| News Home (Main Page) | | AFRICAN NEWSPAPER | | LATEST WORLD NEWS | | | | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2009 | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2008 | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2007 | | PHOTO REPORTS | | VIDEO REPORTS | | ARTS in GHANA | | Food & Drinks in Ghana |  | | Africa Cup 2008 | | Ghana Hotels | | Links / Websites | | Ghana Districts | | Ghana Tourism | | Ghana Adinkra | Names in Ghana | | | | * 25.02.2010 | Africa celebrates Lifestyles Day on Friday, February 26 * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - As Africa celebrates Africa Healthy Lifestyle Day on Friday, February 26, Ghanaians have been urged to commit themselves to healthy lifestyles and physical activity to stay healthy and live longer. "Younger and younger people are now suffering from hypertension, stroke and certain cancers. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are often costly to treat and require lifelong treatment as many are not curable. And so the best approach is prevention," Dr Billy Bosu, Head of NCDs of Ghana Health Service (GHS) said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday.
The last Friday of February each year, has been set aside by the African Union Executive Council, as Africa Healthy Lifestyle Day under the theme the theme "Food, Fun and Fitness: Health is Wealth". The day, which was adopted within the framework of the World Health Organisation (WHO) strategy for prevention and control of NCDs, is based on the fact that Africa is not only plagued with the scourge of preventable communicable diseases, but also with NCDs, most of which can be prevented by adopting lifelong healthy eating lifestyle and physical activity; as well as regular medical assessment or screening.
In addition, Africa is plagued with urbanisation coupled with loss of traditional plant-based diet in preference for energy-dense fatty fast-foods and compounded by physical inactivity, stress and lack of recreational spaces.
Dr Bosu noted that government was committed to the prevention and control of NCDs and had emphasised health promotion in the current health policy and introduced a Regenerative Health and Nutrition Programme. "Let us strive to live longer and healthier. We all have a responsibility to each other and to the young ones. Let us enjoy our food, have fun in doing our physical activity and maintain our fitness. Remember that Health is Wealth," he said.
In Ghana the common NCDs are hypertension and heart-related diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases. According to the GHS, hypertension and heart related diseases accounted for more than 14 per cent of deaths in the past few years, ahead of malaria which was responsible for 13 per cent of deaths. In some regions, hypertension is the second commonest new outpatient disease diagnosed in public health facilities. More than 700,000 cases of hypertension were recorded in 2009.
Surveys in adult populations in Ghana indicate that 28 to 48 per cent have hypertension. Of those with hypertension, about 70 per cent are not aware they have the disease.
In some surveys, about nine per cent of adults are found to have diabetes, with majority of them not being aware of their condition as these diseases often did not have any symptoms, hence, their nickname 'silent killers'. | Samini Commits ‘Sweet Mistake’ * Source: Peacefmonline.com/ Eugene Osafo-Nkansah | Award-winning Ghanaian Afro-Reggae musician, Emmanuel Samini, known in showbiz circles as Samini, is famed for his crisp voice and hitting the right notes in his music career.
But his love life sounds quite discordant with the music icon currently entangled in a love web that aptly reflects the title of his next musical creation, Sweet Mistake. Arguably the hottest Ghanaian music artiste, Samini is blessed with a voice and looks one would die for.
It comes as little surprise the musician is caught between two women. Early this month, the star got engaged to a U.K-based Ghanaian, Mercy Geker, at a private ceremony in London which sparked off controversy after it was discovered Samini was already married to another woman, Christian Aboagye Mensah with whom he fathered a daughter.
Information gathered by peacefmonline indicates that Samini performed customary marriage rites to seal his relationship with Ms. Geker, mother of their six-month old baby girl, Yelisun Samini. The ceremony in London comes less than a year after his engagement to Ms. Aboagye at Gbawe in Accra at the time she was away in Canada with their six-year-old daughter, Toyila Samini.
Although caught between two women, Samini appears unfazed by the seeming controversy he has courted. For him, the controversial marriages were borne out of a strong love for his “angels” – Yelisum and Toyila, his two wives and a desire to maintain the family unit. “I have two beautiful girls with both of them (Christiana and Mercy). I treat theme equally and love them equally.
The last thing I want to do is to leave my child and her mother in another man’s hands to become a stepchild,” Samini told peacefmonline in a telephone interview last Monday. Not one to be swayed by the raging controversy, Samini is determined to maintain the status quo. “I want to be with both children and both women and take care of them.
I cannot let go of any of them. The jury may be out on the love triangle but the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAS) Best Performer remains unperturbed by the criticism. “I don’t think it’s a crime to give birth with two women and decide to take full responsibility of them both. But even if it’s a crime,I have committed it for family,” he responded. Samini’s Sweet Mistake song is due to be released soon, as single from his upcoming CEO (Crucial Entertainment Outlaw) album, with the music video also due for premier on MTV in the coming weeks. The multiple Ghana Music Awards winner and MTN icon is pursuing a course in professional production at the Point Blank Music College in London. He is expected back home in April to launch the CEO album which features artistes from Senegal, South Africa, UK, Nigeria, Kenya and some colleagues in Ghana. | Ashanti gets exercise books, school uniforms * Source: GNA | Adidwan (Ash), Feb. 25, GNA - The Ministry of Education has released 7.1 million exercise books and 10,300 school uniforms for distribution to school children in the Ashanti Region.
Already the region has taken delivery of 1.2 million exercise books and 8,700 school uniforms.
Mr. Joseph Kwabena Onyinah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, said that arrangements had been made to cart the remaining package from Accra to Kumasi.
He had paid a visit to Adidwan Presbyterian Junior High School in Mampong Municipal, where more than 340 pupils attend classes under trees. Mr. John Assifuah, headteacher, said the school would need eight additional classrooms and explained that the School Feeding Programme and other government interventions had resulted in an increase in enrolment and retention of school children. He said the United Nations Education Fund project had pledged to build more classrooms for the school. | Akim Akwaboso Residents appeal for help * Source: GNA | Akim Akwaboso (E/R), Feb. 25, GNA - Residents of Akim Akwaboso in th= e Atiwa District have expressed worry about activities of illegal miners inthe area. Speaking to GNA at Akwaboso, the Unit Committee Vice- Chairman, Mr Charles Afforo Appiah, said the illegal miners among other things were polluting their sources of water and degrading the environment. He said their main source of drinking water is the River Birim but is always polluted by the illegal miners.
Mr Aforo appealed to the assembly to come to their aid by providing them with bore holes. The community appealed to the district assembly to have the River Birim dredged to enable boat owners to ferry farmers to marketing centres to sell their farm produce. | | ______________________ |
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| LATEST GHANA NEWS Thursday, 25 February 2010 WEEK 08 - 2010 |
| * Thursday, 25 February 2010 | | Prof Kludze calls for a repeal of the Transitional Provisions * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - A former Justice of the Supreme Court has called for a repeal of the Transitional Provisions in the 1992 Constitution saying it had granted immunity for criminal acts committed in the name of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
Prof. A.K.P. Kludze, an Emeritus Professor of Law and a retired Judge of the Supreme Court, said an amendment of the Statute of Limitations must follow the repeal so that in respect of civil claims, time may run only from the date the repeal becomes effective.
He was speaking on Wednesday at the third day of a three-day J.B. Danquah Memorial Lecture series organized by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) in Accra.
It was under the theme "Institutional Responses to the Challenges of Nationhood and Democratic Governance in Ghana."
Prof Kludze described a transitional provision in a given legislation as a temporary arrangement that took care of inconsistencies that might arise when a new law came into effect but stressed that those in the 1992 Constitution were crafted with the intent that they should be enduring as long as the constitution remained in force.
"This means that persons killed or maimed, brutalized, falsely arrested and imprisoned, in the name of or on the orders of that military regime, cannot have redress in any court of law. The perpetrators cannot be asked to account for their actions. I do not believe that that was what Flt Lt J.J. Rawlings wanted," he said.
