Near Exchange Of Blows In Parliament Over Oil Cash

Hell nearly broke loose in Parliament on Wednesday November 10, during a meeting of Members of the Joint Committee on Finance and Energy to discuss the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.

According to insiders, the disagreements, which nearly resulted in exchange of blows, started after the Majority side tabled a motion, seeking to amend clause 5 of the bill which forbids government from using the nation’s oil resources as collateral for loans.

The Minority had long accused the Mills administration of harboring plans to amend clause 5 of the bill to allow the administration to use the nation’s oil revenue as collateral to contract huge loans.

Although the Government has persistently denied the minority’s claims, Wednesday’s meeting exposed the falsehood that may have characterized past denials of the government on the issue.

Insiders told Citi News there was near exchange of blows over the issue at the meeting of the Committee Chairman; Hon James Avedzi who moved the motion for a continuation of debate on the proposed amendments.

Amidst rising tempers, Hon Avedzi abruptly truncated the meeting in an attempt to prevent the exchange of words to degenerate into fisticuffs.

When Citi News caught up with him after sitting of Parliament on Thursday November 11, he confirmed the incident but denied that there was near exchange of blows at the meeting.
 
"If we had insisted that we should continue to go on that issue nobody knows what would have happened. But we are matured people and we don't expect that to happen so the best thing to do was to call off the meeting and thats just what I did. Parliament is about debates from time to time we disagree on issues and later come to a compromise" he said.

Ghana Must Learn From Nigeria

Courtesy of GhanaWeb, Thursday,November 11, 2010
By Kojo Appiah-Kubi, Phd

One of the biggest challenges facing Ghana currently, as the newest oil-producing country, is how to use its oil wealth strategically to promote sustainable development. The country can, however, count itself luckier to be able to learn from its big brother, Nigeria, which has been producing oil since 1958 and has consequently accumulated such a worth of experience, both positive and negative. One such experience that Ghana would have to learn is how Nigeria having earned billions of dollars from oil exports today is languishing economically with a massive debt burden and high levels of poverty.

Over the period 1971–2005, for instance, Nigeria is estimated to have earned an extra $390 billion in oil-related fiscal revenues or 4.5 times 2005 gross domestic product (GDP), expressed in constant 2000 dollars. During this same period the proportion of its population estimated to be leaving in poverty rose successively from 28% in 1980 to a peak level of 70% in 1990 before levelling off at 54.4% in 2004. The latest records estimate about 48% of Nigerians to be poor. In absolute terms the per capita GDP of the average Nigerian plummeted from US$1,200 in 1981 to about US$300 in 2000. Economists refer to this coexistence of vast oil resources and extreme personal poverty in Nigeria as the “resource curse”. What is more ironic is that this huge flow of oil revenues has been accompanied by rapid substantial increases in the country’s external debt from $3.4 billion in 1980 to about $33 billion in 2002. This mountain of debts and its associated colossal service burden reached a crisis level in the advent of the new Millennium and contributed to cripple Nigeria’s economy so much as to cause the then President Obasanjo to declare the country insolvent in 2002 by completely halting its debt payments and later applying for the debt (HIPC) relief, which was granted in 2005.

But how did Nigeria land itself in debt problems, its oil wealth notwithstanding and what can Ghana learn from the mistakes of Nigeria? The origins of Nigeria's external debt problems date back to the policies pursued during the 1970s oil boom that led successive governments to emphasise on heavy investment in public works, import-substituting industries and public consumption. During the mid seventies the presence of proven oil reserves amidst increasing oil prices gave Nigeria a perceived credit-rating far higher than its domestic and macroeconomic fundamentals would have otherwise justified. With the industrialised world seeking for other oil sources to meet their ever increasing demand for oil alternative to the volatile Middle East, it turned to Nigeria with offers of new loans to build its social and economic infrastructure. Without any blueprint for the sustainable utilization of its oil revenues, the country began a massive infrastructural development financed with short term loans. Indeed some western countries, with their eyes on Nigeria’s oil, competed among themselves to finance and construct infrastructural projects and import substitution industries.

Nigeria also saw in its oil wealth and increasing oil revenues from rising oil prices a de facto collateral for loans, and, without due consideration to revenue volatility normally associated with oil price instability, borrowed to finance misguided spending programmes. Against all common sense of fiscal caution the government ran deficit budget financing and borrowed against future oil income to finance large-scale ‘iconic’ projects designed ostensibly to boost economic activity, symbolize government achievement and lift local and regional profile. Gigantic projects like the building of a new capital city, Abuja, three huge steel mills, 14 airports, among others, pro¬gressed very fast during this period. That was also the time when many young Ghanaians saw in Nigeria a greener pasture in search of jobs and flooded there after them. With rising oil boom in the 70s and early 80s, the non-oil sector and local agricultural produce became totally neglected and the economy consequently became increasingly dependent on rising imports of consumer goods and other raw materials. During that time, as is reported, due to ship traffic congestion, the vessel turnaround time at the Lagos port exceeded one month.

With so many projects being implemented at the same time the country’s capacity to efficiently implement these projects for which loans have been contracted became seriously challenged and outstripped. The results were a high level of mismanagement and pervasive corruption. The high level of corruption led the World Bank to conclude that 80 percent of Nigeria’s energy revenues benefit only one percent of the population.

It appears that Ghana is poised to repeat the past mistakes of Nigeria. Ghana is beginning to produce oil soon but has no blue print as to how it intends to use the expected revenues productively. There is currently the talk about the need to build the country’s social and economic infrastructure just like the Nigerians did in the late 70s and early 80s. For this reason, the country is ready to borrow huge sums of money against future potential oil-revenues to finance these infrastructural projects without due consideration to availability of implementation capacity, due diligence, economic viability and impact assessment, etc. The 10 billion STX Korean Housing loan, the largest loan deal ever in Africa, is a particular example. This loan alone is equivalent to about 60% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Just at the same time this loan deal is being processed the Chinese want to over beat the Korean offers with tens of billions of dollars in loan pledges for infrastructural and trade financing. The Japanese also seem to be doing their utmost best to attract the attention of Ghana with billions of loan offers. The Europeans, with their long colonial, trade and other business affiliations with Ghana would definitely not want to be left out of the Ghana show. The big brothers in the Americas, US and Canada, are indeed also putting together their own dancing and musical tunes to attract the interest of Ghana government most.

But why has Ghana become so attractive to the developed world, when just a few years ago, the country was having difficulty in securing credit financing of about a few tens of thousands? The news is that Ghana is going to export oil soon in commercial quantities, a commodity with an extremely high demand in the developed countries. Just like what happened to Nigeria in the 70s these developed countries are using these jumbo loans to secure the long term development of their own respective economies with regular supply of oil. In the case of Nigeria the first major borrowing of US$1 billion, referred to at that time as the "jumbo loan" was contracted from the international capital market in 1978, increasing the total external debt stock to US$2.2 billion. Thereafter, the debt stock rose astrono¬mi¬cally in epidemic proportions from $3.4 billion in 1980 to $17.3 billion in 1985 and $29.2 billion in 1990 and $33 in 2002. Indeed Nigeria’s checkered past has important lessons for Ghana’s future, lessons that should be learnt if the country does not want to suffer the same resource curse that Nigeria suffers.

The first lesson is the acceptance not to over-blow the relative importance of the oil, despite its tremendous potential economic impact if managed properly. It is unfortunate that the oil is being seen by politicians as the panacea to all of Ghana’s problems. Rather it should be seen as just one of the many finite natural endowments of the country, whose benefits could only be maximised through innovative high-value addition. The present and future generations stand to benefits from this resource only if the country does not follow the Nigerian example of using the oil revenues in frivolous investments.

