The Vice-President, Mr. John Mahama, has advised chiefs in the three regions of the North to seek expert advise in the valuation of their lands to ensure the lands are optimally exploited for the benefit of the people.
He said massive investment in agriculture by the government in the northern regions of the country and the planned implementation of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), had heightened investor interest the three northern regions.
“It is, therefore, necessary to seek expert advise to gauge the true value of our lands….and to ensure our local folks are not displaced due to the allocation of large tracts of land to investors,” he stressed.
Vice-President Mahama said this when he received a memorandum on the SADA from representatives of the three Houses of Chiefs in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, who called on him at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
The memorandum, presented by Naa Professor John Nabila, Wulugu-Naba and President of the National House of Chiefs, highlights recommendations of the chiefs with respect to funding, acquisition of land, representation on the SADA Board; and road infrastructure.
The Vice-President stressed that the SADA Bill, which was before Parliament and had already been taken through the Second Reading, would carry out effective land administration and serve as a vehicle for improving infrastructure in the project areas.
“The intention of government in introducing SADA is to create a new ‘growth pole’ in the northern parts of Ghana and create opportunities there to bridge the north-south development gap,” he said.
He stated that though the SADA was yet to be implemented the government had taken steps to improve infrastructure in the northern regions including the road network.
“Already, tenders are going out for road projects in the Upper East and Upper West Regions,” he said and cited the Fufulso-Sawla road project, which he said, would open up the North for economic investments.
Mr. Mahama noted that it was a natural tendency for human beings to move from an area with less economic opportunities to areas that were relatively endowed, stressing that SADA would create a new growth pole to arrest youth migration from the north to the south.
The Vice-President, who received the memorandum on behalf of President J.E.A. Mills, described it as timely and thanked them for their support for the SADA programme. He assured the chiefs that it would be duly forwarded to the President.
Presenting the memorandum, Naa Professor Nabila said the memorandum was prepared at a meeting of over 50 chiefs and elders, representing the three regions of the north on July 10, this year.
At the meeting, he said the chiefs recommended that there needed to be at least, three chiefs selected from the three Houses of Chiefs to be represented on the Board of SADA.
“We further recommended that the start-up funding needed for SADA to take off must be given priority, and a sustainable funding that is reliable should be established for SADA.
We recommend that modalities for streamlining the acquisition of land be developed in partnership with chiefs and other customary land owners in order to avoid complications in speedy implementation of projects involving land.”
In addressing the land question, he said the chiefs pledged their commitment to cooperate with SADA on land issues for accelerated development and become partners in the process. He said the peculiar situation in each traditional area would have to be studied carefully and the modalities for allocating lands would have to be carefully developed.
Story: Irene Atta Donto
19/07/10
Monday, July 26, 2010
Dias Branco considering Ghana as a hub for the African Market
The Vice President, John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that, Ghana is the best place to invest and to reach the over 240 million people living in the West African sub-region. He said Ghana is at the centre of the sub-region and has the necessary regulatory framework to make investors enjoy their dividends. Mr. Mahama said this when the Chief Executive Officer of Dias Branco, Francisco Ivens de Sa Dias Branco led officials from the company to call on him at the castle, Osu. The visit follows the heels of the Vice President’s recent visit to Brazil some months ago.
Dais Branco Group of companies is a leading biscuit and pasta manufacturing companies in Brazil. The company wants to establish its headquarters in Africa and its considering Ghana as their hub. When Dais Branco finally decides on Ghana the company will set up over four hundred million US dollars biscuit and pasta factory and that will create about one thousand jobs for Ghanaians.
The delegation was in the country for a four day official visit to study the viability of establishing the biscuit and pasta factory and also to explore other areas of investment interest.
Mr. Mahama said "Africans in general and Ghanaians in particular eat biscuits, pasta, and bread everyday, and so any investor who will establish a processing plant in the sub-region to process wheat into flour and subsequently to their bi-products will definitely be in good business."
The Chief Executive Officer of Dais Branco, Francisco Ivens de Sa Dias Branco said their company is positioned to do good business in Africa.
He commended Ghana for their openness and forthright and said they will make their decision when they return to Brazil.
