Page13, 29/11/07
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE debate on the 2008 budget in Parliament yesterday mainly focussed on the agriculture sector of the economy, with some Members of Parliament suggesting to the government to provide the necessary support for farmers to increase their yields.
The MP for Mion, Dr Alhassan Yakubu Ahmed, noted that although about 60 per cent of the country's workforce were engaged in the agriculture sector, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the economy was on the decline.
He attributed the declining yield of various crops to the low application of technology, and expressed the view that the current economic environment did not favour the Ghanaian small-scale farmer.
"Mr Speaker, we should provide enough resources for food crop farmers to enable them to reap the benefits of their labour", he said.
The MP, who is an agricultural scientist, reminded the government of its promise to cut the importation of rice by 30 per cent when it took power in 2001.
He said it was unfortunate that the importation of rice had currently tripled thereby crippling the local rice industry.
Dr Ahmed also bemoaned the gradual decline in cotton production in the country, and that a little effort by the government would enable the country derive more revenue from the crop.
When he took his turn, the Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Nana Akomea, said inspite of some difficulties, the government’s good economic policies had resulted in stabilising the country's micro economic environment.
"Mr Speaker, in relative terms, the living conditions of the people have seen improvement since the NPP government took office", he stated.
"Nana Akomea explained that the extreme poverty level in the country had decreased from 40 per cent in 1998 to 27 per cent in 2006.
He said that the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) was also playing an important role by providing employment for the youth in the country.
The minister said as of now about 108,000 people had been employed under the programme.
He said other programmes such as the Capitation Grant, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and Mass Transit System were some of the policies which were impacting positively on the lives of the people.
Nana Akomea gave the assurance that discussions were going on to find solutions to the intermittent problems associated with the payment of allowances to beneficiaries of the NYEP.
For her part, the MP for Tarkwa/Nsuaem, Mrs Gifty Kusi, gave the assurance that measures had been put in place to forestall a recurrence of the energy crisis which the country went through recently.
She said the construction of the Bui Dam, the installation of power plants, the West African Gas project were some other projects which would provide the country with energy.
When the Minister-of-State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, caught the eye of the Speaker on a point of order he told the House that the total revenue that had accrued from the operation of the Saltpond Oil Fields was $24,711,467.26 million.
He explained that the country's royalties from the operation now stood at $744,735.88.
In his submission, the MP for Jomoro, Mr Lee Ocran, alleged that road contractors were refusing to take up contracts because of non-payment by the government.
The Minister of Finance, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, however, refuted this allegation and said the government had paid more than the ¢480 billion it budgeted for in the 2007 budget.
Friday, November 30, 2007
NPP has enhancd lives of Ghanaians - Akufo-Addo
Page 16, 30/11/07
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, yesterday told Parliament that the first phase of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration had seen a significant enhancement of the lives of Ghanaians.
“Mr Speaker it is unfortunate for people to say that the stability of the macro-economy is not essential,” he said, adding that the stability of macro-economic environment presented the country an opportunity to achieve its aim of reaching a middle-level status.
Nana Akufo-Addo was contributing to the debate on the 2008 economic policy and budget of the government, which is currently going on in Parliament.
The MP, who is one of the eight ministers who resigned their positions to contest the flag-bearer slot of the party, commended the Minister of Finance and Economy Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, and his economic team for the prudent management of the economy.
He said that the over subscription of the euro bond had indicated the trust that the international community had in the country’s economy.
“Mr Speaker, by the issuance of the bond, the country has freed itself from the clutches of the International Monetary Fund and can source capital besides the Bretton Woods institutions for its development programmes.”
Nana Akufo-Addo, however, advised the ministry to use the amount which accrued from the bond prudently so that more funds could be raised for development projects.
The MP also touched on the construction of the Bui Dam and said that its completion would quicken the pace of development, particularly in the Northern part of the country.
He said nobody could dispute the fact that Ghanaians were the best judges of the performance of the NPP administration.
He cautioned members of the NDC to refrain from inflammatory pronouncements that would mar the conduct of the 2008 elections.
For his part, the MP for Amenfi East, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, said the economy was on the good path, since the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had registered consistent growth since the NPP assumed power.
He attributed the situation to the prudent manner in which the country was being managed.
“Mr Speaker, even though in the hearts of the Minority members they acknowledge the good work of the NPP, it is difficult for them to accept the fact and say it with their lips,” he said.
Mr Aidoo stated that the establishment of the Northern Development Fund with a ¢250 billion seed fund was one of the important landmarks of the budget.
The MP, however, expressed worry about the poor nature of road network in the Western Region, which produce the bulk of the country’s cash crops and minerals.
He, therefore, proposed a strategic road fund for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads in the area to enable the people to benefit from them.
When the MP for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga, took his turn, he asserted that after seven years the NPP administration had not been able to change the structure of the economy.
“Mr Speaker, it is crystal clear that we are still importing our basic needs and exporting raw materials,” he said.
Mr Ayariga said though the government continued to talk about the growth of the economy, such growth only benefited a small segment of the society.
He explained that the agriculture sector continued to witness decline in growth thereby making peasant farmers poorer.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, yesterday told Parliament that the first phase of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration had seen a significant enhancement of the lives of Ghanaians.
“Mr Speaker it is unfortunate for people to say that the stability of the macro-economy is not essential,” he said, adding that the stability of macro-economic environment presented the country an opportunity to achieve its aim of reaching a middle-level status.
Nana Akufo-Addo was contributing to the debate on the 2008 economic policy and budget of the government, which is currently going on in Parliament.
The MP, who is one of the eight ministers who resigned their positions to contest the flag-bearer slot of the party, commended the Minister of Finance and Economy Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, and his economic team for the prudent management of the economy.
He said that the over subscription of the euro bond had indicated the trust that the international community had in the country’s economy.
“Mr Speaker, by the issuance of the bond, the country has freed itself from the clutches of the International Monetary Fund and can source capital besides the Bretton Woods institutions for its development programmes.”
Nana Akufo-Addo, however, advised the ministry to use the amount which accrued from the bond prudently so that more funds could be raised for development projects.
The MP also touched on the construction of the Bui Dam and said that its completion would quicken the pace of development, particularly in the Northern part of the country.
He said nobody could dispute the fact that Ghanaians were the best judges of the performance of the NPP administration.
He cautioned members of the NDC to refrain from inflammatory pronouncements that would mar the conduct of the 2008 elections.
For his part, the MP for Amenfi East, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, said the economy was on the good path, since the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had registered consistent growth since the NPP assumed power.
He attributed the situation to the prudent manner in which the country was being managed.
“Mr Speaker, even though in the hearts of the Minority members they acknowledge the good work of the NPP, it is difficult for them to accept the fact and say it with their lips,” he said.
Mr Aidoo stated that the establishment of the Northern Development Fund with a ¢250 billion seed fund was one of the important landmarks of the budget.
The MP, however, expressed worry about the poor nature of road network in the Western Region, which produce the bulk of the country’s cash crops and minerals.
He, therefore, proposed a strategic road fund for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads in the area to enable the people to benefit from them.
When the MP for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga, took his turn, he asserted that after seven years the NPP administration had not been able to change the structure of the economy.
“Mr Speaker, it is crystal clear that we are still importing our basic needs and exporting raw materials,” he said.
Mr Ayariga said though the government continued to talk about the growth of the economy, such growth only benefited a small segment of the society.
He explained that the agriculture sector continued to witness decline in growth thereby making peasant farmers poorer.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Post-budget workshop held for Parliamentary leadership
page 16, 30/11/07
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE fifth post-budget workshop for the leadership of Parliament and selected officials from the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) has ended in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
The Parliamentary Centre, a Canadian non-governmental organisation (NGO), organised the workshop in partnership with Parliament with financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
According to Dr Rasheed Draman of the Parliamentary Centre, the NGO saw the budget process as the heart of the relationship between the Legislature and Executive.
“It is the basis of public financial accountability and there is no better time than now to strengthen Parliament’s role in the budget cycle.”
The workshop, therefore, provided a forum for MPs to have a fair understanding of the MDAs performance in 2007 and their proposals for 2008.
During the workshop, presentations of the MDAs compared 2007 provisional expenditure outcomes with the 2007 budgets as detailed in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2007-2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE fifth post-budget workshop for the leadership of Parliament and selected officials from the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) has ended in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
The Parliamentary Centre, a Canadian non-governmental organisation (NGO), organised the workshop in partnership with Parliament with financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
According to Dr Rasheed Draman of the Parliamentary Centre, the NGO saw the budget process as the heart of the relationship between the Legislature and Executive.
“It is the basis of public financial accountability and there is no better time than now to strengthen Parliament’s role in the budget cycle.”
The workshop, therefore, provided a forum for MPs to have a fair understanding of the MDAs performance in 2007 and their proposals for 2008.
During the workshop, presentations of the MDAs compared 2007 provisional expenditure outcomes with the 2007 budgets as detailed in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2007-2009
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Government urged to backdown on airtime tax
Page 16, November 28, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE debate on the 2008 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government continued in Parliament yesterday with a call on the goverment to rescind its decision to impose tax on airtime used by mobile phone users.
According to the Member of Parliament for Bole/Bamboi, Mr John Mahama, such a tax was repressive and would eventually compel more people to stop using their mobile phone.
Taking his turn in the debate, the MP said the argument made by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, as reasons for the imposition of the talk-tax was not logical.
He explained that by the minister’s argument “if you cannot collect tax on machetes because of smuggling, then you have to tax farmers on daily basis for using machetes”.
“Mr Speaker, this is unfair”, adding that telephones should not be considered as luxuries but necessities.
He urged the government to seek efficient means of collecting taxes on mobile phones instead instituting such a tax on mobile phone users.
Touching on the theme of the budget, “A Brighter Future”, Mr Mahama stated that on the surface, the budget painted a picture of optimism and hope for the masses of the people.
“Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I cannot associate myself with such a positive picture that has been painted through this budget”, he said amid “hear”, “hear” from the Minority side of the House.
Mr Mahama said that the brighter future was for only a smaller segment of people explaining that the gap between the rich and the poor continued to widen.
He said while cases of maternal and infant mortality were on the ascendancy, child mal-nutrition had reached 33 per cent, with urban poverty increasing from six to 11 per cent.
These figures were, however, disputed by the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Baffour-Gyan, who wondered from which document the MP was quoting his figures.
Professor Baffour-Gyan said evidence on the ground from the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) indicated that all the statistics that had been quoted by Mr Mahama were going down.
When he resumed his submissions, Mr Mahama touched on the failure of the government to take bold decisions to encourage the cultivation of certain crops to minimise the huge amount spent by the country to import such commodities.
He mentioned rice, sugar, tomatoes, poultry products and fish as some of the commodities which could be produced in larger quantities with a little bit of encouragement from the government.
When he took his turn, the MP for Atwima-Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, said the country was seeing a lot of development as a result of the good policies that had been initiated by the government.
He said that the institution of the talk-tax was meant to raise adequate funds to enable the government to finance its projects and programmes.
Mr Asiamah said it was unfortunate that although MPs from the Minority side of the House vehemently opposed the HIPC initiatves, they were now benefiting from it.
The MP mentioned the construction of the Tamale and Sekondi stadia and the rehabilitation of the Ohene Djan and Baba Yara stadia in Accra and Kumasi respectively as some of the landmarks of the government in the sports sector.
For his part, the Deputy Majority Chief Whip and MP for Ahafo-Ano South, Mr Kwaku Balado-Manu said the introduction of a number of policies in the education sector had helped in increasing enrolment.
He mentioned the Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme and the provision of infrastructure across the length and breath of the country to buttress his point.
Mr Balado-Manu touched on the programmes to upgrade the skills of teachers and the introduction of information, communication technology (ICT) studies in basic schools as some of the measures that would give the education sector a brighter future.
When he took his turn, the Minority Spokesperson on Energy and MP for Nabdam, Mr Moses Asaga, accused the government of failing to account for the production of oil from the Saltpond Oil Fields since the inception of its operation about two-and-a-half years ago.
He estimated that about $55 million had accrued from the sales of oil from the Saltpond Oil Fields and wondered why it was not accounted for in the budget.
Mr Asaga’s assertion was, however disputed by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and MP for Old Tafo Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, referred Mr Asaga to certain portions of the budget where revenue on oil had been spelt out and further promised to furnish the House with the details later.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE debate on the 2008 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government continued in Parliament yesterday with a call on the goverment to rescind its decision to impose tax on airtime used by mobile phone users.
According to the Member of Parliament for Bole/Bamboi, Mr John Mahama, such a tax was repressive and would eventually compel more people to stop using their mobile phone.
Taking his turn in the debate, the MP said the argument made by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, as reasons for the imposition of the talk-tax was not logical.
He explained that by the minister’s argument “if you cannot collect tax on machetes because of smuggling, then you have to tax farmers on daily basis for using machetes”.
“Mr Speaker, this is unfair”, adding that telephones should not be considered as luxuries but necessities.
He urged the government to seek efficient means of collecting taxes on mobile phones instead instituting such a tax on mobile phone users.
Touching on the theme of the budget, “A Brighter Future”, Mr Mahama stated that on the surface, the budget painted a picture of optimism and hope for the masses of the people.
“Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I cannot associate myself with such a positive picture that has been painted through this budget”, he said amid “hear”, “hear” from the Minority side of the House.
Mr Mahama said that the brighter future was for only a smaller segment of people explaining that the gap between the rich and the poor continued to widen.
He said while cases of maternal and infant mortality were on the ascendancy, child mal-nutrition had reached 33 per cent, with urban poverty increasing from six to 11 per cent.
These figures were, however, disputed by the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Baffour-Gyan, who wondered from which document the MP was quoting his figures.
Professor Baffour-Gyan said evidence on the ground from the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) indicated that all the statistics that had been quoted by Mr Mahama were going down.
When he resumed his submissions, Mr Mahama touched on the failure of the government to take bold decisions to encourage the cultivation of certain crops to minimise the huge amount spent by the country to import such commodities.
He mentioned rice, sugar, tomatoes, poultry products and fish as some of the commodities which could be produced in larger quantities with a little bit of encouragement from the government.
When he took his turn, the MP for Atwima-Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, said the country was seeing a lot of development as a result of the good policies that had been initiated by the government.
He said that the institution of the talk-tax was meant to raise adequate funds to enable the government to finance its projects and programmes.
Mr Asiamah said it was unfortunate that although MPs from the Minority side of the House vehemently opposed the HIPC initiatves, they were now benefiting from it.
The MP mentioned the construction of the Tamale and Sekondi stadia and the rehabilitation of the Ohene Djan and Baba Yara stadia in Accra and Kumasi respectively as some of the landmarks of the government in the sports sector.
For his part, the Deputy Majority Chief Whip and MP for Ahafo-Ano South, Mr Kwaku Balado-Manu said the introduction of a number of policies in the education sector had helped in increasing enrolment.
He mentioned the Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme and the provision of infrastructure across the length and breath of the country to buttress his point.
Mr Balado-Manu touched on the programmes to upgrade the skills of teachers and the introduction of information, communication technology (ICT) studies in basic schools as some of the measures that would give the education sector a brighter future.
When he took his turn, the Minority Spokesperson on Energy and MP for Nabdam, Mr Moses Asaga, accused the government of failing to account for the production of oil from the Saltpond Oil Fields since the inception of its operation about two-and-a-half years ago.
He estimated that about $55 million had accrued from the sales of oil from the Saltpond Oil Fields and wondered why it was not accounted for in the budget.
Mr Asaga’s assertion was, however disputed by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and MP for Old Tafo Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, referred Mr Asaga to certain portions of the budget where revenue on oil had been spelt out and further promised to furnish the House with the details later.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Politicians advised not to derail national gains
Page 17, November 27, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Koforidua
THE First Deputy Speaker,Mr Freddie Blay, has reminded politicians to avoid embarking on ventures that will derail the gains the country has made so far on the altar of political expediency.
He said it was important for politicians to work towards reducing tension within the body politic, particularly as the country drew closer towards the 2008 general elections.
Mr Blay was opening a two-day post-budget review workshop for the leadership of Parliament and some selected officials of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in Koforidua in the Eastern Region on Saturday.
The workshop, which was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and USAID through the Canadian Parliamentary Centre, will for the first time provide a forum for MPs to gain inputs from MDAs, which would provide a background to committee hearings for the sectors.
Mr Blay stated that the provision of programmes such as the tarring of 15 kilometres of roads in all the 166 districts and the provision of drinking water and electricity for five communities in every district were laudable.
‘If these projects are implemented effectively and efficiently as projected, they will boost development in the districts and also catalyse the reaping of other benefits”, he said.
Mr Blay, however, questioned whether these projects were achievable and called on the MPs, as the representatives of the people, to passionately debate them on the floor of the House.
He added that the special initiative on the sustainable development of northern Ghana was significant in the budget, saying that the development gap between northern and southern Ghana “must be confronted head on”.
Mr Blay called on MPs to assist the executive arm of government through comments, constructive criticism, monitoring and evaluation to keep the country’s vision of reducing poverty and achieving a middle-income status on course.
He stated that Parliament needed to strengthen its oversight responsibilities over the MDAs, adding that that “responsibility is not a policing responsibility but a participatory governorship responsibility”.
For his part, the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, urged his colleagues to critically analyse the budget document in order to offer meaningful suggestions and alternatives during debates on the floor of the House.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, said that Parliament needed to be strengthened so that it could properly exercise its oversight responsibilities on the MDAs to reduce waste in the system.
He noted that the recent public hearing of the Public Accounts Committee had given the image of Parliament a boost in the eyes of the public, adding that Parliament could perform better if it was properly resourced.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, said the government was investing more in the energy and road sectors to serve as a catalyst for the development of other sectors of the economy.
Present at the workshop were Mr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Professor George Gyan-Baffour, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Koforidua
THE First Deputy Speaker,Mr Freddie Blay, has reminded politicians to avoid embarking on ventures that will derail the gains the country has made so far on the altar of political expediency.
He said it was important for politicians to work towards reducing tension within the body politic, particularly as the country drew closer towards the 2008 general elections.
Mr Blay was opening a two-day post-budget review workshop for the leadership of Parliament and some selected officials of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in Koforidua in the Eastern Region on Saturday.
The workshop, which was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and USAID through the Canadian Parliamentary Centre, will for the first time provide a forum for MPs to gain inputs from MDAs, which would provide a background to committee hearings for the sectors.
Mr Blay stated that the provision of programmes such as the tarring of 15 kilometres of roads in all the 166 districts and the provision of drinking water and electricity for five communities in every district were laudable.
‘If these projects are implemented effectively and efficiently as projected, they will boost development in the districts and also catalyse the reaping of other benefits”, he said.
Mr Blay, however, questioned whether these projects were achievable and called on the MPs, as the representatives of the people, to passionately debate them on the floor of the House.
