Page- Centre Spread, April 24, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE acting Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr Kofi Asamoah, has called for a fair deal for Africa in the ongoing negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between developing countries and the European Union (EU).
He said since the EPAs had far-reaching consequences for working people, employment, as well as incomes and poverty, a careful analysis should be done before African leaders appended their signatures to the agreement.
Mr Asamoah, who was speaking when the President of the Republic of Finland, Madam Tarja Halonen, paid a courtesy call on officials of the TUC, appealed to her to use her influence in the EU to ensure a fair deal.
Madam Halonen, who was a unionist before becoming President eight years ago, is participating in the ongoing United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) conference.
Touching on Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries, Mr Asamoah said the union was aware that the third high level forum on aid effectiveness was scheduled to take place in Accra in September this year.
He said that meeting would be a follow-up to an earlier one in Paris where stakeholders adopted the Paris Declaration which sought to achieve aid effectiveness through country ownership, harmonisation of aid procedures, mutual accountability between recipients and donor countries, among others.
Mr Asamoah noted that although those were important principles that should guide aid, the TUC was of the opinion that donor countries should commit at least 0.7 per cent of their Gross National Product (GDP) to international development.
He referred to the work of the Finnish President when she was a lawyer to the National Trade Union Centre of Finland and said that the union was aware of her interest in labour and human right issues.
Mr Asamoah said Madam Halonen’s participation in UNCTAD XII bore testimony to her government’s commitment to development issues, particularly in Africa.
He said the courtesy call also demonstrated the President’s commitment to the trade union movement, not only in Finland but also in Africa.
Mr Asamoah told her that despite difficulties that the TUC had encountered since its establishment 63 years ago, the movement had survived as a result of continued support from its European counterparts in the spirit of trade union solidarity.
He said the TUC had a long-standing co-operation with Finland through that country’s trade union, saying that the Trade Union Solidarity Centre had been supporting the union in the areas of workers’ education, training, research and policy analysis.
Replying, Madam Halonen recognised the need for the adoption of good policies that would ensure the welfare of vulnerable groups and called for collaboration between developing and developed countries to ensure sustainable development.
He stated that Finland’s success hinged on the investment it had made in its citizens through education and called on African countries to invest in their human resource.
Madam Halonen, who is in the second year of her second six-year term as President, called on trade unionists to be interested in the rights and welfare of their members.
The Chairman of the TUC, Mr Alex Bonney, later presented a number of items, including a Kente cloth and the 60th anniversary shield of the union, to her.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Government releases GH¢55.5m to Assemblies common fund
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE government has released GH¢55.5 million to the Office of the Administrator of District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for disbursement to the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies for the first quarter of the year.
The 10 regional co-ordinating councils and the 230 Members of Parliament are also to get their share of the amount.
The Administrator of the Fund, Mr Joshua Magnus Nicol, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, stated that this was the first time that the calculation of the fund was based on seven-and-a-half per cent of the total revenue of the country. The DACF had been using five per cent to calculate the percentage of revenue to be shared to the district assemblies.
While he declined to disclose the amount allocated to each district, he said that each of the 230 MPs had been allocated GH¢14,482.10 for the quarter to undertake various projects.
Mr Nicol said his office was waiting for the submission of the budgets of the assemblies, including the newly established ones, before the disbursement of the amount.
He added, however, that the disbursement of MPs’ share had already begun to enable them to continue with their projects and programmes.
Mr Nicol expressed the hope that all the assemblies would be able to submit their budgets by the middle of May, 2008 in order to get their share of the fund for their budgeted programmes and projects.
He explained that since the government had paid all arrears owed to the assemblies, it was incumbent on the assemblies to work hard to ensure prompt submission of their budgets for prompt release of their share for each quarter of the year.
Mr Nicol advised district, municipal and metropolitan chief executives to strictly abide by laid down procedures for the disbursement of the Fund in order not to land themselves in trouble when they were no more in office.
The administrator added that there was the need for them to keep proper records so that their successors could continue from where they left off.
THE government has released GH¢55.5 million to the Office of the Administrator of District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for disbursement to the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies for the first quarter of the year.
The 10 regional co-ordinating councils and the 230 Members of Parliament are also to get their share of the amount.
The Administrator of the Fund, Mr Joshua Magnus Nicol, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, stated that this was the first time that the calculation of the fund was based on seven-and-a-half per cent of the total revenue of the country. The DACF had been using five per cent to calculate the percentage of revenue to be shared to the district assemblies.
While he declined to disclose the amount allocated to each district, he said that each of the 230 MPs had been allocated GH¢14,482.10 for the quarter to undertake various projects.
Mr Nicol said his office was waiting for the submission of the budgets of the assemblies, including the newly established ones, before the disbursement of the amount.
He added, however, that the disbursement of MPs’ share had already begun to enable them to continue with their projects and programmes.
Mr Nicol expressed the hope that all the assemblies would be able to submit their budgets by the middle of May, 2008 in order to get their share of the fund for their budgeted programmes and projects.
He explained that since the government had paid all arrears owed to the assemblies, it was incumbent on the assemblies to work hard to ensure prompt submission of their budgets for prompt release of their share for each quarter of the year.
Mr Nicol advised district, municipal and metropolitan chief executives to strictly abide by laid down procedures for the disbursement of the Fund in order not to land themselves in trouble when they were no more in office.
The administrator added that there was the need for them to keep proper records so that their successors could continue from where they left off.
Univ. of Ghana to train veterinary surgeons
Page 31, April 22, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE University of Ghana is to establish a veterinary medical school next academic year.
The move is to increase the number of veterinarians from the current 220 to an appreciable number to enable them to effectively discharge their functions in the country.
Currently, the country is training its veterinarians in other African and European countries.
The President of the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA), Dr Kwasi Bowi Darkwa, announced this in Accra yesterday at the media launch of the Eighth World Veterinary Day, which is being held on the theme “The diversity of the veterinary profession”.
The day was instituted eight years ago by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with the World Veterinary Association to be celebrated on the last Saturday of April every year, to highlight the work of veterinarians around the world.
Dr Darkwa said when the school is finally established, it would save the government from spending hard earned foreign exchange on the training of veterinarians abroad.
He said it was unfortunate that Ghanaians held the perception that veterinarians treated only dogs and cats.
“Few people may be aware that the veterinary medical profession is the country’s first line of defence in protecting its food supplies of animal origin from contamination,” he explained.
Dr Darkwa stated that without an adequate number of experienced veterinarians to do inspection at the air and sea ports, tonnes of imported frozen meat, day old chicks, drugs and vaccines to ensure disease-free imports, the country’s food supply could be under serious threat.
Dr Darkwa, however, said that notwithstanding the immense contributions of veterinarians in the country’s development, their efforts were not rewarded.
He said that the most serious challenge facing the profession, which has caused the deterioration of animal health care in the country, was the unified extension policy introduced in 1997.
Dr Darkwa explained that the policy had resulted in veterinarians in most districts working under junior agriculture officers within the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
He said the GVMA and the Veterinary Council had drawn the attention of the MOFA to that policy and proposed the creation of the Ghana Veterinary Health Service to ensure efficient health care in the country.
The Acting Director of Veterinary Services of MOFA, Dr Enoch Boye-Mensah Koney, expressed concern about stray dogs and cats, which are not vaccinated, and called on owners of such pets to ensure that they were vaccinated, at least once a year.
“When people have pets, they should be interested in their treatment in addition to seeking advice from veterinarians every month, even if the pets are not sick”.
Dr Koney called for collaboration amongst the District Assemblies, the Food and Drug Board and the law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance of laws regarding the movement and slaughtering of animals to ensure the safety of the public.
The Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Ghana, Dr S.A. Ofosu, paid tribute to the veterinary profession and other stakeholders for working hard to control diseases in the country.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE University of Ghana is to establish a veterinary medical school next academic year.
The move is to increase the number of veterinarians from the current 220 to an appreciable number to enable them to effectively discharge their functions in the country.
Currently, the country is training its veterinarians in other African and European countries.
The President of the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA), Dr Kwasi Bowi Darkwa, announced this in Accra yesterday at the media launch of the Eighth World Veterinary Day, which is being held on the theme “The diversity of the veterinary profession”.
The day was instituted eight years ago by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with the World Veterinary Association to be celebrated on the last Saturday of April every year, to highlight the work of veterinarians around the world.
Dr Darkwa said when the school is finally established, it would save the government from spending hard earned foreign exchange on the training of veterinarians abroad.
He said it was unfortunate that Ghanaians held the perception that veterinarians treated only dogs and cats.
“Few people may be aware that the veterinary medical profession is the country’s first line of defence in protecting its food supplies of animal origin from contamination,” he explained.
Dr Darkwa stated that without an adequate number of experienced veterinarians to do inspection at the air and sea ports, tonnes of imported frozen meat, day old chicks, drugs and vaccines to ensure disease-free imports, the country’s food supply could be under serious threat.
Dr Darkwa, however, said that notwithstanding the immense contributions of veterinarians in the country’s development, their efforts were not rewarded.
He said that the most serious challenge facing the profession, which has caused the deterioration of animal health care in the country, was the unified extension policy introduced in 1997.
Dr Darkwa explained that the policy had resulted in veterinarians in most districts working under junior agriculture officers within the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
He said the GVMA and the Veterinary Council had drawn the attention of the MOFA to that policy and proposed the creation of the Ghana Veterinary Health Service to ensure efficient health care in the country.
The Acting Director of Veterinary Services of MOFA, Dr Enoch Boye-Mensah Koney, expressed concern about stray dogs and cats, which are not vaccinated, and called on owners of such pets to ensure that they were vaccinated, at least once a year.