Story: Irene Ata-Donto
Dais Branco Group of companies is a leading biscuit and pasta manufacturing companies in Brazil. The company wants to establish its headquarters in Africa and its considering Ghana as their hub. When Dais Branco finally decides on Ghana the company will set up over four hundred million US dollars biscuit and pasta factory and that will create about one thousand jobs for Ghanaians.
The delegation was in the country for a four day official visit to study the viability of establishing the biscuit and pasta factory and also to explore other areas of investment interest.
Mr. Mahama said "Africans in general and Ghanaians in particular eat biscuits, pasta, and bread everyday, and so any investor who will establish a processing plant in the sub-region to process wheat into flour and subsequently to their bi-products will definitely be in good business."
The Chief Executive Officer of Dais Branco, Francisco Ivens de Sa Dias Branco said their company is positioned to do good business in Africa.
He commended Ghana for their openness and forthright and said they will make their decision when they return to Brazil.
Story: Irene Ata-Donto
Ghana Is The Most Safe For Investment - Veep
The Vice President, John Dramani Mahama has once again given the strongest assurance to investors that Ghana is the safest place to invest in within the sub-region. He said government was aware that investors easily shy away from countries, whose legal systems, in particular, were not protective of investments, and that was why the Ghana has adopted various all the legal systems that protect and guarantee local and foreign investments. Mr. Mahama said this on July 8, 2010 at the UK – Ghana business investment forum in London.
He sighted for instance the GIPC Act 478 of 1994 that provides maximum guarantees to all enterprises against expropriation and further allows for the transfer of dividends through authorized dealer banks. He also sighted the bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) and the Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) of the UK, which Ghana was a signatory and currently reviewing the country’s investment code, which already offers attractive investment incentives.
Speaking under the theme “”Enhancing Economic Growth through Competitiveness, Diversification and Infrastructure Development”, Mr. Mahama said the government recognizes the importance of competition, diversification and infrastructure development in economic growth and the attraction and retention of Foreign Direct Investment and that is why it is imperative for government to do everything within its power to ensure that investors whose contribution to the national economy are enormous are protected and promoted.
He said in 2009, in the wake of the world financial economic crisis, Ghana was able to record an amount of US$ 551.30 million and during the first quarter of 2010 the country has registered projects with the FDI component of US$ 161.34 million, which represents an increase of over 800% for the same period in 2009. He said these were as a result of the government’s commitment to making the investor a partner in development and progress, adding, “In this age of globalization and advancement in Information and Communication Technology, it becomes even more imperative that we develop strategic relationships with our trusted partners in an effort to take full advantage of the vast opportunities available for our mutual benefit”.
Mr. Mahama assured the investors that attended the business forum that Ghana, over the years, has put in great efforts and made sacrifices to create a market economy that is liberalized in accordance with the current global trend.
He urged the investor community to take advantage of the numerous investment opportunities that exist in Ghana, which includes but not limited to the oil and gas sector, energy infrastructure development, agro-processing, manufacturing, tourism, real estate development and information and communication technology.
Ghana high Commissioner to the UK Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo in his welcome address said Ghana was poised to receive the genuine investors and expressed the hope that the forum will open Ghana’s investment potential to the rest of the world.
The Chairperson of Africa matters limited Baroness Lynda Chalker commended Ghana for taking a giant stride to invite investors, and expressed her pride in associating with Ghana.
Story: George Azirigo
08/07/10
He sighted for instance the GIPC Act 478 of 1994 that provides maximum guarantees to all enterprises against expropriation and further allows for the transfer of dividends through authorized dealer banks. He also sighted the bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) and the Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) of the UK, which Ghana was a signatory and currently reviewing the country’s investment code, which already offers attractive investment incentives.
Speaking under the theme “”Enhancing Economic Growth through Competitiveness, Diversification and Infrastructure Development”, Mr. Mahama said the government recognizes the importance of competition, diversification and infrastructure development in economic growth and the attraction and retention of Foreign Direct Investment and that is why it is imperative for government to do everything within its power to ensure that investors whose contribution to the national economy are enormous are protected and promoted.
