Ghana elections 2008

Ghana 2012 presidential aspirants must undergo compulsory medicals : John Boadu

2011-12-10T13:43:00.000-08:00

The New Patriotic Party’s Deputy Director of Communications for election 2012, John Boadu has called for a compulsory and thorough health check for all persons hoping to contest next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

According to him, the exercise is necessary to help electorates know the state of health of the various candidates so they can choose candidates who are healthy and also meet the dictates of Article 69(c) of the 1992 constitution which requires prospective candidates to the office of president must be of sound mind.

Speaking on Minority Caucus, a political talk show on Multi TV, Mr. Boadu said “for me, I will insist (that) in 2012 elections, as the constitution says, we must make sure almost everybody that contests, both in parliamentary and presidential elections goes through health check in order to ensure that we are voting for what we required.”

Commenting on President Mills’ leave of absence, John Boadu raised concerns about the President’s decision to spend his holidays outside the borders of the country.

“How on earth will any President anywhere decide to spend his holidays outside his own country with all the facilities, the communication directors, the Presidential aides, and the staffers? What is the total cost of this expensive presidency and expensive holiday” he queried.

According to him, President Mills should have considered vacationing at any of the tourist sites in the country adding that such an initiative would boost the fortunes of the country’s tourist attractions.

Describing the Mills-Mahama administration as the most expensive government in the country’s political history, Mr. Boadu contended “we are running an expensive executive presidency, and he (Mills) is the only president that has incurred so much debt in the history of our country. No president compares himself with the appetite for incurring debt for the people of this country more than his Excellency J.E.A. Mills.”

He also raised issues with the huge number of Presidential Aides in the Mills-Mahama administration indicating that “never in the history of this country have we had so many people as presidential aide. Strangely enough, just within two years, the basic salary of an equal colleague in the Atta mills administration is taking 3800, some of them are taking 4000, some of them are taking 5000 to the extent that in this government, the presidential staffers are so many that they are not able to have offices at the Castle.”

Recent comments made by some leading members of the Committee for Joint Action [CJA] indicating that the Kufuor-led NPP administration was more corrupt than the current NDC were dismissed by John Boadu.

Enumerating a number of cases of corruption he has identified in the Mills-Mahama administration, Mr. Boadu pointed out “CJA if you want to know, the NYEP Coordinator in the Ashanti Mampong municipality inflated the number of workers, an investigation was carried, he used the excess money to run the NDC office both at the regional level and at the constituency level. CJA, the president was accused of using GH¢90 million for his FONKA and GAME. CJA are you aware of Carl Wilson and his activities? CJA, are you aware that Asiedu Nketia is a member of a board of which he has a company that supplies the same company of which he is a member blocks… CJA, aren’t you aware that so far, tender board has never given a report to this nation?”

He further dismissed recent calls by the CJA for the prosecution of former NPP officials who are alleged to have cost financial loss to the state.

source : joyfm

Because Accountability Counts – A Journalist guide for covering post-elections

2010-11-30T13:58:00.001-08:00

Because Accountability Counts – A Journalist guide for covering post-elections in Ghana is one of the key building blocks for Ghana Post-elections Intervention Project whose main objective is to help overcome the challenges and problems affecting citizens’ ability to hold elected representatives accountable for promises they make during pre-election campaigns. The guide’s main objective is to empower journalists and other stakeholders
with an information and knowledge resource for playing the watch and guide dog role in holding elected officers accountable. It provides an overview of post-elections landscape of Ghana, covering governance, legislative issues, political parties and their manifestoes,ruling party, opposition and governing after an election and provides guides for covering:
1. Parliament, Political Parties, Ruling Government (mapping campaign promises
& manifesto), Opposition and Key Governance Issues
2. Investigative journalism and post-elections coverage
3. ICTs and Covering Post-Elections
4. Covering Budget and Extractive Industries and
5. Lessons to be learned from the post 2007 election crisis in Kenya

Download a copy of the the guide here

Launch of Because Accountability Counts - A Journalist guide for covering post elections in Ghana and Ghana Post Elections Project

2010-11-22T02:46:00.000-08:00

Time : Wednesday 1st of December, 2010
@ Ghana Journalists Association - Press Center,Accra Ghana
For the launch of
-Ghana Post Elections Project and Online Coverage of parliament
-A new publication - Because Accountability Counts - A Journalist guide for covering post elections in Ghana
Time : 12.00pm. prompt

The project seeks to overcome the challenges and problems affecting citizen's ability to hold elected representatives accountable for promises made during elections by matching the ruling government's action and inaction against their manifesto and campaign promises.
If you are in Accra, Ghana and able to join us for this launch send a mail to ghana@africanelections.org or call 0302 2234015 / Mob: 0241995737

You can connect with the project via

1. SMS send AEP to 1957 across all networks in Ghana
2. From outside Ghana Send AEP to +447537401839
3. follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/ghanaelections (regular tweets from parliament)
4. Join us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117355568298287

Project Partners

1. Open Society Initiative for West Africa www.osiwa.org

2. African Elections Project www.africanelections.org covering elections on the continent using new media ( a project of www.penplusbytes.org)

3. Ghana Journalists Association

4. The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana)http://www.cddghana.org/

5. African University College of Communications http://www.aucc.edu.gh/

6. SMSGH

7. Edge Cube

Post election monitoring project takes off in Kumasi

2010-08-23T01:13:00.000-07:00

A post-election monitoring project, aimed at holding politicians and government accountable to their manifestos and promises, has been launched in Kumasi.

Dubbed "Ghana's post elections intervention project", it seeks to set up mechanisms that will provide up-to-date information and well-designed indications to assist in tracking the performance of politicians and governments, including local governance.

Mr Jeremiah Sam, the Coordinator, who spoke to a section of the media in Kumasi about the project highlights, said it is the local version of a broader one called a "The African election project" and would help to also reduce acrimonious campaign messages.

He said the setting up of the project was informed by the lack of interest of the African electorate in the post election performance of government, a situation borne out of ignorance on the part of the electorate of their duty in the democratic process to ensure that government carry through their manifestos and their development plans when voted into power.

"The role of the electorate in the democratic process, which has been reduced to only voting during election needs to change to enhance citizens concerns to make uniformed choices" he added.

Source: GNA

Ghana Elections Coverage

2010-05-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

We are launching in June 2010, Ghana Post Elections Coverage meanwhile, Stay with www.africanelections.org for elections coverage in African

follow us at http://twitter.com/Africanelection for regular updates

our facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117355568298287

our blog is at http://africanelections.blogspot.com/

African Elections Project is a project of penplusbytes

COLLOQUIUM ON AFRICAN ELECTIONS: BEST PRACTICES AND CROSS SECTORAL COLLABORATION

2009-11-09T02:23:00.001-08:00

November 11-14, 2009

Accra, Ghana

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will co-sponsor a Colloquium on African Elections from 12‐14 November 2009 in Accra, Ghana.

The colloquium will review the challenges and best practices in the conduct of elections in Africa, with a particular focus on lessons that could be shared from Ghana's 2008 electoral process.

Approximately 100 participants from 25 African countries will attend the colloquium. Participants will include elections commissioners, political party leaders, civic advocates, leaders of elections monitoring groups, journalists and high level officials of security services that oversee peace building and law enforcement missions around elections.

The Colloquium on African Elections: Best Practices and Cross-Sectoral Collaboration will seek to address two critical points:

1) the effective performance of entities involved in the electoral process and

2) the linkages that should exist among stakeholders, and how to foster cross-sectoral collaboration during elections.

Examining the strengths and weaknesses of the Ghanaian electoral process and how it compares with other African countries will facilitate sharing knowledge and strengthening linkages among different sectors of the electoral process. The anticipated outcome of discussions at the colloquium will be to identify guidelines on how to conduct credible elections, ease political tensions, enhance transparency, and facilitate the acceptance of genuine election results by political contestants and their supporters. Sharing best practices among African practitioners will enhance prospects for democratic elections across the continent and inspire professional conduct among various stakeholders in countries preparing for upcoming elections. The Consortium of organizers are hoping to compile the cases of best practices in elections in Africa and publish on a book form.

welcome back

2009-11-04T10:28:00.001-08:00

welcome back to ghana elections 2008

Biometric voters register key mechanism against multiple voting

2009-05-13T01:11:00.001-07:00

Seven political parties through the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) on Tuesday identified biometric system of voter's registration as a key mechanism against multiple voting and impersonation in Ghana's electoral system.

The IPAC therefore, charged the Electoral Commission (EC) to initiate systematic procedures to use the biometric mechanism for capturing data in preparation of the next voters register. "This is very necessary to deal authoritatively with practices of multiple voting and impersonation that tend to undermine public confidence in declared election results," the seven parties stated in a communiqu=E9 issued at the end of a three-day self-assessment forum at Akosombo.

The self-assessment forum was organised by the EC in collaboration with KAB Governance Consult and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) under the "Safeguarding the Integrity of the Ballot Project".

The parties are the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention Peoples' Party, Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), and Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD) stated at the fourth in a series of post election self-assessment consultative forum. Other parties that participated are; Ghana National Party (GNP), Peoples National Convention (PNC), and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).

The parties also called on the government to provide the necessary resources on a regular basis for the EC to discharge its responsibilities. The parties also recommended a total replacement of the current voters' register, and tasked EC to streamline the procedures for compilation of the Transfer, Proxy and Special Voting list and increase the number of polling stations as well as review the number of voters per polling station.

In an interview with Ghana News Agency, however, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, EC Chairman welcomed the idea of biometric system but cautioned that the nation should hasten cautiously. The EC Chairman outlined modalities for a completely new voter's register for the 2012 general elections, including adoption of modern technologies and biometric registration to deal with the electoral hiccups.

Dr. Afari-Gyan indicated that however that it could be possible for the nation to phase into the biometric registration system after the national census in 2010.

IPAC also agreed to play by the roles governing political parties operations in the country, to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the future to reduce tension such as the nation experienced during Elections 2008.

The political parties and other democratic stakeholders at the forum also commended the media for their role in Elections 2008 but tasked the National Media Commission and Ghana Journalists Association to watch against negative reportage which created confusion.

GNA

Ghana Election: Parties want new register

2009-05-12T00:33:00.001-07:00

Issues concerning security and the need for a new voters register dominated a three-day Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting which opened at Akosombo in the Eastern Region yesterday.

The meeting involves the Electoral Commission (EC) and all the political parties in the country and although the opening ceremony was held in camera, some of the participants the Daily Graphic spoke to expressed various views on the last general election.

Mr Huudu Yahaya, one of the representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), suggested that since the EC had admitted that the register for the 2008 elections had been bloated and the figures were more than what was statistically acceptable, it must be replaced with a new one.

That, he said, would make future elections more credible.

He also said the NDC was of the view that during general elections, representatives of political parties must be strategically placed at polling stations to observe the process, especially the counting of votes.

He also suggested that the EC must furnish the political parties on the movement of electoral materials to the voting centres.

Nana Ohene-Ntow of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) suggested the setting up of an IPAC security task force to complement the work of the state security apparatus to monitor future general elections, adding that such an initiative would not make it possible for macho men engaged by political parties to intimidate voters at the polling stations on voting day.
He also said the counting of votes must be done at selected centres, instead of at the polling stations, to make it impossible for people to interrupt the counting process.

For his part, Mr Bernard Monarh of the People's National Convention (PNC) suggested that voting in future elections must start from 6 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. to make it possible for the counting of the votes to be done before nightfall.

That, he stated, would prevent the snatching of ballot boxes which normally occurred in the night.

The Democratic People's Party's (DPP's) Mr Thomas Ward-Brew called for a constitutional review to make it mandatory for the state to sponsor political parties, while Mr Ivor Greenstreet of the Convention People's Party (CPP) proposed the streamlining of the process for the replacement of lost voter identity cards.

The political parties being represented are the ruling NDC, the NPP, the CPP, the PNC, the Great Consolidated People's Party (GCPP), the National Reform Party (N'RP), the New Vision Party (NVP), the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), the DPP and the Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD).

The event, on the theme, "Safeguarding the Integrity of the Ballot", is to review the 2008 elections with the view to ensuring the integrity of future general elections so that their results will be acceptable to all participating parties.

It is being organised by the EC, in collaboration with the CAB Governance Consult, with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The NDC is being represented by Messrs Yahaya and Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the party's National Vice-Chairman and the National Organiser, respectively, while Nana Ohene-Ntow, the General Secretary of the NPP, is leading his party's team, with the CPP being represented by Mr Greenstreet, the party's General Secretary.

The PNC is led by Mr Monarh, its General Secretary, with the DPP being represented by its leader and founder, Mr Ward-Brew.

All the other political parties are being represented by some of their national executives.

Source: Daily Graphic

Kofi Jumah sues Radio Gold, Raymond Archer, et al

2009-04-29T07:19:00.001-07:00

A Former Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, has sued Radio Gold for what he says are false information they spread about him a day before last year's presidential election run-off.

Other respondents in the suit are Capital Radio in Kumasi, Deputy Information Minister, James Agyenim Boateng, who was Morning show host on Radio Gold at the time and the Managing Editor of the Enquirer newspaper, Raymond Archer.

The plaintiff who spoke on Peace FM, is claiming GH¢100,000 each from Radio Gold and Capital Radio and GH¢25,000 each from Archer and Boateng.

On the eve of the presidential run-off last year, the two radio stations were said to have broadcast audio tapes alleged to be recordings of a meeting addressed by the plaintiff at which he was allegedly planning to rig the election.

According to the broadcasts, the plaintiff promised huge sums of money to a group of young men who were supposed to carry out the operations to rig the poll.

He also allegedly assured the operatives of immunity from prosecution.

The meeting was said to have been held in the then campaign director of the New Patriotic Party, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey's house.

In attendance, according to the claims, was the Member of Parliament for New Juaben, Hackman Owusu Agyeman.

All the three persons named have denied any such meeting ever took place.

Nonetheless, the tapes which had Raymond Archer and Agyenim Boateng run extensive commentary on them, gained currency at the time.

Unhappy about the issue, Mr. Kofi Jumah who was alleged to have spearheaded the meeting says he has gone to court to seek redress for his damaged reputation.

When one of the defendants, James Agyenim Boateng was reached by Peace FM for comment, he said he had not been served any writ yet.

He would not speak to the authenticity of the tapes in question, arguing he would state his case in court if the case got there.

JFM

Electoral officers upgrade skills

2009-04-22T11:12:00.001-07:00

Electoral Commission members and senior officials from election management bodies in West and Central Africa on Monday engaged in a specialised training programme designed to improve the skills, knowledge and confidence of election administrators.

The five-day workshop based on a capacity-building curriculum known as "the BRIDGE Project" (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections) is being organised by the African Union and International IDEA.

Mr. Theophilus Dowetin, IDEA West Africa Programme Manager, expressed concern about the lack of a university awarding degree in election administration on the continent even though recent events in Africa remind us of how important credible elections are and that democracy requires the continuous building and strengthening its institutions and process.

He said: "Election management is the greatest logistics event any country may undertake in peace times; for elections to be free and fair and to produce a credible result the body organising the elections needs to have independence, integrity and professionalism.

"The BRIDGE training curriculum focuses on the professional development of election administrators – recognising that this is one of the essential ingredients for a successful election."

Mr Dowetin said the aim of the Accra BRIDGE "Professional Development Training (PDT) Course" includes providing a platform for analysing global trends, standards, principles, practices and processes in election management; build professional networks amongst practitioners; and enhance leadership competencies in sustainable election management

Mr William Williams, Australian High Commissioner in Ghana, said Australia was pleased to be associated with the professionalisation of election administration in the respective countries of participants.

About 21 election administrators from 11 Africa countries Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Togo- are attending the course with funding from the Australian Government.

Source: GNA

Media ownership by politicians threat to democracy

2009-04-22T11:07:00.001-07:00

Prof. Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of Media Foundation for West Africa has described as dangerous the situation where politicians were constantly owning media houses and throwing ethics and professionalism to the wind.

He said politicians were also using such media to persecute their political opponents.

Prof. Karikari who was sharing his thought during a symposium on "Reflecting on the first 100 days of Prof. Atta Mills's Presidency" organised by the Danquah Institute in Accra on Monday, called for urgent steps to pass the Broadcasting Bill to law to save the nation from drifting to a civil war similar to what happened in Rwanda.

He said the dangerous utterances of some radio presenters and leading members of some political parties on FM Stations during the 2008 elections could have slipped the country into the brink of a civil war.

He alleged that some of the personalities who perpetuated such dangerous acts on radio had been rewarded with ministerial appointments and described the December 7, 2008, till the day the final results were declared as "the worse time in the media in Ghana".

According to Prof. Karikari, the knee jerk reaction of the director-general of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to a complain by some activist of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) about the composition of panelists of a television programme had a semblance of censorship which should not be allowed to happen again.

He said another problem that the media in Ghana was facing was how to be critical without being partisan and how to be adversarial with decent language.

He added that those who have been able to achieve these virtues had made their mark as very objective and respected media houses in the country.

Mr Kweku Sakyi-Addo, a broadcast journalist expressed worry about a recent directive from the Ministry of Information urging all foreign media practitioners who wanted to film documentary of some parts of the country to seek clearance from the ministry ,and also show such films to the ministry before they could be broadcast in their home country.

He said the directive which was issued in March 2009 and withdrawn later was similar to another one issued in 1999.

He added that it was of no use because of the current information technology architecture, where even cellular phones could be used to film any part of the country and posted on the Internet for the whole world to view.

Mr Sakyi-Addo described the move as a kind of censorship "in a cottage industry within the Ministry of Information" and also could create room for some unscrupulous civil servants to extort money from some foreign media practitioners.

He suggested that just as countries with high crime and HIV / AIDS rate like South Africa and Nigeria had been able to tell the world about their best part, Ghana must also emulate such example and refrain from censoring foreign media.

Mr Raymond Archer, the Editor-in-Chief of The Enquirer, wondered why President J.E.A. Mills saddled himself with a lO0-day promise instead masking for a honeymoon to settle down properly.

He appealed to the media in Ghana to channel their pages and time on their airways to productive use and not to throw mud at each other in the profession.

Source: Daily Graphic

NPP damns NDC over 'revised election manifesto'

2009-04-22T11:04:00.001-07:00

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of surreptitiously revising its 2008 manifesto to evade the fulfillment of all its electoral promises.

The NPP believes the move is a deception and a fraud against the people of Ghana.

Addressing a press conference in Accra to officially review the government's 100 days, the Chairman of the party, Peter Mac Manu, said the government had shown it was weak and lacks ideas to develop the country.

According to him, the NDC had expunged the promises from the manifesto recognizing that it was incapable of delivering on them.

"In a show of mediocrity and lack of faith in its own abilities, the vision of taking Ghana to middle income status by 2015 has been shifted to 2020."

Mr. Mac Manu claimed that on page six of the original NDC manifesto, the NDC promised to motivate teachers by improving salaries, accommodation and retirement benefits.

"They said they were going to pay licensed teachers and professionals allowance of 15 per cent of the basic salary, pay technical and vocational teachers an additional 10 per cent of their basic salary and lastly, they said they were going to pay teachers in deprived areas an additional 20 per cent of their basic salary," he pointed out.

But in the revised manifesto, he contended, all the promises catalogued earlier have been taken out. "This is the deceit we are talking about."

The NPP Chairman also enumerated increases in prices of commodities, fuel price hikes and possible tariff increases in utilities and argued the government was simply incapable of dealing with the economic problems of the country.

He consequently called on the government to call a crisis meeting with economic experts within 21 days to discuss and find solutions to the debilitating economic challenges of the country.

He also called on all Ghanaians, regardless of their political persuasions, to help the government to fix the moribund economy of the country. "It is a duty we owe to our motherland."

Responding to the claims, Information Minister, Zita Okaikoi told Joy News the NDC had only one manifesto, as far as she knew.

JFM

Ghana: General election a lesson in democracy

2009-04-20T18:45:00.001-07:00

Jean Mensa

On December 7, 2008, Ghana's Democracy was for the fifth successive time, put to the test. Eight million, two hundred thousand people went to the polls to elect a President and two hundred and thirty Parliamentarians to decide the political fate of Ghana for the next four years.

The stakes for this year's elections were high for a number of reasons. Firstly, the two largest Parties in Ghana, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) having served two terms each, sought to break the deadlock to determine who the most dominant force was. Secondly, this was the third successive-and most likely the last time- that Professor John Atta Mills, the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress was contesting the Presidential Elections. This election was therefore a make-or-break for him. Again, one of the smaller Parties, the Convention People's Party (CPP) seemed to have suddenly woken up from its long slumber with the selection of Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom as its Flagbearer. The Party was therefore tipped to cause a major upset this year. Furthermore, this was also the first time in the Fourth Republic where neither a President nor his Vice was seeking re-election. Finally, for the first time, there were as many as eight Candidates contesting the Presidential Election –

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo-New Patriotic Party,
Dr. Edward Nasigrie Mahama –Peoples' National Convention
Prof. John Evans Atta Mills –National Democratic Congress
Mr. Emmanuel Asante Antwi- Democratic Freedom Party
Mr. T. N. Ward -Brew Democratic Peoples' Party
Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom-Convention Peoples'Party
Mr. Kwabena Adjei-Reformed Patriotic Democrats
Mr. Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah -Independent Candidate

Campaigning

The campaign period was an exciting one. The four Parties with representation in Parliament did all in their power to woo voters. There were songs, catch phrases like "we are moving forward (NPP), "Ye re Sesamu" literally meaning we are changing things (CPP), "Change you can trust (NDC), and "real change, real hope (PNC)"; dances, radio and television adverts and above all, well -prepared and thought -out Manifestoes to display.

The NPP campaign was by far the most attractive and the most media-intensive. The NDC on the other hand initially embarked on a modest house –to- house campaign, which was later augmented by a media-savvy campaign. Perhaps, the most impressive (considering their showing in the last twelve years) was the CPP whose slick media campaign and solid showing of their Presidential Candidate in 'The IEA Debates' (the Institute for Economic Affairs, the facilitator of the NIMD political party programme) gave hope of their emergence as a third force in Ghanaian politics. Their massive registration drive of the youth and grassroots approach made them attractive to many. The other five Parties did not embark on any visible campaign save rare PNC adverts and radio interviews mercifully granted to their representatives and the Presidential Aspirants.

The last day of campaigning saw the NPP and NDC holding mammoth rallies in Accra and Tema respectively. Apart from giving the Candidates a final chance to appeal to voters, the rallies were a show of political force. The NPP rally was covered live by all the television stations whilst the NDC rally was telecast after the event. They both generated huge support making it an impossible task to judge who had the bigger crowd.

Voting

Although voting was scheduled to commence at 7:00am, enthusiastic voters had formed queues at polling stations as early as 4:00am. Most poling stations recorded long queues throughout the day. This was a departure from the norm where polling stations are usually quiet between 12 noon and 3pm. In spite of the long queues, it turned out that 69% of voters turned up to vote. One reason attributed to the relatively low voter turn out was voter indifference. With the two main Parties having served two terms each without significantly improving the lot of the average Ghanaian, most voters felt it was worth their while to go and vote. Another reason that could be attributed is the allegation that the voter's register was bloated. If that assertion is true, then one could argue that the 31% of people who did not cast their votes were either minors, people who had registered more than once or ghost names. A less probable reason was that the sometimes confrontational language used by the two leading Parties scared some doves.

Another interesting trend was the number of rejected ballots which represented 2.4% of the total votes cast. This percentage is bigger than the combined percentage of votes cast for the CPP and PNC during the elections. A lack of voter education has been identified as a possible cause. Again, for the first time in Ghana's election, the index finger was dipped in indelible ink rather than marking the thumb which had been the norm in the four previous general elections. Most people, especially the unlettered, therefore voted with their index finger- rendering the votes invalid.

Polls

Several polls had been carried prior to the elections. The polls produced varied results with regards to the percentage of total votes each candidate was to receive. All of them, except that of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), put the NPP ahead of all the other Parties. One thing that was certain about all the polls was that no Party was going to win the elections in the first round.

The NPP was very confident of a first round victory and was disappointed when the total number of votes fell short of the more than 50% (at least 50% + 1) vote required for a first round victory. The NPP obtained 49.1% of the valid votes cast. While some had attributed this to complacency on the part of the NPP, voter apathy and the improper settling of disputes arising from the Party's primaries may have accounted for their inability to win a first round victory. Professor Mills of the NDC was also confident of a first round victory. He however managed to make 47.96% an improvement on the 44.63% he had obtained in 2004.

Declaration of Results

Ghanaians sat on tenterhooks until the Electoral Commission announced the results 69 hours after the polls closed. After an official announcement of a run-off, the two Parties are each psyching themselves and their supporters up for the second round of voting. They have both embarked on subtle and rigorous attempts to court the minority Parties. It is difficult to predict whose side the small Parties will go for, even though there are many personal and political interconnections between the Parties. For example, Dr. Nduom of the CPP was a long-time Cabinet Minister of the NPP and also worked with the NDC. The running mate of the NPP is also married to the daughter of the National Chairman of the PNC whilst they both supported the NPP in the 2001 Presidential run-off.

