Page 3, July 31, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Director of Corporate Affairs at the Finatrade Group of Companies, Mr John Awuni, has given the assurance that the group has the market potential to purchase any quantity of rice that will be produced in the country.
“It will, therefore, be wrong for any rice farmer in the country to claim that he has no market for his produce,” he said.
Speaking to members of the Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, Mr Awuni said Finatrade had been marketing rice produced in the country since 2001.
Continental Commodities Trading Company (CCTC), a subsidiary of the Finatrade Group of Companies, is one of the major importers of rice from a number of rice-producing countries world-wide for sale in countries in the West African sub-region.
The visit of the parliamentary committee was, therefore, to find out whether the recent removal of import duty on rice and other commodities, as announced by President J. A. Kufuor, had had any positive impact on the ordinary Ghanaian.
Answering questions from the MPs, Mr Awuni explained that since 2001, when the company started dealing in rice produced in the country, it had not been able to get the quantity needed from Ghanaian rice farmers.
He explained that after lending some Ghanaian farmers about GH¢1.7 million for the supply of 100,000 bags of rice, the beneficiary farmers were able to supply only 10,000 bags.
Commenting on the effects of the removal of import duty on rice, the Managing Director of the Finatrade Group, Mr Nabil Moukarzel, noted that the decision had helped to reduce the smuggling of rice from Ghana to neighbouring countries.
He added that when the President made the announcement for the removal of import duty, prices of rice were rising on a daily basis, saying that prices of the commodity had now stabilised.
Mr Moukarzel said the company complied with the President’s mitigating measures, which later received parliamentary approval, by reducing the prices of rice it had imported after the President’s measures had received that approval.
He stated that the company had put in measures to sanction customers who added more than the expected profit to their consignment in order to benefit from the removal of import duty from rice, to the disadvantage of the ordinary consumer.
Mr Moukarzel noted that the company had been up to its social responsibilities, explaining that 20 university students pursuing studies in Agriculture had been offered scholarships to enable them to venture into large-scale food production after their education.
In addition, the company also assisted the Black Stars with $100,000 when they participated in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and also assisted the team with $200,000 when Ghana hosted the 2007 Africa Cup of Nations.
Responding, the Chairman of the committee and MP for Abuakwa North, Mr J. B. Danquah Adu, commended the company for taking measures to ensure that the decision of the government had the necessary impact on the people.
He called on it to establish a refinery to process palm oil produced in the country to ensure the success of the President’s Special Initiative (PSI) on oil palm to enable farmers in that sector to benefit from the sweat of their toil.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Expedite action on Anyima-Kintampo road — MP
Page 39, July 28, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Kintampo South, Mr Yaw Effah-Baafi, has on behalf of the chiefs and people of the area, appealed to the government to expedite action on the 24-kilometre Anyima-Kintampo road to enhance economic activities.
The MP told the Daily Graphic that the bad nature of the road had brought untold hardships to the people due to its negative impact on economic activities and health delivery.
The Kintampo South District is a rural one with Anyima as the second largest community with a population of over 7,000 people.
Mr Effah-Baafi stated that the 24-kilometre road was awarded on contract for the construction of culverts, adding that the road was currently muddy and slippery making the work so slow that it was impossible for vehicles to ply it, especially after it had rained.
He said that work on the other alternative route, the 11.2-kilometre Anyima-Jema feeder road, which was awarded on contract about three years ago, was poorly executed and had therefore worsened the condition of the road.
Mr Effah-Baafi said in the circumstances, Anyima and its environs had been completely cut off from the rest of the Kintampo North and Kintampo South districts.
“I wish on behalf of the Anyima community, to plead with the government and all those who matter, to ensure that work on the Anyima-Kintampo road is expedited to allow economic activities and health delivery to continue,” he stressed.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Kintampo South, Mr Yaw Effah-Baafi, has on behalf of the chiefs and people of the area, appealed to the government to expedite action on the 24-kilometre Anyima-Kintampo road to enhance economic activities.