He said in 2009, in the wake of the world financial economic crisis, Ghana was able to record an amount of US$ 551.30 million and during the first quarter of 2010 the country has registered projects with the FDI component of US$ 161.34 million, which represents an increase of over 800% for the same period in 2009. He said these were as a result of the government’s commitment to making the investor a partner in development and progress, adding, “In this age of globalization and advancement in Information and Communication Technology, it becomes even more imperative that we develop strategic relationships with our trusted partners in an effort to take full advantage of the vast opportunities available for our mutual benefit”.
Mr. Mahama assured the investors that attended the business forum that Ghana, over the years, has put in great efforts and made sacrifices to create a market economy that is liberalized in accordance with the current global trend.
He urged the investor community to take advantage of the numerous investment opportunities that exist in Ghana, which includes but not limited to the oil and gas sector, energy infrastructure development, agro-processing, manufacturing, tourism, real estate development and information and communication technology.
Ghana high Commissioner to the UK Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo in his welcome address said Ghana was poised to receive the genuine investors and expressed the hope that the forum will open Ghana’s investment potential to the rest of the world.
The Chairperson of Africa matters limited Baroness Lynda Chalker commended Ghana for taking a giant stride to invite investors, and expressed her pride in associating with Ghana.
Story: George Azirigo
08/07/10
Veep Appeals To Ghanaian Banks pix1
The Vice President, John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaian banks, both home and abroad, to critically position themselves, and their operations so they take full advantage of the country’s latest oil find. He said everything regarding the oil production was on schedule and that there was the likelihood that production will start streaming in November instead of the originally scheduled date of December 2010. Mr. Mahama said this on July 7, 2010 when he paid a courtesy call on management and officials of Ghana International Bank at their headquarters in London. He was in London to participate in this year’s UK – Ghana Investment Forum, which was slated for July 8, 2010.
He said though the President Mills’ administration has and will continue to take the necessary steps to study from the good, the bad and the ugly sides of countries that have discovered oil, there was the maximum guarantee that Ghana will succeed in its oil find, production and application of resources because the governance system that the country is practicing has enough checks and balances to forestall and correct any lapse that may occur.
Mr. Mahama reiterated government’s commitment to fixing and moving the country’s economic from a developing one to an emerging economy. He said the reason why things were so difficult for Ghanaians in last year was partly because of the world economic bumps, which required the government, like several governments of the world, to take prudent economic measures such as deep expenditure cuts that eventually, pushed down the country’s deficit, Lowered inflation, stabilized the cedi, and gave reasons for Ghanaians to believe that the country could record a 6.0 percentage growth instead of the 5.7 per cent target set for 2010.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ghana International Bank (GIB), Mr. Joe Mensah said the bank exist to intermediate the trade flow between Ghana and the rest of the world. He said for the past 50 years the bank had held its own placing 24 on returns on their asset and 27 on returns on investment in a banking survey that was organized recently in the UK over sample sizes of 156.
In terms of the Bank’s profit margin, Mr. Mensah said the bank has risen from 1.4 million pound sterling to 11.6 million pound sterling since the bank was incorporated in 1957.
Mr. Mensah said the bank was opened to the Ghanaian community in the UK, supports Africa’s development, provide confortable banking to their clients and are working towards doubling their income from £50 million to £100 million so they can take advantage of the Ghana’s oil find.
Story: George Azirigo
07/07/10
He said though the President Mills’ administration has and will continue to take the necessary steps to study from the good, the bad and the ugly sides of countries that have discovered oil, there was the maximum guarantee that Ghana will succeed in its oil find, production and application of resources because the governance system that the country is practicing has enough checks and balances to forestall and correct any lapse that may occur.
Mr. Mahama reiterated government’s commitment to fixing and moving the country’s economic from a developing one to an emerging economy. He said the reason why things were so difficult for Ghanaians in last year was partly because of the world economic bumps, which required the government, like several governments of the world, to take prudent economic measures such as deep expenditure cuts that eventually, pushed down the country’s deficit, Lowered inflation, stabilized the cedi, and gave reasons for Ghanaians to believe that the country could record a 6.0 percentage growth instead of the 5.7 per cent target set for 2010.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ghana International Bank (GIB), Mr. Joe Mensah said the bank exist to intermediate the trade flow between Ghana and the rest of the world. He said for the past 50 years the bank had held its own placing 24 on returns on their asset and 27 on returns on investment in a banking survey that was organized recently in the UK over sample sizes of 156.
