Russian superjet goes missing during test flight with 44 on board, reports say

A Russian passenger jet with at least 44 people on board—including embassy officials—went missing on Wednesday during a demonstration flight in Indonesia, according to reports from the region. The civilian Sukhoi Superjet 100 "disappeared from radar screens during a flight from Jakarta meant to last 30 minutes," BBC News said. According to CNN, the aircraft went missing at about 2 p.m. local time. Pilots requested permission to descend from 10,000 feet to 6,000 feet, but air traffic controllers lost radio contact. "The plane began making its descent but vanished from radar screens at 6,200 feet in a mountainous area," CNN reported. The plane was carrying Indonesia businessmen and Russian embassy officials, Reuters reported. (There were conflicting reports of the exact number of people on board. Reuters said 46, the BBC and CNN said 44.) The demonstration flight—the second of the day—was part of a tour of six Asian countries. The Superjet 100 was the first commercial airliner produced by Sukhoi, a military plane manufacturer. The mid-size jet can carry up to 103 people. Sukhoi plans to produce 1,000 superjets.

Judge: South Africa Must Probe Rights In Zimbabwe

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) - A South African judge on Tuesday ordered prosecutors to investigate whether Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's government committed human rights abuses against his rivals ahead of 2008 elections, a ruling that has grave political and practical implications. An investigation would likely be lengthy and costly. It could also complicate South Africa's role as the main mediator in Zimbabwe's political crisis. The ruling handed down in a Pretoria court Tuesday by Judge Hans Fabricius was the first under 2002 South African statutes spelling out its international law obligations. Human rights lawyer Nicole Fritz, whose South African Litigation Centre joined the Zimbabwean Exiles forum to bring the suit, said human rights groups have documented cases of torture and other crimes in Zimbabwe. Under Tuesday's order, she said, investigators from a country with a strong legal framework now will be able to hold Zimbabwean officials responsible for crimes allegedly committed during that country's political meltdown. 'These crimes of the worst type are the responsibility of all the international community,' Fritz said. She said South Africa had a particular interest in neighboring Zimbabwe because refugees from the political violence and economic chaos there have come to South Africa in the thousands. Fritz said Zimbabwean officials implicated in abuses also come to South Africa on official and personal business. Prosecution spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said Tuesday prosecutors will study the ruling and then decide what legal steps to take next. South African prosecutors and police had said such investigations are beyond their mandate. Since violent and disputed elections in 2008, Zimbabwe has been governed by a shaky coalition of Mugabe's ZANU-PF and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change. Mugabe, in power since independence in 1980, and his ZANU-PF party are accused of using violence and intimidation to hold onto power. South Africa has led regional efforts to get Zimbabwe's political rivals to draft a new constitution and take other steps to ensure the next elections are peaceful. The 88-year-old Mugabe is pushing for elections this year, though few observers think a vote this year could be free or fair. Mugabe has been nominated as his party's sole presidential candidate. The rights activists had in 2008 asked South African police and prosecutors to investigate events in 2007, when police stormed MDC offices in Zimbabwe's capital and arrested Tsvangirai, who had been preparing to address a news conference about political violence. The activists had presented South African authorities with statements in which those taken away that day described being tortured by Zimbabwean police because they were members of the MDC and opponents of ZANU-PF. The activists described the assaults as part of a widespread campaign of violence against the MDC. South African police and prosecutors refused to investigate, citing the difficulty of the task and possible political repercussions and saying the law was unclear on their responsibilities. In his ruling, Fabricius said that refusal was 'unlawful, inconsistent with the constitution, and therefore invalid.' The judge added that an investigation is in the interests of 'the victims of the torture who had been denied the opportunity to see justice done, and the general South African public who deserve to be served by a public administration that abides by its national and international obligations.'

Guinea opposition plans countrywide protests over poll delay

Guinean opposition leaders on Monday announced a national protest campaign beginning May 10, to demand talks with President Alpha Conde's government on the holding of delayed legislative elections. 'We have decided to express our frustration through marches and other demonstrations,' said Cellou Dalein Diallo, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea. He was speaking at a press conference by several opposition chiefs who announced that from Thursday the demonstrations would take place across the country until their demands are met. "According to the law we will inform the competent authorities in a timely fashion,' said Diallo. Another opposition figure, Sidya Toure, said: 'These protests and others, are to obtain frank discussions from Alpha Conde's regime that will allow us to prepare and organise legislative elections with the greatest transparency.' The previously delayed elections were again postponed in April, after being set down for July 8, as Conde said there were 'technical problems' that had not been resolved. Legislative elections were to be held under constitutional rules within six months of Conde's inauguration in December 2010. The European Union has warned that, without democratic elections, it will release no aid to the country. The opposition has, amongst others, demanded an audit of the electoral roll before the polls are held. The last legislative elections were held in June 2002 during the regime of president Lansana Conte who died in December 2008 after 24 years in power. A transitional council has served as a parliament since 2010 during the transition from military to civilian.

CIA Reportedly Thwarted New Al-Qaida Underwear Bomb Plot

The CIA thwarted a suicide plot by al-Qaida's affiliate in Yemen to bring down a U.S.-bound airliner near last week's one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death with an upgraded 'underwear bomb,' the Associated Press reported Monday. The White House quickly released a statement insisting 'the device did not pose a threat to the public.' 'We had no specific, credible information about active terrorist plots timed to coincide with the anniversary and reiterate that this device never represented a threat to the public,' a senior Obama aide told Yahoo News Monday on condition of anonymity. The AP, citing unnamed U.S. officials, said the CIA seized the explosive, an improved version of the weapon used in the failed Christmas 2009 plan to bring down a commercial airplane over Detroit. The device did not contain metal, making it likely that it could have eluded detection by traditional airport security. But it was unclear whether controversial new full-body scanners would have located it. The FBI is examining the bomb to see whether it would have been detected and whether it was powerful enough to bring down an airplane, the AP reported. The agency said the CIA seized the bomb before the bomber, whose fate was unclear, had chosen a target or bought a plane ticket. President Barack Obama first learned about the plot in April from his top counter-terrorism adviser at the White House, John Brennan, and was kept up-to-date as efforts to foil it unfolded, according to Deputy NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden. 'While the President was assured that the device did not pose a threat to the public, he directed the Department of Homeland Security and law enforcement and intelligence agencies to take whatever steps necessary to guard against this type of attack,' Hayden said in a statement. 'The disruption of this IED plot underscores the necessity of remaining vigilant against terrorism here and abroad. The President thanks all intelligence and counterterrorism professionals involved for their outstanding work and for serving with the extraordinary skill and commitment that their enormous responsibilities demand,' she said. The AP reported that the CIA acted even as the White House sought to reassure Americans as the one-year anniversary of the bin Laden raid loomed. 'We have no credible information that terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda, are plotting attacks in the U.S. to coincide with the anniversary of bin Laden's death,' Obama spokesman Jay Carney told reporters April 26. The FBI labeled the bomb an 'improvised explosive device' - a term often associated with roadside bombs used to attack American troops in Iraq or Afghanistan -and said it was 'conducting technical and forensics analysis on it.' 'The device is very similar to IEDs that have been used previously by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula in attempted terrorist attacks, including against aircraft and for targeted assassinations,' the FBI said in a statement, referring to the arm of the terrorist network in Yemen. The Department of Homeland Security also weighed in, saying it had 'no specific, credible information regarding an active terrorist plot against the U.S. at this time, although we continue to monitor efforts by al-Qa'ida and its affiliates to carry out terrorist attacks, both in the Homeland and abroad.'