He added that the special initiative on the sustainable development of northern Ghana was significant in the budget, saying that the development gap between northern and southern Ghana “must be confronted head on”.
Mr Blay called on MPs to assist the executive arm of government through comments, constructive criticism, monitoring and evaluation to keep the country’s vision of reducing poverty and achieving a middle-income status on course.
He stated that Parliament needed to strengthen its oversight responsibilities over the MDAs, adding that that “responsibility is not a policing responsibility but a participatory governorship responsibility”.
For his part, the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, urged his colleagues to critically analyse the budget document in order to offer meaningful suggestions and alternatives during debates on the floor of the House.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, said that Parliament needed to be strengthened so that it could properly exercise its oversight responsibilities on the MDAs to reduce waste in the system.
He noted that the recent public hearing of the Public Accounts Committee had given the image of Parliament a boost in the eyes of the public, adding that Parliament could perform better if it was properly resourced.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, said the government was investing more in the energy and road sectors to serve as a catalyst for the development of other sectors of the economy.
Present at the workshop were Mr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Professor George Gyan-Baffour, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
Jomoro MP asks drivers to be patient
Page 17, Nov 27, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Mr Lee Ocran, has appealed to articulated truck drivers plying the Elubo side of the Trans ECOWAS Highway to exercise restraint while efforts are being made to repair the road.
He said articulated truck drivers had blocked the “no man’s land” between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire with their trucks for some time now making it almost impossible for vehicles to use the road.
Their action is in protest of the deplorable nature of the road.
Mr Ocran said that he had already discussed the problem with the Ghana Highways Authority and efforts were being made to use the Mobile Repair Workshop to save the situation.
He explained that the outskirts of Elubo to the “No Man’s Land” had been awarded to a contractor but due to the continued heavy rains and some technical problems, it had not been possible for the contractor to start work.
Mr Ocran said two kilometres of the Elubo town roads would be awarded on contract by the end of November for work to start before the end of the year.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Mr Lee Ocran, has appealed to articulated truck drivers plying the Elubo side of the Trans ECOWAS Highway to exercise restraint while efforts are being made to repair the road.
He said articulated truck drivers had blocked the “no man’s land” between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire with their trucks for some time now making it almost impossible for vehicles to use the road.
Their action is in protest of the deplorable nature of the road.
Mr Ocran said that he had already discussed the problem with the Ghana Highways Authority and efforts were being made to use the Mobile Repair Workshop to save the situation.
He explained that the outskirts of Elubo to the “No Man’s Land” had been awarded to a contractor but due to the continued heavy rains and some technical problems, it had not been possible for the contractor to start work.
Mr Ocran said two kilometres of the Elubo town roads would be awarded on contract by the end of November for work to start before the end of the year.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Give Africans fair trade terms- Ossei Aidooh
Page 13, November 26, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidoo, has expressed concern about the effects of globalisation on the economies of African nations and called for fair terms of trade to enable African countries reap the benefits of their sweat.
He made the call when the German Ambassador to Ghana, Dr Marius Haas, paid a courtesy call on him to discuss bilateral issues and how effectively the parliaments of Ghana and Germany could co-operate for their mutual benefit.
Mr Aidooh, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East, said African countries would remain impoverished if the current unfavourable trade terms were not improved.
He, however, commended Germany for its financial and infrastructure assistance towards the development of the country since independence.
Mr Aidooh mentioned in particular German non-governmental organisations such as Fredrich Egbert and Konrad Adenuer foundations which were supporting political parties in the country.
Touching on the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Aidooh said the ministry had been in existence since 1957 to facilitate and co-ordinate parliamentary oversight activities to build an effective and vibrant parliamentary structures for the enhancement of democracy.
For his part, Dr Haas said Ghana was among the few African countries that was developing fast because of good governance and gave the assurance that Germany would negotiate with the European Union (EU) and sub-regional bodies such as ECOWAS to address the issue of unfair trade practices.
He, however, advised the government to strengthen the private sector and focus on small scale agricultural industries.
Mr Haas said Germany would continue to support Ghana to improve upon inter-party relations, and praised Parliament for not being partisan during its deliberations, saying that the vibrant Minority in Parliament was a sign of good governance and stable government.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidoo, has expressed concern about the effects of globalisation on the economies of African nations and called for fair terms of trade to enable African countries reap the benefits of their sweat.
He made the call when the German Ambassador to Ghana, Dr Marius Haas, paid a courtesy call on him to discuss bilateral issues and how effectively the parliaments of Ghana and Germany could co-operate for their mutual benefit.
Mr Aidooh, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East, said African countries would remain impoverished if the current unfavourable trade terms were not improved.
He, however, commended Germany for its financial and infrastructure assistance towards the development of the country since independence.
Mr Aidooh mentioned in particular German non-governmental organisations such as Fredrich Egbert and Konrad Adenuer foundations which were supporting political parties in the country.
Touching on the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Aidooh said the ministry had been in existence since 1957 to facilitate and co-ordinate parliamentary oversight activities to build an effective and vibrant parliamentary structures for the enhancement of democracy.
For his part, Dr Haas said Ghana was among the few African countries that was developing fast because of good governance and gave the assurance that Germany would negotiate with the European Union (EU) and sub-regional bodies such as ECOWAS to address the issue of unfair trade practices.
He, however, advised the government to strengthen the private sector and focus on small scale agricultural industries.
Mr Haas said Germany would continue to support Ghana to improve upon inter-party relations, and praised Parliament for not being partisan during its deliberations, saying that the vibrant Minority in Parliament was a sign of good governance and stable government.
Government contracts loan for Odaw project
Page 18, November 24, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Odaw Channel which has been an eyesore because of its silted nature and the foul smell it emits is to undergo further improvement works.
The channel is silted with sand, solid and liquid waste, particularly, used sachets and garbage.
A recent assessment of the project conducted by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment has shown that the channel will better serve its objective of flood alleviation if it is further extended by an additional 550 metres to the Taysec Bridge on the Achimota School road.
As a result of this the government is contracting a 1.8 million Euro loan from the Fortis Bank of Netherlands for the additional improvement works on the channel to be done.
The loan will partly finance the additional work, at a total cost of 2.5 million Euro with the government providing the remaining 700 Euros.
According to the report of the Finance Committee of Parliament on the loan, the Odaw Drainage Improvement Works have been sub-divided into three phases.
Phases one and two (Lots I and 2), which were funded by the World Bank and the Agence Francaisse de Development respectively had been completed.
The third phase (Lots 3) involves the construction of 2.75 kilometres of reinforced concrete channel from the Alajo Bridge to the Apenkwa Overhead and the reconstruction of Abelenkpe Railway Bridge and two pedestrian bridges across the Odaw channel.
The report explained that in September 2003,the government signed a financing agreement with the Fortis Bank of Netherlands for 9,470,030.00 Euros for part financing of Phase III of the project.
The government again signed a second agreement with the bank for 5,199,017 Euro to extend the Lot 3 works to cover the construction of an additional 700 metres of the channel, the construction of 90 metres length box culvert under the motorway extension, near the Apenkwa Overhead and the construction of a pedestrian bridge between Abofu and Achimota.
However, the recent assessment had necessitated the extension of the channel by an additional 550 metres to the Taysec Bridge on the Achimota School road, hence the contracting of the 1.8 million Euro additional loan.
The Finance Committee advised the ministry to collaborate with the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to ensure that drainage projects were properly synchronised to ensure their effective performance and maximum benefits.
It also noted that the Odaw Drainage was choked with silt and advised the project managers to ensure that the channel was regularly desilted and cleaned.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Odaw Channel which has been an eyesore because of its silted nature and the foul smell it emits is to undergo further improvement works.
The channel is silted with sand, solid and liquid waste, particularly, used sachets and garbage.
A recent assessment of the project conducted by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment has shown that the channel will better serve its objective of flood alleviation if it is further extended by an additional 550 metres to the Taysec Bridge on the Achimota School road.
As a result of this the government is contracting a 1.8 million Euro loan from the Fortis Bank of Netherlands for the additional improvement works on the channel to be done.
The loan will partly finance the additional work, at a total cost of 2.5 million Euro with the government providing the remaining 700 Euros.
According to the report of the Finance Committee of Parliament on the loan, the Odaw Drainage Improvement Works have been sub-divided into three phases.
Phases one and two (Lots I and 2), which were funded by the World Bank and the Agence Francaisse de Development respectively had been completed.
The third phase (Lots 3) involves the construction of 2.75 kilometres of reinforced concrete channel from the Alajo Bridge to the Apenkwa Overhead and the reconstruction of Abelenkpe Railway Bridge and two pedestrian bridges across the Odaw channel.
The report explained that in September 2003,the government signed a financing agreement with the Fortis Bank of Netherlands for 9,470,030.00 Euros for part financing of Phase III of the project.
The government again signed a second agreement with the bank for 5,199,017 Euro to extend the Lot 3 works to cover the construction of an additional 700 metres of the channel, the construction of 90 metres length box culvert under the motorway extension, near the Apenkwa Overhead and the construction of a pedestrian bridge between Abofu and Achimota.
However, the recent assessment had necessitated the extension of the channel by an additional 550 metres to the Taysec Bridge on the Achimota School road, hence the contracting of the 1.8 million Euro additional loan.
The Finance Committee advised the ministry to collaborate with the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to ensure that drainage projects were properly synchronised to ensure their effective performance and maximum benefits.
It also noted that the Odaw Drainage was choked with silt and advised the project managers to ensure that the channel was regularly desilted and cleaned.
Rehabilitate Bia roads - MP
Page 14, November 24, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Bia, Mr Michael Coffie Boampong, has appealed to the Ministry of Transportation for the rehabilitation of roads in the area to facilitate the evacuation of cash and food crops to their marketing centres.
He said the road from Alluokrom through Debiso to Yawmatwa had turned into what he described as “cattle road”.
The MP said it took one about two hours to travel on the 20-kilometre stretch of road from Essam to Oseikojokrom.
He said the Debiso-Asempaneye road was also in very bad state and drivers found it difficult to ply the route.
“I appeal to the Ministry of Transportation to impress on the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) and the Department of Feeder Roads to immediately go to the aid of the people by rehabilitating the roads in the area”.
He wondered how cocoa produced in the area could be evacuated to the main cocoa depots this season as articulated trucks could not use the roads.
The MP told the Daily Graphic that he used the period of Parliament’s recess to tour the various communities in the constituency to educate the people on the passage of the Domestic Violence and Persons With Disability bills into law.
He stressed the importance of education and urged parents to invest in the future of their children by educating them to the highest level practicable.
Mr Boampong said during the tour farmers in the area expressed their dissatisfaction about the inadequate supply of fungicides and insecticides for the mass spraying exercise.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Bia, Mr Michael Coffie Boampong, has appealed to the Ministry of Transportation for the rehabilitation of roads in the area to facilitate the evacuation of cash and food crops to their marketing centres.
He said the road from Alluokrom through Debiso to Yawmatwa had turned into what he described as “cattle road”.
The MP said it took one about two hours to travel on the 20-kilometre stretch of road from Essam to Oseikojokrom.
He said the Debiso-Asempaneye road was also in very bad state and drivers found it difficult to ply the route.
“I appeal to the Ministry of Transportation to impress on the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) and the Department of Feeder Roads to immediately go to the aid of the people by rehabilitating the roads in the area”.
He wondered how cocoa produced in the area could be evacuated to the main cocoa depots this season as articulated trucks could not use the roads.
The MP told the Daily Graphic that he used the period of Parliament’s recess to tour the various communities in the constituency to educate the people on the passage of the Domestic Violence and Persons With Disability bills into law.
He stressed the importance of education and urged parents to invest in the future of their children by educating them to the highest level practicable.
Mr Boampong said during the tour farmers in the area expressed their dissatisfaction about the inadequate supply of fungicides and insecticides for the mass spraying exercise.
Minority challenge genuiness of LIs
Page 14, November 26, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament yesterday questioned the genuineness of the Legislative Instruments laid before the House last week to give legal backing for the new districts and municipalities which were created recently.
They said it was unfortunate that though the instruments were not ready, they were laid before the House.
Instruments laid before the House take 21 days to mature.
The chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Mr Francis Abotse, was the first to raise the issue after the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, had presented the Business Statement of the House for next week.
The MP for Lawra-Nandom, Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, supported Mr Agbotse and said: “We have information that the Electoral Commission, which was responsible for the demarcation of districts, was not aware of the creation of the new districts and municipalities”.
“Mr Speaker, I wonder whether papers, which are not ready can be laid before the House, ” he said and enquired whether the 21 days duration could catch up???? with the instruments.
But Mr Aidooh explained that the instruments were shown to him before they were laid before the House saying that since they had already been laid, they could come into effect after the 21 days.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, however, disputed the Majority Leader’s claim and said that since the instruments were not properly laid, they could not come into effect after the 21-day period.
In the end, the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, directed that the issue should be resolved outside the floor of the House with his involvement.
Meanwhile, the debate of the 2008 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government, which was presented to the House on November 16, 2007 would begin on Monday, November 26, 2007.
Mr Aidooh, who announced this yesterday said that both the Majority and Minority leaders and the seconder of the motion would be given 20 minutes each, other members of the leadership and chairmen/ ranking members, 10 minutes each and the rest of the MPs would each have five minutes to debate the budget.
In another development, a 10 million euro loan facility agreement between the government and the KFW, Frankfurt am Main for the Multi Donor Budget Support IV was laid before the House.
Other papers, which were laid were; the Land Title Registration (Amendment) Regulations, 2007 (L.I 1837) and Report of the Committee on Selection on the Membership of the Committee.
According to the report of the Committee of Selection on the Composition of Membership of Committees and the MP for Kumawu, Mr Yaw Baah, replaces Mr Kofi???? Osei Ameyaw as the chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Osei-Ameyaw is currently the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations.
The chairmen of some of the committees are; Nii Adu Daku Mante (Finance), Ms Hilda Josephine Addo (Gender & Children), Mr Ishmael Ashitey (Government Assurances), Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, ( Members Holding Office of Profit), Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah, (Public Accounts), Mr Speaker Sekyi Hughes (Selection & Standing Orders), Mr Francis Agbotse, (Subsidiary Legislation) and Majority Leader, Abraham Ossei Aidoo (Special Budget, House and Business committees).
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament yesterday questioned the genuineness of the Legislative Instruments laid before the House last week to give legal backing for the new districts and municipalities which were created recently.
They said it was unfortunate that though the instruments were not ready, they were laid before the House.
Instruments laid before the House take 21 days to mature.
The chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Mr Francis Abotse, was the first to raise the issue after the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, had presented the Business Statement of the House for next week.
The MP for Lawra-Nandom, Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, supported Mr Agbotse and said: “We have information that the Electoral Commission, which was responsible for the demarcation of districts, was not aware of the creation of the new districts and municipalities”.
“Mr Speaker, I wonder whether papers, which are not ready can be laid before the House, ” he said and enquired whether the 21 days duration could catch up???? with the instruments.
But Mr Aidooh explained that the instruments were shown to him before they were laid before the House saying that since they had already been laid, they could come into effect after the 21 days.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, however, disputed the Majority Leader’s claim and said that since the instruments were not properly laid, they could not come into effect after the 21-day period.
In the end, the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, directed that the issue should be resolved outside the floor of the House with his involvement.
Meanwhile, the debate of the 2008 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government, which was presented to the House on November 16, 2007 would begin on Monday, November 26, 2007.
Mr Aidooh, who announced this yesterday said that both the Majority and Minority leaders and the seconder of the motion would be given 20 minutes each, other members of the leadership and chairmen/ ranking members, 10 minutes each and the rest of the MPs would each have five minutes to debate the budget.
In another development, a 10 million euro loan facility agreement between the government and the KFW, Frankfurt am Main for the Multi Donor Budget Support IV was laid before the House.
Other papers, which were laid were; the Land Title Registration (Amendment) Regulations, 2007 (L.I 1837) and Report of the Committee on Selection on the Membership of the Committee.
According to the report of the Committee of Selection on the Composition of Membership of Committees and the MP for Kumawu, Mr Yaw Baah, replaces Mr Kofi???? Osei Ameyaw as the chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Osei-Ameyaw is currently the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations.
The chairmen of some of the committees are; Nii Adu Daku Mante (Finance), Ms Hilda Josephine Addo (Gender & Children), Mr Ishmael Ashitey (Government Assurances), Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, ( Members Holding Office of Profit), Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah, (Public Accounts), Mr Speaker Sekyi Hughes (Selection & Standing Orders), Mr Francis Agbotse, (Subsidiary Legislation) and Majority Leader, Abraham Ossei Aidoo (Special Budget, House and Business committees).
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Provide MPs with enough resources- Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
Page 16, November 23, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame and Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who has been nominated by the President as a minister-of-state, yesterday called for enough resources to be provided for MPs to enable them to perform to their maximum ability.
He said it was unfortunate that presently MPs used their car boots as their offices, adding that the situation did not allow them to work effectively.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu made these assertions when he appeared before the Appointments Committees of Parliament to be vetted for his new position.
He stated that the lack of office accommodation for MPs posed a great challenge to the legislature, adding that out of the 230 MPs, only 12 who were in leadership positions had offices.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said facilities at the MPs residence at Sakumono was not the best, explaining that those who were occupying two bedroom flats had to purchase their own furniture.
“How can you expect the best from MPs without providing them with a well equipped library”, he asked.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu called for measures to constantly build the capacities of MPs to enable them to contribute effectively, both on the floor of the House and at the committee level.
Some of the members of the committee expressed worry about the appointment of MPs, such as the nominee, with immense parliamentary experience to ministerial positions, and wondered whether it was not a ploy by the executive to weaken the legislature.
They described Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as a role model whose immense knowledge in Parliamentary practice many MPs had taken inspiration from.
The nominee however responded that if he was approved, he would still have ample time for parliamentary sittings to contribute to the work of the House.
On whether he subscribes to a school of thought that there should be a limit to the number of terms that MPs should be in Parliament, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that if the legislature would grow, then it required experience MPs.
He added that the current practice should be maintained for the electorate to decide the number of terms that MPs would be in Parliament “else we will be losing our experienced MPs due to such limitations”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was born on February 3, 1957 at Breman Afrancho in the Ashanti Region, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Planning at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1992.
In 1996, he contested on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the parliamentary election and won the Suame seat to represent his constituents in Parliament.
He has since 1997 held the positions of Majority Chief Whip and Deputy Majority leader in Parliament.
In another development, Ms Victoria Bright, who has been nominated as a deputy minister at the office of the President appeared before the Appointments Committee for the second time.
When she appeared before it for the first time, the approval of her nomination was withheld because of doubts about her nationality.
Ms Bright, 42, told the committee that she had renounced her British citizenship, adding that documents that had been distributed to members of the committee attested to that fact.