In terms of the Bank’s profit margin, Mr. Mensah said the bank has risen from 1.4 million pound sterling to 11.6 million pound sterling since the bank was incorporated in 1957.
Mr. Mensah said the bank was opened to the Ghanaian community in the UK, supports Africa’s development, provide confortable banking to their clients and are working towards doubling their income from £50 million to £100 million so they can take advantage of the Ghana’s oil find.
Story: George Azirigo
07/07/10
Vice President Calls For Annual Review On Utility Tarrifs
Vice President John Dramani Mahama has advocated annual review of utility tariffs to avoid rancour and bitterness that normally come between service providers and consumers. "The situation where tariffs are delayed for more than three years, the impact on consumers is often seen to be heavy as we are currently experiencing. I am told that since 2007 tariffs have not been reviewed compelling the providers to go higher than if it was done annually"
Vice President Mahama, who made this call in a consultative meeting with officials of the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC), ministers and officials of related companies, said a lot of concerns had been raised since the announcement of new tariffs.
The meeting was attended by Mr Alban Bagbin, Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Emmanuel Kofi Buah, Deputy Minister of Energy and officials from all the utility providing companies. The Vice President called on the Volta River Authority, Electricity Company of Ghana and Ghana Water Company to consider re-classifying all their consumers to deal with discrepancies and tariff differentials that were recorded after their announcements.
"Consumers are complaining not because the tariffs are very high, but because they perhaps do not get quality service and it will only be fair for you to serve them better to justify their payments," he said. He announced that government was yet to take a decision on the distribution of the GH¢48 million subsidy for both the lifeline and the commercial consumers and called on the providers to offer quality service to justify the current increments
He said plans were also far advanced to provide more electricity transformers to brighten all the dark spots of Accra and other cities. "We have also started providing water too to all the traditional water-starved areas of Accra as water has started flowing in areas like Adenta and Ashongman."
Dr Emmanuel Annan, Chairman of PURC said his outfit was organizing series of meetings to ensure quality of service to all consumers.
Story: GhanaWeb
Vice President Mahama, who made this call in a consultative meeting with officials of the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC), ministers and officials of related companies, said a lot of concerns had been raised since the announcement of new tariffs.
The meeting was attended by Mr Alban Bagbin, Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Emmanuel Kofi Buah, Deputy Minister of Energy and officials from all the utility providing companies. The Vice President called on the Volta River Authority, Electricity Company of Ghana and Ghana Water Company to consider re-classifying all their consumers to deal with discrepancies and tariff differentials that were recorded after their announcements.
"Consumers are complaining not because the tariffs are very high, but because they perhaps do not get quality service and it will only be fair for you to serve them better to justify their payments," he said. He announced that government was yet to take a decision on the distribution of the GH¢48 million subsidy for both the lifeline and the commercial consumers and called on the providers to offer quality service to justify the current increments
He said plans were also far advanced to provide more electricity transformers to brighten all the dark spots of Accra and other cities. "We have also started providing water too to all the traditional water-starved areas of Accra as water has started flowing in areas like Adenta and Ashongman."
Dr Emmanuel Annan, Chairman of PURC said his outfit was organizing series of meetings to ensure quality of service to all consumers.
Story: GhanaWeb
Veep Advocates Street Naming To Combat Crime
Vice-President John Mahama has underscored the importance of street naming culture in the country, saying it is necessary to help the security agencies in combating crime.
He said the absence of a proper street naming system was making it difficult for the police to respond swiftly to distress calls as they found it difficult to locate crime scenes.
Mr. Mahama made the call when a delegation from Creative Consult, an organisation that engages in the production of TV programmes on crime fighting, called on him at the Castle yesterday, to present copies of their productions to him.
Vice-President Mahama gave the assurance that the Ministry of Local Government would come up with a programme by the end of the year to ensure that every area has street naming and house numbers to help the police in locating exact areas of an incident.
He stressed the need for education programmes that would help the citizenry to be security conscious, noting that Ghanaians were not conscoius about their security.
The Vice-President commended the joint Police/Military patrol teams for helping to reduce the incidence of armed robbery in the country, particularly, their swift response to crime scenes.