“When people have pets, they should be interested in their treatment in addition to seeking advice from veterinarians every month, even if the pets are not sick”.
Dr Koney called for collaboration amongst the District Assemblies, the Food and Drug Board and the law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance of laws regarding the movement and slaughtering of animals to ensure the safety of the public.
The Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Ghana, Dr S.A. Ofosu, paid tribute to the veterinary profession and other stakeholders for working hard to control diseases in the country.
Tano South NPP chairman cautions supporters
Page 17, April 22, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chairman of the Tano South Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Asare Antwi, has cautioned supporters of the three people aspiring to stand on the party’s ticket for the December elections against inflammatory statements and trading of insults.
He reminded them that supporters of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were wild awake and would use such inflammatory statements and mudslinging to campaign against the NPP during campaigns towards the December elections.
“Let us remember that the interest of the party is supreme and it will not be good if due to our selfish interest a particular candidate wins his seat only for the party to lose power,” he said.
Mr Antwi, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic, expressed concern about the manner of campaigning by some supporters of the three people who had filed their nominations to contest the primary.
The three aspirants are Mr Rex Ofori Agyeman, Ms Nary Razat and the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Andrew Adjei-Yeboah, who is also a Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines.
Mr Antwi said aspirants needed to educate their supporters to conduct their campaigns with decorum in order for the party to maintain a united front in the constituency before, during and after the primary to select a candidate.
He noted that because of such unguarded utterance that cast slur on the party, President Kufuor secured more votes during the 2004 election than the MP.
Mr Antwi said such “skirt and blouse” voting pattern would not help the course of the party during the December elections and therefore called on the aspirants and their supporters to conduct their campaigns in a civil manner.
He advised the delegates to think about the interest of the party and choose a suitable candidate who could retain the seat for the party during the December elections.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chairman of the Tano South Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Asare Antwi, has cautioned supporters of the three people aspiring to stand on the party’s ticket for the December elections against inflammatory statements and trading of insults.
He reminded them that supporters of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were wild awake and would use such inflammatory statements and mudslinging to campaign against the NPP during campaigns towards the December elections.
“Let us remember that the interest of the party is supreme and it will not be good if due to our selfish interest a particular candidate wins his seat only for the party to lose power,” he said.
Mr Antwi, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic, expressed concern about the manner of campaigning by some supporters of the three people who had filed their nominations to contest the primary.
The three aspirants are Mr Rex Ofori Agyeman, Ms Nary Razat and the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Andrew Adjei-Yeboah, who is also a Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines.
Mr Antwi said aspirants needed to educate their supporters to conduct their campaigns with decorum in order for the party to maintain a united front in the constituency before, during and after the primary to select a candidate.
He noted that because of such unguarded utterance that cast slur on the party, President Kufuor secured more votes during the 2004 election than the MP.
Mr Antwi said such “skirt and blouse” voting pattern would not help the course of the party during the December elections and therefore called on the aspirants and their supporters to conduct their campaigns in a civil manner.
He advised the delegates to think about the interest of the party and choose a suitable candidate who could retain the seat for the party during the December elections.
Berekum Omanhene cautions parents
Page 21, April 18, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Omanhene of the Berekum Traditional Area, Daasebre Dr Amankona-Diawuo II, has stated that with the introduction of the Capitation Grant parents have no excuse for refusing to enrol their children in school.
He said the School Feeding Programme (SFP), which had been added to the Capitation Grant, was also an added incentive to encourage parents to send their children to school.
Daasebre Amankona-Diawuo made the observation when a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Read for Wealth, presented scholarships to five students from the Berekum area. Each of the students had GH¢150.
The NGO also presented a number of bicycles valued at GH¢2,800 to selected students from junior high schools in the district.
Daasebre Amankona-Diawuo noted with concern that in recent times, children preferred watching television to reading of books to acquire knowledge.
Reading, he stressed, played a major role in academic excellence, wealth creation and economic development.
The Omanhene commended the NGO for taking the initiative to sensitise the youth to the need to inculcate the habit of reading.
Daasebre Amankona-Diawuo also thanked the NGO for its efforts to improve the standard of education in the district and urged students to take advantage of the gesture to improve upon their reading habit.
The Managing Director of Read for Wealth, Mr Yaw Asante, said his vision was to inculcate in students the culture of reading and good writing skills to push them to the top of the academic ladder.
The Project Director of the NGO, Mr Emmanuel Alou, explained that the organisation gave reading books to students and set questions for them to answer after reading them for a month.
He added that the two students whose performance were outstanding were rewarded.
Mr Aloe advised students to read extensively to prepare them adequately to face the realities of the fast changing world.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Omanhene of the Berekum Traditional Area, Daasebre Dr Amankona-Diawuo II, has stated that with the introduction of the Capitation Grant parents have no excuse for refusing to enrol their children in school.
He said the School Feeding Programme (SFP), which had been added to the Capitation Grant, was also an added incentive to encourage parents to send their children to school.
Daasebre Amankona-Diawuo made the observation when a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Read for Wealth, presented scholarships to five students from the Berekum area. Each of the students had GH¢150.
The NGO also presented a number of bicycles valued at GH¢2,800 to selected students from junior high schools in the district.
Daasebre Amankona-Diawuo noted with concern that in recent times, children preferred watching television to reading of books to acquire knowledge.
Reading, he stressed, played a major role in academic excellence, wealth creation and economic development.
The Omanhene commended the NGO for taking the initiative to sensitise the youth to the need to inculcate the habit of reading.
Daasebre Amankona-Diawuo also thanked the NGO for its efforts to improve the standard of education in the district and urged students to take advantage of the gesture to improve upon their reading habit.
The Managing Director of Read for Wealth, Mr Yaw Asante, said his vision was to inculcate in students the culture of reading and good writing skills to push them to the top of the academic ladder.
The Project Director of the NGO, Mr Emmanuel Alou, explained that the organisation gave reading books to students and set questions for them to answer after reading them for a month.
He added that the two students whose performance were outstanding were rewarded.
Mr Aloe advised students to read extensively to prepare them adequately to face the realities of the fast changing world.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
‘Don’t take peace for granted’
Page 15, April 17, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chairperson of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Reverend Professor Emmanuel Mantey, has urged Ghanaians not to take the peace that the country is enjoying for granted.
He said the political turbulence in a number of African countries should serve as a useful lesson for Ghana as the December elections drew nearer.
Rev Prof Mantey was delivering a sermon at the Dansoman Emmanuel Presbyterian Church to commemorate the 36th conference of the presbytery last Sunday.
The conference, which was held on the theme, “Let us go on to maturity”, was attended by over 250 delegates from the 24 districts within the presbytery.
Rev Prof Mantey said the country, as well as the church, had the responsibility to learn lessons from the situation that the country found itself now.
“If we do that, Ghana will become a beacon of hope where people from all over the world will come and learn lessons,” he stated.
He said it was important for Ghanaians to be taught to distinguish good from evil so that “they will not put old wine into a new wine skin”.
Rev Prof Mantey, therefore, challenged agents of the church, such as ministers, evangelists and catechists, to strive to be knowledgeable to enable them to shape the lives of their members for the benefit of the country.
“I implore you to be true teachers so that your members will be mature enough to contribute to the growth of the church and the country,” he said.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCG, the Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, urged members of the church not to be content with its modest achievements but work hard to ensure its growth.
He commended the Ga Presbytery for its leadership role in the PCG and urged members of the presbytery to use their potential to ensure the growth of other presbyteries.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chairperson of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Reverend Professor Emmanuel Mantey, has urged Ghanaians not to take the peace that the country is enjoying for granted.
He said the political turbulence in a number of African countries should serve as a useful lesson for Ghana as the December elections drew nearer.
Rev Prof Mantey was delivering a sermon at the Dansoman Emmanuel Presbyterian Church to commemorate the 36th conference of the presbytery last Sunday.
The conference, which was held on the theme, “Let us go on to maturity”, was attended by over 250 delegates from the 24 districts within the presbytery.
Rev Prof Mantey said the country, as well as the church, had the responsibility to learn lessons from the situation that the country found itself now.
“If we do that, Ghana will become a beacon of hope where people from all over the world will come and learn lessons,” he stated.
He said it was important for Ghanaians to be taught to distinguish good from evil so that “they will not put old wine into a new wine skin”.
Rev Prof Mantey, therefore, challenged agents of the church, such as ministers, evangelists and catechists, to strive to be knowledgeable to enable them to shape the lives of their members for the benefit of the country.
“I implore you to be true teachers so that your members will be mature enough to contribute to the growth of the church and the country,” he said.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCG, the Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, urged members of the church not to be content with its modest achievements but work hard to ensure its growth.
He commended the Ga Presbytery for its leadership role in the PCG and urged members of the presbytery to use their potential to ensure the growth of other presbyteries.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Provide adequate resources for PHC programme
Page 3, April 16, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PANELLISTS at a symposium in Accra to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have called for adequate resources for the implementation of the country’s Primary Health Care (PHC) programme.
They said until that was done, the quest to achieve the laudable objectives of the PHC programme to ensure better health for Ghanaians would be a mirage.
The symposium was on the topic: “30 years of Primary Health Care — Its impact on the health of Ghanaians”.
Speaking on the evolution of PHC in Ghana, a lecturer at the School of Public Health, Professor Fred Wurapa, noted that the greatest weakness of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) was the lack of proper supervision of programmes.
He stated that there should be proper orientation of staff of the service to enable them to properly supervise programmes to achieve the desired results.
