Good corporate citizens and governments have a common goal, and that is to create value for their businesses and offer job opportunities to the people.
That is why business and the government cannot operate independently of each other.
It is the responsibility of the government to strive to improve the policy space and create the enabling atmosphere for which businesses can operate.
It is such a close collaboration that has led to the advancement of most economies.
Therefore, the directive by the President to the Ministries of Communications, and Environment, Science and Technology to facilitate the launch of Glo, the sixth mobile operator in the country, is laudable.
The Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has stated that the challenges with respect to the spectrum requirements have since been resolved and that the challenge is for Glo to show its commitment to the country by launching its services.
Much as the delay has been at a cost to the company and could have been avoided, the Daily Graphic is of the view that a continuous delay in deploying its services would further compound its financial position and subsequently affect its operations.
The anticipation with which many Ghanaians were waiting for the final launch of Glo has not waned because the stories of Glo in neighbouring countries provide ample evidence of its performance for which Ghanaians are waiting patiently to experience Glo services.
Again, Glo, even before its launch, has indicated the seriousness with which it intends to play ball in the Ghanaian telecommunications sector by being the first mobile operator to launch its fibre optic cable in the country.
The signal was that of a company ready to do things differently. That is the more reason why the Daily Graphic thinks the government has demonstrated its seriousness to faciliate Glo’s unhindered launch of its service.
Even before it launches its operations formally in Ghana, Glo has committed resources to promoting the Premier League game that many have passion for and also helps to unite the nation.
The goodwill of the people of Ghana, has been expressed by the President in his directive; the ball is now in the court of Glo to take up the challenge, and reciprocate the government’s gesture by mobilising resources for the launch as soon as possible.
But that also offers the country the opportunity to redefine its policies with regard to the telecoms sector, to offer a level playing field for the six players in the sector.
Beyond that, Ghana and Nigeria enjoy good neighbourliness, for which reason we must support such investments in the spirit of ECOWAS without compromising the country’s laws and procedures.
We believe that issues related to the environment also need serious considerations just as discussions about infrastructure sharing among telecoms companies should be speeded up.
The Daily Graphic believes Glo has the ability to take the good signal of the government to launch by the end of the year. There are more exciting times for users of cellular phones.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
STABILITY YIELDS INVESTMENT DIVIDENTS (NOV 5, 2010)
THE globalised nature of world economy requires each country to make a conscious effort at wooing investments and Ghana is no exception.
This is quite critical, especially so when the world economy is yet to come out of the global recession, precisely its second wave, which is negatively impacting on some developed economies.
Figures from the World Trade Organisation reveal how investments, especially those of transnational firms, were shrinking in the face of global economic crises.
Interestingly, however, Ghana is recording some appreciation in investments into the country as reported by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) statistics for the first nine months of this year.
The country’s oil find has obviously become attractive to the international and multi-national firms. Rightly so, because oil will continue to drive the world economy in the foreseeable future.
The growing investor confidence is the result of dividends from our democratic dispensation because rule of law and respect for human rights have become a major factor in investment decision.
This, therefore, calls for the need for the country to re-think its development priorities in relation to how we treat investors in the country.
For if the country aims at playing in the big league of development economics, then we need to play by the rules of the game.
Businesses have one major goal, and that is to create shareholder value, so that such value can be re-invested in the business for growth and expansion.
The Daily Graphic believes that this is the time the country could tighten its regulatory framework to deliver the very best for the country.
Issues related to taxes of expatriate staff, local content laws and human resource development aimed at creating the needed opportunity for every Ghanaian should be put in place.
Ghana cannot on its own develop without the support of those who have the capital and technology to assist us join the club of middle-income countries.
While we welcome investors, our strategy must be to look at the opportunities that exist for our people.
Our development priorities lie in huge investments in infrastructure, expansion in educational facilities, quality health care and above all improved living conditions for every Ghanaian.
Therefore, any investment must be geared towards these priority areas that have the potential to leapfrog our economy to the middle-income status.