She explained that even though she was in good employment in Britain, it was a privilege for her to contribute to the country’s development.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame and Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who has been nominated by the President as a minister-of-state, yesterday called for enough resources to be provided for MPs to enable them to perform to their maximum ability.
He said it was unfortunate that presently MPs used their car boots as their offices, adding that the situation did not allow them to work effectively.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu made these assertions when he appeared before the Appointments Committees of Parliament to be vetted for his new position.
He stated that the lack of office accommodation for MPs posed a great challenge to the legislature, adding that out of the 230 MPs, only 12 who were in leadership positions had offices.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said facilities at the MPs residence at Sakumono was not the best, explaining that those who were occupying two bedroom flats had to purchase their own furniture.
“How can you expect the best from MPs without providing them with a well equipped library”, he asked.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu called for measures to constantly build the capacities of MPs to enable them to contribute effectively, both on the floor of the House and at the committee level.
Some of the members of the committee expressed worry about the appointment of MPs, such as the nominee, with immense parliamentary experience to ministerial positions, and wondered whether it was not a ploy by the executive to weaken the legislature.
They described Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as a role model whose immense knowledge in Parliamentary practice many MPs had taken inspiration from.
The nominee however responded that if he was approved, he would still have ample time for parliamentary sittings to contribute to the work of the House.
On whether he subscribes to a school of thought that there should be a limit to the number of terms that MPs should be in Parliament, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that if the legislature would grow, then it required experience MPs.
He added that the current practice should be maintained for the electorate to decide the number of terms that MPs would be in Parliament “else we will be losing our experienced MPs due to such limitations”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was born on February 3, 1957 at Breman Afrancho in the Ashanti Region, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Planning at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1992.
In 1996, he contested on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the parliamentary election and won the Suame seat to represent his constituents in Parliament.
He has since 1997 held the positions of Majority Chief Whip and Deputy Majority leader in Parliament.
In another development, Ms Victoria Bright, who has been nominated as a deputy minister at the office of the President appeared before the Appointments Committee for the second time.
When she appeared before it for the first time, the approval of her nomination was withheld because of doubts about her nationality.
Ms Bright, 42, told the committee that she had renounced her British citizenship, adding that documents that had been distributed to members of the committee attested to that fact.
She explained that even though she was in good employment in Britain, it was a privilege for her to contribute to the country’s development.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Nzema East chiefs, people grateful for new district
Page 13, November 22, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE chiefs and people of the Nzema East District have expressed their profound gratitude to the government for the elevation of the area to a municipality.
“The elevation was in fulfilment of a pledge made by President Kufuor in 2004 and we are grateful that it has been fulfilled in this jubilee year of Ghana”.
In a letter signed by the MP for the area, Mr Kojo Armah, to the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, they said they were conscious of the many opportunities as well as benefits that the new status could bring to them.
Mr Armah said the people were also aware of the challenges that the new status would impose on them and that “We are ready to assume those responsibilities and tackle the challenges”.
“As the MP for the area, it is my singular honour that during my tenure of office, ancient Axim was first elevated into urban status in 2004 and then municipality in 2007”.
He added that the elevation had brought honour to the memory of Paa Grant and Dr Kwame Nkrumah, sons of the area, who pioneered Ghana’s struggle for independence.
Mr Armah thanked the government for tackling major projects in the area, including roads in Axim, Esiama and Aiyinase, while efforts were being made to begin the construction of a mini fishing harbour in Axim.
He said many communities had also been hooked to the national electricity grid in recent years, and called on the people to justify the trust of the government by contributing their quota to accelerate the development of the area.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE chiefs and people of the Nzema East District have expressed their profound gratitude to the government for the elevation of the area to a municipality.
“The elevation was in fulfilment of a pledge made by President Kufuor in 2004 and we are grateful that it has been fulfilled in this jubilee year of Ghana”.
In a letter signed by the MP for the area, Mr Kojo Armah, to the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, they said they were conscious of the many opportunities as well as benefits that the new status could bring to them.
Mr Armah said the people were also aware of the challenges that the new status would impose on them and that “We are ready to assume those responsibilities and tackle the challenges”.
“As the MP for the area, it is my singular honour that during my tenure of office, ancient Axim was first elevated into urban status in 2004 and then municipality in 2007”.
He added that the elevation had brought honour to the memory of Paa Grant and Dr Kwame Nkrumah, sons of the area, who pioneered Ghana’s struggle for independence.
Mr Armah thanked the government for tackling major projects in the area, including roads in Axim, Esiama and Aiyinase, while efforts were being made to begin the construction of a mini fishing harbour in Axim.
He said many communities had also been hooked to the national electricity grid in recent years, and called on the people to justify the trust of the government by contributing their quota to accelerate the development of the area.
Aflao-Beat Nine road to be considered
Page 14, November 22, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Deputy Minister of Transportation, Mr Magnus Opare-Asamoah, has assured the people of Aflao in the Ketu South Constituency that construction of the Aflao-Beat Nine (Ashiboe Mensah) road would be considered next year under the government’s plan to tar 15 kilometres of roads in every district.
The road has deteriorated to such an extent that it becomes difficult for motorists to use it, especially during the rainy season.
Mr Opare-Asamoah gave the assurance in an answer to a question posed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South, Mr Albert Kwasi Zigah. He further asked the deputy minister what plans the ministry had for the construction of the road.
However, the minister pointed out that the road was currently not under the ministry’s road network.
He said the Department of Feeder Roads would conduct studies on the road in 2008, and based on the outcome of the such studies and availability of funds, the necessary intervention would be carried out.
Pressed with further follow-up questions by the MP, Mr Opare-Asamoah told the House that the road would be considered under the government’s plan to tar 15 kilometres of roads in every district as announced in the 2008 Budget Statement and Economic Policy presented to Parliament last Thursday.
The MP for Kintampo South, Mr Yaw Effah-Baafi, also asked the deputy minister to know what had accounted for the long delay in the execution of the Apesika-Abom feeder road project, and whether the ministry had any plans to extend the road further to join the Kintampo-Prang road.
Answering the question, Mr Opare-Asamoah explained that the eight-kilometre project, which was awarded on contract for spot improvement in November 2004 at the cost of GH ¢100,000 (¢1 billion) was scheduled to be completed in September, 2005.
He stated that the contract had to be terminated in February 2007, due to non-performance by a contractor after persistent warnings.
The deputy minister added that at the time of the termination of the contract, 68 per cent of works was completed, while ¢657 million, out of the contract sum, had been paid.
He stated that the project had been repackaged and programmed for a re-award in 2008.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Deputy Minister of Transportation, Mr Magnus Opare-Asamoah, has assured the people of Aflao in the Ketu South Constituency that construction of the Aflao-Beat Nine (Ashiboe Mensah) road would be considered next year under the government’s plan to tar 15 kilometres of roads in every district.
The road has deteriorated to such an extent that it becomes difficult for motorists to use it, especially during the rainy season.
Mr Opare-Asamoah gave the assurance in an answer to a question posed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South, Mr Albert Kwasi Zigah. He further asked the deputy minister what plans the ministry had for the construction of the road.
However, the minister pointed out that the road was currently not under the ministry’s road network.
He said the Department of Feeder Roads would conduct studies on the road in 2008, and based on the outcome of the such studies and availability of funds, the necessary intervention would be carried out.
Pressed with further follow-up questions by the MP, Mr Opare-Asamoah told the House that the road would be considered under the government’s plan to tar 15 kilometres of roads in every district as announced in the 2008 Budget Statement and Economic Policy presented to Parliament last Thursday.
The MP for Kintampo South, Mr Yaw Effah-Baafi, also asked the deputy minister to know what had accounted for the long delay in the execution of the Apesika-Abom feeder road project, and whether the ministry had any plans to extend the road further to join the Kintampo-Prang road.
Answering the question, Mr Opare-Asamoah explained that the eight-kilometre project, which was awarded on contract for spot improvement in November 2004 at the cost of GH ¢100,000 (¢1 billion) was scheduled to be completed in September, 2005.
He stated that the contract had to be terminated in February 2007, due to non-performance by a contractor after persistent warnings.
The deputy minister added that at the time of the termination of the contract, 68 per cent of works was completed, while ¢657 million, out of the contract sum, had been paid.
He stated that the project had been repackaged and programmed for a re-award in 2008.
Govt helps stabilise prices of agro inputs
Page 17, November 21, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
THE government has over the years done a lot to ensure that prices of farming inputs are stabilised and are very affordable, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Clement Eledi told Parliament yesterday.
He explained that the ministry met periodically with the distributors of the inputs with the view to finding solutions to the phenomenon of high cost and to also educate them to overcome all the difficulties associated with such price hikes on agricultural inputs.
Mr Eledi, who said this in answer to a question from the Member of Parliament (MP) for Krachi East, Mr Wisdom Gidisu, explained that some of the measures put in place to assist farmers were that almost all imports of agricultural inputs were tax exempt.
The MP had enquired from the deputy minister what measures the ministry had taken to ensure that farmers accessed farming inputs at affordable prices.
He said at a meeting with the stakeholders a few weeks ago, a major problem which came up as being responsible for the hike in the prices of the inputs was the delay in clearing inputs at the ports.
“ The ministry has, therefore, held discussions with the Director General of the port in order to give preferential treatment to ships that docked to discharge agro inputs so as to avoid the payment of high port charges that could be passed on to farmers eventually,” Mr Eledi said.
He said the ministry had realised that most farming inputs were derived from crude oil, especially fertilisers, and for that matter the prices of crude oil, which was of course beyond its control, played a very important role in the determination of the prices of agro products.
“ That is why we periodically meet with the input distributors to map out strategies that could make agro inputs affordable,” the minister said.
The MP further asked the minister what steps the ministry had taken to rehabilitate the silos at Dormabin in the Krachi-East District.
Replying, Mr Eledi said the Dormabin site had the grain and storage facilities with eight metal storage bins and two holding metal bins were installed by the Ghana Food Distribution Corporation (GFDC).
He said it was later detected that some components of the facilities had been stolen and in an effort to secure the rest, some of the parts of the facility were removed for safety to Ho by the GFDC staff.
The minister said about a year ago, the Agricultural Engineering Department (AED) of MOFA was made to inspect the facility and detected that the metallic reception bin had rusted.
Mr Eledi said due to the problems and to ensure an accurate assessment of the facility, the AED recommended that “ we should contact the original installers to get an understanding of the operations of the facility and to ascertain if the units as they stand are complete,”.
Answering another question by the MP for Wa West, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Mr Eledi said the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council had started negotiations with MOFA to turn its buildings which were lying idle at Veiri into a police training school.
In another development the MP for Anlo, Mr Clement Humado, called for measures to reduce poverty among food crop farmers in the rural areas through a policy of price equalisation on fertiliser inputs.
In a statement on the floor of the House the MP said price inequalities on agro inputs did not create equal opportunities for food crop farmers in the rural savannah areas of the country.
Mr Humado suggested that in order to turn the situation around, the country needed to adopt a regulatory framework that provided an equal pricing policy for aggro inputs.
“Mr Speaker, price equality for agro-products throughout the country would go a long way to reduce the inequalities that we are presently experiencing in the country and also contribute to improving social cohesion and equal development”, he stated.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
THE government has over the years done a lot to ensure that prices of farming inputs are stabilised and are very affordable, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Clement Eledi told Parliament yesterday.
He explained that the ministry met periodically with the distributors of the inputs with the view to finding solutions to the phenomenon of high cost and to also educate them to overcome all the difficulties associated with such price hikes on agricultural inputs.
Mr Eledi, who said this in answer to a question from the Member of Parliament (MP) for Krachi East, Mr Wisdom Gidisu, explained that some of the measures put in place to assist farmers were that almost all imports of agricultural inputs were tax exempt.
The MP had enquired from the deputy minister what measures the ministry had taken to ensure that farmers accessed farming inputs at affordable prices.
He said at a meeting with the stakeholders a few weeks ago, a major problem which came up as being responsible for the hike in the prices of the inputs was the delay in clearing inputs at the ports.
“ The ministry has, therefore, held discussions with the Director General of the port in order to give preferential treatment to ships that docked to discharge agro inputs so as to avoid the payment of high port charges that could be passed on to farmers eventually,” Mr Eledi said.
He said the ministry had realised that most farming inputs were derived from crude oil, especially fertilisers, and for that matter the prices of crude oil, which was of course beyond its control, played a very important role in the determination of the prices of agro products.
“ That is why we periodically meet with the input distributors to map out strategies that could make agro inputs affordable,” the minister said.
The MP further asked the minister what steps the ministry had taken to rehabilitate the silos at Dormabin in the Krachi-East District.
Replying, Mr Eledi said the Dormabin site had the grain and storage facilities with eight metal storage bins and two holding metal bins were installed by the Ghana Food Distribution Corporation (GFDC).
He said it was later detected that some components of the facilities had been stolen and in an effort to secure the rest, some of the parts of the facility were removed for safety to Ho by the GFDC staff.
The minister said about a year ago, the Agricultural Engineering Department (AED) of MOFA was made to inspect the facility and detected that the metallic reception bin had rusted.
Mr Eledi said due to the problems and to ensure an accurate assessment of the facility, the AED recommended that “ we should contact the original installers to get an understanding of the operations of the facility and to ascertain if the units as they stand are complete,”.
Answering another question by the MP for Wa West, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Mr Eledi said the Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council had started negotiations with MOFA to turn its buildings which were lying idle at Veiri into a police training school.
In another development the MP for Anlo, Mr Clement Humado, called for measures to reduce poverty among food crop farmers in the rural areas through a policy of price equalisation on fertiliser inputs.
In a statement on the floor of the House the MP said price inequalities on agro inputs did not create equal opportunities for food crop farmers in the rural savannah areas of the country.
Mr Humado suggested that in order to turn the situation around, the country needed to adopt a regulatory framework that provided an equal pricing policy for aggro inputs.
“Mr Speaker, price equality for agro-products throughout the country would go a long way to reduce the inequalities that we are presently experiencing in the country and also contribute to improving social cohesion and equal development”, he stated.
Data Capture Bill goes through second reading
Page 17, November 21 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Data Capture (Registration, Protection of Personal Information and Privacy) Bill placed before Parliament on October 25, 2007, passed through its second reading stage of passage yesterday.
The bill seeks to establish a national identity register through the creation of a central database of individuals uniquely linked to a proven identifier.
It would also ensure an automated identification mechanism for a scheme of registration of individuals for the issuance of national identity cards, protection of the personal information of the individual collected by the National Identification Authority (NIA) for the exercise and protection of the privacy of individuals.
The Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, moved for the second reading of the bill.
He was supported by Mr Kojo Armah, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Mpiani enumerated the importance of the national identification programme and added that its successful implementation would depend on the passage of the bill.
He said the provision of national identity cards would enable other countries to have confidence in the Ghanaian passports and other documents.
Seconding the motion, Mr Armah said the commitment of the government to the creation of a national identification system peaked in the passage of Act 707, which established the NIA.
He added that in pursuant to the establishment of the authority, it had become necessary to provide a legal regime for the implementation of the objectives of the authority, hence the introduction of the bill.
The Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Avenor-Ave, Mr Doe Adjaho, called for measures to ensure that non-Ghanaians were not given the identity to enable them to vote during elections.
Other MPs who contributed to the debate were Mr David Oppon-Kusi (Ofoase-Ayirebi) and Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bandua (Biakoye)
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Data Capture (Registration, Protection of Personal Information and Privacy) Bill placed before Parliament on October 25, 2007, passed through its second reading stage of passage yesterday.
The bill seeks to establish a national identity register through the creation of a central database of individuals uniquely linked to a proven identifier.
It would also ensure an automated identification mechanism for a scheme of registration of individuals for the issuance of national identity cards, protection of the personal information of the individual collected by the National Identification Authority (NIA) for the exercise and protection of the privacy of individuals.
The Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, moved for the second reading of the bill.
He was supported by Mr Kojo Armah, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Mpiani enumerated the importance of the national identification programme and added that its successful implementation would depend on the passage of the bill.
He said the provision of national identity cards would enable other countries to have confidence in the Ghanaian passports and other documents.
Seconding the motion, Mr Armah said the commitment of the government to the creation of a national identification system peaked in the passage of Act 707, which established the NIA.
He added that in pursuant to the establishment of the authority, it had become necessary to provide a legal regime for the implementation of the objectives of the authority, hence the introduction of the bill.
The Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Avenor-Ave, Mr Doe Adjaho, called for measures to ensure that non-Ghanaians were not given the identity to enable them to vote during elections.
Other MPs who contributed to the debate were Mr David Oppon-Kusi (Ofoase-Ayirebi) and Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bandua (Biakoye)
Anloga curfew still on
Page 14, November 21, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, has stated that even though the situation in the Anlo Traditional Area is calm, the government believes that it should err on the side of caution by monitoring the situation before lifting the curfew imposed in the area.
The curfew, which is in its third week, was imposed as a result of a chieftaincy dispute in the area which resulted in the death of four civilians and one policeman.
Mr Bartels said this in a statement to Parliament on the extension of the curfew.
He explained that since the curfew was restricted to the Anloga area, there had not been any incident involving the factions in the dispute.
The Interior Minister added that attempts by Regent Torgbui Sri III to hold a traditional council meeting on November 13 were stopped by the police.
Mr Bartels said the curfew was re-imposed on Friday, November 16 because “the government believes that it should err on the side of caution by monitoring the situation for some time to ensure that it is safe to lift the curfew”.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo, Mr Clement Humado, called for the curfew to be lifted by Thursday to enable the people to go about their normal businesses.
He explained that schools, markets, banks and other businesses had come back to life and there was, therefore, the need to lift the curfew to give the people ample time to do their business.
The curfew, which has currently been restricted to the Anloga area, runs between 8. 00 p.m. to 5. 00 a.m. each day.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, has stated that even though the situation in the Anlo Traditional Area is calm, the government believes that it should err on the side of caution by monitoring the situation before lifting the curfew imposed in the area.
The curfew, which is in its third week, was imposed as a result of a chieftaincy dispute in the area which resulted in the death of four civilians and one policeman.
Mr Bartels said this in a statement to Parliament on the extension of the curfew.
He explained that since the curfew was restricted to the Anloga area, there had not been any incident involving the factions in the dispute.
The Interior Minister added that attempts by Regent Torgbui Sri III to hold a traditional council meeting on November 13 were stopped by the police.
Mr Bartels said the curfew was re-imposed on Friday, November 16 because “the government believes that it should err on the side of caution by monitoring the situation for some time to ensure that it is safe to lift the curfew”.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo, Mr Clement Humado, called for the curfew to be lifted by Thursday to enable the people to go about their normal businesses.
He explained that schools, markets, banks and other businesses had come back to life and there was, therefore, the need to lift the curfew to give the people ample time to do their business.