Prof Wurapa said the irony of the situation was that while the impression was created that the country had insufficient health staff, some hospitals were overstaffed.
He called for an equitable distribution of health staff throughout the country to ensure proper implementation of health policies and programmes for the benefit of the people.
Speaking on the PHC, with special reference to health sector reforms, the Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Irene Agyepong, said while a lot of successes had been chalked up in the rural areas, there was the need to do more to ensure proper health for the urban poor.
The Deputy Director-General of GHS, Dr George Amofa, who spoke on the contribution of PHC to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), noted that proper health could not be achieved through the provision of doctors, nurses and drugs.
He, therefore, called for a multi-sectoral approach towards solving the country’s health problems.
Earlier, in his welcoming address, the WHO Representative in Ghana, Dr Joaquim Saweka, had stated that since PHC became a core policy of the organisation, international support for the values of primary health had remained strong.
He said preliminary results of a major review suggested that many in the global health community considered PHC orientation to be crucial for equitable progress in health.
Dr Saweka said efforts were being made by many countries in Africa to provide integrated health services that were accessible, affordable and of good quality, while generating the necessary human and physical resources to make that possible.
He, however, noted that despite those efforts, health systems had been hampered by poverty, political instability, poor economic performance, heavy disease burden, lack of qualified and experienced health workers, poor health infrastructure, low access to quality essential health technologies and weak stewardship.
He said the WHO was reinforcing its technical collaboration and support to countries through their governments, the private sector and civil society that were engaged in health work.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PANELLISTS at a symposium in Accra to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have called for adequate resources for the implementation of the country’s Primary Health Care (PHC) programme.
They said until that was done, the quest to achieve the laudable objectives of the PHC programme to ensure better health for Ghanaians would be a mirage.
The symposium was on the topic: “30 years of Primary Health Care — Its impact on the health of Ghanaians”.
Speaking on the evolution of PHC in Ghana, a lecturer at the School of Public Health, Professor Fred Wurapa, noted that the greatest weakness of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) was the lack of proper supervision of programmes.
He stated that there should be proper orientation of staff of the service to enable them to properly supervise programmes to achieve the desired results.
Prof Wurapa said the irony of the situation was that while the impression was created that the country had insufficient health staff, some hospitals were overstaffed.
He called for an equitable distribution of health staff throughout the country to ensure proper implementation of health policies and programmes for the benefit of the people.
Speaking on the PHC, with special reference to health sector reforms, the Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Irene Agyepong, said while a lot of successes had been chalked up in the rural areas, there was the need to do more to ensure proper health for the urban poor.
The Deputy Director-General of GHS, Dr George Amofa, who spoke on the contribution of PHC to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), noted that proper health could not be achieved through the provision of doctors, nurses and drugs.
He, therefore, called for a multi-sectoral approach towards solving the country’s health problems.
Earlier, in his welcoming address, the WHO Representative in Ghana, Dr Joaquim Saweka, had stated that since PHC became a core policy of the organisation, international support for the values of primary health had remained strong.
He said preliminary results of a major review suggested that many in the global health community considered PHC orientation to be crucial for equitable progress in health.
Dr Saweka said efforts were being made by many countries in Africa to provide integrated health services that were accessible, affordable and of good quality, while generating the necessary human and physical resources to make that possible.
He, however, noted that despite those efforts, health systems had been hampered by poverty, political instability, poor economic performance, heavy disease burden, lack of qualified and experienced health workers, poor health infrastructure, low access to quality essential health technologies and weak stewardship.
He said the WHO was reinforcing its technical collaboration and support to countries through their governments, the private sector and civil society that were engaged in health work.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Weija Constituency confirms Ayorkor
Page 15, April 15, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Weija Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has endorsed the nomination of the MP of the area, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey to contest for the seat during the December election.
Although nobody filed to contest the MP, there was the need for delegates of the party to endorse her nomination.
At constituency’s delegates conference held at the Odogonor Senior High School, during which Ms Botchwey was endorsed through popular acclamation, delegates resolved to retain the seat and win more votes for their Presidential candidate, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Speaking at the conference, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Sammy Crabbe called for more efforts by members to win floating voters to the party.
He said, they could achieve that through door-to-door campaign to educate the people about the sound policies and programmes which the government had put in place to impact positively on their lives.
Mr Crabbe also urged them to ensure that people who had attain the voting age register in their numbers when the voter’s register is opened since the exercise was crucial to the success of the party.
The NPP Chairman of the constituency, Alhaji Issah Tasiru commended the MP for keeping in touch with the grassroot that had earned her massive support from both the executives and polling station chairmen.
He said the entire people in the Weija Constituency would forever be grateful for her efforts towards the elevation of the area to a municipal status.
Alhaji Tasiru said the confusion in the camp of the National Democratic Party (NDC) over the selection of the party’s running mate showed their desperation in face of defeat.
For her part, Ms Botchwey said she would not be complacent because nobody contested her, but would instead work hard to clinch a landslide victory.
Ms Botchwey said in 2004, she had only five weeks to campaign due to some misunderstanding within the constituency and called on the supporters not to wait but begin intensive campaign now to ensure total victory.
She said the government had done well with limited resources and asked the supporters to use such achievements as part of their campaign messages.
Ms Botchwey thanked the executives and polling station chairmen for the confidence reposed in her and promised that she would not let them down.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Weija Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has endorsed the nomination of the MP of the area, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey to contest for the seat during the December election.
Although nobody filed to contest the MP, there was the need for delegates of the party to endorse her nomination.
At constituency’s delegates conference held at the Odogonor Senior High School, during which Ms Botchwey was endorsed through popular acclamation, delegates resolved to retain the seat and win more votes for their Presidential candidate, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Speaking at the conference, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Sammy Crabbe called for more efforts by members to win floating voters to the party.
He said, they could achieve that through door-to-door campaign to educate the people about the sound policies and programmes which the government had put in place to impact positively on their lives.
Mr Crabbe also urged them to ensure that people who had attain the voting age register in their numbers when the voter’s register is opened since the exercise was crucial to the success of the party.
The NPP Chairman of the constituency, Alhaji Issah Tasiru commended the MP for keeping in touch with the grassroot that had earned her massive support from both the executives and polling station chairmen.
He said the entire people in the Weija Constituency would forever be grateful for her efforts towards the elevation of the area to a municipal status.
Alhaji Tasiru said the confusion in the camp of the National Democratic Party (NDC) over the selection of the party’s running mate showed their desperation in face of defeat.
For her part, Ms Botchwey said she would not be complacent because nobody contested her, but would instead work hard to clinch a landslide victory.
Ms Botchwey said in 2004, she had only five weeks to campaign due to some misunderstanding within the constituency and called on the supporters not to wait but begin intensive campaign now to ensure total victory.
She said the government had done well with limited resources and asked the supporters to use such achievements as part of their campaign messages.
Ms Botchwey thanked the executives and polling station chairmen for the confidence reposed in her and promised that she would not let them down.
Task is enormous, all must be on board — Mahama
Page 17, April 14, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Mr John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) running mate, has described the task ahead as onerous, which demands an all-hands-on-deck approach.
He has, therefore, called on all supporters of the party to strive to be part of the historic election that will bring the party back to power to implement sound policies to improve on the lots of the people.
Mr Mahama was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra on Saturday at a dinner dance organised by the Parliamentary Press Corps as part of its week-long activities marking the 15th anniversary celebration of the formation of the corps.
The NDC running mate said the party was making efforts to bring on board his two other colleagues who were mentioned for the slot to campaign for the December elections.
Mr Mahama explained that bringing people on board the party’s electioneering went beyond those who showed interest in the running mate slot, adding that Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu , Mr Eddie Annan and Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah, who contested Prof Mills for the flag bearer position, should also be encouraged to play a part in the party’s quest to win back power.
Commenting on the demand by some supporters of the party who agitated for a Muslim to partner Prof Mills, he said inasmuch as he had respect for the Islamic religion, it was necessary for people to base their demand on issues instead of parochial interests that could divide their ranks.
He said he was in politics to make an impact on people and called on his fellow politicians to avoid inflammatory and abusive words to enable the country continue to enjoy peace during the electioneering period.
On the recent pronouncements by former President J.J Rawlings and his wife about their preference for the running mate slot, Mr Mahama said that since the NDC was a democratic party, everybody was entitled to his opinion.
He said he had worked with the former President and founder of the NDC and knew that if he took a position on a matter he did not fear to express his mind.
Mr Mahama said in spite of that, he was convinced that the former first couple would play an important part in the campaign to enable the good people of Ghana to make the right choice.
Addressing the press corp earlier, he said he had accepted the position to be the running mate even though he was comfortable as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole/Bamboi, and urged Ghanaians to make the interest of the country their priority no matter their political and religious inclinations.
He advised journalists covering Parliament to avoid sensationalism but rather educate Ghanaians to enable them to be familiar with the functions of MPs.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Kingford Sumani Bagbin, urged the leadership of Parliament to include members of the Parliamentary Press Corps in seminars to enable them to be familiar with practices and procedures of the legislature so as to avoid mistakes.
The Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, who was the guest of honour advised politicians to be careful about statements they make on political platforms in order not to disturb the the peace Ghana had been enjoying for some time now.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh. said the association was collaborating with the Private Newspapers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) in order to weed out charlatans whose activities had become a source of worry and disgrace to the journalism profession.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Anyimadu, commended members of the corps for working hard for the development of the country’s parliamentary democracy.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Mr John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) running mate, has described the task ahead as onerous, which demands an all-hands-on-deck approach.
