Accra, Sept. 23, GNA – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Friday called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to convene IPAC Meeting immediately to help restore credibility and ensure that all the “Accra Principles of Electoral Justice” are implemented for Election 2012.
It said: “There is an urgent need to convene IPAC Meeting immediately so that together, we can help restore credibility and ensure that all the “Accra Principles of Electoral Justice” are implemented for Election 2012”.
The party made the call in a letter addressed to the EC in Accra by Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, National Chairman.
It referred to previous correspondence on the need to get IPAC convened and deliberating on matters regarding the forthcoming Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise and other issues pertaining to Election 2012.
“Our call for specific information and material to enable us convince ourselves that the ‘tender process’ leading to the procurement of equipment and materials is credible has fallen on, sadly, deaf ears.
“We wholly endorse and support the constitutional provisions safeguarding the independence of the Electoral Commission. However our interpretation of the constitution is that the powers of that independence must be used to provide the nation with an election process that is credible, transparent, fair and ultimately delivers a result that is accepted by stakeholders as reflecting the true choice of the electorate.
“We do not believe that the independence is given to the Electoral Commission for it to act in a capricious and unilateral manner that can lead to the election process producing discord and tension in our country.
“We respectfully advise that as one of the major stakeholders in Ghana’s democratic process, not receiving the courtesy of a response to our letters is a bad signal.
“Further to receiving a copy of your “Invitation to Tender (ITT)” given to shortlisted companies to submit their solution for the Biometric Registration exercise, we commissioned two independent IT experts in the field of biometrics to analyze your ITT and give us their unvarnished assessment as to whether the ITT will lead to a credible BVR.
“Both teams arrived at the same conclusion. The gaps, risks and security flaws in the ITT, if not addressed and demonstrated to the parties, are of such serious magnitude as to make the BVR not credible and prone to fraudulent abuse.
“In the light of the above, we wish to convey our deep sense of apprehension that the manner in which you are conducting affairs towards Election 2012, secretly, stealthily and silently is a recipe for disaster.
“We realise that your institution has no experience in the field of electoral Biometrics and you have not requested credible experts to help you in undertaking this exercise. This can lead only to a bad outcome.
“Coming events cast their shadow. The pending court case has the potential of not only jeopardizing your already poorly implemented “roadmap” but impugning the integrity and credibility of the EC,”” it added.
The letter said: “For us in the NPP, we implore you as a matter of urgency to:
* Implement the mitigation any remedial measures identified by the experts and demonstrate to IPAC same before we can support the BVR exercise.
1. The necessary Certifications to ensure international standardization and quality assurance features in the system hardware are non-existent in the ITT. This is so for both the finger print scanner and camera. It also applies to the AFIS search engine. The camera is a 2MPand scanner is 500dpi. Both are of too low a resolution to make biometric analysis possible.
A camera with greater than 10MP and fingerprint scanner of at least 1200dpi should be the minimum requirement.
There are no requirements in the ITT to ensure that the software and other systems are developed and configured to international standards.
2. The ITT requirement that the client should own the source code and be able to make changes without trace (avoid detection) is a recipe for electoral fraud.
All stakeholders should either have access to the source-code or they are proprietary to the extent that any technical expert or unit with access cannot compromise the functioning of the solution.
3. There is no requirement in the ITT for the provision of an AFIS database and search engine.
This non-requirement means a database somewhere is going to be used. Where is this database? Who owns it? How secure is it? How credible is it? This is even more pertinent as the ITT requires an “AFIS enhancer”. If there is no engine with a database how can you enhance?
4. Physical security regarding usage of portable storage devices (USB’s, memory sticks, flash drives) for the storage and transfer of data are non-existent. Even if such security exists it can be subject to fraudulent abuse and so is not desirable in systems such as ours where data integrity is important. International best practice is to have a secure encrypted transfer protocols for all data transfer without the use of portable storage devices.