The curfew, which has currently been restricted to the Anloga area, runs between 8. 00 p.m. to 5. 00 a.m. each day.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Nana Akufo-Addo outlines vision to students
Page 13. November 19. 2004
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says he is the most suitable among all the aspirants to hold high the banner of the Danquah-Busia political tradition after President Kufuor’s tenure of office.
He has, therefore, urged the delegates to the December 22 congress of the party to judge him by his contribution to the party in addition to his capabilities and give him the mandate to contest the 2008 elections.
Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing members of the Legon Friends of Nana Akufo-Addo (LEFONAA) at the forecourt of the Mensah Sarbah Hall of the University of Ghana.
Hundreds of students converged at the forecourt of the hall amid singing in praise of Nana Akufo-Addo. They also mobbed him when he arrived.
The meeting, which was at the instance of the students, was to offer them the chance to be educated about the vision of the aspirant.
Nana Akufo-Addo said that the NPP had chalked up a lot of successes within the last six years and, therefore, required someone endowed with the democratic credentials of the party to continue with the good works of President Kufuor.
He said he had been tried and tested over the years, and that supporters of the party knew what he was able and capable of doing if given the mandate to lead the party.
The aspirant called on the students to continue to offer him the necessary assistance to enable him to come out as the winner from the December 22 elections.
The students, who took turns to ask questions, encouraged Nana Akufo-Addo not to slacken but continue with his campaign to win the party’s presidential slot.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says he is the most suitable among all the aspirants to hold high the banner of the Danquah-Busia political tradition after President Kufuor’s tenure of office.
He has, therefore, urged the delegates to the December 22 congress of the party to judge him by his contribution to the party in addition to his capabilities and give him the mandate to contest the 2008 elections.
Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing members of the Legon Friends of Nana Akufo-Addo (LEFONAA) at the forecourt of the Mensah Sarbah Hall of the University of Ghana.
Hundreds of students converged at the forecourt of the hall amid singing in praise of Nana Akufo-Addo. They also mobbed him when he arrived.
The meeting, which was at the instance of the students, was to offer them the chance to be educated about the vision of the aspirant.
Nana Akufo-Addo said that the NPP had chalked up a lot of successes within the last six years and, therefore, required someone endowed with the democratic credentials of the party to continue with the good works of President Kufuor.
He said he had been tried and tested over the years, and that supporters of the party knew what he was able and capable of doing if given the mandate to lead the party.
The aspirant called on the students to continue to offer him the necessary assistance to enable him to come out as the winner from the December 22 elections.
The students, who took turns to ask questions, encouraged Nana Akufo-Addo not to slacken but continue with his campaign to win the party’s presidential slot.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
(Barakese Dam project, Govt to pay GH¢4.3 million compensation
Page 16 (Pol), November 16, 2007
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
THE Government is to pay ¢43 billion as compensation to communities which have been affected by the construction of the Barekese dam in the Ashanti Region, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique told Parliament yesterday.
According to him, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning had given an indication to settle the debt within the shortest possible time.
The minister said this in answer to a question by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima-Nwabiagya, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio who had inquired from him when the ministry would pay outstanding compensation to the communities affected by the construction of the Barekese dam.
Alhaji Saddique informed the House that no compensation had been paid to the stools whose lands had been affected by the project.
The minister mentioned the stools as Anwoma, Nkonsuotuano, Sosamo, Asokore, Atene Akotene, Nkwantakese, Maban, Tonto Kokoben, Amisare, Anyinase and Offinso.
He explained that by Executive Instrument 23, which was passed in 2001 and the Ghana Water Company Limited Instrument enacted the same year, the government acquired the lands for the Barekese Water project.
“ Mr Speaker, Land Valuation Board assessed the full compensation as ¢86 billion. In March, 2007 through negotiations, the stools agreed to accept 50 per cent of the amount as full compensation ,” he said.
Alhaji Saddique further explained that based on the arrangement, the ministry had been collaborating with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for the release of ¢43 billion to be paid to the affected stools.
In another development, the MP for Amenfi Central, Mr George Kofi Arthur asked the minister what the ministry was doing to save a number of communities in the constituency whose water sources had been polluted by the activities of Akoti Mines.
Replying, Alhaji Saddique said with the exception of Kyeikrom, which had two boreholes, Ahyiam, Ohenekrom, Samfifere and Tuntum had none.
He said to salvage the situation, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) had budgeted under the 2008 financial estimates to provide each of the communities with a borehole with a handpump at a total cost of ¢60 million each.
“ These projects would be started in February , 2008 for completion in six months,” the minister gave the assurance.
The MP for Techiman South, Mr Simon Addai, asked the minister what the ministry was doing to extend pipe-borne water to newly developed areas within the Techiman municipality.
Responding, the Minister said the water supply scheme for Techiman was based on surface water from the Tano River and supplemented by groundwater.
He added that the treatment plant on the Tano River had a capacity of 990,000 gallons a day and was supplemented with water from three boreholes with a total capacity of 66,000 gallons per day.
“ Mr Speaker, because of the size of the municipality, pipe borne water does not reach most of the newly developed areas,” the minister said.
Alhaji Saddique said as a short term measure to have water extended to such areas, four additional boreholes had been drilled at Takofiano, Oforikrom, Kuntunso and Ketan North, all in the Techiman municipality to produce about 26,400 gallons per day .
The minister said pipelines would be extended to those areas in 2008 at the cost of ¢1 billion and that the project would take off in February 2008.
“ Mr Speaker, in the long term, it is planned to construct an additional treatment plant of 2.3 million gallons per day capacity to meet year 2020 water demand, which will take care of the growing municipality” and stressed that the estimated investment in the plant was about $53.5 million.
He said an American firm, Khafrah Engineering and Consultants (KEC) had expressed interest in the execution of the project which involved the conduction of feasibility studies on the project to enable them to firm up the funding agreement and the technical proposal for GWCL’s review.
The Minister added that another firm, the Kowi Consultant of Korea had also expressed interest in the execution of the project and were yet to firm up their financial proposal.
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
THE Government is to pay ¢43 billion as compensation to communities which have been affected by the construction of the Barekese dam in the Ashanti Region, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique told Parliament yesterday.
According to him, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning had given an indication to settle the debt within the shortest possible time.
The minister said this in answer to a question by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima-Nwabiagya, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio who had inquired from him when the ministry would pay outstanding compensation to the communities affected by the construction of the Barekese dam.
Alhaji Saddique informed the House that no compensation had been paid to the stools whose lands had been affected by the project.
The minister mentioned the stools as Anwoma, Nkonsuotuano, Sosamo, Asokore, Atene Akotene, Nkwantakese, Maban, Tonto Kokoben, Amisare, Anyinase and Offinso.
He explained that by Executive Instrument 23, which was passed in 2001 and the Ghana Water Company Limited Instrument enacted the same year, the government acquired the lands for the Barekese Water project.
“ Mr Speaker, Land Valuation Board assessed the full compensation as ¢86 billion. In March, 2007 through negotiations, the stools agreed to accept 50 per cent of the amount as full compensation ,” he said.
Alhaji Saddique further explained that based on the arrangement, the ministry had been collaborating with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for the release of ¢43 billion to be paid to the affected stools.
In another development, the MP for Amenfi Central, Mr George Kofi Arthur asked the minister what the ministry was doing to save a number of communities in the constituency whose water sources had been polluted by the activities of Akoti Mines.
Replying, Alhaji Saddique said with the exception of Kyeikrom, which had two boreholes, Ahyiam, Ohenekrom, Samfifere and Tuntum had none.
He said to salvage the situation, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) had budgeted under the 2008 financial estimates to provide each of the communities with a borehole with a handpump at a total cost of ¢60 million each.
“ These projects would be started in February , 2008 for completion in six months,” the minister gave the assurance.
The MP for Techiman South, Mr Simon Addai, asked the minister what the ministry was doing to extend pipe-borne water to newly developed areas within the Techiman municipality.
Responding, the Minister said the water supply scheme for Techiman was based on surface water from the Tano River and supplemented by groundwater.
He added that the treatment plant on the Tano River had a capacity of 990,000 gallons a day and was supplemented with water from three boreholes with a total capacity of 66,000 gallons per day.
“ Mr Speaker, because of the size of the municipality, pipe borne water does not reach most of the newly developed areas,” the minister said.
Alhaji Saddique said as a short term measure to have water extended to such areas, four additional boreholes had been drilled at Takofiano, Oforikrom, Kuntunso and Ketan North, all in the Techiman municipality to produce about 26,400 gallons per day .
The minister said pipelines would be extended to those areas in 2008 at the cost of ¢1 billion and that the project would take off in February 2008.
“ Mr Speaker, in the long term, it is planned to construct an additional treatment plant of 2.3 million gallons per day capacity to meet year 2020 water demand, which will take care of the growing municipality” and stressed that the estimated investment in the plant was about $53.5 million.
He said an American firm, Khafrah Engineering and Consultants (KEC) had expressed interest in the execution of the project which involved the conduction of feasibility studies on the project to enable them to firm up the funding agreement and the technical proposal for GWCL’s review.
The Minister added that another firm, the Kowi Consultant of Korea had also expressed interest in the execution of the project and were yet to firm up their financial proposal.
70 Yilo tertiary students offered scholarships
Page 15 (Pol), November 16, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Seventy tertiary students in the Yilo Krobo Constituency of the Eastern Region have been offered scholarships to the tune of GH ¢15,000 (¢150 million).
The scholarships were offered the students by the Member of Parliament (MP) of the area, Mr Raymond Tawiah, from his share of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF).
The MP told the Daily Graphic that since education was key to the country’s development, it was important for all stakeholders to assist brilliant students who were constrained through no fault of theirs to stay in school till they achieved higher academic laurels.
He noted with regret the attitudes of some parents who neglected the education of the children and instead used their resources on less important social ventures.
Mr Tawiah said he had been committed to education since he became the MP for the area through the provision of building material and other forms of assistance from his share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), HIPC and the DACF.
He mentioned the Yilo Krobo Senior High School which had been provided with a sick bay constructed at the cost of GH ¢25,000.00 (¢25 million), while three projects had been started for the Okumka L/A Junior High School (JHS), the R/C JHS at Klo-Agogo and the a kindergarten school at Nsuta.
Mr Tawiah said to boost farming, 100 spraying machines purchased at the cost of GH ¢3,000 (¢30 million) had been distributed to a number of communities while 100 bags of cement, worth GH ¢900 (¢9 million), had been distributed to victims of floods at the Somanya Zongo.
The MP added that 10 communities in the constituency had also benefited from a 20 packet roofing sheet package to assist them to complete their ongoing projects while 50 sets of jerseys and footballs, valued at GH ¢7,000 (¢70 million), had been distributed to a number of football teams in the area.
Mr Tawiah expressed worry about the total neglect of the road network in the Yilo Krobo District, explaining that the entire roads in Somanya had become an eyesore. He mentioned in particular, the road to the District Chief Executive’s residence as one of the deplorable roads.
The MP also complained about the water problem in the area, which he said had reached crisis level, and called for a permanent solution to be found to alleviate the suffering of the people.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Seventy tertiary students in the Yilo Krobo Constituency of the Eastern Region have been offered scholarships to the tune of GH ¢15,000 (¢150 million).
The scholarships were offered the students by the Member of Parliament (MP) of the area, Mr Raymond Tawiah, from his share of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF).
The MP told the Daily Graphic that since education was key to the country’s development, it was important for all stakeholders to assist brilliant students who were constrained through no fault of theirs to stay in school till they achieved higher academic laurels.
He noted with regret the attitudes of some parents who neglected the education of the children and instead used their resources on less important social ventures.
Mr Tawiah said he had been committed to education since he became the MP for the area through the provision of building material and other forms of assistance from his share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), HIPC and the DACF.
He mentioned the Yilo Krobo Senior High School which had been provided with a sick bay constructed at the cost of GH ¢25,000.00 (¢25 million), while three projects had been started for the Okumka L/A Junior High School (JHS), the R/C JHS at Klo-Agogo and the a kindergarten school at Nsuta.
Mr Tawiah said to boost farming, 100 spraying machines purchased at the cost of GH ¢3,000 (¢30 million) had been distributed to a number of communities while 100 bags of cement, worth GH ¢900 (¢9 million), had been distributed to victims of floods at the Somanya Zongo.
The MP added that 10 communities in the constituency had also benefited from a 20 packet roofing sheet package to assist them to complete their ongoing projects while 50 sets of jerseys and footballs, valued at GH ¢7,000 (¢70 million), had been distributed to a number of football teams in the area.
Mr Tawiah expressed worry about the total neglect of the road network in the Yilo Krobo District, explaining that the entire roads in Somanya had become an eyesore. He mentioned in particular, the road to the District Chief Executive’s residence as one of the deplorable roads.
The MP also complained about the water problem in the area, which he said had reached crisis level, and called for a permanent solution to be found to alleviate the suffering of the people.
Mixed reactions from Members of Parliament
Centre Spread, Nov 16, 2007
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE final Economic Policy and Budget of the eight-year rule of President John Agyekum Kufuor, dubbed, “A Brighter Future”, has received mixed reaction from Members of Parliament (MPs).
While the Minority described it as a “piled-up document aimed at deceiving the people”, the Majority said it was one “aimed at consolidating the gains” of the Kufuor administration.
It took the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, nearly two hours to present the budget, amid heckling from some Minority MPs and cheers from those on the Majority side.
In the end, MPs from both sides of the House burst into choruses and showed inscriptions on pieces of paper to portray how they considered the budget.
While the inscription on the pieces of paper held by the Minority MPs read “Obra no aye denden, yerewuo” (to wit, life has become hard, we are dying), that on the Majority side read “The future is bright. NPP is right”.
True to those inscriptions, MPs from the two sides of the House did not depart from the sentiments they expressed when the Daily Graphic spoke to them after the budget presentation.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, said it was unfortunate that the 2008 budget was “a propaganda spin”.
“I expected the budget to focus on awareness creation,” he said, explaining that the majority of Ghanaians did not understand democratic governance.
He stated that efforts should, therefore, be made to enable them to be knowledgeable about the functions of the various arms of government and the district assemblies.
“This will be the surest way of beginning a development agenda that will stand the test of time, instead of the usual propaganda gimmick associated with the budgets of the government,” he said.
Mr Bagbin said it would be sad if the government failed to be committed to the Northern Development Fund that had been announced in the budget.
On education, the Minority Leader called for more attention to be given to the needs of teachers to enable them to give of their best.
The Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, said the budget was “simply a piled document” to deceive the people.
“It has no hope and should be rejected by Ghanaians,” he stated.
The Minority Spokesperson on Energy, Mr Moses Asaga, said the budget could not be described as “A Brighter Future” budget, since it did not reduce the prices of utilities and petroleum products.
“Using the term ‘brighter future’ to describe the budget is an affront to Ghanaians,” he said.
The NDC MP for Asutifi South, Mr Collins Dauda, said he doubted if the government was really committed to some of the programmes and policies announced in the budget.
He said programmes such as the tarring of cocoa roads, a housing scheme for farmers, among others, were mentioned in previous budgets but they could not be implemented.
Alhaji Dauda called for efforts to reduce the importation of rice, saying that “there is no element of bright future in the budget. It is a budget pregnant with hardships for the ordinary Ghanaian”.
But the NPP MP for Asunafo North, Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah, countered the arguments from the Minority, saying that programmes lined up in the budget were laudable.
He mentioned the government’s intention to tar cocoa roads, expand railway lines, especially those in the western corridor, the expansion of water systems in five communities in all districts, the School Feeding Fund and the Northern Development Fund as programmes which would benefit the people.
He stated that the projected seven per cent growth was attainable, while efforts to solve the energy problem once and for all should be pursued with vigour.
The NPP MP for Obuasi, Mr Edward Ennin, said there was no doubt that the Kufuor administration had performed creditably over the last seven years.
“The signs are there for all to see,” he said, adding that macroeconomic stability and other good economic indices had been achieved as a result of prudent economic planning.
Mr Ennin added that the budget would consolidate all the gains and move the country closer towards the objective of achieving a middle-income status.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism and MP for Asuogyaman, Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, said the government had exhibited its capabilities in terms of prudent economic management and wondered why the Minority continued to throw dust onto the eyes of the people.
“Ghanaians are the best judges,” he stated, and added that there was no doubt that the NPP had done well to improve on the battered economy it inherited.
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE final Economic Policy and Budget of the eight-year rule of President John Agyekum Kufuor, dubbed, “A Brighter Future”, has received mixed reaction from Members of Parliament (MPs).
While the Minority described it as a “piled-up document aimed at deceiving the people”, the Majority said it was one “aimed at consolidating the gains” of the Kufuor administration.
It took the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, nearly two hours to present the budget, amid heckling from some Minority MPs and cheers from those on the Majority side.
In the end, MPs from both sides of the House burst into choruses and showed inscriptions on pieces of paper to portray how they considered the budget.
While the inscription on the pieces of paper held by the Minority MPs read “Obra no aye denden, yerewuo” (to wit, life has become hard, we are dying), that on the Majority side read “The future is bright. NPP is right”.
True to those inscriptions, MPs from the two sides of the House did not depart from the sentiments they expressed when the Daily Graphic spoke to them after the budget presentation.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, said it was unfortunate that the 2008 budget was “a propaganda spin”.
“I expected the budget to focus on awareness creation,” he said, explaining that the majority of Ghanaians did not understand democratic governance.
He stated that efforts should, therefore, be made to enable them to be knowledgeable about the functions of the various arms of government and the district assemblies.
“This will be the surest way of beginning a development agenda that will stand the test of time, instead of the usual propaganda gimmick associated with the budgets of the government,” he said.
Mr Bagbin said it would be sad if the government failed to be committed to the Northern Development Fund that had been announced in the budget.
On education, the Minority Leader called for more attention to be given to the needs of teachers to enable them to give of their best.
The Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, said the budget was “simply a piled document” to deceive the people.
“It has no hope and should be rejected by Ghanaians,” he stated.
The Minority Spokesperson on Energy, Mr Moses Asaga, said the budget could not be described as “A Brighter Future” budget, since it did not reduce the prices of utilities and petroleum products.
“Using the term ‘brighter future’ to describe the budget is an affront to Ghanaians,” he said.
The NDC MP for Asutifi South, Mr Collins Dauda, said he doubted if the government was really committed to some of the programmes and policies announced in the budget.
He said programmes such as the tarring of cocoa roads, a housing scheme for farmers, among others, were mentioned in previous budgets but they could not be implemented.
Alhaji Dauda called for efforts to reduce the importation of rice, saying that “there is no element of bright future in the budget. It is a budget pregnant with hardships for the ordinary Ghanaian”.
But the NPP MP for Asunafo North, Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah, countered the arguments from the Minority, saying that programmes lined up in the budget were laudable.