The Daily Graphic welcomes the news of increased investments in the country from Nigeria and China, which promotes South-South co-operation and a sign that we may well be on course towards our drive to national development.
But again, we caution that since there is increased attention on us, we should not send the wrong signal that we are not ready for a major economic take-off.
That is why the regulatory framework governing all businesses needs to be carefully scrutinised and transparently discussed devoid of any political twist but purely for the common good.
This is quite critical, especially so when the world economy is yet to come out of the global recession, precisely its second wave, which is negatively impacting on some developed economies.
Figures from the World Trade Organisation reveal how investments, especially those of transnational firms, were shrinking in the face of global economic crises.
Interestingly, however, Ghana is recording some appreciation in investments into the country as reported by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) statistics for the first nine months of this year.
The country’s oil find has obviously become attractive to the international and multi-national firms. Rightly so, because oil will continue to drive the world economy in the foreseeable future.
The growing investor confidence is the result of dividends from our democratic dispensation because rule of law and respect for human rights have become a major factor in investment decision.
This, therefore, calls for the need for the country to re-think its development priorities in relation to how we treat investors in the country.
For if the country aims at playing in the big league of development economics, then we need to play by the rules of the game.
Businesses have one major goal, and that is to create shareholder value, so that such value can be re-invested in the business for growth and expansion.
The Daily Graphic believes that this is the time the country could tighten its regulatory framework to deliver the very best for the country.
Issues related to taxes of expatriate staff, local content laws and human resource development aimed at creating the needed opportunity for every Ghanaian should be put in place.
Ghana cannot on its own develop without the support of those who have the capital and technology to assist us join the club of middle-income countries.
While we welcome investors, our strategy must be to look at the opportunities that exist for our people.
Our development priorities lie in huge investments in infrastructure, expansion in educational facilities, quality health care and above all improved living conditions for every Ghanaian.
Therefore, any investment must be geared towards these priority areas that have the potential to leapfrog our economy to the middle-income status.
The Daily Graphic welcomes the news of increased investments in the country from Nigeria and China, which promotes South-South co-operation and a sign that we may well be on course towards our drive to national development.
But again, we caution that since there is increased attention on us, we should not send the wrong signal that we are not ready for a major economic take-off.
That is why the regulatory framework governing all businesses needs to be carefully scrutinised and transparently discussed devoid of any political twist but purely for the common good.
HELPING THE POLICE CURB CRIME (NOV 4, 2010)
UNFORTUNATELY, there seems to be an attempt by miscreants in the society to create a sense of insecurity among the populace. These miscreants engage in all kinds of criminal activities, especially armed robbery, to put a sense of fear in the people, including inter-city travellers.
Another craze, very alien to our culture, which is rearing its nasty head in our society, is car-jacking by hardened criminals. This is happening not only on the highways, but also in even our neighbourhoods. These criminals do not only sell the vehicles across the borders, but use the vehicles to commit other crimes.
Indeed, what is happening has given cause to a section of the Ghanaian public to develop the perception that the police are losing the fight against crime but this necessarily may not be so.
When the Inspector General of Police, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, took over office he pledged to take the fight to the criminals by intensifying night and highway patrols.
The Police/Military operations were also re-introduced all in an attempt to make life uncomfortable for the criminals. The IGP also introduced the concept of Tent Cities in some parts of the country to position the police in the areas where they can readily respond to emergencies or distress calls from residents in those areas.
Not too long ago, it was established that armed robbers could run but could not hide because the police and other security agencies were regularly on their heels engaging them in fierce battles that sometimes led to fatalities on both sides.
The police were not deterred by the apparent sophistication exhibited by armed robbers, who even dared to engage in day-light robbery, including attacks on bullion vans.
In spite of these challenges, the police and other security agencies are not daunted in their efforts to bring the criminals to their knees. Many arrests have been made in recent times, including the latest police operations that led to the retrieval of 21 vehicles suspected to have been seized from their owners by car-snatching syndicates operating in the various parts of the country.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio-Atinga, described the mastermind of the gang, Stephen Aklago, as a notorious car snatcher who had recruited a number of robbers to work for him.