He said that he believed Former President Rawlings would like to account for his stewardship to the citizenry stressing that as long as there exist no accountability; the situation created an avenue for peddling of rumours, falsehoods and half-truths about the PNDC regime. "Persons who acted irresponsibly and in defiance of the orders of the PNDC may have hidden behind the immunity granted by the Transitional Provisions," he said.
Referring to a recent statement made by Dr Obed Asamoah, a former PNDC functionary, that the provisions were a contract made between the coup makers and Ghanaians, Prof Kludze said the military rulers rather imposed the provisions on the people.
"To say to the people of Ghana that they would not get their freedom unless they agreed to indemnity for their oppressors would be a case of blackmail and of undisguised and unmitigated military duress. Any agreement under such circumstances would be unenforceable under any system of jurisprudence. Our freedom in not negotiable," he said.
Prof Kludze said since Ghana should not anticipate any more military overthrow of government, there was no need to arrange what he described as an appeasement in advance for coup makers as found in the transitional provisions in the constitution, adding that an appeasement would rather invite and embolden military adventurers to attempt coups d'etat. "Dr Asamoah's argument that the removal of the transitional provisions would frighten future coup makers to seek to perpetuate themselves in power, is immature, we do not and should not anticipate any more military overthrow of our government," he said.
The J.B. Danquah Memorial Lecture series was instituted in 1968 in memory of Dr Joseph Boakye Danquah who died in prison in February 1965. He was a lawyer, dramatist and a journalist.
The themes for the lectures were originally restricted to fields like law, history, philosophy and literature but in 1976, the first science lecture was delivered on an otherwise humanities-dominated platform. Out of the 43 lectures given so far, 13 have been on scientific themes | Achimota Forest to become a world class ecotourism hub in 2012 * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - Achimota Forest will be adjusted to a world class tourism enclave without destroying the ecosystem but attempts to construct a road through it will nose-dive this objective, Mr Samuel Afari Dartey, Acting Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission has said.
Mr Dartey told the Public Accounts Committee when he appeared before it that the two-year programme, which had already started, would include nature walk in which tourists walking round would see animals in their natural habitat as they trek.
"There will be museums, eco-lodges, picnic sides, safari drives, animal introduction, arboretum for the purpose of research and many attractions that could generate a lot of income much more than the $60,000 currently generated annually," he said. He said however, that the road passing through the forest could badlyaffect not only the programme but the environment.
"Achimota Forest is the only green belt in Accra that absorbs the pollutions from the combustive motor cars and the only wind break in the city," he said.
Mr Dartey said since those praying in the forest do not pose any threat to the forest, religious groups could be allowed to pray in the forest but must observe certain rules that would guide their activities. The committee was stern on the management of the Forestry Commission and said it should do everything in its power to wind-up the Ghana Timber Supplies Limited that has been dormant since 2003 but continues to incur administrative, accounting and auditing costs. The company, according to the Auditor General's report, was a subsidiary company that was incorporated in England and Wales on the January 18, 1994 with registration number 2888798.
Mr Mike Asaam, Acting Director of Finance of the Forestry Commission , said the winding-up procedure had already begun and would soon be completed to save the state from incurring unnecessary cost. The PAC during the turn of Mineral Marketing Company Limited (PMMC) charged its management to retrieve an A24,680,512,018 Sian Goldfields owed the company. Sian Goldfield went into an agreement to supply PMMC with some precious metals which PMMC pre-financed but the commodity could not deliver making Sian Goldfields indebted to PMMC.
Mr Bernard Anang, Chief Finance Officer of Precious assured PAC that everything would be done to have the money retrieved. Mr Ben Aryee, CEO of the Mineral Commission, said though mining could degrade the environment the benefits that mining communities derived outweigh the losses but added that there must be some improvement on the social responsibilities of the mining companies. He said all royalties that accrued from mining activities went to the government and that 10 per cent of the amount was given to the Stool Lands Commission and 55 per cent allocated to district assembly. | | > BACK to TOP < | Ghana to fast-track infrastructure for oil - Mills * Source: Kwasi Kpodo/Reuters | - President outplans plans in state of nation speech
- Fast-track plan for deep-sea oil port, rail upgrade
- Ghana 'poised to be major producer of oil and gas' Ghana will fast-track construction of a deep sea oil port and revamp a major rail link in 2010 to help exploit its energy and minerals, President John Atta Mills was due to say in a state of the nation address on Thursday.
Ghana is set to become a commercial energy producer by the end of the year when the huge offshore Jubilee field comes on line, according to the speech, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.
The world's second largest cocoa producer and regional economic heavyweight is expecting sustained growth after having stabilised its cedi currency.
"Ghana is poised to be a major producer of oil and gas and I have instructed the Energy Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, to fast-track investments in the necessary infrastructure, including a deep sea port with a dedicated oil services facility and the rehabilitation of the western railway corridor," said the text of the speech.
"These flagship investments will not only create significant employment themselves, but will also support the growth of other industries. What is more, the development of the gas sector will allow the development of higher efficiency gas turbines, which in turn will ensure a dependable electricity supply at internationally competitive tariffs."
Mills narrowly won a largely peaceful presidential election in January 2009, succeeding John Kufuor. He struggled early in the year with soaring inflation and the depreciation of the cedi against the dollar and other major currencies.
"I am glad to say that we quickly halted the rapid depreciation of the cedi and by the middle of 2009, it had begun to appreciate against almost all the major currencies of the world. Today, we have a stable currency as well as other indicators pointing to healthy economic conditions for real take-off into sustained growth," the prepared remarks said.
Ghana is also planning to start development of an integrated aluminium industry based on the nation's rich bauxite reserves, according to the speech. | | > BACK to TOP < | Atta-Mills to Deliver State of the Nation Address Today * Source: VOA | A cabinet minister says President John Atta-Mills will keep his promise of a “better Ghana” in his second state of the nation address to parliament in the capital, Accra Thursday.
Information minister John Akologu Tia said Ghanaians are better off today than they were under the previous administration.
“We were able to stabilize the economy; we were able to provide jobs; we were able to provide some infrastructure and we were able to build the capacity basis of our human resource foundation. We have set the agenda to move towards a better Ghana that was promised. So we are now going to look at how…we move to achieve those goals we have set,” he said.
Critics have often accused President Atta-Mills of showing little or no commitment towards keeping the promises he made to change the way issues are addressed, including building a stronger economy and tackling high unemployment among the youth.
But information minister Tia said President Atta-Mills will outline strategies and policies aimed at achieving his pledge of a better Ghana in his address. “I think those concerns have already been addressed except that people will want to know how far have we gone? We did indicate that what the government inherited was so colossal debt outlay that the government had to struggle to defray before it could even take off, and it has been able to do that. So, what we think Ghanaians should be expecting now is how we move towards achieving the better Ghana agenda after we have been able to overcome some of these initial problems,” Tia said.
President Mills declared that 2010 would be an action year despite the challenges his administration faced after ascending to power. “The challenges were such that, but for our courage, and our belief in ourselves, we could have thrown up our arms in despair. But as you can see, we have been able to revise the...economy. We have been able to halt the depreciation of the cedi. Indeed, the cedi now is doing very well against all the major currencies of the world,” President Mills said in the Ghanaian media.
But an opposition Member of Parliament, Catherine Afeku, who is also a former cabinet minister in the previous administration, said the government has failed to build up the economy that would generate jobs and alleviate the frustration and suffering of the average Ghanaian.
She said President Atta-Mills is yet to keep his better Ghana pledge. “To be very honest the short answer is no. The excuse being given is it’s a four-year term so it’s not over yet. But I think the first impressions will last longer. We are 14-months into the administration (and) I think that the early signs are not really giving people confidence,” she said.