Utilization of oil revenues should be based on a credible long term monitorable development plan to bring about structural transformation in the economy, meant to reduce Ghana’s growth dependency on a narrow set of low-value agricultural commodities and other natural resources, which are subject to the volatilities of the world marketplace. This plan should best be separated from the annual budget based on the consolidated fund so as to avoid benchmarking government economic policies against the state of the oil sector. The oil revenue spin-off should also be used to strongly strengthen the private sector in the non-oil sector through tax incentives and infrastructure development. Non-tariff barriers to support domestic manufacturing should be tenured and targeted. With so many positive and negative experiences abound from which Ghana can learn, failure to use the oil resources sustainably is not an option.

...Read More

Nigeria: Arms Import - Frightening Details Uncovered

Lagos Vanguard
As the nation awaits the resolution of the riddles surrounding the illegal importation of the large cache of arms and ammunition including rockets through the Apapa Ports in July, more damning and frightening details continue to ooze out from security sources about the arms import

Sunday Vanguard reliably gathered that the investigating teams are still baffled about the mystery surrounding the loading port of the deadly cargoes. Whereas there have been various attempts to link the 13 containers of arms to Iran, Hamas fighters in Gaza, etc, insiders insisted that investigations so far have revealed that before the cargoes arrived the Lagos ports, they had gone through trans-shipment in Greece, Spain and India. However, there is no certainty yet about the original loading sea port.

It was further learnt that although the 13 containers (alongside 70 others), consigned to one Mr. Ali Abbas Usman Jega of No. 6B Nouakchott Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja, arrived the ports on July 15, 2010 on board the vessel MV CMA CGM Everest through doctored manifest and without Form M, it was the unsuccessful attempt to convert the containers to diplomatic cargo and trans ship or re-export same to State House, Banjul, The Gambia, that aroused the suspicion of the State Security Service (SSS), which raised a red flag to the Customs Area Comptroller, Apapa Ports.

Sources confirmed that when the doctored manifest details were electronically-imputed into the Customs ASYCUDA System, they showed that not only did the cargoes not have Form M, there was also no Risk Assessment Report (RAR), a clear violation of the cargo clearance process in Nigeria. Although an alert concerning the cargoes was raised, neither the importer nor the agent came forth to make any declaration. And, if there was no declaration (laying of claim),the Customs could only keep an eye on the containers pending the expiration of the 90 days permitted by law before being put on the Uncleared Cargo List.

The Gambian connection
Sunday Vanguard was told that suspicions heightened when, in August, a Customs licensed company, Jedo Investment Company, first attempted to re-export the containers to Banjul, The Gambia - a request that was rejected because only a shipping company could make such application to the Customs. Then, in September, a shipping company, CMA CGM Delmas Nigeria Ltd, submitted a purported manifest amendment to change the consignee to Kanilai Farms, State House, Banjul, The Gambia. This would have facilitated a seamless re-shipment as a diplomatic cargo, except that there was no formal notification from The Gambian High Commission. Two, there was no Form CCI, a mandatory document for diplomatic shipment.

Meanwhile, the two export officers of the Customs Service who may have been involved in the re-shipment efforts have since been with the SSS for interrogation.

More worrisome to the investigators is also the allegation that the Iranian suspect in the illegal arms saga had domiciled in a notable first generation top rate hotel in Abuja for three months to the knowledge of the security agencies. However, not a few Nigerians and security experts have queried why the security personnel did not act promptly with such information at their disposal.

However, experts had argued that had the Ports Service Providers, who got the multi-million naira contracts to install fixed scanners at the nation's ports since January 1, 2006, worked to contract terms, the Customs Service would have been able to detect the content of the 13 cargoes since July 2010, whether anyone made a claim to ownership or not. (Fixed scanners allow easy viewing of the content of containers, vertically and horizontally, whereas the mobile scanners which are in use, do not). But about five years into a seven-year contract, these contractors, who have earned great profit, had put Nigeria at a disadvantage because of the non-installation of the fixed scanners.

Rather than scan and know the content of cargoes, the Customs and security services still have to do manual inspection, only after the export seal may have been broken within the law, with all the disadvantages and temptations attached to human involvement in port clearing.

The nation woke up on Tuesday October 26, 2010, to a frightening story of illegal importation of 13 containers of arms and ammunition through the Lagos ports since July 15, 2010. Upon joint examination by the Customs and all the security agencies at the ports on October 26, the containers were discovered to have been concealed within marble slabs ammunition of various calibers including 7.65mm light ammunition with cartridges, 60mm, 80mm and 120mm mortar, rockets with firing pins and grenades.
The anxiety was fueled by the fear of illegal use of firearms, especially in view of the October 1 twin-bomb blasts which led to loss of 14 lives near the Eagle Square venue of the national parade for the 50th independence anniversary, the Boko Haram insurrection in the North-East and armed militancy in the Niger Delta region and serial kidnappings in the South-East. The SSS has since charged some suspects to court while the alleged mastermind, Mr. Henry Okah, is facing trial in a Johannesburg court for alleged involvement in the October 1 blasts in Nigeria.

Mean time, the National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi (rtd), has urged Nigerians not to jump into conclusion till investigations are concluded.

UN joins probe,reports Hugo Odiogor

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN), plans to send a three-man team to Nigeria to get first hand information on the illegal imported arms
The UN is said to be worried about the implications of the arms movement to the ongoing initiative to ban illegal trade in arms by its members. The world body is also concerned about the prospects of internal and regional arms race in Nigeria and in the West African sub-region where civil wars and internal conflicts have propelled the propensity to spend huge resources to acquire deadly weapons.

The UN team, expected in the country next week, according to diplomatic sources, is interested in getting a clearer picture and accurate information on the origin and destination of the arms, and the choice of Nigeria as a trans-shipment point. According to Sunday Vanguard sources, the UN is worried about the arms haul in Nigeria which came at a time there is a global move to halt illegal trade in arms through the UN's Small Arms Treaty. The treaty is scheduled to be ratified before the end of the year as part of efforts to combat international terrorism
If passed by the UN and endorsed by national governments across the world, the UN's Arms Sales Treaty would compel the national governments to, among others, enact tougher licensing requirements, making law-abiding citizens face tougher bureaucratic red tape before owning firearms legally; confiscate and destroy all "unauthorised" civilian firearms (this excludes all weapons owned by governments); ban the trade, sale and private ownership of all semi-a utomatic weapons; and create an international gun registry, setting the stage for full-scale gun confiscation.

However, there are questions on whether Nigeria will destroy the intercepted arms and ammunition or keep them as part of its armoury. There are also worries that Nigeria could become a dumping ground for "all kinds of weapon into the west coast." Nigeria is a signatory to international conventions on non-proliferation of small and light weapons, and one of the major promoters of the initiative in the West African sub-region. But whereas our neighbours have shown better resolve in promoting human security, Nigeria has not been seen to be doing much despite the presence of multiple agencies including Task Forces.

An expert in conflict resolution, Dr. Ademola Adeleke, told Sunday Vanguard: "there is a lot of misinformation concerning the seized arms saga as the attempt to throw the issue into the international domain by linking the cargo to Hamas may have served the primary purpose of momentarily diffusing domestic tension. Yet, the fact remains that we are very far from getting to the roots of the matter and the government as usual will compound the issue by withholding information from Nigerians. Adeleke dismissed as wrong the attempt to drag Nigeria into the politics of the Middle-East because the imported arms came into the country illegally and the Nigerian government security operatives were alerted early enough to intercept the cargoes. He said it was wrong for anybody to brand Nigeria as part of Hamas axis as insinuated by The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli newspaper. There are moves reportedly initiated by the Presidency to improve on the pro-activeness of its security asset as well as solicit more international

co-operation and seriousness on the part of local operatives
The Dean, College of Development Studies at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Professor Kayode, contended that with what is happening in our security community, "every Nigerian is a potential refugee and the worst thing that could happen to the middle class will be a situation where those who are living comfortably would queue for food in refugee camps. This is a prospect that stares Nigerians in the face as the political class drives the country to the precipice because of their inability to manage their greed," Kayode told Sunday Vanguard.