The Daily Graphic commends the police for this latest endeavour leading to the smashing of the car-jacking syndicate operating in Accra, Kumasi, Akim Oda and Akwatia.
Our police personnel have won international recognition anywhere they have been posted to perform security duties and have mounted operations locally to bust criminal gangs to the admiration of many Ghanaians.
The Daily Graphic would like to appeal to the police to remain focussed in their activities. They should not allow negative comments from a section of the public to distract them from their chosen career to maintain law and order in our society.
The government should also continue providing the police with the appropriate logistics to enable them to continue with their fight against crime, particularly on the highways.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also reminds the populace that combating crime is a collective task between the police and the larger society.
We need to be each other’s keeper by forming neighbourhood watch committees to protect lives and property.
The Daily Graphic calls on the police administration to also revamp the concept of Neighbourhood Watch Committees throughout the country to help instil basic security skills in everybody so as to guarantee and sustain a safe environment in the neighbourhoods.
Unless we partner the police in crime combat, there is very little that they can achieve on their own. It is our collective resolve to fight crime.
Another craze, very alien to our culture, which is rearing its nasty head in our society, is car-jacking by hardened criminals. This is happening not only on the highways, but also in even our neighbourhoods. These criminals do not only sell the vehicles across the borders, but use the vehicles to commit other crimes.
Indeed, what is happening has given cause to a section of the Ghanaian public to develop the perception that the police are losing the fight against crime but this necessarily may not be so.
When the Inspector General of Police, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, took over office he pledged to take the fight to the criminals by intensifying night and highway patrols.
The Police/Military operations were also re-introduced all in an attempt to make life uncomfortable for the criminals. The IGP also introduced the concept of Tent Cities in some parts of the country to position the police in the areas where they can readily respond to emergencies or distress calls from residents in those areas.
Not too long ago, it was established that armed robbers could run but could not hide because the police and other security agencies were regularly on their heels engaging them in fierce battles that sometimes led to fatalities on both sides.
The police were not deterred by the apparent sophistication exhibited by armed robbers, who even dared to engage in day-light robbery, including attacks on bullion vans.
In spite of these challenges, the police and other security agencies are not daunted in their efforts to bring the criminals to their knees. Many arrests have been made in recent times, including the latest police operations that led to the retrieval of 21 vehicles suspected to have been seized from their owners by car-snatching syndicates operating in the various parts of the country.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio-Atinga, described the mastermind of the gang, Stephen Aklago, as a notorious car snatcher who had recruited a number of robbers to work for him.
The Daily Graphic commends the police for this latest endeavour leading to the smashing of the car-jacking syndicate operating in Accra, Kumasi, Akim Oda and Akwatia.
Our police personnel have won international recognition anywhere they have been posted to perform security duties and have mounted operations locally to bust criminal gangs to the admiration of many Ghanaians.
The Daily Graphic would like to appeal to the police to remain focussed in their activities. They should not allow negative comments from a section of the public to distract them from their chosen career to maintain law and order in our society.
The government should also continue providing the police with the appropriate logistics to enable them to continue with their fight against crime, particularly on the highways.
The DAILY GRAPHIC also reminds the populace that combating crime is a collective task between the police and the larger society.
We need to be each other’s keeper by forming neighbourhood watch committees to protect lives and property.
The Daily Graphic calls on the police administration to also revamp the concept of Neighbourhood Watch Committees throughout the country to help instil basic security skills in everybody so as to guarantee and sustain a safe environment in the neighbourhoods.
Unless we partner the police in crime combat, there is very little that they can achieve on their own. It is our collective resolve to fight crime.
LET'S RESPECT REGULATIONS (NOV 3, 2010)
GONE were the days when the city of Accra was seen as a well planned city befitting its status as the gateway to Ghana. In the early days of independent Ghana, laws worked, people obeyed laws and the syndrome of “whom you know” was non-existent.