South Korea Seizes Capsules Containing Powdered Flesh Of Dead Babies

The South Korean government revealed Monday that it recently seized thousands of capsules filled with the powdered flesh of dead babies. Reportedly, some people believe the powder has medicinal purposes and was created in northeastern China. South Korea has reportedly been reluctant to criticize China directly over the incident, out of fears of creating diplomatic friction with the country. But the process by which the powder is allegedly created is one of the most disturbing stories imaginable. According to the Korea Customs Service, the bodies of dead babies are chopped into small pieces and dried on stoves before being turned into powder. The customs officials have refused to say exactly where the babies come from or who is responsible for making the capsules. China has already been in the spotlight over activist Chen Guangcheng, whose work involves protesting the government's sterilization and forced abortion policies. It was recently reported that China is working to 'soften' its one-child policy slogans, though not the actual policy itself. Last year, Chinese officials ordered an investigation into the manufacturing of drugs made from dead fetuses or newborn babies. Nonetheless, South Korean officials said in a statement they have discovered 35 smuggling attempts since last August, during which 17,450 capsules labeled as 'stamina boosters' were discovered. Rather than containing any inherent medicinal properties, the capsules are said to contain dangerous bacteria and other harmful, unspecified ingredients. Amazingly, none of the smugglers have been arrested in the various confiscations because the South Korean customs officials said the amounts of human flesh contained in the capsules were too small and were not intended for direct sale The smugglers claimed to have no knowledge of the human flesh content, saying they believed the capsules were ordinary stamina-boosting pills.

Kumasi: Police impound weapons on bus

Police in Kumasi have intercepted some weapons being smuggled aboard a Metro Mass bus en route to Tamale. According to Joy FM's Ashanti regional correspondent, Elton John Brobby, the impounded bus with registration number AS 6810 Z was traveling to Tamale from Osino in the Eastern region. According to Elton John, the driver of the vehicle said the bus stopped at the Ashanti regional office of the Metro Mass at Abrebo to refuel. He narrated that whiles refueling, some bus attendants at the local station decided to offload goods from the cargo compartment on the bus and they were prevented from doing so by some passengers aboard. This led to heated exchanges between the two parties. The bus attendants, suspecting foul play, forced and opened the said cargo and discovered some locally manufactured long range guns, and some machetes at the cargo section of the bus, Elton reported. The police were then called to the scene where they arrested about ten occupants of the bus who claimed ownership of the items and intercepted the bus as well. The suspects are being kept at the Ashanti Regional Headquarters. The suspects claimed that the guns numbering fifty could only be fired using gun powder and added they were used at a funeral they were returning from. The police however dismissed their claims and insisted they will have to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

Over 12million Registered for Biometric Voting

The 40 day nationwide Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise, on Saturday, May 5th, officially came to an end. Reports indicate that there was low turnout in the fourth and perhaps the last phase of the exercise at various polling stations in the country. Officials at the Electoral Commission (EC) say patronage was massive in general and the projected target of 12 million registered persons exceeded. The BVR exercise, recorded isolated cases of violence and controversy, especially in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions. Also, within the first three phases, the EC detected over 8,000 double registrations with the Ashanti region as the highest spot for multiple registration followed by the Brong Ahafo region. “As at Monday, 30th April, we had detected a total of 8,121 double registrations and these were done by 2,864 individuals which means that some of these individuals may have registered three times, four times and probably more...The figures cut across some of the regions, in Western region we had 225 individuals who have done multiple registrations, in the Central region we had 318 individuals who have done double registration, in Greater Accra 335, in the Volta region 326, in the Eastern region we had 254 people. “In the Ashanti region we had 424 people who had done multiple registrations, in the Brong Ahafo 411 had done multiple registrations, in the Northern region 289, Upper East had 162 and the Upper West region had 120, that brings it to a total of 2,864 individuals who have done double or multiple registrations," the acting Director of Public Affairs at the EC, Christian Owusu Parry, told the media. For now, it is unclear if the EC will extend the registration process since there were reports of shortage of materials and faulty equipment in some areas across the country.

THE STATE OF OUR ECONOMY - Speech Delivered by: Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