He mentioned the government’s intention to tar cocoa roads, expand railway lines, especially those in the western corridor, the expansion of water systems in five communities in all districts, the School Feeding Fund and the Northern Development Fund as programmes which would benefit the people.
He stated that the projected seven per cent growth was attainable, while efforts to solve the energy problem once and for all should be pursued with vigour.
The NPP MP for Obuasi, Mr Edward Ennin, said there was no doubt that the Kufuor administration had performed creditably over the last seven years.
“The signs are there for all to see,” he said, adding that macroeconomic stability and other good economic indices had been achieved as a result of prudent economic planning.
Mr Ennin added that the budget would consolidate all the gains and move the country closer towards the objective of achieving a middle-income status.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism and MP for Asuogyaman, Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, said the government had exhibited its capabilities in terms of prudent economic management and wondered why the Minority continued to throw dust onto the eyes of the people.
“Ghanaians are the best judges,” he stated, and added that there was no doubt that the NPP had done well to improve on the battered economy it inherited.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Ministry, other collaborate on forced marriages
Page 14 (Pol), November 15, 2007
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
THE Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is collaborating with the country’s law enforcement agencies to take measures to ensure the enforcement of laws relating to forced or early marriages, the sector Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, told Parliament on Tuesday.
“ The Ministry will continue to promote initiatives for co-operation and collaboration of all sectors and stakeholdrs , especially the Ghana Education Service, Department of Social Welfare, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Units, district assemblies, NGOs, traditional authorities and community based organisations to ensure that our girls are protected from early, forced marriages,” she said.
Hajia Mahama, who was responding to a question from the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Dr Kwame Ampofo, explained that sustained education on such matters alongside education on legislation would in the long run help to curb the problem of forced and under age marriages.
Dr Ampofo enquired from the minister the steps that her ministry had taken to put a stop to forced marriages of girls, especially those under age and in school.
According to Hajia Mahama, section 14 of the Children’s Act 1998, Act 560 states that “ No person shall force a child to be bethroted, subject of dowry transaction or married.
“ The sanction for contravening this provision is summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five million cedis, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or both,” she said.
The Minister further explained that the ministry ensured that such information as contained in the Children’s Act and the Criminal Code Amendment Act, as well as the Principles of the 1992 Constitution , Chapter 28 of the Rights and Welfare of the Child, formed the basis of its advocacy, strategies, as with other policies and legislation on Child Rights.
“ Furthermore, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education , Ghana Education Service , UNICEF, World Food Programme and Civil Society Organisations, girl child friendly programmes which promote girl child education are implemented,” she said.
The minister mentioned some of the measures as the sensitisation programmes in the districts and communities on government policies and activities for increased school enrolment and regular briefings of parents and community members on the value of girl child education as against forced and early marriage.
She added that currently, 100 Community Child Protection teams had been established in the regions through which communities and parents had been sensitised to child rights issues and sometimes offenders were apprehended.
“ The promotion of girl-child education at all levels has ensured the enrolment and retention of girls in school and Ghana has achieved gender parity index of 0.97 enrolment at the basic school level,” Hajia Mahama said.
She gave the assurance that there was now an enhanced enabling environment with the passage of legislations on child protection, and with the vibrant NGO, Civil Society and the media monitoring and reporting on child abuses, and demanding appropriate responses.
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
THE Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is collaborating with the country’s law enforcement agencies to take measures to ensure the enforcement of laws relating to forced or early marriages, the sector Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, told Parliament on Tuesday.
“ The Ministry will continue to promote initiatives for co-operation and collaboration of all sectors and stakeholdrs , especially the Ghana Education Service, Department of Social Welfare, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Units, district assemblies, NGOs, traditional authorities and community based organisations to ensure that our girls are protected from early, forced marriages,” she said.
Hajia Mahama, who was responding to a question from the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Dr Kwame Ampofo, explained that sustained education on such matters alongside education on legislation would in the long run help to curb the problem of forced and under age marriages.
Dr Ampofo enquired from the minister the steps that her ministry had taken to put a stop to forced marriages of girls, especially those under age and in school.
According to Hajia Mahama, section 14 of the Children’s Act 1998, Act 560 states that “ No person shall force a child to be bethroted, subject of dowry transaction or married.
“ The sanction for contravening this provision is summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five million cedis, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or both,” she said.
The Minister further explained that the ministry ensured that such information as contained in the Children’s Act and the Criminal Code Amendment Act, as well as the Principles of the 1992 Constitution , Chapter 28 of the Rights and Welfare of the Child, formed the basis of its advocacy, strategies, as with other policies and legislation on Child Rights.
“ Furthermore, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education , Ghana Education Service , UNICEF, World Food Programme and Civil Society Organisations, girl child friendly programmes which promote girl child education are implemented,” she said.
The minister mentioned some of the measures as the sensitisation programmes in the districts and communities on government policies and activities for increased school enrolment and regular briefings of parents and community members on the value of girl child education as against forced and early marriage.
She added that currently, 100 Community Child Protection teams had been established in the regions through which communities and parents had been sensitised to child rights issues and sometimes offenders were apprehended.
“ The promotion of girl-child education at all levels has ensured the enrolment and retention of girls in school and Ghana has achieved gender parity index of 0.97 enrolment at the basic school level,” Hajia Mahama said.
She gave the assurance that there was now an enhanced enabling environment with the passage of legislations on child protection, and with the vibrant NGO, Civil Society and the media monitoring and reporting on child abuses, and demanding appropriate responses.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu appointed minister of state
Page 13 (Pol), November 15, 2007
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
PRESIDENT John Agyekum Kufuor has nominated the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, as a Minister of State.
His nomination, according to the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, has been referred to the Appointments Committee for consideration.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was born on February 3, 1957 at Breman Afrancho in the Ashanti Region and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Planning at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1992.
In 1996, he contested on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the parliamentary election and won the Suame seat to represent his constituents in Parliament.
He has since 1997 held the positions of Majority Chief Whip and Deputy Majority leader in Parliament.
In another development, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mrs Dr Gladys Ashitey, has said currently there are no funds for the upgrading of the Kadjebi Health Centre in the Volta Region to a district hospital.
The minister, who was responding to a question from the MP for Akan, Mr Kwadwo Gyapong, however, said the centre would be upgraded as soon as funds were available.
The MP enquired from the minister what plans the ministry had to upgrade the Kadjebi Health Centre to a district hospital.
Dr Mrs Ashitey said in line with the Central Government policy for providing every district with a well-equipped hospital, the ministry of health had developed a plan to implement that policy.
She said availability of funds would determine the speed with which the plan would be realised to ensure that each district had a good referral hospital.
When it was the turn of the MP for Sefwi Akontonbra, Mr Herod Cobbina, he asked the deputy minister why construction works on the Nsawora-Edumafua Health Centre in his constituency had been suspended.
Dr Mrs Ashitey explained that the construction of the centre had to be suspended because it was realised that the scope of work had to be reviewed to make the project more responsive to the growing demands of the community.
She said this had led to the increase of the cost of the project from ¢2,425,305 to ¢4,048,322 adding that the ministry had made provision in the 2008 budget for the completion of the project.
Answering another question by Mr Cobbina who wanted to ascertain when the Sefwi Wiawso Heath Training School would be considered for infrastructure development, Dr Mrs Ashitey said the construction of classroom and hostel blocks for the school was expected to begin early next year.
The MP for Karaga, Mr Iddrisu Dawuda, also asked the minister when the Karaga District Health Centre would be provided with an ambulance to cater for the communities in its catchment area.
Replying, Mrs Ashitey said the Ministry of Health, through its agencies like the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), had the responsibility for providing ambulance coverage to the people.
“The NAS was established in 2004 as one of the agencies of the ministry with the responsibility for providing Pre-hospital Care to the sick and wounded and convey them to a health facility for treatment,” she said.
The minister said the NAS moved into full-scale operations in 2006, stressing that with the scaling up of ambulance stations from seven in three regions to 19 in five regions, the effect of the services of the NAS in the health delivery system had become more prominent.
She added that 91 new ambulances were procured to provide ambulance coverage and other emergency services in the country .
“By the end of the year, all the regional capitals would have ambulance stations with ambulances. Next year, the government plans to procure more ambulances to initiate the expansion process to the district capitals,” the minister said.
Dr Mrs Ashitey said with reference to Karaga, the district would be considered during the expansion phase, which would cover a three-year period, beginning next year.
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
PRESIDENT John Agyekum Kufuor has nominated the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, as a Minister of State.
His nomination, according to the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, has been referred to the Appointments Committee for consideration.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was born on February 3, 1957 at Breman Afrancho in the Ashanti Region and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Planning at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1992.
In 1996, he contested on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the parliamentary election and won the Suame seat to represent his constituents in Parliament.
He has since 1997 held the positions of Majority Chief Whip and Deputy Majority leader in Parliament.
In another development, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mrs Dr Gladys Ashitey, has said currently there are no funds for the upgrading of the Kadjebi Health Centre in the Volta Region to a district hospital.
The minister, who was responding to a question from the MP for Akan, Mr Kwadwo Gyapong, however, said the centre would be upgraded as soon as funds were available.
The MP enquired from the minister what plans the ministry had to upgrade the Kadjebi Health Centre to a district hospital.
Dr Mrs Ashitey said in line with the Central Government policy for providing every district with a well-equipped hospital, the ministry of health had developed a plan to implement that policy.
She said availability of funds would determine the speed with which the plan would be realised to ensure that each district had a good referral hospital.
When it was the turn of the MP for Sefwi Akontonbra, Mr Herod Cobbina, he asked the deputy minister why construction works on the Nsawora-Edumafua Health Centre in his constituency had been suspended.
Dr Mrs Ashitey explained that the construction of the centre had to be suspended because it was realised that the scope of work had to be reviewed to make the project more responsive to the growing demands of the community.
She said this had led to the increase of the cost of the project from ¢2,425,305 to ¢4,048,322 adding that the ministry had made provision in the 2008 budget for the completion of the project.
Answering another question by Mr Cobbina who wanted to ascertain when the Sefwi Wiawso Heath Training School would be considered for infrastructure development, Dr Mrs Ashitey said the construction of classroom and hostel blocks for the school was expected to begin early next year.
The MP for Karaga, Mr Iddrisu Dawuda, also asked the minister when the Karaga District Health Centre would be provided with an ambulance to cater for the communities in its catchment area.
Replying, Mrs Ashitey said the Ministry of Health, through its agencies like the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), had the responsibility for providing ambulance coverage to the people.
“The NAS was established in 2004 as one of the agencies of the ministry with the responsibility for providing Pre-hospital Care to the sick and wounded and convey them to a health facility for treatment,” she said.
The minister said the NAS moved into full-scale operations in 2006, stressing that with the scaling up of ambulance stations from seven in three regions to 19 in five regions, the effect of the services of the NAS in the health delivery system had become more prominent.
She added that 91 new ambulances were procured to provide ambulance coverage and other emergency services in the country .
“By the end of the year, all the regional capitals would have ambulance stations with ambulances. Next year, the government plans to procure more ambulances to initiate the expansion process to the district capitals,” the minister said.
Dr Mrs Ashitey said with reference to Karaga, the district would be considered during the expansion phase, which would cover a three-year period, beginning next year.
Templers flare in Parliament
Page 13 (Pol), November 15, 2007
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Contributions to a statement made on the floor of Parliament yesterday on the challenges facing the Audit Service raised tempers resulting in hot arguments between the Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper West Akim, Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah, and the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh.
While Mr Aidooh insisted that Mr Sallas-Mensah had no authority to direct the Audit Service to conduct auditing on the activities of the Bank of Ghana, the latter said that he had authority as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to do so.
The statement on the floor was made by Mr Sallas-Mensah.
Contributing to the statement, Mr Aidooh said he had learnt from the press that Mr Sallas-Mensah had ordered that the Audit Service should audit the accounts of the Bank of Ghana in respect of the amount it spent on the re-denomination exercise.
“Mr Speaker, I repeat that Mr Sallas-Mensah has no mandate to do so,” he said, adding that it was important for the Audit Service to always do an independent work without succumbing to pressures from any quarters.
It took the diplomacy of the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, to end contributions to the statement in order to cool tempers.
Presenting the statement earlier, Mr Sallas-Mensah said there was low morale among staff of the Audit Service due to low salary levels and that there was labour agitation, which could lead to industrial action if the situation was not properly handled.
He explained that the service had been unable to audit all the entities required under the laws of the country, while training had not been organised regularly to keep operational staff informed about modern and emerging methodologies in auditing.
Mr Sallas-Mensah, therefore, appealed to both the Executive and the Legislature to ensure that the service was allocated enough funds to enable the staff to prepare adequately to render efficient service to the country.
Other contributors to the statement agreed that the Audit Service was crucial to the fight against corruption in the country and called for more resources to be allocated to the service.
In another development, the MP for Odododiodio, Mr Jonathan Tackie-Komme, in a statement recommended the amendment of Act 478 to ensure the increase of the minimum foreign capital equity from the present $300,000 to $1 million.
He said sections of the Act explicitly reserved trading in the markets for indigenous Ghanaians and by extension banned foreigners from engaging in any trading whatsoever in the markets.
“But sadly, the truth is that foreigners are flouting this law by day with despicable impunity,” he stated.
“I wish to appeal that we should never look on unconcerned while our brothers and sisters are being thrown out of business. Let us remind the government of her obligation to ensure the security of businesses of her own citizens,” he said.
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Contributions to a statement made on the floor of Parliament yesterday on the challenges facing the Audit Service raised tempers resulting in hot arguments between the Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper West Akim, Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah, and the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh.
While Mr Aidooh insisted that Mr Sallas-Mensah had no authority to direct the Audit Service to conduct auditing on the activities of the Bank of Ghana, the latter said that he had authority as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to do so.
The statement on the floor was made by Mr Sallas-Mensah.
Contributing to the statement, Mr Aidooh said he had learnt from the press that Mr Sallas-Mensah had ordered that the Audit Service should audit the accounts of the Bank of Ghana in respect of the amount it spent on the re-denomination exercise.
“Mr Speaker, I repeat that Mr Sallas-Mensah has no mandate to do so,” he said, adding that it was important for the Audit Service to always do an independent work without succumbing to pressures from any quarters.
It took the diplomacy of the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, to end contributions to the statement in order to cool tempers.
Presenting the statement earlier, Mr Sallas-Mensah said there was low morale among staff of the Audit Service due to low salary levels and that there was labour agitation, which could lead to industrial action if the situation was not properly handled.
He explained that the service had been unable to audit all the entities required under the laws of the country, while training had not been organised regularly to keep operational staff informed about modern and emerging methodologies in auditing.
Mr Sallas-Mensah, therefore, appealed to both the Executive and the Legislature to ensure that the service was allocated enough funds to enable the staff to prepare adequately to render efficient service to the country.
Other contributors to the statement agreed that the Audit Service was crucial to the fight against corruption in the country and called for more resources to be allocated to the service.
In another development, the MP for Odododiodio, Mr Jonathan Tackie-Komme, in a statement recommended the amendment of Act 478 to ensure the increase of the minimum foreign capital equity from the present $300,000 to $1 million.
He said sections of the Act explicitly reserved trading in the markets for indigenous Ghanaians and by extension banned foreigners from engaging in any trading whatsoever in the markets.
“But sadly, the truth is that foreigners are flouting this law by day with despicable impunity,” he stated.
“I wish to appeal that we should never look on unconcerned while our brothers and sisters are being thrown out of business. Let us remind the government of her obligation to ensure the security of businesses of her own citizens,” he said.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
NKORANZA CASHEW FARMERS CALL FOR INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
Page 9 (features), Nov 13, 2007
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE cashew tree is said to be an air purifier. It does so by reducing the carbon concentration in the atmosphere. It contains two per cent vegetable protein, which is comparable to soya beans, groundnuts, beef and chicken. The kennels have an even higher percentage of unsaturated fatty acids while its apple is also rich in Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron.
It is, therefore understandable that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has listed cashew among the crops to be supported, not only for wealth creation and poverty alleviation but also for improving the nutritional well-being of the people of Ghana.
This is what the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Ernest Akubuor Debrah, stated in his keynote address at the opening of the National Cashew Week Celebration in Accra early this year.
The minister also stated that to hasten the growth of the Cashew Industry, his ministry through the Cashew Development project, had packaged some strategies that would enhance extension delivery to farmers and processors.
Sadly enough, these “strategic packages”, including provision of improved planting material, the development and distribution of bulletins on improved crop technologies and good horticultural practices to assist farmers improve on yields and quality nuts, credit schemes and well structured programmes for capacity building of key players in the cashew industry, have not reached the poor Cashew farmers of Nkoranza.
The infamous bush fires of the middle 1980s, which affected the cocoa industry, coupled with the tumbling world market prices, compelled the government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to begin attractive promotions of alternative cash crops to farmers.
That is how the cashew farming fever came to catch up with farmers in Nkoranza with great expectations. And were it not for this prompt response to the call, lands located in the transition zone between the forested south and the savannah north of the Brong Ahafo Region would have been without cover.
The response was also the farmer’s immense contribution towards salvaging the devastated environment, as it was a way of reforestation.
What the ministry said in promoting the cashew industry then, and what it is promising farmers today are all a mirage.
Now the Nkoranza cashew farmers are hard hit and disappointed by the situation where the total lack of state support in terms of extension service and price regulation seem to bring the farmers’ labour to a venture of little returns.
The interplay of poor planting materials, poor horticultural practices and poor disease/ pest control results in poor yields in terms of quality and quantity, thus attracting give-away prices from foreign buying companies which callously dictate the price, without providing basic marketing inputs like jute sacks. One such foreign buying company is Romo Cashew Company Limited, of Indian origin.
Out of desperation the Association of Nkoranza Cashew Farmers was compelled to apply to the BUSAC Fund to enable them advocate a more concrete statal technical support and price regulation.
Mr Idris Wiredu, the Executive Director of Network for Advocacy and Development Alternatives (NADA), the service provider that the association hired for the BUSAC funded advocacy action, told this writer after he had visited some farmers on their farms that he was highly impressed with the hard work of the farmers in spite of their constraints.
One farmer, popularly called Obaa Yaa, who owns over 100 acres told Mr Wiredu that her source of planting material was her own farm, and that she learnt how to do pruning by watching it done on TV on cocoa farms.
Nana Osei Kwadwo, the chairman of the association and a regional award winner for cashew farming, also told a similar story. His farm needs urgent pruning .
Mr Wiredu said when he spoke with the Nkoranza Deputy District Director of MOFA, Mr B.B. Kudor, he cited the inadequate field staff situation as one of the reasons for their inability to help farmers.