Today, however, virtually all major cities in Ghana can be described, at best, as big slums. The problem is not far-fetched. Laws have become nothing but mere words in the statute books as they are breached with impunity.
Institutions mandated to do their jobs have failed to do what they are, by right and law, established to accomplish.
One of the results of the inaction of statutory institutions is the haphazard development in which buildings and structures are scattered all over the city, destroying the beauty of Accra.
The call by Prof Jacob Songsore of the University of Ghana to enforce the building regulations in the country is a step in the right direction.
The Daily Graphic has on countless occasions called for the right policies to deal with the canker of haphazard siting of buildings and structures springing up in the cities, even in areas classified as first class residential areas.
Not that we are frustrated at the apparent inertia on the part of authorities to crack the whip, but it is our mandate and duty to alert the authorities about the nuisance and threat that the trend poses to the citizens.
The yearly flooding that the city of Accra experiences with its resultant death toll is one that should wake us up from our slumber to act with despatch to preserve human lives.
But the problem goes further to even those issuing legal permits in areas that are clearly not suitable for buildings and structures.
Areas such as water courses, swampy areas, low lands and even to some extent lands close to the sea as is the case at Mpoase, near Dansoman in Accra have all been developed into residential areas.
It is not for nothing that even the spilling of water by the Volta River Authority (VRA) is anticipated to cause some discomfort for people living along the banks of many rivers in the country.
What the country needs is the strict enforcement of the laws. Beyond that there is the need for public education to sensitise the citizenry to the need to follow the rules and regulations of land acquisition and development in the country.
It is not just enough to break down buildings; rather it would be much easier preventing the buildings from springing up.
This year most parts of the country are flooded because of the spillage of the Bagre Dam and heavy rains in other areas.
The Daily Graphic believes the devastation caused to life and property would have been on a much lesser scale if residents in those areas had followed laid-down building regulations.
Some of the people in even the rural areas have constructed houses on water courses or very close to water bodies and any amount of rain causes havoc in those communities.
It is sad that when the challenges emerge as a result of wrongful actions, we are quick to lay the blame at the door of the government.
The Daily Graphic calls on the statutory authorities to sit up and make sure that the building regulations are followed by all in the country.
We also urge all developers to respect the country’s building regulations.
Today, however, virtually all major cities in Ghana can be described, at best, as big slums. The problem is not far-fetched. Laws have become nothing but mere words in the statute books as they are breached with impunity.
Institutions mandated to do their jobs have failed to do what they are, by right and law, established to accomplish.
One of the results of the inaction of statutory institutions is the haphazard development in which buildings and structures are scattered all over the city, destroying the beauty of Accra.
The call by Prof Jacob Songsore of the University of Ghana to enforce the building regulations in the country is a step in the right direction.
The Daily Graphic has on countless occasions called for the right policies to deal with the canker of haphazard siting of buildings and structures springing up in the cities, even in areas classified as first class residential areas.
Not that we are frustrated at the apparent inertia on the part of authorities to crack the whip, but it is our mandate and duty to alert the authorities about the nuisance and threat that the trend poses to the citizens.
The yearly flooding that the city of Accra experiences with its resultant death toll is one that should wake us up from our slumber to act with despatch to preserve human lives.
But the problem goes further to even those issuing legal permits in areas that are clearly not suitable for buildings and structures.
Areas such as water courses, swampy areas, low lands and even to some extent lands close to the sea as is the case at Mpoase, near Dansoman in Accra have all been developed into residential areas.
It is not for nothing that even the spilling of water by the Volta River Authority (VRA) is anticipated to cause some discomfort for people living along the banks of many rivers in the country.
What the country needs is the strict enforcement of the laws. Beyond that there is the need for public education to sensitise the citizenry to the need to follow the rules and regulations of land acquisition and development in the country.
It is not just enough to break down buildings; rather it would be much easier preventing the buildings from springing up.