Parliamentary Results

The 2008 Parliamentary elections can be termed "the fall of the mighty". Many popular and long serving Parliamentarians of the four Parties with representation in Parliament have fallen victims to the massive wind of change that swept through the parliamentary elections. The NPP suffered the most casualties as their number of Parliamentarians dropped form 126 in 2006 to 107. The NDC on the other hand have made some gains as it increased its number of seats from 96 to 114. The CPP's promising campaign did not yield any gains for the Party with regards to Parliamentary seats. Their seats in Parliament were reduced from 3 to 1. A school of thought suggests that Ms. Samia Nkrumah, the CPP Candidate for the Jomoro Constituency won the seat because her father, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana and indeed a forerunner in the fight for Ghana's independence hails from the area. Therefore, the indigenes felt they owed it a duty to her father to throw their weight behind her. The PNC, who did not do much in terms of campaigning, lost two of its four seats they had won in 2004.

Among the casualties were Hon. Steven Asamoah Boateng, NPP MP for Mfansteman West constituency and Information Minister and Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama, NPP MP for Nalerigu-Gambaga constituency and the Minister for Women and Children Affairs. Interestingly, Hajia Alima Mahama was one of the few people who had made the short list for the running mate position of the NPP. Within the NDC, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, spokesperson for the NDC Flagbearer and Hon. Ben Kunbuor, NDC MP for Lawra-Nandom were among the few who lost their seats. While the loss of some of these Parliamentarians could be attributed to the desire for change, voters also punished some for their failings. The lesson is for incumbents to be less complacent in the future and listen to their constituents and undertake relevant projects.

Women's Representation

The hope that many more women would be elected to Parliament in 2008 after Ghana signed onto several national and international conventions such as CEDAW and Beijing Platform was shattered when fewer women got elected than in the previous year. In the 1996 parliamentary elections, out of 59 women who contested, 18 (30%) were elected, constituting 9% of 200 MPs, in 2000, the number of female Candidates increased to 101 but the number elected was 19 (18.8%), constituting 9.5% of 200 MPs. In 2004, the number of women that contested was 104, including 14 sitting MPs, out of which 25 (24%) were elected constituting 10.9% of 230 MPs. The number in 2008 has been reduced to 15 constituting only 6.5% of the House.

The Political Parties as well as the Ghanaian society is equally to blame for paying lip service to the empowerment of women in Ghana. Even though the IEA organized Training Workshops for the Female Aspirants and drafted a Women's Manual which advocated the fielding of female Candidates in the Parties' strongholds, the Manual was not adopted till after the Party primaries which saw a good number of women losing their seats.

Prior to the elections, there had been speculations about the possibility of violence erupting during the elections. These speculations were triggered by violent incidents that were recorded during the limited registration exercise across the country and other incidents that had been recorded during the selection of Parliamentary Candidates within the Parties. Again, the post- election violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe put Ghana on the spotlight as many across the world wondered if Ghana's election would be lead to similar reactions as witnessed in Kenya and Zimbabwe. As a precautionary measure, several initiatives such as Peace Walks, Peace Songs and the broadcast of Peace Messages from distinguished citizens were organised to preach the message of peace across the length and breadth of Ghana.

Possibility of Violence

While it is the prayer of most Ghanaians that harmony would prevail, it is a little too soon to start celebrating. Polling day in Kenya was quiet. It was the refusal of either of the big Parties to accept defeat that sparked the violence. The closeness of the results is likely to make both Parties scramble feverishly for every vote to win the second round. This is where the trouble may occur. So far however, the peace has been maintained. It is the hope of The IEA that its numerous interventions at ensuring peaceful free and fair elections would suffice to keep the peace before, during and after the second round presidential Election on December 28th, 2008.

Again, during the first half of the year The IEA under the Ghana Political Parties Programme organised a workshop on the theme 'Towards a Peaceful and Violence Free Election 2008'. At the end of this workshop the Leaders of the Political parties signed a Communiqué pledging to abide by the Political Parties Code of Conduct. Among other things, the Leader's pledged not to on behalf of their respective Political Parties announce, declare or call the Election in their favour. They agreed that this was the duty of the Electoral Commission and no one had the authority to do so. This communiqué was widely circulated throughout the country and was discussed extensively by Media houses for well over a week.

The IEA Interventions

Another was the IEA sponsored Political Parties Code of Conduct which was reviewed in the first quarter of the year. The document and the communiqué that was signed by all the Political Parties were again widely circulated throughout the country. This put the document in the public domain. The general public and the Regional Enforcement Bodies that were set up after the publication of the Code have monitored the political Parties closely to ensure strict adherence to the Code. For the most part of the year, the Parties did their best to adhere to the Code of Conduct. All the reports from the regions reported no major breeches to the code. This monotony was however broken when serious breeches of the code were reported in Gushegu in Northern Ghana during the limited registration exercise held nationwide. This was quickly reported by the Regional Enforcement Body in Tamale and a press statement condemning all the Parties involved was issued. No major incidents were recorded afterwards.

The IEA 2008 Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates further contributed to restoring calm to the country. For the first time in Ghana's Political history, all Candidates of the four Political Parties with representation in Parliament participated. Held at a time when the political temperature had begun to steadily rise again, the Debates which were very civil in themselves carried on a calm atmosphere throughout the entire country. Perhaps, the most significant of all the Debates was the second Presidential Debate held in Tamale. Due to several violent clashes that had been recorded in the Northern Part of the country, during the year there was a lot of hesitation about hosting the debate in Tamale. However, the people of Tamale were poised to prove a point to Ghanaians. They were bent on ensuring that they were equally capable to hosting and indeed being part of an event that would contribute to the development of democracy in Ghana. More importantly, the people of Tamale proved to the rest of Ghana that politics could be used as a tool to unify people. Among the highlights of the Debate was during the final round when all the Candidates held hands and openly pledge to maintain the peace before, during and after the Election. This symbolic gesture has been captured and used by the state owned media which has nationwide coverage as an advertisement to promote peace.

The NCCE has also put up large billboards depicting the Presidential Candidates holding hands during the Tamale Presidential Debate. Indeed the Political parties involved particularly the ruling party as well as the largest opposition party have used captions from the Debate for their own advertisements. This display of friendship and camaraderie ensured and promoted peace before, during and after the Election. Indeed the British Broadcasting Corporation also in a documentary on Ghana, showed the Presidential Candidates at the Tamale Debate holding hands and pledging to maintain peace in the country. The British Broadcasting Corporation summed it up by saying that it was not in many countries around the world that this happens. Another was a letter from the regent of the Dagbon (the most powerful traditional ruler in Tamale) congratulating the IEA for doing the North proud by bringing the Presidential Debate there. The National Security Apparatus was at its best as it assisted in maintaining law and order during the Debates.

Trend analysis & interparty initiatives

The Institute is currently transcribing all the tapes of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates to document the promises made by the Candidates and put it out in the public domain so that the people of Ghana can hold the politicians accountable to their promises.

The IEA Governance Unit is also engaged in serious trend analysis of the Election results and will make its findings available in due course.

Finally, the various peace initiatives and inter-party collaborations of The Institute will continue in all their diversity to ensure that multi-partyism is the true winner of Ghana's Election 2008.

The IEA political programme has been implemented with the full support and cooperation of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD).

http://www.nimd.org/news/901/ghana-general-election-a-lesson-in-democracy

Ghana Elections : Minority leader seeks changes in electoral laws

2009-04-13T19:25:00.001-07:00

The Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu says the country's electoral laws must be reviewed, especially the aspect on resolving disputes over election results.

He said the present provision that aggrieved persons can only challenge election results after the Electoral Commission has gazetted the results is unfair.

The minority leader was reacting to the increase in parliamentary seats by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The ruling party had 114 seats in the house until a Supreme Court verdict on the Asutifi-South constituency hurdle added another seat.

The court ruled in favour of Alhaji Collins Dauda who had petitioned it to overturn an earlier ruling by a Sunyani High Court.

The High Court had put an interlocutory injunction on the declaration of the parliamentary results in the constituency.

The application at the lower court was filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Mr Boakye-Yiadom Boateng.

But reacting to the issues in an interview with Joy News, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the current provision permits usurpers to rule.

He said it must be captured in the law a reasonable timeframe within which legal tussles over any election would be cleared before the EC declares the result.

"We certainly should give ourselves a timeframe to listen to final judgments," he stressed.

The minority leader also cited cases where electoral disputes have dragged for years.

He said such situations would always permit the wrong people to fill certain important positions.

The Supreme Court's ruling puts the majority's seats at 115 against the NPP's 107 in the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

The two PNC members in the house also sit with and vote in favour of the Majority, further swelling the highest majority vote count possible to 117.

Pollster Ben Ephson has described the current membership in the house as safe for the ruling party.

JFM

Ghana Elections 2008 : Collins Dauda wins Asutifi South seat

2009-04-11T03:11:00.001-07:00

The National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Good Friday added to its parliamentary majority as its candidate, Collins Dauda, was declared winner of the Asutifi South parliamentary election by the Electoral Commission.

Dauda marginally won the disputed, polling just 14 more votes to beat his closest challenger, Mr Yiadom-Boakye Boateng of the New Patriotic Party.

Correspondent Asamoah Mensah of Sky FM who covered the ballot counting for Joy News said Collins Dauda polled 10,984 votes, while Boateng had 10,970 votes, with the Democratic People's Party's George Okyere coming a distant third.

The constituency election result had been outstanding following a High Court injunction sought by Yiadom-Boakye Boateng on grounds of massive election irregularities during voting on December 7, 2008.

The Supreme Court however overturned the High Court order restraining the Electoral Commission from declaring results of the Asutifi South parliamentary election on Wednesday, declaring that, results of election could only be challenged after declaration.

With the declaration, the NDC now has 115 Members of Parliament as against NPP's 107. There are four independent MPs, with two for the People's National Convention, and one for the Convention People's Party.

So far, Akwatia in the Kwaebirem District of the Eastern Region remains the only outstanding constituency yet to declare its results. The NDC and NPP are again in court over the conduct of the parliamentary election.

NPP raises red flag over Jirapa ballot

2009-04-07T09:12:00.001-07:00

The New Patriotic Party, NPP, has notified the Electoral Commission of a blot on ballot papers being used in the Jirapa bye-election.

According to the National Organiser of the party, Lord Commey, the blot looks like a thumb print positioned at the neck area of Dr. Francis Bawaana Dakurah, candidate for the ruling National Democratic Congress and could compromise results of the election.

Speaking in an interview with Joy FM correspondent Elton John Brobbey, Mr. Commey said a report has been made to officials of the Electoral Commission.

A senior member of the Commission, Dr. Safo Kantanka, he said, had been told of the anomaly and he has in turn, dispatched officials to work out a compromise so it does not undermine he poll.

Ruling out a complete withdrawal of the blotted ballot papers, Mr. Commey is hopeful the EC will reach a consensus with all the interested parties.

Meanwhile, there are reports of low turnout in the election set to replace Hon Edward Salia who died in February.

Residents of the constituency are said to be disinterested in the election.

Information vans from the Information Services Department are said to be driving through the constituency inviting constituents to come out to vote.

NPP's Mr Justin Dakorah and Ms Joycelin Ansiena for the Democratic People's Party (DPP) are the two other candidates optimistic of displacing the NDC from the seat.

Pollster Ben Ephson however predicts the NDC will retain the seat. It is only the margin of the victory that is in contention.

Voting underway at Jirapa bye-election

2009-04-07T02:53:00.001-07:00

Voting is underway in the Jirapa Constituency of the Upper West Region where 43,056 registered voters are expected to elect a Member of Parliament in a bye-election according to myjoyonline.

Voting started at all 105 polling centres in the constituency at 7am, but according to Luv FM's Elton John Brobbey who spoke with Joy FM, turnout so far has been discouraging.

He said the people appeared to be disinterested in the exercise, attending to their daily chores and businesses.

The constituency lost its MP, Mr Edward Kojo Salia, former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament who died in February this year.

Three contestants; Dr Francis Bawaana Dakurah for the NDC, Mr Justin Dakorah for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Ms Joycelin Ansiena for the Democratic People's Party (DPP).

On Sunday, the NDC held a well attended rally at Jirapa attended by the Founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings and Vice President John Dramani Mahama and some National Executive Officers.

Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of NPP, and some leading members of the Party including some Members of Parliament were also in the constituency to whip up support for their candidate.

UK High Commissioner applauds Ghana’s 2008 elections

2009-04-02T02:48:00.001-07:00

The British High Commissioner, Dr Nicholas Westcott on Tuesday applauded the successful conduct of Election 2008 and described it as a "triumph for democracy" in the West Africa.

He pointed out that the matured and timely manner that the irregularities that arose during the exercise was addressed is commendable, saying Ghana did better and was quick in solving those issues than America did during its 2000 elections.

Dr Westcott who was delivering a public lecture at University of Cape Coast (UCC), on the topic 'Ghana and Britain: Parallel Histories, Converging Futures' saluted civil society organisations, particularly chiefs and the clergy for their advocacy roles that contributed to the successful conduct of the elections.

Dr Westcott gave the political history of the United Kingdom (UK) and pointed out that it had its fair share of "turbulence and instability" and it took it more than a century to stabilize and unite.

He noted that democratic development is a gradual process and therefore all emerging democracies should ensure the institution of the requisite structures including a judiciary, which has public confidence and a vibrant and liberal but responsible media.

He said the rigid enforcement of the rule of law and respect for individual rights both by the state and fellow citizens are all factors that ensure political stability and peace.

On the two countries, Dr Westcott said they both understand each other and share the same ideals and therefore there should be more co-operations between Ghana and the UK for mutual benefit, adding that, this is important especially in the face of the recent global financial crises of which both the rich and poor nations are now mutually dependent.

He said the co-operation will help share concerns of promoting peace keeping operations, combat drug trafficking as well as continue to fight the effects of climate change and encourage the link between UK universities and the UCC.

Dr Westcott announced that the UK will not only continue to support Ghana in terms of infrastructure, but will also invest in capital and create jobs in the country.

The Vice Chancellor of UCC, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman, who chaired the function said there was the need to dialogue on the past and link it with the current circumstance to bridge the future.

She said the UCC's public lectures have been designed to expand the scope of sharing ideas and reaching out to the diplomatic, educational, business, medical, judiciary and scientific fields, to partner and learn from their different perspective and emphasis.

During a public forum, both lecturers and students expressed disgust about the bitter experiences of colonialism that they said had contributed to the current poor state of African countries.

Source: GNA

GACC calls for transparency and accountability in transition process

2009-03-30T03:53:00.001-07:00

The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) on Sunday said events that unfolded just before, during and after Ghana's recent transition requires that the country strengthens its fight against corruption to improve good governance delivery.

The coalition which is made up of various public, private institutions and civil society groups working to reduce corruption, said the country needs to ensure that every government adheres to strict rules and procedures that promote transparency and ensure a smooth transition process.

A communiqué signed by Mrs. Florence Dennis, Executive Secretary of GACC at the end of a two-day meeting of the Coalition, said successive governments had failed to carry out the measures in a transparent and timely manner and as a result, embroiled the changeover process in needless controversy.

It said the current situation has created a public perception of bad faith and corruption on the part of the past government and one of vindictiveness and vendetta on the incumbent.

The GACC expressed misgivings about the timing and circumstances surrounding the approval of the ex-gratia awards and other packages for the President, Members of Parliament and other office holders, which obviously did not ensure the necessary parliamentary scrutiny and transparency.

The Coalition called for the creation of the Office of the Administrator–General which would take inventory of all state assets, irrespective of which government was in power.

"It is evident that the lack of a clear-cut procedure for handing over by public officers, including the vacation of their official residences, has clearly resulted in unauthorized removal of state property.

"In addition, the coalition noted with concern, the drastic reduction of budgetary allocations to key accountability institutions, including Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in spite of the government's avowed commitment to strengthen these institutions to fight corruption," It added.

The GACC called on the government to ensure the independence and efficiency of these anti-corruption institutions.

The meeting re-elected Reverend Dr Fred Deegbe as Chairman, Miss Anna Bossman as Vice–Chairperson and Dr Osei Boeh–Ocansey, Honorary Treasurer, for a four-year term.

GACC is made up of Ghana Conference for Religions for Peace, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Serious Fraud Office, Ghana Integrity Initiative, Private Enterprise Foundation, Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, Institute of Economic Affairs, National Governance Secretariat and Ghana Journalists Association.

Source: GNA

Ghana Elections Disputes : Akwatia Electoral Dispute Adjourned?

2009-03-27T09:00:00.001-07:00

An Appeal Court in Accra has adjourned indefinitely the Akwatia parliamentary electoral dispute case before it, raising concerns among the disputants according to Daily Guide.

When the case was called on Monday, the Electoral Commission (EC) which took the case to the court was nowhere to be found, apparently because the EC was not informed about the date, leading to the adjournment.

The EC had filed the appeal against a Koforidua High Court ruling on the electoral dispute occasioned by snatching of ballot boxes during the December7, 2008 parliamentary polls which the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was cruising home to victory.

The Koforidua High Court had dismissed an application by the EC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary for Akwatia, Dr Kofi Asare.

The application was to nullify a writ filed by the parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Babal Jamal and two independent candidates who are seeking a re-run of the parliamentary elections in the constituency.

The High Court presided over by Justice Surrebarreh threw out an application by the EC and the NPP candidate in its ruling, and awarded a GH¢500 cost against the NPP man.

The NDC candidate, Baba Jamal and two independent candidates, Basil Ahiable and Samuel Abrokwah, jointly filed a writ praying the court to order the EC to conduct fresh parliamentary elections since they believe there were serious electoral irregularities and fraud at most of the polling stations.

However, the EC wanted to conduct elections in only six of the polling stations located at Akwatia where the ballot boxes were snatched by some 'macho men' believed to be supporters of the NDC candidate.

In the course of the trial, Dr. Kofi Asare came in as a second defendant and filed a petition asking the court to dismiss the writ filed by the plaintiffs, citing that the case should have come on a petition.

The judge however dismissed the application and ordered that the writ should go through its normal course.

Giving reasons for his ruling, Justice Surrebarreh said since nobody had been elected at Akwatia to be gazzetted and presented to Parliament, the event could not be an election whose grievances should be addressed through a petition.

EC Ghana aims for transparency and credibility of the electoral process

2009-03-26T05:35:00.001-07:00

The Electoral Commission (EC) intends to carry out some electoral reforms as part of measures to enhance the transparency and credibility of the electoral process. Mr Alban Bagbin, Chairman of the Special Budget Committee of Parliament, in a report read on the floor of the House, said these reforms were expected to begin this year and it was to be financed from the service expenditure of the EC's budget.

"It was however, observed that the Commission's service budget has been significantly reduced. The 2009 approved figure is 294,763 Ghana cedis whereas the 2008 figure was 418,104, Ghana cedis, a difference of 123,341 cedis or 30 percent," Mr Bagbin, who is also the Majority Leader said.

He was seconding a motion for the approval 7,091,990 Ghana cedis for the services of the EC for the 2009 fiscal year. He said there was allocation for the conduct of only one bye-election in the EC's budget for the year. "It is the view of the Committee and the EC that past experiences make it imperative that there should be provision for more than one bye-election considering the fact that we already have one bye-election even though the year is only three months old, and therefore urges the Ministry of Finance to make contingency arrangements to provide the EC with funds for bye-elections whenever the need arises," Mr Bagbin added. The Majority Leader also seconded a motion for a sum of 5,044,605 Ghana cedis for the services of the National Commission of Civic Education for this year and said the Commission would this year, deepen the social audit programme of the Commission to educate the public on its rights and powers to hold both elected and non elected public office holders accountable, particularly at the district level. Earlier, Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, moved a motion for the approval of a sum of 146, 681,167 Ghana cedis for the services of the Finance Ministry.

He said the ministry would, for this year, improve upon revenue collection and tax administration to support the economy. The House also approved an estimate of 4,206,832 Ghana cedis for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice for the year.

Media reportage vital during elections- CDD

2009-03-26T00:18:00.001-07:00

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and the French Embassy on Wednesday described media reportage as vital and indispensable in several efforts in securing a lasting and durable democracy in the country.

The media played a significant role in past elections and every commentator expressed some appreciation for the work the media did.

One thing media did so well collectively was to ensure that every Ghanaian knew there was a general elections coming on, to the extent that there was elections fatigue and people actually got fed up with election news.

The media also did well during the elections itself, sending reporters to practically every nook and cranny. Radio Stations and the TV Channels were clearly in competitions to see who could cast the net wider. And in cases where results delayed, reporters and presenters evidently made personal sacrifice to wait and keep the public informed.

Although Journalists played a significant role in the run-off Elections, some journalists and media houses did not live up to expectations. News items that could have plunged the country into conflict were transmitted.

Journalist must avoid partiality, misuse of power, defamatory languages in their reportage, she added.

Jeannette Quarcoopome of the Media Foundation for West Africa also made a presentation and said well trained journalists should be sent to the field to ensure professionalism.

Source: GNA

Government to gazette assets declared by public officer holders

2009-03-24T00:00:00.001-07:00

Government on Monday took a giant step in its effort to tackle sleaze in the public service with the gazetting of assets declared by political appointees and public office holders.
     Currently, assets declared by public office holders are lodged with the Auditor General in a sealed envelop.
     Vice President John Dramani Mahama, who announced this at the Castle, Osu on Monday, said the current assets declaration was "quite meaningless" in dealing with the menace of corruption, which had been identified as a major factor responsible for Ghana's state of underdevelopment.
      He was interacting with a joint delegation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) and management of South African construction conglomerate, Power Group.
      Vice President Mahama pointed out that government would not relent in safeguarding the public purse from being dissipated by greedy state officials.

      He said the decision to gazette or make public assets declared by public office holders was part of efforts being initiated by President John Evans Atta Mills to ensure the "highest degree of responsibility and accountability" in public service.
      Vice President Mahama said the newly minted code of ethics, which would soon take effect, would bring sanity into state financial controls and ensure that national resources were expended on the marginalised.
      He noted that government would focus on instilling in the public sector a high sense of moral integrity in line with President Mills' transparent and ethical leadership.
      Vice President Mahama said public officials who transgressed the new code would be punished, as the core principle of the code was to ensure that timely actions were taken in punishing erring officials.
      He reiterated the commitment of President Mills to demonstrate through actions, his loathing for sleaze in both the public and private sectors by ensuring that those who fell foul of the law were dealt with swiftly but firmly.
      Vice President Mahama commended Right-Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Moderator of the General Assembly of PCG for being at the forefront in developing a culture of industriousness and clean living in Ghana.
      He said the visit of Mr Graham Power, Chairman of Power Group of Companies and his lead role in tackling corrupt practices in the corporate world would serve as an inspiration to efforts geared towards rooting out the bad practice in Ghana.
      Vice President Mahama said the canker of corruption had helped unfortunately to divert public money into private hands, but was hopeful that through the collaborative efforts of organisations such as the PCG, government would come at grips with the problem.
      Rt-Rev. Frimpong-Manso reiterated the commitment of PCG to work towards a "holistic ministry" in Ghana that required its congregants to pursue business goals with integrity.
      He said introduction of Mr Power in Ghana was due to his sterling leadership in insulating businesses from sordid deals which tended to exacerbate poverty on the continent.
      Mr Power, an advocate of the Global Day of Prayer, a platform that blends entrepreneurial practices with Christian teachings, challenged his colleague businessmen to help turn a page of the "horrible statistics' of corruption in corporate boardrooms in Africa.
      He posited that the biggest problem confronting Africa was the problem of corruption, alluding that efforts to tackle poverty would only become successful when the problem of corruption was firmly tackled.
      Other members of the delegation included Rev. Herbert Anim Opong, Clerk of General Assembly of PCG and Rev. Professor Emmanuel Martey, Chairperson of Ga Presbytery of PCG.
GNA

Government to deepen democracy at local level

2009-03-19T00:53:00.001-07:00

Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on Wednesday said government was committed to deepening democracy at the local level.
     He said local government institutions would be strengthened to mobilize and generate revenue to improve the welfare of Ghanaians.
     The minister said this when the US Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Donald Teitelbaum called on him in Accra to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries.
     He said local government officials ought to interact with their people to enable them understand and appreciate the policies of government so as to encourage diverse contributions.
     Mr Chireh said government would implement reforms to accelerate the work of the local institutions to deepen the decentralization process and accountability.
     He called on the US government to support Ghana in her efforts to improve the decentralization process.
     Mr Teitelbaum commended the Ghana government for the reforms in the decentralization process and pledged the US support to further improve the system.
GNA

Afari-Gyan: Biometric registration for 2012 elections

2009-03-19T00:05:00.001-07:00

The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan has hinted that a completely new voter registration exercise would be undertaken to derive a new register for the 2012 general elections according to Joy FM.

The exercise will employ the best of technologies, including the use of biometric registration to beat fraudsters who attempt to exploit the voting exercise to their advantage.

Afari-Gyan maintained that a lot of allegations during elections are unfounded, and those who make such claims more often than not fail to provide evidence to support those claims, maintaining 'that the name of the game is evidence."Agreeing that Ghana is lagging behind in the use of technologies in the electoral process, he said any new improvements in the system will have to include the best technologies, including biometric systems that will beat the fraudsters,.

He expressed the hope that the population census for the country would be conducted for 2010 to form the basis for the new registration exercise.Arguably Ghana's most celebrated elections referee, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan admitted he prefers to watch cartoons while political parties and their followers boil up their temperatures in their own schemes.

He assured that he will be around for Ghana's next general elections in 2012, 'God willing', explaining that he had not yet reached the retiring age and subject to his resignation, he should be around to supervise yet another election, one he expects would build on the successes of the past and see shortfalls corrected for a better poll.