The performance of the cashew industry in the agricultural sector was debunked, in April this year, by the then Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and Presidential Special Initiatives, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, at the National Cashew Week Celebration in Accra on the theme: “Cashing in on Cashew”. He said that Ghana’s production levels currently were a “sell-out” while the potential remained huge.
Ghana could derive a lot from the cashew industry if cashew farmers are given a better deal like their counterparts in the cocoa industry. We cannot continue to depend solely on cocoa and the earlier something was done to enable the country cash in on cashew, the better.
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE cashew tree is said to be an air purifier. It does so by reducing the carbon concentration in the atmosphere. It contains two per cent vegetable protein, which is comparable to soya beans, groundnuts, beef and chicken. The kennels have an even higher percentage of unsaturated fatty acids while its apple is also rich in Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron.
It is, therefore understandable that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has listed cashew among the crops to be supported, not only for wealth creation and poverty alleviation but also for improving the nutritional well-being of the people of Ghana.
This is what the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Ernest Akubuor Debrah, stated in his keynote address at the opening of the National Cashew Week Celebration in Accra early this year.
The minister also stated that to hasten the growth of the Cashew Industry, his ministry through the Cashew Development project, had packaged some strategies that would enhance extension delivery to farmers and processors.
Sadly enough, these “strategic packages”, including provision of improved planting material, the development and distribution of bulletins on improved crop technologies and good horticultural practices to assist farmers improve on yields and quality nuts, credit schemes and well structured programmes for capacity building of key players in the cashew industry, have not reached the poor Cashew farmers of Nkoranza.
The infamous bush fires of the middle 1980s, which affected the cocoa industry, coupled with the tumbling world market prices, compelled the government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to begin attractive promotions of alternative cash crops to farmers.
That is how the cashew farming fever came to catch up with farmers in Nkoranza with great expectations. And were it not for this prompt response to the call, lands located in the transition zone between the forested south and the savannah north of the Brong Ahafo Region would have been without cover.
The response was also the farmer’s immense contribution towards salvaging the devastated environment, as it was a way of reforestation.
What the ministry said in promoting the cashew industry then, and what it is promising farmers today are all a mirage.
Now the Nkoranza cashew farmers are hard hit and disappointed by the situation where the total lack of state support in terms of extension service and price regulation seem to bring the farmers’ labour to a venture of little returns.
The interplay of poor planting materials, poor horticultural practices and poor disease/ pest control results in poor yields in terms of quality and quantity, thus attracting give-away prices from foreign buying companies which callously dictate the price, without providing basic marketing inputs like jute sacks. One such foreign buying company is Romo Cashew Company Limited, of Indian origin.
Out of desperation the Association of Nkoranza Cashew Farmers was compelled to apply to the BUSAC Fund to enable them advocate a more concrete statal technical support and price regulation.
Mr Idris Wiredu, the Executive Director of Network for Advocacy and Development Alternatives (NADA), the service provider that the association hired for the BUSAC funded advocacy action, told this writer after he had visited some farmers on their farms that he was highly impressed with the hard work of the farmers in spite of their constraints.
One farmer, popularly called Obaa Yaa, who owns over 100 acres told Mr Wiredu that her source of planting material was her own farm, and that she learnt how to do pruning by watching it done on TV on cocoa farms.
Nana Osei Kwadwo, the chairman of the association and a regional award winner for cashew farming, also told a similar story. His farm needs urgent pruning .
Mr Wiredu said when he spoke with the Nkoranza Deputy District Director of MOFA, Mr B.B. Kudor, he cited the inadequate field staff situation as one of the reasons for their inability to help farmers.
The performance of the cashew industry in the agricultural sector was debunked, in April this year, by the then Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and Presidential Special Initiatives, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, at the National Cashew Week Celebration in Accra on the theme: “Cashing in on Cashew”. He said that Ghana’s production levels currently were a “sell-out” while the potential remained huge.
Ghana could derive a lot from the cashew industry if cashew farmers are given a better deal like their counterparts in the cocoa industry. We cannot continue to depend solely on cocoa and the earlier something was done to enable the country cash in on cashew, the better.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Cocoa, foodstuffs locked up in Suaman Contituency
Page 13 (pol), Nov 12, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Over 1,000 tonnes of cocoa and foodstuffs are locked up in the Torya area of the Suaman Constituency in the Western Region as a result of the break down of a bridge which spans the Torya River on the Torya Junction-Akoskrom feeder road.
The Member of Parliament for Suaman, Mr M.E.K. Ackah, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic said that if nothing was done, the over 1,000 tonnes of cocoa would get spoilt and plunge the Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) and farmers into debt.
“I call on the Department of Feeder Roads to take immediate steps to repair the bridge to facilitate the transportation of goods in the area”.
Mr Ackah said although he had made several appeals about the generally poor condition of roads in the area to the various road sector agencies, they had failed to respond favourably.
He said currently the already bad nature of the 50-kilometre Enchi-Dadieso road had worsen due to the recent incessant rains that hit the area.
Mr Ackah added that deep pot holes had developed at various spots on the road, making it difficult for cars, particularly, small ones to use the road, which is very vital for the evacuation of cocoa from the area to the Takoradi Port.
He suggested that the Mobile Emergency Unit of the Ghana Highway Authority be immediately deployed to work on the road so that the area would not be cut off from the rest of country.
Mr Ackah expressed the hope that his appeal would be heard this time to save the people in the area from their current plight.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Over 1,000 tonnes of cocoa and foodstuffs are locked up in the Torya area of the Suaman Constituency in the Western Region as a result of the break down of a bridge which spans the Torya River on the Torya Junction-Akoskrom feeder road.
The Member of Parliament for Suaman, Mr M.E.K. Ackah, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic said that if nothing was done, the over 1,000 tonnes of cocoa would get spoilt and plunge the Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) and farmers into debt.
“I call on the Department of Feeder Roads to take immediate steps to repair the bridge to facilitate the transportation of goods in the area”.
Mr Ackah said although he had made several appeals about the generally poor condition of roads in the area to the various road sector agencies, they had failed to respond favourably.
He said currently the already bad nature of the 50-kilometre Enchi-Dadieso road had worsen due to the recent incessant rains that hit the area.
Mr Ackah added that deep pot holes had developed at various spots on the road, making it difficult for cars, particularly, small ones to use the road, which is very vital for the evacuation of cocoa from the area to the Takoradi Port.
He suggested that the Mobile Emergency Unit of the Ghana Highway Authority be immediately deployed to work on the road so that the area would not be cut off from the rest of country.
Mr Ackah expressed the hope that his appeal would be heard this time to save the people in the area from their current plight.
Breast screening for women in Parliament
Page 14 (pol), Nov 12, 2007
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
SCORES of women on Thursday thronged the Parliament House to have their breasts screened as part of measures put in place by the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus to minimise the spread of breast cancer.
The beneficiaries included female MPs and spouses of staff of the Parliamentary Service, among others.
The disease has become one of the major causes of death among women and efforts are being made by the various organisations to curb it.
According to experts, over 400 new cases of the disease are diagnosed at the Breast Cancer Clinic of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital every year.
The Oncology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital also recorded a total of 462 cases of different types of cancer last year.
The caucus, therefore, held a workshop on the theme: “Be breast cancer aware and not breast cancer scared” after the screening exercise to educate the women about the disease.
In his address, the wife of the Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Betty Sekyi Hughes, called on women to change their perception about breast cancer because the disease was curable.
“What we need to do is to regularly have our breasts examined so that if even we have the disease it would be detected early for treatment”, she advised.
For his part, the Second Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, commended the Women Caucus for their foresight and acknowledged that with such unity of purpose, the spread of the disease would be minimised.
“The Women Caucus has shown that politics is not only about votes. It is meant for development”, he said in appreciation of the unity between the Majority and Minority women Members of Parliament (MPs) towards fighting the disease.
The acting chairperson of the caucus, Mrs Gifty Kusi, said the caucus had been on the forefront of issues that would enhance the development of women over the years.
“Our action is part of our general commitment towards the welfare of women in the country”, she stated.
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
SCORES of women on Thursday thronged the Parliament House to have their breasts screened as part of measures put in place by the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus to minimise the spread of breast cancer.
The beneficiaries included female MPs and spouses of staff of the Parliamentary Service, among others.
The disease has become one of the major causes of death among women and efforts are being made by the various organisations to curb it.
According to experts, over 400 new cases of the disease are diagnosed at the Breast Cancer Clinic of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital every year.
The Oncology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital also recorded a total of 462 cases of different types of cancer last year.
The caucus, therefore, held a workshop on the theme: “Be breast cancer aware and not breast cancer scared” after the screening exercise to educate the women about the disease.
In his address, the wife of the Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Betty Sekyi Hughes, called on women to change their perception about breast cancer because the disease was curable.
“What we need to do is to regularly have our breasts examined so that if even we have the disease it would be detected early for treatment”, she advised.
For his part, the Second Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, commended the Women Caucus for their foresight and acknowledged that with such unity of purpose, the spread of the disease would be minimised.
“The Women Caucus has shown that politics is not only about votes. It is meant for development”, he said in appreciation of the unity between the Majority and Minority women Members of Parliament (MPs) towards fighting the disease.
The acting chairperson of the caucus, Mrs Gifty Kusi, said the caucus had been on the forefront of issues that would enhance the development of women over the years.
“Our action is part of our general commitment towards the welfare of women in the country”, she stated.
PAC to order special audit
Middle page (Pg 20), November 12, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Audit amount spent on re-denomination - PAC
THE Public Accounts Committee of Parliament will order the Auditor-General to do a special auditing on the amount used by the Bank of Ghana (BOG) for the re-denomination exercise.
This follows the announcement by the Governor of the bank, Mr Paul Acquah, that $66.2 million — about GH¢62.188 million (¢621.88 billion) was used for the re-denomination exercise.
The amount used for the exercise was a subject of controversy in Parliament in May, this year, when some members of the Minority filed a motion requesting the governor to disclose how much was being spent on the exercise.
The Chairman of the PAC, Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah told the Daily Graphic that even though the request was made before July, 2007 when the new denominations came into circulation, Mr Acquah, failed to respond to the request of the House.
He said it was unfortunate that the Governor failed to furnish Parliament with the information but rather gave it to the media after the exercise had been completed.
Mr Sallas-Mensah added that the PAC would, therefore seek for a special auditing to be done because “the exercise was special”.
It is also important for Ghanaians to know the source of the amount spent for the exercise, he stated.
“We also want to ascertain whether officials of the bank acted appropriately under the Financial Administration Act, the Financial Administration Regulation or whether they conformed to the Procurement Act”.
Mr Sallas-Mensah said Parliament has the right to know how state institutions spend funds belong to the state.
“Since we are the representatives of the people, it is our right to know how the taxpayers’ money is spent by institutions of the state”, he said.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Audit amount spent on re-denomination - PAC
THE Public Accounts Committee of Parliament will order the Auditor-General to do a special auditing on the amount used by the Bank of Ghana (BOG) for the re-denomination exercise.
This follows the announcement by the Governor of the bank, Mr Paul Acquah, that $66.2 million — about GH¢62.188 million (¢621.88 billion) was used for the re-denomination exercise.
The amount used for the exercise was a subject of controversy in Parliament in May, this year, when some members of the Minority filed a motion requesting the governor to disclose how much was being spent on the exercise.
The Chairman of the PAC, Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah told the Daily Graphic that even though the request was made before July, 2007 when the new denominations came into circulation, Mr Acquah, failed to respond to the request of the House.
He said it was unfortunate that the Governor failed to furnish Parliament with the information but rather gave it to the media after the exercise had been completed.
Mr Sallas-Mensah added that the PAC would, therefore seek for a special auditing to be done because “the exercise was special”.
It is also important for Ghanaians to know the source of the amount spent for the exercise, he stated.
“We also want to ascertain whether officials of the bank acted appropriately under the Financial Administration Act, the Financial Administration Regulation or whether they conformed to the Procurement Act”.
Mr Sallas-Mensah said Parliament has the right to know how state institutions spend funds belong to the state.
“Since we are the representatives of the people, it is our right to know how the taxpayers’ money is spent by institutions of the state”, he said.
Curfew on Anloga, Keta reviewed
Page 3, November 10, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ministry of the Interior has reviewed the curfew imposed on the Anloga and Keta areas as a result of the disturbances that erupted in the Anlo Traditional Area last week.
The dusk-to-down curfew, which was running from 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m., has now been reviewed to run from 8.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. every day and will now cover only Anloga and its immediate environs, including Tegbi, Woe, Whuti and Atorkor.
“Keta is no more covered by the curfew,” Mr Kwamena Bartels, the Minister of the Interior, who announced this in Parliament yesterday, said, adding that the action was “in fulfilment of my responsibility under Section 4 (3) of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491)”.
The section states thus: “No curfew shall be imposed for a period exceeding seven days at any one time under this act.”
The curfew that was imposed on November 2, 2007 came to an end at 12 midnight last Thursday.
He said even though no unusual incidents had occurred in the area since the imposition of the curfew, the situation continued to be potentially volatile.
The minister stated that the police and military presence in Anloga and Keta “shall, however, be maintained to ensure law and order and to consolidate the current calm that is prevailing in the area, while we continue to monitor the situation closely”.
Mr Bartels said the ban on the possession of arms and ammunition in the Keta and Anloga areas still remained in force and took the opportunity to appeal to all traditional and opinion leaders and citizens of the Anlo Traditional Area to support the government in its efforts to ensure peace, security, law and order in the area.
“Let me appeal particularly to the press to exercise circumspection in reporting issues arising out of the explosion of violence in Anlo,” he said.
He stated that issues of chieftaincy were very sensitive, emotive and explosive, saying that the role of the press was very important in determining whether peace and tranquillity returned or whether another explosion would occur.
The minister asked the media to let the lesson from the role played by a particular radio station in inciting the genocide in Rwanda serve as their guide.
“The government would like to urge all parties to settle the issue of who is the rightful heir to the Anlo Paramount Stool through the constitutionally recognised structures of the Regional and National Houses of Chiefs or the courts,” he noted.
Mr Bartels reiterated the government’s position not to interfere in chieftaincy affairs but added that “it will take all necessary steps to ensure that law and order prevail throughout the country”.
Contributing to the statement, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo, Mr Clement Humado, thanked the government for reducing the curfew hours and expressed the hope that the curfew itself would eventually be lifted.
“I am happy that Keta has been excluded from the curfew,” he said, adding that the situation in the Anlo Traditional Area was gradually improving, although the people had adopted a wait-and-see attitude.
Mr Humado informed the House that a faction in the dispute intended to meet next Tuesday at Keta and called for measures to halt that meeting, which was likely to spark off another violence.
He said he had been in constant touch with the district chief executive for the area and explained that the cost of maintaining the peacekeepers in the area was enormous. He appealed to the government to assist the assembly to face that challenge.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ministry of the Interior has reviewed the curfew imposed on the Anloga and Keta areas as a result of the disturbances that erupted in the Anlo Traditional Area last week.
The dusk-to-down curfew, which was running from 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m., has now been reviewed to run from 8.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. every day and will now cover only Anloga and its immediate environs, including Tegbi, Woe, Whuti and Atorkor.
“Keta is no more covered by the curfew,” Mr Kwamena Bartels, the Minister of the Interior, who announced this in Parliament yesterday, said, adding that the action was “in fulfilment of my responsibility under Section 4 (3) of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491)”.
The section states thus: “No curfew shall be imposed for a period exceeding seven days at any one time under this act.”
The curfew that was imposed on November 2, 2007 came to an end at 12 midnight last Thursday.
He said even though no unusual incidents had occurred in the area since the imposition of the curfew, the situation continued to be potentially volatile.
The minister stated that the police and military presence in Anloga and Keta “shall, however, be maintained to ensure law and order and to consolidate the current calm that is prevailing in the area, while we continue to monitor the situation closely”.
Mr Bartels said the ban on the possession of arms and ammunition in the Keta and Anloga areas still remained in force and took the opportunity to appeal to all traditional and opinion leaders and citizens of the Anlo Traditional Area to support the government in its efforts to ensure peace, security, law and order in the area.
“Let me appeal particularly to the press to exercise circumspection in reporting issues arising out of the explosion of violence in Anlo,” he said.
He stated that issues of chieftaincy were very sensitive, emotive and explosive, saying that the role of the press was very important in determining whether peace and tranquillity returned or whether another explosion would occur.
The minister asked the media to let the lesson from the role played by a particular radio station in inciting the genocide in Rwanda serve as their guide.
“The government would like to urge all parties to settle the issue of who is the rightful heir to the Anlo Paramount Stool through the constitutionally recognised structures of the Regional and National Houses of Chiefs or the courts,” he noted.
Mr Bartels reiterated the government’s position not to interfere in chieftaincy affairs but added that “it will take all necessary steps to ensure that law and order prevail throughout the country”.
Contributing to the statement, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo, Mr Clement Humado, thanked the government for reducing the curfew hours and expressed the hope that the curfew itself would eventually be lifted.
“I am happy that Keta has been excluded from the curfew,” he said, adding that the situation in the Anlo Traditional Area was gradually improving, although the people had adopted a wait-and-see attitude.
Mr Humado informed the House that a faction in the dispute intended to meet next Tuesday at Keta and called for measures to halt that meeting, which was likely to spark off another violence.
He said he had been in constant touch with the district chief executive for the area and explained that the cost of maintaining the peacekeepers in the area was enormous. He appealed to the government to assist the assembly to face that challenge.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Ashaiman roads to be upgraded
Page 15, Nov 9, 2007
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
A total of 17 kilometres of gravel roads in Ashaiman are expected to be upgraded to bitumen surface over the next five years, a Deputy Minister of Transportation, Mr Magnus Opare-Asamoah, told Parliament yesterday.
He said during the same period, traffic management measures would be put in place to improve the flow of traffic in the town.
Mr Opare Asamoah, who said this in answer to a question from the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi, explained that the community was also to benefit from the Urban Transport Project (UTP), which was recently launched by President John Agyekum Kufuor.
The MP enquired from the Minister when Ashaiman town roads will be tarred to improve the flow of traffic in the area.
According to the Minister, for some time now the town had seen significant road improvement, including the construction of an over-pass on the motorway to improve access to the community.
He said the Department of Urban Roads, through the Tema Municipal Road Units, had been responsible for upgrading a number of roads in the town to bitumen surface.
“ Mr Speaker, two major culverts have been constructed at Jericho to link the old Ashaiman and the new Ashaiman popularly called Middle East,” he said.
Mr Opare-Asamoah explained further that the unit had also opened up new areas in Tulaku where drains had been constructed and roads gravelled.
He said currently 10 contracts for the construction of drains were being undertaken in several areas of Ashaiman, including Middle East, Lebanon Zone and Jericho.
Additionally, the Minister stated that, contracts had recently been awarded to rehabilitate selected roads in Official Town, Jericho and Middle East.