He has, therefore, called on all supporters of the party to strive to be part of the historic election that will bring the party back to power to implement sound policies to improve on the lots of the people.
Mr Mahama was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra on Saturday at a dinner dance organised by the Parliamentary Press Corps as part of its week-long activities marking the 15th anniversary celebration of the formation of the corps.
The NDC running mate said the party was making efforts to bring on board his two other colleagues who were mentioned for the slot to campaign for the December elections.
Mr Mahama explained that bringing people on board the party’s electioneering went beyond those who showed interest in the running mate slot, adding that Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu , Mr Eddie Annan and Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah, who contested Prof Mills for the flag bearer position, should also be encouraged to play a part in the party’s quest to win back power.
Commenting on the demand by some supporters of the party who agitated for a Muslim to partner Prof Mills, he said inasmuch as he had respect for the Islamic religion, it was necessary for people to base their demand on issues instead of parochial interests that could divide their ranks.
He said he was in politics to make an impact on people and called on his fellow politicians to avoid inflammatory and abusive words to enable the country continue to enjoy peace during the electioneering period.
On the recent pronouncements by former President J.J Rawlings and his wife about their preference for the running mate slot, Mr Mahama said that since the NDC was a democratic party, everybody was entitled to his opinion.
He said he had worked with the former President and founder of the NDC and knew that if he took a position on a matter he did not fear to express his mind.
Mr Mahama said in spite of that, he was convinced that the former first couple would play an important part in the campaign to enable the good people of Ghana to make the right choice.
Addressing the press corp earlier, he said he had accepted the position to be the running mate even though he was comfortable as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole/Bamboi, and urged Ghanaians to make the interest of the country their priority no matter their political and religious inclinations.
He advised journalists covering Parliament to avoid sensationalism but rather educate Ghanaians to enable them to be familiar with the functions of MPs.
The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Kingford Sumani Bagbin, urged the leadership of Parliament to include members of the Parliamentary Press Corps in seminars to enable them to be familiar with practices and procedures of the legislature so as to avoid mistakes.
The Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, who was the guest of honour advised politicians to be careful about statements they make on political platforms in order not to disturb the the peace Ghana had been enjoying for some time now.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh. said the association was collaborating with the Private Newspapers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) in order to weed out charlatans whose activities had become a source of worry and disgrace to the journalism profession.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Anyimadu, commended members of the corps for working hard for the development of the country’s parliamentary democracy.
Betty would have ensured landslide victory for NDC •Says Jerry Rawlings
Page 14, April 12, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
FORMER President Jerry John Rawlings has described the choice of Mr John Mahama, the running mate of the NDC flag bearer, Professor John Atta Mill’s for the December elections as good, he however preferrs Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu.
He said although Mr Mahama, is “a man of integrity” and would be able to help the NDC win the December elections, the victory would have been a landslide if Mrs Mould-Iddrisu had been chosen.
Mr Rawlings who was speaking to BBC’s Focus on Africa and monitored by the Daily Graphic yesterday said that although all the three people who were considered for the slot were good, it would have been better for the party to capitalise on the interest Ghanaians had in Mrs Mould-Iddrisu to partner Prof Mills.
He added that Mr Mahama would rather have been a better choice for the 2004 election if he had been chosen then.
He said that the NDC would have won more votes if that had was the case.
Asked whether Prof. Mills’ choice of John Mahama would strain their relationship, Mr Rawlings admitted that although they had diffences, that would not prevent him from taking part in the campaign towards wresting political power from the NPP in the December elections.
He called on the international community to send election observers to Ghana during the 2008 elections to prevent rigging of the elections.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
FORMER President Jerry John Rawlings has described the choice of Mr John Mahama, the running mate of the NDC flag bearer, Professor John Atta Mill’s for the December elections as good, he however preferrs Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu.
He said although Mr Mahama, is “a man of integrity” and would be able to help the NDC win the December elections, the victory would have been a landslide if Mrs Mould-Iddrisu had been chosen.
Mr Rawlings who was speaking to BBC’s Focus on Africa and monitored by the Daily Graphic yesterday said that although all the three people who were considered for the slot were good, it would have been better for the party to capitalise on the interest Ghanaians had in Mrs Mould-Iddrisu to partner Prof Mills.
He added that Mr Mahama would rather have been a better choice for the 2004 election if he had been chosen then.
He said that the NDC would have won more votes if that had was the case.
Asked whether Prof. Mills’ choice of John Mahama would strain their relationship, Mr Rawlings admitted that although they had diffences, that would not prevent him from taking part in the campaign towards wresting political power from the NPP in the December elections.
He called on the international community to send election observers to Ghana during the 2008 elections to prevent rigging of the elections.
Humado expresses disquiet over Anlo chieftaincy dispute
Page 14, April 12, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo, Mr Clement Kofi Humado, has expressed disquiet over what he termed the “seeming inaction” of the government over the recent Anlo chieftaincy dispute.
He said it was unfortunate that months after the crisis, which resulted in the death of five people, the government was yet to respond to the request of the people of the area to set up a commission of enquiry to look into the matter.
The MP told the Daily Graphic in Accra that family members of the deceased and the entire people of the area were worried about the government’s long silence and called for an immediate action to calm their nerves.
“I was of the opinion that after I had made a number of statements on the floor of Parliament, in addition to the numerous calls from chiefs and opinion leaders of Anlo, the government will heed our plea and institute a probe into the chieftaincy dispute,” he said.
The four people who died during the dispute were Israel Amenume, 50, Menko Tugba, 47, Israel Ahadzi, 28, and Mama Senyo, 48.
Mr Humado said the four died defending the pride and heritage of Anlo and it was for that sacrifice that the chiefs, clan heads, elders and the entire Anlo State had decided to honour them with a grand state burial.
He said preparations were underway for the burial and final funeral rites of four of the deceased, including a fetish priestess, at Anloga on Saturday, April 12, 2008.
“We have expected that the government would do something before the burial of the deceased,” he said, adding, “But we have no option but to go on with the funeral rites without waiting for an action to be taken by the government.”
Mr Humado stated that it would be easier for the government to take action now so that a lasting solution would be found to the dispute, instead of waiting for the dispute to recur.
Already, one of the five deceased, a policeman, had been buried in his home town in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Mr Humado conveyed his condolence to the families of the deceased.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo, Mr Clement Kofi Humado, has expressed disquiet over what he termed the “seeming inaction” of the government over the recent Anlo chieftaincy dispute.
He said it was unfortunate that months after the crisis, which resulted in the death of five people, the government was yet to respond to the request of the people of the area to set up a commission of enquiry to look into the matter.
The MP told the Daily Graphic in Accra that family members of the deceased and the entire people of the area were worried about the government’s long silence and called for an immediate action to calm their nerves.
“I was of the opinion that after I had made a number of statements on the floor of Parliament, in addition to the numerous calls from chiefs and opinion leaders of Anlo, the government will heed our plea and institute a probe into the chieftaincy dispute,” he said.
The four people who died during the dispute were Israel Amenume, 50, Menko Tugba, 47, Israel Ahadzi, 28, and Mama Senyo, 48.
Mr Humado said the four died defending the pride and heritage of Anlo and it was for that sacrifice that the chiefs, clan heads, elders and the entire Anlo State had decided to honour them with a grand state burial.
He said preparations were underway for the burial and final funeral rites of four of the deceased, including a fetish priestess, at Anloga on Saturday, April 12, 2008.
“We have expected that the government would do something before the burial of the deceased,” he said, adding, “But we have no option but to go on with the funeral rites without waiting for an action to be taken by the government.”
Mr Humado stated that it would be easier for the government to take action now so that a lasting solution would be found to the dispute, instead of waiting for the dispute to recur.
Already, one of the five deceased, a policeman, had been buried in his home town in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Mr Humado conveyed his condolence to the families of the deceased.
Auctioneers urged to register
Page 3, April 12, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ministry of the Interior has directed all auctioneers who have not registered to do so or face a ban from operating in the country.
A Minister of State at the ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, who gave the directive, said it was aimed at streamlining the operations of auctioneers in order to weed out the unscrupulous ones.
“It has come to the notice of the ministry that some unscrupulous individuals are going around calling themselves auctioneers, while, in actual fact, they are not known to the ministry,” he said.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Nana Boahen said very soon the ministry would publish the names of auctioneers in good standing as part of measures to weed out the unscrupulous ones.
He said the ministry would also make a proposal to all government ministries, departments and agencies to check the background of the auctioneers they employed in order not to hire the services of quack ones.
Nana Boahen stated that currently there was a rumpus in the rank of auctioneers as a result of a constitutional provision that made it mandatory for all auctioneers to belong to the Association of Auctioneers.
He explained that though the law currently made it mandatory for all auctioneers to belong to the association, “I personally believe that the law should be tested at the Supreme Court”.
Nana Boahen said in his view, auctioneers who did not belong to the association but who had registered with the ministry should be allowed to operate.
He explained further that since the Constitution guaranteed freedom of association, he would not be surprised if someone sought an interpretation of the law in future.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ministry of the Interior has directed all auctioneers who have not registered to do so or face a ban from operating in the country.
A Minister of State at the ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, who gave the directive, said it was aimed at streamlining the operations of auctioneers in order to weed out the unscrupulous ones.
“It has come to the notice of the ministry that some unscrupulous individuals are going around calling themselves auctioneers, while, in actual fact, they are not known to the ministry,” he said.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Nana Boahen said very soon the ministry would publish the names of auctioneers in good standing as part of measures to weed out the unscrupulous ones.