Afari-Gyan has supervised five successful national polls in the country since 1992, and said most of the allegations that seek to subtract from the credible elections have lacked substance and mainly come from losers who instead of analyzing the what went wrong, look for people to blame.

"Let us remember that in the realm of elections, the name of the game is evidence, you can allege all kinds of things if you don't have evidence you are just playing around. Yes I would admit that various allegations have been made and when you ask for the evidence… and everything that we do at the Electoral Commission is subject to judicial review so if you have the evidence, even after the election results have been released, you could go to court and get justice and the reason why this has not been done is that in many cases they themselves realize that they do not have the evidence."

Dr. Afari-Gyan said while Ghanaian politicians have not done too badly in the area of political behaviour and playing by the rules, there is still a lot of improper behaviour, likening the situation to the resort to Judo tactics in the game of football.

He said sanctioning and prosecution of infractions lie mainly with the law enforcement agencies and the law courts, while the EC is reduced to only reporting such infractions to the authorities.

NPP for early congress

2009-03-18T06:16:00.001-07:00

Unassailable information reaching The Statesman indicates that there are moves on the part of the New Patriotic Party leadership as well as some members for an early National Congress, possibly early December 2009. March 2010 is the latest the advocates of an early congress will settle for, The Statesman understands.

The move, which was reported to have been engineered by a section of the leadership who believe in unity as a key ingredient in preparing the party sufficiently for its 2012 successful bid, has among its advocates high-ranking NPP personalities, including Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, a leading member of the NPP Campaign Team since 1996, and former Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani.

The Congress is expected not only to elect a National Executive, but also the Flagbearer of the NPP.

The idea, according to sources within the Party, has gone down well with every interested faction in the NPP, with the two-in-one Congress idea intended, according to advocates of the move for early Congress, to save costs and resources for an earlier and more effective national campaign in the effort to convincingly unseat the National Democratic Congress at the next elections.

The Constitution allows an early Congress, two years ahead of elections, when the party is in opposition and 11 months, when in power. An early Congress in this case is ideal, since the emerging Flagbearer would have a longer period to campaign and also afford the Campaign Team enough time to market the elected Presidential candidate.

Another reason for the call for the early Congress, according to an insider, "is for the Party to have ample time to patch up possible cracks which would have bedeviled the party during the Congress and Flagbearer Campaign, which is expected to be fiercely contested".

"Once the Party has a flagbearer, it gives the entire membership a sense of direction and hope," our source concluded.

Initial calls on the part of a section of the membership for a review of the Constitution to expand the electoral college according to our sources, seem not to be getting the nod, with ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor reportedly leading the crusade to maintain the current tradition. However, there are favourable indications that those campaigning for the expansion may have the last laugh for more paid-up members to determine the future and course of the party through that mandate given in the reviewed NPP Constitution.

So far, according our reliable sources, this deal of an early Congress has found acceptability with all interest groups in the party.

In spite of the surprise loss of power on the part of the NPP to the NDC led by Professor Evans Atta Mills, the leadership of the party believes the NPP still enjoys tons of goodwill unheard of in the history of opposition politics in Ghana - which puts the NPP on a pedestal of hope in terms of a formidable come back in 2012.

The theme of the December Congress, The Statesman was told, would reflect that fact and thinking in gingering rank and file members of the party and in uniting them towards the objective of an envisaged return 'to power in 2012.

Source: The Statesman

Almost 50 days gone, how much has Mills achieved?

2009-03-17T02:03:00.001-07:00

The president, Prof. J.E.A. Mills will hit half of the 100 days within which he promised significant changes in many spheres of national life, on Thursday.

He promised to clear the filth in the capital, fight armed robbery, reduce fuel prices, give 40 per cent appointments in his government to women, and run a lean government. He also promised to initiate processes that would see the passage of the Freedom to Information Bill into law.

As the clock ticks, those who remember the promises and have the time are counting the days and asking whether the work done by the government so far gives an indication that the president can fulfill his 100 days promises.

While it is completely outrageous to use 100 days to judge a four-year term for the government, the president is being held to his own promises.

The president has appointed some women into office, reduced fuel prices albeit insignificantly, and reduced the number of ministers from 88 to 75.

But some argue these are tepid and cosmetic as they are a far cry from what was promised.

Panelists on Joy FM's Super Morning Show examined the president's 100 days promises and work done so far to fulfill them.

Journalist and lawyer Egbert Faibille Jnr. believes the president has hit the ground crawling contrary to his assertion that he would hit the ground running.

He says the president's pledge was "just political talk."

A more optimistic David Ampofo of the Convention People's Party, says since the country is not immune from the global economic crisis, the government should be allowed space to work.

He nonetheless is not enthused by the delays in reconstituting boards of government agencies and institutions.

The situation, he regrets, has led to a lull and a virtual paralysis in such institutions which is at a great cost to the nation.

Deputy Information Minister designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the contrary believes the government is fulfilling all its promises in record time.

He thinks government's actions have not been properly publicized, blaming the media for rather concentrating on mundane issues.

Mr. Okudzeto catalogued a number of things the government is doing to cut down on extravagant expenditures citing cocktails that used to be orgainsed after the delivery of State of the Nation Addresses and Independence celebrations.

Pollster and election monitor, Mr. Ben Ephson stresses that the 100 days tradition is only a psychological game.

He says voters will use the overall performance of the government in the four-year term to judge it by juxtaposing their present living conditions with the period before the government in question came to power.

The issues to consider, according to him, will be the availability of jobs, security and salary levels.

As the debate rages on, some are continuing to count the hours or even minutes and ticking their checklists of unfulfilled promises of the government.

JFM

Election offenses should be prosecuted

2009-03-12T02:21:00.001-07:00

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday said those who flout the country's electoral laws should be prosecuted in order to end "political impunity" during elections.
     Speaking at the special Regional Inter-party Advisory Committee (RIPAC) meeting in Ho under the Commission's "safeguarding the integrity of the ballot" project, he said it was the duty of the police to bring such offenders to book.
The meeting was organized in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency and the KAB Governance Consult.
Dr Afari-Gyan made the call in response to a catalogue of concerns raised mainly by representatives of the National Democratic Congress and New Patriotic Party (NPP) representatives regarding abuses during the last elections in the region.
Asked by the Ghana News Agency whether it was not the responsibility of the Commission to initiate such prosecutions, Dr Afari-Gyan said that was the duty of the police to whom the Commission has made several complaints.
He said both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were guilty of polluting the election atmosphere in the country.
Dr Afari-Gyan said abuses of the country's Electoral laws seemed to arise from the leeway the Commission had given to the political parties.
"We have been too transparent with the parties, sometimes we have to step back," he said.
      Dr Afari-Gyan said if only the political parties would adhere to the country's electoral arrangements every election report would be verifiable.
      He said both the NDC and the NPP when in power turned the police into political and government police during elections, and did not allow them to act professionally.
      That he said created problems for the Police establishment and its personnel when the reins of government changed.
      "We are not treating them fairly," he said.
      Dr Afari-Gyan told the political parties that the calibre of people they appointed as party agents were essential to safeguarding their interests during elections.
      Ms Laurentia Kpatakpa, Volta Regional Director of the EC said the integrity of Ghana's Electoral process rested in the checks and balances within the system which when operated properly would produce outcomes that are acceptable, verifiable and could be audited at every stage.
     She said the 2008 elections should be a learning experience for the country, using best practices accepted globally to improve on subsequent elections in the country.
     "We wish to re-iterate that when we make regulations and laws we have a duty to uphold them. Non-compliance could result in chaos.
     "If party executives fail to submit lists and information on agents appointed by them for accreditation, we do not see how the returning officer could certify the agent's application authorizing him to work at a Polling Station or Collation Centre," Ms Kpatakpa said.
     The meeting called on the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Information Services Department (ISD) and the EC to collaborate and that adequate resources should be made available to them to carry out education on elections.
     It was also suggested that Chiefs should be included in stakeholder forums on elections such as the RIPAC meeting because of the influence they wielded over the conduct of their people in the last elections.
      The meeting agreed that people could capture events at the polling stations on their mobile camera phones as proof of allegations that might be raised.
It was explained that there was no law that limited political parties to choosing their agents from localities in which they would be guarding the elections, but it was important that such agents were conversant with the people and localities where they would be representing their parties' interests.
GNA

President appoints Council of State members

2009-03-10T12:41:00.001-07:00

The President His Excellency, John Atta Mills has appointed eleven persons as members of Council of State.

The action is consistent with Article 89(2) (d) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

This was put across in a statement signed by the President's Spokesperson, Hon Mahama Ayariga.

The members of the Council of State are as follows

1. Mrs. Victoria Addy

2. Mrs. Cecilia Johnson

3. Prof. Akilakpa Sawyerr

4. Prof. Kofi Awoonor

5. Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII

6. Alhaji Asoma Banda

7. Hajara Musa Ali

8. Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu

9. Nana Akuako Sarpong

10. Otumfuo Badu Bonsu XV

11. Rev. Nii Amo Darko

Meanwhile the President, His Excellency John Evans Atta Mills has withdrawn the nomination of Dr. Nartey Siaw-Sappore.

Dr. Siaw-Sappore was slated for the Ministry of Communications as deputy to Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, the substantive sector minister. Details of the president's action remain sketchy.

This brings to two the number of nominations the President has withdrawn, the first being Hon. Moses Asaga, then the President's choice for the Works and Housing Ministry.

Citi News Parliamentary Correspondent, Richard Sky reports that the statement from the castle was read on the floor of parliament.

By: citifmonline.com

CPP exists as mere vehicle for election

2009-03-03T01:56:00.001-08:00

A leading member of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Kojo Opoku Aidoo, has said the party currently exists as a mere vehicle for election.

"When it is time for elections, we elect a presidential and assemble parliamentary candidates to contest elections. We are humiliated and then sit down and wait for the next election only to be humiliated again," he stated.

"In the Limann regime, we saw how our party members in leadership positions thwarted party unity which led to the fall of Limann in 1981, again in 2004 we saw also how certain persons in leadership positions decided to vote 'skirt and blouse' by which they campaigned and voted against the CPP's presidential and parliamentary candidates."

Addressing some party supporters at the 33rd Remembrance Day celebration of the overthrow of the first President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, in a coup on February 24, 1966 last week, he said "in the just ended election, we saw the same attitude where some individuals within the party campaigned against CPP's presidential and parliamentary candidates, which resulted in the poor performance of the party in the presidential and parliamentary elections."

He said concerted efforts were needed to rebuild the CPP into a vibrant mass political movement.

He said Dr Nkrumah placed a great deal of emphasis on human development to enhance the capacity of the people to develop themselves.

"Illiteracy eradication, higher education, healthcare enhancement, skill development, management training, among other things, were Nkrumah's democratic development strategy," he added.

Dr Opeku Aidoo said for Osagyefo, development was about the process by which people created and recreated themselves to attain higher levels of civilisation in accordance with their own choices and values.

The chairman for the occasion, Dr Nii Noi Dowouna, said the election of Samia Nkrumah as the only Member of Parliament was a victory for the CPP as this was the first time the CPP had contested an election without any alliance with any political party and won.

Source: Daily Graphic

NDC in manifesto scam?

2009-03-02T06:09:00.001-08:00

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is alleged to be have surreptitiously withdrawn the manifesto signed by the then candidate John Evans Atta Mills, with which the party ran its 2008 political campaign for last year's elections, replacing it with a new one they refer to as 'The New King James Version.'

Just a few weeks into the ceremonious first 100 days of the government, the ruling NDC has substituted the endorsed manifesto and put in circulation a brand new one with different content and devoid of the signature of President Mills.

As it appears now, the belief of Ghanaians that they voted for the NDC based on a manifesto that would serve their interests has apparently been short-changed with the withdrawal of the original one.

The matter of the two contrasting manifestos became a subject of acrimonious debate on the floor of Parliament last Friday when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Bimbilla, Dominic B. A. Nitiwul, in an attempt to quote from portions of the NDC manifesto, quickly sent almost all the ruling party MPs to their feet.

The NDC MPs argued in unison that Hon. Nitiwul, was not quoting from their manifesto and that the document he was referring to, which had the signature of President Mills had been withdrawn by the ruling party because of certain errors in it.

However, Hon. Nitiwul, a teacher by profession, who was contributing to the debate on President Mills' State of the Nation address on education, insisted that he was actually quoting from the NDC manifesto which had been endorsed by its leader to indicate what the ruling party promised to do for the education sector.

After a heated debate and protestations on the issue between the Minority and Majority sides, the NDC MP for Avenor Ave and First Deputy Speaker who was in the Chair for the day, ruled that Hon. Nitiwul, should use the new version of the NDC manifesto as the old one had indeed been withdrawn, re-affirming the submissions of his colleagues on the Majority side.

Obliging with the Speaker's ruling, Hon. Nitiwul then started to quote figures from the new manifesto, which the Minority described as the 'King James Version'.

Surprisingly however, the first objection by the majority was just a sequel to another denial, as the NDC MP for Ningo/Prampram and Majority Chief Whip; E. T. Mensah, rose up on his feet to challenge Hon. Nitiwul that he was still not referring to the revised NDC manifesto.

Nonetheless, having been challenged to refer to page 78 of the manifesto and after realizing that the young and eloquent Bimbilla MP had not manufactured any figures but just simply quoting those from the 'King James Version', Hon. E. T. Mensah concluded that the figures were typographical errors and not what the NDC intended to put in the manifesto.

In the said document, the NDC had promised to build 20,000-seat capacity stadium for each regional capital as well as 7,000-seat capacity for each district capacity, which the party said it was a typo error.

This conclusion left many tongues wagging on the floor of Parliament, especially from the minority side as to what commitment the ruling NDC is making to the Ghanaian electorate.

Nitiwul in a sarcastic way told the house that it was very difficult to quote from the NDC manifesto because of the inherent shortcomings.

Source: Daily Guide

Media severely criticised over bad reportage

2009-03-02T05:52:00.001-08:00

The media's coverage of the recent general election has been severely criticised.

The criticisms which were levelled at a round-table discussion on the elections at Koforidua last week, accused journalists, most of whom were said to be unqualified and media houses of being bias, partisan and influenced by politicians.

The event which was organised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (COD-Ghana) on the theme "Towards a freer, fairer and a more credible elections 2012" was to examine all aspects of the 2008 elections with the aim of making recommendations that would do away with or reduce negative traits at the 2012 elections.

It brought together experts made up of seasoned media and legal practitioners, lecturers from the universities, top officials from various organisations such as COD-Ghana, CODEO, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Ghana Bar Association(GBA), the National Media Commission and representatives of the European Union Election Observation Mission.

The group which pointed out Radio Gold and Oman FM for broadcasting news items that could have led to chaos called on the government to hasten the passage of a broadcasting law to regulate the activities of radio stations.

A lecturer of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, who set the ball rolling, stated that the media, before and during the elections did not perform well and that news items were based on rumours to incite the public.

She said apart from that, the reports which were partisan in nature featured prominently on the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) while the smaller parties had little coverage.

According to Dr Gadzekpo, such negative traits which nearly plunged the country into chaos must be avoided at the 2012 elections to sustain the country's fledgling democracy which had made Ghana the beacon of hope in Africa.

"Some of the media houses, especially the FM stations such as Oman FM and Radio Gold, due to some circumstances came up with news items that heightened tension and nearly plunged the country into chaos and these must be avoided in 2012", Dr Gadzekpo stated.

Dr Gadzekpo, however, said the media highlighted certain aspects of the elections that made the event successful and called on media houses, especially the private radio stations to recruit qualified and competent staff to be able to perform creditably.

She expressed the hope that the participants would come out with recommendations that would stand the test of time.

Mr Kofi Asante of the CDD said if was not media houses alone whose performance negatively affected the elections and that district chief executives and other public officials should also be blamed because they erected billboards for candidates of the ruling government.

He also wondered why there should be strongholds for certain political parties where others could not freely operate.

The acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Miss Anna Bossman, said a study conducted by her outfit in some constituencies during the elections brought to light abuse by the ruling government.

She was also not happy that ballot papers had to be collated or counted more than twice in some constituencies, which according to her, were recipes for chaos.

For his part, the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Dispatch, Mr Ben Ephson, called on owners of private media houses to engage qualified staff and suggested that the editors of such media outfits must be held responsible for any lapses.

The Executive Secretary of the NMC, Mr George Sarpong said although political parties cheated in the elections, they condemned others.

The General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, who was of the view that the NMC should be well resourced to be able to do its work, said something must be done to prevent chaos during the 2012 elections.

The EU representative, Mr Nicholay Miadenov, said although the recent elections met international standard, there were some shortcomings and suggested a review of the voters' register and that district chief executives must not campaign for the candidates of the ruling government.

Other contributors were Mr John Larbi of the CDD; Mr Afriyie Badu of Cab Governance Consult; Mr Kofi Owusu of Joy FM; Mr Kwasi Ennin, a conflict resolution expert; Mr Justice V.C.R.A.C . Crabbe, a constitutional expert, Maulvi Wahab Adam, Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, and Professor K.A. Ninsin of the University of Ghana, Legon.

Source: Daily Graphic

EC charges parties to educate members on electoral laws

2009-02-28T00:57:00.001-08:00

Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, Director of Elections of the Electoral Commission (EC), on Friday charged political parties to educate their parliamentary candidates and polling agents to be conversant with the electoral laws in order to remove suspicion that tended to characterised elections.
     He said candidates who employed knowledgeable, effective and reliable polling agents would not have any difficulty with the outcome of the elections.
     Mr Arhin, who stood in Dr Kwadwo Afari-Djan, Chairman of the EC, was speaking at a special Regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee (RIPAC) meeting on "Safeguarding the Integrity of the Ballot" project in Accra.
     The workshop, organised by the EC/Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in collaboration with the KAB Governance Consult, was to demystify the work of the EC.
     This is the second time that the forum is being organised for the political parties as an overview and lessons from the parliamentary fora and polling agents training carried out in the Greater Accra Region in November last year.
     Mr Arhin said the rationale for the meeting was to upgrade the knowledge of participants on elections as well as things that the political parties already knew.
     He said the critique of the forum would also help the EC to know things that went wrong during the last elections and what can be done to correct them.
      Mr Muhammed Adoquaye, Regional Director of the EC, said the seminar offered the right opportunity for the participants to shape up their knowledge on the rights of polling agents, electoral officials and parliamentary candidates.
     He said the parliamentary candidates also had the duty to ensure that their polling agents abide by the electoral rules to help bring peace and transparency at a particular polling station.
     Mr Adoquaye said polling agents were observers and could not intervene in the electoral process like the electoral official.
      Mr Baaba Zakarial, New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for the Abokobi-Madina Constituency, said the process of recruiting presiding officials for the various constituencies should be made transparent.
      He alleged that with current recruitment process some political party functionaries were able to infiltrate the process and cheat in the elections.
      Nii Noi Vanderpuye, a member of the Greater Accra Executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), urged the EC to resolve the problems of the special, proxy and transfer voting that characterised the December elections.
      He said there was confusion all over as some voters could be seen holding authorised notes from district electoral officials to allow them to vote in the elections.
GNA

Ninth Annual Constitution Week celebration commences on April 28

2009-02-28T00:54:00.001-08:00

The Ninth Annual Constitution Week activities commence on April 28 to give Ghanaians an opportunity to the public to participate in discussions, debates and theatre performances to ensure that the tenets of the 1992 Constitution become a living document for attainment of good governance.
     "The outcome of Election 2008 dictates that every Ghanaian enlarged his or her knowledge and information base of the spirit and tenets of the
1992 Constitution for attainment of national cohesion for accelerated growth and sustenance of democracy and constitutionalism in the country," Mrs. Augustina Akosua Akumanyi, Deputy Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said on Friday during discussions with a delegation of the Coalition on the Right to Information (RTI).
     "There is an urgent need to create an increased and sustained interest of all in the evolving democratic dispensation for achievement of social and political stability for national unity and development," she said.
     The RTI Coalition delegation led by Mr. Francis Ameyibor called on the NCCE to initiate the process for adopting Access to Information as the
revolving theme for this year's Constitution Week celebration.
     Mrs. Akumanyi, who welcomed the idea noted that the notion that the constitution was a document for the educated few, especially lawyers, should be removed from the minds of Ghanaians.
     She said the institution of the annual Constitution Week in 2001 was a bid to demystify and make it comprehensible for all to appreciate their respective duties and obligation irrespective of political affiliation and ideology.
     Mr Ameyibor described the NCCE as the largest and most potent civic advocacy institution whose active participation in the crusade for the passage of the RTI Bill would greatly enhance and advance public understanding of the bill.
     He explained that since the aim of the RTI Bill formed part of a national and international move to stamp out corruption, "it's paramount for civic institutions to play an active role in the process leading to its promulgation through the creation of public awareness".
     He said the RTI law would entrench greater transparency and accountability in public affairs, stressing that the underlying factor in the Bill was the need to protect the safety and integrity of the State and the privacy of individuals.
     Mr Ameyibor therefore debunked the notion that the Bill was a media weapon to attack public officials and expose them to public scrutiny, saying there was therefore an urgent need to intensify public education on the Bill.
     He explained that the Bill dealt with two broad subject areas, the first area dealing with information held by government agencies, and the second area with general and miscellaneous matters.
     Ms Florence Nakazibwe, a member of the RTI Coalition delegation, reiterated the urgent need for NCCE to play an active role in the crusade for the passage of the RTI Bill this year.
     The programme of activities for this year's Annual Constitution Week celebration starts with media briefing on April 22, to be followed by the main lecture on April 28.
     The role of security services in consolidating democracy would be given a boost with their involvement in the celebration through durbars for the Military, Police, Immigration, Fire, CEPS and Prison services.
GNA

Electoral Commission seeks views to check multiple voting

2009-02-28T00:51:00.001-08:00

Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr David Adeenze Kanga, has called for suggestions on how to ensure effective vigilance at polling stations to help stop multiple voting during elections.
     He made the appeal during an expanded Eastern Regional Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting in Koforidua on Thursday.
     The meeting was attended by representatives of the various political parties that participated in the 2008 elections.
     The meeting, which was organized by the EC, was facilitated by KAB Governance Consult and sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
     Mr Kanga called on political parties to condemn cheating at elections and educate their supporters to be true democrats and respect the electoral laws.
     He wondered why people could commit crimes like multiple voting and could come out in the open to celebrate it by telling people the number of times they voted without feeling guilty.
     Mr Kanga called for state support for political parties to enable them to have active representation at polling stations during elections.
     He called on political parties to do away with mistrust and suspicion for the electoral process, a situation he described as the "biggest devils" haunting the country.
     The Eastern Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Alecs Agobo, called for ways of empowering security personnel deployed at polling stations to enable them enforce the right process at those stations.
     He alleged multiple voting on the islands in the Afram Plains under the watch of a duty security man, who he said was helpless because he was alone and threatened not to intervene, else he would be drowned in the Volta Lake.
     Mr Julius Debrah, Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), called for the introduction of electronic voting system in the country to help avoid the issue of double registration.
     He called for joint training of stakeholders in the electoral system before elections to avoid the situation where on an election day, presiding officers would attempt to use their discretion rather than follow laid down directives.
GNA
CGO/KK
27 Feb. 09

NPOL 005
Politics Minister Media
Western Regional Minister
calls for accurate reportage in the media

     Takoradi, Feb. 27, GNA - Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister has appealed to the media to ensure adequate and accurate reportage of events to promote a positive image of the Region.
     He said "we must educate our citizens to change their attitude towards development in the Region and country."
     Mr Aidoo made the call in an interaction with the media in Sekondi on Thursday.
     "Please use your media to educate the people about indiscriminate disposal of refuse, illegal water and electricity connection as well as unauthorised construction of buildings," he stressed.
     Mr Aidoo said as an indigene of the Region, he would spearhead the development process and ensure the Region had its fair share of national development.
     "There is the need for government to provide quality education, jobs, affordable housing, quality health care as well as security for the citizenry a priority of the NDC Government, he said.
      To achieve these, Mr Aidoo called for the collaborative efforts of all and the media to offer constructive suggestions towards growth of the Region.
      "Indeed we must approach issues of the development of the Region and nation with unity of purpose," he said.
       Mr George Amihere Naykene, Western Regional Chairman of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) noted that the media had contributed to the growth and development of the Region.
       He explained that journalists were not economic saboteurs but partners in development.
       Mr Naykene urged heads of departments and public servants to make information readily available for journalists or direct them to the appropriate authorities.
       This, he said would ensure journalists performed better to prevent speculative, bias and un-substantiated reportage.
       Mr Naykene appealed to the Western Regional Coordinating Council to provide the media with means of transport to facilitate their work.
GNA

Upper East RIPAC reviews Election 2008

2009-02-26T22:09:00.001-08:00

Political party representatives on the Upper East Regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee (RIPAC), have made recommendations to improve the country's electoral system, at a meeting to review Election 2008, in Bolgatanga on Thursday.
      They called for regular transfer or change of returning officers and polling assistants, as well as refraining from locating polling stations at private houses.
      The representatives contended that some returning officers and polling assistants in the region had been in their constituencies since 1992, and had thus became too familiar with the people, which did not augur well for the country's electoral system.
      On the location of polling stations at private homes, they said that could compromise the neutrality and fairness of the electoral process, as residents of those homes ultimately belonged to one political party or the other.
     The RIPAC forum was convened jointly by the Electoral Commission (EC), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and KAB Governance Consult, as part of activities under the "Safeguarding the Integrity of the Ballot" project.
     It aims among other things, to assess the December 2008 polls in terms of meeting the aspirations of various stakeholders, to review activities carried out under the project such as the training of polling agents, and to draw lessons from the elections to inform the conduct of future elections.
     Participants at the meeting comprised representatives from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), security agencies, returning officers, district electoral officers, media practitioners, political parties, notably the Convention People's Party (CPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), New Patriotic Party (NPP), People's National Convention (PNC), and Democratic People's Party (DPP), and some head of departments.