She said the government has failed to take advantage of the goodwill and interest from the international investor community after U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Ghana last year. | | > BACK to TOP < | Child Labour Cash Lands in Wrong Pockets * Source: The Enquirer/By Larry-Alans Dogbey
| Enoch Teye Mensah, who was recently vetted as a minister-designate, would have his character tested when he assumes office and comes face to face with a clear case of conflict of interest, involving a departmental head under the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.
The outgoing minister, Stephen Kwao Amoanor, and his deputy, Antwi-Boasiko Sekyere, appear not to have shown interest in the matter, which The Enquirer’s Intelligence has revealed was investigated by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), which still has custody of it.
The National Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour in Cocoa Farms, a donor-funded project under the Ministry, has become a goldmine for the officer-in-charge, Mrs. Rita Owusu Amankwah, who is the programme manager, and her husband, Yaw Owusu Amankwah, to amass funds from DANIDA, Ghana Cocoa Board and other sponsors of the programme.
Mr. and Mrs. Owusu Amankwah set up and succeeded in smuggling their own Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) called ‘Aid For Change Ghana,’ into a group of NGOs partnering the programme and managed to advance huge sums to it, purported to be for educating cocoa growing communities against the use of children in cocoa farms.
When confronted by The Enquirer, Mrs. Amankwah confirmed she was part of the NGO, but denied its ownership. She declined to give out the names of its directors and insisted she only accepted an invitation by a friend to be part of the NGO, and thought that her loving husband should also be a partner.
She described her membership of the NGO, which she claimed she has since resigned, as an act of indiscretion on her part, and insisted that there was nothing corruptible about her conduct.
However, investigation by this paper unearthed documents, which prove the assertion of Mrs. Amankwah deceitful. The documents obtained from the Registrar Generals Department in Accra, name her and Mr. Owusu Amankwah as the first and second directors of “Aid for Change Ghana.”
Mr. Amankwah is further listed on the document as the ‘Secretary’ and the person who, as a matter of fact, submitted the papers to get the NGO registered to the Registrar Generals’ Department.
As of last year, out of a total amount of GHc100, 000 earmarked for the programme, GHc40,000 was paid into the Programme Manager’s NGO account at the Adum-Kumasi-Harper Road Branch of Standard Chartered Bank, The Enquirer investigations has revealed.
The shocking thing about Mr. Owusu Amankwah’s NGO is that at the time of advancing these monies into its coffers, the NGO, which was registered in November 2008, had no track record at all in the areas for which the monies were advanced to it, even though track record was listed as a key requirement in the selection process.
Again, although the number of districts given each partner NGO was based on track record and experience, “Aid For Change Ghana,” just few months after its formation, was given five districts, namely Tano South, Tano North, Ahafo Ano South, Asutifi and Dormaa in the Brong Ahafo Region, the highest number of districts given any single NGO under the project.
Another scandalous thing about the project was that at the time that the huge monies were being advanced to “Aid For Change Ghana,” the Department of Social Welfare, had not granted it an operational license, which was another key requirement for an NGO to operate.
Other documents on “Aid For Change Ghana,” sighted by The Enquirer, also reveal that another key official of the programme at the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, one Vincent Frimpong Manu, a Programme Remediation Officer of the project, is a board member of the project manager’s NGO.
Indeed, Vincent Frimpong Manu, in his capacity as Programme Remediation Officer (1), applied to the Chief Director of the ministry, Mr. E. A. Akuffo, for the release of funds to ‘Aid for Change Ghana’, through Rita Owusu Amankwah herself, following a memo from the Managing Director of the NGO, Nelson Gyasi-Boadu, dated, June 23, 2009.
It was further revealed that Nelson Gyasi-Boadu, who is based in Kumasi, is a front man for Mrs. Rita Owusu Amankwah, as she does all the paperwork in Accra, and calls him from the Ashanti Region to append his signature before sending it to the Chief Director, Mr. Akuffo, through either Mrs. Owusu Amankwah herself or Mr. Manu.
Reports obtained by The Enquirer suggest that the day-to-day running of the NGO is technically done at the ministry, specifically in the office of the Programme’s Manager.
A careful perusal of the documents, reveal that Nelson Gyasi-Boadu, who has been requesting for monies on behalf of the NGO, as Managing Director, is not an executive council member of ‘Aid For Change Ghana’.
Members of the executive council include the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Owusu Amankwah, Emmanuel Amofa, Alex Owusu Adjei and one Matilda Nyantakyi Broni, based in Kumasi, and said to be a lifelong pal of Rita.
Rita is reported to have fallen for Matilda’s counsel, after she one day stormed the ministry and openly advised her to also ‘chop’ some of the donors’ cash, instead of doling it out to other NGOs to ‘chop’. This is said to have conceptualized the formation of “Aid For Change Ghana.”
The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr. Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, when reached, told The Enquirer that the issue was brought to their (he and Mr. Stephen Kwao Amoanor) attention in September, last year by the BNI, which also informed them of its investigations.
However, since that time, no attempt has been made, according to the Deputy Minister, to know the outcome of the BNI probe. “We are waiting on the BNI to bring their report to us,” he told The Enquirer, when asked why the ministry had not followed up on the investigations.
Meanwhile, another document written to the Chief Director by the head of the Internal Audit Unit of the ministry, Mr. Eric Afriyie, dated December 15, 2009, and sighted by The Enquirer, has called for an immediate termination of the partnership between the programme and “Aid For Change Ghana.”
It described the involvement of Mrs. Rita Owusu Amankwah in “Aid for Change Ghana” and its partnership with the ministry as a conflict of interest issue, and therefore it must be terminated | | > BACK to TOP < | | Ex-Ministers Indicted Over G¢60 Billion * Source: The Enquirer | A 2008 audit investigation of the Ministry of Information has indicted two former Deputy Ministers of Finance for wrongfully withdrawing ¢60 billion from four bank accounts, recommending that the two, together with a former Chief Director of the Ministry should be sanctioned.
According to the audit report, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, “Wrongfully released a total of GH¢6,000,000 equivalent to ¢60 billion from the Petroleum Debt Recovery, the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative, and the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative Fund Accounts to the Ministry of Information.
The audit stated that the ¢60 billion was partly “misapplied on a Communication Strategy Programme,” adding that in future, “no payments should be made from the Petroleum Debt Recovery Fund because it contravenes the law which set the fund up”.
“Similarly”, the report added “No payments should be made from the three other funds without Parliamentary approval.”
The audit report revealed that the previous government budgeted for a whopping US$8.9 million, representing about ¢82 billion for the implementation of the so-called Communication Strategy Programme. The actual amount spent was GH¢5.999, 562.18.
“From available correspondence, we noted that the strategy was discussed at Cabinet meetings and approved although there was no approval letter to that effect.
“A budget was later prepared estimating that the total cost of implementing the programme billion but we found no Cabinet approval of the budget. We did not also find in the 2007 and 2008 national budgets Parliamentary approval for the expenditures incurred,” the report reveals.
TOR
On the withdrawal of over ¢15 billion from the Tema Oil Refinery Debt Recovery Account to pay to journalists and a group of phony radio callers, the audit report stated that, Section 6 (1) of the Debt Recovery Fund Act, 2003 stated that:
“The monies assigned to the Fund shall only be disbursed for the purpose of payment of debts incurred by the Tema Oil Refinery Company and interest accruing on the debts”
The report observed that in blatant contravention of the relevant section of the Act, the ¢15 billion was released to the Ministry from the Petroleum Debt recovery Funds Account. No 0123260014022 with Bank of Ghana “on the instructions of Mr. Kwabena Adjei Mensah, who was then Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.”
The audit report indicated that the “withdrawal of monies from the Debt Recovery Fund account deprived Tema Oil Refinery of resources needed to meet interest and Capital payments on due rates.”
Furthermore, the investigation stated that even though there were claims that “Cabinet has approved” a Government Communication Strategy Programme, as a basis for the blowing of the over ¢60 billion , “we found that no such strategy document existed.”