He said the ministry would also make a proposal to all government ministries, departments and agencies to check the background of the auctioneers they employed in order not to hire the services of quack ones.
Nana Boahen stated that currently there was a rumpus in the rank of auctioneers as a result of a constitutional provision that made it mandatory for all auctioneers to belong to the Association of Auctioneers.
He explained that though the law currently made it mandatory for all auctioneers to belong to the association, “I personally believe that the law should be tested at the Supreme Court”.
Nana Boahen said in his view, auctioneers who did not belong to the association but who had registered with the ministry should be allowed to operate.
He explained further that since the Constitution guaranteed freedom of association, he would not be surprised if someone sought an interpretation of the law in future.
Church asist institutions
Page 29, April 11, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Awoshie District of the Seventh Day Sabbath Church of Christ has presented a number of items valued at GH¢10,000 to a number of institutions.
The presentation, which formed part of the church’s annual charity gesture was to support the beneficiary institutions, including orphanages to cater for their inmates.
The items included 50 bags of rice, 30 boxes of key soap, 50 boxes of biscuits and fruit drinks.
The beneficiary institutions included the police, the blind and orphanages.
The District Pastor of the Church, Evangelist Okoh Agyeman who presented the items at a ceremony at Awoshie said it was the church’s duty to support the needy in the society.
Madam Grace Omaboe, a television presenter and actress, who received the items on behalf of the beneficiary institutions, thanked the church for its gesture and called on others to emulate its example.
**Evangelist Agyeman (right), presenting the items to Madam Omaboe while representatives of other beneficiary institutions look on.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Awoshie District of the Seventh Day Sabbath Church of Christ has presented a number of items valued at GH¢10,000 to a number of institutions.
The presentation, which formed part of the church’s annual charity gesture was to support the beneficiary institutions, including orphanages to cater for their inmates.
The items included 50 bags of rice, 30 boxes of key soap, 50 boxes of biscuits and fruit drinks.
The beneficiary institutions included the police, the blind and orphanages.
The District Pastor of the Church, Evangelist Okoh Agyeman who presented the items at a ceremony at Awoshie said it was the church’s duty to support the needy in the society.
Madam Grace Omaboe, a television presenter and actress, who received the items on behalf of the beneficiary institutions, thanked the church for its gesture and called on others to emulate its example.
**Evangelist Agyeman (right), presenting the items to Madam Omaboe while representatives of other beneficiary institutions look on.
Ghana First Forum to be launched
Page: Centre Spread, April 11, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GHANA First Forum, a socio-economic think tank, whose aims is ensuring the economic transformation of the country, will soon be launched.
According to Mr Raymond Ackah, a Senior Partner of Ishmael Yamson & Associates, the Forum would seek to facilitate development by engaging the government, academia, the private sector, and the media, among others, to come up with feasible development agenda in a non-political and non-partisan way.
Mr Ackah made this known when he led a two-member team to brief the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, about preparations being made to launch the forum.
The other member of the delegation was the Chief Executive Officer of the Future Leaders Group, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mr Emmanuel Dei-Tumi.
The other members promoting the forum are Mr Ishmael Yamson, former Chairman of Unilever, Ghana, Pastor Mensa Otabil, Head Pastor of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Professor Stephen Adei, Rector, GIMPA and Dr J.L.S. Abbey of the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA).
Mr Ackah said it had become an established fact that issues that had to be addressed to enable the country to achieve its set goals to ensure improvements in the lives of the people had been relegated to the background by the media.
He said it was unfortunate that politics, especially issues concerning the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were given prominence to the detriment of social and economic matters.
Mr Ackah said promoters of the Forum had, therefore, identified 30 prominent Ghanaians from the various fields of endeavour, who would be put together as the think tank, to ensure that objectives set by the forum were achieved.
An initial promoters’ thoughts on the Forum observed that in spite of the desire of Ghanaians for the country to become a middle-income one within a decade to make their lives better just after independence, the economy faced management and performance problems for decades as a result of prolonged political instability, successive military interventions and a general crisis of governance.
“The focus now is for Ghana to become a middle-income country within a decade. This requires a long-term vision supported by a credible development agenda and the mobilisation of citizens to take advantage of opportunities and to confront the challenges of globalisation. That in turn would require pro-active contributions from all stakeholders,” he said.
Mr Ackah said since the Graphic Communications Group Limited had played an important role in the country’s development efforts, there was the need for a collaboration between the two institutions.
He commended the GCGL for coming out with a book containing some of the major events covered by the Daily Graphic since 1950 to commemorate the country’s 50th anniversary and described it as a masterpiece.
Mr Dei-Tumi noted that the missing link in the country’s development agenda was the lack of a blend of ideas between the media and the intellectual community and development partners.
Welcoming the team, Mr Awal said that currently the GCGL published seven papers, which were leaders in their various segments of the newspaper industry.
He said apart from informing, educating and entertaining the people, the company, as a state-owned media, focussed on bringing Ghanaians together to achieve the country’s aspiration.
Mr Awal said it was because of this that the company continued to sell a 72-page Daily Graphic at 50 Ghana pesewas, while others sold eight-page paper at the same price or more.
“We will therefore welcome initiatives such as yours aimed at pushing the country’s development agenda forward,” he said.
He mentioned the Governance Dialogue Programme, which was instituted by the company three years ago, as one of the initiatives by the company to support the socio-economic development of the country.
The Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh, welcomed the establishment of the Forum and expressed the hope that it would assist in influencing economic decisions by leaders of the country.
Present at the meeting were the General Manager, Marketing and Public Affairs, Mr Kwasi Owusu Asare and Mr Albert Sam, the Public Affairs Manager of the company.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GHANA First Forum, a socio-economic think tank, whose aims is ensuring the economic transformation of the country, will soon be launched.
According to Mr Raymond Ackah, a Senior Partner of Ishmael Yamson & Associates, the Forum would seek to facilitate development by engaging the government, academia, the private sector, and the media, among others, to come up with feasible development agenda in a non-political and non-partisan way.
Mr Ackah made this known when he led a two-member team to brief the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, about preparations being made to launch the forum.
The other member of the delegation was the Chief Executive Officer of the Future Leaders Group, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mr Emmanuel Dei-Tumi.
The other members promoting the forum are Mr Ishmael Yamson, former Chairman of Unilever, Ghana, Pastor Mensa Otabil, Head Pastor of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Professor Stephen Adei, Rector, GIMPA and Dr J.L.S. Abbey of the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA).
Mr Ackah said it had become an established fact that issues that had to be addressed to enable the country to achieve its set goals to ensure improvements in the lives of the people had been relegated to the background by the media.
He said it was unfortunate that politics, especially issues concerning the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were given prominence to the detriment of social and economic matters.
Mr Ackah said promoters of the Forum had, therefore, identified 30 prominent Ghanaians from the various fields of endeavour, who would be put together as the think tank, to ensure that objectives set by the forum were achieved.
An initial promoters’ thoughts on the Forum observed that in spite of the desire of Ghanaians for the country to become a middle-income one within a decade to make their lives better just after independence, the economy faced management and performance problems for decades as a result of prolonged political instability, successive military interventions and a general crisis of governance.
“The focus now is for Ghana to become a middle-income country within a decade. This requires a long-term vision supported by a credible development agenda and the mobilisation of citizens to take advantage of opportunities and to confront the challenges of globalisation. That in turn would require pro-active contributions from all stakeholders,” he said.
Mr Ackah said since the Graphic Communications Group Limited had played an important role in the country’s development efforts, there was the need for a collaboration between the two institutions.
He commended the GCGL for coming out with a book containing some of the major events covered by the Daily Graphic since 1950 to commemorate the country’s 50th anniversary and described it as a masterpiece.
Mr Dei-Tumi noted that the missing link in the country’s development agenda was the lack of a blend of ideas between the media and the intellectual community and development partners.
Welcoming the team, Mr Awal said that currently the GCGL published seven papers, which were leaders in their various segments of the newspaper industry.
He said apart from informing, educating and entertaining the people, the company, as a state-owned media, focussed on bringing Ghanaians together to achieve the country’s aspiration.
Mr Awal said it was because of this that the company continued to sell a 72-page Daily Graphic at 50 Ghana pesewas, while others sold eight-page paper at the same price or more.
“We will therefore welcome initiatives such as yours aimed at pushing the country’s development agenda forward,” he said.
He mentioned the Governance Dialogue Programme, which was instituted by the company three years ago, as one of the initiatives by the company to support the socio-economic development of the country.
The Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh, welcomed the establishment of the Forum and expressed the hope that it would assist in influencing economic decisions by leaders of the country.
Present at the meeting were the General Manager, Marketing and Public Affairs, Mr Kwasi Owusu Asare and Mr Albert Sam, the Public Affairs Manager of the company.
US NGO assists Jacobu SHS
Page 21, April 11, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
HELPING Hands International Mission, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in the United States of America (USA), has donated five boxes of science books to the Jacobu Senior High School (SHS) in the Ashanti Region.
The leader of the NGO’s delegation which visited the Odotobri Constituency, Mr Simons James, also promised to provide a number of computers for the school’s library, which currently has only one computer for the 514 students.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Odotobri, Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi, through whose efforts the NGO made the donation, told the Daily Graphic that the organisation would also provide the school with more books and science equipment.
He said a computer would also be provided for the Integrated Centre for Employable Skills (ICES) at Jacobu, which also has only one computer serving 60 students.
According to him, the NGO would assist the school to complete a hostel project to provide accommodation for the students.
Mr Gyamfi said when the delegation visited the St Peters Hospital in the town, many requests were made by the authorities and these were being considered by the NGO.