THE STATE OF OUR ECONOMY Speech Delivered by:
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
2012 NPP Vice-Presidential Candidate
At the: Ferdinand O. Ayim Memorial Lecture
May 2, 2012 Accra
Mr. Chairman, H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor, Former President of the Republic of Ghana H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Former Vice President of the Republic of Ghana Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Honourable Members of Parliament Chiefs and Traditional Leaders Members of the Diplomatic Corps Representatives of other Political Parties Members of the Media Distinguished Invited Guests Fellow Ghanaians Ladies and Gentlemen Good evening!
I would like to thank all of you for making the time from your busy schedules to be present at this year’s Ferdinand Ayim Memorial Lecture. This is my first major public statement since being selected by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (with the support of the National Council of the NPP) as his running mate for the December 2012 Presidential elections. I want to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and appreciation to Nana Akufo-Addo for the honour of reaching out again to select me to serve as his running mate, and Insha-Allah, as the Vice-President of the Republic, under an Akufo-Addo presidency. Mr. Chairman, I believe that in selecting me as his running mate, Nana Akufo Addo is sending a message to the nation about his vision for the economic transformation of this country.
I was privileged to have served this country in my capacity as a technocrat and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana between 2000 and 2008. During this period, I was privileged to be part of a dynamic team of patriotic Ghanaians that implemented policies and economic reforms that succeeded in moving Ghana from a HIPC country to a lower middle income country in 8 years! You would recall that under the Vision 2020 agenda, Ghana was supposed to achieve middle income status by the year 2020. Initially the NPP directed its efforts at Ghana achieving middle income status by 2015. The fact that Ghana was able to do this after 8 years of NPP governance and economic management was truly remarkable and a credit to the leadership of H.E. John Agyekum Kufour, policies, commitment and focus of the team, and the hard work of all Ghanaians. I would like to use this occasion to assure Ghanaians that economic transformation through dynamic and innovative economic management has been done before and I believe it can be done again under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. And I am fully committed to Akufo-Addo’s agenda and vision for the economic transformation of Ghana. The selection of me, a Muslim from the north, to partner he a Christian from the South also a message to the nation on the need for unity and to build bridges to each other and to the future. We are one people. We should not allow anybody or group of people to tear us apart. We should all recognize that notwithstanding our differences, Ghana remains a shining example in this world of a country where people live in harmony notwithstanding our ethnic, cultural or religious differences. I believe that an opportunity to serve Ghana should not be turned into an opportunity to serve oneself or one’s family, friends or your tribe. It is an opportunity and a privilege to serve all of Ghana, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, education, income, etc. It is an opportunity to make Ghana better for all! Not a Better Ghana for a privileged few. This is what Nana Akufo-Addo means by building a society of opportunities and aspirations in Ghana and I am privileged well-connected to partner him to serve Ghana if our party is given the mandate, Insha Allah.
When I was asked by the Trustees of the Ferdinand O. Ayim Foundation to deliver this Lecture on any subject of my choice, I found it appropriate to focus on a topic that is on the mind of many Ghanaians: “What is the real state of our economy?” In subsequent speeches during this campaign, I will have the opportunity to focus on Nana Akufo-Addo’s vision and the specific
programmes and policies of the NPP to deliver this vision, Mr. Chairman, to be able to do anything substantial about the economy, you need to know what the real state of the economy is, and to understand the state of Ghana’s economy today, we first have to understand where we are coming from, where we are and where we ought to be going.
Where are we coming from? Mr. Chairman, for the most part since independence, Ghana’s economy has been characterized by long periods of high and volatile inflation and macroeconomic instability which has reflected in high and variable interest rates and significant exchange rate volatility and depreciation. The excessive fiscal expansion in the run-up to the 2000 Presidential and Parliamentary elections tipped our economy into a cycle of inflation and currency depreciation, and this coincided with a sharp deterioration in the commodity terms of trade (i.e. the price of our exports versus the price of our imports). In the short span of one year ending December 2000, the cedi, lost 50 percent of its value vis-à-vis the US dollar. The country’s gross international reserves were so depleted that it could not cover a month’s imports, and external payments arrears were building up. Headline inflation was running at 41 percent; the fiscal deficit had increased from some 6.0 percent of GDP in 1999 to 9.0 percent of GDP. Economic growth also declined significantly to 3.7% by 2000. The debt burden of the economy increased dramatically during the structural adjustment period, with external debt as a proportion of our income (GDP) rising from 27 percent in 1984 to 103 percent by 1994 and rose further to 158 percent by 2000. The country was having difficulty servicing its debts. Ghana had become a highly indebted poor country (HIPC).
It was against this background that the New Patriotic Party (NPP), under the able leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor opted to take advantage of the debt relief available under the IMF/World Bank’s Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative in March 2001. The HIPC initiative provided Ghana with debt relief of close to $4 billion. At the time Ghana’s external debt was $6.1 billion. The period between 2001 and 2008 saw the implementation of a remarkable number of structural reforms, policies and reforms that laid the foundation for a major expansion in economic activity, access to credit, and macroeconomic stability.
Many concrete policies were implemented to make sure that the private sector was enabled to drive growth and social safety nets were put in place to protect the poor and vulnerable in society. In the financial sector, the NPP also implemented a strategy aimed at repositioning Ghana as an International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) within the sub-region. The accomplishments were significant and included the following programs, policies, and interventions: 1 ? National Youth Employment Program 15 ? Millenium Challenge Account 2 ? National Health Insurance Scheme 16 ? Single Spine Salary System 3 ? School Feeding Programme 17 ? Automating Fast Track Courts 4 ? Capitation Grant 18 ? Creating Commercial Courts 5 ? Free Maternal Care 19 ? Expansion of Energy Capacity -e.g Bui Dam 6 ? Metro Mass Transport 20 ? Reforcusing of GNPC's Mandate - Oil Discovery 7 ? Free Metro Mass Ride for children 21 ? Stadia - Tamale, Sekondi, Kumasi Accra, Cape Coast 8 ? Cocoa sector policies 22 ? Water Supply and Roads Infrastructure 9 ? Repeal of the Criminal Libel Law 23 ? Debt Relief from the HIPC Initiative 10 ? Public Procurement Act 24 ? Bank of Ghana Act 2002 11 ? Whistle Blower Act 25 ? Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) process - 12 ? Internal Audit Act 26 ? Universal Banking 13 ? National Identification Authority 27 ? MASLOC 14 ? Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) 28 ? Schools, Universities; Hospitals and Clinics Policy Reforms & Interventions (2001- 2008) 6 29 ? Abolishing Secondary Reserve Requirements 30 ? Banking Act 2004 43 ? Non-Bank Financial Institutions Act 2008 31 ? Banking Amendment Act 2007 – Offshore Banking 44 ? Central Securities Depository Act 2007 32 ? Long Term Savings Act 2004 45 ? Insurance Act 2006 (Act 724) 33 ? Venture Capital Trust Fund Act 2004 46 ? National Pensions Act 2008 34 ? Payment System Act, 2003 47 ? Treasury Single Account 35 ? Foreign Exchange Act 2006 48 o ARB Apex Regulations 2006 (L.I. 1825) 36 ? Anti-Money Laundering Act 2008 49 o Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) 37 ? Credit Reporting Act 2008 50 o Central Securities Depository (CSD) 38 ? Licensing of first Credit Reference Bureau 51 o Automated Clearing House (ACH) 39 ? Establishment of a Collateral Registry 52 o Cheque Codeline Clearing (CCC) 40 ? Borrowers and Lenders Act 2008 53 o National payment system - (ezwich) 41 ? Insolvency Act, 2003 54 ? Redenomination of the Currency 42 ? Home Finance Act 2008 55 ? Increase in minimum capital requirements Policy Reforms & Interventions (2001- 2008) continued This is a phenomenal record of reform. The wide ranging reforms that were implemented in the 2001-2008 period resulted in a major economic recovery with macroeconomic stability and significant deepening of the financial sector. I would like to note that: ? Between 2000 and 2008, without oil, economic growth increased from 3.7% to 8.4%. In the process, the size of Ghana’s economy increased from some $5.1 billion to $28.5 billion, a six-fold increase (see graph below), Now that is what can be described as unprecedented! Even in the face of a global economic and financial crisis in 2007/8 (with oil prices reaching a record high of $147/barrel) economic growth in 2008 rose to 8.4%. 7 ? In that crisis year (2008) the agriculture, industry and service sectors registered 7.4%, 15.1% and 8.0% respectively (without oil). ? Average Income per person (GDP per capita) was increased from $370 in 2000 to over $1000 by 2008 ? The government budget deficit as a percentage of our total income (GDP), was reduced from 9% in 2000 to 1.9% in 2005, but subsequently increased to 4.8% in 2006, 4.9% in 2007 and 6.5% in 2008 in the face of the synchronized global financial crisis and commodity price shocks. Note, Ghana’s fiscal deficit as a percentage of our total income (GDP) in 2008 was 6.5% - not 14.5%. In that same year, the fiscal deficit in Botswana was 15%, 8.5% in Japan, and 7.1% in the United Kingdom. 8 ? Single digit inflation was obtained in April and May of 2006 but as a result of the global financial and economic crisis and increased government expenditure on wages and infrastructure especially, inflation increased to 18.1 % by the end of 2008, compared to 40.5% in 2000. ? Total Debt was reduced from an unsustainable 189% of of our total income (GDP) in 2000 to 29% by 2008. ? Bank deposits/GDP reached a record level 36.0 percent by 2008 compared with 16% in 2000. Private Sector Credit/GDP increased significantly from 14.0 per cent in 2000 to 30.0 percent by 2008. I probably do not need to remind anybody that Banks were chasing customers to offer loans during this period. ? Average Bank lending rates were reduced from some 44% to 27.3% by 2008. ? The Exchange rate was largely stabilized in the 2001-2008 period, even though it came under pressure during the crisis year of 2008. Nonetheless, for the 8 year period between 2001 and 2008, the total exchange rate depreciation of the cedi was 43%, moving from GHC 0.688 at the end of 2000 to GGHC1.10 at the end of 2008. ? Poverty declined from some 40% of the population to 28% by 2008 along with significant increases in access to healthcare and education enrollment. Mr. Chairman, what is undeniable is that Ghana was transformed during the period of the NPP’s tenure (2001-2008) from a low income HIPC economy to a lower middle income economy on the frontiers of emerging market status. In this regard I am very amused when I hear our political opponents on the NDC side try to argue that they would like to compare the first three years of the this government with the first three years of the NPP. How can one even suggest such a comparison? By analogy if you hand over to me an inefficient Tico car and a few years later I work hard to buy an efficient Mass Transit vehicle, which I then hand over to you, how can you turn around to say that you want to compare the performance of the efficient Mass Transit vehicle with that of the Tico you originally handed over to me? The NDC inherited a very different economy from the NPP. The raft of reforms, including the single spine salary system 9 which we will implement fully as designed, an inflation targeting monetary policy framework, etc moved the economy from low income to lower middle income status. In comparison, what are the new policy initiatives implemented by this government since 2009? Unfortunately, as I am about to point out, the efficient Mass Transit Vehicle the NPP handed over is breaking down slowly and the earlier we take it back the better. So where are we today? Mr. Chairman, the worst form of financial crisis to have hit the global economy since the great depression of the 1930s is largely over and the global economy is on a path to recovery. This is particularly strong in the emerging market economies and the developing world. Crude oil prices have fallen significantly below the July 2008 highs of $147/barrel while the prices of other primary commodities like gold and cocoa have increased. Ghana has been particularly lucky in this regard. Ghana has benefited from the following developments on the resource and external front since 2009: ? The discovery of oil (in commercial quantities) by the Kufuor Administration in 2007 has boosted Ghana’s economic growth significantly, as reflected in our recent real GDP growth data, indicating that real GDP growth has increased from 8.4% in 2008 (without oil) to 14.4% in 2011 following the onset of oil production. 10 ? Oil prices (for which Ghana is now an exporter) increased by 13% between 2009 and 2011. ? Gold prices are around the highest in our history. On average gold prices increased from US$652/fine ounce (between 2005 and 2008) to US$1240/fine ounce between 2009 and 2011. An increase of 90%! ? Cocoa prices are also at an all-time high. Increasing from GBP1032/tonne between 2005 and 2008 to GBP1987/tonne between 2009 and 2011. An increase of some 93%. ? Ghana’s core terms of trade (i.e. the price of our main exports versus the price of our main imports) has therefore seen an improvement of some 73.0 percent between 2009 and 2011. Ladies and Gentlemen, this Government inherited oil, and at the same time cocoa and gold prices have virtually doubled in the last three years. It has also borrowed so much money on our behalf and in the process has more than doubled Ghana’s total public debt (I would say more on this shortly). With this set of economic opportunities, Ghanaians should as a matter of right expect a much better Ghana. But what are we experiencing today? Mr. Chairman, the supposedly rosy picture painted by an oil driven GDP growth rate in 2011 masks some worrying underlying developments in the real sector of the economy. 11 With all the favorable resource and external sector developments, GDP growth for 2011 (excluding oil) is actually 8.7 percent. This is not much different from the 8.4% growth achieved in 2008 in the face of a severe global financial crisis and without oil. The performance of the agriculture sector since 2009 is very worrying because of its importance in our economy and in particular the number of livelihoods that depend on this sector. The data shows that rather than expanding, the agriculture sector of the economy has seen steadily declining growth from 7.4% in 2008 to 0.8% by 2011. 12 Excluding cocoa, crop production has registered less than 2.0 growth in the last two years, while the fisheries sector has also seen a significant decline in growth from 17.4% in 2008 to -8.7% in 2011. The growth in the fisheries sector is now negative! Industry growth (excluding oil) has not fared much better, with a decline from 15.1% in 2008 to 4.5% in 2009, 6.9% in 2010 and 14.1% in 2011. Electricity and construction sector growth have slowed down. The growth in electricity production has slowed down from 19.4% in 2008 to - 0.8% in 2011. 13 Growth in the construction sector has also slowed down from 39.0 percent in 2008 to 2.5% by 2010, and increased to 20% by 2011. Services sector growth has also remained relatively static, marginally improving from 8.0% in 2008 to 8.3% by 2011. Persistent electricity blackouts, water and gas shortages have also increased the cost of doing business. There has also not been a policy framework targeted at supporting the private sector to become competitive globally. What is clear from the performance of the real sector since 2008 is that growth rates in agriculture (where most people depend on for their livelihood) and industry have declined. The question that we should ask as Ghanaians is why aren’t these sectors growing at much faster rates than they were when we had no oil and following the significant increase in cocoa and gold prices? How are we going to create jobs when critical sectors of the economy like agriculture are not growing? At yesterday’s May Day celebrations, the Secretary General of the TUC bemoaned the fact that Ghana appeared to have a booming economy that is not creating jobs to address the major challenge of unemployment in general and youth unemployment in particular. Well, it is clear from the evidence so far that in fact, the economy is not booming outside of the oil sector but rather what we are seeing is declining growth in the agriculture and industry. The jobless growth we are seeing in Ghana under this government is therefore not a mystery. You cannot create jobs when critical sectors are significantly declining. 