     The forum also expressed concern about the late arrival of the transferred voters list, as well as delays in the delivery of ballot papers and other electoral material, particularly in the remote parts of the region.
     Participants urged the EC to institute a system of continuous registration by which persons who turn 18 years could be registered as voters, rather than waiting for four years to take part in general registration exercise which was often done with cost.
     They recommended that the EC came out clear on the role of personalities such as Members of Parliament, party candidates, district chief executives, and ministers of state on election day, arguing that the absence of such guidelines resulted in undue interference with the duties of election officials by some of those personalities.
     Mr. Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka, Deputy EC Chairman in charge of Operations and Commission member responsible for the Northern and Upper East Regions, commended the people for the peaceful outcome of the December polls in the area.
     He said " That notwithstanding, the stock-taking we are doing here today is still necessary since it would enable us to identify and correct certain shortcomings in our evolving electoral system."
     Mr. Charles Addei, Director of Training at EC headquarters, indicated that the biometric system of voter identification which the EC would soon introduce would eliminate all problems associated with voter identity.
     He observed that the purpose of the RIPAC forum was not to find fault or apportion blame, but to give participants the chance to provide inputs to improve Ghana's electoral system.
     The Deputy Regional Director of EC, Mr. Godwin Okley said although last year's election was full of challenges, it ended peacefully due to the collective efforts of stakeholders including political parties, media, security agencies, the EC, and the electorate.
GNA

NPP names Kwarteng as Director of Communications

2009-02-26T22:01:00.001-08:00

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday announced the appointment of Mr Kwaku Kwarteng as the party's Director of Communications.
     Mr Kwarteng, a former government spokesperson on finance, would head the Communications Directorate of the party, a statement signed by Nana Ohene-Ntow, Secretary General of NPP, said.
     The statement also announced the appointment of Mr Perry Okudzeto as the Deputy Director of Communications.
     It said Mr Kwarteng would be responsible for managing the party's relationship with the media and the general public.
    Dr Arthur Kobina Kennedy was the NPP's communication spokesman during the 2008 election.
GNA

Appoint two MCEs each for metropolitan assemblies - Opanin Afreh

2009-02-26T21:59:00.001-08:00

Opanin Kwame Afreh, Chairman of the Asante United Forum, a pressure group in Kumasi, has called for the amendment of the Local Government Law, Act 462, to make it possible for the appointment of two chief executives each for all the metropolitan assemblies in the country.
He said for instance the appointment of two chief executives each for the Kumasi, Accra, Sekondi-Takoradi and the Tamale metropolitan assemblies would ease administrative work and facilitate development.
A statement signed by Opanin Afreh said the amendment of the Act would also make room for the creation of offices for the monitoring of party political activities and yet another for purely administrative and management of the cities.
     He explained that this would help plug the vacuum created by the existing system, which rendered government ineffective at the local government levels.
Opanin Afreh, who is also a veteran political activist, said his suggestion was not an innovation and recalled that the first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah employed such a method to administer the country.
     He said "If it was prudent for the Nkrumah regime to appoint two District Commissioners in the persons of Mary Osei and one Fosu for Kumasi in those days when the population was relative low, then it stands to reason to have two mayors today when the population had increased tremendously".
Opanin Afreh said if President John Evans Atta Mills cherished the achievements of Dr Nkrumah, there was the need to remind him of some of the brilliant ideas of Nkrumah to facilitate his reign.
He cited the administrative set-up of the Electricity Company of Ghana where Ashanti region has been divided into Ashanti West and Ashanti East regions with a regional director assigned to each of the two regions for effective administrative and operational purposes.
     Opanin Afreh stressed that the administration of the metropolitan assemblies by two chief executives each would promote efficiency in view of the larger population and the expansion of the area of the assemblies.
He said the creation of sub-metro councils under the metropolitan assemblies had not been beneficial because they were not operational and functional as the structures were simply not functioning, making the decentralization policy a mockery.
"Under the sub-Metro council system, each sub-metro is supposed to be headed by a Deputy Metro Chief Executive, but no such position has been created since the Local government Act was amended some years ago to make them autonomous", Opanin said.
He suggested that assembly members who under the local government system, formed part of governance, must be paid appreciable salaries instead of irregular allowances to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the development of their local areas.
GNA

President Mills swears in first woman Attorney-General

2009-02-26T21:54:00.001-08:00

President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday swore in the first woman Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu and reminded her to ensure equality of all persons before the law.
     He said Ghanaians were not happy about selective justice and wanted to be treated equally before the law. Cases must also be dealt with expeditiously.
     "We have no doubt you have what it takes to be Attorney-General," the President said, and urged the Minister to improve upon the workings of the Justice Ministry, since Ghanaians would judge her performance by comparing the performance of the Ministry before she took office and when she would be in office.
     The President administered the Oath of Allegiance, Oath of Minister of State and Oath of Secrecy to the Minister.
     President Mills also presented her with the Instrument of Appointment and a copy of the 1992 constitution.
     The President urged the Minister to give Ghanaians hope in the justice system, and said it was necessary that rumours about the system were dispelled to boost the confidence of the international and business communities in the nation's justice system.
     "Ghanaians expect the highest standards," the President said, and gave the assurance of the Government to co-operate with Ghanaians to ensure an effective judicial system without sacrificing their ability to stand on their own.
     Mr Henry Newman, Chief of Staff, urged the Minister to use her experience as a seasoned legal practitioner to improve the Attorney-General's Department and ensure an effective link between the President, the Judiciary and Parliament.
     Dr Kwabena Adjei, Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress, expressed confidence that the Minister would use the position to contribute to the change for better lives that the party promised Ghanaians.
     Mrs Mould-Iddrisu expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in her.
GNA

Computerize hospitals for efficient health care delivery

2009-02-25T23:35:00.001-08:00

Telecom giants TIGO on Wednesday launched "longer longer" promotion to cushion the burden of costs of mobile phone conversation that customers incur as result of the harsh economic times.
     The "longer longer" promotion allows all TIGO prepaid customers to pay
just half of the normal cost of airtime on voice calls and text messages on local calls during week days.
     It is designed to make customers relax more when it comes to making
calls and sending text messages without worrying about the consumption of
their airtime.
     Ms Anita Erskine, Corporate Affairs Manager of TIGO who launched the promotion in Accra said the harsh economic conditions called for products which would make customers to have value for their money.
     "It's an exciting moment; we are in the season of giving and receiving and there is honestly nothing better than giving our loyal customers a reason to talk more for less", she stated.
     Ms Erskine said the vibrance of the TIGO brand resonated strongly amongst its customers by virtue of exciting packages that it offered all year round.
     She said this year held much prospect for subscribers; they would enjoy a combination of enhanced services, innovative products and promotions that would give them more reason to talk more with their TIGO network.
     This promotion which began in February, will end on March 20, this year.
     Meanwhile, the company would embark on free chip registration, free replacement for lost chips, among other services, for customers on Friday the 27th of February this year at all its offices across the country.
GNA

This is not an era of vengeance - Avoka

2009-02-25T23:32:00.001-08:00

Mr. Cletus Avoka, Minister of the Interior on Wednesday assured Ghanaians that the change of government was not an era of vengeance and advised all to comport themselves to ensure peace and development.
     He said the NDC was committed to peace, unity in development and that the party's slogan of "A better Ghana" did not translate to mean killing one another and warned that any one who indulged in acts of violence would be dealt with, no matter his or her political affiliation.
     Mr. Avoka gave the assurance in Tamale when he led a government delegation to inspect and ascertain acts of arson that took place in Tamale where seven houses and three vehicles were burnt in renewed violence last Sunday between supporters of the NDC and the NPP in the Tamale Metropolis.
     The arson took place after the burial of one Abdul Rashid who was shot dead in a previous clash between the two parties about two weeks ago.
     The Minister and his entourage visited the seven destroyed houses in Gumbihini, Chogu and Nyohini and sympathized with displaced persons and assured them of government's support to resettle them.
     Addressing the leadership of both parties and security personnel after the tour, Mr. Avoka said the NDC government was committed to letting justice prevail in the country and that anybody found disturbing the peace would be treated accordingly without fear or favour.
     He said there was the need for all to eschew favouritism and nepotism and help chart a new path of development to erase the negative impression "that held the north to ransom for many years."
     "What people did in the past and we were not happy, there is no need for us to repeat them. A wrong always remains the same, no matter how you turn it", he said, and urged all to emulate the humility of Professor John Evans Atta Mills and Vice President John Mahama and work for national unity.

     Mr. Avoka said the government would chart a new path of conflict resolution and would empower agencies fighting conflict with the necessary tools to ensure that there was peace, unity and national cohesion.
     He advised the security personnel to remain neutral in execution of their duty to win public confidence saying, "We went round and you all heard the people. If you cannot prosecute a single person who misbehaved in the past, how do you expect the public to have trust in you?"
     He said the Ministry of the Interior would in the near future, compel Regional Commanders of the security forces to sign performance contract and whoever failed to perform would be replaced.
     Mr. Stephen Sumani Nayina, Northern Regional Minister expressed regret that, at a time when some people in the north could not afford to pay school fees, hospital medical bills they could afford to use money to purchase weapons for destruction.
     He said the monies and the energies used in solving conflicts in the north would have been used in finding ways of developing the north.
      The delegation expressed disappointment in the regional leadership of the NPP some of who withdrew at the last minute from the inspection tour and failed to meet with the delegation after the inspection of the burnt houses without reasons.
GNA

New Eastern Regional Minister calls on NPP Regional Executive

2009-02-25T23:20:00.001-08:00

The newly appointed Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on the Regional Executive of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a day after assumption of office.
     He called for frequent interaction among the leadership of the various political parties, in order to demonstrate to their members that they are not enemies.
     Mr Ampofo explained that such interactions could help reduce tension in the country and avoid the political conflicts that are leading to loss of lives and property after Election 2008.
     He said President John Evans Atta-Mills was guided by the promise that his government would be for all Ghanaians, so that the prosperity of the country would be for all citizens.
     Mr Ampofo promised to work with all political parties, especially under the situation where the New Patriotic Party, has majority of the parliamentary seats in the region.
     He announced plans to meet with the Regional Parliamentary Caucus to strategize on how to support the development of the region.
     Mr Ampofo appealed to the media to help reduce political tension in the country through the way they present their stories.
      The Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Mr Julius Debrah observed that as the democratic culture of the country is being nurtured, there is the need for the leaders of the various political parties to conduct themselves in a way to support the political achievements of the country.
      He called for co-operation and cordiality among leaders of the political parties to send the correct signals to the ordinary members of the parties.
      The Regional Vice Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga assured the Regional Minister of the party's co-operation, to ensure the development of the Region.
GNA

Mills reiterates cut in executive expenditure

2009-02-25T22:53:00.001-08:00

President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday swore-in 11 new Ministers of State and repeated that, his administration would reduce executive expenditure and invest the savings into the productive sectors of the economy.

He reminded the new Ministers to exhibit transparency, honesty, probity and accountability, and use the resources of the State to the benefit of the people.

President Mills administered the Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of Ghana, the Oath Minister of State and the Oath of Secrecy to the Ministers and reminded them to work hard and not to abuse the confidence reposed in them for their privileged service. The President presented the Ministers with their Instruments of Office, and as a novelty, copies of the current Ghanaian constitution were made available to them as a reminder of their rights, duties and responsibilities towards the state nation.

The Ministers were: Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao - Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr. Alexander Asum-Ahensah -Minister of Chieftaincy, Hajia Rafatu Alhassan Dubie-Minister at the Presidency, Dr. George Sipa-Adjah Yankey- Minister of Health, Mrs. Sabah Zita Okaikoi- Minister of Information and Ms. Hanny Sherry Ayittey - Minister of Environment, Science and Technology.

The rest were: Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni- Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Albert Abongo- Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi- Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Alhassan Azong-Minister of State at the Presidency and Mr Mark Wayongo, Minister for the Upper Eats Region. The latest swearing-in of ministers brings to 34 the number sworn in under the Mills' Government.

Ruling on Asutifi South election petition on April 8

2009-02-25T00:07:00.001-08:00

The Supreme Court will give its judgment on a Certiorari Application brought before it by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Asutifi South, Alhaji Collins Dauda, praying the court to set aside a Sunyani High Court's decision on the election dispute in the constituency.

The five-member panel of the Supreme Court, chaired by Mr Justice William Atuguba, with Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo, Dr. Justice Date Bah, Mrs Justice Rose Owusu and Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as other members, fixed the date on Tuesday after hearing oral submissions from the various counsel in the matter.

Results from Asutifi South and the Akwatia are the only two yet to be declared by the Electoral Commission (EC) after the December 7 Elections.

While the EC was yet to declare the results in Asutifi South, Mr Yiadom Boakye Boateng, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, filed a petition at the Sunyani High Court alleging that there were certain irregularities in the conduct of the election and therefore prayed the court to restrain the EC from declaring the results.

On January 6, the High Court overruled a preliminary objection raised by counsel for Alhaji Dauda that the matter was not properly brought before the court.

Not satisfied with the ruling of the High Court, the EC filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal against that decision.

When the matter came up for hearing at the Court of Appeal on February 17, the court was informed that Alhaji Dauda had filed a Certiorari Application at the Supreme Court asking the court to quash the High Court's decision of January 6.

Consequently, the Court of Appeal adjourned the matter sine die, pending its final determination by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court was co-incidentally hearing the Certiorari Application on February 17 when the Court of Appeal sat on it.

One of the panel members was indisposed on that day and the matter was adjourned to Tuesday.

Making his submissions at the court's sitting on Tuesday, Mr Samuel Cudjoe, counsel for Alhaji Dauda, argued that the application was premature and out of place, because in his view, Section 18 (1) of PNDC Law 284 made it clear that a parliamentary election petition could be filed at a High Court only when the EC had declared a winner.

Counsel submitted that since in the case in point the EC had not come out with the final results, the application by Mr Nkrabea Effah-Dartey, counsel for the NPP candidate, was out of place and ought not to be entertained by the court.

Mr Effah-Dartey submitted that the application was properly laid before the court because it was being brought under Section 18 (2) of that same PNDC Law 284.

Counsel stated that his understanding of the said provision was that a candidate should not wait for election results to be declared before bringing a petition if he noticed irregularities or malpractices in the conduct of the election.

Mr James Quarshie-Idun, counsel for the EC, submitted that the Commission had the dual mandate to publicly declare a winner in an election, and to proceed further to publish the gazetted results in the dailies.

Counsel, therefore, prayed the Supreme Court to grant the Certiorari Application in order for the Commission to fulfill its constitutional mandate, before any election petition could be filed or entertained by the High Court.

Mrs Sylvia Adosu, Principal State Attorney who represented the Attorney-General's Department, endorsed the EC's submission, and said since it had not yet declared a winner in the Asutifi South Parliamentary Election, the Sunyani High Court's decision should be set aside.

Source: GNA

Greater Accra Council of State elections called off

2009-02-24T08:25:00.001-08:00

The Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday indefinitely postponed the Council of State elections for the Greater Accra region due to the absence of the required Electoral College to vote.

According to the Electoral Law, two representatives from each of the district assemblies would constitute an electoral college to vote in the election, but the absence of fully constituted district assemblies in the region has delayed the process.

This is the second time the election has been postponed after the Ministry of Local Government initially asked for an extension of the election date to fully constitute all district assemblies.

" The EC was ready to conduct the elections but the Regional Coordinating Director is saying, the districts have not been fully constituted and therefore we could not have the electoral college", Mr Albert Kofi Arhin, Director of Elections for the EC told the media in Accra.

Mr Arhin explained under the Electoral Law the EC must conduct the elections within 14 days of closing nominations, which should have taken place on February 10, but it was postponed for another 14 days upon request by the Ministry.

Mr Arhin therefore expressed dismay that the Ministry had not yet constituted all assemblies and expressed uncertainty on whether or not the elections could come off.

He noted that the Law required that the elections must take place at the same time and date in all regional capitals, adding, "now that all the regions are holding their elections I can not tell whether it would be possible for us to have ours later".

He said the matter had been referred to the Regional Coordinating Director for further discussions with the Chairman of the EC, Dr. Kwadwo Afare-Djan.

One of the contenders, Mr Sulley Adamu Taylor expressed disappointment over the turn of events.

" I am not happy at all about how this election is been organised. We keep being disappointed and all our efforts and resources come to naught ".

Mr Adamu Taylor said he would seek legal counsel on the matter. In all, eight persons are contesting to represent the region in the Council of State.

GNA

President Mills names 23 deputy ministers

2009-02-24T00:58:00.001-08:00

The President, John Evans Atta Mills has released a list of 23 nominees for appointment as Deputy Ministers of State.

The list signed by Mr. Bebaako Mensah, Secretary to the President, has key party functionaries including Mr. Fiifi Kwetey as one of two Deputy Ministers of Finance.

The rest are Mr. Seth Terpker, Deputy Minister of Finance; John Jatuah, Trade and Industry; Dr. Nartey Siaw Sapore, Communications; Henry Kamel, Lands and Natural Resources; Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Boah and Dr. Kwabena Donkor, Energy; Mrs Gyifa Peace Ativor Transport; Hawawu Buoya Gariba for the Womens and Children's Affairs; and Dr. Kwasi Appiah Kubi, Interior.

Others include Mrs Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, Deputy Education Minister; Dr. Joseph Annan, Deputy Minister for Education; Kwabena Owusu Acheampong, Tourism; Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Local Government and Rural Development; Rojo Mettle Nunoo, Roads and Highways; and Nii Nortey Dua as Deputy Youth and Sports Minister.

The following have also been nominated as deputy regional ministers: They are, Baba Jamal, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister; Eric Opoku, Brong Ahafo Region; Khalid Ceasar, Upper West; Betty Bosomtwe Sam Deputy Western Region; Mr. Moses Magbenba Northern Region; Col Cyril Necku Rtd, Volta Region; and Lucy Awuni, Upper East Region.

Three other nominees have also been named for appointment as ministers of state. They are Abdul Rashid, Alhaji Seidu Amadu, and Mr. Kwadwo Tawiah.

Minister gives ultimatum for surrendering of weapons

2009-02-23T23:30:00.001-08:00

Mr. S.S Nayina, Northern Regional Minister, on Monday gave the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the region, one month ultimatum to ensure that all weapons were retrieved and surrendered to security personnel to bring lasting peace to the area.
     The Regional Minister gave the order at an emergency security meeting in Tamale, where the leadership of the two parties had confessed and testified before the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC), that both NPP and the NDC members in the area had in their possession sophisticated weapons.
       He said "We should not make the Northern Region a warfare area. We have already been tagged with a bad name because of conflicts and this is the time to tell ourselves that enough is enough and cooperate with the security apparatus to bring peace."
     He said people who would willingly surrender their weapons would not be questioned as to where and how they got them adding "From one month from today, surrender all guns in your possession and thereafter, we would hunt for the guns ourselves and there would be no limited period for the hunt."
     Mr. Nayina urged politicians from the Northern part of the country to help create conducive environment for progress and said all trouble makers would be dealt with no matter their political affiliations.
     He said "The security personnel would be arresting all trouble makers and they would not be asking them of their political affiliation. The law would determine your offence and appropriate charge."
     Some of the leaders who appeared before REGSEC said in the past some people within the Metropolis openly shot people and that though they were arrested there was no indication that guns were retrieved from them.
     The leaders said this has encouraged other people to arm themselves to the teeth in anticipation of violence during Election 2008 and urged the security personnel to apprehend all wrong doers to ensure lasting peace in the region.
      Seven houses and three vehicles were burnt in renewed violence on Sunday between supporters of the NDC and the NPP in the Metropolis, after the burial of Abdul Rashid, who was shot dead in a previous clash between the two parties last Week.
     The destroyed vehicles included a Nissan pick-up with registration No.NR 2663 C, Mercedes Benz saloon car with registration NR 5005 C and a Yamaha motorcycle.
     The Minister, who joined family members to bury the late Rahid, had advised them not to revenge but to embrace peace since vengeance was for God.
GNA

Seven houses burnt in renewed violence in Tamale

2009-02-23T23:27:00.001-08:00

Seven houses and three vehicles were burnt in renewed violence on Sunday between supporters of the NDC and the NPP in the Tamale Metropolis.
     The arson took place after the burial of one Abdul Rashid who was shot dead in a previous clash between the two parties last week.
     The destroyed vehicles include a Nissan pick-up with registration No.NR 2663 C, Mercedes Benz saloon car with registration NR 5005 C and a Yamaha motorcycle.
     Mr Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour, Northern Regional Police Commander, who disclosed this in an interview with the GNA on Monday, said so far, two persons had been arrested in connection with the violence.
     He said the violence broke out after the police had provided security for the burial of the late Abdul Rashid at the Old Gulkpegu Cemetery.
     He said it was after the burial that the police had information that the road leading to Gumbihini, a suburb of Tamale where the deceased resided, had been blocked with stones, wood and other objects while some houses had been set ablaze.
     Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Gyeabour said the police with the assistance of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) rushed to the area and brought the situation under control.
     He said the police and the military had intensified their patrols in the Metropolis and mounted several check points to search for weapons.
     He said police reinforcements from the Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti and Upper East Regions were being brought in to strengthen security in the Metropolis and restore law and order.
     The Regional Police Commander appealed for cooperation from the public, the media, chiefs and opinion leaders to volunteer information to the police, which would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the violence.
     He urged the people not to politicise the situation, saying: "The police are arresting people purely on criminal grounds and not on the basis of whether one belonged to party A or party B".
GNA/

All set for Council of State election in Upper East

2009-02-23T23:26:00.001-08:00

Eighteen delegates have been selected from the nine District and Municipal Assemblies in the Upper East Region to form the Electoral College to elect a regional representative to the Council of State.
     The assemblies comprise the Bolgatanga and Bawku Municipal Assemblies, Bongo, Bawku West, Kassena-Nankana, Builsa, Garu-Tempane, Talensi-Nabdam, and Kassena-Nankana West district assemblies.
     The delegates are expected to convene on Monday at the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to receive further instructions with regards to the electoral process.
     The delegates, made up of six women and 12 men, would have the duty of electing one of the four contestants who filed for the post.
     The candidates, who have for some time now been engaging in a series of lobbies to get the delegates to vote for them, include the Very Reverend Dr. Jacob Ayeebo, PhD holder and a native of the Bawku West District.
     Reverend Ayeebo is also a development worker and heads the Anglican Diocesan and Development Relief Organization (ADDRO). He is the immediate past Presiding Member of the Bawku West District Assembly as well as the Dean of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale. He is a Supervising Examiner for two universities, namely the North West University in South Africa and Greenwich School of Theology in the United Kingdom.
     Also in the race is Mr Robert Atuguba, a retired educationist and one time Chief Editor at the Ghana News Agency (GNA), in charge of the French Desk, and a key member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region.
    The others are Madam Melanie Kasise, also a retired educationist, and a Diploma holder in advanced studies in education, who heads the Sirigu Women Pottery and Arts Association (SWOPA), and Madam Hilda Salifu, a businesswoman and a holder of Teacher Certificate 'A', who is a native of Bolgatanga. She is the National Second Vice Chairman of the NDC.
     The Deputy Upper East Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Godwin Okley, when contacted said everything is set for the election on Tuesday.
     He indicated that the ballot papers with the photographs of the candidates on them were ready, adding that, the EC was yet to get the full list of the delegates from the RCC. "Once the delegates are together it should not take the EC more than an hour to finish the voting process and announce the results," he said.
GNA

Mills delivers maiden State-of-the-Nation address

2009-02-19T07:24:00.001-08:00

President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday delivered his maiden State-of-the-Nation address to Parliament, emphasizing teamwork and consensus building in the process of rebuilding the nation.
     He told 228 Members Parliament, made up of four different parties and four independent members, that consensus building was very vital and time was very precious in the pursuit of true collaboration in the House.
     "We must work together to fashion out the requisite legislation that will help this country face and overcome her many challenges in this time of domestic and global uncertainty," the President said.
     President Mills reminded the Members of Parliament of the obligation of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to keep faith with the people at all times and never to forget the "men and women whose worries stretch from pay day to pay day."

     The address touched on governance, challenging global economic environment, private sector development, agriculture, cocoa, housing and infrastructure, health, education, sports, energy, debt of the Tema Oil Refinery, power, information technology and foreign affairs.
     The President stressed national unity and urged the House to serve as a model to Ghanaians who would see their teamwork as a prime example of peaceful and productive co-existence.
     He asked: "Can we build a unified country where all citizens have the opportunity to give of their best to Mother Ghana while earning a good education and dignified standard of living?
     "Can we all live under the Rule of Law, whereby we are all governed by the same set of laws and are equal before the Law?
     "Can we all build a better and prosperous Ghana that works in the interest of all Ghanaians?"

     President Mills urged the citizens to put the past behind, and team up to build a better Ghana underpinned by honesty and integrity.
     He observed that the message of change promised by the NDC began with the realization that there was a new way to look at national problems and use political power as an instrument to shape the future of the nation.
     "I am determined to restore a sense of community in this country; a community in which we all shall share in the responsibility of shouldering the common good.
    "I want us to be kind and generous to each other. I believe it is possible to bring back smiles to the faces of all Ghanaians, that even if the economic prosperity is slow in coming, Ghanaians will say of this Government that we are truthful, honest and sincere."