DIC
Under the same so-called Communication Strategy the audit report states that “Under Section 6, of the Financial Administration Act, 2003, (Act 654), Divestiture proceeds form part of the Consolidated Fund. According to Section 178 of the 1992 Constitution, no moneys shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund except:
“To meet expenditure that is charged on that fund by the Constitution or by an Act of Parliament or Where the issue of those monies has been authorized by an Appropriation Act or by a Supplementary estimate approved by resolution of Parliament passed for the purpose.”
The report stated that, contrary to the above , we found the MoFEP released ¢15 billion to the Ministry of Information, from account No. 0124260021000 held by the Bank of Ghana, upon instructions of Hon. Professor G. Gyan-Baffour, former Deputy Minister.
MDRI
The audit investigation said “According to Section 6 (1) of the Financial Administration Act, any Money received for Government business shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund. As such funds received from under Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) form part of Money’s received for government business or on behalf of the Government, even though such money’s are credited into MDRI account at the Bank of Ghana”
The audit report noted that the modalities for the disbursement of MDRI funds are agreed with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank and incorporated into the national budget, which is approved by Parliament.
The report said, in contravention of the above, Hon. Dr. Akoto Osei, then Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning by a letter dated October 20, 2008 with reference No.MB77/190/03 orchestrated the release of ¢15 billion. Auditor General’s Department stated that even though that amount was blown on the Communicating Strategy, “we found no evidence that there was any agreement with the three donor institutions to spend the MDRI funds on it.”
HIPC
Again, from the HIPC fund, the previous government paid yet another ¢15 billion for the mystery Communication Strategy on the instructions of Dr. Akoto Osei. But the report observes that under the Section 6 (1a) of the Financial Administration Act, Funds transferred into the HIPC account at Bank of Ghana form part of “money’s received for government business or on behalf of the Government” and so the modalities for disbursement of the fund are therefore included in the national budget, which is approved by Parliament.
The audit indicated that when they contacted the Ministry of Finance to respond to their observations, the response was that “they did not know why these funds were released from those sources.”
The audit concluded on this matter saying that “in our opinion, making payments from the Consolidated Fund without the approval of Parliament was not only unconstitutional and a breach of the Financial discipline but it also deprived other sectors of the economy, funds which had been approved for their use” | | > BACK to TOP < | Mills: Ghana to lose respect if food importation continues * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - Ghana cannot be a well-respected member of the community of nations if it continues to import food items produced in countries with less favourable climate, President John Evans Atta Mills said on Thursday.
He said tomatoes, onions, plantain and other food items are native to Ghana's climate, and Ghana also has land and the resources, including human resources, to increase food production and ensure food security. President Mills said Government has initiated a progressive agricultural policy towards increased food production and lower food prices. Delivering his second State-of-the-Nation address to Parliament on Thursday, President Mills said Government could have no excuses not to ensure food security and it was determined to make it easier for everyone to have enough food at affordable costs.
"We can have no excuses and when we seek the people's mandate, they will judge our success in this task." President Mills said Government has established a Buffer Stock Management Agency, to hold food security buffer stocks and intervene in the market when there was a glut.
He said the Agency would in the course of the year take over and rehabilitate the 12 warehouses of the erstwhile Ghana Food Distribution Corporation.
President Mills also said the National Pre-Mix Committee has been reconstituted and Beach Landing Committees have been formed to ensure efficient and transparent distribution of premix fuel to fishermen. He said that the uncertainties surrounding premix fuel distribution have virtually been resolved.
President Mills said that pair trawling is prohibited and the Navy has been instructed to apprehend all those who engage in that criminal activity which is destroying the livelihood of Ghana's hardworking fishermen and their dependants.
He said that the fertilizer subsidy programme would be extended to all crop farmers and Government would also accelerate the Youth-in-Modern Agriculture development programme.
The President announced that an idea of Agricultural Development and Investment Fund was being worked out as response to the Government manifesto to promote rural financial intermediation and to establish an Agricultural Development Fund. | | > BACK to TOP < | Mixed reaction about President's State of Nation address * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - Mrs Catherine Afeku Ambelema, Member of Parliament (MP) for Evalue Gyira on Thursday described the State of the Nation Address by President John Atta Mills as full of recycled and failed promises.
She told the Ghana News Agency that the address did not touch on increased tariffs and the one time premium payment for the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Ms Afeku said apart from the Youth- in- Agriculture- Programme, the president left out a number of sectors that could provide employment for the people.
Mr Kwame Amporfo Twumasi, MP for Nkoranza South, said the promise by the President to eliminate schools that offer lessons under trees was not new, saying the policy was started by the previous government. "What I expect the President to tell Ghanaians is how many schools will be removed under trees?"
Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Member for Manhyia said the President's address did not contain road maps on job creation. Mr Alban Bagbin Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing said the President's speech was very good because it captured most of the policies the government was taking to fulfil the a better Ghana agenda. Mr Rashid Pelpuo Deputy Minority Leader said the speech of the president highlighted what the ruling National Democratic Congress had achieved so far and defined the way forward.
He said the achievement in the agriculture was commendable making reference to the Buffer Stock Management Agency, which would take over the rehabilitation of the 12 ware houses of the erstwhile Ghana Food Distribution Corporation.
Mr Yieleh Chieleh, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said the address was great and full of hope. He said the speech had given new impetus to the decentralisation process, which would give more power to the local people because of the far reaching reforms the President promised. | | > BACK to TOP < | Police apologises to Finatrade Group of Companies * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - The Ghana Police Command on Thursday apologised to Finatrade Group of Companies for wrongfully arresting and detaining three of the company's staff members for unlawful importation of narcotic drugs through the Tema Harbour.
"The Ghana Police service hereby makes an unqualified retraction of the false accusation made against the said Group of Companies, their Directors and Employees."
The apology was contained in a press release signed on behalf of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kwesi Ofori, Director of Public Affairs of the Police Command and copied to Ghana News Agency (GNA). It said on December, 2006, Mohammed Salami, Michael Ayache and Isaac Quansah were accused of importing unlawful narcotic drugs and subsequently remanded in custody. The three employees spent the Christmas holidays behind bars until January 12, 2007 when they were discharged by an Accra Circuit court after the prosecutor had withdrawn the criminal charge against them. The release said: "The service will like to put on record that the publicity of the false accusation was not intended to harm or tarnish the image or reputation of the said group of companies, their Directors and employees." It said any harm caused by the false accusation and publication was regrettable and would not be repeated. In a related development, Mr. Nabil Moukarzel, Chief Executive Officer of Market Direct, a subsidiary of Finatrade Group of Companies has commended the Police Command for the retraction and apology to the corporate entity. "Finatrade wishes to thank the Judiciary of Ghana and the entire Judiciary system and especially the Attorney-General for displaying professionalism in their work to unearth the truth in every allegation." Mr. Moukarzel told the GNA that "The last four years have been a long and painful experience for Finatrade, its employees and in particular, Michael Ayache, Mohammed Salami and Isaac Quansah who have today been vindicated". He re-affirmed Finatrade's commitment to standing out as one of Ghana's leading corporate entities and would continue to contribute to the country's economic growth, through substantial support to the Agricultural sector. | | > BACK to TOP < | Government to resource health training institutions * Source: GNA | Kokofu (Ash), Feb. 25, GNA - Dr Nii Oakley Quaye-Kumah, outgoing Dep= uty Minister of Health, has re-affirmed government's determination to resourc= e health training institutions with the needed logistics and structures to train more health personnel. He said the resources would include vehicles and computer laboratori= es to promote academic work. Dr Quaye-Kumah was speaking at the third matriculation ceremony of t= he Kokofu Health Assistant Training School near Asante-Bekwai on Thursday. A total of 129 students comprising 104 females were admitted to purs= ue a two-year health assistants' programme. The Deputy Minister counselled the students to maintain high moral standards, shun examination malpractices, drug abuse and other negative practices that could ruin their education. Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister, asked the students to=
accept postings to the deprived areas where their services are most neede= d after their training. They should also be part of health outreach programmes to bring down=
the incidence of malaria and maternal and infant mortality. Barima Akwasi Offe Okogyeasuo, Omanhene of Kokofu, appealed to the Department of Feeder Roads to rehabilitate the Kokofu-Asamang road to mak= e it easier for patients to attend the Kokofu Government Hospital. Miss Hagar Agyir-Binn, Principal of the school, commended the Parent-Teacher Association for constructing a hostel for the school. | | > BACK to TOP < | Mills asks Ghanaians to join in building a prosperous nation * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills, in his second State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Thursday, asked Ghanaians to join him in creating hope, opportunity and peace of mind for the progress of the nation.