The MP told the Daily Graphic that the bad nature of the road had brought untold hardships to the people due to its negative impact on economic activities and health delivery.
The Kintampo South District is a rural one with Anyima as the second largest community with a population of over 7,000 people.
Mr Effah-Baafi stated that the 24-kilometre road was awarded on contract for the construction of culverts, adding that the road was currently muddy and slippery making the work so slow that it was impossible for vehicles to ply it, especially after it had rained.
He said that work on the other alternative route, the 11.2-kilometre Anyima-Jema feeder road, which was awarded on contract about three years ago, was poorly executed and had therefore worsened the condition of the road.
Mr Effah-Baafi said in the circumstances, Anyima and its environs had been completely cut off from the rest of the Kintampo North and Kintampo South districts.
“I wish on behalf of the Anyima community, to plead with the government and all those who matter, to ensure that work on the Anyima-Kintampo road is expedited to allow economic activities and health delivery to continue,” he stressed.
Red Cross urged to help prevent disasters
Page 55, July 28, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Sandra Amartey
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has challenged members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to work towards the prevention of disasters in the society.
“It is unfortunate that we hear of Red Cross and Red Crescent only in times of war, chaos and disasters. We must realise that in our present circumstances, these demands are changing. We must be working more towards prevention,” he said.
He said this in an address at the Fourth General Assembly and Joint Partners meeting of the New Partnership for African Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (NEPARC) in Accra last Friday.
The three-day meeting is being attended by representatives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent from member countries across Africa.
In an address read on his behalf by the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Abraham Dwuma Odoom, Alhaji Aliu noted that there was the need for the Red Cross Society (RCS) to re-orient its services and seek partnership with established institutions that had experience in the field of disaster prevention.
He stated that the Geneva Conventions and its successor convention, which were direct results of Red Cross movement, continued “to remind us of our collective responsibility towards peace and the need to respect one another”.
The Vice-President stated that Ghanaians experienced the worth of the Red Cross during the recent devastating floods in the northern parts of the country.
He recounted that the society, supported by the International Federation of the Red Cross, played a very important role in assisting over 1,000 households with food and other relief items.
Alhaji Aliu said the Red Cross also constructed about 375 two-unit houses for some families while nearly 1,000 families had also been supported in the Upper East Region as a result of the Bawku conflict.
He explained that lessons that could be learnt from these gestures had taught Ghanaians not only about the value of humanitarian services but more importantly the need to develop enduring partnership in times of disasters.
Alhaji Aliu called for the support of faith-based organisations, private sector organisations and the government to enable the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to meet the ever increasing demands on them.
Alhaji Aliu asked members of the Red Cross in the country to be agents of change by spreading the message of healthy lifestyles to promote good health and prevent diseases.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Professor Stephen Adei, noted that with the present global phenomenon of climate change and its adverse effects on sustainable livelihoods, almost everybody and every country was at risk.
He said it was for that and other reasons that the formation of a body like NEPARC became very relevant, adding that the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies would always work towards the prevention of disasters.
The President of the Ugandan Red Cross and NEPARC, Mr Tom Buruku, stated that NEPARC was established to address the current challenges such as poor governance, the escalating dependency levels to sustain basic services and the continued marginalisation facing African national societies.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Sandra Amartey
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has challenged members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to work towards the prevention of disasters in the society.
“It is unfortunate that we hear of Red Cross and Red Crescent only in times of war, chaos and disasters. We must realise that in our present circumstances, these demands are changing. We must be working more towards prevention,” he said.
He said this in an address at the Fourth General Assembly and Joint Partners meeting of the New Partnership for African Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (NEPARC) in Accra last Friday.
The three-day meeting is being attended by representatives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent from member countries across Africa.
In an address read on his behalf by the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Abraham Dwuma Odoom, Alhaji Aliu noted that there was the need for the Red Cross Society (RCS) to re-orient its services and seek partnership with established institutions that had experience in the field of disaster prevention.