     President Mills said the Government would hold itself and all other public office officials strictly accountable. "That principle will not be negotiable."
     "I will be an example to the nation. I will be an example by being time-conscious. And because it is hypocritical to exhort people to sacrifice for the common god when we are not prepared to do the same, I will lead by example."
     President Mills paid tribute to his two predecessors, former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor, who sat at different places in the public gallery with their spouses, for their services to the nation and for moving democracy forward and further along the path to maturation.
     The President acknowledged Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, for his selfless service.
     He observed that this year was the first President's 100th birthday and announced that the Government intended to honour Dr Nkrumah's memory with a National holiday to be known as Founders' Day, adding that, Government would be sending legislation to that effect to the House.
GNA

Segbefia clears air over per diem for transition team

2009-02-19T00:41:00.001-08:00

The controversy surrounding the exact amount of per diem received by members of the government's Transition Team at their six weeks sitting has been settled.

Each of the team members with the exception of the Chairman and Chairpersons of the various committees received $1,350 dollars as against $2000 dollars being put out by government critics in the past week.

Alex Segbefia, Secretary to the Government's Transition Team cleared the controversy in an interview on Adom Dwaso Nsem on Tuesday when the issue came up during the panel discussion.

He could however not mention what was received by the Chairman and the chairpersons of the various committees.

According to him the $1,350 was arrived at based on the records available to the team as to what was given to Committee members set by the NPP government for doing a month work in 2001.

Mr. Segbefia added that based on that the leadership of the Transition Team saw what was received by the NPP functionaries in 2001 to be too high and therefore cut the amount by 10%.

He said the decision by the leadership of the Transition Team saved the nation a lot of cost for doing Six weeks work and taking less than a month's allowance.

The Secretary to the Transition Team also debunked claims that members of the team were bussed from their various homes to the International Conference Centre where the various committees had their sittings. He said all the members of the various committees of the Transition team footed their transport bills themselves and that the $1,350 paid them was inclusive of their Transportation.

Adom FM

Mpiani - Powerless Muscles

2009-02-19T00:39:00.001-08:00

…he is still suffering from withdrawal symptoms

…power goes with authority and he has none anymore

The Former Chief of Staff Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, yesterday said at a news conference that the NPP transitional team would not co-operate with the government's transitional team as far as transitional matters are concerned because the NDC side was painting the former government black.

He therefore called on Ghanaians to treat the final report of the to be presented to President Mills as one sided

Mr. Mpiani cited the summoning of the Auditor General, Mr. Edward Duah-Agyemang to appear before the NDC Transitional team and his live media presentation of the Ghana@50 audited accountswhich he said flouted the ethics of accounting procedures as well as the leaking of what he said were half truths by the government's transitional team to the media as clear cases of painting the former government black.

However, a source close to the government's transitional team says the former Chief of Staff is only flexing powerless muscles.

"He has not got the power or the authority to tell the government how to run the affairs of the state. The President, and by extension, the government's transitional team have the power and authority vested in them by the people of Ghana to do what they believe is just and fair" the source said.

A member of the transitional team told the True Democrat that right from the beginning, Mpiani rebuffed all attempts by the government's transitional team to uncover some of the dubious documents and activities that was being concealed from the team but was unearthed later.

"Now, because of the exposures, particularly the rot uncovered at the Ghana@50, he is shivering like a reed in a windstorm" the member said The source said the former Chief of Staff who was also the former Minister for Presidential Affairs is only blowing hot air because he is no longer the Chief of Staff and no longer wields untrammeled power as he used to.

"He is an ordinary citizen just like any one of us and no longer above the law as used to be the case when the NPP was in office. It will be in his own interest to co-operate with the state, if need be, when the time comes" the source said

Ghanaians were shocked to the marrow of their bones when it was revealed by the Auditor-General that the country spent US$60 million (GH¢60,179,481) instead of US$20 million in celebrating its 50th anniversary (Ghana@50) in 2007 and was still in arrears. The rot has been laid at the feet of Mr. Mpiani who was the supervising Minister of the Ghana @50 celebrations.

Mr. Mpiani has also been accused by the Commissioner of CEPS of causing financial loss to the state by selling off state vehicles without the knowledge of CEPS.

The True Democrat's source said but for the magnanimity of President Mills, people like Akufo-Addo and Kwabena Agyapong would have been surcharged for using state vehicles for months under the watch of Kwadwo Mpiani even when they were no longer in government

Source:
True Democrat

NDC Government determined to eradicate malaria Dr Yankey

2009-02-19T00:32:00.001-08:00

Dr George Sipa Adjah-Yankey, Minister-designate for Health, on Wednesday said under his stewardship, the Ministry would set up a Malaria Elimination Programme (MEP) to bring malaria to a level that it would no longer become a health problem in the country.
     He told the Parliamentary Appointments Committee during his two-hour long vetting that "it has been my dream to eliminate malaria from this country and I will do it when given the nod."
     Dr Adjah-Yankey, an Investment Lawyer, told the committee that beyond eliminating malaria as a health problem, he would also collaborate with his counterparts within West Africa to completely eradicate malaria from the sub-region.
     The committee members could not hide their admiration for Dr Adjah-Yankey after he had given very articulate responses to questions ranging from National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), health infrastructure, health finance, guinea worm, maternal health care, mental health care, herbal medicine, brain drain and health tourism.
     He was particularly commended for being the first nominee to have referred to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto and quoted from it to support his responses.
     Dr Adjah-Yankey noted that his passion against malaria stemmed out of the fact that malaria treatment consumed 760 million dollars, which was 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2006, adding that one-third of death in children was due to malaria and 45 per cent of outpatient cases in the hospitals were malaria related.
     He said in spite of a vision to reduce malaria cases by 50 per cent in 2010 and by 75 per cent in 2015, there did not seem to be a programme that dealt with the disease at the grassroots.

Dr Adjah-Yankey said the MEP would be a holistic approach that ensured early detection of the disease for early treatment and also made use of biological means to destroy the mosquito larvae at an early stage.
    "I am of a deep conviction that malaria can be eliminated and eventually eradicated from the sub-region through collaboration with our sister countries," he said.
    On the NHIS, he said the scheme was good and NDC Government would continue with its implementation, adding however, that the payment of premium annually would be replaced with a one-time payment and access to the scheme would be made universal no matter where the people lived in the country, provided they were qualified.
    Dr Adjah-Yankey provided a detailed statistical analogy on how the NDC Government arrived at its decision to make the payment of NHIS premium once since Ghanaians contributed to the scheme through subtle purchase taxes.
    He said the NHIS would be computerised to ensure a linkage between patient's records, disease, diagnoses, drugs required, cost of drugs and other records that would make the system more efficient and payments to service providers improved.
     "We have plans to make the tax systems more efficient to ensure that more money comes into the government kitty to support programmes like the NHIS and to reduce the burden on Ghanaians," he said.
     Dr Adjah-Yankey noted that the health sector in particular was bleeding financially due to many loopholes in the sector which made room for corruption, saying he had identified many of those loopholes and would work to seal them all and save the sector from the financial haemorrhage.

    Dr Adjah-Yankey said it was his vision to turn Ghana into a health hub within the sub-region, through his contacts around the world to bring in donors and investors to turn some of the health facilities into specialist centre of excellence.
    "I intend to establish a health tourism programme where Ghanaian health practitioners in the Diaspora would come down within specific periods every year to offer specialists services that people would have normally travelled abroad for," he said.
     That he said, would save Ghanaians lots of money and also attract foreign exchange from within the sub-region, adding that it would be complemented with incentives and good living conditions for health practitioners to put the breaks on brain drain.
     Dr Adjah-Yankey assured the committee that as per the NDC manifesto, the Upper East, West and Eastern Regions would be provided with befitting government hospitals under his stewardship, adding that every community of more than 500 inhabitants would also be provided with a health facility while those less than 500 would have mobile clinics.
     He assured the committee that if given the nod, he would take inventory of all health facilities in the country decide with his team on what improvement they needed to put them in a state to effectively support government's health programme.
     Dr Adjah-Yankey told the committee that he would collaborate with the administration of the University of Ghana (UG) to consider turning the University Hospital at Legon into a teaching hospital to ease the burden on Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
     Touching on the extensive use of herbs by many Ghanaians, he said herbal medicine would be integrated into the national health care system to ensure the required dosage was properly determined to prevent abuse.
     He said he would make budgetary allocation for the rehabilitation of mental homes across the country.
GNA

President Mills: Accountability awaits us

2009-02-19T00:28:00.001-08:00

President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday, reiterated his message of modesty to appointees under his administration, reminding them to judiciously manage the nation's resources to meet the challenges of changing world economic and social order.
     As he swore the second batch of 13 Ministers approved by Parliament, at the Castle, Osu, the President said the nation could no longer depend on the largesse and generosity of Development Partners and needed to take emergency steps to meet the aspirations of the Ghanaian.
     The President administered the Oath of Allegiance, oath of Minister of State and the oath of Secrecy to the Ministers, and presented their Instruments of Office to the Ministers, made of nine Regional Ministers and four others with different portfolios.
     The Regional Ministers were: Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Minister for Western Region; Mr Samuel Ofosu- Ampofo, Minister for Eastern Region and Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister.
     Others are Mrs Ama Benyiwa- Doe, Central Regional Minister; Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and Mr Mahmoud Khalid, Upper West Regional Minister.
     The rest are Nii Armah Ashietey, Greater Accra Regional Minister; Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister and Mr Stephen Sumani Nayina, Northern Regional Minister.
     The four others Ministers were: Lt Gen (rtd) Joseph Henry Smith, Minister of Defence; Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications; Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry; and Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, Minister of Youth and Sports.

      President Mills said the Ministers must be at the frontline of the nation's development as they were elected by the people with definite concerns, which stretched "from pay day to pay day" adding that they were going there as representatives of the people.
      He called on them to exhibit honesty, watch their lifestyles and be humble in their duties.
      Presindent Mills urged the Ministers "to look back and examine where they were coming from", reminding them that they had to justify the confidence he and Ghanaians had in them.
      He said their performance in office would determine whether their mandate would be renewed or rejected in 2012, reminding them that, "it had not been easy choosing them from the array of expertise available within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC)".
      The President added that he was ready to defend his choice of Ministers, and called on them to let people feel that they were Ministers "who cared for the people of the country, let people know that politicians could make a difference".
      President Mills called on the Ministers to share the resources of the nation equally, bearing in mind, the people who are deprived.
      He urged them to start work immediately, and prayed for God's blessing and good wishes.
      "I hope He (God) will shower us with his bountiful blessing, and truly God will make our nation great and strong," President Mills said.

     Vice President John Dramani Mahama cautioned the Ministers to rise above partisanship in the discharge of their duties, saying that, the days when politicians went after the business of political opponents were gone.
      He urged the Ministers to be even-handed, but not to abdicate their ties with their party.
      He urged the Ministers to avoid abuse of office and conflict.
      However they should let the law apply and punish wrong doing according to law and separate criminality from politics.
      "You need to have a firm hand and punish people who acted with criminality," Vice President Mahama said, and urged the in-coming Northern Regional Minister to take steps to retrieve guns that were in illegal possession in the Northern Region.
      Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, an Elder of the NDC urged the Ministers to work very hard and be sincere with the people of Ghana as well as paying attention to all sections of the Ghanaian society.
      "Every Tom, Dick and Harry, listen to them and make your decisions," Alhaji Iddrisu said.
       Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Trade and Industry, on behalf of her colleagues assured the President and Ghanaians that they would "hit the ground running" and with the "president, build a better Ghana".
GNA

Northern students slam shooting in Tamale

2009-02-19T00:06:00.001-08:00

The Northern Students Union (NSU) on Wednesday condemned last weekend's shooting in Tamale when the running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, was attending a rally at the Jubilee Park in Tamale.
     A press release signed by the President of the Union, Mr Fuseini Abdul-Majeed said: "With an act of this nature, all our efforts towards a peaceful general election in December 2008 will be fruitless. This act is highly unfortunate, unacceptable and a tool of destruction."
     The Union said it was worried that there should be fighting in the month of Ramadan, which should rather be a period to move the north forward through reconciliation and peace enhancement.
     The Union asked the security agencies to put in place appropriate measures to prevent future occurrences and urged them to investigate the incident and arrest the culprits irrespective of their political affiliations to serve as a deterrent to others for sanity to prevail.
     The regional security councils should also put in place by-laws for political party activities in the various regions to avoid clashes that would jeopardize the maintenance of peace.
     The Union urged the youth of northern Ghana not to allow self-seeking politicians to use them for destruction.
     Instead they must unite and fight against poverty, disease and illiteracy which have been the drawbacks to the fortunes of the area.
     The release said the Union had realized that individualism rather than nationalism had polarized the political pursuit of the northern elite and warned that this could continue to disturb the progress of the three northern regions.
GNA

Distinguish the work of MP and - Doe-Adjaho

2009-02-19T00:05:00.001-08:00

Mr. Edward Doe Adjaho, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ave-Avenor Constituency in the Akatsi District has stressed the need for Ghanaians to distinguish between the duties of MPs from that of the District Chief Executives (DCE) so that they could know exactly where to direct their needs for speedy redress.
     He said the district assemblies under the DCEs and MPs perform complementary role and therefore the lack of knowledge as to who should do what had ultimately led to long delays and sometimes a complete failure in the provision of certain pressing needs for the people.
     Mr Adjaho made this remark in reaction to issues raised about long delays or failure in the provision of some essential needs for the people of Atiglime near Akatsi during the Agbleza celebration of the chiefs and people of the Xevi Traditional Area last Saturday.
     The MP explained that the execution of projects like roads or schools were the responsibility of the central government whereas minor projects like feeder roads belonged to the domain of the district assemblies.
     He therefore appealed to the assembly members and education committees to help create awareness on the definite duties of the MPs and DCEs so that misinformation, rumour mongering and blame-shifting within the district administration could be stopped for good.
     Mr Adjaho also advised the people not to use the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections to settle personal scores and grievances but rather, to regard it as an opportunity to use their "thumb power" to choose the best leaders to rule the nation.
     Mr Tony Abledu, Akatsi DCE urged the farmers to take advantage of the rising prices of food items in the market and cultivate more food stuffs so that they could get more money and increase their purchasing power for secondary goods.
     Mr. Rek Gademor, District Agric Extension Officer asked farmers to group themselves into small associations so that they could access soft loans, improved seedlings, technical expertise and secure services of tractors that the association could pay for by instalments.
     He regretted that the lives of most farmers had not improved over the years because they were reluctant to adopt modern techniques of farming centred around mechanisation and fast yielding seeds.
     Torgbui Tu Agbalekpor IV, Chief of Xevi Traditional Area, who chaired the occasion appealed to political parties not to use insulting and violent language during their electioneering campaigns to inflame animosity and hostility among the people.
     The chairman, who is also the Presiding Member of the District Assembly said Ghana is recognised and respected as the pace-setter for human rights initiatives so any act of violence that would plunge the country into chaos and instability should be avoided.
     In response to an appeal for funds, Mr Adjaho donated 50 bags of cement and 100.00 Ghana cedis cash for rehabilitation work on the Atiglime Kindergarten and Primary School.
GNA

Christians urged to promote unity during elections

2009-02-19T00:03:00.001-08:00

Reverend Barima AppiahDankwa, Nsukwao District Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has urged Christians to promote unity before, during and after the 2008 Election.
     He said disturbing events that occurred during the just ended voters' registration exercise, and other reported cases of political violence in some parts of the country should be a matter of concern to all Christians.
     Rev. Appiah-Dankwa was delivering a sermon at a thanksgiving service to climax the 10th anniversary celebration of the Presbyterian Church at Anlo Town, in Koforidua.
     Preaching under the theme, "Let us walk in the light of the Lord", the clergyman asked politicians seeking the mandate of the people to rule to walk in the light of the Lord to ensure peace.
     Rev. Appiah-Dankwa urged Christians to intensify their prayers and to sustain the peace that "the Lord had given the country".
     He appealed to Church leaders to educate their followers on the need for free, fair and peaceful elections.
     Rev. Appiah-Dankwa asked all the presidential aspirants to keep to their promises of ensuring peaceful elections, devoid of rancour, conflict and abuses and to obey electoral rules.
     He urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure a level playing field for all political parties, and to educate the public on rules and regulations governing the polls.
     Rev Appiah-Dankwa cautioned the youth to avoid being used by self-seeking politicians to cause confusion, conflicts and violence.
GNA

DCE says Ghanaians have duty to sustain political tolerance

2009-02-19T00:02:00.001-08:00

Mr. Frank Marcellus K. Busumtwi, Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive, has said Ghanaians have a duty to work for the sustenance of political tolerance to enhance peaceful co-existence.
   Mr. Busumtwi told the GNA in an interview on Tuesday that "good people always think and work for the good of society".
   He said concern that there is deep-seated division among political party members must be a source of worry to well-meaning Ghanaians.
   "Ghanaians have been told that the current peace and harmony they enjoy are precious assets that must be jealously guarded by all" he said.
   He advised people to eschew apathetic attitudes towards the December general election.
   Mr. Busumtwi said he was not happy about people with great potentials who stay away during unit committee and assembly elections and that such apathetic and negative attitude towards local governance did not only slow down the pace of development but also the loss of expertise.
   He appealed to all communities in the municipality to get actively involved in all elections, to help elect deserving people to represent them.
GNA

Dr Mahama blames NPP, NDC for Northern Region violence

2009-02-18T23:59:00.001-08:00

Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, Presidential hopeful of the People's National Convention (PNC) on Tuesday blamed and condemned the NPP and the NDC for being responsible for the political violence that took place in Tamale and Gushiegu last Sunday.
     He said instead of the leadership of the two parties creating jobs for the youth they were rather creating unemployment by erecting party sheds and buying for their supporters playing cards and draughts, thus allowing them to idle under the sheds and resort to violence.
     Dr Mahama, who expressed these concerns in an interview with the GNA at Saboba in the Saboba District, said the NPP and the NDC were behaving as if the country belonged to them alone and called on the electorate to vote them out, come December 7, to ensure peace.
     He said it was only in the three Northern Regions that the building of sheds had become a common phenomenon because of the ever increasing unemployment situation, adding: "It is a pity that, politicians are using our unemployed youth for their selfish gains."
     "I visited the sites where both NDC and NPP property, as well as stores of some innocent traders had been destroyed and I condemn the two political parties NDC for being responsible for the destruction," he emphasized.
     Dr Mahama said if Ghanaians chose the PNC as the alternative to the two "violent parties", they would learn lessons and respect the people if they manage to come back to power in future".
     The PNC Presidential candidate is on a tour of the Northern Region to explain the party's development agenda to the electorate to enhance its chances of wrestling power from the ruling NPP.
GNA

Political tensions worrying -Nana Nketsia

2009-02-18T23:58:00.001-08:00

Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikadu has expressed worry about current political tensions in the country.
     He said Ghanaians have been exaggerating their differences, opening up past aspects of our society and thereby compounding "our doubts as a people".
     Nana Nketsia was speaking at the opening of a fourth triennial conference of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) at Fijai near Takoradi on Monday.
     It was on the theme, "Uniting for better working conditions and success of the judicial reforms".
     "The year of elections tends to whip up all the negatives of our existence, instead of giving us peace," adding that "partisanship has appears to put sectional interests above national interests".
     Nana Nketsia said the over politicization of the judicial system, had led to many chiefs suffering considerable over the years, but this should not be so, after attaining independence.
     "I always get embarrassed over accusations of partisanship over our judicial system, and we must fight for a respected and politically neutral judicial system," he said.
     Nana Nketsia stressed that politicising our judicial system was a sure path for destruction of the nation, but the nation needed to build on confidence in its entire processes.
     "We need to focus on the spirit of true independence, which is embodied in 'freedom and justice' and this should serve as the watchdog of our existence and inspire us into the future," he stressed.
     He expressed his regret that the various political parties were not focusing on 'deeper issues' that confronted the nation.
     Nana Nketsia said mental decolonization seemed to have taken over in all endeavours, "yet our political leaders seem oblivious to it".
     He said the poor remuneration, absence of scheme of service, lack of periodic in-service training, accommodation problems and the absence of a clear cut procedure for promotions in the service, needed to be addressed to boost the moral of members of JUSAG.

     Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood, Chief Justice of Ghana said the judiciary would not tolerate abuse, fraud, forgery of court documents among others.
     She said some members of JUSAG had posed as lawyers and duped unsuspecting persons who patronise the courts.
     Mrs Wood said the issuance of identification name tags, were aimed at boosting the moral of personnel, but some have refused to boldly display their tags.
     She cautioned members of JUSAG not to engage in any acts of fraud, electoral irregularities or violence before during and after the elections.
     She reminded them not to discriminate by word or conduct, show bias or prejudice based on religion, ethnic origin, disability, age, gender, marital status, social or economic status, political affiliation or opinion in the performance of their official duties.
GNA

Three Minister-Nominees vetted

2009-02-17T23:07:00.001-08:00

The Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday commenced vetting of Minister-Nominees at about 1600 hours and vetted only three Nominees, instead of the usual five or six per day.
     The three vetted were: Mr Stephen Amanor Kwao for Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare; Mr Alex Asum-Ahensah for Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs and Mrs Kalutie Dubie Alhassan as Minister at the Presidency.
     Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, Chairman of the Committee urged members to be brief with the questions since "time was far spent".
    As a result, the Nominees largely got off with very straight forward questions to which they supplied rather brief answers, which were accepted by the Committee Members.
     The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu expressed concern about the way each of the Nominees vetted preceded their answers with: "when I am given the nod", and said that statement suggested that the Nominees were expecting a rubberstamp approval of their nomination.
    Mr Mensah-Bonsu insisted that, the Nominees used "if" instead of "when" since their appointment was not a foregone conclusion.
    In answer to a question on the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) Mr Kwao told the Committee that the programme was a good one and "when" given the nod he would ensure its sustainability and growth.
     He was asked questions about the National Democratic Congress Manifesto's promise to provide jobs and good living conditions for every Ghanaian. The questioners indicated that that promise was unrealistic because no political party could provide jobs for every Ghanaian even in a hundred years.
     But Mr Kwao insisted that the promise was realistic in the sense that it was the vision of the NDC and was achievable in the long term.

     Mr Asum-Ahensah said he would take steps to elevate some of the Divisional Councils in the chieftaincy sector to paramount status to enable them to play a more meaningful role at the regional level.
      On the question of chiefs' involvement in active politics, he said it was in the interest of the chiefs not to align themselves with any particular political party since they represented people of different political inclinations.
     "It is, however, not in my purview as a minister to take the chiefs to task for getting involved in partisan politics, it is up to their people to take them on for violating that constitutional provision," he said.
     Mr Asum-Ahensah told the Committee that "when" given the nod he would ensure that the lineage system was properly codified to prevent any conflicts over who was next-in-line to be chief and who was not.
     He also observed that the installation of development chiefs had been abused by the persons so installed, as some of them, usually foreigners, took undue advantage of that status for self aggrandisement.
     He, therefore, told the Committee that he would monitor that activity to ensure that the anomalies therein were corrected.
     On the question of the need for the return of State acquired lands in Accra back to Ga chiefs to be replicated in all the other regions, he said when given the nod he would look into it and ensure that all chiefs in Ghana were treated equally in that regard.
    Mr Asum-Ahensah also told the Committee that during his stewardship inhuman cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), trokosi, and widowhood rites would be become things of the past.
   Mrs Alhassan was virtually let off the hook with just three questions about how she intended to represent the interest of her people as Minister of State at the Presidency, how she intended to get the Presidency to address the needs of rural communities and when she finished school.
    She said for now she had no particular portfolio so she would wait till President John Evans Atta Mills to give her a portfolio and that would determine what she would do.
GNA

Ghana Elections Court Cases - Appeals Court adjourns Asutifi South election petition indefinitely

2009-02-17T23:01:00.001-08:00

The Court of Appeal on Tuesday adjourned sine die the appeal application brought before it by the Electoral Commission (EC), challenging the Sunyani High Court's ruling in the Asutifi South Parliamentary election delivered on January 6.
     When the matter came up for hearing, Mr Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, counsel for Mr Yiadom Boakye-Boateng, the petitioner, drew the court's attention to the fact that Alhaji Collins Dauda, the NDC Parliamentary candidate, had taken the matter to the Supreme Court.
     Mr Effah-Dartey informed the court that his information was that the Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the matter to Tuesday, February 24,
because one of the panel members was indisposed.
     Mr Justice Asare Korang, the presiding judge, said the matter had to be first determined by the Supreme Court and therefore adjourned it indefinitely.
     Whilst the EC is praying the Court of Appeal to stay proceedings at the High Court, Alhaji Dauda is seeking an Order of Certiorari at the Supreme
Court to quash the High Court's ruling.
     After the December 7 elections, the petitioner, who is the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Asutifi South, filed the petition and a motion for interim injunction at the Sunyani High Court, praying it to restrain the electoral officers from declaring the results of the election
in the constituency.
     Mr Boakye-Boateng alleged that the entire process of collating the constituency results needed to be looked into or investigated, because it
was fraught with certain corrupt and illegal practices.
     He further alleged that the electoral officers - presiding officers, polling agents and security personnel - and the NDC candidate, Alhaji Dauda,
had involved themselves in electoral malpractices.
     It is the High Court's ruling of December 22, 2008 on the preliminary objection which the EC and Alhaji Dauda are challenging at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court respectively.
GNA

Parliament gives nod to 13 nominees

2009-02-17T22:27:00.001-08:00

Parliament on Tuesday approved the nomination of 13 Ministers of State, including Ms Hannah Tetteh, nominee for the Trade and Industry Ministry.
     The others were: Lieutenant General Joseph Smith, Minister of Defence, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu for the Communications Ministry and Mr Muntaka Mubarak, Minister of Youth and Sports.
     Nine nominees for the regions were: Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern region, Mr Kofi Opoko-Manu, Ashanti region, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central region and Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Brong Ahafo region.
     The rest were: Mr Mahmud Khalid, Upper West region, Nii Armah Ashietey, Greater Accra region, Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta region, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo Western region and Mr Stephen Sumani Nayina, Northern region.
     Ms Tetteh's approval was held up until she had produced a document from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) relating to the payment of her taxes.
     There were initial questions over whether she had complied with the Appointments' Committee recommendations to reconcile her taxes related to her tenure as a member of Parliament and her work at the Ghana Agro Food Company where she worked concurrently between 2001 and 2005.
     Ms Tetteh was able to pass the test and produced a document from the IRS minutes before the House decided on her fate and gave approval to the 13 nominees including her nomination.
GNA

Mpiani: We will no longer co-operate with government

2009-02-17T08:04:00.001-08:00

The NPP has officially backed out of all activities to do with the ongoing transition efforts, former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani has said according to Joy online

Mr. Mpiani among other things accused the government transition team led by Mr. P.V. Obeng of painting a bad picture of the former government.