He said what is playing out is the failure of the Nigerian state and the political class to place the interest of the nation above sectional interests and with the elections in 2011 approaching, the issue of physical security has become urgent

ACCRA GOES BLACK

Manet Court - Off Spintex Road, Accra



The entire city of Accra suffered its worst electrical outage of the year on Monday prompting many manufacturing outlets and retail stores to close down. Heavily affected were communities around Spintex Road where residents complained about damages to their appliances and electronic equipment due to the off-and-on surges. Some angry residents blamed the government for turning deaf ears against numerous complaints over this problem some dating back to eight years as roots of neglect and administrative incompetence.

Telescope happened to chat with John Akakpo, a homeowner at Manet Court residential complex off Spintex Road.
"It is bad that traffic here is the worst in the city .It is equally disgusting that each week we have to call the appliance repairman to fix our refrigerator because of this crazy unannounced power shut-offs five or six times a day. The sad part is the politicians dont care because most of them live around here and drive in darkness on surrounding dusty roads.They all talk big about progress and want foreigners to invest here but what businessman will tolerate loss of his expensive machines and so many down-times ? The next time I cast my vote I will remember this.I hope the President realises that the people's patience is worn off over this. We have many so-called PhDs and Electrical Engineers around Why have we been having this problem for such along time ? If the management is incompetent why should all of us suffer instead of changing them ? Something must be wrong somewhere"

At East Legon residents cared more about security than effects of the outages on their appliances. "Robbers usually operate in darkness and these outages offer them golden opportunities to invade our homes. We have had enough of this. I heard the President talk about going after armed robbers which is good but he must also target token areas that give them haven. To me the government's inability to deal with these power failures makes them accessories of crimes committed in darkness. I had my dog chase them away twice this week. I just dont know what to do anymore. The criminals seem to wait for such chances and they outnumber the police who are fighting hard to contain them." Gordon Blay blurted with resignation and disgust.
After nervously waiting, confused as to where or whom to complain power was partially restored in some sections of the city at 10 pm probably awaiting to go off again the next day - a reocurrence too familiar to residents of the city.

Police kill five suspected robbers at East Legon

Five suspected armed robbers were gunned down at dawn Friday at East Legon in Accra.

The robbers were killed during a shoot-out with a Police Patrol Team.

The bodies of the five robbers were brought to the Accra Regional Police Command headquarters.

Reports indicate that the bodies are still lying in front of the Accra Central Police station.

Asempa News’ reports that, some of the bodies had broken limbs, and another’s brain had been spilled as a result of a gunshot to the head.

This comes on the heels of reported pockets of armed robberies across the country, the most popular being a robbery on a bus at Kubease where, a passenger Amina Mohammed, alleges that the robbers forced male passengers on a Tamale-bound bus to rape female counterparts.

The police say that 'robbery and rape' story cannot be true and are seeking to prosecute Amina.

She was on Friday granted bail by the human rights court in Accra

The house of Marseille players Andre and Jordan Ayew robbed

The house of Marseille players Andre and Jordan Ayew was robbed while they were away for a Champions League match in Slovakia.

Police launched an investigation and said Friday the robbers damaged the brothers' villa in Marseille after breaking into the house by smashing a glass door.

Police said the criminals stole hi-fi equipment, jewelry and expensive watches and also spilled dishwashing liquid on the floor, damaged household electrical goods and slashed up a sofa with a knife.

Several other Marseille players have recently been targeted by carjackers.

The Ayew brothers were in Zilina during the robbery, which occurred Wednesday night. Marseille routed the Slovakian team 7-0 in the biggest away victory in Champions League history.

Andre and Jordan Ayew are sons of Abedi Pele, a three-time African Player of the Year who won the Champions League with Marseille in 1993. Andre Ayew was a member of the Ghana team that reached the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa.

Angry residents of Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District in the Central Region are seeking the removal of the District Chief Executive.

Hundreds of residents staged a protest march Wednesday to present a petition to the District Assembly, calling for the immediate removal of the DCE, Aba Edusah who they accuse of being autocratic.

Joy FM’s Central Regional correspondent Richard Kojo Nyarko reports that the residents chanted and hurled insults at the DCE.

Angry at the residents, she taunted them by dancing to catcalls and songs they were singing, following it up with hurling bagged ice water at them.

The residents retaliated, throwing stones back at the DCE, an action which brought the police in to intervene.

Aba Edusah, according to Kojo Nyarko, has been kept indoors but the residents still linger.

She is, among other things, accused of engaging in profligate expenditure and siting a new market at Asebu, her hometown, instead of the District Capital as suggested by the chiefs.

The residents say they will continue to pursue the DCE until she is removed from office by President John Mills.

But DCE Aba Edusah has denied the allegations levelled against her, insisting that the allegations are trumped-up to destroy her reputation.

Myjoyonine.com/Ghana

Mass Rape Story Refered To NMC

The government has officially lodged a complaint at the National Media Commission (NMC) against two radio stations in the country for broadcasting reports on an alleged armed-robbery attack and mass rape on a Tamale-bound passenger bus, which have turned out to be a hoax.

A petition signed by the Minister of Information, Mr John Tia Akologu, requested the two stations, Joy FM and Adom FM, based in Accra and Tema respectively, to retract the said stories and apologise to the government, the hardworking security agencies and the good people of Ghana.

Copies of the petition were sent to the Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, the Inspector General of Police, National Security Co-ordinator, the Vice President and the Chief of Staff, Office of the President.

The petition further urged that the consequences of such conduct were made clear to those media houses and asked the NMC to initiate moves to remind them of their journalistic ethics and mandate.

Last week, Adom FM and Joy FM claimed that an armed robbery attack occurred on a Tamale-bound passenger bus in which female passengers were allegedly raped en masse by the robbers and male passengers in turn.

The reports also claimed that a father was ordered to have sex with her 14-year old virgin daughter at gun-point in an accident which occurred around Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region. Later reports suggested that the incident took place around Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.

The petition said in subsequent discussions on the two radio stations, the country was described as unsafe and the police were doing little to protect the people while the government and President John Evans Atta Mills were accused of failing to guarantee the people their safety contrary to his promise and mandate.

The petition said the false reports and the prominence given to the same by those radio stations had obviously created substantial fear in the unsuspecting public, leaving many citizens with a sense of perplexity and insecurity.

It said as it had become obvious, investigations conducted by the security agencies had revealed that the claims by Amina, the woman who gave an account of the incident on Adom FM, about which Adom FM did not do the requisite background checks, were nothing but a fabrication.

The petition said several passengers, including the driver of the same Yutong bus on which Amina travelled, had denied her claims both to the police and publicly on radio stations, insisting that they were not even robbed neither was there any mass rape.
Rather, the statement said the passengers indicated that their bus was shot at but the driver sped off, refusing to stop until they arrived at their destination safely.

The petition said the government was convinced that the false, baseless, unfounded and unsubstantiated reports by Adom FM and Joy FM (which were subsequently reported by other local and online news media) could have been avoided if little attention had been given to the basic ethics of the journalistic profession.

It said while it was obvious that the government and security agencies were confronted with enormous challenges in fighting organised crime and protecting the citizenry, the last thing anybody should do was to compound the situation with fabrications and false alarm.