5. Locations where Data Centres are located are subject to Certification to ensure that stringent physical security and access controls protocols are adhered to. The ITT does not specify this as a requirement. This means data integrity cannot be ensured and can be easily compromised.
6. Given the lack of experience of the biometric process of the GEC the management of the project should include non-GEC executives who have proven competence in this area.
* To conduct the forthcoming registration exercise in all Polling Stations in Ghana simultaneously, as is the practice with replacement of register, to minimize greatly multiple registrations and its associated Voter ID card issuance. This would make up for the time lost.
Nigeria registered 60 million voters in two weeks why does Ghana need more than a month to register 13 million people. The EC should call for help from our Donor Partners and our sister nation, Nigeria, for both logistical and financial help to ensure this.
* To discuss the legal and regulatory issues concerning amending CI-12 with all the Parties immediately before submission to Parliament to prevent delays that the CI will encounter if it gets to Parliament without the Parties’ inputs beforehand.
* To demonstrate to us your plan of action to implement Voter Verification (authentication) before voting. This is imperative if the BVR exercise is to be complete. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa who have implemented BVR without authentication have not escaped political chaos post elections. Kenya realizing this through bitter experience, have recently implemented authentication before voting in a bye-election with greatly improved results.
The failure of EC to demonstrate practically to us, by the time Parliament reconvenes during the third week of October, that our concerns are being addressed, would convince us that for Election 2012 the EC cannot be relied upon to ensure a free, fair, credible election.
“We would then not be a supporter of the BVR exercise and will advocate for the EC to undertake a new manual registration system which is open, transparent, verifiable, economical and auditable (tried and tested) done simultaneously in all polling stations rather than support the flawed and opaque system the EC intends embarking on,”” the letter added.
GNA
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Hidden explosives shipment seized at Nigerian port
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian officials seized a sizable amount of explosives hidden inside a shipping container from China at one of the West African nation's major ports, an official said Saturday, amid continued unrest and bombings across the oil-rich country.
The container arrived at Nigeria's Tin Can Port on June 14 on the MV Seng-Shi, with its bill of lading claiming the shipment from Huangpu, China contained industrial sockets and valves, said Wale Adeniyi, a spokesman for the Nigeria Customs Service. However, discrepancies on the shipping paperwork raised suspicions of the customs service, which kept watch over the container to see if someone came to pick it up, Adeniyi said.
Officials opened the container Friday to check its contents, he said, adding that they worried whatever could be inside of the containers could grow unstable during Nigeria's continuing rainy season, he said. Officials remain unsure whether the explosives were of a military or commercial grade.
"We saw them in different dimensions with cables, wires (and) some bolts," Adeniyi said.
The customs service handed the explosives over to Nigeria's federal police force. Authorities have launched an investigation into the shipment, Adeniyi said, though no arrests have been made.
Nigeria's chaotic ports in its megacity of Lagos see tons of cargo move through them daily, providing cars, imported food, refined gasoline and other products needed for the nation of 150 million people. Drugs and other illegal goods also flow through the ports, often aided by officials receiving bribes in a country considered by analysts to have one of the world's most corrupt governments.
It isn't the first time a shipment that could be used as weapons have been found in the country. In October 2010, authorities at Lagos' Apapa Port found a hidden shipment of 107 mm artillery rockets, rifle rounds and other weapons from Iran. The shipment was supposedly bound for Gambia. A Nigerian and an Iranian face criminal charges over the shipment.
The container arrived at Nigeria's Tin Can Port on June 14 on the MV Seng-Shi, with its bill of lading claiming the shipment from Huangpu, China contained industrial sockets and valves, said Wale Adeniyi, a spokesman for the Nigeria Customs Service. However, discrepancies on the shipping paperwork raised suspicions of the customs service, which kept watch over the container to see if someone came to pick it up, Adeniyi said.
Officials opened the container Friday to check its contents, he said, adding that they worried whatever could be inside of the containers could grow unstable during Nigeria's continuing rainy season, he said. Officials remain unsure whether the explosives were of a military or commercial grade.
