results of the examinations”.
The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to say that the polytechnics have various problems, some of which NABPTEX mentions as poor conditions of service and lack of equipment and facilities, and so it would be needless to create fresh ones such as the confusion over whether NABPTEX should award national HNDs or the polytechnics should award ‘institutional HNDs’.
The various stakeholders should study the concerns and, if possible, amend section 5 (a) of the Polytechnic Act or follow the line of action that would remove the confusion and at the same time enhance standards at our polytechnics.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes that the polytechnics in the country have not forgotten a piece of advice given in October 2001 by the Principal of the Takoradi Polytechnic, Dr Nicholas Aidoo-Taylor, that polytechnic administrators should assist academic and teaching staff to generate additional income to support the institutions and that there was the need to develop strategies to transform the polytechnics into institutions that could create wealth alongside their traditional roles.
We believe that when problems faced by the polytechnics are resolved, the country will benefit from their mission, which will greatly enhance our economy.
Monday, January 14, 2008
CONSIDER THIS SUGGESTION
LAST Friday, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) suggested the revision of the voting time during general elections in the country. It said instead of the normal 7.00 a.m. to 5 p.m. voting time, the Electoral Commission (EC) should push the polling time to between 6.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. because, in the view of the NCCE, the incidence of the threat to peace resulting from problems created during the counting and collating of election results in the night could then be prevented.
This suggestion must have been made in good faith, in view of the violence resulting from the disputed elections in some of our neighbouring countries. Already, some political parties are beating the war drums concerning how free, fair and transparent this year’s elections will be. This is because they claim the 2004 elections were rigged.
Although the EC has tried to explain these matters time and time again, there are those who are bent on discrediting elections whenever they lose. Therefore, it is important for all interested groups — political parties, organisers of elections, the electorate and, indeed, all Ghanaians — to play an active role in any move that will leave no one in any doubt about the freeness, fairness and transparency of the December 2008 polls.
It is sad that some doomsday prophets do not miss any opportunity to make reference to what is happening in Kenya and hint of a similar fate befalling Ghana if their parties fail to win Election 2008.
Since 1992, Ghana has held elections, some of whose results some political parties disputed, but in most cases they decided to document the irregularities that occurred, go to court or call on the EC to do a recount. Indeed, in 2004, a recount of the ballot in the Pru Constituency led to the EC overturning its verdict and, whichever way one looks at it, the EC won a lot of public confidence by that action.
That the EC is a credible institution which has the track record of organising free and fair elections, to the envy of other electoral bodies on the continent and beyond, has never been in doubt. The Daily Graphic believes that the EC is capable of rising to the occasion at the December 2008 polls, provided the political parties do not inflame the passions of their supporters and incite them to violence if defeat stares them in the face.
We all know that victory is sweet, while defeat is painful. Therefore, no one goes into an election with the aim of losing. But the possibility exists and so as the political parties mount the platform to campaign, they must make sure not to make Election 2008 a “do-or-die” affair.
The elections could swing in favour of the opposition or the ruling party will retain power, depending on issues at stake, not personal attacks, smear campaign and the prediction of doom for the country if a particular political party does not win.
Ghana is bigger than any individual or group interest and the collective interest must be canvassed by all so that the country could continue to enjoy peace, stability and development.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls on the EC to give the suggestion from the NCCE a serious thought and lay the proposal before the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) for consideration. If it is found to be plausible, it should adopt it for this year’s elections.
We believe that while we call on all to be vigilant and protect the integrity of the December poll, and by extension safeguard national unity and stability, no shade of doubt should be left in anybody’s mind that there are plans to rig the elections in favour of any party.
This suggestion must have been made in good faith, in view of the violence resulting from the disputed elections in some of our neighbouring countries. Already, some political parties are beating the war drums concerning how free, fair and transparent this year’s elections will be. This is because they claim the 2004 elections were rigged.
Although the EC has tried to explain these matters time and time again, there are those who are bent on discrediting elections whenever they lose. Therefore, it is important for all interested groups — political parties, organisers of elections, the electorate and, indeed, all Ghanaians — to play an active role in any move that will leave no one in any doubt about the freeness, fairness and transparency of the December 2008 polls.
It is sad that some doomsday prophets do not miss any opportunity to make reference to what is happening in Kenya and hint of a similar fate befalling Ghana if their parties fail to win Election 2008.