Mr Opare-Asamoah added that the unit continued to undertake annual routine maintenance of roads in Ashaiman, stressing that since the beginning of 2007, a total of five kilometres of roads had been graded under the routine maintenance programme.
In another development, the MP for Mfantseman East, Mr George Kuntu Blankson, asked the Minister when work on the extension of the road from Ekumfi Nanabin to Narkwa would begin.
Responding, the Minister said the Ekumfi Nanabin-Narkwa feeder road had been programmed for surfacing in two phases.
“ The phase one contract involving the first 5km was awarded for surfacing in September 2004 and completed in February 2006 at the cost of ¢3.8 billion. The project was executed by M/S General Construction Limited,” he said.
The Minister, however, explained that the remaining 6.2 km could not be awarded this year due to inadequate budgetary provision.
He also mentioned that the first 1.5km section of the Esuehyia-Akra feeder road had an existing bituminous surface and was in fair condition, which would require resealing.
The Minister said the Esuehyia-Adansi-Akra and Ekumpoano Junction-Ekumpoano feeder roads had been programmed for surfacing in phases.
“ The phase one contract of 5km between km 1.5 and 6.5????? was awarded for surfacing in December 2004 and was scheduled for completion in February 2006. The project was, however, completed ahead of schedule in October 2005 at the cost of ¢2.8 billion. The project was executed by M/S Big Aidoo Construction Limited,” he said.
The Minister said the second phase of the contract, which involved the surfacing of the remaining 8.1 km and the resealing of the first 1.5km section, could not be carried out this year due to budgetary constraints.
Story: Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah.
A total of 17 kilometres of gravel roads in Ashaiman are expected to be upgraded to bitumen surface over the next five years, a Deputy Minister of Transportation, Mr Magnus Opare-Asamoah, told Parliament yesterday.
He said during the same period, traffic management measures would be put in place to improve the flow of traffic in the town.
Mr Opare Asamoah, who said this in answer to a question from the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi, explained that the community was also to benefit from the Urban Transport Project (UTP), which was recently launched by President John Agyekum Kufuor.
The MP enquired from the Minister when Ashaiman town roads will be tarred to improve the flow of traffic in the area.
According to the Minister, for some time now the town had seen significant road improvement, including the construction of an over-pass on the motorway to improve access to the community.
He said the Department of Urban Roads, through the Tema Municipal Road Units, had been responsible for upgrading a number of roads in the town to bitumen surface.
“ Mr Speaker, two major culverts have been constructed at Jericho to link the old Ashaiman and the new Ashaiman popularly called Middle East,” he said.
Mr Opare-Asamoah explained further that the unit had also opened up new areas in Tulaku where drains had been constructed and roads gravelled.
He said currently 10 contracts for the construction of drains were being undertaken in several areas of Ashaiman, including Middle East, Lebanon Zone and Jericho.
Additionally, the Minister stated that, contracts had recently been awarded to rehabilitate selected roads in Official Town, Jericho and Middle East.
Mr Opare-Asamoah added that the unit continued to undertake annual routine maintenance of roads in Ashaiman, stressing that since the beginning of 2007, a total of five kilometres of roads had been graded under the routine maintenance programme.
In another development, the MP for Mfantseman East, Mr George Kuntu Blankson, asked the Minister when work on the extension of the road from Ekumfi Nanabin to Narkwa would begin.
Responding, the Minister said the Ekumfi Nanabin-Narkwa feeder road had been programmed for surfacing in two phases.
“ The phase one contract involving the first 5km was awarded for surfacing in September 2004 and completed in February 2006 at the cost of ¢3.8 billion. The project was executed by M/S General Construction Limited,” he said.
The Minister, however, explained that the remaining 6.2 km could not be awarded this year due to inadequate budgetary provision.
He also mentioned that the first 1.5km section of the Esuehyia-Akra feeder road had an existing bituminous surface and was in fair condition, which would require resealing.
The Minister said the Esuehyia-Adansi-Akra and Ekumpoano Junction-Ekumpoano feeder roads had been programmed for surfacing in phases.
“ The phase one contract of 5km between km 1.5 and 6.5????? was awarded for surfacing in December 2004 and was scheduled for completion in February 2006. The project was, however, completed ahead of schedule in October 2005 at the cost of ¢2.8 billion. The project was executed by M/S Big Aidoo Construction Limited,” he said.
The Minister said the second phase of the contract, which involved the surfacing of the remaining 8.1 km and the resealing of the first 1.5km section, could not be carried out this year due to budgetary constraints.
‘CJA must gets their facts right’
Page 15, Nov 9, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Government’s Spokesperson on Finance, Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, has said that although the Socialist Forum of Ghana has the right to comment on matters of national interest, it ought to understand that freedom of expression has to be exercised responsibly.
“The rush to comment on matters without first learning of the relevant facts and background information is reckless and unhelpful”, he said.
Mr Kwarteng was reacting to a publication in the November 5, 2007 issue of Daily Graphic under the headline “Looting of State Resources”.
He said there had not been a virtual breakdown of national institutions responsible for ensuring accountability as the group sought to suggest.
Mr Kwarteng said the public sittings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament had not revealed that previous effective internal controls had now broken down.
“What the open sittings of the PAC have revealed is an old challenge confronting us to establish an effective system of internal controls in the public finance management”, he stressed.
Mr Kwarteng said that although the establishment of the public services was good, “ we don’t seem to have been able to develop within it an effective system of controls to maximise our benefits from our scarce resources”.
“That challenge has always been there. And it is the responsibility of all of us, including the Socialist Forum, to acquaint ourselves with the difficulties of that challenge and, like others are doing, put forward constructive ways to overcome them, “ he said.
He said a glance at any of the reports on public finance management since independence would have shown that most of the weaknesses the country had to deal with today were not new, adding that the statement that the revelations at the public hearings on the Auditor-General’s report were the result of the break-down of internal controls under the present government was mischievous and incorrect.
Mr Kwarteng added that it was not as though the present government had done nothing about the situation it inherited, and explained that on assuming office, the government, fully aware of this old challenge, took steps to strengthen internal controls in public finances through the enactment of the Financial Administration Act, the Public Procurement Act and the Internal Audit Agency Act in 2004.
He said the Financial Administration Act required every ministry, department or agency (MDA) to set up an Audit Report Implementation Committee (ARIC) to ensure the implementation of all audit reports concerning the individual MDAs.
“The government sees the open hearings on the Auditor-General’s report and the interest the public has shown in the exercise as part of the fight against corruption. We will continue to lend our support to the process, ” he emphasised
On resource allocation to state agencies,Mr Kwarteng said that in the 2007 Budget year for instance, the total request by the various ministries, departments and agencies (including our good governance institutions) came to ¢100 trillion.
The total projected revenue and external inflows, he said was about ¢54 trillion, adding that the shortfall of ¢46 trillion had to be managed and the way to do that was to set budget ceilings so that every state institution could get its equitable share of available resources.
He said the ceilings were not exclusive to the country’s accountability or good governance institutions as the Socialist Forum believed.
“There is no virtue in putting such statements into public discussions without revealing the said evidence. Issues of national interest, especially where it is believed that national resources are being looted, should be treated more seriously”, he said.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Government’s Spokesperson on Finance, Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, has said that although the Socialist Forum of Ghana has the right to comment on matters of national interest, it ought to understand that freedom of expression has to be exercised responsibly.
“The rush to comment on matters without first learning of the relevant facts and background information is reckless and unhelpful”, he said.
Mr Kwarteng was reacting to a publication in the November 5, 2007 issue of Daily Graphic under the headline “Looting of State Resources”.
He said there had not been a virtual breakdown of national institutions responsible for ensuring accountability as the group sought to suggest.
Mr Kwarteng said the public sittings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament had not revealed that previous effective internal controls had now broken down.
“What the open sittings of the PAC have revealed is an old challenge confronting us to establish an effective system of internal controls in the public finance management”, he stressed.
Mr Kwarteng said that although the establishment of the public services was good, “ we don’t seem to have been able to develop within it an effective system of controls to maximise our benefits from our scarce resources”.
“That challenge has always been there. And it is the responsibility of all of us, including the Socialist Forum, to acquaint ourselves with the difficulties of that challenge and, like others are doing, put forward constructive ways to overcome them, “ he said.
He said a glance at any of the reports on public finance management since independence would have shown that most of the weaknesses the country had to deal with today were not new, adding that the statement that the revelations at the public hearings on the Auditor-General’s report were the result of the break-down of internal controls under the present government was mischievous and incorrect.
Mr Kwarteng added that it was not as though the present government had done nothing about the situation it inherited, and explained that on assuming office, the government, fully aware of this old challenge, took steps to strengthen internal controls in public finances through the enactment of the Financial Administration Act, the Public Procurement Act and the Internal Audit Agency Act in 2004.
He said the Financial Administration Act required every ministry, department or agency (MDA) to set up an Audit Report Implementation Committee (ARIC) to ensure the implementation of all audit reports concerning the individual MDAs.
“The government sees the open hearings on the Auditor-General’s report and the interest the public has shown in the exercise as part of the fight against corruption. We will continue to lend our support to the process, ” he emphasised
On resource allocation to state agencies,Mr Kwarteng said that in the 2007 Budget year for instance, the total request by the various ministries, departments and agencies (including our good governance institutions) came to ¢100 trillion.
The total projected revenue and external inflows, he said was about ¢54 trillion, adding that the shortfall of ¢46 trillion had to be managed and the way to do that was to set budget ceilings so that every state institution could get its equitable share of available resources.
He said the ceilings were not exclusive to the country’s accountability or good governance institutions as the Socialist Forum believed.
“There is no virtue in putting such statements into public discussions without revealing the said evidence. Issues of national interest, especially where it is believed that national resources are being looted, should be treated more seriously”, he said.
Nigerian NGO honours Prez Kufuor
Page 14 (Pol) Nov 8, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE African Union (AU) Chairman, President John Agyekum Kufuor, has been honoured with a distinguished leadership award by Security Watch Africa, a Nigeria-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), in Abuja.
He was awarded a shield and a gold medal at the 2007 awards and lecture organised by the NGO, which event took place at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Abuja.
The President’s award was received on his behalf by the Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen.
Nana Boahen, who is also the Chairman of Forum of West African Ministers Responsible for Security, was also given an award together with the Inspector General of Police, Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong.
The Security Watch Award programme, which began in 2003, aims at honouring people who have distinguished themselves in securing lives and property in Africa.
Since its inception, the award has become the most credible and accepted national security award in Nigeria in invigorating the drive of those charged with security to continue to render their services to ensure peace and tranquillity.
This year’s award, which was extended to President Kufuor, was to honour him for his efforts to seek peace and security in Ghana in particular and Africa as a whole.
In his address, Nana Boahen called for a co-ordinated efforts by countries in the sub-region to fight the increasing crime wave.
The minister told the Daily Graphic that he also took advantage of his visit to Nigeria to meet the Ghanaian community in that country.
He advised them to be law-abiding and live peacefully with their Nigerian hosts, adding that since Ghana and Nigeria had long-standing cordial relationships, nothing should be done to mar their relationship.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE African Union (AU) Chairman, President John Agyekum Kufuor, has been honoured with a distinguished leadership award by Security Watch Africa, a Nigeria-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), in Abuja.
He was awarded a shield and a gold medal at the 2007 awards and lecture organised by the NGO, which event took place at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Abuja.
The President’s award was received on his behalf by the Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen.
Nana Boahen, who is also the Chairman of Forum of West African Ministers Responsible for Security, was also given an award together with the Inspector General of Police, Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong.
The Security Watch Award programme, which began in 2003, aims at honouring people who have distinguished themselves in securing lives and property in Africa.
Since its inception, the award has become the most credible and accepted national security award in Nigeria in invigorating the drive of those charged with security to continue to render their services to ensure peace and tranquillity.
This year’s award, which was extended to President Kufuor, was to honour him for his efforts to seek peace and security in Ghana in particular and Africa as a whole.
In his address, Nana Boahen called for a co-ordinated efforts by countries in the sub-region to fight the increasing crime wave.
The minister told the Daily Graphic that he also took advantage of his visit to Nigeria to meet the Ghanaian community in that country.
He advised them to be law-abiding and live peacefully with their Nigerian hosts, adding that since Ghana and Nigeria had long-standing cordial relationships, nothing should be done to mar their relationship.
Enoch triumphs in movie reality show
Page 3 (Showbiz), Nov 8-14 edition, 2007
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
NIGERIA has always been considered as Ghana’s rival in various fields of endeavour.In sports, particularly football, the two countries have struggled over the years to prove which of them is better.
The rivalry between the two West African countries has now spilled onto the movie scene with the flooding of Nigerian films on the Ghanaian market to the displeasure of Ghanaian actors. Many Ghanaians actors are gradually being pushed to the background while popular Nigerian actors have become household names in Ghana. In fact, certain Nigerian words, such as “tofiakwa”, among others are currently being used in Ghana.
That is why when nine Nigerian and seven Ghanaians amateur actors were camped in a house in Nigeria to partake in the Next Movie Star Television Reality Show, the contest was keen.
For one month, the seven Ghanaians battled their Nigerian counterparts to show the stuff that they were made up of in a bid to erase the perception that Nigerian actors are better than Ghanaians counterparts.
In the end, it was Ghana which triumphed. Twenty-year old Enoch Hammond, who hold a diploma in Graphic Designing battled tooth and nail to land the grand prize of a brand new saloon car, three movie contracts and other prizes in a grand style against the expectation of all.
According to organisers of the show, Enoch was very impressive with his performances in the house and became a strong contender in the latter stages of the show winning for himself scores of votes within Ghana and Nigeria.
Enoch told the Graphic Showbiz after paying courtesy call on the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, last Tuesday that he aimed at becoming a professional actor of repute in the not-too-distant future.
He appealed to Ghanaian authorities to assist the movie industry in Ghana to enable it catch up with that of Nigeria saying that the industry would be able to provide job opportunities to Ghanaian youth.
He was accompanied by another Ghanaian, 21-year old Martha Ankomah, who emerged as the second runner-up of the show.
Martha told Showbiz that she did not feel disappointed about not winning the ultimate crown because her initial aim in the house was to win a movie role and she eventually got two adding that “there are even more in the offing”.
The victorious Ghanaian duo were accompanied by their Nigerian counterpart Uti Nwachuku, who was the first runner-up of the show.
Welcoming the actors, Alhaji Yakubu called for a collaboration between Nigerian and Ghanaian actors adding that such a collaboration would yield positive results for the two countries.
He commended Enoch and Martha for making Ghana proud and expressed the hope that they would not be complacent but work hard to achieve their cherished dreams.
Although the show has been taking place in Nigeria over the last three years, this is the first time that amateur Ghanaian actors have been roped in.
Mr Ahmed Boulor, the Project Manager (Media) disclosed that amateur actors from Anglophone West African countries, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia would take part in the 2008 edition of the show.
Page 3 (Showbiz), Nov 8-14 edition, 2007
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
NIGERIA has always been considered as Ghana’s rival in various fields of endeavour.In sports, particularly football, the two countries have struggled over the years to prove which of them is better.
The rivalry between the two West African countries has now spilled onto the movie scene with the flooding of Nigerian films on the Ghanaian market to the displeasure of Ghanaian actors. Many Ghanaians actors are gradually being pushed to the background while popular Nigerian actors have become household names in Ghana. In fact, certain Nigerian words, such as “tofiakwa”, among others are currently being used in Ghana.
That is why when nine Nigerian and seven Ghanaians amateur actors were camped in a house in Nigeria to partake in the Next Movie Star Television Reality Show, the contest was keen.
For one month, the seven Ghanaians battled their Nigerian counterparts to show the stuff that they were made up of in a bid to erase the perception that Nigerian actors are better than Ghanaians counterparts.
In the end, it was Ghana which triumphed. Twenty-year old Enoch Hammond, who hold a diploma in Graphic Designing battled tooth and nail to land the grand prize of a brand new saloon car, three movie contracts and other prizes in a grand style against the expectation of all.
According to organisers of the show, Enoch was very impressive with his performances in the house and became a strong contender in the latter stages of the show winning for himself scores of votes within Ghana and Nigeria.
Enoch told the Graphic Showbiz after paying courtesy call on the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, last Tuesday that he aimed at becoming a professional actor of repute in the not-too-distant future.
He appealed to Ghanaian authorities to assist the movie industry in Ghana to enable it catch up with that of Nigeria saying that the industry would be able to provide job opportunities to Ghanaian youth.
He was accompanied by another Ghanaian, 21-year old Martha Ankomah, who emerged as the second runner-up of the show.
Martha told Showbiz that she did not feel disappointed about not winning the ultimate crown because her initial aim in the house was to win a movie role and she eventually got two adding that “there are even more in the offing”.
The victorious Ghanaian duo were accompanied by their Nigerian counterpart Uti Nwachuku, who was the first runner-up of the show.
Welcoming the actors, Alhaji Yakubu called for a collaboration between Nigerian and Ghanaian actors adding that such a collaboration would yield positive results for the two countries.
He commended Enoch and Martha for making Ghana proud and expressed the hope that they would not be complacent but work hard to achieve their cherished dreams.
Although the show has been taking place in Nigeria over the last three years, this is the first time that amateur Ghanaian actors have been roped in.
Mr Ahmed Boulor, the Project Manager (Media) disclosed that amateur actors from Anglophone West African countries, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia would take part in the 2008 edition of the show.
PROBLEMS MILITATING AGAINST LICENSED COCOA BUYING COMPANIES IN THE INTERNAL MARKETING OF COCOA
Page 30, Nov 8, 2007
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
There is no argument about the fact that cocoa is the lifeblood of the Ghanaian economy. For this reason the interest of all stakeholders in this multibillion-agro industry cannot be overemphasised.
The new cocoa season is with us and feverish preparations have already been made to ensure its smooth operation.
The privatisation of the internal marketing of cocoa dates back to the early 1990s. This was done to inject more efficiency into purchasing and evacuation of cocoa produce through competition. Hitherto, the Produce Buying Company (PBC) was the sole player in the buying process.
To some extent, the aim of the authorities has been achieved. The periods when large quantities of purchased cocoa could be left in cocoa sheds for over a year after purchasing has become a thing of the past.
The three main marketing systems adopted by cocoa producers globally are Marketing Board, Caisses de Stabilisation and the Free Market systems
The Marketing board system
This is mostly practised in Anglophone cocoa producing countries in Africa such as Ghana and until 1986, in Nigeria. It is characterised by the existence of a parastatal organisation with the monopoly for internal and external crop marketing. Once the cocoa is purchased from the farmer it is the property of the marketing board and will be handled by it in all the stages of the chain. Prices are determined by the board and are fixed for the entire crop year. Fixing the price allows producers to be less vulnerable to fluctuations in world market prices.