He thanked the organisation for coming to the aid of people in the area, and expressed the hope that its promises would be fulfilled.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
HELPING Hands International Mission, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in the United States of America (USA), has donated five boxes of science books to the Jacobu Senior High School (SHS) in the Ashanti Region.
The leader of the NGO’s delegation which visited the Odotobri Constituency, Mr Simons James, also promised to provide a number of computers for the school’s library, which currently has only one computer for the 514 students.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Odotobri, Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi, through whose efforts the NGO made the donation, told the Daily Graphic that the organisation would also provide the school with more books and science equipment.
He said a computer would also be provided for the Integrated Centre for Employable Skills (ICES) at Jacobu, which also has only one computer serving 60 students.
According to him, the NGO would assist the school to complete a hostel project to provide accommodation for the students.
Mr Gyamfi said when the delegation visited the St Peters Hospital in the town, many requests were made by the authorities and these were being considered by the NGO.
He thanked the organisation for coming to the aid of people in the area, and expressed the hope that its promises would be fulfilled.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Media must create open, enlightened society • Say Leonora Kyerematen
Page 14, April 10. 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Co-ordinator of the National Governance Programme (NGP), Mrs Leonora Kyerematen, has challenged the media to create an open and enlightened society that will demand transparent, accountable governance through fighting dictatorship, corruption and abuse of power.
She said the media must devise means of demystifying government in order to render it less remote and abstract to the people.
“The media is expected to expand socio-political and economic space that gives voice to the vulnerable and marginalised groups and offer opportunity for divergent views thereby engendering a sense of common ownership of, and commitment to the development agenda,” she said.
Mrs Kyerematen was speaking at a symposium organised by the Parliamentary Press Corps of Ghana as part of a week-long activities marking the 15th anniversary of the corps. The anniversary is being held on the theme: “The role of the Press Corps in parliamentary democracy”.
Mrs Kyerematen noted that Ghanaians had come to see the media as a great potential for peace building, saying that the media’s role in supporting the electoral process, through the levelling of the playing field, sharing information and exposing malpractice to ensure free, fair and credible elections, was commendable.
She said Ghanaians expected the media “to act as the Inspector General of the Political Landscape, in order to provide the necessary public criticism, to ensure a high degree of political integrity among power holders and brokers”.
Mrs Kyerematen, however, expressed concern about the unfair agenda setting and default in the cross-checking of stories and sources thereby bringing the media’s integrity into disrepute and negating the gains of democracy.
“We have witnessed cases of biased, sensational, politicised, trivialised and sometimes woefully exaggerated reporting, that has embarrassed or damaged the reputation of individuals or groups of persons,” she said.
Dilating on the theme for the anniversary, Mrs Kyerematen called on Parliament to protect a free and independent media while the media should also try to build public confidence in Parliament.
She suggested a mutual co-operation between Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the Parliamentary Press Corps to ensure that activities of MPs were made known to the public.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, urged members of the corps to see their reportage as part of the country’s development process and strive to be above partisan politics.
He called for measures to make the corps to be part of the Parliamentary Service and urged Parliament to provide the necessary assistance to enhance the work of journalists covering proceedings of the House.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Adenta, Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, suggested to newspaper editors to devote a page to the activities of Parliament and MPs.
Launching the anniversary earlier, the Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Frank Agyekum, asked members of the corps to ensure a balance in their reportage to enhance parliamentary democracy.
He commended the corps for its role over the years and reminded members about the importance of projecting both the Majority and Minority in Parliament.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association and Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh, said the association recognised the important role being played by the corps, hence the decision to include Parliament and Political Reporting as part of its annual awards programme.
He challenged journalists covering Parliament to be analytical in order to educate Ghanaians about bills and the role of MPs.
Mr Tetteh said the current trend whereby people called for a change when MPs spent two terms was not helpful to the country’s parliamentary democracy and suggested that MPs should be given more time to mature.
The Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps, Mr Andrew Edwin Arthur, called on corporate bodies to assist the corps to periodically organise courses to update the knowledge of its members.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Co-ordinator of the National Governance Programme (NGP), Mrs Leonora Kyerematen, has challenged the media to create an open and enlightened society that will demand transparent, accountable governance through fighting dictatorship, corruption and abuse of power.
She said the media must devise means of demystifying government in order to render it less remote and abstract to the people.
“The media is expected to expand socio-political and economic space that gives voice to the vulnerable and marginalised groups and offer opportunity for divergent views thereby engendering a sense of common ownership of, and commitment to the development agenda,” she said.
Mrs Kyerematen was speaking at a symposium organised by the Parliamentary Press Corps of Ghana as part of a week-long activities marking the 15th anniversary of the corps. The anniversary is being held on the theme: “The role of the Press Corps in parliamentary democracy”.
Mrs Kyerematen noted that Ghanaians had come to see the media as a great potential for peace building, saying that the media’s role in supporting the electoral process, through the levelling of the playing field, sharing information and exposing malpractice to ensure free, fair and credible elections, was commendable.
She said Ghanaians expected the media “to act as the Inspector General of the Political Landscape, in order to provide the necessary public criticism, to ensure a high degree of political integrity among power holders and brokers”.
Mrs Kyerematen, however, expressed concern about the unfair agenda setting and default in the cross-checking of stories and sources thereby bringing the media’s integrity into disrepute and negating the gains of democracy.
“We have witnessed cases of biased, sensational, politicised, trivialised and sometimes woefully exaggerated reporting, that has embarrassed or damaged the reputation of individuals or groups of persons,” she said.
Dilating on the theme for the anniversary, Mrs Kyerematen called on Parliament to protect a free and independent media while the media should also try to build public confidence in Parliament.
She suggested a mutual co-operation between Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the Parliamentary Press Corps to ensure that activities of MPs were made known to the public.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, urged members of the corps to see their reportage as part of the country’s development process and strive to be above partisan politics.
He called for measures to make the corps to be part of the Parliamentary Service and urged Parliament to provide the necessary assistance to enhance the work of journalists covering proceedings of the House.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Adenta, Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, suggested to newspaper editors to devote a page to the activities of Parliament and MPs.
Launching the anniversary earlier, the Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Frank Agyekum, asked members of the corps to ensure a balance in their reportage to enhance parliamentary democracy.
He commended the corps for its role over the years and reminded members about the importance of projecting both the Majority and Minority in Parliament.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association and Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh, said the association recognised the important role being played by the corps, hence the decision to include Parliament and Political Reporting as part of its annual awards programme.
He challenged journalists covering Parliament to be analytical in order to educate Ghanaians about bills and the role of MPs.
Mr Tetteh said the current trend whereby people called for a change when MPs spent two terms was not helpful to the country’s parliamentary democracy and suggested that MPs should be given more time to mature.
The Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps, Mr Andrew Edwin Arthur, called on corporate bodies to assist the corps to periodically organise courses to update the knowledge of its members.
Who is John Mahama ?
Page 13, April 10, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
JOHN Dramani Mahama, who was nominated as the running mate of the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday, has risen from a humble beginning in Damango in the Northern Region to fame.
The nominee, who has been the representative of the people of Bole/Bamboi in Parliament since January 7, 1997, is popular with MPs from both the minority and majority sides.
He is also popular among staff of the Parliamentary Service and members of the Parliamentary Press Corps because of his excellent human relations and humility.
Born in Damango on November 29, 1958, Mr Mahama attended Ghana’s premier university, the University of Ghana, Legon from 1979 to 1981 and came out with a Bachelor of Arts- B.A. (Hons).
In 1985, Mr Mahama went back to the university to do a Post-graduate Diploma course in Communication Studies and since then has not relented in using his knowledge to the service of humanity.
Between 1991 and 1995, he worked at the Japan Embassy as an information officer before joining an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), Plan International, as its Sponsorship and Grants Manager, from 1995 to 1996.
Mr Mahama joined the political bandwagon and got elected in 1997 to Parliament and since then he has been the obvious choice of his constituents by winning the subsequent two elections (2000 and 2004).
He served as the Deputy Minister of Communications between 1997 and 1998 before being made the substantive sector minister between 1998 and 2001.
When the NDC lost power in the 2000 elections, Mr Mahama did not relent in his efforts but served in various capacities as the Minority Spokesperson.
Notable among such positions were the Ranking Member of Communications and currently, he is the Ranking Member for Foreign Affairs.
He has been one of the major voices of the Minority in Parliament as his contributions on the various statements, bills, legislative instruments and papers, among others, have been tremendous.
Mr Mahama who is a member of the Pan African Parliament is married with five children.
When contacted, the Minority Leader and MP for Nawdowli West, Mr Alban Sumana Kingford Bagbin, told the Daily Graphic that “this is one of the best decisions to have been made by the NDC in recent times”.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
JOHN Dramani Mahama, who was nominated as the running mate of the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday, has risen from a humble beginning in Damango in the Northern Region to fame.
The nominee, who has been the representative of the people of Bole/Bamboi in Parliament since January 7, 1997, is popular with MPs from both the minority and majority sides.
He is also popular among staff of the Parliamentary Service and members of the Parliamentary Press Corps because of his excellent human relations and humility.
Born in Damango on November 29, 1958, Mr Mahama attended Ghana’s premier university, the University of Ghana, Legon from 1979 to 1981 and came out with a Bachelor of Arts- B.A. (Hons).
In 1985, Mr Mahama went back to the university to do a Post-graduate Diploma course in Communication Studies and since then has not relented in using his knowledge to the service of humanity.