This year most parts of the country are flooded because of the spillage of the Bagre Dam and heavy rains in other areas.
The Daily Graphic believes the devastation caused to life and property would have been on a much lesser scale if residents in those areas had followed laid-down building regulations.
Some of the people in even the rural areas have constructed houses on water courses or very close to water bodies and any amount of rain causes havoc in those communities.
It is sad that when the challenges emerge as a result of wrongful actions, we are quick to lay the blame at the door of the government.
The Daily Graphic calls on the statutory authorities to sit up and make sure that the building regulations are followed by all in the country.
We also urge all developers to respect the country’s building regulations.
MEDIA MUST NOT BE DESTRUCTIVE (NOV 2, 2010)
For the umpteenth time, the Daily Graphic has had to add its voice to discussions condemning verbal assaults on the airwaves and the use of foul language in the newspapers.
The framers of the 1992 Constitution were very clear in their minds when they guaranteed the freedom and independence of the media.
Article 162 Clause 3 says that “there shall be no impediments to the establishment of private press or media; and in particular, there shall be no law requiring any person to obtain a licence as a prerequisite to the establishment or operation of a newspaper, journal or other media for mass communication or information”.
The same chapter on the freedom and independence of the media guarantees that “all agencies of the mass media shall, at all times, be free to uphold the principles, provisions and objectives of this Constitution, and shall uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana”.
Although the media is to act as watchdog of society, some media practitioners abuse the role by using the media platform to hold their readers or audiences hostage.
A section of the media that uses the power of the media to blackmail and distort issues in society must be feared and this group poses as a danger to media freedom.
This is because ethical commitment is the cornerstone of any effort to define or redefine and strengthen the journalist’s role to serve the public good.
Journalists must understand their role better and pay particular attention to their sources in the search for the truth, verification of the fact, balanced treatment of the various positions, appropriate use of language and strong story telling.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, at its meeting in Sefwi-Wiawso in the Western Region, has added its voice to a call made earlier by the President for a stop to the verbal assault in our body politic.
The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference, Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, charged Christian leaders to rise up and speak against “the culture of insults”, which is creeping into Ghanaian politics.
He charged the men of God to not be silent and allow “the noble art of politics to be dragged into the quagmire of insults, character assassination and threat of violence”.
The Daily Graphic will go beyond men of God with the appeal to all leaders of our society, to ensure sanity and decency on the media landscape.
We believe that no matter our disagreements, they can be expressed without necessarily insulting those who do not share our beliefs.
There are many failed states on the African continent whose experiences can serve as a guide to protecting our democracy.
There is little doubt that much of the current concern about the role of journalism in nation building has its roots in the utter disregard for the code of ethics of the profession.
The Daily Graphic thinks that it is about time any ethical breaches were cured before the country entered the stage for preparations towards the 2012 general election.
If journalism is to continue to be relevant, then journalists should listen to the admonitions of the President, the Ghana Bishops Conference and others and pledge to defend the ethical values of the profession and encourage men of goodwill to support excellence in journalism for the public good because anything to the contrary will be a lethal weapon meant for destruction.
The Daily Graphic urges the inky fraternity to endeavour to serve society with accurate, balanced and fair reportage in order to enhance participatory governance and national development.
The framers of the 1992 Constitution were very clear in their minds when they guaranteed the freedom and independence of the media.
Article 162 Clause 3 says that “there shall be no impediments to the establishment of private press or media; and in particular, there shall be no law requiring any person to obtain a licence as a prerequisite to the establishment or operation of a newspaper, journal or other media for mass communication or information”.
The same chapter on the freedom and independence of the media guarantees that “all agencies of the mass media shall, at all times, be free to uphold the principles, provisions and objectives of this Constitution, and shall uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana”.
Although the media is to act as watchdog of society, some media practitioners abuse the role by using the media platform to hold their readers or audiences hostage.
A section of the media that uses the power of the media to blackmail and distort issues in society must be feared and this group poses as a danger to media freedom.