14 Single Digit Inflation Mr. Chairman, I would now like to turn my attention to the issue of inflation in Ghana. All countries would prefer to have a low and stable inflation in the context of economic growth and job creation. This is because inflation represents a fall in the value of money. It is a tax on the poor and makes it difficult for businesses and investors to plan. Inflation results in an increase in interest rates as lenders seek to protect the value of their money and also results in exchange rate depreciation. Under these circumstances inflation tends to hamper sustained growth and job creation. It is for this reason that governments and economic managers set their eyes to reduce inflation to low single digits because it would inter alia: ? reduce the cost of living ? reduce interest rates ? stabilize the exchange rate Low and stable inflation is only meaningful if it can translate into these tangible benefits for our people. The prevalence of these conditions would in turn, reduce the cost of doing business, reduce uncertainty, increase private sector investment, and enhance economic growth and job creation. Mr. Chairman, on the issue of inflation in Ghana, official statistics indicate that inflation has been reduced from 18.1% in 2008 to 8.8% in March 2012. By the way, this is not the first time in our history that we have had inflation in single digits. In 1958 for example inflation was zero, and we also had single digit inflation between 1959 and 1963 (a four year period!) under Kwame Nkrumah. Single-digit inflation was also attained between 1970 and 1971 under K.A. Busia, as well as in 1992 under J.J. Rawlings and 2006 under J.A. Kufuor. There is therefore nothing unprecedented about achieving single digit inflation in Ghana. 15 The key question that is on the minds of many Ghanaians is: “Do we really have single-digit inflation in Ghana today?” While I do not want to argue with or question the integrity of our hard working officials at the Ghana Statistical Service who do a good job under very difficult circumstances, and should indeed be resourced (and given more independence) to do the work they do, I will like to state that the available evidence indicates that statistically reported single digit inflation is not consistent with the economic fundamentals and developments in some key economic indicators relating to the cost of living, interest rates and exchange rates. It could be a measurement issue, but the established relationships between inflation and key economic variables appear to have gone missing for now. Inflation and the Cost of Living Mr. Chairman, we do not seek to achieve single digit inflation just for the sake of beautiful statistics. The statistic must have meaning in people’s lives. Unfortunately, most people in Ghana cannot relate to the talk about single digit inflation when they get to the market. I was in Malata market last week and it is clear that prices are increasing at a faster rate than what the official statistics may be capturing. A few examples will suffice: In the last three years the following price increases have taken place: 16 Commodity End 2008 Price (GHC) April 2012 Price (GHC) % Change Pure Water 0.03 0.10 233 Cement 8.5 17 100 Gari Olonka 1 2.8 180 Ideal Milk 0.6 1.5 150 Maize (I bag) 20 150 650 Rice (I bag) 33 95 187 It is clear that the cost of living as measured by the prices of these items and others such as petroleum products, school fees, road tolls, and electricity bills, has increased by triple digits! I should add that these price changes do not necessarily mean that single digit inflation is not possible. It would depend on what is being measured and over what period. What we see of price increases for basic commodities in our markets over the last year is that they are increasingly volatile and definitely at rates beyond single digits. In Bolgatanga market for example, the price of a bag of maize between 2011 and 2012 has increased by over 60%. Mr. Chairman, How many Ghanaians have seen a single digit increase in the prices of what they normally buy in the markets and shops over the past year? I can testify that if you try to give your spouse a single digit increase in chop money, she would not be amused. What is interesting is the claim that Ghana’s recent single-digit inflation is being driven by food prices. 17 It is rather curious that in the face of declining growth in crop production and increased demand for food (including the demand for buffer stocks), statistically recorded food price inflation continues to decline. Just last week Ghana received food aid from Japan of 17000 tonnes of rice to augment our shortfall in domestic rice production. Is the decline in food price inflation therefore coming from certain imported foods that do not respond to exchange rate depreciation or is it food aid? Something does not add up. Most Ghanaians would attest to the fact that life in Ghana has gotten harder and harder over the last three years. Single digit inflation has not reflected in a reduction in the cost of living and in this regard has been rendered practically meaningless. Ghanaians are in fact, experiencing triple digit “inflation” in our pain and suffering. Single-Digit Inflation and Interest Rates Ladies and Gentlemen, as I have noted, one area in which the attainment of reduced inflation to single-digit levels should reflect is reduced bank interest rates for loans. Between 2001 and 2008 for example, inflation was cut by more than half from 40.5% to 18.1%. In the process, 18 average bank lending rates were reduced by almost half (from 44% to 27%) by 2008, a reduction of 17 percentage points. Between 2009 and 2011, inflation has also been cut in half from 18.1% to some 8.8% currently. Average bank lending rates have however only declined marginally from 27% in 2008 to 26% currently, a reduction of 1 percentage point. Why the missing link now? Why have interest rates become suddenly so sticky downwards? Could it be that banks, like the suppliers of goods in Malata market have not quite bought into single digit inflation pricing? The financial services market (like our traders in Makola and Malata) appear oblivious to the fact that we have single-digit inflation prevailing in the economy. So where are we collecting our price data for the computation of inflation? Which markets are we visiting? Single-Digit Inflation and the Exchange Rate Mr. Chairman, the exchange rate is a measure of the relative price of goods between two countries. In this regard movements in prices tend to reflect in exchange rate movements, with room for short term deviations. Simply put higher inflation in one country results in the depreciation of its currency. Low and stable inflation tends to result in exchange rate stability. This relationship has held in the case of Ghana for many years. 19 What the chart above shows is the observed relationship between inflation and exchange rates. What we are however seeing is that there is a sudden break in this relationship under this government. The exchange rate is rapidly depreciating while inflation is in single digits and stable. Ladies and Gentlemen, something does not add up. The rapid exchange rate depreciation observed suggests that inflation could be higher than what is being captured by the official data. Mr. Chairman, it is clear that when it comes to established relationships between the cost of living, interest rates and exchange rates, the single digit inflation in Ghana is not consistent with what we expect to see. If single digit inflation is meaningless for cost of living, interest rates, exchange rates, and jobs, what is it for? To put it another way, if single digit inflation does not help with respect to the prices of the things you buy, the cost of borrowing money for your business, the value of the cedi to the dollar, or help the youth to get jobs, then what is the point? I would however leave the judgment on whether we actually have single digit inflation to Ghanaians who shop in our markets every day. Nevertheless I think it is time for Ghana to have a truly independent and well-resourced statistical service. 