He stated that the Geneva Conventions and its successor convention, which were direct results of Red Cross movement, continued “to remind us of our collective responsibility towards peace and the need to respect one another”.
The Vice-President stated that Ghanaians experienced the worth of the Red Cross during the recent devastating floods in the northern parts of the country.
He recounted that the society, supported by the International Federation of the Red Cross, played a very important role in assisting over 1,000 households with food and other relief items.
Alhaji Aliu said the Red Cross also constructed about 375 two-unit houses for some families while nearly 1,000 families had also been supported in the Upper East Region as a result of the Bawku conflict.
He explained that lessons that could be learnt from these gestures had taught Ghanaians not only about the value of humanitarian services but more importantly the need to develop enduring partnership in times of disasters.
Alhaji Aliu called for the support of faith-based organisations, private sector organisations and the government to enable the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to meet the ever increasing demands on them.
Alhaji Aliu asked members of the Red Cross in the country to be agents of change by spreading the message of healthy lifestyles to promote good health and prevent diseases.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Professor Stephen Adei, noted that with the present global phenomenon of climate change and its adverse effects on sustainable livelihoods, almost everybody and every country was at risk.
He said it was for that and other reasons that the formation of a body like NEPARC became very relevant, adding that the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies would always work towards the prevention of disasters.
The President of the Ugandan Red Cross and NEPARC, Mr Tom Buruku, stated that NEPARC was established to address the current challenges such as poor governance, the escalating dependency levels to sustain basic services and the continued marginalisation facing African national societies.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Massive Facelift For Roads, $1 bn to be sunk, Scheduled to be completed in 2 yrs
Lead Story, July 25, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A significant portion of the country’s road network, identified by the government as the “priority zone”, has been earmarked for a massive uplift to enhance regional and national integration.
The exercise, which is expected to be completed within two years, is to be funded from a $1 billion loan from Goldman Sach International (GSI) of the United Kingdom (UK).
The priority roads include the Fufulso-Sawla, Wa-Han-Tumu, Chichuliga-Tumu, Agona Junction-Elubo, Elubo-Asemkrom-Enchi, Nkawkaw-Obomeng-Mpraeso, Koforidua-Bunso, Gambia No 2-Kyeremasu, Tepa-Goaso, the Sunyani outer Ring Road, Worawora-Dambai, the Cape Coast Ring Road, with an interchange at the Pedu Junction, Kumasi-Sunyani and the Mampong town roads.
Under the project, the following roads are also expected to be converted to dual carriageways: Kasoa-Cape Coast, Cape Coast-Elubo, Tema-Aflao and Kumasi-Techiman.
The Accra-Kumasi corridor will also be completed within the period.
Since majority of the roads fall within the country’s agricultural enclaves, the project is expected to boost socio-economic activities, while those that connect the regional capitals are expected to enhance administrative and commercial networking, lower vehicle operating cost, save travelling time and reduce accident rates.
The improvement of these roads is also expected to provide the country’s landlocked neighbours access to Ghana’s ports, in addition to facilitating regional co-operation and trade.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, said in an interview that studies on the priority roads were either completed or ongoing and it was envisaged that procurement of works would be launched as soon as possible on all the roads in respect of which studies had been completed, while the others on which studies were ongoing would have their tenders as and when the studies were completed.
He added that some ongoing projects would be financed under the agreement to ensure that contractors’ cash flows were improved to ensure early completion of the projects.
Mr Baah-Wiredu stated that the government offered sovereign support in the form of indirect guarantees and undertakings which would be adequate security to support the repayment of the facility and accrued interest.
“It is expected that the facility and accrued interest will be amortised with revenue from the payment of tolls on the roads identified and according to traffic and revenue projections.
He explained that from traffic and toll revenue projections, $1.8 billion would be accrued from 2010 to 2018, as against the cost (debt servicing and maintenance) of $1.7 billion, while by the close of 2020 the revenue accruals would be about $2.5 billion.