"We saw them in different dimensions with cables, wires (and) some bolts," Adeniyi said.
The customs service handed the explosives over to Nigeria's federal police force. Authorities have launched an investigation into the shipment, Adeniyi said, though no arrests have been made.
Nigeria's chaotic ports in its megacity of Lagos see tons of cargo move through them daily, providing cars, imported food, refined gasoline and other products needed for the nation of 150 million people. Drugs and other illegal goods also flow through the ports, often aided by officials receiving bribes in a country considered by analysts to have one of the world's most corrupt governments.
It isn't the first time a shipment that could be used as weapons have been found in the country. In October 2010, authorities at Lagos' Apapa Port found a hidden shipment of 107 mm artillery rockets, rifle rounds and other weapons from Iran. The shipment was supposedly bound for Gambia. A Nigerian and an Iranian face criminal charges over the shipment.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Police swoop on illegal miners, destroy $390,000 excavators
Police in the Eastern region are being accused of wrongful seizure and burning of excavators used by small scale miners at Akwabooso.
The task force allegedly set the equipment ablaze during an operation to clamp down on the activities of illegal miners there.
The three excavators said to cost $390,000 belong to the former MP for Akwatia, Kinston Kissi.
Mr. Kissi who is protesting the destruction of his excavators by the anti-galamsey task force, told Joy News the security operation was illegal because the miners had permit to operate.
He said the district police commander for the area has denied knowledge of the incident, alleging that the taskforce came to the area from Accra with petrol purposely to destroy his business.
He called on the police to start investigations into the incident.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP Kwabena Gyamerah-Yeboah, told Joy News investigations have begun into the incident.
At the moment, he could not tell whether the excavators were burned by the taskforce or disingenuously by the miners themselves.
In a related development, a police cum military team has arrested 67 galamsey operators in the Diziri Forest Reserve in the Ahafo Ano-North District.
Twenty parcels of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and cocaine as well as other mining equipment were retrieved in the operation.
Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbilla told a news conference in Kumasi the exercise marked the beginning of a special operation to clamp down on illegal miners in the region.
He said the activities of the illegal miners have increased pollution in the area, and have also become deathtraps in a number of places they operate.
The task force allegedly set the equipment ablaze during an operation to clamp down on the activities of illegal miners there.
The three excavators said to cost $390,000 belong to the former MP for Akwatia, Kinston Kissi.
Mr. Kissi who is protesting the destruction of his excavators by the anti-galamsey task force, told Joy News the security operation was illegal because the miners had permit to operate.
He said the district police commander for the area has denied knowledge of the incident, alleging that the taskforce came to the area from Accra with petrol purposely to destroy his business.
He called on the police to start investigations into the incident.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP Kwabena Gyamerah-Yeboah, told Joy News investigations have begun into the incident.
At the moment, he could not tell whether the excavators were burned by the taskforce or disingenuously by the miners themselves.
In a related development, a police cum military team has arrested 67 galamsey operators in the Diziri Forest Reserve in the Ahafo Ano-North District.
Twenty parcels of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and cocaine as well as other mining equipment were retrieved in the operation.
Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbilla told a news conference in Kumasi the exercise marked the beginning of a special operation to clamp down on illegal miners in the region.
He said the activities of the illegal miners have increased pollution in the area, and have also become deathtraps in a number of places they operate.
Ghana needs a selfless leader– Prof Akosah
Professor Agyeman Badu Akosah, a leading member of the Convection People’s Party (CPP), on Wednesday stated that Ghana needs a selfless leader whose commitment to the total development of the country is unquestionable.
“Ghana needs a nation builder, someone who is prepared to work with the masses for the collective good of all people”.
Prof. Akosah was speaking at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures as part of activities marking the 3rd Founder’s Celebration in Accra.
The lecture which was on the theme: “The relevance of Nkrumaism today”, was organized by the Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG).