Those fabrications and false alarm, the petition stated, only diverted the attention of the already over-stretched men and women in uniform, who were forced to investigate and pursue such claims, which turned out to be false.

They could have otherwise been allowed to focus their energies on real crime and actually protect the good people of this country.

“ It is sad that this is not the only instance in recent times as the false GREDA death threat claim, and the misrepresentation of the World Economic Forum Report, among others, remain fresh in the minds of Ghanaians,” the petition stated.

Source : Daily Graphic

Ghana, China's TCC Plan $1.8 Billion Refinery, Ghanaian Times Reports

Ghana and TCC of China are reviewing a memorandum of understanding for the building of a $1.8 billion refinery to add to the capacity of the country’s Tema Oil Refinery, the Ghanaian Times reported.

The new facility to be constructed by the Chinese engineering company will refine 120,000 barrels of crude per day, the Accra-based newspaper said, citing Emmanuel Buah, deputy minister of energy.

Buah said Ghana consumes 65,000 barrels a day while Tema can only process 45,000 barrels a day at full capacity, according to the newspaper.

Ghana's Producer-Price Inflation Slowed to 17% on Manufacturing, Mining

Ghana’s producer-price inflation rate fell to an annual 17 percent in September as manufacturing, mining and quarrying costs eased.

Inflation slowed from a revised 18 percent in August, Ebo Duncan, a statistician at the Ghana Statistical Service, told reporters today in Accra, the capital.

The cost of manufactured goods, which account for 70 percent of the index, rose 5.8 percent in September, from a revised 6.5 percent the month before, the agency said.

Prices for mining and quarrying, which make up 14 percent of the index, increased 19 percent from 21 percent in August.

Utility-price inflation accelerated to 71.3 percent in September from 71.2 percent the previous month, Duncan said.

By Antony Sguazzin at asguazzin@bloomberg.net

Footsoldiers to force Rawlingses to retire if…

The Foot Soldiers Association of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned the Rawlingses to prepare themselves for retirement if the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings refuses to accept the offer of leading the party (NDC) into the 2012 general elections.

The association's National President, who gave his name as Amanbuo, on a telephone interview with The Chronicle, cautioned that Nana Konadu must accept to contest President Mills in the NDC Presidential primaries or stay put, and not intervene in Mills' campaign.

Speaking in an interview with The Chronicle yesterday, Amanbuo said if the former first ladydeclines the offer, they would leave the NDC and also ensure that they do not participate in any political activities of the NDC in this country.

Amanbuo stressed that they were in the NDC because of Mr. Rawlings and his wife, and if these people were been sidelined, then they would advise themselves accordingly.

They also warned that the vice President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama should not make an attempt to come forward for the NDC Presidential slot, if it happens that President Mills would not run for the second term.

According to the Foot Soldiers' the presidency had denied the non-existence of foot soldiers in the NDC and for that matter they would not also recognize them.

The association reminded President Mills that the pasting of the posters was just a joke, and that the real action would soon start. He hinted The Chronicle that when nominations for the party primaries are opened they would buy forms for Nana Konadu to sign, and if she refusesthey would know the next line of action to take.

When asked what would happen if the former lady should lose her bid through a ballot boxat the NDC congress, Amanbuo said, 'then this is going to be a very big mistake for the delegates and the NDC and that would also spell doom for the NDC as a party. If that happens the foot soldiers would then begin to behave like 'Suarez'. Amanbuo and his group are among some NDC splinter associations who are pushing the Nana Konadu for 2012 agenda.

Earlier, on an Angel FM morning show with Kwame Adinkra, the Foot soldiers President cautioned that they would do whatever they can to stop the Rawlingses from campaigning for any other Presidential Candidate, other than Nana Konadu. He said, 'We would disrupt any political platform the former President Rawlings and the wife would mount to campaign for President Mills or vice President Mahama.

SOURCE : ...READ MORE

Atta Mills’ Presidential Teacups & Beyond (I)

By Okyere Bonna


According to Ghana News on October 26, 2010, the ruling government has broadened measures aimed at projecting the image of President John Evans Atta Mills by circulating ‘teacups’ with his photograph embossed on them. The move, according to the report, is apparently motivated by the embarrassment that greeted the Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku-Manu during the celebration of this year’s ‘My First Day at School.’

The report went on to say that “on a tour of some schools in the Ashanti region during the event, Mr. Opoku-Manu asked the pupils of Patase M/A Primary School in Kumasi who the President of the country was. To the amazement of everyone present, a class-three pupil of the school answered that Nana Akufo-Addo, the opposition NPP flagbearer, was the President of Ghana”(Daily Guide) and that the education minister, the entire government and members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC pour out their anger on the poor pupil.

Why should the education minister, the entire government and members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) pour out their anger on a class-three pupil for not knowing what he has not been taught. It is obvious that civic education is not part of the school curriculum if none of the class three pupils knew who the President is. If this were the case then the ministry of education should rather be blamed not the poor pupil.

QUICK FIX MAY ADD TO THE PROBLEM IN THE LONG TERM
On a more serious note, this problem calls for a long term solution rather than the quick fixes being advocated and implemented as per the report:


1. Schools have been ordered to display the President’s portrait in classrooms.
2. Drinking cups (embossed with both the picture of the minister of Education, Alex Tettey Enyo and President Atta Mills) designed in different shapes and colours are being distributed free of charge to pupils across the country.
3. District Directors of Education have been ordered by the various Regional CO-ordinating Councils to take delivery of the items and distribute them to the schools as part of the ‘Know Your President’ campaign.


THE BLAME GAME

The anger of some government officials and supporters of the NDC directed
at the teachers and the class three pupil as well as condemning parents in the Ashanti region for giving their wards the wrong information is very unfortunate. I am surprise the Minister of Education and the District Directors of Education did not mention books. There was no mention of improving the curriculum to make sure this does not happen in the future.

>.

RIDICULOUS ACCUSATIONS

It is ridiculous to suggest that a teacher will tell his or her pupils that the president of Ghana is Nana Akufo-Addo, or to assume that a teacher would ask his pupil to a give wrong answer to embarrass the Minister and the President. This is only an attempt to ignore the problems facing the educational standards in Ghana today. It is unfortunate that the Minister is passing blame rather than admitting a fact. Knowledge is not acquired in the absence of education and learning. If you want your school children to know about their country and government then it must reflect in their curriculum. It is not by magic or wishful thinking. All this should teach our government and the ministry of education a lesson.

WHY SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION ABOVE ALL BE EMBARRASSED?

This development is only a reflection of leadership of the country’s educational system. Perhaps they are not doing something right. Yes, giving out tea cups is good but they should also remember to make the tea. What are tea cups without tea, Mr. Secretary? Thanks for the tea cups and portraits but where are the TEXTBOOKS? “Government and Rural Development, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has announced that henceforth, pictures of President Mills would be displayed in all public schools.” And what happens to the TEXTBOOKS to teach our kids! What worth are tea cups when there is no tea!

The Minister of Education should know better. It all boils down to lack of leadership of his predecessors, and perhaps District Directors of Education as well. The neglect of properly educating our children in our primary schools cannot be overemphasized here. Our history is written by outsider; So how do we expect the poor class three pupil to know more about Ghana?. The nation prefers foreign made goods to locally manufactured goods. No wonder Ghanaians are patronizing caskets made in China over made in Ghana ones. But let me ask the president and minister of information: Who is responsible for this ignorance? Indeed it is not the teachers nor pupils but the lack of basic educational resources. The government branch in-charge of education must learn to prioritize. Books must come first. I pray this will also tell our president and government the priority that we need to give to education in Ghana. We cannot afford to waste the minds of our future leaders and national assets.