The deal, which is yet to receive parliamentary approval, offers considerable benefits for the country, as it will guarantee the financing of essential road infrastructure to facilitate rapid socio-economic growth.
The Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP), which the Ministry of Transportation had been implementing over the last five years, with financial support from the International Development Agency (IDA), came to an end on June 27, 2008.
A document on the loan, which was made available to the Daily Graphic, indicates that another programme, the Transport Sector Development Programme (TSDP), which is being prepared may take a year or two to take off.
The government is, therefore, sourcing the $1 billion loan to fund the priority road projects which call for immediate interventions before the beginning of the TSDP.
The ministries of Finance and Economic Planning and Transportation, therefore, invited proposals from GSI for structuring and arranging a facility to provide funds for the implementation of the government’s priority road infrastructure projects.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A significant portion of the country’s road network, identified by the government as the “priority zone”, has been earmarked for a massive uplift to enhance regional and national integration.
The exercise, which is expected to be completed within two years, is to be funded from a $1 billion loan from Goldman Sach International (GSI) of the United Kingdom (UK).
The priority roads include the Fufulso-Sawla, Wa-Han-Tumu, Chichuliga-Tumu, Agona Junction-Elubo, Elubo-Asemkrom-Enchi, Nkawkaw-Obomeng-Mpraeso, Koforidua-Bunso, Gambia No 2-Kyeremasu, Tepa-Goaso, the Sunyani outer Ring Road, Worawora-Dambai, the Cape Coast Ring Road, with an interchange at the Pedu Junction, Kumasi-Sunyani and the Mampong town roads.
Under the project, the following roads are also expected to be converted to dual carriageways: Kasoa-Cape Coast, Cape Coast-Elubo, Tema-Aflao and Kumasi-Techiman.
The Accra-Kumasi corridor will also be completed within the period.
Since majority of the roads fall within the country’s agricultural enclaves, the project is expected to boost socio-economic activities, while those that connect the regional capitals are expected to enhance administrative and commercial networking, lower vehicle operating cost, save travelling time and reduce accident rates.
The improvement of these roads is also expected to provide the country’s landlocked neighbours access to Ghana’s ports, in addition to facilitating regional co-operation and trade.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, said in an interview that studies on the priority roads were either completed or ongoing and it was envisaged that procurement of works would be launched as soon as possible on all the roads in respect of which studies had been completed, while the others on which studies were ongoing would have their tenders as and when the studies were completed.
He added that some ongoing projects would be financed under the agreement to ensure that contractors’ cash flows were improved to ensure early completion of the projects.
Mr Baah-Wiredu stated that the government offered sovereign support in the form of indirect guarantees and undertakings which would be adequate security to support the repayment of the facility and accrued interest.
“It is expected that the facility and accrued interest will be amortised with revenue from the payment of tolls on the roads identified and according to traffic and revenue projections.
He explained that from traffic and toll revenue projections, $1.8 billion would be accrued from 2010 to 2018, as against the cost (debt servicing and maintenance) of $1.7 billion, while by the close of 2020 the revenue accruals would be about $2.5 billion.
The deal, which is yet to receive parliamentary approval, offers considerable benefits for the country, as it will guarantee the financing of essential road infrastructure to facilitate rapid socio-economic growth.
The Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP), which the Ministry of Transportation had been implementing over the last five years, with financial support from the International Development Agency (IDA), came to an end on June 27, 2008.
A document on the loan, which was made available to the Daily Graphic, indicates that another programme, the Transport Sector Development Programme (TSDP), which is being prepared may take a year or two to take off.
The government is, therefore, sourcing the $1 billion loan to fund the priority road projects which call for immediate interventions before the beginning of the TSDP.
The ministries of Finance and Economic Planning and Transportation, therefore, invited proposals from GSI for structuring and arranging a facility to provide funds for the implementation of the government’s priority road infrastructure projects.