The lecture also attended by Convention People Party (CPP) bigwigs as well as National Democratic Congress (NDC) ministers including Ms Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, Chairperson of the CPP, Mrs Susan Adu Amankwah, second Vice Chairperson of the CPP and Prof Edmond Dele.
The rest are Madam Sherry Ayitey, Minister of Science and Environment, Mr Alban K. Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing and Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Deputy Minister of Science and Environment.
Prof Akosah said during the reign of Dr Nkrumah, he ensured that education and healthcare was free and one could truly judge his government by assessing the welfare of the people in his day.
He said though the country is endowed with resources including large tracts of arable land which have been taken over by weeds while many youths roam the streets unemployed.
He said Dr Nkrumah was able to generate employment for the youth by introducing the Workers Brigade which ensured that the youth were not employed but acquired employable skills.
He said he cannot accept the claim by people that it is not government’s responsibility to provide employment for the people and that government only has to create the congenial environment for the private sector to take off.
According to him, it is written in the constitution that government will among other seek the welfare and wellbeing of the people.
Prof Akosah insisted that Nkrumaism is still relevant today because the mass of the people continue to wallow in squalor and poverty even in the face of the numerous resources that the country is blessed with.
He said the country needs to set up a minimum standard or level that the poor and the vulnerable in the society must not be allowed to fall below.
Dr Gamel Nasser Adam, Head of Department, Department of Modern Languages, University of Ghana, said Dr Nkrumah’s legacy would endure for a long time because of his ideals and what he stood for.
He said Dr Nkrumah’s seven year development plan was to fundamentally transform the Ghanaian economy especially, the agricultural sector.
He said Dr Nkrumah development strategy is what was pursued by the former Soviet Union and later China which has the potential of changing the face of any economy especially infrastructural development within a short time.
According to Dr Adam, Nkrumah’s persistence to awaken the consciousness of Africans to fight the colonial exploitation was significant and helped in doing away with neo-colonialism and imperialism.
He said the people that Africa lost to the slave trade were the most productive segment of the society and was largely responsible to the underdevelopment of the continent.
Dr Adam said though Ghana has won her independence, she is still in throes imperialism manipulation which has taken various forms.
Ms Emilia Arthur, Deputy Minister of Western Region said Dr Nkrumah was a visionary leader who wanted social development for all the segments of the society.
She said Nkrumah was a man of conscience who came from a humble background to achieve greatness for Ghana and the rest of the world.
Ms Arthur said Ghana needs a consistent strategy and policy that would protect the nation from colonial exploitation.
“Ghana needs a nation builder, someone who is prepared to work with the masses for the collective good of all people”.
Prof. Akosah was speaking at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures as part of activities marking the 3rd Founder’s Celebration in Accra.
The lecture which was on the theme: “The relevance of Nkrumaism today”, was organized by the Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG).
The lecture also attended by Convention People Party (CPP) bigwigs as well as National Democratic Congress (NDC) ministers including Ms Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, Chairperson of the CPP, Mrs Susan Adu Amankwah, second Vice Chairperson of the CPP and Prof Edmond Dele.
The rest are Madam Sherry Ayitey, Minister of Science and Environment, Mr Alban K. Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing and Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Deputy Minister of Science and Environment.
Prof Akosah said during the reign of Dr Nkrumah, he ensured that education and healthcare was free and one could truly judge his government by assessing the welfare of the people in his day.
He said though the country is endowed with resources including large tracts of arable land which have been taken over by weeds while many youths roam the streets unemployed.
He said Dr Nkrumah was able to generate employment for the youth by introducing the Workers Brigade which ensured that the youth were not employed but acquired employable skills.
He said he cannot accept the claim by people that it is not government’s responsibility to provide employment for the people and that government only has to create the congenial environment for the private sector to take off.
According to him, it is written in the constitution that government will among other seek the welfare and wellbeing of the people.