Since 1992, Ghana has held elections, some of whose results some political parties disputed, but in most cases they decided to document the irregularities that occurred, go to court or call on the EC to do a recount. Indeed, in 2004, a recount of the ballot in the Pru Constituency led to the EC overturning its verdict and, whichever way one looks at it, the EC won a lot of public confidence by that action.
That the EC is a credible institution which has the track record of organising free and fair elections, to the envy of other electoral bodies on the continent and beyond, has never been in doubt. The Daily Graphic believes that the EC is capable of rising to the occasion at the December 2008 polls, provided the political parties do not inflame the passions of their supporters and incite them to violence if defeat stares them in the face.
We all know that victory is sweet, while defeat is painful. Therefore, no one goes into an election with the aim of losing. But the possibility exists and so as the political parties mount the platform to campaign, they must make sure not to make Election 2008 a “do-or-die” affair.
The elections could swing in favour of the opposition or the ruling party will retain power, depending on issues at stake, not personal attacks, smear campaign and the prediction of doom for the country if a particular political party does not win.
Ghana is bigger than any individual or group interest and the collective interest must be canvassed by all so that the country could continue to enjoy peace, stability and development.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls on the EC to give the suggestion from the NCCE a serious thought and lay the proposal before the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) for consideration. If it is found to be plausible, it should adopt it for this year’s elections.
We believe that while we call on all to be vigilant and protect the integrity of the December poll, and by extension safeguard national unity and stability, no shade of doubt should be left in anybody’s mind that there are plans to rig the elections in favour of any party.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
THIS PROJECT MUST SUCCEED
MANY motorists in the country, particularly those who ply the roads in the urban centres and the national capital, Accra, are familiar with the maddening traffic jams on our roads and streets.
A recent study conducted by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) predicted a transportation crisis beyond Lagos and Beijing proportions in Ghana if the prevailing ratio of vehicles to motorable roads should continue.
The statistics showed that vehicular fleet increased from 382,261 to 624,783 from 2000 to 2005, an average growth of 6.9 per cent, a situation which can easily lead to saturation, considering the slow rate at which roads are provided.
This rather bleak picture has brought in its wake a huge cost to the state in terms of the man-hours wasted in traffic, even when one has to make a short trip to his or her destination, not to talk of the cost in terms of the fuel wasted, which has resulted in a skyrocketing oil import bill for the country.
Traffic jams also lead to excessive pollution and its resultant greenhouse effect on climatic conditions. There is also exhaustion on the part of motorists and passengers.
It is against this background that we must view the boost given the efforts by the government to address problems of urban transportation with the development of a concept design of a pilot Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for Accra as Godsend.
The concept design of the pilot BRT forms part of a $95-million Urban Transport Project launched by the government in September 2007 with the view to reducing vehicular congestion and related environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The pilot project will begin on the Mallam-Accra Central route and it will involve the creation of exclusive bus lanes and terminals for the system. If all goes well, the exclusive use of the bus lanes is expected to reduce travel time for bus passengers along the route from about one hour to an estimated 25 minutes.
From all indications, this reduction in time will augur well for commuters to the central business district of Accra, since they could get to their workplaces on time and also get home early after the day’s work.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is happy, not only with the pilot project but also the fact that six other areas have been earmarked to come on board. These are the Kumasi metropolis, the Tema municipality, the Ejisu-Juaben municipality, the Ga East and Ga West districts.
It is quite obvious that the Accra Central-Mallam route is not the only one prone to traffic jams in Accra. Indeed, all the major roads and streets face that problem, even with the expansion of the road network. This is why we expect the pilot project to succeed, so that it can be extended to the other traffic-prone routes such as Circle-Achimota, 37-Adenta, the Spintex Road, Accra Central-Teshie-Nungua-Tema Beach Road, etc.
The DAILY GRAPHIC pleads with the implementing agencies — the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment — to ensure that a good job is done, and promptly too, to justify the huge amount being pumped into the project. That is the only way that the sponsors, including the World Bank, the French Development Agency and the Global Environment Facility, could be convinced to extend the project to the other areas.
Given the projection by analysts that the population of Accra and its surrounding towns is expected to double by the next 15 to 20 years, it is imperative that the transportation bottlenecks in the city are dealt with in a holistic way to avoid the problems associated with transportation in mega cities like Lagos and Beijing here.
We wish the BRT project a success, knowing that it will go a long way to improve the government’s urban mass transport system.