20 Fiscal Developments and Public Debt Mr. Chairman in the area of fiscal policy and public debt, the assessment of the prudence of fiscal management of our economy needs to be placed in context. First, it should be noted that Ghana’s GDP was retrospectively rebased from 2006. In simple terms, this resulted in a 60% increase in statistically recorded GDP from 2006. It should however be noted that the rebasing of Ghana’s GDP that has taken place is purely statistical. Statistically increasing Ghana’s GDP from 2006 by 60% was not accompanied by an increase in Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves or cash flows by 60%. That money was assumed to have been already reflecting in our cash flows prior to the rebasing. Nonetheless the rebasing makes our debt/GDP as well as our deficit/GDP numbers look better. The rebasing of our GDP, along with the discovery of oil and increases in cocoa and gold prices have together relaxed the borrowing and foreign exchange constraints that have historically faced the Ghanaian economy. In this regard, policy makers if not cognizant or prudent can be tempted to increase government borrowing significantly without an accompanying increase in the liquidity and capacity to service such borrowing. Should this happen, as it appears to have, it will place pressures on the country’s foreign exchange reserves and would likely lead to a depreciation of the currency. With regards to government finances, we recall that at the end of 2008, as a result of the global financial crisis the government budget deficit to GDP ratio stood at 6.5% (after the rebasing of GDP) or 11.2% (before the rebasing of GDP). This outcome was described by the NDC as bad fiscal management. By 2010, with improved external economic conditions, after claiming that the economic fundamentals had been restored, the government budget deficit to GDP ratio stood at 6.5% (after the rebasing of GDP) or 11.7% (before the rebasing of GDP), slightly higher than it was in 2008). So where was the improved fiscal performance? Or as we say in Ghana, did we come or did we go? 21 If the fiscal management of the economy during the period of a global financial crisis to register a deficit/GDP ratio (before rebasing) of 6.5% was described as bad fiscal management, how would you describe a 6.5% deficit/GDP ratio in a period of favorable economic conditions? At the end of 2011, with the help of oil, the ratio has declined to 4% of GDP. What is clear however is that notwithstanding the claims of unprecedented achievements, there has not been a significant fiscal adjustment since 2008. Even with oil, our economy has not performed better than the levels of fiscal adjustment registered in the years 2003-2007. Mr. Chairman, the rate of growth of public debt is a matter of concern. Ghana’s total external debt has increased from $3.9 billion in 2008 to $7.1 billion by 2011, an increase of 82%. This does not include the $3 billion loan being contracted from the China Development Bank and others in the pipeline. Ghana’s total public debt has increased from GHC 9.6bn in 2008 to GHC25.3 billion as at 2011 (an increase of 164% in just three years)! 22 What is mindboggling is that even after adjusting for HIPC debt relief, the stock of public debt that has been accumulated over the last three years alone is higher than the total stock of public debt accumulated by all other governments since independence through to 2008! I repeat that this government has borrowed more in 3 years than the total stock of public debt on our books in 52 years! But for the rebasing of the GDP, Ghana’s debt burden would have currently been above the 60% of GDP level deemed to be unsustainable. The debt stock, with a significant 23 proportion of 3-year bonds patronized by foreign investors, has to be serviced and this places additional pressures on the exchange rate. The question is “What has all this borrowed money been used for?” I suppose that is what can be described as a gargantuan question. Shouldn’t we be seeing tangible evidence of this money all over the country? This is especially so when one considers that the increased economic opportunities in terms of oil, cocoa and gold prices as well as heavy borrowing has not resulted in an improvement in health or education. Mr. Chairman, we are seeing a weakening of the social safety nets that were provided to protect the poor and vulnerable in society. Key amongst these is the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Currently the NHIS is in a state of disrepair and at the verge of collapse. In campaigning for power, the current government promised a one-time premium but this we believe will further compound the current financial weakness of the scheme. The situation on the ground today indicates a virtual return to the “cash and carry” system which was replaced by the NHIS. Many Ghanaians registered under the NHIS are compelled to pay for simple medical procedures. There are countless complaints: of prescriptions not getting filled; diagnostic tests not done; discrimination by service providers who tend to favor cash-paying patients, defeating the very purpose of the NHIS. In the area of education, the current policy enacted by the government emphasizes on hastening the completion process instead of marrying an increase in intake with quality. As a result, numerous challenges that the education reforms of 2007 sought to remedy have resurfaced or have been aggravated. These include: ? 180,000 poorly educated youngsters are thrown onto the streets with no employable skills. In 2011, 372,836 candidates took the BECE and barely 50% went on to SHS. ? 64% of those who do not gain admission into second cycle schools, can neither read nor write. They are functionally illiterate, with substandard numeracy, literacy and life skills ? The dropout rate is rising in some parts of the country (e.g. in the northern regions) and gender parity, mainly in the North ? Our tertiary institutions are plagued with infrastructure constraints, falling standards, and many graduates are faced with unemployment. In fact, in what is truly unprecedented, 24 we have seen the formation in our country of a Graduate Unemployed Association in Ghana for the first time in our history. Corruption Mr. Chairman, what is increasingly clear is that corruption in Ghana is on the increase, as documented by the worsening performance in the Corruption Perception Index published by Transparency International. The overpricing of supplies contracts in areas such as health, education, infrastructure, etc. as well as judgment debts paid for work not done is a major area of concern. Government is not getting value for money and is paying monies for no work done. The increasing resort to single-source procurement compromises the transparency of the procurement process. When monies are paid for no work done, as is the case of some judgment debts, it creates a liquidity overhang (i.e. too much money relative to output), which finds its way into prices and ultimately results in the depreciation of the cedi. It is also costly to the country in terms of the work that could have been done. You would recall for example that some banks in this country are struggling to meet the Bank of Ghana’s capital requirement of GHC 60 million. Some are in merger talks to meet this requirement. Some of the judgment debts paid for no work done could have set up two or more fully capitalized banks to provide support to the small and medium scale enterprises for example. In the case of two such payments of such judgment debts, the total amount could easily have constructed 750 six-unit class room blocks even at the currently inflated prices or 1500 six-unit class room blocks at more realistic prices. These payments were also more than the total amount of money (excluding wages) allocated to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health combined (i.e. GHC 96 million) in the 2012 budget. Exchange Rate Depreciation Mr. Chairman, the Ghana cedi is currently in free fall and depreciating virtually on a daily basis. The Ghana cedi has obtained the dubious distinction of being the weakest performing currency in Africa at this point in time. Interestingly, the NDC Green Book claims exchange rate stability as one of its unprecedented achievements! 