Two call on minister
Page 34, July 25, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Sandra Amartey
THE Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Musiliu O. Obanikoro, has called for the creation of a common market between Ghana and Nigeria to serve as a catalyst for the achievement of the objectives of the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS).
“If ECOWAS is to achieve its objectives, then there is the need for Ghana and Nigeria to stand shoulder to shoulder and take the lead for others to follow,” he said.
Mr Obanikoro made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mrs Oboshie Sai Coffie, in Accra yesterday.
The call was to enable the High Commissioner to introduce himself to the minister and seek her support in deepening the level of co-operation between the two countries.
Mr Obanikoro recalled the long-standing co-operation between Ghana and Nigeria and stated that the tourism industry was one area where both countries could come together and see how they could develop their potential to enable them to benefit from the industry.
To that end, the High Commissioner announced the holding of a business summit between Ghanaian and Nigerian businessmen to usher in the establishment of the Ghana-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce aimed at improving trade between the two countries.
Mr Obanikoro, however, expressed worry over what he called the slow down of the activities of the Pan-African Festival (PANAFEST) which was instituted by Ghana to bring together Africans living on the continent and those in the Diaspora.
He noted that PANAFEST was a major festival that held the key to positively portraying African culture and, therefore, urged the Ghanaian authorities to work hard to sustain the interest that festival had generated among Africans.
He said PANAFEST was a dynamic festival that should be harnessed for the benefit of the sub-region and Africa as a whole and called for measures to revive the fortunes of the festival.
He expressed concern over the activities of some Nigerian miscreants which, he noted, had given Nigeria a bad image in the eyes of Ghanaians and said efforts were being made, in collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), to curb the situation.
Mr Obanikoro gave assurance that the High Commission would not shield such bad nuts whose activities had overshadowed the good works of most Nigerians who were living in peace with their Ghanaian hosts.
He congratulated Ghana on its discovery of oil in commercial quantities and expressed the hope that the country would learn lessons from Nigeria’s experience in the industry to make the discovery a blessing.
Replying, Mrs Coffie noted that close collaboration between the two countries would ensure rapid economic development and noted that the tourism sector had a bigger potential to grow if it was given the needed support.
She stated that measures had been put in place through the institution of the oil and gas forum to enable the country to learn from the experiences not only of Nigeria but also other oil-producing countries.
Also at the ministry to pay a courtesy call on the minister was the new Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam.
Deliberations between them centred on the tourism sector, during which Mrs Ghanashyam called on the government to give more attention to the tourism sector in order to make the country the preferred tourist destination in Africa.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Sandra Amartey
THE Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Musiliu O. Obanikoro, has called for the creation of a common market between Ghana and Nigeria to serve as a catalyst for the achievement of the objectives of the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS).
“If ECOWAS is to achieve its objectives, then there is the need for Ghana and Nigeria to stand shoulder to shoulder and take the lead for others to follow,” he said.
Mr Obanikoro made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mrs Oboshie Sai Coffie, in Accra yesterday.
The call was to enable the High Commissioner to introduce himself to the minister and seek her support in deepening the level of co-operation between the two countries.
Mr Obanikoro recalled the long-standing co-operation between Ghana and Nigeria and stated that the tourism industry was one area where both countries could come together and see how they could develop their potential to enable them to benefit from the industry.
To that end, the High Commissioner announced the holding of a business summit between Ghanaian and Nigerian businessmen to usher in the establishment of the Ghana-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce aimed at improving trade between the two countries.
Mr Obanikoro, however, expressed worry over what he called the slow down of the activities of the Pan-African Festival (PANAFEST) which was instituted by Ghana to bring together Africans living on the continent and those in the Diaspora.
He noted that PANAFEST was a major festival that held the key to positively portraying African culture and, therefore, urged the Ghanaian authorities to work hard to sustain the interest that festival had generated among Africans.
He said PANAFEST was a dynamic festival that should be harnessed for the benefit of the sub-region and Africa as a whole and called for measures to revive the fortunes of the festival.