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

1. We have stopped teaching civics in our schools. History of Ghana is not taught anymore in the elementary schools. These days it is not unusual to find graduates who don’t know much about the history of Ghana (even though they may know all about the West). Today in Ghana, unless one reads history in the Senior Secondary School or at the University one may barely know anything about Ghana. I am sure these kids may not even know the number of regions in Ghana.
2. Our curriculum does not encourage reading outside the text books (which are not available in the first place). Students don’t read newspapers these days. Our media has become a gossip shop, not educational tools. In fact they are misinforming and mis-educating our kids. It projects western culture over our own. To save the ministry of education further embarrassments I suggest a critical and objective look into the entire Ghana Education Service.

LONG TERM SOLUTIONS

1. Encourage local teachers and professors to write our textbooks
2. Reform the curriculum to reflect nationalism and patriotism
3. Encourage reading (from kindergarten) in our curriculum. E.g. Parents must be mandated to read to their little kids (K-3) at least 20 minutes a day. Students in 4th grade and above must be required to read a book and write a book report each month.
4. Return civics to the classroom from Kindergarten.
5. Improve quality controls and standards in Ghana. E.g., we have Standards Board; we must empower them to adjudicate required standards across the board to enhance locally manufactured goods.


Okyere Bonna

Okyere Bonna is the author of, A NEW AGENDA FOR GHANA, STOPPING THE CARNAGE ON AFRICAN ROADS and the co-author of GHANA, CONVERSATION AND DEVELOPMENT and Traditional Institutions and Public Administration in Democratic Africa. For more information on this author visit his official website: www.okyerebonna.com

Communities along the Afram River submerged, 32,000 homeless

Akate, (E/R), Oct. 30, GNA - Flood waters from the Afram River have submerged seven communities near Akate in the Upper Manya Krobo District, rendering 32,000 people homeless.

Farm lands of the affected communities and their property have been destroyed, including an acre teak nursery of 80,000 seedlings, which were being developed for the government's afforestation project in the area.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Upper Manya District Chief Executive, Mr Joseph Angmor and the Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management organization, (NADMO) Mr Ransford Owusu-Boakye, on Friday, visited the Akate community to assess the extent of the havoc caused by the floods.

The communities are, Akaten, Piokope, Fantem, Akotua, Bukunor, Akokoma, Sasem and part of the Akate market.

The Regional Minister and his entourage were transported on a boat on the River to observe the deserted communities.

At a meeting with the Minister, the people appealed for the rehabilitation of Asesewa-Akate road and the sale of outboard motors to them at subsidized prizes.

The Chairman of the Landing Beach Pre-mix Committee, Mr George Agbedom, appealed for an increase in the pre-mix fuel supplied to the canoe owners at the beach from one load a week to three loads.

He explained that the current quantity was not enough to meet the needs of the boat owners in the area.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo appealed to the people living in safe areas to offer support and accommodation to their relations who had been displaced.

He called on the assembly to formulate a proper layout plan for the development of the community.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo urged the affected people reconsider building again in the affected areas when the water subsides because the regulations on the settlement along the river would be strictly enforced to avert future occurrences.

Later, he presented plastic bowls, cups, plates, mats, three bales of used clothing, boxes of soap and bags of rice to the communities.

GNA

88 Drag Security Capo, A-G to court

Eighty-eight former operatives of the National Security Council have dragged the National Security Co-ordinator and the Attorney-General to court over non-payment of their end-of-service benefits.

According to the plaintiffs, who served during the previous administration, their appointments were terminated because they were perceived to be political appointees.

However, the defendants have stated that the appointment of the plaintiffs were terminated because their services were no longer required and not because they were perceived as political appointees of the previous administration.

In a writ of summons accompanying the statement of claim, the plaintiffs are praying the High Court to declare that they (plaintiffs) were entitled to be paid their end-of-service benefits upon the termination of their appointment in consonance with conditions governing their employment.

The writ of summons, titled Kenneth Gyan Kesse and 87 others versus the National Security Co-ordinator and the Attorney-General, is also praying the court to order the defendants to pay the plaintiffs their end-of-service benefits.

The statement said all the plaintiffs were Ghanaian citizens and were fully employed as regular staff of the National Security Council Secretariat in Accra and across the country.

It said all the plaintiffs were interviewed, examined and employed under the Securities and Intelligence Agencies Law of 1996.

It further stated that following the 2008 general election, which led to a change in the political administration of the country, their appointments were subsequently terminated and in partial fulfilment of the conditions governing the termination of appointment, each of them was paid three months' salary.

According to the statement of claim, the plaintiffs petitioned the National Security Co-ordinator for the payment of their end-of-service benefits but the petition was ignored.

It said they then, through their solicitors, wrote letters claiming the payment of their end-of-service benefits but those letters also yielded no results.

It claimed it was obvious that until the court intervened, the defendants had no intention to meet their demands.

The defendants admitted that the plaintiffs were paid three months' salary in lieu of notice of termination, adding that the said amount represented the full payment due plaintiffs in case of disengagement between NSC and the plaintiffs.

They said the plaintiffs were not entitled to any end-of-service benefits as alleged to be in their conditions of service.

The statement of defence further pointed out that the National Security Co-ordinator was not the proper person to be sued in this matter.

The defendants said they would, at the hearing, raise a preliminary-legal point that the National Security Co-ordinator was not the proper person or body to be sued in this matter and would pray that the National Security Co-ordinator’s name should be struck off the writ.

Quashigah Counts NDC’s Achievements Under Prez Mills

The National Propaganda Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Richard Quashigah, has tabulated what he says are a “modest but endless” achievements of the Mills-led administration.

The list, published at the party’s propaganda website, in many ways contrasts conditions under the Kufuor-led New Patriotic Party era and what currently pertains.

An introduction to the publication partly reads; “This government is definitely focused and would not be distracted from its ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ by uninformed and illogical comments. The NPP seem to be soliciting endorsement for their misleading mantra of ‘everything not working in the country today’ and they have targeted people who appear to have some credibility in society but are gullible to prosecute that agenda. Certainly, the 20 months of the Atta Mills government has delivered on many fronts.”

The achievements, as listed on the page, are the following;

The list of achievement of this government is modest but endless. This government is definitely focused and would not be distracted from its ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ by uninformed and illogical comments.

The NPP seem to be soliciting endorsement for their misleading mantra of ‘everything not working in the country today’ and they have targeted people who appear to have some credibility in society but are gullible to prosecute that agenda.

Certainly, the 20 months of the Atta Mills government has delivered on many fronts.

* For over two years, The NPP led government was unable to pay newly recruited teachers their salaries and related allowances not to mention Railway workers, nurses and doctors. The NDC government of President Atta Mills has addressed these challenges they left behind.


* The Atta Mills government is constructing 120 dormitories for schools across the country within the less than two year period it took office. President Mills takes credit for initiating the process of eliminating the school shift system as well as phasing out the holding of classes under trees. Presently over a thousand new classroom blocks have replaced out of the over 4,000 classes that were conducted under trees during the NPP era.

* Within these 20 months in office of this government 38 Colleges of Education are being integrated into the Tertiary system. Polytechnics have been accredited to offer Bachelor of Technology degrees, particularly in Science, Technology and ICT; while work has started in earnest on two new universities; one in the Volta Region and the other in the Brong Ahafo Region. In the eight years the NPP ruled this country how many additional universities did they build?

* The government increased the Capitation Grant by 50% from GH¢ 3.00 to GH¢ 4.50 to support access, participation and quality in basic schools and provided school children with free uniforms and exercise books.