This is because ethical commitment is the cornerstone of any effort to define or redefine and strengthen the journalist’s role to serve the public good.
Journalists must understand their role better and pay particular attention to their sources in the search for the truth, verification of the fact, balanced treatment of the various positions, appropriate use of language and strong story telling.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, at its meeting in Sefwi-Wiawso in the Western Region, has added its voice to a call made earlier by the President for a stop to the verbal assault in our body politic.
The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference, Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, charged Christian leaders to rise up and speak against “the culture of insults”, which is creeping into Ghanaian politics.
He charged the men of God to not be silent and allow “the noble art of politics to be dragged into the quagmire of insults, character assassination and threat of violence”.
The Daily Graphic will go beyond men of God with the appeal to all leaders of our society, to ensure sanity and decency on the media landscape.
We believe that no matter our disagreements, they can be expressed without necessarily insulting those who do not share our beliefs.
There are many failed states on the African continent whose experiences can serve as a guide to protecting our democracy.
There is little doubt that much of the current concern about the role of journalism in nation building has its roots in the utter disregard for the code of ethics of the profession.
The Daily Graphic thinks that it is about time any ethical breaches were cured before the country entered the stage for preparations towards the 2012 general election.
If journalism is to continue to be relevant, then journalists should listen to the admonitions of the President, the Ghana Bishops Conference and others and pledge to defend the ethical values of the profession and encourage men of goodwill to support excellence in journalism for the public good because anything to the contrary will be a lethal weapon meant for destruction.
The Daily Graphic urges the inky fraternity to endeavour to serve society with accurate, balanced and fair reportage in order to enhance participatory governance and national development.
TIME TO LEND A HAND (NOV 1, 2010)
Torrential rains, coupled with the spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso, have caused floods, leaving thousands of people displaced, bridges damaged as well as farms and houses destroyed.
According to relief agencies, as many as 700,000 people have so far been displaced and more than 35 lives lost in the Greater Accra, Central, Volta and Northern regions.
Meanwhile it appears our woes are yet to be over.
The consistent rise in the water level of the Akosombo Dam has compelled the Volta River Authority (VRA), for the first time in 20 years, to spill the excess water from today , to save the dam from any danger and possible damage.
Unless the managers of the dam take precautionary measures and are meticulous in their approach, the spillage can adversely affect communities along the Volta Lake.
After leading an official delegation to ascertain the extent of disaster caused by floods in the Central Gonja area in the Northern Region at the weekend, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, has described the flood situation in the country as a national disaster which calls for international support.
The floods, which have occurred in different parts of the country, have stretched us beyond our response mechanism and contingency plans, hence the need for our development partners to assist us to salvage the situation.
As a nation, we have become vulnerable to flood disasters as a result of economic, socio-cultural, educational, attitudinal, physical, political and organisational factors. In some instances people do not have the material and financial resources to develop effective mechanisms. In other instances they are either uninformed, or deeply engrossed in their cultural beliefs that even against all advice they choose to stay in flood-prone areas instead of moving away. We cannot also discount the weak national and local structures to effectively manage disaster situations.
The Daily Graphic believes that we cannot put the blame on any individual or institution. There is the need for all of us to rally together and pool our resources to deal with the current situation and more especially the aftermath of the floods.
We should be able to handle diseases which might occur and rebuild the devastated infrastructure, as well as deal with post-flood traumas.
The government has decided to provide logistics such as relief items in the meantime and find lasting solutions to the perennial floods in the long term.
Since the floods are partly caused by the spillage of the Bagre Dam, the government should liaise with its counterpart in Burkina Faso to establish a joint Volta Basin Management Agency.
That agency should be mandated to adopt action plans by the appropriate governmental agencies within each country to control the perennial floods in the northern parts of Ghana due mainly to excess water spilled from the Bagre Dam, as well as free flow of water from rivers that have their sources in Burkina Faso.