A recent study conducted by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) predicted a transportation crisis beyond Lagos and Beijing proportions in Ghana if the prevailing ratio of vehicles to motorable roads should continue.
The statistics showed that vehicular fleet increased from 382,261 to 624,783 from 2000 to 2005, an average growth of 6.9 per cent, a situation which can easily lead to saturation, considering the slow rate at which roads are provided.
This rather bleak picture has brought in its wake a huge cost to the state in terms of the man-hours wasted in traffic, even when one has to make a short trip to his or her destination, not to talk of the cost in terms of the fuel wasted, which has resulted in a skyrocketing oil import bill for the country.
Traffic jams also lead to excessive pollution and its resultant greenhouse effect on climatic conditions. There is also exhaustion on the part of motorists and passengers.
It is against this background that we must view the boost given the efforts by the government to address problems of urban transportation with the development of a concept design of a pilot Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for Accra as Godsend.
The concept design of the pilot BRT forms part of a $95-million Urban Transport Project launched by the government in September 2007 with the view to reducing vehicular congestion and related environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The pilot project will begin on the Mallam-Accra Central route and it will involve the creation of exclusive bus lanes and terminals for the system. If all goes well, the exclusive use of the bus lanes is expected to reduce travel time for bus passengers along the route from about one hour to an estimated 25 minutes.
From all indications, this reduction in time will augur well for commuters to the central business district of Accra, since they could get to their workplaces on time and also get home early after the day’s work.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is happy, not only with the pilot project but also the fact that six other areas have been earmarked to come on board. These are the Kumasi metropolis, the Tema municipality, the Ejisu-Juaben municipality, the Ga East and Ga West districts.
It is quite obvious that the Accra Central-Mallam route is not the only one prone to traffic jams in Accra. Indeed, all the major roads and streets face that problem, even with the expansion of the road network. This is why we expect the pilot project to succeed, so that it can be extended to the other traffic-prone routes such as Circle-Achimota, 37-Adenta, the Spintex Road, Accra Central-Teshie-Nungua-Tema Beach Road, etc.
The DAILY GRAPHIC pleads with the implementing agencies — the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment — to ensure that a good job is done, and promptly too, to justify the huge amount being pumped into the project. That is the only way that the sponsors, including the World Bank, the French Development Agency and the Global Environment Facility, could be convinced to extend the project to the other areas.
Given the projection by analysts that the population of Accra and its surrounding towns is expected to double by the next 15 to 20 years, it is imperative that the transportation bottlenecks in the city are dealt with in a holistic way to avoid the problems associated with transportation in mega cities like Lagos and Beijing here.
We wish the BRT project a success, knowing that it will go a long way to improve the government’s urban mass transport system.
Friday, January 11, 2008
LET'S USE RECOMMENDATIONS
OVER the past 59 years, the Institute of Adult Education of the University of Ghana has organised annual New Year schools during which academics, technocrats, policy makers and ordinary citizens deliberate on issues of governance, the economy, education, etc which are of national significance.
At the end of each New Year School, recommendations are made for the perusal of policy makers and implementers.
The 59th Annual New Year School ended on Wednesday, January 9, 2008. It was on the theme, “Tertiary Education and National Development”, and many prominent personalities presented papers on the various sub-topics discussed in the course of the school.
At the end, many recommendations were made, including concerns over the use of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for purposes outside the objectives of the fund, the role of distance learning, the emergence of wings of political parties on the campuses of our tertiary institutions, the allocation of portions of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to Members of Parliament, among other issues.
We share in the sentiments expressed by the Chairman of the University of Ghana Council and President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, that policy makers should factor the recommendations made at annual New Year schools in their programmes and activities.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is not here to determine the merits or otherwise of the recommendations made by the various speakers at the 59th New Year School but we believe that they were all made for the good of the country.
The challenges facing this country are legion and in most cases it appears that the problems are known. What has eluded us are the solutions to those problems.
It is in this context that we must view the admission by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, while opening the school, that access to higher education was one of the greatest challenges faced by the country.
“Without going into the reasons at length, it is important to accept that over the years inadequate investment in infrastructure and learning facilities has been a significant factor,” he said.
Tertiary institutions, which are the centres for teaching, learning and research and which are to develop their students’ minds to better place them in the position to tackle specific problems of society, have benefited from governmental support and financing.