Between 1991 and 1995, he worked at the Japan Embassy as an information officer before joining an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), Plan International, as its Sponsorship and Grants Manager, from 1995 to 1996.
Mr Mahama joined the political bandwagon and got elected in 1997 to Parliament and since then he has been the obvious choice of his constituents by winning the subsequent two elections (2000 and 2004).
He served as the Deputy Minister of Communications between 1997 and 1998 before being made the substantive sector minister between 1998 and 2001.
When the NDC lost power in the 2000 elections, Mr Mahama did not relent in his efforts but served in various capacities as the Minority Spokesperson.
Notable among such positions were the Ranking Member of Communications and currently, he is the Ranking Member for Foreign Affairs.
He has been one of the major voices of the Minority in Parliament as his contributions on the various statements, bills, legislative instruments and papers, among others, have been tremendous.
Mr Mahama who is a member of the Pan African Parliament is married with five children.
When contacted, the Minority Leader and MP for Nawdowli West, Mr Alban Sumana Kingford Bagbin, told the Daily Graphic that “this is one of the best decisions to have been made by the NDC in recent times”.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
IEA to hold Town Hall Meetings
Page 13, April 5, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is to organise town hall meetings in 50 selected constituencies as part of its programme lined up for the December elections.
The meetings would enable the nominated parliamentary candidates in those constituencies to meet the electorate, outline their programmes to them and answer their questions.
A released signed by the IEA Administrator, Mrs Jean Mensa, named Ejura-Sekyedumase, Oforikrom, Old Tafo, Manhyia, Bantama and Asawase as constituencies in the Ashanti Region where the meetings would be organised while in the Brong Ahafo Region, Kintampo North, Kintampo South, Asutifi South, Nkoranza North, Nkoranza South, Techiman and Pru constituencies had been selected for the programme.
Others are as follows: Central Region — Cape Coast, Awutu-Senya and Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem; Eastern Region — Akwatia, Suhum, Lower Manya, Upper Manya, Yilo Krobo, Koforidua, New Juaben South, New Juaben North and Asuogyaman; and the Greater Accra Region — Osu Klottey, Klottey-Korle, Ablekuma Central, Odododiodoo, Ledzokuku, East Ayawaso, Ashaiman, Tema East, Ningo-Prampram and Weija.
In the Northern Region, Tamale South, Tamale Central, Yendi and Mion have been selected for the programme while Sekondi, Takoradi, Shama Ahanta and Effia-Kwesimintim constituencies would benefit in the Western Region.
The rest are: Volta Region — Nkwanta North and Ho Central; while Wa West, Bawku Central, Navrongo Central, Builsa North and Zebilla in the Upper West complete the selected constituencies.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is to organise town hall meetings in 50 selected constituencies as part of its programme lined up for the December elections.
The meetings would enable the nominated parliamentary candidates in those constituencies to meet the electorate, outline their programmes to them and answer their questions.
A released signed by the IEA Administrator, Mrs Jean Mensa, named Ejura-Sekyedumase, Oforikrom, Old Tafo, Manhyia, Bantama and Asawase as constituencies in the Ashanti Region where the meetings would be organised while in the Brong Ahafo Region, Kintampo North, Kintampo South, Asutifi South, Nkoranza North, Nkoranza South, Techiman and Pru constituencies had been selected for the programme.
Others are as follows: Central Region — Cape Coast, Awutu-Senya and Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem; Eastern Region — Akwatia, Suhum, Lower Manya, Upper Manya, Yilo Krobo, Koforidua, New Juaben South, New Juaben North and Asuogyaman; and the Greater Accra Region — Osu Klottey, Klottey-Korle, Ablekuma Central, Odododiodoo, Ledzokuku, East Ayawaso, Ashaiman, Tema East, Ningo-Prampram and Weija.
In the Northern Region, Tamale South, Tamale Central, Yendi and Mion have been selected for the programme while Sekondi, Takoradi, Shama Ahanta and Effia-Kwesimintim constituencies would benefit in the Western Region.
The rest are: Volta Region — Nkwanta North and Ho Central; while Wa West, Bawku Central, Navrongo Central, Builsa North and Zebilla in the Upper West complete the selected constituencies.
IEA to educate voters on issues — Towards 2008 elections IEA to educate voters on issues — Towards 2008 elections
Page 16, April 4, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has outlined its programme aimed at reducing political tension and provide a serene environment for the 2008 elections.
As part of the programme dubbed “The IEA Election Programme: Towards a credible and violence-free election 2008”, the organisation had proposed a six-component intervention to ensure that voters were properly briefed to enable them to elect the best people to rule the country.
A release issued in Accra and signed by the Administrator of IEA, Mrs Jean Mensa, explained that a voter education campaign would be organised in 100 constituencies to educate the electorate on the voters’ register, issues to consider in voting for a candidate and the procedures involved in voting.
It said two presidential debates, comprising published written answers of the presidential candidates to administer questionnaire in Accra and Tamale had also been slated for Accra and Tamale to afford the electorate the opportunity to assess the suitability of the candidates to enable them make an informed choice.
In addition, town hall meetings would be organised for parliamentary candidates in 50 selected constituencies to afford the candidates a chance to outline their programmes and answer questions from the electorate.
The organisation also intended to broadcast three-to-five minutes pre-recorded peace messages on radio and television from leaders of registered political parties, chiefs and traditional authorities, religious leaders, women leaders, youth leaders and identified national opinion leaders in English and all the major local languages.
There would also be a women’s training and marketing programme that would cover the training of aspiring women parliamentary candidates.
The training, according to the release, would focus on techniques of fund-raising, communication skills and packaging of campaign messages and assist in marketing nominated female candidates through the organisation of town hall meetings to enable them to interact with the electorate, publication of profiles in the print and electronic media and the publication and distribution of leaflets containing messages by the candidates.
The IEA would also would embark on an election monitoring programme that would cover political campaigning, media coverage of campaigns, the electoral process, election day voting and the declaration of the results.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has outlined its programme aimed at reducing political tension and provide a serene environment for the 2008 elections.
As part of the programme dubbed “The IEA Election Programme: Towards a credible and violence-free election 2008”, the organisation had proposed a six-component intervention to ensure that voters were properly briefed to enable them to elect the best people to rule the country.
A release issued in Accra and signed by the Administrator of IEA, Mrs Jean Mensa, explained that a voter education campaign would be organised in 100 constituencies to educate the electorate on the voters’ register, issues to consider in voting for a candidate and the procedures involved in voting.
It said two presidential debates, comprising published written answers of the presidential candidates to administer questionnaire in Accra and Tamale had also been slated for Accra and Tamale to afford the electorate the opportunity to assess the suitability of the candidates to enable them make an informed choice.
In addition, town hall meetings would be organised for parliamentary candidates in 50 selected constituencies to afford the candidates a chance to outline their programmes and answer questions from the electorate.
The organisation also intended to broadcast three-to-five minutes pre-recorded peace messages on radio and television from leaders of registered political parties, chiefs and traditional authorities, religious leaders, women leaders, youth leaders and identified national opinion leaders in English and all the major local languages.
There would also be a women’s training and marketing programme that would cover the training of aspiring women parliamentary candidates.
The training, according to the release, would focus on techniques of fund-raising, communication skills and packaging of campaign messages and assist in marketing nominated female candidates through the organisation of town hall meetings to enable them to interact with the electorate, publication of profiles in the print and electronic media and the publication and distribution of leaflets containing messages by the candidates.
The IEA would also would embark on an election monitoring programme that would cover political campaigning, media coverage of campaigns, the electoral process, election day voting and the declaration of the results.
Chief executives congratulate Sheikh I.C Quaye
Page 17, April 4, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
District, municipal and metropolitan chief executives in the Greater Accra Region have congratulated the Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye, on the conferment of a landmark achievement of excellence on him.
The Society for the Study of History and International Studies of the Lagos State University in Nigeria in February conferred the award on the regional minister.
The society recognised that from 1969 till now Sheikh Quaye’s family had contributed and sacrificed a lot towards the entrenchment of democracy and civil liberty in Ghana.
The Ga West Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Eric Busby Quartey-Papafio, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, noted that the award had confirmed that the regional minister’s political achievements cut across the country’s borders.
“The history of the Danquah-Busia’s tradition will be incomplete without a recognition of the role played by the regional minister’s family,” he said.
He said the entire membership of the NPP in the region, chiefs and Ghanaians in general were proud of Sheikh Quaye’s political achievements, adding that it was significant that he had not relented in his efforts to ensure the total development of the Greater Accra Region in particular and the country in general.
Mr Quartey-Papafio commended the society for recognising the hardworking regional minister during his life time and expressed the hope that the award would encourage him to still work hard.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
District, municipal and metropolitan chief executives in the Greater Accra Region have congratulated the Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye, on the conferment of a landmark achievement of excellence on him.
The Society for the Study of History and International Studies of the Lagos State University in Nigeria in February conferred the award on the regional minister.
The society recognised that from 1969 till now Sheikh Quaye’s family had contributed and sacrificed a lot towards the entrenchment of democracy and civil liberty in Ghana.
The Ga West Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Eric Busby Quartey-Papafio, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, noted that the award had confirmed that the regional minister’s political achievements cut across the country’s borders.
“The history of the Danquah-Busia’s tradition will be incomplete without a recognition of the role played by the regional minister’s family,” he said.
He said the entire membership of the NPP in the region, chiefs and Ghanaians in general were proud of Sheikh Quaye’s political achievements, adding that it was significant that he had not relented in his efforts to ensure the total development of the Greater Accra Region in particular and the country in general.