Additionally we want to suggest that we develop a clear policy to mitigate floods and manage water flow, as well as prepare a national framework for the integrated development and utilisation of the Volta and Oti Water Basins in Ghana.
While we plan and programme for long term solutions, the Daily Graphic appeals to the international community and the country's development partners to assist us to deal with our current predicament. This is yet another opportunity for them to lend a hand.
According to relief agencies, as many as 700,000 people have so far been displaced and more than 35 lives lost in the Greater Accra, Central, Volta and Northern regions.
Meanwhile it appears our woes are yet to be over.
The consistent rise in the water level of the Akosombo Dam has compelled the Volta River Authority (VRA), for the first time in 20 years, to spill the excess water from today , to save the dam from any danger and possible damage.
Unless the managers of the dam take precautionary measures and are meticulous in their approach, the spillage can adversely affect communities along the Volta Lake.
After leading an official delegation to ascertain the extent of disaster caused by floods in the Central Gonja area in the Northern Region at the weekend, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, has described the flood situation in the country as a national disaster which calls for international support.
The floods, which have occurred in different parts of the country, have stretched us beyond our response mechanism and contingency plans, hence the need for our development partners to assist us to salvage the situation.
As a nation, we have become vulnerable to flood disasters as a result of economic, socio-cultural, educational, attitudinal, physical, political and organisational factors. In some instances people do not have the material and financial resources to develop effective mechanisms. In other instances they are either uninformed, or deeply engrossed in their cultural beliefs that even against all advice they choose to stay in flood-prone areas instead of moving away. We cannot also discount the weak national and local structures to effectively manage disaster situations.
The Daily Graphic believes that we cannot put the blame on any individual or institution. There is the need for all of us to rally together and pool our resources to deal with the current situation and more especially the aftermath of the floods.
We should be able to handle diseases which might occur and rebuild the devastated infrastructure, as well as deal with post-flood traumas.
The government has decided to provide logistics such as relief items in the meantime and find lasting solutions to the perennial floods in the long term.
Since the floods are partly caused by the spillage of the Bagre Dam, the government should liaise with its counterpart in Burkina Faso to establish a joint Volta Basin Management Agency.
That agency should be mandated to adopt action plans by the appropriate governmental agencies within each country to control the perennial floods in the northern parts of Ghana due mainly to excess water spilled from the Bagre Dam, as well as free flow of water from rivers that have their sources in Burkina Faso.
Additionally we want to suggest that we develop a clear policy to mitigate floods and manage water flow, as well as prepare a national framework for the integrated development and utilisation of the Volta and Oti Water Basins in Ghana.
While we plan and programme for long term solutions, the Daily Graphic appeals to the international community and the country's development partners to assist us to deal with our current predicament. This is yet another opportunity for them to lend a hand.
AWAY WITH POLITICS OF INSULTS (OCT 30, 2010)
ON Thursday, no less a personality than our President himself expressed serious concern about the trading of insults in the body politic to the neglect of national development, reconstruction and renewal of the society.
Relatedly, the Ghana Bar Association, in a 25-point resolution released yesterday, also called on Ghanaians to respect the dignity of the office of the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice and chiefs.
Similarly, many individuals have also added their voice to calls on Ghanaians not to add more to the current political tensions, acrimony and insults, which are doing the nation no good but undermining national development efforts.
Indeed, the DAILY GRAPHIC is equally worried about the increasing rate of intolerance permeating the fabric of the Ghanaian political landscape. We are disturbed because abusive or intemperate language in political discourse is not part of the country’s value system.
Unfortunately, the trend where many newspapers focus on sensational issues, scandal mongering and gory pictures to shore up circulation figures has caught on in our society. Regrettably, it is those issues which are reviewed on the airwaves, while issues about health, education and the economy are relegated to the background.
Currently, our children who have been admitted to senior high schools this year are going through challenging moments, with some not even knowing where to lay their heads. Yet, the issues being discussed on the airwaves and in the newspapers are not about those challenges in our education sector but sadly about which political party is better than the other or who can insult more than the other.