Unfortunately, over the years there has been a missing link between tertiary education and national development. This is because some of the people educated at the taxpayer’s expense have decided to seek greener pastures elsewhere, to the detriment of the well-being of the mass of the people.
The concomitant is that at particular times in our history, and even now, our classrooms have been without teachers, our hospitals without nurses and doctors, and other vital state institutions without the skilled manpower to man them.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the country can overcome the problems of poverty, disease, hunger, ignorance and unemployment only if beneficiaries of higher education put their knowledge at the disposal of society.
It for this reason that we add our voice to the calls on the government to take the recommendation of this year’s New Year School seriously.
We further ask the government to put together a team to look at the recommendations of all the New Year schools and come up with a workable document which can be factored into the development blueprint that the government wants to come up with.
At the end of each New Year School, recommendations are made for the perusal of policy makers and implementers.
The 59th Annual New Year School ended on Wednesday, January 9, 2008. It was on the theme, “Tertiary Education and National Development”, and many prominent personalities presented papers on the various sub-topics discussed in the course of the school.
At the end, many recommendations were made, including concerns over the use of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for purposes outside the objectives of the fund, the role of distance learning, the emergence of wings of political parties on the campuses of our tertiary institutions, the allocation of portions of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to Members of Parliament, among other issues.
We share in the sentiments expressed by the Chairman of the University of Ghana Council and President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, that policy makers should factor the recommendations made at annual New Year schools in their programmes and activities.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is not here to determine the merits or otherwise of the recommendations made by the various speakers at the 59th New Year School but we believe that they were all made for the good of the country.
The challenges facing this country are legion and in most cases it appears that the problems are known. What has eluded us are the solutions to those problems.
It is in this context that we must view the admission by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, while opening the school, that access to higher education was one of the greatest challenges faced by the country.
“Without going into the reasons at length, it is important to accept that over the years inadequate investment in infrastructure and learning facilities has been a significant factor,” he said.
Tertiary institutions, which are the centres for teaching, learning and research and which are to develop their students’ minds to better place them in the position to tackle specific problems of society, have benefited from governmental support and financing.
Unfortunately, over the years there has been a missing link between tertiary education and national development. This is because some of the people educated at the taxpayer’s expense have decided to seek greener pastures elsewhere, to the detriment of the well-being of the mass of the people.
The concomitant is that at particular times in our history, and even now, our classrooms have been without teachers, our hospitals without nurses and doctors, and other vital state institutions without the skilled manpower to man them.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the country can overcome the problems of poverty, disease, hunger, ignorance and unemployment only if beneficiaries of higher education put their knowledge at the disposal of society.
It for this reason that we add our voice to the calls on the government to take the recommendation of this year’s New Year School seriously.
We further ask the government to put together a team to look at the recommendations of all the New Year schools and come up with a workable document which can be factored into the development blueprint that the government wants to come up with.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
NEW ERA DAWNS WITH GHANA 2008
IF there was nothing to be gained from hosting sub-regional, regional and global tournaments, countries would not go to the extent of setting up committees to lobby sporting authorities for the right to host those tournaments.
Indeed, countries go all out to build new stadia, rehabilitate existing ones, put up new infrastructure and build roads, all at great cost, in order to win the right to host tournaments.
Ghana’s hosting of the 26th Africa Cup of Nations tournament (Ghana 2008) cannot be delinked from the benefits that accrue to hosting countries of sporting events.
It is in this regard that we agree with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, that Ghana was already “the winner of the tournament” for the mere fact that it was hosting it.
“Ghanaians should recognise the fact that we have already won in prestige, revenue generation, in showcasing our beautiful country and its people, we have won because of the fact that our children will grow to acknowledge that their country is considered important in the global environment,” Mrs Sai-Cofie said in an interview.
These are fine sentiments which the DAILY GRAPHIC would want every Ghanaian, male and female, young and old, to share, since they capture the very essence of hosting an international tournament of this nature.
If for nothing at all, the tournament will bring with it commercial and economic gains which will permeate all sectors of the economy, not to talk about the exposure the country will get from TV screening of the matches worldwide, especially the opening and closing ceremonies, the re-branding of the country’s image abroad and the exposure of our tourist attractions and potential to the outside world.
We at the DAILY GRAPHIC can only advise our compatriots to put our best foot forward during the period of the tournament, so that our visitors will have a confirmation of the legendary Ghanaian hospitality, culture and tradition.