Mr Quartey-Papafio commended the society for recognising the hardworking regional minister during his life time and expressed the hope that the award would encourage him to still work hard.
NPP has fulfilled electoral promises-Opare-Hammond
Page 13, April 3, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Adenta, Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, has said that the party has fulfilled its electoral promises to the people and thus deserves to be given another mandate to rule the country.
He said policies such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the School Feeding Programme, the Capitation Grant and the LEAP were some of the landmark policies that would go a long way to enhance the living conditions of the poor and needy in the country.
Mr Opare-Hammond said this when he presented his nomination forms to officials of the party in the constituency to contest the upcoming primary to choose a candidate for the December general election.
The MP, who is seeking the mandate of the party to contest the seat for the second time, expressed optimism that he would win the December poll if he was endorsed by the party.
Mr Opare-Hammond stated that although a number of strides had been made during his tenure of office, the most remarkable one was the elevation of the constituency to a municipality.
He said the foundation of the municipality had already been made and needed people who had the required ability to build upon the successes so far chalked up.
Mr Opare-Hammond, therefore, asked the NPP delegates in the constituency to give him another chance to build on the foundation he had already laid.
The MP donated an air conditioner, valued at GH¢650, and cash of GH¢350 for the decoration of the constituency office.
A cross-section of people in the area trooped to the office to witness the filling of nomination by the MP, with some of them praising him for his role in getting the area elevated to a municipality.
The Adenta NPP Constituency Secretary, Mr Aja Wentumi, received the nomination forms in the presence of the Chairman of the constituency, Mr Kwaku Obiri-Yeboah.
Mr Obiri-Yeboah asked Mr Opare-Hammond and his only challenger, Mr Stephen Larbi, to conduct their campaign with decorum in order not to soil the reputation of the party.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Adenta, Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, has said that the party has fulfilled its electoral promises to the people and thus deserves to be given another mandate to rule the country.
He said policies such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the School Feeding Programme, the Capitation Grant and the LEAP were some of the landmark policies that would go a long way to enhance the living conditions of the poor and needy in the country.
Mr Opare-Hammond said this when he presented his nomination forms to officials of the party in the constituency to contest the upcoming primary to choose a candidate for the December general election.
The MP, who is seeking the mandate of the party to contest the seat for the second time, expressed optimism that he would win the December poll if he was endorsed by the party.
Mr Opare-Hammond stated that although a number of strides had been made during his tenure of office, the most remarkable one was the elevation of the constituency to a municipality.
He said the foundation of the municipality had already been made and needed people who had the required ability to build upon the successes so far chalked up.
Mr Opare-Hammond, therefore, asked the NPP delegates in the constituency to give him another chance to build on the foundation he had already laid.
The MP donated an air conditioner, valued at GH¢650, and cash of GH¢350 for the decoration of the constituency office.
A cross-section of people in the area trooped to the office to witness the filling of nomination by the MP, with some of them praising him for his role in getting the area elevated to a municipality.
The Adenta NPP Constituency Secretary, Mr Aja Wentumi, received the nomination forms in the presence of the Chairman of the constituency, Mr Kwaku Obiri-Yeboah.
Mr Obiri-Yeboah asked Mr Opare-Hammond and his only challenger, Mr Stephen Larbi, to conduct their campaign with decorum in order not to soil the reputation of the party.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Owusu-Afriyie confirmed as Weija MCE
Page 16, April 2, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE President’s nominee for the post of District Chief Executive (DCE) for the newly created Weija Municipality, Mr Stephen Owusu-Afriyie, was yesterday confirmed by the assembly.
He polled 19 votes out of 21 in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC) to receive the nod at the assembly’s first sitting at Weija in the Greater Accra Region.
However, the election of the Presiding Member of the assembly was decided after three rounds of voting.
In the first two rounds, Nii Abissey Braide polled 12 on both occasions while his contender, Mr Slyvanus Martey, also had nine votes on both rounds.
There was tension when the assembly members adjourned sitting briefly to consult themselves to see how best they could come out with a presiding member to pave way for the confirmation of the MCE.
In the end, Mr Martey stepped down for a third round of voting to be conducted to determine the popularity of Nii Braide during which he had 16 out of the 21 votes.
In a speech after he had been sworn in, Mr Owusu-Afriyie said he was overwhelmed by the “one touch” majority verdict to confirm his nomination, adding that it was a clear indication that the House was poised for action.
By their action, the MCE stated that the assembly members had shown how prepared they were to work in harmony to achieve a common goal for the betterment of the newly created municipality.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie promised to adopt an open-door administration and urged the assembly members to avoid bickering, rancour, antagonism and animosity, in order to create a conducive atmosphere for rapid development.
For his part, Ni Braide promised to work in harmony with the MCE to ensure the achievement of the set goals of the assembly.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE President’s nominee for the post of District Chief Executive (DCE) for the newly created Weija Municipality, Mr Stephen Owusu-Afriyie, was yesterday confirmed by the assembly.
He polled 19 votes out of 21 in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC) to receive the nod at the assembly’s first sitting at Weija in the Greater Accra Region.
However, the election of the Presiding Member of the assembly was decided after three rounds of voting.
In the first two rounds, Nii Abissey Braide polled 12 on both occasions while his contender, Mr Slyvanus Martey, also had nine votes on both rounds.
There was tension when the assembly members adjourned sitting briefly to consult themselves to see how best they could come out with a presiding member to pave way for the confirmation of the MCE.
In the end, Mr Martey stepped down for a third round of voting to be conducted to determine the popularity of Nii Braide during which he had 16 out of the 21 votes.
In a speech after he had been sworn in, Mr Owusu-Afriyie said he was overwhelmed by the “one touch” majority verdict to confirm his nomination, adding that it was a clear indication that the House was poised for action.
By their action, the MCE stated that the assembly members had shown how prepared they were to work in harmony to achieve a common goal for the betterment of the newly created municipality.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie promised to adopt an open-door administration and urged the assembly members to avoid bickering, rancour, antagonism and animosity, in order to create a conducive atmosphere for rapid development.
For his part, Ni Braide promised to work in harmony with the MCE to ensure the achievement of the set goals of the assembly.
MP asks Ghanaians to join NHIS
Page 16, April 2, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Berekum, Captain (retd) Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, has appealed to Ghanaians who have not yet registered for the National Health Insurance Scheme to do so.
He said the increasing cost of health delivery made it necessary for everybody to be part of the scheme to enjoy benefits it offered.
Capt Effah-Dartey was speaking at a four-day convention of the Church of Pentecost at Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He stated that the scheme had come as a relief for the poor in the country and called for intensive education to enable it to attract more people to make it successful.
Capt Effah-Dartey commended the Church of Pentecost for the role it was playing in the country’s socio-economic development and urged other religious bodies to emulate such gesture.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Nana Kwadwo Kwakye, in a speech urged Christians to live lives that portrayed their faith as Christians.
He said the government appreciated the good work of churches in the form of prayers, schools and clinics and appealed to them to continue to collaborate with the government to ensure the rapid development of the country.
In a sermon, the Area Head of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Amegatcher, appealed to the chiefs of the area to release lands to the church to enable it to embark on afforestation projects.
He called on politicians to conduct their campaigns in a peaceful manner by avoiding provocative language to make the forthcoming elections incident-free.
Meanwhile, the Jaman South District Chief Executive, Mr Apraku Tanoh, has cautioned the youth in the area to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.
At a fund-raising activity at Kofiko, near Drobo, in aid of the construction of a clinic, the DCE asked the youth to avoid negative peer pressure that led them indulge in indiscriminate sex.
He commended the people for their effort to take their own lives into their hands and assured them that the assembly would assist communities with such commitments.
The Assembly Member for Kofiko, Mr Alexander Ferkah, said the community believed that the government alone could not provide all the development needs of the town.
He, therefore, called on non-governmental organisations and individuals to come to the aid of the town to enable it to complete the project it had embarked on.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Berekum, Captain (retd) Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, has appealed to Ghanaians who have not yet registered for the National Health Insurance Scheme to do so.
He said the increasing cost of health delivery made it necessary for everybody to be part of the scheme to enjoy benefits it offered.
Capt Effah-Dartey was speaking at a four-day convention of the Church of Pentecost at Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He stated that the scheme had come as a relief for the poor in the country and called for intensive education to enable it to attract more people to make it successful.
Capt Effah-Dartey commended the Church of Pentecost for the role it was playing in the country’s socio-economic development and urged other religious bodies to emulate such gesture.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Nana Kwadwo Kwakye, in a speech urged Christians to live lives that portrayed their faith as Christians.
He said the government appreciated the good work of churches in the form of prayers, schools and clinics and appealed to them to continue to collaborate with the government to ensure the rapid development of the country.
In a sermon, the Area Head of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Amegatcher, appealed to the chiefs of the area to release lands to the church to enable it to embark on afforestation projects.
He called on politicians to conduct their campaigns in a peaceful manner by avoiding provocative language to make the forthcoming elections incident-free.
Meanwhile, the Jaman South District Chief Executive, Mr Apraku Tanoh, has cautioned the youth in the area to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.
At a fund-raising activity at Kofiko, near Drobo, in aid of the construction of a clinic, the DCE asked the youth to avoid negative peer pressure that led them indulge in indiscriminate sex.
He commended the people for their effort to take their own lives into their hands and assured them that the assembly would assist communities with such commitments.
The Assembly Member for Kofiko, Mr Alexander Ferkah, said the community believed that the government alone could not provide all the development needs of the town.
He, therefore, called on non-governmental organisations and individuals to come to the aid of the town to enable it to complete the project it had embarked on.
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