Prof Akosah insisted that Nkrumaism is still relevant today because the mass of the people continue to wallow in squalor and poverty even in the face of the numerous resources that the country is blessed with.
He said the country needs to set up a minimum standard or level that the poor and the vulnerable in the society must not be allowed to fall below.
Dr Gamel Nasser Adam, Head of Department, Department of Modern Languages, University of Ghana, said Dr Nkrumah’s legacy would endure for a long time because of his ideals and what he stood for.
He said Dr Nkrumah’s seven year development plan was to fundamentally transform the Ghanaian economy especially, the agricultural sector.
He said Dr Nkrumah development strategy is what was pursued by the former Soviet Union and later China which has the potential of changing the face of any economy especially infrastructural development within a short time.
According to Dr Adam, Nkrumah’s persistence to awaken the consciousness of Africans to fight the colonial exploitation was significant and helped in doing away with neo-colonialism and imperialism.
He said the people that Africa lost to the slave trade were the most productive segment of the society and was largely responsible to the underdevelopment of the continent.
Dr Adam said though Ghana has won her independence, she is still in throes imperialism manipulation which has taken various forms.
Ms Emilia Arthur, Deputy Minister of Western Region said Dr Nkrumah was a visionary leader who wanted social development for all the segments of the society.
She said Nkrumah was a man of conscience who came from a humble background to achieve greatness for Ghana and the rest of the world.
Ms Arthur said Ghana needs a consistent strategy and policy that would protect the nation from colonial exploitation.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
'Miracle' plant boosting health in Sierra Leone
A tropical plant said to be nutritional dynamite is being plugged by Sierra Leone's government as a natural cure-all in the country, which has some of the worst health indicators in the world.
The Moringa plant, native to northern India, has been called the "tree of life" and its use is spreading in Africa, advocates say, where it can prevent diseases and malnutrition and even boost development by creating job opportunities.
In Sierra Leone, President Ernest Koroma himself regularly takes Moringa oil, one form of the plant, boasts Jonas Coleman of the country's Moringa Association.
In a recent interview with AFP, Agriculture Minister Sam Sesay described Moringa as "the most nutritious plant on earth, and each and every part of it has nutritional and medicinal values that have the propensity to cure over 300 diseases, including hypertension and diabetes."
"Very soon, the cultivation of the Moringa tropical plant in Sierra Leone may likely put some medical practitioners out of business," he quipped.
Doctors may not agree with that, but they do agree on the value of Moringa.
"It sure is a good herbal plant complementing our medical practice. Anything that provides good health is worth our nod," said private practitioner Harry Sankoh in the northern city of Makeni.
In Sierra Leone, where some 70 percent live on less than a dollar a day, only one in four children live to see their fifth birthday, according to UN figures.
The country, which was ravaged by a decade-long war which ended in 2002, has one doctor for every 17,000 people and one nurse for every 8,000, according to health ministry statistics.
It is unclear how the plant first came to Sierra Leone.
mains the hub of Moringa production where a factory has been established and is marketing the commodity to other parts of the country.
District Forest Officer Fomba James, who has over 15 years of herbal experience, describes Moringa as "a powerhouse of nutritional values."
"It contains seven times the vitamin C found in oranges, four times the calcium in milk, four times the vitamin A in carrots and three times the potassium in banana," he told AFP.
According to UMCOR's website, the plant contains some 46 antioxidants and is loaded with phytonutrients, which flush toxins from the body, purify the liver and bolster the immune system.
Alimamy Lahai is a Moringa door-to-door salesman, who sells Moringa products in Freetown.
"It is a profitable business as sales are now high given the recent publicity of the product. I sell the powder which is packaged in sachets for about two dollars and the teabags for about four dollars."
In the northern town of Port Loko, tribal headman Jimmy Lagbo told AFP by telephone: "We see it as a cure-all and many folks in my community are no longer visiting the local clinics as they are now using either moringa teabags or sprinkling the powder on their daily meals."
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