He expressed concern over the activities of some Nigerian miscreants which, he noted, had given Nigeria a bad image in the eyes of Ghanaians and said efforts were being made, in collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), to curb the situation.
Mr Obanikoro gave assurance that the High Commission would not shield such bad nuts whose activities had overshadowed the good works of most Nigerians who were living in peace with their Ghanaian hosts.
He congratulated Ghana on its discovery of oil in commercial quantities and expressed the hope that the country would learn lessons from Nigeria’s experience in the industry to make the discovery a blessing.
Replying, Mrs Coffie noted that close collaboration between the two countries would ensure rapid economic development and noted that the tourism sector had a bigger potential to grow if it was given the needed support.
She stated that measures had been put in place through the institution of the oil and gas forum to enable the country to learn from the experiences not only of Nigeria but also other oil-producing countries.
Also at the ministry to pay a courtesy call on the minister was the new Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam.
Deliberations between them centred on the tourism sector, during which Mrs Ghanashyam called on the government to give more attention to the tourism sector in order to make the country the preferred tourist destination in Africa.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hearing women’s voices in politics — WiLDAF takes initiative
Page 11, July 24, 2008
Article: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Gifty Appiah-Adjei
BARELY five months away, Ghanaians will go to the polls to elect a President and 230 parliamentarians to be in charge of the country’s decision-making.
However, the issue of low participation of women in decision-making has been of critical concern to women and civil society organisations.
Available statistics indicate that women occupy only 25 seats (11 per cent) out of the 230 seats in Parliament, comprising 20 females from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and five from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
At the district assembly level, women constitute 10 per cent of assembly members while in the Public Service, there are only five female chief directors as against 30 male chief directors.
The country also has three female members of the Council of State as against 21 males, four female ministers out of 30 and 14 female deputy ministers out of 49.
The situation has even taken a nosedive as already six women out of the 25 who are currently in Parliament are not contesting in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
Female MPs such Ms Anna Nyamekye (Jaman South) and Ms Hilda Josephine Addo (Kwadaso) lost their bid to come back to the next Parliament to males, during the primaries, while Mrs Gladys Asmah (Takoradi), Ms Christine Churcher (Cape Coast), Ms Theresah Amaley Tagoe (Ablekuma South) and Mrs Grace Coleman, all of who did not contest during the primaries, have had their slots filled by males.
It will, therefore, be a miracle if women are to maintain the current 11 per cent representation in Parliament let alone go beyond it.
But all is not lost as there has been a steady increase in the appointment of females to leadership positions since 2001. Mention can be made of the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood; the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Mills-Robertson, and recently the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.
It is against this background that the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and a lot of civil society organisations have stepped up their advocacy to push women issues to the forefront and make sure that women make an impact during the December elections and beyond.
One of such organisations that has currently launched a programme to increase the number of women voted into office and to highlight gender equality and women’s empowerment concerns is the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), Ghana.
Dubbed “We Know Politics: Hearing Women’s Voices in Ghana’s 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections”, the programme seeks to connect Ghanaians from all walks of life — including citizens from rural areas, aspiring presidential and parliamentary candidates, women’s rights non-governmental organisations, the media and legal literacy volunteers/paralegals — to ensure that women issues are raised during this year’s campaigning and the next four years.
The project will embark on a national capacity-building leadership workshop for 40 leaders of women’s rights organisations and organise 10 regional consultations involving 500 women and gender advocates to include women’s concerns in the elections.
Again, the project will televise a live Women’s Dialogue between presidential candidates and women from all backgrounds across the country, inform citizens of their civil rights, the role of their parliamentarians and encourage then to vote for female candidates through public information and awareness activities.
There will also be an encounter with the leaders of churches who worship on Sundays to impress upon them about the need to cut short their service to enable their members to have time to vote.
The “We Know Politics” project will organise training sessions for 200 legal literacy volunteers/paralegals from all the 10 regions of Ghana to educate citizens at the district and local levels, on their responsibilities during the elections and lobby eminent Ghanaians and key media analysts to include gender concerns in elections discussions.