He was optimistic about the future of the nation based on sound democratic and inclusive governance, but noted that the challenges of the nation should be the concern of every Ghanaian and not just for one political group, nor exclusive to the Government of the day. "When love of country supersedes personal ideology, only then can Ghana grow and mature as a full participant in the 21st Century Global Village and become a stable, prosperous, democratic leader in Africa; but we can only achieve that if we agree to it together," President Mills emphasized. Titled "Partner in Vision" the 72-minute address made observations on the economy, agriculture, employment, youth development, education, health, housing, security and governance.
President Mills, in a preface to his address, enlisted the House and those in the public gallery, including former President Jerry Rawlings, Members of the Council of State, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Senior Security Officers, to observe a minute silence in memory of personalities including Mr B. J. Da Rocha, Major Courage Quashigah and Mama Dokua Asigble, across the political divide who passed away recently.
Interjected with banters from some members of the House, mostly from the Minority side, President Mills equally threw and interspersed his address with humour and jokes that cooled what could have been an address characterized by tension.
"One year after our election, I'm proud to stand before you and say with confidence -'The State of the Nation is good . and I can confidently say `So Far, Much Better.`"
President Mills, however, said there was still a huge amount of work to be done, and assured the nation that he and his team were fully committed to the election promises of ensuring a Better Ghana.
President Mills touched on changes introduced by his Administration, including consciously developing an atmosphere where criticisms were not seen as 'enemy action' but rather as genuine alternative views. "I am even more pleased that our NDC members feel just as free to criticize their own Government as the Opposition members do," President Mills said, adding "It is my fervent hope that this atmosphere of unfettered free speech will be enjoyed responsibly and received openly with respect among Ghanaians of all political loyalties."
President Mills reminded Ghanaians that the Government had a four-year mandate, and that his Administration would strive "to take the right decision rather than quick decisions" so that at the end of the four-year mandate, Ghanaians would judge the Government and its achievements. | | > BACK to TOP < | Government to implement more educational programmes this year - Mills * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday announced that the government would this year implement more educational programmes to raise the standards of education in the country. He mentioned the refurbishing of science resource centres in schools, provision of infrastructural facilities in Senior Secondary Schools, the removal of schools under trees and the elimination of the school shift system.
President Mills announced this during his State of the Nation Address at the Parliament House in Accra.
He said he had ordered an investigation into the utilization of the GET-Fund in the past by calling for a review of the GET-Fund Act to achieve the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto of decentralizing the operations of the Board and the broadening of the Fund's activities to cover more educational institutions.
He said measures were underway to improve the status of teachers in the country, saying "At the end of the year, I expect the GNAT, NAGRAT and the UTAG to make separate pronouncements on whether the lot of teachers has improved under our administration or not."
On Housing, the President was not happy with the high rate of homelessness and streetism in the country, remaking that "In most countries of the world, housing for the lower and middle income groups is the responsibility of the Local Authorities, and Ghana should not be an exception."
He said beginning from this year, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies would be expected to invest a sizeable proportion of their Common Fund in rental housing for lower and middle income groups in the country. He gave the assurance that a National District Assemblies Rental Housing Project Task Force would be established to monitor the project throughout the country to solve the perennial homelessness and streetism in the country.
President Mills said he had also directed the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to complete all the "affordable" housing projects the previous government started to solve the acute housing problem in the country.
On security, President Mills said there was a sharp drop in armed robbery and organized crime in the country, and commended the police and other security agencies for their efforts at fighting crime. He promised that government would continue to strengthen the human and logistics base of the security agencies for them to protect life and property to attract more investors into the country. | | > BACK to TOP < | Speed-up investments into oil and gas infrastructure - Prez Mills * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday appealed to Ghanaians to join the Government in creating hope, opportunity and peace of mind for the nation's progress.
He said he was optimistic about the future of the nation based on sound democratic and inclusive governance but noted that the nation's challenges were to every Ghanaian and not just a political group or exclusive to the Government.
Presenting his second State of the Nation Address to Parliament, President Mills said Ghana could grow and mature as full participant in the 21st century Global village and be a stable, prosperous, democratic leader in Africa only when love of country superseded personal ideology and the people agreed on these objectives.
Under the theme "Partners in Vision" the 72-minute address made observations on the Economy, Agriculture, Employment, Youth Development, Education, Health, Housing, Security and Governance.
He said: "One year after our election, I'm proud to stand before you and say with confidence -'The State of the Nation is good. and I can confidently say `So Far-Much Better."
President Mills, however, said there was still a huge amount of work to be done, and assured the nation that the Government was fully committed to the election promises of ensuring a Better Ghana.
He touched on changes introduced by his administratio n, including consciously developing an atmosphere where criticisms were not seen as 'enemy action' but rather as serious alternative views.
"I am even more pleased that our NDC members feel just as free to criticize their own government as opposition members do," President Mills said, adding: "It is my fervent hope this atmosphere of unfettered free speech will be enjoyed responsibly and received openly with respect among Ghanaians of all political loyalties".
He reminded Ghanaians that the Government had a four-year mandate and would strive "to take the right decision rather than quick decisions" and at the end of the four-year mandate, Ghanaians would judge the Government and its achievements "so that they can once again freely elect the next President and the next administration."
President Mills, in a preface to his address enlisted the House and those in the public gallery including Former President Jerry John Rawlings, Members of the Council of State, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and senior security officers to observe a minute's silence in memory of the late Mr B. J. da Rocha, Major Courage Quashigah, Mama Dokua Asigble, and others across the political divide who had died. | | > BACK to TOP < | Government should begin full-scale implementation of LEAP * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - The Ghana Millennium Development Goals - Global Call to Action against Poverty (GMDGs/GCAP) on Thursday called on government to begin full-scale implementation of the Lively Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) programme, to bring relief to the poor.
The GMDGs/GCAP, which is the local chapter of United Nations Millennium Campaign, also called for the redesigning of the LEAP programme to make the allowances useful to the beneficiaries.
The LEAP programme was introduced in 2008 to support extremely poor households with a cash sum of between GH¢8 and GH¢15 to enhance their= incomes and livelihoods.
A communiqu=E9 issued after a day's capacity building workshop for journalists on the MDGs in Accra said government, in addition to the LEAP, should work towards ensuring income security by creating jobs as well as granting credit facilities for people to engage in livelihood enhancement ventures.
The workshop, organised by the GMDGs/GCAP in collaboration with the West Africa Media Network for MDGs, was to broaden the scope and knowledg= e of the 23 participants to effectively report on the MDGs to ensure their attainment by the 2015 global deadline.