He has therefore entreated Ghanaians to treat the final report that would emerge from the government's transition team as purely one-sided.

At a press conference in Accra, Mr. Mpiani who is also the leader of the NPP side of the transition team catalogued a myriad of accusations which he said were tactfully plotted to paint the party black.

Joy News' Bernard Saibu quoted Mr. Mpiani as citing the summoning of the Auditor General, Edward Dua-Agyemang to a live media presentation of the Ghana@50 audited accounts presentation which according to him flouted the ethics of accounting procedures, as well as the leaking of what he said were half truths by the government's transition team to the media as clear cases.

The Ghanaian Times newspaper had reported of 39 vehicles which were not accounted for as well as reports of some vehicles which were alleged to have gone missing from workshops.

These he said were part of a grand agenda to demonize the NPP.

Mr. Mpiani also lamented the hounding of past government officials by operatives of the BNI.

The final report of the transition team is to be presented to the president, but Mpiani said inputs of the NPP were not taken into consideration in the drafting of the report.

The transition teams tasked with the responsibility of transferring state assets and documents from the past government to the present have been fraught with suspicions, accusations and counter-accusation.

Mr. Don Arthur, Chairman of the assets committee of the transition team has consistently complained of a lukewarm attitude by past government officials in handing over vehicles and other assets in their custody.

But officials of the past administration have rebutted those claims and have rather accused the transition team of harassing them, describing it as typical of what happens during coup d'etats.

Parliament reviews reports on ministerial nominees

2009-02-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

The fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic is reviewing two separate reports from the Appointments Committee of Parliament concerning the vetting of some ministerial nominees.

The reports will be the third and fourth reports to be submitted by the Appointments Committee after two reports were previously submitted to cover eleven other ministerial nominees.

Citi News Parliamentary correspondent Richard Sky, reports however that the review was delayed slightly because the Committee was putting finishing touches to the reports.

The third reports will cover the Minister designate to the Ministry of Communication, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu; Defence Minister Designate Major General J.H Smith; Trade and Industry Minister designate, Ms. Hannah Tetteh and Hon. Alhaji Muntakar Mubarrak, Youth and Sports Minister designate.

The Fourth report covers the Regional Ministerial nominees vetted so far and includes Central Regional Minster designate, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu who is seeking to be appointed as Minister for the Ashanti Region, Hon. Mahmud Khalid as Regional Minister for the Upper West Region, Hon. Nii Armah Ashitey for the position of Greater Accra Regional Minister and Mr. Nyamekye Marfo for the Brong Ahafo Region.

The only Regional Minister who will not make an appearance in the report is the Upper East Regional Minister designate, Mr. Mark Wayongo who stunned members of the Appointments Committee when he fumbled and showed inconsistency when he appeared before the Committee on February 13 2009.

A fifth report covering Minister designate for the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni who had the Minority in Parliament walking out of his vetting and Ms Sherry Aryittey, Minister-designate for Environment Science and Technology who was drilled on suspicion of acts of corruption in the divestiture of the Nsawam Cannery, will be laid on a later date.

A Member of the Appointments Committee, Dr Alhassan Yakubu told Citi News that the voluminous nature of the reports and the need to avoid factual errors has caused the delay and also necessitated the postponement of the review of the fifth report.

The review precedes the commencement of vetting of another batch of ministerial nominees in the Speaker's Conference room.

By: citifmonline.com

Defeated Akufo-Addo's Land Cruiser seized and taken to office of the President

2009-02-16T23:40:00.001-08:00

A Toyota Land Cruiser belonging to Nana Akufo-Addo, flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2008 elections, has been seized.

The vehicle with registration number GE 1466 Z was said to have been confiscated by a posse of persons who claimed they were national security operatives.

A driver of Nana Addo, whose name was given as Joe, was said to have taken the vehicle to Opera Square in Accra when on his way back the men approached him and demanded the keys to the car.

The operatives claimed they were acting on "instructions from above" and are said to have driven the car to the Osu Castle, the official seat of government.

An aide to Nana Addo, Abu Gyinapo, who spoke to Joy News said although Joe had tried convincing the men out of taking the vehicle they would not barge.

"The driver told him, this is not a state vehicle; this is a privately owned vehicle by Nana Akufo-Addo. He showed him [a security detective] the insurance documentation on the vehicle that had Nana Akufo-Addo's name in it," he said.

According to Mr Gyinapo, the operatives after seizing the vehicle called-in fully armed policemen "and they had all manner of confrontations with this driver and retrieved the vehicle from the driver to the Castle."

"We've made all efforts with the documents that clearly show that this vehicle is clearly owned by Nana Akufo-Addo. He bought the vehicle and registered it through due process," Mr Gyinapo added.

"The reasons being given to us is that this is being done from instructions from above and that the powers that be have closed from work," he said.

Readers will be updated with more on this development on Tuesday.

'Politics of car snatching'?

The Mills administration has attracted an avalanche of criticism over the confiscation of vehicles in the street suspected to be state assets.

Many former ex-government functionaries are said to have suffered the blow of the embarrassment with some forced to pick taxis back home.

At least, son of former President Kufuor, Chief Kufuor, and a former deputy minister under the Kufuor administration became victims of it.

Although presidential spokesperson Mahama Ayariga has indicated that the state has not given authority to "anybody" to snatch vehicles.

Court of Appeal to hear Asutifi South election petition

2009-02-16T23:07:00.001-08:00

The Court of Appeal (CA) will on Tuesday hear an appeal application brought before it by the Electoral Commission (EC) challenging the Sunyani High Court's ruling on a preliminary objection on the Asutifi South Parliamentary election petition.
     When the matter came up for hearing on January 10, Mr Justice Francis Kwabena Opoku, the Supervising High Court Judge sitting on it, adjourned proceedings sine die (indefinitely) following a notice to the effect that the EC had filed an appeal against the ruling.
     The EC is praying the Court of Appeal to stay proceedings at the High Court because, in the view of the Commission, the petition is not properly laid before the court.
     After the December 7 elections, Mr Yiadom Boakye-Boateng, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary candidate for Asutifi South, filed an election petition and a motion for interim injunction at the Sunyani High Court praying it to restrain electoral officers from declaring the result of the election in the constituency.
     Mr Boakye-Boateng alleged that the entire process of collating the constituency results needed to be looked into or investigated because it was fraught with corrupt and illegal practices.
     He further alleged that the electoral officers, presiding officers,
polling agents, security personnel and the NDC candidate, Alhaji Collins Dauda, had involved themselves in electoral malfeasance.
     On December 22, 2008, the High Court overruled a preliminary objection raised by counsel for Alhaji Collins Dauda, the National Democratic Congress candidate, that the application was not properly brought before the court.
     In his ruling, Mr Justice Opoku said Mr Boakye-Boateng's application was properly laid before the court.
     The Asutifi South and Akwatia constituencies are the remaining parliamentary results yet to be declared by the Electoral Commission.
GNA

Electoral Commission doubts Woyongo´s claim

2009-02-16T23:04:00.001-08:00

The Electoral Commission says it would be strange for someone to transfer his or her vote from its IT department outright.

This is contrary to claims by the minister-designate for the Upper East Region, Mark Woyongo to the effect that, he made his vote transfer directly from the IT Department of the Electoral Commission's head office in Accra, which went straight to the Nayagania polling station in Navrongo where he voted.

Mr. Woyongo´s attitude towards questions on his vote transfer and the importation of radio equipment informed parliament's Appointments Committee to ask him to go and prepare and face the committee again.

This development came about last Friday when the minister-designate appeared before the Appointments Committee to be vetted.

However a close source at the EC declined in an interview with ASEMPA NEWS that, transfers could be done from the IT department of the EC.

The source explained that one has to follow the due procedure; which is going to the polling station at the new residence to effect his/her vote transfer.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports reaching ASEMPA NEWS has it that the NDC Member of Parliament for Jirapa has died.

Members of Parliament have been tight-lipped on the cause of his death, however, ASEMPA NEWS learns that Mr. Edward Kojo Salia's health had been deteriorating over the past few weeks.

Mr. Edward Salia was Minister for Transportation under the previous NDC administration headed by Jerry John Rawlings.

Sunyani court upholds petition filed by NPP

2009-02-16T23:02:00.000-08:00

The Sunyani High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Francis Kwabena Opoku, who is also the Supervising High Court Judge, has upheld that the petition filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Asutifi South Constituency, Mr Yiadom Boakye-Boateng, in the December 7, 2008 election was properly brought before the court.

Mr Justice Opoku indicated that a critical scrutiny of Section 20 (1) of the Representation of the People Law, 1992 empowers the high court to declare the election of a candidate void if satisfied that there had been noncompliance with any provision of the law and regulations made under the law.

According to Mr Justice Opoku, a perusal of the original petition indicated that the first amendment and re-amendment showed a common denominator, meaning that the petitioner was accusing the electoral officers, namely the presiding officers, polling agents, the security personnel and the NDC candidate of involving themselves in electoral malfeasance.

In other words, he said the petitioner was impugning the integrity of the election officers for having compromised their credibility, and that as he understood it, the applicant was also attacking them for misconduct.

Put differently, the presiding judge noted that the petitioner's worry was that the behaviour of the respondents, viewed in the context of the conduct of elections, constituted "grave or gross misconduct and so cannot trust or have confidence in the manner in which they performed their duty in respect of the two ballot boxes".

Citing several electoral petitions that had been brought before other high courts and disposed of and quoting relevant rules and regulations regarding the conduct of elections in the country as well as relying on the 1992 Constitution and other legal authorities, the presiding judge said, "It is for these reasons that 1 held the petition filed by Mr Yiadom Boakye-Boateng of the NPP as properly laid before the court".

In his 16-page ruling, which the Daily Graphic chanced on a certified true copy, Mr Justice Opoku did not make any order regarding cost.

When the case was called on January 19, 2008, the court adjourned sine die (indefinitely) following a notice received by the presiding judge to the effect that the EC had filed an appeal against his earlier ruling in the case.

"I do not show disrespect to the Court of Appeal by calling the case."

The Court of Appeal is, however, to hear the case on Tuesday, February 17, 2009.

On December 22, 2008, the Sunyani High Court overruled preliminary objections raised by counsel for respondents in the case, namely the EC, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Alhaji Collins Dauda, and the District Electoral Officer for the Asutifi District, but deferred its ruling, since according to the judge, he had not completed his research on the subject.

Counsel for the respondents argued that the petition was not properly brought before the court, because the applicant did not wait for 21 days after the declaration, publication and gazetting of the parliamentary results as required by law before doing so.

They, therefore, described the petition as premature and further urged the court not to entertain the action by the applicant, but to dismiss it in its entirety, describing the amendment to the original motion as an afterthought, which should also be struck out by the court.

However, the applicant, who was represented by a team of lawyers, led by Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, for his part, insisted that since the whole process of collating the results of the parliamentary elections in the constituency was fraught with certain corrupt and illegal practices, including the swapping of the ballot in the Twabidi No.1 and Twabidi No.2 polling stations, the court ought to investigate.

The applicant filed an election petition and a motion for interim injunction, restraining the 1st and the 3rd respondents from declaring the parliamentary election held in the Asutifi South Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Ahafo on December 7, 2008.

In the motion, the plaintiff said, "Please, take notice that Messrs Asomah-Cheremeh & Co., counsel for and on behalf of the petitioner/applicant herein will move this honourable court for an order, restraining the 1st and 3rd respondents herein from declaring the parliamentary election results held in the Asutifi South Constituency on the December 7, 2008 as upon the grounds set out in the accompanying affidavit. And for such further order(s) as the honourable court may deem fit to make."

In his l7-point petition, accompanied by an affidavit, the NPP candidate contended, among other issues, that "it is clear that the results of the constituency had been tampered with, and that fairness cannot be achieved in this circumstances, and for that matter, do crave the indulgence of the honourable court to investigate and take a firm decision on it either to discount two ballot boxes and declare the winner or the entire parliamentary results of the constituency be annulled and fresh election for the parliamentary held".

Subsequent to the motion, Mr Boakye-Boateng, who contested the election with Alhaji Collins Dauda of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who was also the incumbent Member of Parliamentary (MP) for the area, and Mr George Okyere of the Democratic Peoples' Party (DPP) has observed that the parliamentary election in the Asutifi Constituency was rather characterised by some corrupt practices and, therefore, prayed the court to investigate the matter.

Source: Daily Graphic

President Mills swears-in 11 ministers

2009-02-13T14:24:00.001-08:00

President John Evans Atta Mills has sworn-in 11 new ministers whose nominations have been approved by Parliament.

They are Dr. Kwabena Duffour, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning; Alex Tettey-Enyo, Education; Akua Sena Dansua, Women & Children's Affairs; Dr. Oteng Adjei, Energy and Cletus Avoka, Interior.

The rest are Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Tourism; Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister for Local Government & Rural Development; Collins Dauda, Lands & Natural Resources; Joe Gidisu, Roads & Highways and Mike Hammah, Transport.

Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Minister for Justice and Attorney-General was however missing in action and was later reported to have returned to her London-based Commonwealth Secretariat perhaps to disengage from her duties with the organisation.

The Ministers swore three oaths, of office, of allegiance and of secrecy.

"President Mills said that he swore them in only a few hours after their names were passed by Parliament to indicate to the general public and the electorate who brought them into power that they are ready to hit the ground running," Joy correspondent Steve Anti reported.

President Mills urged the new ministers to be modest and honest while they discharge their duties.

JFM

President Mills to set up committee on emoluments

2009-02-12T02:02:00.001-08:00

President John Evans Atta Mills has decided to set up a Committee on Emoluments to revisit the issue of emoluments to specified public holders.
     The Committee would be set up in consultation with the Council of State when it is established.
     A statement signed by Mr Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesman, said the recommendations of the Committee would then form the basis for the final decision of the ex-gratia awards. The Committee would have one month for its work.
     The following is the full text of the statement.
     "On Wednesday, the 4th of February, 2009 the attention of the President was drawn to correspondence from the Ministry of Finance to the Controller and Accountant-General to effect payment of ex-gratia awards to the Ex-President, Ex-Vice President and Ex-Ministers and Members of Parliament, as per the recommendations of the Chinery-Hesse Committee on Emoluments.
     "Following investigations, it was established that there was no basis for proceeding with the ex-gratia payments as recommended by the Chinery-Hesse Committee.
     "Under Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution, payment of emoluments to the Legislature as recommended by a statutory Presidential Committee on Emoluments has to be approved by the President whilst those of the Executive and Ministers have to be approved by Parliament.
     "However, the Presidency has not seen any approval for the payment for Members of Parliament by the previous Government, while there is controversy over the approval of recommendations in respect of the Executive.
     "It, therefore, came as a surprise to the Presidency that Mr Moses Asaga, a member of the three-member team holding temporary responsibility for the Ministry of Finance, had purported to have authorized payment in spite of the clear absence of legal authority.
    "Consequently, the President ordered a withdrawal of the purported approval and withdrew the nomination of Mr Asaga as Minister-designate for the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
     "Having considered all the circumstances surrounding the matter, the President has decided to set up, in consultation with the Council of State when it is established, a Committee on Emoluments as stipulated under Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution to revisit the issue of emoluments to the specified public office holders.
     "The recommendations of the Committee will then form the basis for a final decision on the ex-gratia awards. The Committee will be given one month for its work.
     "In the meantime, the President has decided that instead of the payment of ex-gratia of five months salary to Members of Parliament for each full year of service in addition to a resettlement grant equivalent to two months for every completed year of service recommended by the Chinery-Hesse Committee, they should be paid, on account, ex-gratia equivalent to four months salary for each full year of service as has been the convention, pending the submission of a report by the new Committee on Emoluments.
     "Recommendations in respect of all others covered by the Chinery-Hesse Committee Report will be determined after the submission of the report of the new Committee."
GNA

Manitoba chiefs blast CBC for online racism

2009-02-11T23:41:00.001-08:00

WINNIPEG - Media organizations are creating a forum for online racism by allowing readers and bloggers to comment on stories on news websites, Manitoba First Nations leaders said Wednesday.

They're now calling on the Manitoba government to investigate the CBC, in particular, for violating Canada's hate laws.

"I'm hoping for a public outcry, that people will say, 'That's racist. That's enough,' " Southern Grand Chief Morris Swan Shannacappo said Wednesday at a news conference.

Swan Shannacappo and Chief Russell Beaulieu of the Sandy Bay First Nation called the media after university student leaders came to them with the results of monitoring news websites from April 2008 to this month.

They say what they read shocked them.

The leaders are now asking for help to prevent racism either by public pressure or criminal deterrence.

There are "persistent bloggers who pounce on almost any story dealing with First Nations or indigenous issues and use it as an excuse to rant against or ridicule indigenous people," Swan Shannacappo said.

"The world will always have its racists and kooks, but the CBC is providing a vehicle for them with a forum to attack our people."

CBC Manitoba was singled out by the Southern Chiefs Organization, but similar comments are on media websites across Manitoba.

Aboriginal leaders called on the Manitoba government to investigate the CBC for violations of Canada's hate laws and pass on the findings to federal regulators.

Jeff Keay, a CBC spokesman, said the CBC news website received almost 200,000 comments in January.

All comments on news sections of the website are reviewed by a moderator before they are posted publicly, he said.

That means some comments make it through that are later removed, he said.

"Providing a forum for people to, you know, express their view on contentious issues brings a risk," said Keay.

"We recognize that occasionally there is material there that shouldn't appear."

Intergovernmental Minister Steve Ashton and Heritage Minister Eric Robinson said they were outraged by the comments posted on the CBC website.

"We believe there should be some type of apology to aboriginal people," Ashton said.

Robinson added: "As Canadians, we don't pay taxes to create a platform for hate speech."

Both ministers said that because CBC and the Internet are federally responsibilities, there is little the province can do except encourage the Southern Chiefs to file a complaint with the CBC's ombudsman and a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The commission has been at the centre of a debate over hate speech focusing on whether or not it should have the right to police online speech, including material on media websites

Osei Aidoo to sue Mills over ex-gratia if...

2009-02-11T23:21:00.001-08:00

The former Majority Leader in Parliament, Abraham Osei Aidoo, has threatened going to court if President Mills insists on cutting the emoluments of ex-government functionaries.

The threat by the former MP comes days after the President ordered a freeze of all ex-gratia payments set to be paid by the Controller and Accountant General.

The move by the President is believed to have been triggered by the enormous public outcry that greeted reports about the luxurious ex-gratia packages endorsed by Parliament for former government officials.

In a press statement released by the Office the President and signed by the Presidential Spokesperson Mahama Ayariga, Members of Parliament will in the mean time receive ex-gratia equivalent to four months' salary for each full year of service.

"The President has decided that instead of the payment of five months' salary to Members of Parliament for each full year of service in addition to a resettlement grant equivalent to two months, for every completed year of service recommended by Chinery Hesse Committee, they should be paid on account ex-gratia equivalent to four months' salary for each full year of service as has been the convention pending the submission of a report by the committee on emoluments," the statement said.

But speaking to Joy FM on Wednesday Mr Osei Aidoo, who is no longer in Parliament, said any review by President Mills to the disadvantage of former officials would be resisted.

He maintained that it would be "legally and constitutionally wrong" for the current President to move for a review of end of service benefits of former MPs and government officials.

"A president has no mandate to determine the emoluments of ex-MPs. The current president has no mandate to determine my emoluments just like myself being an ex-MP, I have no mandate to determine the emoluments of the former President," he said.

The former MP for Tema West insisted that the current president could only approve of benefit in respect of current government officials, upon the recommendation of a committee that the president would set up.

Mr Osei Aidoo also disclosed that former President Kufuor had, in a letter submitted to Parliament on January 6, 2009, approved benefits for former MPs, contrary to President Mills' statement that the Office of the President was not aware of any such approval.

Asked what he would do if the President insists on slashing the emoluments, Mr Osei Aidoo said the courts would then have to decide on the matter.

No legal basis

Meanwhile a legal expert Kofi Abotsi said former MPs would have no legal basis to ground their case because the constitution identifies "the President" and not "a specific president within a specific time frame."

He said contrary to the stance of the former MP, the constitution recognises offices and not individuals.

"The constitution in this context is specific on the Office of the President," he said.

Mr. Abotsi maintained that the constitutional provision meant any person who occupied the Office of the President had the powers of that office to within the confines of the law.

The letter from the Office of the President

On Wednesday 4th February, 2009 the attention of HE the President was drawn to correspondence from the Ministry of Finance to the Controller and Accountant General to effect payment of ex-gratia awards, ex-vice presidents and ex-ministers of state and members of parliament as per the recommendations of the Chinery Hesse Committee report on emoluments.

Following investigations it has been established that there was no basis for proceeding with the ex-gratia payments as recommended by the Chinery Hesse Committee. Under Article 71 of the 1992 constitution, payment of emoluments to the Legislature as recommended by a statutory presidential committee on emoluments has to be approved by the President whilst those of the Executive and ministers have to be approved by Parliament.

However the Presidency has not seen any approval for the payment for Members of Parliament by the previous government while there is controversy over the approval of the recommendations in respect of the Executive.

It therefore came as a surprise to the Presidency that Hon Moses Asaga, a member of a three-member team holding temporary responsibility for the Ministry of Finance, was purported to have authorised payment in spite of the clear absence of legal authority.

Consequently, HE the President ordered a withdrawal of the purported approval and withdrew the nomination of Hon Asaga as minister-designate for the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.

Having considered all the circumstances surrounding the matter, the President has decided to set up, in consultation with the Council of State, when it is established, a committee on emoluments, as stipulated under Article 71 of the 1992 constitution to revisit the issue of emoluments to the specified public office holders.

The recommendations of the committee will then form the basis for the final decision on the ex-gratia awards. The committee will be given one month for its work.

In the mean time, HE the President has decided that instead of the payment of five months' salary to Members of Parliament for each full year of service in addition to a resettlement grant equivalent to two months, for every completed year of service recommended by Chinery Hesse Committee they should be paid on account ex-gratia equivalent to four months' salary for each full year of service as has been the convention pending the submission of a report by the committee on emoluments.

Recommendations in respect of all others covered by the Chinery Hesse committee report will be determined after the submission of report of the new committee.