He assured that the government would continue to equip the security agencies adequately to perform their duties, especially tools that would enhance their mobility.
Mr. Mahama commended Creative Consult for their incisive TV programmes, noting that it was a programme that affected the security of all. He, therefore, urged corporate Ghana to support their activities.
Andy Nana Opoku, Managing Director of the firm said the programme came about as a result of the need to spear head the agenda of curbing crime by liaising with the police.
He said the spate of crime in society was such that the government alone could not handle it, "We therefore want to create a platform for the police to engage with the public by way of providing information in fighting crime," he said.
Mr Opoku said some of the programmes run on GTV bordered on human trafficking, child traffciking, impact of community policing. He asked for support from government in sustainig the programme as it was constrained financially.
DSP Kwesi Ofori, Director of the Police Public Relations Directorate at the Police Service Headquarters said the organisation's programme had contributed immensely to fighting crime in the country. He said the police looked forward in collaborating more with the firm in the near future.
He appealed for support from corporate organizations and individuals to keep the programme running, assuring the vice-president of the police administration commitment to combating crime.
He said the absence of a proper street naming system was making it difficult for the police to respond swiftly to distress calls as they found it difficult to locate crime scenes.
Mr. Mahama made the call when a delegation from Creative Consult, an organisation that engages in the production of TV programmes on crime fighting, called on him at the Castle yesterday, to present copies of their productions to him.
Vice-President Mahama gave the assurance that the Ministry of Local Government would come up with a programme by the end of the year to ensure that every area has street naming and house numbers to help the police in locating exact areas of an incident.
He stressed the need for education programmes that would help the citizenry to be security conscious, noting that Ghanaians were not conscoius about their security.
The Vice-President commended the joint Police/Military patrol teams for helping to reduce the incidence of armed robbery in the country, particularly, their swift response to crime scenes.
He assured that the government would continue to equip the security agencies adequately to perform their duties, especially tools that would enhance their mobility.
Mr. Mahama commended Creative Consult for their incisive TV programmes, noting that it was a programme that affected the security of all. He, therefore, urged corporate Ghana to support their activities.
Andy Nana Opoku, Managing Director of the firm said the programme came about as a result of the need to spear head the agenda of curbing crime by liaising with the police.
He said the spate of crime in society was such that the government alone could not handle it, "We therefore want to create a platform for the police to engage with the public by way of providing information in fighting crime," he said.
Mr Opoku said some of the programmes run on GTV bordered on human trafficking, child traffciking, impact of community policing. He asked for support from government in sustainig the programme as it was constrained financially.
DSP Kwesi Ofori, Director of the Police Public Relations Directorate at the Police Service Headquarters said the organisation's programme had contributed immensely to fighting crime in the country. He said the police looked forward in collaborating more with the firm in the near future.
He appealed for support from corporate organizations and individuals to keep the programme running, assuring the vice-president of the police administration commitment to combating crime.
Veep Lauds Indian Army
Vice-president John Dramani Mahama has commended the Indian Army for contributing to world peace through its peacekeeping.
According to him, India and Ghana have demonstrated the need for South-South Cooperation as both countries have been the dominate forces in ensuring peace in some troubled spots in other parts of the world.
Mr. Mahama made the remarks when he received a delegation from the National Defence College of India who are on a 5-day tour of Ghana led by Air Vice-Marshal S.K Karmakar at the Castle in Accra.
Present at the meeting was the Indian High-Commissioner to Ghana H.E Ruchi Ghanashyam and Gen Mensah-Nunoo (Retd), the National Security Advisor to the government.
The vice-president noted that the military have come a long way in the performance of their traditional duties and that modern trends have called for their reorientation.
He therefore stressed that to live up to the modern trend, the military have been performing social activities especially during periods of disaster.
Mr. Mahama acknowledged India’s domestic performance in managing its poverty situation, attributing it to the use of simple technology that abounds in India.
The vice-president recommended the need for other countries to cooperate with each other in terms of technology exchange to bring about sustainable development.
In the field of military cooperation, Mr. Mahama lamented over the withdrawal of technical support from the British government to the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, which he described as unfortunate.