The debate in our media is also devoid of alternatives to policy decisions or measures initiated by the government to move this country forward or accelerate the pace of progress.
Indeed, our President made reference to detractors but we think political insults cut across the political divide and we should all resolve to use temperate language on the airwaves and political platforms, and be courteous to one another.
We are in a democracy with political parties of different persuasion and ideologies contending for political power in order to govern the country. Certainly, we are not enemies but one people with a common destiny.
That is why it behoves all of us to treat our leaders, especially our President and his appointees, as well as those who lead the other arms of government, including their functionaries, with respect because they represent the face of this nation.
But if it is also an acceptable principle that all powers of government spring from the sovereign will of the people, then those in leadership positions must desist from engaging in verbal assault that further divides our ranks.
As a nation, we need to maintain a united and stable front, even in the face of extreme provocation, and demonstrate tolerance and commitment to nation building.
We know that the blame game can sometimes be placed at the door of the media for publishing issues that divide our ranks. It is in this connection that the DAILY GRAPHIC would like to encourage the media to play its watch-dog role in a more responsible manner.
The media has no choice but to help in this crusade initiated by our President and reinforced by the Ghana Bar Association and other bodies and individuals by making sure that they give voice to the people whose contributions promote knowledge, enlightenment and the unity of our society.
Anything short of that should not be encouraged for it has the potential to disrupt our democratic dispensation just as in the case of Rwanda, where a reckless statement on a radio station caused the genocide in that country.
Relatedly, the Ghana Bar Association, in a 25-point resolution released yesterday, also called on Ghanaians to respect the dignity of the office of the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice and chiefs.
Similarly, many individuals have also added their voice to calls on Ghanaians not to add more to the current political tensions, acrimony and insults, which are doing the nation no good but undermining national development efforts.
Indeed, the DAILY GRAPHIC is equally worried about the increasing rate of intolerance permeating the fabric of the Ghanaian political landscape. We are disturbed because abusive or intemperate language in political discourse is not part of the country’s value system.
Unfortunately, the trend where many newspapers focus on sensational issues, scandal mongering and gory pictures to shore up circulation figures has caught on in our society. Regrettably, it is those issues which are reviewed on the airwaves, while issues about health, education and the economy are relegated to the background.
Currently, our children who have been admitted to senior high schools this year are going through challenging moments, with some not even knowing where to lay their heads. Yet, the issues being discussed on the airwaves and in the newspapers are not about those challenges in our education sector but sadly about which political party is better than the other or who can insult more than the other.
The debate in our media is also devoid of alternatives to policy decisions or measures initiated by the government to move this country forward or accelerate the pace of progress.
Indeed, our President made reference to detractors but we think political insults cut across the political divide and we should all resolve to use temperate language on the airwaves and political platforms, and be courteous to one another.
We are in a democracy with political parties of different persuasion and ideologies contending for political power in order to govern the country. Certainly, we are not enemies but one people with a common destiny.
That is why it behoves all of us to treat our leaders, especially our President and his appointees, as well as those who lead the other arms of government, including their functionaries, with respect because they represent the face of this nation.
But if it is also an acceptable principle that all powers of government spring from the sovereign will of the people, then those in leadership positions must desist from engaging in verbal assault that further divides our ranks.
As a nation, we need to maintain a united and stable front, even in the face of extreme provocation, and demonstrate tolerance and commitment to nation building.
We know that the blame game can sometimes be placed at the door of the media for publishing issues that divide our ranks. It is in this connection that the DAILY GRAPHIC would like to encourage the media to play its watch-dog role in a more responsible manner.
The media has no choice but to help in this crusade initiated by our President and reinforced by the Ghana Bar Association and other bodies and individuals by making sure that they give voice to the people whose contributions promote knowledge, enlightenment and the unity of our society.
Anything short of that should not be encouraged for it has the potential to disrupt our democratic dispensation just as in the case of Rwanda, where a reckless statement on a radio station caused the genocide in that country.
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