The network is a group of West African journalists engaged in writin= g articles towards attainment of the MDGs. The communiqu=E9, which was signed by the Reverend Albert Kwabi, Executive Director of the GMDGs/GCAP, noted that despite efforts to reduc= e poverty, the levels were still high and this called for decisive measures= to stem the situation to ensure attainment of the MDGs. It also raised issues with the National Health Insurance Scheme and called for a review of the drugs list to include diseases that costs high=
and not covered by the scheme. "Government must implement the one-time health insurance premium to ensure that cost does not become a barrier to accessing healthcare." It said government must make good its promise to build health facilities at every community with a population of 500 people and equip t= hem to facilitate the delivery of quality healthcare service to the people. The communiqu=E9 lauded the introduction of free healthcare programm= e for pregnant women and called for more sensitisation to encourage the beneficiaries to periodically access antenatal services to prevent complications during childbirth so as to reduce maternal and child mortality. On environment, it called on government to develop comprehensive mitigation and adaptation measures against climate change as well as prov= ide sanitation facilities, build bridges and drains to prevent malaria. It also called for the creation of a special fund to support women i= n politics and the introduction of a quota system to increase female participation in governance as a means of empowering them. On education, it called for elimination of cultural practices that constituted barriers to girl-child education as well as the reactivation of the Metro Mass Transit service to give free rides to school children to enhance enrolment. It also touched on the springing up of slums within cities, especial= ly in Accra, and called for the formulation and implementation of pro-poor housing schemes to address the situation. | | > BACK to TOP < | President Mills directs Ministers of State to create jobs * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills has directed Ministers of State to produce sector blueprints for job creation by June this year.
In addition; all sectors should mainstream job-creation into their programmes.
These are part of a grand scheme for job creation, promised in the manifesto of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to invest in people, create jobs and run an open, honest and transparent government . President Mills announced these directives in his second State of the Nation address to Parliament in Accra on Thursday.
He said inculcating in the youth the spirit of nationalism, self-belief and belonging, would be paramount in the Better Ghana agenda. "We will give more meaning to arts and culture as a potent educational tool to drive the programme of nation building. The Education and Culture Ministries are being mandated to collaborate in this regard," President Mills said.
On the exploits and gallantry of the national team, Black Stars, and victory of the Black Satellites in their recent continental and global assignments, President Mills expressed confidence that the Black Stars would reach for the finals in the World Cup tournament in South Africa next June. He recalled commitments made in the first State of the Nation Address to Parliament last year among which he promised to take a different political path to empower Ghanaians to believe in themselves.
This, President Mills said, was exemplified by the Black Stars who made Ghana proud by reaching the finals in the African Cup of Nations in Angola 2010.
He said "Ghana football is on the ascendancy and like our footballers, we, as Ghanaians, should also believe in Ghana and in ourselves". President Mills commended the Government's economic management team for their efforts in bringing the economy back on track.
He said there were challenges in tackling the unsustainable budget deficit, unpaid bills, arrears and crippling judgment debts. President Mills said: "We had to take bold and difficult measures to achieve fiscal consolidation and macro-economic stability.
"We meticulously assessed all the arrears and commitments in the pipeline and this enabled us to devise a credible "Arrears Clearance Strategy" and avid excessive pressures and current and future budgets". He noted that this had earned commendation from the private sector in both national and international circles and sent a message of government's determination to come to terms with the economic challenges. | | > BACK to TOP < | Parliament asked to review deadline for submission of RTI memoranda * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - The National Media Commission (NMC) on Thursday appealed to Parliament to review the deadline for submission of memoranda on the Right to Information (RTI) Bill and facilitate the ready availability of copies of the Bill to the public.
It said Parliament should allow sufficient time for the public to obtain copies of the Bill, study the provisions thereof, before submitting memoran da or otherwise making contribution to the legislative process on the Bill.
The appeal was made in a statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr. Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chairman of the NMC, in reaction to a call by Parliame nt to the public to submit memoranda on the RTI Bill by March 2, 2010.
It said the NMC considered the deadline as impractical since to date, the Bill was still not available to the public (at the Assembly Press). "In the circumstance, it is, with respect, not possible for citizens and their organisations to submit any memoranda on a Bill the contents of which they have not seen, much less studied," the statement said. It said the Right to Information was founded on the sovereignty of the people and their right to know what government and public bodies were doing in their name and on their behalf.
This way, the statement said, transparency in public affairs and accountability of government to the people could be better secured. "A right to information law thus goes to the very heart of our democratic system of governance and every opportunity should be provided citizens to make informed input into the legislative process so that, we have a right to information legislation that truly upholds the citizen's right to information and promotes openness, transparency and accountability in the affairs of the state," it said.
"While it is understandable that Parliament should be anxious to pass into law the Right to Information Bill without undue delay, 17 years after the Constitution, which guarantees this right, came into effect, we are still of the view that we should allow full public debate and nation-wide consultations on the Bill before it is passed into law". "This will ensure that whatever enactment eventually comes into force enjoys the support, ownership and understanding of the people, whom the law seeks to empower, "the statement added. | | > BACK to TOP < | President Mills unites Ghana with policy vision * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - The anxiety that engulfed the impending State of the Nation's Address, cleared up at the forenoon in Parliament, after President John Evans Atta Mills, delivered his policy vision on Thursday, spiced with a sense of humour.
The president adorned in deep blue suit and a brown tie to match got to the House at exactly 09:55 hours in a convoy of four cars and three dispatch riders.
The Police Constabulary registered their presence at the main entrance to Parliament, dressed in their ceremonial blue uniform. At the entrance of the legislative hall was the round fountain spewing water at about 10 metres high with a thunderous buzz like a roaring sea. It was against this rhythmic hum that President Mills inspected a Guard of Honour comprising 101 officers and men of the Ghana Navy, under the command of Lt. Commander Kwaku Attah Bimpong.
The smiling President, who acknowledged cheers from the admiring crowd, was escorted to the floor of Parliament by the leadership of the House. Characteristic of the Head of State he used his one- hour and 10 minutes address to acknowledge the good works of his predecessors. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor was not present to hear the commendation by President Mills that it was during his Presidency that Ghana hit 'black gold'.
"Kwame Nkrumah laid the foundation for the oil and gas, Jerry John Rawlings created the institutional framework for the exploitation, the oil and gas was struck in commercial quantities in the period of John Agyekum Kufuor. Actual commercial exploitation is beginning in the period of John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills," he said, drawing cheers from the Majority and Minority.
The President who was heckled by the Minority when his address did not strike a cord, kept his focus
At one instance the President said: "We will change course when it is in the national interest to do so. In all our undertakings I will be guided by principle rather than quick decision."
The Minority responded by tooting: "Go slow, go slow."
The cheerful Law Professor responded: "When you talk of go slow do me a favour by adding two important words- but sure."
President Mills speech was not carved only for the living but Ghanaians who had paid their dues before going to the land of their ancestors. He graciously asked the House to rise to observe a minute silent for the departed souls.
The role call included Major Courage Quashigah (RTD), former Minister of Health, Mr. B. J. da Rocha, a veteran political activist, Rear Admiral Dzang, a retired army officer.
Accompanied by the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, President Mills left Parliament doing what he likes doing best, interacting with both divide of the House.
The promise of the President when he took the Oath of Office to be "the President of all" was displayed in action and not only in words.
| | > BACK to TOP < | Government to implement more educational programmes this year * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb 25, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday said the Government would this year implement more educational programmes to raise the standards of education in the coming years. He mentioned some of the programmes as the refurbishing of science resource centres in schools, provision of infrastructural facilities in Senior Secondary Schools, the removal of schools under trees and the elimination of the school shift system.
President Mills announced this during his State of the Nation Address in Parliament.
He said he had ordered an investigation into the utilization practices of the GETFund in the past by calling for a review of the GETFund Act to achieve the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto of decentralizing the operations of the Board and the broadening of the fund to involve more educational institutions.
He said measures were underway to improve the status of teachers in the country saying: "At the end of the year, I expect the GNAT, NAGRAT and the UTAG to make separate pronouncements on whether the lot of teachers has improved under our administration or not." On Housing, the President said he was not happy with the high rate of homelessness and streetism in the country. "In most countries of the world housing for the lower-middle-income groups is the responsibility of the local authorities, and Ghana should not be an exception."
He said beginning from this year Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies would be expected to invest a sizeable proportion of their District Assembles' Common Fund in rental housing for lower and lower-middle-income groups in the country.