The British Department for International Development (DFID) and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Ghana are sponsoring the project.
Launching the project, a Member of the Council of State, Mrs Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, stated that there were many issues of concern to women that must be tackled by politicians, the government, the private sector and civil society.
She mentioned some of these concerns as violence against women, health, economic empowerment and property rights, among others, and noted that these could be addressed when women deliberated on them with one voice.
“I believe that because women’s numbers count during elections, no politician would want to ignore what women are saying,” she added.
She explained that the collective agenda of women in Ghana was important, since “each one of us has a role to play in ensuring that issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment do not remain only in the books but are realities that transform lives of the very vulnerable in society”.
She called on women to act and not just talk, in order to achieve goals they had set for themselves.
In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama, called on women to improve their skills in public speaking, lobbying and communication as these qualities were critical within the political arena.
She advised women in politics not to allow problems such as low education and lack of financial and material resources to be a barrier in their bid to enhance their participation in politics and decision-making.
The Social and Development Advisor of DFID, Dr Sonya Sultan, commended Ghana for giving much attention to issues such as girls’ education, women’s health and employment opportunities.
She, however, expressed regret at women’s participation in politics, explaining that it was not always easy for women to contribute to political debates.
“A robust democracy requires that political debates, especially at a crucial time such as the run-up to the general election, include issues of concern to women in Ghana who, after, all account for half the electorate,” she said.
The Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Lidi Remmelzwaal, expressed the hope that the project would contribute to deepen the debate on issues of gender equity and help address the existing imbalance to achieve a more equitable representation of women in all spheres of the Ghanaian society.
Article: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Gifty Appiah-Adjei
BARELY five months away, Ghanaians will go to the polls to elect a President and 230 parliamentarians to be in charge of the country’s decision-making.
However, the issue of low participation of women in decision-making has been of critical concern to women and civil society organisations.
Available statistics indicate that women occupy only 25 seats (11 per cent) out of the 230 seats in Parliament, comprising 20 females from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and five from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
At the district assembly level, women constitute 10 per cent of assembly members while in the Public Service, there are only five female chief directors as against 30 male chief directors.
The country also has three female members of the Council of State as against 21 males, four female ministers out of 30 and 14 female deputy ministers out of 49.
The situation has even taken a nosedive as already six women out of the 25 who are currently in Parliament are not contesting in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
Female MPs such Ms Anna Nyamekye (Jaman South) and Ms Hilda Josephine Addo (Kwadaso) lost their bid to come back to the next Parliament to males, during the primaries, while Mrs Gladys Asmah (Takoradi), Ms Christine Churcher (Cape Coast), Ms Theresah Amaley Tagoe (Ablekuma South) and Mrs Grace Coleman, all of who did not contest during the primaries, have had their slots filled by males.
It will, therefore, be a miracle if women are to maintain the current 11 per cent representation in Parliament let alone go beyond it.
But all is not lost as there has been a steady increase in the appointment of females to leadership positions since 2001. Mention can be made of the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood; the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Mills-Robertson, and recently the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.
It is against this background that the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and a lot of civil society organisations have stepped up their advocacy to push women issues to the forefront and make sure that women make an impact during the December elections and beyond.
One of such organisations that has currently launched a programme to increase the number of women voted into office and to highlight gender equality and women’s empowerment concerns is the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), Ghana.
Dubbed “We Know Politics: Hearing Women’s Voices in Ghana’s 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections”, the programme seeks to connect Ghanaians from all walks of life — including citizens from rural areas, aspiring presidential and parliamentary candidates, women’s rights non-governmental organisations, the media and legal literacy volunteers/paralegals — to ensure that women issues are raised during this year’s campaigning and the next four years.
The project will embark on a national capacity-building leadership workshop for 40 leaders of women’s rights organisations and organise 10 regional consultations involving 500 women and gender advocates to include women’s concerns in the elections.