Signed

Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesperson

JFM

A Standard Prescription For Political Office Holders

2009-02-11T09:43:00.001-08:00

Vice President John Dramani Mahama said: "I did a good job and did not betray the trust reposed in me. Even if you remain a pauper you feel a certain kind of pureness in you." The 17 January 2009 edition of the "The Mirror", a Ghanaian weekly, reported.
     The Veep was talking about how he felt about himself as Minister in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government before it was dislodged by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2000.
     It could be argued that this self introspection of Vice President Mahama could serve as food for thought when it comes to selecting people for high public offices.
     Vice-President Mahama's prescription should get you pondering about what is and would be topical for the next few weeks in Ghana; the character and orientation of persons to be appointed Ministers of State, District Chief Executives (DCEs) and other public sector executives.
    Who then qualifies to be appointed to any of those offices of enormous responsibilities and any other public offices to help to propel the country through its myriads of problems into a middle income country?
    Is the country likely to have many "John Dramani Mahamas" who at the end of their service could reflect and say those nice things about themselves as Vice-President Mahama did?
    Finding in every appointee the capacity that blends technical skills with intelligence, commitment, party loyalty, patriotism and temperance, among others, is no mean task. Indeed a daunting task for President John Evans Atta Mills.
     In making the appointments the President must meet constitutional provisions, which limit him, in the case of State Ministers, to pick 50 per cent of them from Parliament.
     He must also ensure some regional balance, satisfy and perhaps pander to whims of certain powerful personalities and groups within the party.
     There is also the ruling party and minority parties' cooperation arrangement, if there is any, which must be sealed with positions.
    Professor J.R.A. Ayee, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ghana, had observed in an interview with the "Daily Graphic" that "moral and ethical uprightness must feature in the standards besides expertise, qualification and experience".
    He believes that "ministerial position apart from its functions of running the business of government is also a position that mirrored the government and the nation as a whole".
     For Professor Stephen Adei, the Immediate Past Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), "managerial competence and leadership" should guide President Mills in picking his men and women.
     "All other variables such as political expediency factors, regional balance and party affiliations are important but incidental to managerial and leadership competence", he stated.
     Professor Adei said it is "short-sighted strategy to put people who are incompetent into positions because they have contributed to your campaign fund or said 'choo boi'".
     In a country where corruption is almost a culture, thus making it possible for a Customs Officer for example in a domestic brawl to brag of having three houses and other movable properties - albeit through underhand dealings.
     Where financial and management malfeasance and subterfuges, appear to be submerging the due-process to the glee of 'The Establishment'.
     No doubt the national purse is perceived to leak badly because of seemingly intractable conventional inefficiencies in the public sector.
     Even the media, supposedly the fourth estate of the realm, is not above board.
      Mr Charles Cofie, Chief Executive of Unilever, Ghana Limited, described media practitioners as people, who held "members of all other professional groups and occupations accountable to their professional codes, except themselves". He was speaking at a media encounter the Company organised.
     It is not unlikely, therefore, that a few of the appointees might not be able to bring the needed zest, to propel the country towards the direction of transparent and effective governance that the President is gunning for.
     The possibility of appointees being bogged down by the perks of office and their capacities numbed by alluring courtesies and thereby stripping them of the courage and the ideas to break new grounds is real.
     What had been the attitudinal and behavioural trends among political office holders that rendered them ineffective and unpopular in the past?
     Togbe Dekortsu II, a Sub Chief of Ho, said thorough transparency would be a sine-qua-non for success for every political appointee to reduce the widely held perception that political office holders were generally not trustworthy.
     He said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that there was some linkage between a politician or political grouping's popularity and perceptions about that individual's or groups' attitude to corruption.
     Togbe Dekortsu, who has many years of public service experience, said one could not wish away the fact that a political appointee with a depraved sexual lifestyle and thought to have a penchant for "passing love affairs" would be doing himself and his political grouping no good.
     He said morality might be regarded as intangible in evaluating politicians but, it did matter in the eyes of Ghanaians.
     It appears from talking to people of different social groupings that there is a large credibility gap between the populace and politicians that warrants additional efforts by politicians to continually explain their programmes and decisions to the people.
     For many respondents, every government in Ghana since independence, created its own class of rich people, and left the people poorer over the years.
     The consensus among some senior civil servants was that Political Office Holders needed orientation in management, mannerism and general attitudes to enable them to raise performance levels.
     On corruption, especially with contract management, the opinion was that, "it does appear sometimes that political expediencies force Political Office Holders to make certain demands-kickbacks".
     The respondents were of the opinion that some funding by the State of political parties might address that issue.
     They said some of the political appointees were "gems" who would not make demands on contractors but others were 'overly amenable to corrupting influences'.
     If you see the interviews as windows from which you see the politician and his challenges you would appreciate how difficult the job of selection could be.
     There would be some protests against some appointees, some understandable but of little substance and need only reassurances from the appointed persons - some of course would be frivolous demanding outright dismissal.
     Concerns of the public do matter and matter a lot, though.
     The caution to governments is that the inclination to reward people with positions even in the face of public aversion, brushes their sensibilities and they wait with their response during elections.
GNA

Dont wash your dirty linen in public - NPP members advised

2009-02-11T04:20:00.001-08:00

The Council of Zongo Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region has admonished members of the party, especially the leadership, to desist from washing their dirty linen in public.
     The elders also advised well-meaning activists against rushing to the press to address issues, adding that, they must use the party's internal structures to settle disputes and misunderstandings.
     This was contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Baba Braimah, Interim Chairman of the Council and issued in Kumasi on Tuesday.
     It noted that the performance of the NPP in the recent general election was not that bad as to warrant "bashing and internal wrangling from members."
     The statement said it was high time the NPP supporters buried their differences and took stock of the party's challenges in order to strategize for success in future.
GNA

Talensi-Nabdam NDC appeals to President Mills to rescind decision on Asaga

2009-02-11T03:09:00.001-08:00

Executive Members and supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Nabdam and Talensi Constituencies in the Upper East Region on Monday appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to rescind his decision on the withdrawal of Mr Moses Asaga as the Minister-Nominee for Water Resources, Works and Housing.
    They made the appeal at a press conference held at Kongo, near Bolgatanga.
    A leading member of the NDC in the Nabdam Constituency, Mr Thomas More explained that Mr Asaga had contributed a lot to the development of the constituency, the Region and the nation as a whole.
    He said though Mr Asaga faulted for not consulting other members of the Economic Management Sub-Committee as said, his good sides as far as the development of the nation was concerned were significant and should not be downplayed.
    "We would be grateful if you could kindly rescind your decision, taking into consideration his past contribution and records when he once served as a Deputy Minister of Finance and ranking member on various portfolios in Parliament."

     Mr More noted that the withdrawal of Mr Asaga as the Minister-Nominee for Water Resources, Works and Housing would affect the party during the 2012 election since the opponents would use it to campaign against the NDC.
     He stressed that President Mills should view Mr Asaga's positive sides and temper justice with mercy by giving the MP the second chance.
     "We know he erred, but as a listening father, we plead with you to temper justice with mercy and give him a second chance," he pleaded.
     Mr More indicated that Mr Asaga signed the memo that led to the disbursement of the ex-gratia award to MPs on January 16th 2009, four days before it caught the public's attention, and noted that it was therefore wrong for people to think that he ignored public opinion and signed the memo as being alleged.
     In another development, a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Saa Dittoh, and a Former President of the Regional House of Chiefs, Naba Sigri Bewong, both from the Nabdam area, have also appealed to the President to reconsider his decision by revalidating the nomination of Mr Asaga.

      Professor Dittoh and Naba Sigri noted that one of the pledges the President made to the people of the North during his campaign was to bridge the gap between the area and the South, and that the appointment of Mr Asaga as the Minister-Nominee for Water Resources, Works and Housing was in line with that objective.
    They noted that Mr Asaga was somebody who was capable, committed and knew the deprived nature of the North, and could play a key role when made the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing towards bridging the North-South development gap.
     "Everybody makes mistakes, and Mr Asaga has learnt his lesson and should be pardoned and given the second chance taking into cognizance the positive and progressive development he has brought to the nation," they pleaded.
     They noted that it would not only be a great loss to the constituency but the entire Region and the nation if Mr Asaga were withdrawn as the Minister-Nominee for Water Resources, Works and Housing.
GNA

Ghana makes Strides in Budget Process

2009-02-11T02:02:00.001-08:00

Ghana ranks high in the West African sub-region in the Open Budget Survey 2008 as one of the few countries which provided some level of information on government's budget and financial activities during the course of the budget year.
   But analysts say more was needed to be done by the governments' in the sub-region because the information they provided was not adequate enough to enable citizens to hold them accountable for the management of the public money.
   "This is the time for the government to show more openness and make the budgetary process a participatory one for Ghanaians to set their development priorities," Mr Nicholas Adamtey, Coordinator Centre for Budget Advocacy,
ISODEC who presented the report told the Ghana News Agency.
Ghana scored 49 percent followed by Nigeria with 19 per cent, according to the 2008 Open Budget Index for the West African Sub-region Region launched in Abuja on Tuesday.
   Other countries, which participated in the survey, are Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Senegal and Liberia.
   An initiative of the International Budget Partnership and Civil Society Groups, the Open Budget Survey 2008, from which is derived the index, is a comprehensive analysis and survey that evaluates whether central governments give the public access to budget information and opportunities to participate in the budget process.
It also examines the ability of legislatures and auditors to hold their governments accountable.
   The 2008 survey measured government budget transparency across 85 countries, including seven in the West African sub-region.
  Mr Adamtey said Ghana and other countries in the sub-region needed to do more to bring on board citizens' participation in the budget process.
   He said besides improving access to key budget documents, opportunities for citizen participation in budget debates could be increased through Parliament holding hearings on the budget in which the public can participate.
There is also the need to strengthen the Auditor General Department and remove it from the interference of the executive in its work to fulfil his mandate.
In the case of Ghana, the report noted that while the executive Budget Proposal provided substantial information that allowed the citizens to have a fair idea of government's revenue plans and expenditure for the coming year,
it was however not made available on time for public debate and inputs.
   The report suggested that the budget proposal should be available to the public and to the legislature prior to being finalized, at least three months before the start of the budget year to allow for sufficient review and public debate.
The report also dwelt on the difficulty in tracking spending, revenue collection and borrowing during the year.
It held that, although Ghana publishes fairly detailed in-year reports,
there is, however, no publish mid-year review, which it said could help strengthen public accountability through the provision of a more
comprehensive update on how the budget is being implemented during the year.
    It is also difficult to assess budget performance in Ghana once the budget year is over due to the absence of a year-end report, preventing comparisons between what was budgeted and what was actually spent and collected at the end of the year.
     In addition, Ghana does not make its audit report public and does not provide any information on whether the audit report's recommendations are successfully implemented.
     Dr. Bright Okugu, Director General Budget Office of the Federation, lauded the initiative to keep governments accountable and said the missing link had been the inability of the public to monitor how the funds approved were being used in implementing the projects.
Senator Iyiola Omisore, Chairman of Senate Appropriation Committee, said there was the recognition of inclusive budgeting to promote transparency and openness in the process.
    In general, the OBI 2008 showed that 68 of the 85 countries surveyed, 80 percent did not provide the public with the comprehensive, timely, and useful information people needed to understand, participate in, and monitor the use
of public funds.
     Almost 50 percent of the 85 countries studied provided minimal or no information. Thirty-two percent provided some information with only five countries providing extensive information.
    It said restricting access to information hindered the ability of the
public, journalists, commentators, academicians, and civil society
organizations to hold officials accountable and created opportunities for governments to hide unpopular, wasteful, and corrupt spending.
    Lack of information also hindered the ability of other government bodies, such as legislatures and national audit offices, to do their jobs effectively.
    Additionally, legislators in many countries received budget information
too late to allow them to adequately review it or to hold the public hearings necessary to foster debate and careful scrutiny.
   The Survey found that in 24 of the 85 countries, the legislature received the budget six weeks or less before the budget year begins.
The OBI 2008 found that governments in 17 countries including Angola,Uganda, Ghana, and India, were producing Citizens Budgets, although they varied in how much information they provided.
    "While this is an improvement from the 10 countries in 2006, the overwhelming majority of the countries (80 percent) do not produce any document of this sort."
GNA

Well not revoke GT sale - Haruna

2009-02-11T00:27:00.001-08:00

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister-nominee for Communications, on Tuesday said government would not revoke the sale of Ghana Telecommunication (GT) to Vodafone BV but would consider a review of the sale.
     He made the statement in answer to a question at his vetting by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee.
     Mr Iddrisu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale South and Former Minority Spokesperson on Communications, said the intentions of the Government to consider a review of the GT/Vodafone Sales Purchase Agreement (SPA) did not constitute a revocation of the sale as some members of the public had concluded.
     "I can assure you that review is not the same as revocation and we are not here to revoke the sale of GT," he said.
     He said the idea of reviewing the SPA was not his personal opinion but that of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a party, saying; "if it will be done, it will be done in good faith without any prejudices whatsoever".
     He noted that, the reasons a review of the SPA may be considered included the fact that it placed obligations on the Government as the minority shareholder to provide a working capital for the company and also to make an investment of US$30 million into the National Fibre Optics Backbone.
     Mr Iddrisu noted that, currently, Vodafone had full control over the fibre optics backbone and was playing both wholesaler and retailer, saying that, that arrangement was not necessarily fair to the other players.
     "There is the need to protect the smaller Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for instance to make them more vibrant and also to ensure that they provided affordable and reliable service to consumers," he said.
     He argued that it was in a well-functioning internet service that ICT could be beneficial to the public and not just in computerization of operations as was erroneously and widely held.
    Asked if the review of the GT sale would not circumvent the sovereignty of Parliament since the sale was approved by Parliament, he said, to the extent that not all of Parliament's decisions had stood the test of time, Government had the right to review any Parliament decision if it felt the need to do so.

    Mr Iddrisu told the Committee that, when given the nod, he would pursue a vigorous ICT education programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
    He said the focus would be to make telecom, broadband internet and other real ICT features relevant to Ghanaians from a very youthful age.
    On the question of a petition brought to the Committee by Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) against his nomination because he was cited for plagiarism and stripped of his Masters Degree by the University of Ghana, he explained that he was yet to seek redress on the matter either by petitioning the Vice Chancellor of the University or in the law courts.
     Mr Iddrisu explained that he did not present another person's research for his Masters Degree but rather committed an unintentional error in not making proper attribution of a material he used in his thesis.
     He said the report of a Technical Committee which investigated the matter recommended that he withdrew his thesis, made the correction and resubmitted but the University's Board set the Committee's report aside and rather withdrew his Masters Degree for reasons best known to the Board.
     "I know there are other Members of Parliament whose theses are under similar scrutiny but I can assure you that I have never intentionally plagiarised anybody's work and I will never do that," he said.
     Some members of the Committee advised the Nominee to go to every extent to clear his name on that matter since younger persons, who looked up to him as a role model might have been adversely affected by the matter.
    Mr Iddrisu, 38, obtained his Master of Philosophy (MPHIL) Degree from the University of Ghana in 2001 and it was withdrawn in 2006 based on allegations that he plagiarised the work of one Justice P.A. Ennin.
GNA

Appointment Committee vets more Ministerial nominees

2009-02-11T00:17:00.001-08:00

Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister-nominee for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, on Tuesday told the Appointments Committee of Parliament that the automation of revenue agencies was critical to improving upon revenue collection.
     He said without the computerization of these agencies, it would be difficult to stamp out corrupt practices and stop the leakages in revenue mobilization for national development.
     Responding to questions from Committee members on the fourth day of vetting, Dr Duffuor said wages' growth should not be allowed to overtake revenue growth because the Government might find itself having to borrow to even pay the wages of workers.
    He said the stabilization of macro-economic indicators would be a top priority.
     Dr Duffuor touched on the saving habits, saying Ghanaians should be encouraged to learn to save with the banks to improve upon their economic fortunes.
    In response to a question that there were so many banks operating in the country with little improvement in the lot of many Ghanaians, he said it was an area that the Finance Ministry would take a look at.
    Dr Duffuor said Ghana's economy was challenged but the country should not be labelled as 'broke' since this could send wrong signals to investors.
    He described money as a spiritual commodity, which liked to operate in a good environment and, therefore, a negative description of the economy could bring about tension and drive away investors.
    He said the National democratic Congress (NDC) Government would work at assisting small businesses to create employment for the people.
    When Ms. Hannah Tetteh, Nominee for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, took her turn, she told the Committee that the NDC Government would review the viability of projects under the President's Special Initiatives (PSI) and restructure the programme to suit current needs.
     She said the Government would also develop the small and medium scale industries and look for on-lending finances and also build skills in the sector under a restructured National Board for Small-Scale Industries to push the nation forward.
     Ms Tetteh said programmes on food and agricultural processing would be pursued to help the economy to grow.
    She said as part of dealing with the global financial crisis and credit crunch, Ghana would pursue a programme of regional trade and create opportunities for Ghanaian products and services through ECOWAS.
    Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Nominee for the Eastern Region, told the Committee that he would promote the development of local industries based on local resources available in the area.
    He touched on the bauxites deposits, local tourist attractions and other areas that would receive his attention to create employment for the people in the area.
GNA

Number of Supreme Court Judges problematic Mould-Iddrisu

2009-02-09T22:34:00.001-08:00

Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Minister-Nominee for Justice and Attorney-General, on Monday said the situation where the number of Judges that could be appointed to the Supreme Court remained open, made room for Executive manipulation of the Judiciary.
     She said when approved as Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, she would advise the President to place an upper limit on the number of Judges that could be appointed to the Supreme Court at a time.
     She was answering questions from Members of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee.
     Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, who is currently Head of the Legal Department of the Commonwealth Secretariat, noted that because of the absence of a limit to the number of Judges that could be appointed to the Supreme Court, the Executive had compromised the independence of the judiciary through ill-intentioned appointments.
     "The Judiciary should be manifestly seen as independent and I believe when we place an upper limit on the number of Supreme Court Judges, it will go a long way to serve the purpose," she said.
     Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said she would advise the President to legalise regulations that would ameliorate taxes and tariffs and that she would also initiate action to operationalise the Disability Law and also expedite the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill.
     She said there was the need for the citizenry to come along with government to ensure the success of the nation's development agenda, adding that the Freedom of Information Law would open up government activities to the public and engender public confidence in the Executive.
     Mrs Mould-Iddrisu also proposed that the office of Attorney-General (A-G) should be separated from that of the Minister of Justice and that the A-G position should be constitutionally entrenched to insulate it from arbitrary dismissal by the President.
     Asked if her inexperience in ordinary and constitutional litigation would not adversely affect her work as the main legal advisor to the President, she said she would depend on the top team of competent assistants at the A-G's Office.
     She said the Law on Wilfully Causing Financial Loss to the State was good but needed better interpretation and explanation.
     She told the Committee that when given the nod she would facilitate the implementation of laws that criminalised Trokosi and the operation of witch camps in the country.
    Mrs Mould-Iddrisu defended comments she allegedly made, describing the courts as kangaroo courts, saying she made those remarks on a political platform in a particular context and that she did not refer to all Ghanaian courts.
GNA

Second batch of Nominees vetted

2009-02-09T22:22:00.001-08:00

Mr Joe Gidisu, Nominee for the Ministry of Roads and Highway, said delays in the payment of local contractors were hindering the opening up of some portions of the country by these contractors.
   He said when given the nod by Parliament, he would help in building the capacity of these contractors and help to empower them financially to ensure that they competed favourably with international contractors to win bids in the country.
     Mr Gidisu, who was responding to questions from the Appointments Committee on Monday, said he would ensure that Ghana had value for money for roads constructed and urged Members of Parliament to take interest in projects being carried out in their constituencies to ensure that only good roads were constructed.
     On charges that there were perceptions about corrupt practices associated with the operations of the Ministry, Mr Gidisu said he would pursue an open and transparent programme to deal with corruption.
      Alhaji Collins Dauda, Nominee for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, who also took his turn before the Committee, said he would go into commercial plantation to deal with environmental degradation and the restoration of the forest cover.
     He said currently the forest cover of the nation could be pegged 1.6 million hectares, a major drop from 8.2 million hectares that the country enjoyed at the turn of the last century.
     Mr Dauda also touched on the challenges posed by small-scale miners known as galamsey and chain saw operators, and said there was the need to streamline their operations to ensure that they operated within the laws.
     On issues of land use, he said poor documentation, land ownership and lack of proper planning were some challenges, which should receive attention.
    He said coupled with the promulgation of the new Lands Commission Act, there should be an improvement on land use.
   Dr Joe Oteng Adjei, Nominee for the Energy Ministry, when he appeared before the Committee said the policy of rural communities contributing to a percentage for electrification under the Self-Help Electrification Project would be reviewed to lesson the burden on these rural communities.
     On issues of increases in electricity tariffs, Dr Oteng-Adjei said the use of pre-paid metres, the blocking of illegal use of electricity and the improvement of network and wires to reduce technical problems should add up to reduce electricity tariffs.
     In response to perceptions that oil discovery was a curse to some African countries, the Nominee said the NDC Government would involve all stakeholders and pursue a policy of transparency to ensure that Ghana's discovery of oil became a blessing.
   Ms Sherry Ayitey, Nominee for the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, who also appeared before the Committee, said she would pursue a programme of public education at various levels to address the problem of sanitation and ensure a clean environment.
   Mr Mike Hamah, Nominee for Transportation, told the Committee that he would   use "Three Es Approach" EducationEngineering-Enforcement - to reduce carnage on the country's roads if given the nod to become the Minister of Transportation.
   He said he would work hard to regain the category one rating of Kotoka International Airport by the United States Federal Aviation Administration, which it lost because the liquidated Ghana Airways flew substandard plane to the USA.
GNA

Vetting of five nominees rescheduled

2009-02-07T12:13:00.001-08:00

Supporters and well-wishers of ministerial nominees who came in their numbers and journalists who gathered at Parliament House for the vetting of the nominees by the Appointments Committee were disappointed after a long wait.
     The vetting of five nominees, which was to begin at 1000 hours, was called off at around 1330 hours when the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Edward Doe-Adjaho and members of the Committee informed the gathering that the meeting had been rescheduled.
    Mr Doe-Adjajo, who began by apologizing profusely, said the vetting of the nominees had to be called off because they had to build consensus over certain issues relating to the nominees appearing before them.
      The Chairman of the Committee, who did not go into specific details, said they had to do some negotiations to ensure that the nominees meet the test when they finally appeared before the Committee.
     The nominees are Alhaji Collins Dauda for Ministry of Lands and Forestry, Ms Sherry Ayittey, for the Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Oteng Adjei for the Ministry of Energy, Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Regional Integration and Mr Joe Gidisu for the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
     The vetting has been rescheduled for Monday.
     Mr Mike Hammah, nominated for the Ministry of Transport, would join the other nominees to bring the list to six.
GNA

Five ministerial nominees appear before Appointment Committee

2009-02-07T12:03:00.001-08:00

Mr. Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education-designate, on Friday told Parliament's Appointments Committee that more resources must be channelled into basic education to strengthen the Junior
High Schools (JHS) and improve upon the performance of the students.
    He said the idea that, by extending the duration of the Senior High Schools to four years to bring up the performance of JHS students who enrol in second cycle schools was not the answer to correcting the low academic performance of JHS students.
     The nominee was responding to questions from the committee on some reports that the NDC government would want to change the four-year period of the SHS to three years.
     He said it was better to strengthen performance, through the provision of infrastructure, teachers and learning materials at the basic level rather then prolonging the stay of students in the SHS.
     The nominee said his priority, when given the nod by Parliament would be to improve upon teacher education and upgrade the teacher training institutions.
     When Mr Cletus Avoka, Interior Minister-designate took his turn before the committee, he said he disagreed with some petitioners from the Upper East Region who are calling for the withdrawal of his ministerial appointment because he, as a Kusasi, was an interested party to the Bawku conflict involving the Kusasis and Mamprusis.
     He said, although he had offered legal services to the Kusasis and was an opinion leader for his side, he had helped to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
     Mr Avoka said his track record when he once served as a Minister was impeccable and therefore it was wrong for any one to petition against his nomination based of fears that, he may compromise his position by taking sides against the Mamprusis.
     In response to questions on what to do to stem the illicit drug trade,
he said the Narcotics Control Board should be changed into a commission and security should be stepped up at the ports and harbours.
     On measures to help empower the Police Service to make it more effective
in dealing with armed robbery and other crimes, he said the district assemblies should be encouraged to put up facilities to accommodate police officers.
     Ms. Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Women and Children-designate, when she took her turn, told the committee that it would be wrong for any person to think that the 31st December Women's Movement would take over the running of the Ministry under the NDC.
     She said the Ministry was a national women's machinery and was going to work with all non-governmental organisations and all stakeholders.
      In response to another question, she said laws on children should be enforced to improve upon child care and welfare.
     When she took her turn, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Tourism-designate, told the committee, that local tourism should be encouraged to generate more funds from the sector.
     She said a clean environment was critical to promoting tourism to the outside world but efforts should also be directed at discouraging sex tourism which served as an avenue to lure innocent Ghanaian children into illicit sex with its attendant health implications.
     Mr Joseph Yieleh-Chireh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development-designate, the last to appear before the committee, said accountability and the transparency of the district assemblies was critical
to making the assemblies responsible to the people in the community.
GNA

New Juaben South NDC fans celebrate partys victory

2009-02-07T12:02:00.001-08:00

Members of the New Juaben South Constituency branch of the National Democratic Conference (NDC), on Thursday organised a float through the principal streets of Koforidua to celebrate the December 2008 election victory.
     Party supporters were seen at in slow moving buses, others dancing on the street and on long truck vehicle to brass band music.
     The procession finally converged at the Regional Office of the party where the supporters were addressed by some leading members of the party in the constituency.
     Mr Andrew Awuku, the Constituency Chairman of the party called on Ghanaians to unite since the elections were over and worked towards building a prosperous nation.
      He urged Ghanaians to forgive one another about whatever might had happened during the elections and live as citizens with a common destiny.
      Mr Awuku thanked Ghanaians for the trust they had reposed in the party and urged those that would be placed in leadership positions in government to work hard to fulfil the promises made by the party.
      The New Juaben South Constituency Secretary of the party, Mr Foster Tetteh urged party faithful to support the Municipal Assembly to keep the municipality clean by engaging in all clean-up exercises.
GNA

President Mills withdraws nomination of Asaga

2009-02-07T12:00:00.001-08:00

President John Evans Atta Mills has withdrawn the nomination of Mr Moses Asaga as Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
     This was contained in a statement on Friday signed by Mr Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesman.
     No reason was given for President Mills' action.
     Mr Asaga, MP for Nabdam, served as Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under former President Jerry John Rawlings.
     He was also for several years the spokesman for economic issues of the NDC in parliament during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
GNA

Parliament to Begin Vetting Minister Designates

2009-02-06T00:04:00.001-08:00

Parliament will begin vetting a list of minister-designates of President John Evans Atta-Mills today in the capital, Accra. The parliament appointments committee will begin vetting all 35 executives nominated by the president for various ministerial positions. The minister designates are expected to take turns answering questions from members of the appointments committee about themselves and the various ministries they would be managing. Parliament also urged members of the public with information or questions for any of the minister-designates to make them available to the committee before the vetting process begins today.