He, however, indicated that in the face of that withdrawal the government of Ghana has managed to keep the place running.
On good governance, the vice-president said Ghana had made a lot of strides in its democratic dispensation, particularly coming from a long period of coup d’état, where it is being regarded as oasis of peace in Africa.
He assured that Ghana was at the verge of making progress in the oil and gas discovery, promising that the lessons from other oil producing countries would help Ghana use the resources for the interest of the majority of the citizenry.
For her part, H.E Madam Ghanashyam commended Ghana for strengthening Ghana-India cooperation over the period with further consolidation by the Prof. Mills administration.
She said the role of Ghana in world peace was commendable and stressed the need to emulate that gesture by other African countries.
The leader of the delegation Air Vice-Marshal Karmakar said the team was in the country to observe Ghana’s democratic and other activities to help them in their policy planning.
The delegation was made up of some military personnel from Sri Lanka and Brazil and some civil personnel from the India Armed Forces.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku
According to him, India and Ghana have demonstrated the need for South-South Cooperation as both countries have been the dominate forces in ensuring peace in some troubled spots in other parts of the world.
Mr. Mahama made the remarks when he received a delegation from the National Defence College of India who are on a 5-day tour of Ghana led by Air Vice-Marshal S.K Karmakar at the Castle in Accra.
Present at the meeting was the Indian High-Commissioner to Ghana H.E Ruchi Ghanashyam and Gen Mensah-Nunoo (Retd), the National Security Advisor to the government.
The vice-president noted that the military have come a long way in the performance of their traditional duties and that modern trends have called for their reorientation.
He therefore stressed that to live up to the modern trend, the military have been performing social activities especially during periods of disaster.
Mr. Mahama acknowledged India’s domestic performance in managing its poverty situation, attributing it to the use of simple technology that abounds in India.
The vice-president recommended the need for other countries to cooperate with each other in terms of technology exchange to bring about sustainable development.
In the field of military cooperation, Mr. Mahama lamented over the withdrawal of technical support from the British government to the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, which he described as unfortunate.
He, however, indicated that in the face of that withdrawal the government of Ghana has managed to keep the place running.
On good governance, the vice-president said Ghana had made a lot of strides in its democratic dispensation, particularly coming from a long period of coup d’état, where it is being regarded as oasis of peace in Africa.
He assured that Ghana was at the verge of making progress in the oil and gas discovery, promising that the lessons from other oil producing countries would help Ghana use the resources for the interest of the majority of the citizenry.
For her part, H.E Madam Ghanashyam commended Ghana for strengthening Ghana-India cooperation over the period with further consolidation by the Prof. Mills administration.
She said the role of Ghana in world peace was commendable and stressed the need to emulate that gesture by other African countries.
The leader of the delegation Air Vice-Marshal Karmakar said the team was in the country to observe Ghana’s democratic and other activities to help them in their policy planning.
The delegation was made up of some military personnel from Sri Lanka and Brazil and some civil personnel from the India Armed Forces.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku
Government to implement sustainable environmental strategies
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Monday promised that government would implement sustainable environmental programmes that would find lasting solutions to the country's environmental challenges.
"Since our resources are limited, our priorities over the years have focused on health, education, infrastructural development and good governance sector with less emphasises on our natural resources and environment and the question I want to ask is how do we ensure that development does not take place at the expense of the environment?"
Vice President Mahama gave this promise when he inaugurated an 11-member Advisory Council of Environmental and Natural Resources at his office at the Castle, Osu.
The Council of which he is the Chairman would among other functions assist government to assess the risks and opportunities of policies and identify appropriate mechanisms to ensure that sound environmental management contributed towards economic growth.
Other members of the council include;Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr.Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Madam Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and Dr. Oteng Adjei, Minister of Energy.
The rest are Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr. Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Dr. Osei Boeh-Ocansey, Private Enterprise Foundation, Professor Nabila, President, National House of Chiefs and Dr. Yao Graham, Third World Network.
He said climate change and environmental degradation were phenomenal and could impact negatively on Agriculture, Health, energy and water resources, land and natural resources, oil and gas and mining and therefore required inter-sectoral and inter-ministerial management approach.