Again, the project will televise a live Women’s Dialogue between presidential candidates and women from all backgrounds across the country, inform citizens of their civil rights, the role of their parliamentarians and encourage then to vote for female candidates through public information and awareness activities.
There will also be an encounter with the leaders of churches who worship on Sundays to impress upon them about the need to cut short their service to enable their members to have time to vote.
The “We Know Politics” project will organise training sessions for 200 legal literacy volunteers/paralegals from all the 10 regions of Ghana to educate citizens at the district and local levels, on their responsibilities during the elections and lobby eminent Ghanaians and key media analysts to include gender concerns in elections discussions.
The British Department for International Development (DFID) and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Ghana are sponsoring the project.
Launching the project, a Member of the Council of State, Mrs Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, stated that there were many issues of concern to women that must be tackled by politicians, the government, the private sector and civil society.
She mentioned some of these concerns as violence against women, health, economic empowerment and property rights, among others, and noted that these could be addressed when women deliberated on them with one voice.
“I believe that because women’s numbers count during elections, no politician would want to ignore what women are saying,” she added.
She explained that the collective agenda of women in Ghana was important, since “each one of us has a role to play in ensuring that issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment do not remain only in the books but are realities that transform lives of the very vulnerable in society”.
She called on women to act and not just talk, in order to achieve goals they had set for themselves.
In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama, called on women to improve their skills in public speaking, lobbying and communication as these qualities were critical within the political arena.
She advised women in politics not to allow problems such as low education and lack of financial and material resources to be a barrier in their bid to enhance their participation in politics and decision-making.
The Social and Development Advisor of DFID, Dr Sonya Sultan, commended Ghana for giving much attention to issues such as girls’ education, women’s health and employment opportunities.
She, however, expressed regret at women’s participation in politics, explaining that it was not always easy for women to contribute to political debates.
“A robust democracy requires that political debates, especially at a crucial time such as the run-up to the general election, include issues of concern to women in Ghana who, after, all account for half the electorate,” she said.
The Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Lidi Remmelzwaal, expressed the hope that the project would contribute to deepen the debate on issues of gender equity and help address the existing imbalance to achieve a more equitable representation of women in all spheres of the Ghanaian society.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Edward Mahama on US tour
Page 15, July 23, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Presidential aspirant of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, left Accra on Monday for a two-week tour of some states in the United States of America (USA).
He was accompanied by his wife, Comfort; the Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan; and Mr Haruna Sumani, a political analyst.
While in the US, Mr Mahama will attend the Sister City Conference at Michigan from July 23 to 26.
He would attend the Ghana First Anniversary at Illinois. The anniversary is celebrated by Ghanaians resident in the area to showcase Ghanaian culture.
Mr Mahama told the Daily Graphic that he would visit Washington DC to hold meetings with political leaders and supporters of the PNC in the US.
Asked why he had chosen to campaign in the US, the PNC leader explained that eventhough Ghanaians abroad would not take part in the December elections, they had influence on the voting pattern of their relatives living in Ghana.
He called on Ghanaians to give him the mandate to rule the country to ensure improvement in their lives.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Presidential aspirant of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, left Accra on Monday for a two-week tour of some states in the United States of America (USA).
He was accompanied by his wife, Comfort; the Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan; and Mr Haruna Sumani, a political analyst.
While in the US, Mr Mahama will attend the Sister City Conference at Michigan from July 23 to 26.
He would attend the Ghana First Anniversary at Illinois. The anniversary is celebrated by Ghanaians resident in the area to showcase Ghanaian culture.
Mr Mahama told the Daily Graphic that he would visit Washington DC to hold meetings with political leaders and supporters of the PNC in the US.
Asked why he had chosen to campaign in the US, the PNC leader explained that eventhough Ghanaians abroad would not take part in the December elections, they had influence on the voting pattern of their relatives living in Ghana.
He called on Ghanaians to give him the mandate to rule the country to ensure improvement in their lives.
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