We should also do well to keep our immediate environs tidy, not only for the duration of the tournament but also after. This way, we will cut down expenses on health care and the need to clean our environment from time to time.
The DAILY GRAPHIC has never been comfortable with the refrain that not much excitement is being generated in the run up to the tournament. This is because it is the collective responsibility of all to generate that excitement in our individual and collective ways.
We recall that in the run up to the climax of the Ghana @ 50 celebrations on March 6, 2007, the same complaints were made about the lack of excitement, but we all witnessed the overwhelming euphoria which the D-day itself came up with.
We acknowledge the fact that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) is doing everything to make the tournament a resounding success and so all of us should contribute our quota by way of keeping our environment clean, decorating streets and vehicles in the national colours and generally helping to whip up enthusiasm for the event.
The government has done a lot in rehabilitating two stadia and constructing two new ones for the event. We are proud to say that the provision of those four facilities has put Ghana on the threshold of hosting bigger tournaments like the All-Africa Games, the Commonwealth Games and even the World Cup. All we need to do is maintain them and add to them.
In the meantime, we should remember that whether we win the cup or not, we have already ‘won’ by hosting the 26th Africa Cup of Nations (Ghana 2008).
Indeed, countries go all out to build new stadia, rehabilitate existing ones, put up new infrastructure and build roads, all at great cost, in order to win the right to host tournaments.
Ghana’s hosting of the 26th Africa Cup of Nations tournament (Ghana 2008) cannot be delinked from the benefits that accrue to hosting countries of sporting events.
It is in this regard that we agree with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, that Ghana was already “the winner of the tournament” for the mere fact that it was hosting it.
“Ghanaians should recognise the fact that we have already won in prestige, revenue generation, in showcasing our beautiful country and its people, we have won because of the fact that our children will grow to acknowledge that their country is considered important in the global environment,” Mrs Sai-Cofie said in an interview.
These are fine sentiments which the DAILY GRAPHIC would want every Ghanaian, male and female, young and old, to share, since they capture the very essence of hosting an international tournament of this nature.
If for nothing at all, the tournament will bring with it commercial and economic gains which will permeate all sectors of the economy, not to talk about the exposure the country will get from TV screening of the matches worldwide, especially the opening and closing ceremonies, the re-branding of the country’s image abroad and the exposure of our tourist attractions and potential to the outside world.
We at the DAILY GRAPHIC can only advise our compatriots to put our best foot forward during the period of the tournament, so that our visitors will have a confirmation of the legendary Ghanaian hospitality, culture and tradition.
We should also do well to keep our immediate environs tidy, not only for the duration of the tournament but also after. This way, we will cut down expenses on health care and the need to clean our environment from time to time.
The DAILY GRAPHIC has never been comfortable with the refrain that not much excitement is being generated in the run up to the tournament. This is because it is the collective responsibility of all to generate that excitement in our individual and collective ways.
We recall that in the run up to the climax of the Ghana @ 50 celebrations on March 6, 2007, the same complaints were made about the lack of excitement, but we all witnessed the overwhelming euphoria which the D-day itself came up with.
We acknowledge the fact that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) is doing everything to make the tournament a resounding success and so all of us should contribute our quota by way of keeping our environment clean, decorating streets and vehicles in the national colours and generally helping to whip up enthusiasm for the event.
The government has done a lot in rehabilitating two stadia and constructing two new ones for the event. We are proud to say that the provision of those four facilities has put Ghana on the threshold of hosting bigger tournaments like the All-Africa Games, the Commonwealth Games and even the World Cup. All we need to do is maintain them and add to them.
In the meantime, we should remember that whether we win the cup or not, we have already ‘won’ by hosting the 26th Africa Cup of Nations (Ghana 2008).
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
POLICE MUST HEED THIS DIRECTIVE
THE clarification by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, that there is no law in Ghana which prevents women from standing as sureties in the execution of bail bonds must be one of the positive gender-sensitive declarations made by a government official.
As is obvious to everybody, suspected criminals have gone through harrowing experiences at the hands of certain policemen and even women, especially in the villages, because of this discrimination against women who, because of their connection with alleged suspects, go to the police stations to bail the suspects.
While it is difficult to fathom the genesis of this discriminatory practice, it may not be too far-fetched to trace it to our traditional and cultural practices and beliefs.
For a long time our women were considered subservient to men and not resourceful enough to stand surety, particularly when such bail bonds must be justified, which means those sureties must have money or landed property as guarantee. Women were considered not to have both money and landed property, hence the unilateral decision by some policemen to deny them the opportunity to stand surety for suspects.