The Honorable Felix Twumasi-Appiah is a member of the appointments committee. He tells reporter Peter Clottey that the committee would stay above partisan politics in today's hearing.

"First and foremost, the appointment committee, our mandate as per our constitution and our standing orders in parliament, is supposed to determine the suitability or otherwise of a nominee to become a minister of state. So that is exactly what we intend to do on the appointment committee when we sit on Friday and beyond. So we are going to determine the suitability of the individual nominee to the positions as per the president's appointment, and then we will advise the president accordingly," Twumasi-Appiah pointed out.

He said the committee would also determine a variety of things about the nominees in order for them to know what line of action to take.

"So what is going to happen is that we have to determine their suitability in that they would have to swear an oath to have to do with their capacity as individuals persons as to whether they would be able to hold up the positions assigned to them to compliment the president's vision. And also meeting the many aspirations of the ordinary Ghanaian as to why they voted for the president. So for us, our basic requirement is to determine the suitability of the nominees as to whether they would be able to hold those positions or otherwise," he said.

Twumasi-Appiah said the appointments committee would stay above partisan politics.

"What Ghanaians should expect from us is the best job, and they should expect that as a committee, we would be doing our best as prescribed by the constitution and by the standing orders of the parliament of the republic of Ghana. We are not going to fall short of any of our standing orders or the constitutional mandate for us to do what we ought to do or what we have to do," Twumasi-Appiah noted.

He said if the committee finds any of the nominees to be unfit for the office, the committee would advise President Atta-Mills accordingly.

"If anybody falls short of the requirement, Ghanaians should expect us to just tell the president that 'excuse me Mr. President, we believe that this minister cannot be a minister'," he said.

Twumasi-Appiah the committee would conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain whether a nominee is qualified or not in order carry out its constitutional mandate.

"You would very much recall that during the parliament before the present one, we had certain recommendations and certain memoranda about some of the minister-designates coming up, and we had to disqualify some ministers. And some Ghanaians recalled me saying that I have failed about three ministers in President John Kufuor's administration, and that what would become of me this time around since I'm a member of parliament of the ruling party? We are not going to leave any stone unturned. All those allegations that have been brought forth would be investigated before any action is taken," Twumasi-Appiah pointed out.

He said if any of the ministers designate is adjudged to have flouted any law, that individual would be rejected and sent to the proper authorities for them to face the full rigors of the law.

"The parliamentary select committee or the appointments committee is a equivalent to a high court in sitting. The only difference is that we cannot sentence anybody to let say a prison term. What it means is that if we have anybody that we believe strongly that has breached the laws of the Republic of Ghana, we can recommend the person to the appropriate institution for them to be taken care of. What it means is that we are going to sit and listen to all those allegations and then make our recommendations to the appropriate institutions. Once we think that the allegations are nothing but just mere rumor, we will allow the appropriate institution to investigate them and then come back with a recommendation to the committee. And then based on the recommendations, we would take our decision as and how we deem it fit," he said.

Meanwhile, a political pressure group calling itself Alliance for Accountable Governance is generating controversy after recently accusing some of the minister-designates of being unfit to hold state office.

The group singled out Hannah Tetteh, minister designate for Trade and Industry, alleging that while serving as a Member of Parliament for Awutu-Afutu constituency from 2001 to 2005, she simultaneously held a full-time position with the Ghana Agro Food Company. They contend that her conduct contravenes the constitution and is dishonorable because she drew salaries and other benefits from the Consolidated Fund of Ghana.

But Hannah Tetteh denies any wrongdoing and is threatening to take legal action against the group for defamation.

Bekwai NPP chairmen want local leaders removed

2009-02-05T08:22:00.003-08:00

Polling station chairmen of the Asante-Bekwai constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have passed a vote of no confidence in their executive.
     In a resolution signed by the 63 chairmen after a meeting at Bekwai, they called for the removal of their local leaders, accusing them of placing the Party beyond the reach of members and sympathizers.
     "The constituency executive has at various meetings with polling station chairmen openly insulted traditional rulers in the area thereby, receiving the anger of the majority of the citizenry," they alleged.
     The resolution also accused the local NPP leadership, including the outgoing Municipal Chief Executive and the defeated Member of Parliament, of masterminding police brutalities on some supporters who had embarked on a peaceful demonstration against them prior to the December 7 general elections.
     These actions, they said, led to the loss of the constituency seat by the NPP to an independent candidate.
     In their resolution, the polling station chairmen threatened that they would hit the streets if the executive members were not removed.
GNA

Nhyiaeso Constituency of NDC holds thanksgiving get-together

2009-02-05T08:22:00.001-08:00

The Nhyiaeso Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), at the weekend held a special thanksgiving get-together in Kumasi to thank God, and also extend gratitude to the party agents, supporters and others in the Constituency for ensuring victory in the recent elections.
     The get-together was preceded with a carnival, amidst brass band music through the principal streets of Adum, Bantama, South Suntreso, Kwadaso Estates and other suburbs in the Kumasi Metropolis.
     Mr Daniel Frempong, the Constituency Secretary who addressed the supporters and party functionaries later, attributed the remarkable performance of the NDC in the recent elections to the hard work and dedication of the supporters and members of the party.
     He thanked them for voting massively for the party in the elections and hoped that the party would respond to the needs of Ghanaians to ensure democracy, good governance, stability and development of the country.
     Mr Frempong noted that the power entrusted to the party by the electorate was a testimony of the desire for the NDC to rule the country.
     The Secretary appealed to Ghanaians to unite and rally behind the party in its efforts to transform the country and put the economy on sound footing.
     Mr Frempong praised President John Evans Atta Mills for nominating Mr Opoku Manu as the Ashanti Regional Minister and also Alhaji Mubarak Muntaka as the Minister of Youth and Sports.
GNA

Politicians must learn to be forgiving- GPC

2009-02-05T08:21:00.001-08:00

Reverend Moses Ayittey, Chairman of the Volta Regional branch of the Ghana Pentecostal Council (GPC) on Wednesday urged the citizenry especially politicians to learn to forgive each other.
     This, he said, would ensure peace, stability and growth of the country.
     Mr Ayittey was delivering a sermon on "Peace and stability for national growth-The role of God's word" in Ho to mark this year's Bible Week Celebration of the Bible Society of Ghana.
He noted that unwillingness to forgive was becoming a great threat to the nation and urged the citizenry to be on guard.
     Mr Ayittey recounted recent attacks at Agbogbloshie Market and the death of the Chief of Kunka shot dead by his 19-year-old son, which incidents he said were nurtured and executed from unforgiving hearts.
     "Unforgiving has broken many homes, families, churches and countries, so we must not give it a chance to divide us and destroy our one and only homeland," he pleaded.
    Reverend Ayittey urged Christians to uphold Jesus Christ's standard for forgiveness irrespective of what people did to them, so that peace could prevail in homes, churches and the country at large.
      He advised leaders of all political parties especially those of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to emulate the peaceful nature of the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and let it trickle down to all supporters for absolute peace to prevail in the country.
     "If possible, all should endeavour to be at peace with everybody," Reverend Ayittey added.
     Reverend James Noble Tulasi, Head Pastor of Jubilee Christian Centre pleaded with the populace not to let the sun set on their anger but be quick to forgive.
   He said this way; they would not burden their hearts with "unnecessary things" but live long in unity to ensure the country's accelerated development.
GNA

Spio asks supporters to support Mills

2009-02-04T23:04:00.001-08:00

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has advised his supporters to exercise patience with the President's decisions and continue to support the Party, the President and his programmes, although he was not appointed a minister.
     He said, although many people seemed "quite consumed by the whole appointment process", what most Ghanaians expected of the NDC was for the Party to organise itself quickly to implement its campaign promises as contained in its Manifesto to alleviate the economic difficulties of the ordinary Ghanaian.
     "So, yes, appointments are important, but let us remember why people voted for us," the former education and communications minister said in a speech to a group of friends, NDC supporters and admirers at Heathrow Airport in London prior to his embarking on an official CTO mission to South Africa, Zambia and Nigeria.
     According to a statement received from Friends of Spio-Garbrah, he was reacting to rumours that he had been sidelined by President Atta Mills.
     He acknowledged that he had received a lot of messages about what was going on in the appointment process, but thought that many did not fully understand the considerable pressure on the President at this very early stage in the government formulation process.
     He said all the available positions were reportedly keenly competed for, and he fully sympathised with the President's dilemma when faced with so many capable and talented people within the NDC who he needed to recognise in one way or another.
     Dr Spio-Garbrah said with regard to the recent Ministerial appointments, he could think of more than 10 people, many of whom campaigned hard and made significant contributions to the election of President Mills, and who for one reason or the other were not appointed.
     He mentioned names such as Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, Mr Lee Ocran, Dr Tony Aidoo, Mr Edward Salia, Mr E.T. Mensah, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Mrs Esther Lily Nkansah, Mr Martin Amidu, Mr Gideon Quarcoo, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, Mr Mohammed Iddi, Mr J.W. Agyekum, Dr Kwame Ampofo, Mr Alex Segbefia, Dr Ben Kumbour and a large number of sitting MPs as examples.
     He further explained that in making appointments, the President must balance various Constitutional requirements for many posts with issues related to qualifications and competences, ethnic and regional balance, previous ministerial experience, gender, loyalty, age, religion, and other factors.
     Dr Spio-Garbrah appealed to his supporters and admirers all over Ghana and in various locations around the world, not to be disappointed or despondent over the fact that he was not appointed a Minister.
     He admitted that had he been appointed to the Foreign Ministry position, as had been widely speculated, he had already formulated various strategies by which he would have grabbed the world's attention to Ghana's demanding economic needs, at a time of a global economic crunch.
     Dr Spio-Garbrah cited his previous experience in the 1980s as an adviser to the governments of Indonesia, Morocco, Turkey, the Netherlands and Austria, with regard to their investment, exports, and tourism promotion strategies, as a key strength he would have brought to that job.
     Equally relevant, he thought, would have been his work at the World Bank, the African Development Bank, as well as in his current position.
     However, he stated that the President's nominee, Alhaji Mumuni, was an able man, and he had no doubt that he would discharge his duties commendably.
      Dr Spio-Garbrah also indicated that the new NDC administration would face various tests with regard to the economy, and would be challenged in meeting the high expectations of the people with regards to social programmes.
      He referred to the serious state of the Ghanaian economy, as attested to by the World Bank and as is becoming evident daily through the various Transitional teams, with respect to considerable over-spending by the NPP government, high budget deficits, rising inflation and interest rates, the depreciation of the cedi, and the likely contraction of both imports and exports during the current year.
     The NDC leading member, who is also currently Chairman of the Social Sector Sub-Committee of the Transition Team, noted that his Committee, which had examined the work of some 10 Ministries and more than 50 agencies that operated under those Ministries, had a number of urgent recommendations it was making to government to stem some disturbing situations in some of those Ministries and agencies.
GNA

GISPA supports Harunas nomination

2009-02-04T22:47:00.001-08:00

The Ghana Internet Services Providers Association (GISPA), on Wednesday declared their support for the nomination of Mr Haruna Iddrisu for the position of Minister of Communications.
    The GISPA support for Mr. Iddrisu comes a day after the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), a pressure group called for his nomination to be withdrawn in the basis that he was cited for plagiarism and was subsequently stripped of his Masters Degree from the University of Ghana.
   Mr Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South and minority spokesperson on communications in the previous Parliament, was nominated by President John Evans Atta Mills.
A statement from GISPA in Accra noted that, Mr. Iddrisu is a Lawyer who had shown a healthy grasp of the complex issues around Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Ghana and had also established a leadership role in the Parliamentary process as a young lawmaker.
It said Mr. Iddrisu's youthfulness was another important reason why GISPA believed he can stir the fast-pace and knowledge-based emerging ICT industry in Ghana.
   "We are of the view that Mr Iddrisu comes to the job with a track record of delivery required to lead the industry - we are confident that the leadership commitment of Mr Iddrisu makes him the ideal person for Minister of Communication."
    GISPA also proposed that Mr. Iddrisu should be supported by someone preferably from the industry who has not only technical credentials but also management expertise to assist him to deliver on the country's vibrant ICT policy.
   GISPA is currently made up of NCS Internet Ghana, AffricaOnline, IDN, Tin-Ifa, BusyIntenet, Netplux, K-Net, Broadband Home, Easy-Net, Ecoband, NetAfrique, Gateway Communications, Discoverytel, Africanus, TeledatalICT, ComsysGhana, iBurstAfrica, Internet Solutions, UCOM, Golden Beach Hotels and Tandem Networks.
GNA

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2009-02-04T18:42:00.001-08:00

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EC gazettes 2008 election results

2009-01-31T06:08:00.001-08:00

The results of the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections have been gazetted and published as required by law

For the presidential elections, it was only the declaration of the winner by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) that was gazette with the authority of a constitutional Instrument (C.I) 58.

"In the exercise of powers conferred on the Electoral Commission under article 63(9) of the constitution, this instrument is hereby made, "the gazette declaration published by the Ghana Publishing Corporation Limited (GPCL)stated. it added that" Prof John Evans Atta Mills, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, having, in the presidential election held on the 28^th day of December, 2008, pursuant to Article 63(3) of the Constitution, obtained more than 50 percent of the valid votes cast, is hereby declared the winner of the elections".

The declaration was signed under the hand and seal of the Chairman of the EC,Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, and dated January 3, 2009

Article 63(9) of the Constitution states that."An instrument which –(a) is executed under the hand of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission and under the seal of the commission ; and (b) states that the person named in the instrument was declared elected as the president of Ghana at the election of president, shall be prima facie evidence that the person named was so elected."

According to Mr.B.N.T. Ashong-Katai the Production Manager of the GPCL, unlike the parliamentary results whereby the entire details of the results were gazetted and published, with the presidential it was only a declaration by the EC Chairman, with the consent of the Attorney-General, that was gazetted

Meanwhile, the parliamentary results relating to the Akwatia and Asutifi South Constituencies are not included in the published results because they are currently subject of electoral disputes.

Daily Graphic

West African network to harmonize election standards

2009-01-31T06:06:00.001-08:00

A regional network of electoral commissions has been established in the West African sub-region to harmonize election standards among ECOWAS countries.

Known as ECOWAS network of Electoral Commissions, it is made up of heads of institutions responsible for managing elections in ECOWAS member states.

A director at the African Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. William A Awinador-Kanyirige, who confirmed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said the body would ensure the promotion of transparent and credible elections in the region and help entrench the culture of democracy.

He said the establishment of the network, which was agreed at the end of a two-day meeting of the heads of the electoral management bodies in the region, would also contribute to the emergence of independent and impartial electoral management bodies in members states.

He explained that the proposal for the creation of the network emanated from a join workshop held in September 2005 by ECOWAS and the Pan African Strategic and Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG).

Mr. Awinador-Kanyirige said the body was mandated to promote public confidence in the electoral process through transparent and credible electoral procedures, as well as the employment of electoral officials with integrity, probity and a strong sense of public service.

He said according to its eight-page statute, the network would also serve as a platform for co-operation in improving electoral laws and practices, the exchange of experiences and best practices, as well as pooling and sharing of electoral resources to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Mr. Awinador-Kanyirigie said the operations of the network, which had three organs, including a General Assembly and a Coordinating Committee, would be coordinated from a Secretariat located at the ECOWAS Electoral Unit.

He said the meeting endorsed tow documents, one of which was the 34-page ECOWAS handbook on election observation that would serve as a guide for the proper assessment of genuine democratic elections in member states.

He said the first section of the handbook placed electoral observation within the mandate of ECOWAS, while the other sections comprised practical guidelines for observation missions and sampled observation forms.

Mr. Awinador-Kanyirige said about 60 participants, including academics, electoral experts and civil society representatives, attended the meeting which was organized in collaboration with the Europe Union and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)

Court adjourns NPP candidates petition on December 7 result

2009-01-30T08:49:00.000-08:00

An Accra Fast Track Court on Friday adjourned to February 10, the hearing of an election petition brought before it by Mr Francis Kojo Smith, New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South, in the December 7 election.
     Mr Smith, who is also an Accra legal practitioner, is challenging the result in the constituency which declared Mr Fritz Baffour, National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, the winner.
     In his petition filed on his behalf by Mr James Hughes, the defeated NPP candidate is praying the court to declare the electoral results by the Electoral Commission (EC) null and void.
     Mr Smith is further praying the court to place a perpetual injunction restraining Mr. Baffour from holding himself as the elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ablekuma South.
     Furthermore, Mr Smith is asking the court to order a recount of the ballot because, in his view, the election was plagued by a series of irregularities and malpractices which tilted the results to the advantage of Mr Baffour.
     In a supporting affidavit to his motion paper, Mr Smith claims that out of a total of 140 polling stations in the constituency, he won maximum votes in over 72 polling stations, which, in his view, had higher voter turn-out than those he lost.
     According to Mr Smith, the returning officer declared a total of 50,879 votes for him, while that of Mr Baffour stood at 56,152 votes.
     Mr Smith alleged that these figures were based on wrong and fraudulent computations, because the certified figures by the EC were not the true reflection of those collated by his polling agents.
     When the case came up for hearing on Friday, Mr James Quarshie-Idun, counsel for the EC, informed the court that the Commission had been served with a copy of the suit filed by Mr Smith.
     The case was first fixed for hearing on January 16, but on that day, the court learnt that the EC had not been served.
     Consequently, Mr Justice K. A. Ofori-Atta, the presiding judge, ordered counsel for Mr Smith, to ensure that the Commission was served, and consequently adjourned the matter to Friday.
     Mr Samuel Cudjoe, counsel for Mr Baffour, was in court with a counter motion to strike out the substantive one filed by Mr Hughes on behalf of Mr Smith.
     Therefore, on February 10, the court will determine the merits or otherwise of Mr Cudjoe's counter motion, before considering whether to look into the substantive matter.
GNA

NPP proposes internal electoral reforms

2009-01-30T07:30:00.001-08:00

The defeated New Patriotic Party is intent on reviewing the Electoral College system of electing party executives and presidential candidates.

The system was criticised by some leading members of the party during last year's parliamentary primaries which were dogged with violence at some constituencies.

They argued the system prevented most of the stakeholders from taking part in the election of presidential and parliamentary candidates.

With the National Delegates Conference scheduled for May, 2009, the electoral reforms seem high on the agenda.

The General Secretary of the party Nana Ohene Ntow told Joy News on Friday the party is expecting proposals from the general public for consideration during the party's Delegates Conference.

He conceded the current electoral system of the party is liable undue exploitation and hoped a reform would limit the use of money to influence voters.

He said the proposed reforms were supposed to have been tabled for consideration in 2003 but were shelved.

Nana Ntow also dismissed allegations that the party had failed to clear victory cloths and drinks from the ports, ostensibly to celebrate the party's victory.

He told Joy News' Matilda Asante, the party's campaign committee has not imported any cloths or drinks, but conceded individuals may have, as part of their own private merchandise.

JFM

Vetting to begin on Feb. 6

2009-01-30T02:17:00.001-08:00

The public vetting of President John Mills' Ministerial Nominees by the Appointments Committee of Parliament will begin on February 6 2009.

The vetting session will continue through the 7^th of February 2009 and will be postponed till February 9 2009.

In all, 35 nominees have been programmed to take turns to answer questions from Members of the Committee about themselves and the various sectors they have been asked by the President to manage.

The decision to begin public scrutiny of the nominees on February 6 this year was taken at a meeting of Members of the Appointments Committee this afternoon.

Speaking to Citi News soon after the meeting, Chairman of the Committee, Hon Edward Doe Adzaho, disclosed that moves are underway to engage the services of the various state investigative agencies to help dig into the backgrounds of the various nominees.

Outlining the order the nominees were to appear on the first day of vetting, the Chairman of the Appointments Committee noted that Hon. Alex Tetteh-Enyo, Minister designate for the Ministry of Education will be the first followed by Mr. Cletus Avoka, Minister designate to the Ministry of Interior then Hon. Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister designate for the Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development.

Ms. Akua Dansua, Minister designate for the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs will then follow and then Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister designate for the Ministry of Tourism.

The remainder of the nominees will follow according to a laid down criteria set by the Appointments Committee which is subject to change to adapt to developing circumstances.

He said the Committee will try as much as it can to be transparent and thorough throughout the vetting period.

He noted a response from the public with respect to objections concerning the nominations had yet to be filed.

Meanwhile the Ranking Member on the Committee, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, says he expects detailed work to be done into the backgrounds of the nominees to ensure the right quality of human resources are approved to run the various Ministries.

He said the Committee's guide book will be the 1992 Constitution.

President John Evans Atta Mills nominated a number of persons for Parliament to vet for appointment as Ministers of State. They include Ministry of Information, Mrs Zita Okai Kwei; Minister at the Presidency, Mrs Halutie Dubie Alhassan; Ministry of Finance, Dr Kwabena Dufuor; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni; Ministry of Defence, Lt. Gen. J.H. Smith (Rtd); Ministry of The Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka; Ministry of Health, Dr George Yankey; and Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Kwao Amoanor.

The others are: Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Moses Asaga; Ministry of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Bubarak; Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alexander Asum-Ahensah; Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh; Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi; Ministry of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu; and Minister at the Presidency, Mr Azong Alhassan.

The President has also made the following nominations for the consideration of Parliament for appointment as Regional Ministers: Volta Region, Mr Joseph Amenowode; Western Region, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo; Northern Region, Mr S.S. Nanyina; and Upper East Region, Mark Woyongo. The statement said the list of Deputy Ministers would be released when Ministers of State have been vetted and confirmed and after due consultation with the Ministers as required by the Constitution.

By: citifmonline.com

President advised to consider competent people for positions

2009-01-30T02:06:00.001-08:00

Some National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth in Ashanti have appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to endeavour to consider youthful, competent, approachable, humble and hardworking people for positions.
They insisted that under no circumstances should the President allow himself to be persuaded or pressurized to choose people, who were not qualified for positions and that those nominated should first and foremost be true party members, who were in good standing and also of substance.
A statement signed by Mr Ernest Brogya Genfi, Spokesperson for the NDC youth activists in the Ashanti Region, and issued in Kumasi, expressed the hope that the President would use his discretion in choosing nominees for key positions.
In a related development, Mr Joseph Salifu Boarle, a Leading Member of the NDC in the Asawase Constituency, has criticised the struggle among some supporters for the position of the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE).
He warned that the Party had its own criteria in considering people for the position and said it behooved the Ashanti Regional Steering Committee of the Party to use laid down procedures in short-listing people for nomination for the position.
"The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) seat is a crucial one and that there is the need to be circumspect in choosing the right man for the position."
This, he said, would help the Party to achieve its objective of delivering on its campaign promises.
GNA

More persons vying to contest seats on the Council of State

2009-01-30T02:02:00.001-08:00

   Nine persons, on Tuesday filled nomination forms of the Electoral Commission (EC) in Sunyani, to contest elections to represent the Brong Ahafo Region on the Council of State.
     They were, Mr. John Henry Owusu-Acheampong, 68, veteran politician, who holds a Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics, Mr. Kwabena Kyere, a retired educationist, Mr.Kwaku Dartey, 46, teacher, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management Studies.
     Others were Mr. Usman Fakih Suallah, 27, also a teacher with Diploma in Basic Education and Nana Kwaku Dwuma Ankoana II, 60, Nana Kwadwo Sito, 53, Paramount chiefs of Seikwa and Banda Traditional Areas respectively in the Tain District and Pemampem Yaw Kagbrese V, Paramount chief of Yeji Traditional Area.

In Sekondi,Eight individuals, who collected forms to contest and represent the Western Region as Member of the Council of State, have submitted their forms as at the close of work on January 27 2008.
       He said the eight, made up of six men and two women aged between 57 years and 80 years included retired educationists, lecturers and administrators.
       Mr Opoku-Mensah however said their names would not be disclosed but their educational backgrounds ranged between Advanced Level Certificate holders to Doctorate Degree holders.
       He said two representatives from each of the 17 Districts in the Region, would converge at the EC Regional Office in Sekondi on February 10 2009 to elect a representative for the Region.
       Three people including a woman, collected forms on January 21 2009 the day nominations opened.
       Mr Opoku-Mensah, who was speaking to GNA in an interview, said the Council of State was a constitutional body that advised the President and the members must be intelligent, patriotic and hard working.
       He said the membership of the Council was a representative from each of the 10 Regions; a Former Inspector General of Police; Former Chief Justice; Former Chief of Defence Staff and 11 others appointed by the President.
GNA

Ghana elections 2008

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Post election monitoring project takes off in Kumasi

Ghana Elections Coverage

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President Mills swears in first woman Attorney-General

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This is not an era of vengeance - Avoka

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Mills reiterates cut in executive expenditure

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Greater Accra Council of State elections called off

President Mills names 23 deputy ministers

Minister gives ultimatum for surrendering of weapons

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Distinguish the work of MP and - Doe-Adjaho

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Mpiani: We will no longer co-operate with government

Parliament reviews reports on ministerial nominees

Defeated Akufo-Addo's Land Cruiser seized and taken to office of the President

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A Standard Prescription For Political Office Holders

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Well not revoke GT sale - Haruna

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This is not an era of vengeance - Avoka

NDC Government determined to eradicate malaria Dr Yankey

Distinguish the work of MP and - Doe-Adjaho

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Well not revoke GT sale - Haruna

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