* Today, the NDC government is constructing additional classroom blocks for 214 SHS in the country to cater for the extension of the Senior High School (SHS) system from three to four years which the NPP introduced without having comprehensive plans to build new additional school blocks to cater for the unnecessary extension they introduced.

* It is under this NDC-led government that the Tamale hospital is being transformed into an ultra modern Teaching Hospital attached to the University of Development Studies.

* The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government left behind inflation at 20.1 per cent in December 2008. However prudent measures put in place by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has reduced the inflation to 9.3 per cent.



* Data available indicate that total credit advanced to the private sector by the banking sector has moved from GHC4, 238.5 million in February 2008 to GHC 7, 050.1 million in February 2010.

* The Mills administration has done some good work in the areas of agriculture, with GDP growth in agriculture soaring up to 6.2 percent last year, against a target of 5.9.



* Work on a 10 million-dollar Shea nut Factory to process sheanuts into Shea butter, Shea oils and other derivatives has commenced at Buipe.

* Currently, there is more than 30 per cent increase in rice production and five per cent increase in maize production, while sorghum and millet production went up by 20 per cent each. Groundnuts and cowpea also recorded a three per cent growth rate each.

* The decision of the World Food Program (WFP) to purchase 1,433 metric tons of local rice worth $780,000 is a big relief for farmers and a plus point for the NDC Government.

* The construction of 500 boreholes for irrigation and agro processing in all ten Regions is in progress, while studies to activate the Accra Plains irrigation project which can irrigate 150,000 hectares have been completed.

* The second face of the rehabilitation of the Tono irrigation project has been completed and effort to rehabilitate 30 others in the Greater Accra and Volta Region has started.

* The government has established the National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO) to hold food security and intervene in the market where necessary; to purchase, preserve, sell and distribute foodstuff.

* The era of the ‘KUFOUR GALLONS’ and the erratic power rationing as well as the long periods of darkness Ghanaians had to grapple with under the NPP led regime cannot be forgotten. Provision of these utilities have grown by ten percent. It is only a hypocrite who would not have noticed a modest improvement in the situation.



* The NDC government has had the courage to implement the Single Spine Salary Policy. The officers and men of the Ghana Police Service can attest to this.

* Today the international community is hailing Ghana for being committed to the fight against drug trafficking. During the NPP era Ghana was labeled as a hub for narcotic drugs and was placed in the same category by the international community with notorious drug trafficking countries of the world.

* With the road sector, it is important to state that the NPP left office without paying monies owed road contractors. It was this current government that had in addition to other payments in 2009, released an amount of 170 million Ghana Cedis for the payment of road contractors. Most of these contractors had pre- financed their contracts with bank loans.

* Apart from financing the old road projects left behind by the NPP government, Prof Mills, even in the first year of his administration started several new road projects. These include 30 million Euro Awoshie-Pokuase road projects. The 2.6 km Spintex road and the 60 km Adidome-Adiklu-Ho road project Infrastructural development in neglected areas in Mafi Traditional area has also started.



* There are two hundred and eighty-eight (288) ongoing periodic maintenance and minor works projects under the Ghana Highway Authority. One hundred and sixty-one (161) construction, road rehabilitation works and upgrading works are also being undertaken by the Department of Urban Roads. The Department of Feeder Roads currently has over seven hundred on-going construction works under its purview, with one hundred and fourteen starting in 2009.


* It must be stated that a number of the roads constructed during the NPP era were so shoddily done that they turn to develop potholes in less than three years of construction. Unlike the Kufour-led government, the NDC led government does not overprice contracts.

* Again this government paid to the Ghana Commercial Bank a whopping 445 million Ghana Cedis as part-payment for debts owed it by the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). The Bank was on the verge of collapse, and badly exposed as a result of the TOR debt. It is important to note that the NPP instituted the TOR Debt Recovery Levy, and collected from the Ghanaian people monies far in excess of the TOR debt; yet it left office not properly accounting for the monies collected. It will suffice you to know that the NPP diverted about 15 billion cedis of the monies collected to a handful of journalists and media commentators allegedly to do propaganda for the NPP.



* The NDC government been a fulfilling government is going according to what it said in its Manifesto (page 86) i.e. to deal with the housing deficit. The agreement between the government and the Korean company is a bilateral one and payment of the loan is also flexible.



* The STX deal would pump in about 10 billion dollars into the economy and it would also in a way reduce the unemployment situation in the country since the Koreans would use the Ghanaian man power. The local construction companies were not left out of the housing project as it is perceived because the vice president asked all of them to present proposals on the housing deficit.

* The decision of government to prioritize the security agencies as the first beneficiary of thirty thousand housing units out of the intended two hundred thousand (200,000) housing project is laudable and strategic considering the crucial nature of their services to the stable and peaceful development of our society; as well as the deplorable and demoralizing state in which they are currently housed.



* It will be recalled that not until the NDC led government took over the reins of governance last year (2009), Ghana, internationally had gained notoriety as a narcotic drug hub to a point that implicated the Ghana Police Service.


* On the STX deal the NPP made the following allegations:


* The government has denied GRADER equal opportunities as the Koreans and that GRADER could do better but GRADER had not submitted any estimates and drawings to back that point.
* The Korean company is in debt (this was nullified by the information about the company on the internet.)
* The government is using the oil resource to guarantee the loan for the STX deal (this was countered by Mr. Isaac Osei who reacted by saying the NPP also used the cocoa returns to support the Bui dam project)
* Following these allegations you would notice that the NPP were just getting at the government without having the interest of Ghanaians at heart because those allegations were made to score cheap political points.


* As a social democratic Party, the NDC is mindful of the need to providing affordable housing for the majority of the Ghanaian people; a position which is in contrast with that of the previous NPP led government which focused on building deluxe houses the least of which was estimated to cost one hundred thousand dollars, targeted at only the rich and affluent in society.

* The resources spent on such expensive mansions could have been spent in building several affordable housing units such as the Adenta and Sakomono Flats to benefit majority of Ghanaians. It is in the light of these reasoning that the NDC considers the STX Project laudable.


* The NPP’s harsh hostility towards the STX Project is unfortunate but understandable. Anything that should make the NDC favourable and preferred by the electorate must be opposed even when it is of national interest or public good. It was a similar posture adopted by their forebears when the Motorway and the Akosombo Dam were to be constructed in the 1960’s.


* The NDC government has been able to provide adboard motors for fishermen to operate with at a reduced cost. The government did this through the ADB.

* During the NPP era, the adboard motors were not in large quantities and they were given out to NPP members which they resold to the larger fishing community for profit. The NPP members sold the machine for GH 3200-3400 in the month of January- February and in July 2008, sold it for GH 5400


* But now the NDC government is giving out the machine for 4500-4900.

* The NDC administration has been able to make savings as compared to the NPP era where the presidential travels has been slashed by more than 120% in President Mill’s time (Kuffour in 2006 only spent $ 2,725,279.2 on presidential travels and president Mills in 2009 spent $ 9, 2971.69).


* The NDC government focused on equally important issues like paying Nurses who had not been paid for two years, Teachers and also contractors by the NPP administration. The government also looked at reinstating the TOR and Ghana Commercial Bank by paying off TOR debts owed Ghana Commercial Bank.


* NPP had 11 ministers of state in addition to the 23 ministers and NDC has 6 ministers of state in addition to the 23 ministers.

* The NDC government inherited an economy which had all of its economic fundamentals deteriorating, exchange rate depreciating and deficit expanding with apprehensions on the financial market - but now the economy has been stabilized with all of its economic fundamentals strengthened as well as the inflation rate. NDC administration took over office with an inflation rate of 20.7% but it is currently 9.4%. This has stabilized the financial market and the economy at large.