President Mills said a National District Assemblies Rental Housing Project Taskforce would be established to monitor the project throughout the country to solve the perennial homelessness and streetism in the country. President Mills said he had also directed the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to complete all the "affordable" housing projects the previous Government started to solve the acute housing problem in the country.
On security, President Mills said there was a sharp drop in armed robbery and organized crime in the country and commended the Police and other security agencies for their efforts at fighting crime. He promised that the Government would continue to strengthen the human and logistics base of the security agencies for them to protect life and property to attract more investors into the country | | > BACK to TOP < | Govt to establish MPs' Constituency Development Fund this year - Prez * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb 25, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday gave the assurance that the Government would, this year, establish a Member of Parliament Constituency Development Fund.
"I am conscious that I made this promise in my State of Nation address last year, but we could not implement it in 2009. You have my assurance that this time round, it will be implemented."
President Mills, who announced this in his State of the Nation Address, said the Fund would be separate from the District Assemblies' Common Fund and added that the Government would also begin to construct and furnish standard constituency offices for all Members of Parliament in each of the 230 constituencies beginning from the farthest constituencies from the national capital.
Administrators of the offices, who would be engaged by the incumbent MPs, would also be paid a fixed monthly stipend, he said in the Address, which was under the theme: "Partners in Vision." He appealed to the Members of Parliament to facilitate the construction of their constituency offices by helping to acquire land for the execution of the projects.
President Mills said for the country to achieve the "Better Ghana" agenda, there was the need for Ministers, Members of Parliament and individual Ghanaians to exhibit a high level of self-discipline by being time conscious, punctual and responsible in the performance of their daily duties.
The President further appealed to event organizers to stick to their schedules and be time conscious in order to save time. On indiscipline on the roads, the President said the death tolls were not only saddening relatives, but was also placing serious economic consequences on the country and called on the Police Service to submit within the shortest possible time a blueprint for drastic reduction in road accidents.
"It is my hope, therefore, that our lawmakers will be committed apostles of time consciousness as we progress on the path to building a Better Ghana." | | > BACK to TOP < | Let's ensure adequate provision for fire safety * Source: GNA | Kumasi, Feb 25, GNA - The Atta Mills Foundation, a pro-democracy group, on Thursday called on the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to ensure that all building designs have adequate provision for fire safety. A statement signed in Kumasi by the Life Patron of the Foundation, Togbe Mawufeame Fugah, said this had become necessary to bring down the incidence of domestic fires in the country.
It expressed worry about the situation where most buildings springing up, especially in urban areas, lacked fire detective systems, fire extinguishers, sprinklers and exit routes. The Foundation said this was unacceptable and needed to change to save lives and property.
It urged the managements of g overnment and private institutions, organizations and agencies to train and build the capacity of their staff for fire prevention. The Foundation conveyed its sympathies to former President Jerry Rawlings and his family for the recent fire that gutted their Accra Ridge residence. | > BACK to TOP < |
_____________________________________________________ ----- | | | Thursday, 25 February 2010 | | Atta Mills - State Of The Nation Address 2010, February 25th | Save Your TIME With Us! More Than 30x Ghana News On Just One (1) Page! Not On 30+ Pages..! (..or do you buy 30 Newspapers?) | Middle Prof Kludze calls for a repeal of the Transitional Provisions Achimota Forest to become a world class ecotourism hub in 2012 Ghana to fast-track infrastructure for oil - Mills Atta-Mills to Deliver State of the Nation Address Today Child Labour Cash Lands in Wrong Pockets Ex-Ministers Indicted Over G¢60 Billion Mills: Ghana to lose respect if food importation continues Mixed reaction about President's State of Nation address Police apologises to Finatrade Group of Companies Government to resource health training institutions Mills asks Ghanaians to join in building a prosperous nation Government to implement more educational programmes this year - Mills President asks Ghanaians to join in building nation Speed-up investments into oil and gas infrastructure - Prez Mills Government should begin full- scale implementation of LEAP President Mills directs Ministers of State to create jobs Parliament asked to review deadline for submission of RTI memoranda President Mills unites Ghana with policy vision Government to implement more educational programmes this year Govt to establish MPs' Constituency Development Fund this year - Prez Let's ensure adequate provision for fire safety Right * Deputy Minister Throws out Ex-Minister "50 Cent" Award OutlawedGovt Plans Sea Port, Railways to Aid Oil Industry Mills address is campaign promise - Deputy Minority Leader Introduction Of A Gh¢2 Banknote Denomination Annual Producer Price Inflation index falls to 25.57 per cent National service persons kick against e-zwich * Political appointment must be competence-based * Northern Regional minister given rousing welcome to Tamale Left Africa celebrates Lifestyles Day on Friday, February 26 Samini Commits ‘Sweet Mistake’Ashanti gets exercise books, school uniforms Akim Akwaboso Residents appeal for help | _________________________________ | Your Opinions | Have Your Say!
| Archived News for 2010 | Go to 24.02.2010 | News Page was last modified on Friday, 26 February 2010 01:14:41 | 
| All about the Ghana Election 2008 | | | 
| | | | * 25.02.2010 | Deputy Minister Throws out Ex-Minister * Source: Chronicle | A former minister for Water Resources Works and Housing, Albert Abongo, was subjected to embarrassment yesterday, by no other person that his own deputy, Dr. Hana Bissiw.
Bisssiw reportedly led carpenters to change the keys to the office of the minister, whilst he was away, without informing him of what she had done.
Credible information gathered by The Chronicle indicates that Mr. Abongo left Accra to his hometown to bury one of his brothers last Friday. But when he returned to the office yesterday, to officially handover to the new Minister, Alban Bagbin, the keys to his office, and the furniture had been changed without his knowledge.
The development reportedly surprised Mr. Abongo, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bongo constituency, since he could not fathom why his deputy could issue directives for the lock and furniture in his office to be changed without his consent.
Mr. Abongo refused to confirm or deny the story, but sources at the ministry narrated that he was on his way to Accra from his brother's funeral on Monday, when he received a call from one of his office staff, that his deputy had brought some gentlemen to inspect the office, and later gone ahead to change the lock.
When Mr. Abongo finally went to the office yesterday to hand over, he was said to have raised the issue in the presence of the new Minister, Alban Bagbin, and the Chief Director, Alhaji Ziblim.
He reportedly told the new minister and his deputy how he felt insulted by the incident.
Sources close to the Ministry have hinted The Chronicle that relations between Mr. Abongo and Dr. Hannah Bissiw have not been the best for sometime now, because of the latter's delight in doing things and taking decisions without the former's consent, even when he was the substantive Minister.
This is believed to have been the reason behind Hannah Bissiw's decision to change the office lock and furniture without Abongo's consent, even though he had not handed over officially.
When this reporter called the deputy Minister for her comments, a lady with a perky voice, who identified herself as Joyce, and claimed to be her Secretary, answered the phone.
She claimed Dr. Bissiw was in a meeting, and that she had asked her to take whatever information for her, and that she would get back to this reporter after the meeting.
She took this reporter's cell phone number, with the explanation of getting the deputy Minister to call him immediately after the meeting. Meanwhile, Dr. Bissiw failed to turn up at a programme at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), where she was billed as one of the special guests.
Several hours later, this reporter made frantic efforts to get the deputy Minister's input into the story, but she would not answer her phone. | "50 Cent" Award Outlawed * Source: Peacefmonline.com | No More Grand Order of the Star and Eagles In what can be described as a slap in the face of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, His Excellency President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, this morning described as both inappropriate and discriminatory, the newest national award category of the Grand Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana, instituted in July of 2008 by his predecessor to honor Presidents of the Republic of Ghana after successfully completing their term of office.
He has therefore repealed and replaced it with what was instituted by Ghana’s First President, Osagyefuo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, on 1st July 1960.