It is also refreshing for the Attorney-General to set the records straight that “it is illegal for people to be made to pay for bail”, adding that bails are for free and it is, therefore, illegal for any police officer or court official to ask for payment before bail bonds are executed.
Equality before the law is one of the cardinal benchmarks of the rule of law. Indeed, Article 17, (1) of the Constitution says, “All persons shall be equal before the law,” while Article 17 (2), says, “A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.”
The DAILY GRAPHIC is of the firm belief that when it comes to issues of people’s legal rights and liabilities, they should be resolved by recourse to the law, not by the capricious exercise of discretion. Also, the laws of the land should apply equally to all.
It is particularly painful that, in the light of the Attorney-General’s declaration, many people have had their fundamental human rights abused by some ignorant and over-zealous policemen and court officials on account of these policemen and officials misrepresenting the laws of the land. To that extent, they overstepped their bounds and exercised the powers conferred on them in an unreasonable manner.
In the opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC, such powers have been exercised in bad faith all these years and the policemen and court officials who did that exceeded their limits.
While commending the Attorney-General for coming out to clarify a situation which has been allowed to stand for so long, even though there is no legal basis for it, we call on him to go beyond the mere declaration and walk the talk by collaborating with his counterpart at the Ministry of the Interior to issue explicit directives to policemen and women throughout the country to respect the fundamental human rights of all persons, including suspected criminals.
While we are at it, we would also like to appeal to the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Police to make sure that policemen and women actually explain the offences suspects are supposed to have committed to them (suspects) in the languages they understand. For us, this is one particular grey area in our criminal justice system which must be addressed, so that suspects become aware of the charges levelled or brought against them.
We also appeal to the Chief Justice to continue with the fight to weed out corrupt officials from the courts in order to make the judiciary the bulwark against abuse of the law.
As is obvious to everybody, suspected criminals have gone through harrowing experiences at the hands of certain policemen and even women, especially in the villages, because of this discrimination against women who, because of their connection with alleged suspects, go to the police stations to bail the suspects.
While it is difficult to fathom the genesis of this discriminatory practice, it may not be too far-fetched to trace it to our traditional and cultural practices and beliefs.
For a long time our women were considered subservient to men and not resourceful enough to stand surety, particularly when such bail bonds must be justified, which means those sureties must have money or landed property as guarantee. Women were considered not to have both money and landed property, hence the unilateral decision by some policemen to deny them the opportunity to stand surety for suspects.
It is also refreshing for the Attorney-General to set the records straight that “it is illegal for people to be made to pay for bail”, adding that bails are for free and it is, therefore, illegal for any police officer or court official to ask for payment before bail bonds are executed.
Equality before the law is one of the cardinal benchmarks of the rule of law. Indeed, Article 17, (1) of the Constitution says, “All persons shall be equal before the law,” while Article 17 (2), says, “A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.”
The DAILY GRAPHIC is of the firm belief that when it comes to issues of people’s legal rights and liabilities, they should be resolved by recourse to the law, not by the capricious exercise of discretion. Also, the laws of the land should apply equally to all.
It is particularly painful that, in the light of the Attorney-General’s declaration, many people have had their fundamental human rights abused by some ignorant and over-zealous policemen and court officials on account of these policemen and officials misrepresenting the laws of the land. To that extent, they overstepped their bounds and exercised the powers conferred on them in an unreasonable manner.
In the opinion of the DAILY GRAPHIC, such powers have been exercised in bad faith all these years and the policemen and court officials who did that exceeded their limits.
While commending the Attorney-General for coming out to clarify a situation which has been allowed to stand for so long, even though there is no legal basis for it, we call on him to go beyond the mere declaration and walk the talk by collaborating with his counterpart at the Ministry of the Interior to issue explicit directives to policemen and women throughout the country to respect the fundamental human rights of all persons, including suspected criminals.
While we are at it, we would also like to appeal to the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Police to make sure that policemen and women actually explain the offences suspects are supposed to have committed to them (suspects) in the languages they understand. For us, this is one particular grey area in our criminal justice system which must be addressed, so that suspects become aware of the charges levelled or brought against them.
We also appeal to the Chief Justice to continue with the fight to weed out corrupt officials from the courts in order to make the judiciary the bulwark against abuse of the law.
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