25 In an open economy such as ours with market determination of prices, exchange rate movement is probably the most important indicator of underlying macroeconomic fundamentals. As the saying goes, Ladies and Gentlemen: “When in doubt, observe the exchange rate”. The lesson from history for governments is that you cannot manage the economy with propaganda. In fact, you can engage in all the propaganda you want but if the macroeconomic fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you. The current rapid depreciation of the cedi is a sign that the fiscal/monetary policy stance is inappropriate. It is in fact likely that fiscal policy is more expansionary than it appears (factoring in the rebasing) or monetary policy is not as tight. Monetary policy decisions over the last year for example have been based on the assumption of single digit inflation as reported by the Statistical Service. If, as I have argued, this may not actually be the case, then it would mean that monetary policy could have been based on the wrong information, which resulted in a premature reduction of interest rates. This made cedi-denominated assets less attractive and encouraged the holding of foreign currency. Unfortunately, rather than tackling the fundamental causes of exchange rate depreciation, there is an attempt to blame speculators for the rapid exchange rate depreciation we are seeing. With all due respect, this is not a good explanation. Where have the speculators always been? Were the speculators also responsible for the depreciation observed for 1997-2000? Why did the 26 speculators disappear between 2001-2008? Why are the speculators suddenly back in 2012? Unfortunately, a wrong diagnosis of the underlying reason for exchange rate depreciation would result in policy errors that could worsen the rate of depreciation. The type of free fall that we are seeing with the cedi exchange rate is a vote of no confidence by market players in the management of the economy. Indeed many market players are pricing goods currently with the expectation that the rate of the cedi to the dollar will reach GHC 2:1 soon. The scary part of this is that we are only just past the first quarter and we have three more quarters to go and the situation could therefore get much worse. This is not fair to the private sector, and to Ghanaians as a whole. 27 This depreciation of the cedi is occurring notwithstanding generally favourable external sector conditions. It is clear that during the period of the NPP’s management of the economy the depreciation of the exchange rate was the smallest even though the external shocks were the largest. This demonstrates that the economic fundamentals have been weaker during the period the NDC has been in charge of economic management and small shocks (positive or negative) can easily destabilize the economy. Mr. Chairman, what is amazing about the state of our economy is that notwithstanding the economic boom in the last three years Ghana’s gross international reserves are currently not sufficient to cover three months of imports! 28 Yes ladies and gentlemen, this is the story that is not being told. If imports in 2012 are going to increase at the pace they have in the first quarter of 2012 (19.3%) then our gross international reserves can presently cover only 2.4 months of imports! Unfortunately the Bank of Ghana has not released this statistic for some time now as has been the case previously. It is amusing that the NDC again claims in their Green Book of achievements that it has accumulated an unprecedented amount of Gross International Reserves when they know or should know that this does not amount to scratch as far as import cover (which is what matters) is concerned. Ladies and Gentlemen, the decline in our import cover of our Gross International Reserves further explains why the cedi exchange rate is currently at an 18 year low. Indeed, given the underlying weak fundamentals of our economy, the current rapid depreciation of the cedi should not come as a surprise to anyone. However, for many, it would come as a surprise because the government has continually touted major achievements not based in fact. As I have said, economic management is very much about influencing expectations of the market. Credibility and transparency are therefore key to success. You cannot manage an economy by propaganda. You cannot claim to have created 1.6 million jobs and your Minister for Employment would say he cannot vouch for that. You cannot ask government officials that when they see a small goat, they are supposed to tell us that it is a big fat cow! and expect the markets to consider you credible. You cannot claim that all the gold reserves in the Bank of Ghana have disappeared and expect the markets to consider you as credible. Today, we have a Green Book touting “unprecedented” achievements! 29 Hyperbole has its place but certainly does not belong in the realm of economic management. The best response Ghanaians can give to the Green book is to show the NDC a red card in the December 2012 elections. Ghanaians Deserve Better! Moving Forward Mr. Chairman, moving forward, we have to ask ourselves some tough questions. Why is it that after 55 years of independence we are still struggling with the provision of basic services like water and sanitation and power to our citizens? These are problems many other countries resolved hundreds of years ago. For example, two-thirds of the main water pipes that serve the city of London (UK) today were put in place over 100 years ago! The technology is not a secret and we have abundant resources. So why are we not outraged by this state of affairs? Why is this not the focus of our politics? What other countries have done, we should be able to do. It is a shame that in the 21st century many people in our capital city (let alone the other towns and villages) do not have access to water and toilet facilities. There really is no excuse for this. It is a problem that must be SOLVED without further delay! We have to do it ourselves. No one is going to do it for us. God has given Ghana all the natural resources we need. It is now time to apply our ingenuity, innovation, attitude, vision, integrity, discipline, self-reliance, honesty, transparency and a scientific approach to resolving our problems. We have the SOLUTIONS to our own problems, Together, we can change this country for the benefit of all. Mr. Chairman, there is therefore a need for a paradigm shift because we cannot continue doing things the same way and expect different results. The paradigm shift that Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP are seeking the mandate of Ghanaians to implement is one of focusing on SOLUTIONS and RESULTS underpinned by a mindset change and the inculcation of a can-do spirit in Ghanaians. In moving to this new paradigm it is important that we understand that in the context of a global economy, our competition (as team Ghana) is with other countries and not primarily with each other. Our competition is China, Malaysia, Thailand, South Africa, Brazil, India, Singapore, South Korea, the United States, etc. Our businessmen and women, our contractors, our teachers, nurses, engineers, etc. are our players on the field of international competition. They 30 are our Black Stars. We should support them and provide them opportunities regardless of which party they may happen to support. While we engage in healthy political competition as part of our democratic process, we should always remember that ultimately our competition is not with each other. It is with other countries in the global economic space. We have to plan long term and be prepared to take long term decisions for the benefit of Ghana and not decisions driven by short term political advantage. We should be prepared to tap into the talents of Ghanaians within and outside Ghana regardless of political affiliation for the economic transformation of Ghana. We have to build a country in which none will be denied the opportunities for maximizing his or her God-given potential. A Ghana where access to quality healthcare and education shall no longer be a luxury for the privileged few, but a right for every citizen. A Ghana where every young person desirous of working will find the skills and employment with a decent wage. A Ghana where we do not only build a future for our youth, but also build our youth for the future. A Ghana where our hard-working entrepreneurs can easily access capital. A Ghana where our young people will be well-educated and empowered to better compete in the global economy. A Ghana where each will be his brother’s keeper. A Ghana where the elderly will spend their last years in dignity. A Ghana where our flourishing wave of freedom of expression will be guarded, respected and deepened. And, a Ghana where the safety and security of every individual and community are well assured. This Ghana that we all desire for ourselves and for our children’s future, can only be attained when we guard the freedoms that enable us to unleash our potentials, and manage our resources with competence and integrity. This is the Ghana that the NPP has on offer under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo. With hard work and the support of Ghanaians, I believe we can achieve this and move Ghana forward together. Thank you for your attention.