* The Cedi which depreciated by over 23% in the last half of 2008 has been stabilized against all the major currencies and has even appreciated at some point.

* The Bank of Ghana reserves which stood at 2 billion dollars in 2008 is now in excess of 3.5 billion dollars. Interest rates continue to fall much to the excitement of the business community.


* The NDC government under the leadership of Hon. Fritz Baffour has constructed the MAMPROBI CAMARA road and bridge. The construction of the Dansoman High street project has also been initiated (dual carriage road). About 300 people have been given employment due to the construction project and also in different sectors of the economy. 45 adboard motors has also been allocated to the fishermen in this area on good terms (price).

* The government as of the time of the liquidation of the Ghana Airways assets (NPP) had intentions of making profit because these assets were given out to their party activist and family members. Ursula Owusu had the first share of the asset at Roman ridge, Vicky Bright been the second has also put up a real estate development project (Roman Ridge Height). The rest of the assets were given out to party members and family members.


* Government has 11TH AUGUST, 2010 donated 490 Yutong buses to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and private Transport Operations to help boost the transportation system in the country. The Vice President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, explained that the importation of the vehicles was in line with the Atta Mills as ministration’s policy to collaborate with the private sector in the provision to the requisite development projects and services to improve the standard of live in go he people.

* the Ghana Airways Limited, before its demise under the watch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in 2004, had landed properties worth over ¢106 billion ($7,313,380)


* The then government liquidated Ghana Airways because they refused to raise $2million requested by the then management of Ghana Airways to turn around the national carrier.

* The Kufuor government liquidate the airline with a promise to establish a completely new and modern airline. By the time they left office, the new airline was indebted to the tune of $55 million, with no assets to show for it, unlike Ghana Airways.

* The Ghana Airways Training School located at the Switchback Road in Accra, which was also valued at $779,250, was also sold under strange circumstances, in addition to four houses at Roman Ridge in Accra.

* The NPP failed to settle these contractors but passed their burden unto the infant NDC administration. Only a few weeks ago, government paid to the Ghana Commercial Bank a whopping 445 million Ghana Cedis as part-payment for debts owed it by the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). The Bank was on the verge of collapse, and badly exposed as a result of the TOR debt.

* There are three hundred and eighty-eight ongoing periodic maintenance and minor works projects under the Ghana Highway Authority. One hundred and sixty-one construction, road rehabilitation works and upgrading works are also being undertaken by the Department of Urban Roads. The Department of Feeder Roads currently has over eight hundred on-going construction works under its purview.

* According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the revised real GDP estimate for 2009 is GHø 827.72 million, with that of 2008 valued at GHø 794.82 million.

* The agric sector recorded the highest growth of 6.1%, followed by services sector 5.9% and industry 1.6%. The highest contributor to the overall growth rate is the finance sub-sector with 8.7%. This is followed by the crops and livestock, and mining and quarrying subsectors, both growing by 8.2%.


* The sub-sector that contributed the least to overall growth rates are Fishing, construction and manufacturing sub-sectors- which declined by 2.3, 1.7 and 1.3% respectively.

* The agric sector continues to lead the economy with a 34.5% share of total GDP. The sector recorded a growth rate of 5.1%, driven by the crops and livestock sub-sector which was 8.2%. cocoa and marketing sub-sector grew by 6.2%. Fishing is the sub-sector in agric which declined, showing 2.3% change u break GDP compared to 10.0% in 2008

* The overall growth of the industrial sector was 1.6% and the sector contributed 24.9% to the total GDP. The mining sub-sector is estimated to have grown by 8.2% with gold growing by 9.8%


* Production and distribution of electricity and water grew by 7.5%. while production of electricity from hydro-generation increased by 11.1%, production from thermal generation fell by 2.9%. also, water production increased by 7.7%.

* The sector recorded a growth rate of 5.9% and 32.3% share of total GDP. The finance and insurance sub-sector recorded the highest growth rate of 8.7%in the services sector.


* The NYEP has recorded a total of 9997 youth as beneficiaries of the programme in Ashanti region alone. In addition to the already existing modules which first registered 9817 youth as beneficiaries of NYEP, the ICT mobile phone repair module has recently been launched to train an, additional 180 youth in mobile phone repairs and assembling- thus bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 9997. (B&F TIMES JULY 21, 2010)


* Ghana has achieved a 99.99% reduction in the Guinea worm disease since the inception of the Guinea worm eradication programme in 1989. From a high of 4136 cases recorded during the peak o f its outbreak in 2006 only eight cases have been reported in Ghana since the beginning of January 2010, the last case was recorded in May. (THE CHRONICLE; WEDNESDAY JULY 28, 2010GHANA ACHIEVES 99.99% GUINEA WORM ERADICATION)

* Crime in the Tema Metropolis decreased from 34650 from January to June in 2009, to 27046 during the same period this year. (THE CHRONICLE; WEDNESDAY JULY 28 2010-08-23)



* The 37 military hospital, on Tuesday witnessed a ground breaking ceremony to kick start an expansion project, to make the facility a focal point of health delivery in the West African sub-region. (SOURCE: THE NEW CRUSADING GUIDE, PAGE 6; DATE : THURSDAY 5TH AUGUST, 2010-08-23)

* A four-million-dollar 60-bed hospital with staff bungalows and flats at Twifo Praso in the Twifo Hamang-Lower Denkyira district of the Central Region to boost health care delivery in the district. (SOURCE; THE DAILY DISPATCH; Date; 28th July, 2010)


* since 2009 the central regional health directorate has received 300 motor bikes from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ghana Health Service (GHS) for service delivery in the region.

* a 6-unit classroom blocks with ancillary facilities were being constructed in 46 Senior High Schools in central region to be used next academic year at the cost of GH¢12,067,342.10.



Achievement of the Ministry of Agric in 16 months (February 2009-August 2010)

* Production of Medium term Agric sector investment plant (METASIP 2010 – 2015) with inputs form all stakeholders which has guided the strategic implementation of the Agric sector programs and activities.


* Improved youth employment through the Block Farm Program which created 47000 jobs in the 2009 farming season and planned to create 197000 jobs in 2010.


* Increased adoption and use of fertilizer and improved seeds by farmers.

* Establishment of over 80 districts at private sector agric machinery and equipment leasing ventures to provide affordable mechanized services to farmers.



* Stabilized food supply through increased cereal production in 2009 (29% for rice and 10% for maize) as a result of subsidized fertilizer program and enhanced technical assistance to producersalong the value chain.
* Establishment of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) which has purchased maize, rice and soya beans from farmers at guaranteed minimum prices which has assured a last resort market and enhance incomes of farmers and stabilized prices for consumers.


* Enabled WFP for the first time to buy and export maize from Ghana.

The Government of Ghana has released GH¢2.6m loan contract from the Agricultural Development Bank to the Ghana Cotton Company Limited (GCCL) to enhance its purchasing power. The loan is to support the GCCL to purchase cotton from local farmers in the three Northern Regions and also settle debts of service providers. (THE CHRONICLE: Ghana’s cotton industry gets support Tuesday, January 6, 2009)


* Cocoa production in the Assin District of the Central Region increased from 11,625.4 tonnes in 2008-2009 Cocoa seasons to 12,500.4 tonnes in 2009-2010, (Mr. Francis Offe-Sakyi, Assin District Quality Cocoa Control Officer-Thursday, 09 September 2010)


* Accra, Aug 25, GNA - Government has provided GH¢10.7 million to support the youth involved in the farming of crops such as maize, rice, sorghum and soya beans.

The regions to benefit from the programme include Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Brong-Ahafo , Ashanti , Central and Volta regions. The total hectares of land under cultivation are around 14,000.



* Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning said government had also released an amount of GH¢10 million to support the 50 percent subsidy on fertilizer for farmers to expand their production.

* Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), under the Food Security and Emergency Preparedness Programme, was embarking on an extensive production of rice and maize in some strategic locations in the country. GH¢3.6 million had been provided to support the procurement of appropriate machinery and equipment for the planting and harvesting to enable the MoFA to implement the programme successfully.



* TWO HEALTH Training Institutions in the Upper East region, Bolgatanga Nurses Training College and the Bolgatanga Midwifery Training College have received brand new buses at a handing over ceremony conducted by the Health Minister, Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor. The two institutions also received ten computers and their accessories each to augment their ICT laboratories which are yet to be connected to their internet to enhance research by student and lectures.

* The Effutu Municipal Assembly is constructing an ultra-modern market complex at Winneba junction in the Central Region at a cost of GH¢5 million, which includes 45 shops, offices, an internet café, library, post office, clinic, power hydrant, space for banks, cold store, four super-markets, 20 warehouses, 144 market stall, nursery schools, market administration center, 100 car parking slots, mosque, four eateries, with first class toilet facilities.



* Obokuma-Atta IX, the chief of Gomoa Dasum, has praised the government for rebuilding the Fawomanye/Gomoa Akotsi road.

* Government as part of its zeal to boost teacher education in Ghana has supported the oldest teaching training college in Tamale called Bagabaga College of Education with vehicles, lecture hall facility and a modern library to improve activities excellence there. This correlates with government’s policy direction to train more qualified teachers to commensurate with the high enrolment in schools due to the introduction of the school feeding Programme and the increment in the Capitation Grant.
*
* THE MINISTRY of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) in June given approval for the payment of 15 percent of monthly Gross Salary as Professional Allowance to certified teachers in the Ghana Education Service (GES) which have come into effect. Salary arrears have also been paid.




The ABC of President John Agyekum Kufuor's 8 Years

* In the 2006, an overwhelming 66% of all Senior Secondary School students in Ghana who sat for SSS-CE examination failed. In 2007, the failure rate again stood at 60%. At the basic level, the story was equally sad with massive failure rates all over the country.



* Alhaji Moctar Musa Bamba, former Member of Parliament for Wenchi East and Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs was accused by a colleague minister of visa racketeering, forgery and extortion of money.

* President Kufuor was accused of fornication and adultery by his former Economic and Financial Adviser MS. GIZEL YATZY, on public radio that she had had an affair with the President for over a year. The affair she claimed had resulted in her having twins with President Kufuor whom she named Phillip and John.



* The same Ms. Gizel Yatzy accused President Kufuor of having used his position to blackmail one Mr. Saoud, a Ghanaian –Lebanese businessman to let him part with his hotel in the vicinity of the President's private house at Dzorwulu in Accra, using his son Chief Kufuor as a front for the transaction.

* Taking a cue from the moral bankruptcy of the President, Dr. Richard Anane former Minister of Health and later of Roads Transport, also engaged in extra marital affairs with Ms. Alexandra O'Brien an American citizen while he was on an official trip to the United States attending an AIDS conference. He was accused of fornication and adultery having an unprotected sex with Ms. O’Brien.



* Honorable Kwamena Bartels took a cue from President Kufuor hiding behind his son to buy a hotel, to also arrange in Ghana government guaranteed loan of over four billion cedis for his daughter and his son-in-law.

* Mr. Isaac Amoo the Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization under NPP procured moth infested rice worth billions of cedis for distribution to the victims of the northern floods disaster.



Since then numerous corruption scandals broke out in the Kufuor administration, the NPP had these justifications:

* “corruption could not be eradicated because it was part of human kind since it started in the days of Adam and Eve, and that it was as old as creation itself”.

* “many people had attempted to bribe him with loads of money but he had asked them to hold on and come later because the time was not ripe then”.



* Ghanaians would recall that the former Chairman of the NPP Mr. Haruna Esseku, personally accused President Kufuor of receiving bribes(kick backs) from Contractors, and that the President had turned his office at the Castle into an NPP finance office and was personally disbursing monies for party activities thereby sidelining him and the party executives.

* Mr. Eric Amoateng, a serving NPP Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North was arrested in the United States of America for smuggling drugs into that country, said to be worth some six million dollars ($6,000,000). Eric Amoateng voluntarily pleaded guilty to the crime and is now serving his sentence in the United States.



Anane: As the health minister, Dr Anane went to an AIDS conference, forgot to use a condom and tried to cover up his stupidity with state funds, which partly resulted in the collapse of Ghana Airways. Dr Anane Epitomizes all that is wrong with the Kufuor administration – Corruption, Greed, Judiciary Manipulation, Lies, Nepotism, Tribalism, and Womanizing.

* Bamba: Single handedly put to rest Kufuor’s campaign slogan “Zero Tolerance for Corruption”. Alhaji Bamba was fired for a crime, but was never prosecuted. Meanwhile members of the opposition were put on show trials and jailed.



* Corruption: Kufuor has been able to buy a $4m hotel, acquired a $500,000 house in Kumasi and his foreign bank account overflowing…..

* Drugs: Eight years ago, the most common drug in Ghana was Marijuana (aka wee). In the NPP’s time it was Crack Cocaine.



* Economy: Kufuor’s mantra for the last 8 years has always been that NPP has laid a solid foundation for the economy to take off. Now that NPP gov't has found itself in a tight spot, President Kufuor blamed the poor Ghanaian for not working hard enough to make ends meet referring to complaining Ghanaians as lazy.

* Football: The “Kokofu version”. All his relatives were in government or awarded government contracts.



* Ghana@50: The NPP government spent over $31 million on hotels, Jaguars etc, yet at the same time went people are begging for $17 million to fight malaria. Whatever happened to all those cars?



* Infidelity: What happened between Lady Gizella and Kufuor is no longer a mystery. If you ask me I’ll say pants dropped, Viagra pills popped, and there were twins ;)

* Jets: Kufuor purchased two presidential jets for delivery in 2010 - He will not be in office at that time and so the motivation for purchasing the jets can only be that of bribes/kickbacks, that is often paid upfront, as soon as the contract is awarded!



* Kyeremanteng: Alan Cash" run the Presidential Special Initiatives (PSI) for everything imaginable - cassava, oil palm, salt, cotton, guinea corn, pito, grass cutters, garments, and coconuts – and achieved nothing and yet Kufuor wanted us to elect him. Talk about tribalism!
* Lies: 8 years ago Kufuor told us that things will get better in 2 years…nada! 6 years ago he said Ghanaian will see the ‘fruits of his govt’s labor in 4 years” … Dabi! Today it’s “Kufuor assures Ghanaians of good times ahead”.. Only a fool will take his words seriously.

* Mobila: Who killed this man?



* Order of the Star and Eagles: Kufuor created this ‘awam’ award, spent $1.4 million of our taxpayer’s money to buy medals from abroad and bestowed it onto himself. Amin and Bokassa must be laughing in their graves.

* Traveling: According to a minister, Kufuor’s travels cost Ghana €300,000/trip. Kufuor has made roughly 200 trips, which add up to about €60 million…. Enough to build over 50 schools.



* VALCO: JAK bought Kaiser Aluminum's 90% stake in this dead company for $18 million and now nobody wants it. To hide the crime of "causing financial loss to the state, he lied to the nation that many companies have lined up to buy it.

* Xenophobia: Kufuor is most defiantly not anti-foreigner. He’s sold everything we have, worth selling, to foreigners and even goes to them for his “Olympic” gold medals, when Ghana is the ex-gold coast.



o Yaa Naa: Who killed this king?







Source: ....Read It Here