Caisses de Stabilisation
Although similar to the marketing board (it determines internal prices and has the ownership of the crop along the marketing chain) there is less intervention than in the above-mentioned system. Private agents authorised by the Caisse carry out the physical handling of the crop, from the farmer to the export points. This system used to be common in francophone producing countries in Africa, particularly Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon. Until 1999 in Côte d'Ivoire, the stabilisation system was done through the "barême". The barême was a detailed system that fixed guaranteed producer prices and export reference prices for each step in the cocoa chain. When cocoa was sold, if the exporter's price was higher than the export reference price set by the Caisse de Stabilisation, the exporter had to compensate the Caisse with the difference, called the "reversement". If the world market price was lower, the Caisse made up the difference with payment (the "soutien") to the exporter from its financial resources.
Free Market System
Under this system there are many private agents that participate in the marketing chain. There is no direct intervention from the government in internal or external marketing and the world cocoa market determines prices. Government’s involvement is usually centred on quality control, taxation and supervision. Due to competition and the non-intervention of the government, producers usually receive a much higher percentage of the FOB price.
Until recently, centralised marketing systems prevailed in almost all-major cocoa producing countries in West and Central Africa. With liberalisation, countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire have fully privatised their internal and external marketing structures while Ghana has introduced competition in domestic marketing by allowing private licensed agents to purchase cocoa from farmers. A liberalised environment has existed for some time in Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The Liberalisation of Internal Marketing System
The liberalisation brought in its wake the formation of Licensed Cocoa Buyers (LBCs). These are Limited liability companies both (private and public), which are issued with Dealers Licenses by Cocoa Board to purchase and evacuate cocoa to the designated take over ports. The license is renewed annually and may be withdrawn depending on one’s performance and other factors. Currently there are about 18 active LBCs operating within the industry.
Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) secures syndicated foreign and local loans and gives out to these LBCs to purchase cocoa. Before the loans, called Seed Funds are advanced, each LBC have to produce a Banker’s Guarantee from a financial institution which charges a flat rate between 2 and 3% depending on the financial institution and one’s level of risk factors. The seed fund is normally given at the Government’s prime rate and COCOBOD bears no risk in giving out the loans to these LBCs.
COCOBOD, the regulating authority, has various arms that ensure that the right quality of cocoa is purchased. Among them are the Quality Control Department (QCD) and the marketing arm- Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC). Annually before the commencement of the cocoa season the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) comprising all stakeholders; farmers, LBCs, Hauliers, etc determine the Producer Price to be paid to farmers, commission to be paid to the LBCs, and what to pay to Hauliers who carry the cocoa from the designated depots to the three main take over points in Ghana. These are Kaase in Kumasi, Takoradi Port and Tema Port.
The Buying and Grading Process
Most LBCs operate the District Managerial system. Under this system, monies are lodged into the accounts of the companies at the district level. A cheque system (the Akuafo cheque system) is practised where district managers coordinate with purchasing clerks to buy cocoa from farmers with the cheque which is not very popular with the farmers due to the usual uncooperative attitude of bank officials in Ghana. Farmers feel reluctant to accept these cheques and those who accept them travel long distances to cash them.
Cocoa purchased up country is sent to depots and inspected, graded and sealed by QCD personnel in the various districts. When cocoa is carried to the take over ports a second inspection is done to ascertain the right weight and quality, which is certified by a second batch of QCD personnel.
Problems Militating against LBCS
Though the industry has witnessed a lot of boost from the government in recent times with the re-introduction of the mass spraying exercise, introduction of high yielding hybrid cocoa among others, the industry is not without bottlenecks. Some of these bottlenecks sometimes threaten the very existence of up and coming LBCs.
These problems border on:
Inadequate infrastructure especially storage accommodation for delivered cocoa at the ports.
Congestions at the ports especially in October, November and December (peak season) leading to large sums of funds being locked up in stocks at the ports through no fault of LBCs. Sometimes loaded trucks wait for more than 30 days to be offloaded.
Restrictions to the quantity of cocoa to be graded and sealed per day by the QCD officials at the district level resulting in a lot of backlog of unsealed cocoa leading to extortion.
Though inspection and sealing of cocoa is supposed to be free QCD officials are alleged to be charging between ¢3,500 and ¢5,000 per bag.
Restrictions as to how many trucks at the ports could be offloaded on daily basis.
Alleged extortion of large sums of money by QCD, CMC and other port officials under the pretext of short weight, small beans, etc. Such practices create unbearable financial costs to LBCs
Delays in the processing of documents at the ports before and after delivering
Very high financial costs due to above problems and related issues.
COCOBOD was created in 1947 to manage the affairs of the cocoa industry in Ghana. The storage facilities at the various ports have not seen much growth until recently. About 60% of Ghana’s cocoa is delivered to the Takoradi port and this is where alleged extortion and other malpractices are at their zenith!
Congestion at the ports has become normal from October to December each year and though private investors have come to the aid of COCOBOD there is more to be done.
On the documentation processes, an official of one of the LBCs said “one is left in the woods as to why in this modern day when banks link up with each branch and even outside Ghana, an august institution like Ghana Cocoa Board acting through its marketing arm CMC, is not fully automated. Documents are handwritten and an officer may take between 5 to 10 days just to append his signature to a document”.
COCOBOD determines the producer price of cocoa, margins or commission to be paid to LBCs as well as how much to pay to transporters. These three elements form the invoice value sent to COCOBOD by LBCs. According to the official, the LBCs have been advocating a system where payments could be effected, for at least, the producer price and the buyers’ margin for cocoa delivered to the ports. That, he said is not out of place because it is possible to determine cocoa taken over by CMC from each LBC on daily basis at each port! “Why should the LBCs wait for between 5 and 60 days to be given Cocoa Taken Over Receipts (CTOR) and their underlying documents before they (LBCS) can also raise invoices on COCOBOD?”, he questioned adding that during the long waiting period, interests accruing on the loan given by COCOBOD are not frozen. “Indeed to the best of my knowledge COCOBOD is always in a win-win situation. Before any LBC accesses the Seed Fund you need a bankers guarantee, which absolves COCOBOD from any losses, should the LBC fails to pay back fully. The delays go in their favour because whilst they charge you interest on daily basis you do not have any redress when your payment processes are unduly delayed”.
The official said there should be cut off dates after which interests on Seed Fund should be frozen if payments for invoices are delayed beyond set times and also when truck loads of cocoa are delayed at the take over points.
He explained that 16 bags of cocoa, each weighing 62.5 kg make a tonne. But the LBCs are made to send the commodity at 64 kg per bag to make up for the difference in the weight of the sacks. “If a truck is loaded with say 600 bags of cocoa, it is assumed to be carrying 37.5 tonnes. At the take over ports and in this modern era we are still doing sample weighing instead of applying weighbridges! If a sample of 60 bags out of the 600 fail the test the whole consignment is rejected”.
When this happens, the whole consignment is de-sealed, at a discrepant stock shed, top ups are made and fresh application is made for resealing and this can take several weeks. “My problem is why should COCOBOD reject the whole consignment instead of paying the LBC what has been delivered?”. On the other hand when one brings cocoa in excess of the 64kg they are not rejected!
Experts in the cocoa industry say that since 1947 similar things have been done and one wonders why the COCOBOD has not installed weighbridges all these years? Is it because someone is benefiting from the re-weighing of delivered cocoa? The installation of weigh bridges, which is long overdue, can solve this problem, which is causing untold hardships to LBCs. It is known that sample weighing slows down the delivery system culminating in payment of avoidable interest charges on locked up capital.
This writer was informed that on the alleged extortion of monies, COCOBOD will always ask the LBCs to prove the allegations and to avoid victimization no one sticks out his neck. Companies are said to be paying between ¢500,000 and ¢10,000,000 depending on one’s “crime”. The crimes could be short weight, add mixture (mixing small with large beans), cocoon infestation, not thoroughly dried (NTD) beans, qmong others. The issue of short weight has been discussed above but the issues of add mixture is also a cost that should be borne by COCOBOD.
There is the need for these for the pertinent questions to be answered.
How can a hired truck stay at a take over point for more thirty days before being off loaded?
How can one explain a situation where documentation of take over process sometimes take close to sixty days without COCOBOD freezing interest payments?
Why are there no weighbridges at the take over points, which compel operatives to resort to sample weighing culminating in the rejection of whole consignments of cocoa for short weight? Why should the CMC reject whole consignments and not pay for what one delivers?
How does COCOBOD expect LBCs to operate effectively when next to nothing is given them when it comes to deductions of seed fund? Any invoice submitted has a return of only one million Cedis.
If produce is graded and sealed up-country and passed, how can the same people reject the work of the other?
CONCLUSION
It is my fervent hope that every thing possible would be done to assist the LBCs and the peasant cocoa farmers to enable them to work hard to ensure that the country maintain its position as the best producer of quality cocoa and recaptures its former enviable position as the world’s number one producer of cocoa.
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
There is no argument about the fact that cocoa is the lifeblood of the Ghanaian economy. For this reason the interest of all stakeholders in this multibillion-agro industry cannot be overemphasised.
The new cocoa season is with us and feverish preparations have already been made to ensure its smooth operation.
The privatisation of the internal marketing of cocoa dates back to the early 1990s. This was done to inject more efficiency into purchasing and evacuation of cocoa produce through competition. Hitherto, the Produce Buying Company (PBC) was the sole player in the buying process.
To some extent, the aim of the authorities has been achieved. The periods when large quantities of purchased cocoa could be left in cocoa sheds for over a year after purchasing has become a thing of the past.
The three main marketing systems adopted by cocoa producers globally are Marketing Board, Caisses de Stabilisation and the Free Market systems
The Marketing board system
This is mostly practised in Anglophone cocoa producing countries in Africa such as Ghana and until 1986, in Nigeria. It is characterised by the existence of a parastatal organisation with the monopoly for internal and external crop marketing. Once the cocoa is purchased from the farmer it is the property of the marketing board and will be handled by it in all the stages of the chain. Prices are determined by the board and are fixed for the entire crop year. Fixing the price allows producers to be less vulnerable to fluctuations in world market prices.
Caisses de Stabilisation
Although similar to the marketing board (it determines internal prices and has the ownership of the crop along the marketing chain) there is less intervention than in the above-mentioned system. Private agents authorised by the Caisse carry out the physical handling of the crop, from the farmer to the export points. This system used to be common in francophone producing countries in Africa, particularly Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon. Until 1999 in Côte d'Ivoire, the stabilisation system was done through the "barême". The barême was a detailed system that fixed guaranteed producer prices and export reference prices for each step in the cocoa chain. When cocoa was sold, if the exporter's price was higher than the export reference price set by the Caisse de Stabilisation, the exporter had to compensate the Caisse with the difference, called the "reversement". If the world market price was lower, the Caisse made up the difference with payment (the "soutien") to the exporter from its financial resources.
Free Market System
Under this system there are many private agents that participate in the marketing chain. There is no direct intervention from the government in internal or external marketing and the world cocoa market determines prices. Government’s involvement is usually centred on quality control, taxation and supervision. Due to competition and the non-intervention of the government, producers usually receive a much higher percentage of the FOB price.
Until recently, centralised marketing systems prevailed in almost all-major cocoa producing countries in West and Central Africa. With liberalisation, countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire have fully privatised their internal and external marketing structures while Ghana has introduced competition in domestic marketing by allowing private licensed agents to purchase cocoa from farmers. A liberalised environment has existed for some time in Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The Liberalisation of Internal Marketing System
The liberalisation brought in its wake the formation of Licensed Cocoa Buyers (LBCs). These are Limited liability companies both (private and public), which are issued with Dealers Licenses by Cocoa Board to purchase and evacuate cocoa to the designated take over ports. The license is renewed annually and may be withdrawn depending on one’s performance and other factors. Currently there are about 18 active LBCs operating within the industry.
Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) secures syndicated foreign and local loans and gives out to these LBCs to purchase cocoa. Before the loans, called Seed Funds are advanced, each LBC have to produce a Banker’s Guarantee from a financial institution which charges a flat rate between 2 and 3% depending on the financial institution and one’s level of risk factors. The seed fund is normally given at the Government’s prime rate and COCOBOD bears no risk in giving out the loans to these LBCs.
COCOBOD, the regulating authority, has various arms that ensure that the right quality of cocoa is purchased. Among them are the Quality Control Department (QCD) and the marketing arm- Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC). Annually before the commencement of the cocoa season the Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) comprising all stakeholders; farmers, LBCs, Hauliers, etc determine the Producer Price to be paid to farmers, commission to be paid to the LBCs, and what to pay to Hauliers who carry the cocoa from the designated depots to the three main take over points in Ghana. These are Kaase in Kumasi, Takoradi Port and Tema Port.
The Buying and Grading Process
Most LBCs operate the District Managerial system. Under this system, monies are lodged into the accounts of the companies at the district level. A cheque system (the Akuafo cheque system) is practised where district managers coordinate with purchasing clerks to buy cocoa from farmers with the cheque which is not very popular with the farmers due to the usual uncooperative attitude of bank officials in Ghana. Farmers feel reluctant to accept these cheques and those who accept them travel long distances to cash them.
Cocoa purchased up country is sent to depots and inspected, graded and sealed by QCD personnel in the various districts. When cocoa is carried to the take over ports a second inspection is done to ascertain the right weight and quality, which is certified by a second batch of QCD personnel.
Problems Militating against LBCS
Though the industry has witnessed a lot of boost from the government in recent times with the re-introduction of the mass spraying exercise, introduction of high yielding hybrid cocoa among others, the industry is not without bottlenecks. Some of these bottlenecks sometimes threaten the very existence of up and coming LBCs.
These problems border on:
Inadequate infrastructure especially storage accommodation for delivered cocoa at the ports.
Congestions at the ports especially in October, November and December (peak season) leading to large sums of funds being locked up in stocks at the ports through no fault of LBCs. Sometimes loaded trucks wait for more than 30 days to be offloaded.
Restrictions to the quantity of cocoa to be graded and sealed per day by the QCD officials at the district level resulting in a lot of backlog of unsealed cocoa leading to extortion.
Though inspection and sealing of cocoa is supposed to be free QCD officials are alleged to be charging between ¢3,500 and ¢5,000 per bag.
Restrictions as to how many trucks at the ports could be offloaded on daily basis.
Alleged extortion of large sums of money by QCD, CMC and other port officials under the pretext of short weight, small beans, etc. Such practices create unbearable financial costs to LBCs
Delays in the processing of documents at the ports before and after delivering
Very high financial costs due to above problems and related issues.
COCOBOD was created in 1947 to manage the affairs of the cocoa industry in Ghana. The storage facilities at the various ports have not seen much growth until recently. About 60% of Ghana’s cocoa is delivered to the Takoradi port and this is where alleged extortion and other malpractices are at their zenith!
Congestion at the ports has become normal from October to December each year and though private investors have come to the aid of COCOBOD there is more to be done.
On the documentation processes, an official of one of the LBCs said “one is left in the woods as to why in this modern day when banks link up with each branch and even outside Ghana, an august institution like Ghana Cocoa Board acting through its marketing arm CMC, is not fully automated. Documents are handwritten and an officer may take between 5 to 10 days just to append his signature to a document”.
COCOBOD determines the producer price of cocoa, margins or commission to be paid to LBCs as well as how much to pay to transporters. These three elements form the invoice value sent to COCOBOD by LBCs. According to the official, the LBCs have been advocating a system where payments could be effected, for at least, the producer price and the buyers’ margin for cocoa delivered to the ports. That, he said is not out of place because it is possible to determine cocoa taken over by CMC from each LBC on daily basis at each port! “Why should the LBCs wait for between 5 and 60 days to be given Cocoa Taken Over Receipts (CTOR) and their underlying documents before they (LBCS) can also raise invoices on COCOBOD?”, he questioned adding that during the long waiting period, interests accruing on the loan given by COCOBOD are not frozen. “Indeed to the best of my knowledge COCOBOD is always in a win-win situation. Before any LBC accesses the Seed Fund you need a bankers guarantee, which absolves COCOBOD from any losses, should the LBC fails to pay back fully. The delays go in their favour because whilst they charge you interest on daily basis you do not have any redress when your payment processes are unduly delayed”.
The official said there should be cut off dates after which interests on Seed Fund should be frozen if payments for invoices are delayed beyond set times and also when truck loads of cocoa are delayed at the take over points.
He explained that 16 bags of cocoa, each weighing 62.5 kg make a tonne. But the LBCs are made to send the commodity at 64 kg per bag to make up for the difference in the weight of the sacks. “If a truck is loaded with say 600 bags of cocoa, it is assumed to be carrying 37.5 tonnes. At the take over ports and in this modern era we are still doing sample weighing instead of applying weighbridges! If a sample of 60 bags out of the 600 fail the test the whole consignment is rejected”.
When this happens, the whole consignment is de-sealed, at a discrepant stock shed, top ups are made and fresh application is made for resealing and this can take several weeks. “My problem is why should COCOBOD reject the whole consignment instead of paying the LBC what has been delivered?”. On the other hand when one brings cocoa in excess of the 64kg they are not rejected!
Experts in the cocoa industry say that since 1947 similar things have been done and one wonders why the COCOBOD has not installed weighbridges all these years? Is it because someone is benefiting from the re-weighing of delivered cocoa? The installation of weigh bridges, which is long overdue, can solve this problem, which is causing untold hardships to LBCs. It is known that sample weighing slows down the delivery system culminating in payment of avoidable interest charges on locked up capital.
This writer was informed that on the alleged extortion of monies, COCOBOD will always ask the LBCs to prove the allegations and to avoid victimization no one sticks out his neck. Companies are said to be paying between ¢500,000 and ¢10,000,000 depending on one’s “crime”. The crimes could be short weight, add mixture (mixing small with large beans), cocoon infestation, not thoroughly dried (NTD) beans, qmong others. The issue of short weight has been discussed above but the issues of add mixture is also a cost that should be borne by COCOBOD.
There is the need for these for the pertinent questions to be answered.
How can a hired truck stay at a take over point for more thirty days before being off loaded?
How can one explain a situation where documentation of take over process sometimes take close to sixty days without COCOBOD freezing interest payments?
Why are there no weighbridges at the take over points, which compel operatives to resort to sample weighing culminating in the rejection of whole consignments of cocoa for short weight? Why should the CMC reject whole consignments and not pay for what one delivers?
How does COCOBOD expect LBCs to operate effectively when next to nothing is given them when it comes to deductions of seed fund? Any invoice submitted has a return of only one million Cedis.
If produce is graded and sealed up-country and passed, how can the same people reject the work of the other?
CONCLUSION
It is my fervent hope that every thing possible would be done to assist the LBCs and the peasant cocoa farmers to enable them to work hard to ensure that the country maintain its position as the best producer of quality cocoa and recaptures its former enviable position as the world’s number one producer of cocoa.
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