Ex-President Kufuor, on July 3, 2008 designed the Order of the Star and Eagles award as the highest honour of the nation to be conferred on ex-presidents by the Chief Justice. Every new president was to be given the colour of the order as he or she is sworn into office, to be worn on all formal national occasions.
But Mr. Kufuor received a lot of flak from a section of the public, who deemed it as very unnecessary with some even tagging him as “Bokassa”.
Delivering his Second State of the Nation Address in Parliament today, President Mills however gave the assurance that “any person(s) who received those honours under the 2008 instrument acquired vested rights and therefore will not be required to return them.”
“It is a matter of fact that the exclusive national honours class of the Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana available only to presidents, is both inappropriate and discriminatory. I have therefore decided to repeal the instrument which introduced this class and replace it with the original national honours warrant executed on the first of July 1960 by the founder of our nation…I believe however that any persons who received those honours under the 2008 instrument acquired vested rights and therefore will not be required to return them,” President Mills told the House. | Mills address is campaign promise -Deputy Minority Leader * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - Mr Ambrose Dery, Deputy Minority Leader, described President John Atta Mills State of the Nation's address as the continuation of he government's campaign promises, which are out of touch with reality.
"President Mills should know that he has become the President of the Republic of Ghana and is expected to deliver," Mr Dery told the Ghana News Agency in a reaction to the one- hour and 10 minutes address delivered at the floor of Parliament.
He said the death of 17 people in the Upper West Region due to the recent outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis was worth mentioning by the President as well as the strategies to contain it | | Introduction Of A Gh¢2 Banknote Denomination * Source: GNA | The Bank of Ghana has decided to introduce a GH¢2 (Two Ghana Cedi) denomination in response to the need for an intermediary banknote between the GH¢1 and GH¢5 banknotes.
This follows a review of the cash cycle conducted by the Bank in 2009, which indicated that there was a lot of pressure on the GH¢1, resulting in the notes circulating too fast and being over-used. The worn-out state of the GH¢1 defeats the Bank’s Clean Note Policy, which seeks to ensure that only good quality banknotes remain in circulation.
The introduction of the new denomination will expand the series of banknotes in circulation, enhance exchangeability and facilitate transactions.
The general public will be informed and educated on the theme, colour, size, security and other features of the new denomination when the design is finalized. | Annual Producer Price Inflation index falls to 25.57 per cent * Source: GNA | Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - The Annual Producer Price Index (PPI) inches up 0.68 per cent to 189.61 in January. The corresponding rate in December was 188.32. This brings the respective yearly change between January 2009 and January 2010 to 25.57 per cent, representing a decline of 2.14 percentage points. Mr. Magnus Ebo Duncan, Head of Economics and Statistics at Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), who announced the figures at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, said the PPI for January 2010, was higher than that of 2009 in all industry average, but was smaller than December. On specific industry basis, the mining and quarrying sector which controls 13.97 per cent shares of all industry, recorded the highest inflation rate of 41.40 per cent as against 28.84 per cent rate by the manufacturing sector which controls 69.75 per cent of all industry share. The utilities sector recorded the least figure closing at 0.66 per cent. Mr. Duncan said the relatively stable nature of the utilities sector accounted for its recording of the least inflation rate. | National service persons kick against e-zwich * Source: GNA | Kumasi, Feb 25, GNA - National Service personnel in the Kumasi Metropolis have kicked against plans to pay their allowances through the national electronic system, e-zwich.
They insist the decision to enroll onto the e-zwich should not be forced on them, but be left to the individual's voluntary choice. They expressed the sentiments at a day's orientation organized for them by the Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the National Service Scheme (NSS).
Service personnel in selected districts, including parts of Kumasi, under an arrangement between the NSS and the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), would from next month receive their allowances through the e-zwich.
This is being implemented on pilot basis and would eventually be extended nationwide.
Stating their opposition during an open forum, various contributors including Opoku Agyeman, Miss Alexis Okogba, Eastmond Nketia, Amos Mensah, Miss Beatrice Oppong and Miss Hannah Nsowaah described the decision by the NSS as an "unwelcome imposition that must be shelved." Mr Kwesi Quainoo, the Regional Director, however defended the new system, saying the e-zwich would promote efficiency and timely payment of allowances. The success of the pilot phase would pave way for its replication in the other districts, he said. A total of 7,526 service persons were posted to Ashanti, last year.
Mr Quainoo praised those in deprived communities for accepting to work in those areas. Mr Asiedu Boafo, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of the Scheme, urged them to be patriotic by giving of their best towards the nation's socio-economic development. Representatives from the GhIPSS, operators of the e-zwich and the Amalgamated Bank, earlier educated the service persons on the use and advantages of the e-zwich card. | | > BACK to TOP < | Political appointment must be competence-based * Source: GNA | Government appointments and selection of public officials should be competence-based and not on political or social connections, Prof. A.K.P. Kludze, former Justice of the Supreme Court, said on Tuesday.
He decried the situation where incompetent officials were selected into office and stressed that the situation spelt doom for the socio-political and economic development of the country.
Prof Kludze gave the advice at the second day of a three-day J.B. Danquah Memorial Lecture series organized by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) in Accra.
It was under the theme "Institutional Responses to the Challenges of Nationhood and Democratic Governance in Ghana."
Prof Kludze called on political figures and public officials to set the right examples for others to emulate, adding that exemplary conduct was a recipe for national integration and productivity.
He said sacrificing the national interest on the altar of politics was a great disservice to the nation and stressed that corrupt politicians who dabbled in the act would not be able to build a united society.
Prof Kludze said Ghanaians needed to learn a lot from history and from corrupt political figures who allowed cronyism to destroy their good intentions, stressing that the country could not be built and governed through such vices.
He stated that though Dr Kwame Nkrumah was a freedom fighter and a committed Pan-Africanist, he later allowed unbridled ambition to cause him to subvert neighboring countries and to disunite the African continent, citing the abolition of the West African Cocoa Research Institute in Tafo, the West African Currency Board and the West African Court of Appeal as examples.
Prof Kludze accused Dr Nkrumah of turning Ghana into a one-party state at his time, for which he became the live Chairman of the Conventions People's Party and the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the party.
"Nobody dared challenge him because it was considered treasonous to challenge him. He made a law that said that nobody could stand as a candidate unless his candidature was approved by the General Secretary of the party, that is he himself," he said, and alleged that the law literally invited the military to overthrow Dr Nkrumah.
Prof Kludze said though he was against military coup de tats, the political excesses that characterized Dr Nkrumah's regime could only be halted through the coup that overthrew the first President to pave way for the liberation of detained political prisoners.
The J.B. Danquah Memorial Lecture series was instituted in 1968 in memory of Joseph Boakye Danquah, the freedom fighter who died in prison in February 1965. He was a lawyer, dramatist and a journalist.
The themes for the lectures were originally restricted to fields like law, history, philosophy and literature but in 1976, the first science lecture was delivered on an otherwise humanities-dominated platform. Out of the 43 lectures given so far, 13 have been on scientific themes. | Northern Regional minister given rousing welcome to Tamale * Source: GNA | Tamale, Feb. 25, GNA - The newly appointed Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Moses Bukari Magbenba was given a rousing welcome to Tamale on Thursday by a number of people, including the Regional Executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Among the crowd included the Regional Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Sumani Zakari, District Chief executives and party functionaries. Mr. Magbenba was among the newly appointed ministers who were sworn into office by President John Evans Atta Mills at the Osu Castle on February 22.
The Regional Minister expressed appreciation to the crowd, stressing: "I am overwhelmed and humbled."
He promised to take care of the interest of every body in the region. Mr. Magbenba said the NDC would make a positive development impact in the region to facilitate the renewal of the party's mandate in 2012. He said his administration would work in consultation with the party executives to achieve the development objective. Mr. Magbenba appealed to the people of the region to celebrate the Damba festival in peace mindful of the Regional Security Council's directive not to celebrate the Damba outside the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi. | | l | | > BACK to TOP < |
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