Life is a big puzzle indeed!

It takes a very intelligent and wise person to say that he does not know. Life is a big puzzle indeed! It takes some guidance and I wish the young ones behind see that. I have found in life when I open my mind and say that I don't know, solutions eventually come! I don't know if you have read my most painful statement in my life, that I am giving up on Ghana. My house and Flats are on the market for sale as shown below. I was not blessed with a stable job, perhaps part of my lessons in life, and I put all my life savings into building Real Estate in Ghana for my retirement, with a Main House, offices and rental units for income; but I can't live in Ghana under the current living conditions after all that investment for Power Generators, Water Tanks and Reservoirs, etc, etc. I get too frustrated! Every time I am in Ghana I am fighting the system! In 2010 I carried a bag full of rotten food from my fridge to the EC Manager and Joy-FM heard about it – it became big news. I am or shall we say prefer to be a very private person and enjoy that if you know me. I prefer to walk around in blue jeans and slippers without anybody recognizing me! To be honest with you, and not endorsing his style, I understand what Kwabena Kennedy Agyapong said,, the man did not really imply what he said! I have a lot of experience dealing with people and I know men who are serious. What Kennedy said was not serious,, but an expression of frustration as a Member of Parliament who is perhaps rich and owns a TV and Radio stations but not listened to when he uncovers fraud in the system and abuse. Mike, for the young men in Ghana one of the core reasons we have not had a war is the elections! They look forward to it! As such, it is better to do what you are afraid of: ' Turning the anger into a 'No' vote for the government or becoming apathetic?' Trust me it is far better for a young man to put his anger into a vote to change officials of government – than get into more violence, such as beating their women or drugs and violent crimes as we see in America! I am not sure if you have read Courage in the past making statements like he is prepared to die! I have been providing some free Counseling to him behind the scene,, and I sincerely admire him and the life he went through. He completed St.7 and became a Drivers mate – remember the old bone-shaker mate in the village? Yes! Of all the young men who did not even get a chance to go to Secondary School, he is the smartest I have met, very articulate, can write very good English, express himself well, and taught himself to use the Computer and worked for an Internet Café and acting as Private Investigator also. He married a British white woman and they even came to my office in East Legon in 2010. Like everybody else he had a few problems that I was advising him on,, but that is private matter. He wanted to stand as Assemblyman in his area, and later even as MP. Personally if things had gone the way planned, he is a person whose talents one can invest in. If you ask my proposed solution to the Quagmire, I'd say it is Decentralization! Human beings work closer to their own people in towns and villages and democracy works that way, from the bottom up! This has nothing with tribes but mere proximity to their own needs. The American success story in the last 250 or so years from the jungles of North America is the best example! Look at these people we are here with. They have no King and no Chiefs! And yet every town has their elected Mayor and city council and every one of them have a budget, Police force, Library and School district, underground sewage and sidewalks for walking and bicycles, and decent roads linked to State and Interstate National Highways! It is an incredible experiment and others do not realize the secret!! I have offered to help' but waiting for the opportunity. I have a model budget and programs even done. VP John Mahama's brother is a transportation Engineer here, a friend, and ask if he has ever been called to offer any advice! Tweaaaa!! These people! Once people elect their own Mayor and pay their taxes, and pay for their own police, teachers, and City Councilmen and women, you will see the responsiveness. Trust that I won't mind paying say $100, $200, per year or more to my village as my contribution even though I don’t live there,, just to help. Most of you would pay also. I know Kwame Nkrumah tried to blend all of us into one, which is a good idea and he did not name the districts and regions according to tribal names (except Ashanti). What he made a mistake on was not allowing each town, district and Region to elect their own City/town council and executive members, in addition to the MP who came to live in Accra. In the mean time he disabled the Chiefs, and so now we have people living in Abetifi, rich folks building houses I cannot afford in America and waiting for water from Atta Mills or Kufuor! It is the greatest nonsense in the world!! These people are not assessed any property taxes one can even write down! It needs to change but you can’t do it sitting in Accra in a slave Castle asking a 25 year old to talk big English! It is very simple but also very complicated with legal puzzles between Regions, Districts, Town, and what percentage of the taxes collected stay within town and what goes to central government, etc, etc, and our leaders simply have no experience doing it! Once we find a Leader sincere about change, trust that it is not that hard at all! No Physics, no Calculus, and no complicated Shroedinger Equations involved at all!! I can wake up at 3am and help them design the system and budget and database. Elementary! As Sherlock Holmes would say. We can create more jobs, stimulate our economy and double our GDP in three years if we do this! Kwaku A. Danso, M.Eng., PhD