The Vice President appealed to members to be committed and dedicated to their roles and responsibilities to ensure the total achievement of the aims, goals and objectives of the council.
Madam Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology mentioned some of the serious environmental challenges as poor waste management and sanitation.
"Research indicates that about 80 percent of the diseases prevalent in our communities are sanitation-related and improving the management of waste and reducing filth in our cities have remained a top priority for government."
She gave the assurance that the council would also tackle serious challenges of biodiversity loss, deforestation, forest degradation, land degradation, pollution of fresh water bodies and marine environment.
Source: GNA
"Since our resources are limited, our priorities over the years have focused on health, education, infrastructural development and good governance sector with less emphasises on our natural resources and environment and the question I want to ask is how do we ensure that development does not take place at the expense of the environment?"
Vice President Mahama gave this promise when he inaugurated an 11-member Advisory Council of Environmental and Natural Resources at his office at the Castle, Osu.
The Council of which he is the Chairman would among other functions assist government to assess the risks and opportunities of policies and identify appropriate mechanisms to ensure that sound environmental management contributed towards economic growth.
Other members of the council include;Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr.Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Madam Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and Dr. Oteng Adjei, Minister of Energy.
The rest are Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr. Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Dr. Osei Boeh-Ocansey, Private Enterprise Foundation, Professor Nabila, President, National House of Chiefs and Dr. Yao Graham, Third World Network.
He said climate change and environmental degradation were phenomenal and could impact negatively on Agriculture, Health, energy and water resources, land and natural resources, oil and gas and mining and therefore required inter-sectoral and inter-ministerial management approach.
The Vice President appealed to members to be committed and dedicated to their roles and responsibilities to ensure the total achievement of the aims, goals and objectives of the council.
Madam Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology mentioned some of the serious environmental challenges as poor waste management and sanitation.
"Research indicates that about 80 percent of the diseases prevalent in our communities are sanitation-related and improving the management of waste and reducing filth in our cities have remained a top priority for government."
She gave the assurance that the council would also tackle serious challenges of biodiversity loss, deforestation, forest degradation, land degradation, pollution of fresh water bodies and marine environment.
Source: GNA
Private Sector Endorses SADA
The private sector has stressed the need for the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to embark on speedy job creation in the Northern Savannah to absorb the idle youth so as to avoid current diversion of idle hands into conflict.
In a communiqué issued by private sector leaders comprising over 40 representatives of various agricultural, agro-processing, financial services, tourism, mining, transport and allied services, the leaders expressed the wish to see SADA as an engine of unity, peace and development in the Northern Savannah.
The communiqué, adopted at the end of a two-day roundtable on the northern savannah belt at Tamale over the weekend, was presented to Vice-President John Mahama at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
The communiqué, read by Alhaji Asuamah Bandah, Chief Executive officer of Antrak, who led a five-man delegation to present it to the government, endorsed fully the government’s commitment to establish a comprehensive strategy to accelerate development efforts in the Northern Savannah.
It urged government to ensure that SADA was provided with secure and sustainable funding to undertake the ambitious transformation of the Northern Savannah into a growth pole.
“This funding must include a dedicated Savannah Development Fund to assure long-term investments in needed infrastructure and human development,” the communiqué stated.
“Private sector leaders encourage government to be assertive in establishing incentives to attract and retain investors and other businesses in the Northern Savannah,” it added.
The communiqué identified a number of strategic investments in infrastructure-roads, airports, in-land ports, water resources facilities and energy investments to enable rapid deployment of the private sector.
The communiqué undertook to build on the first meeting and convene bi-annual private sector roundtable fora on the Northern Savannah. It also undertook to provide advisory services to SADA Board and Management on critical issues pertaining to the private sector.
The communiqué further expressed the wish to support government’s drive to bring about accelerated development in the Northern Savannah, in partnership with the private sector.
Receiving the communiqué, Vice-President Mahama assured the delegation that the government would study the issues and concerns raised in the communiqué to incorporate it in the policy formulation document of SADA.
He said the vision of opening a new frontier of development in the north would engender a new growth pole in the country and offer employment and trade opportunities.
Mr. Mahama stated that in spite of the SADA strategy, government’s budget in respect of development in the area would be maintained, adding, investments realized from the SADA would be supplementary to the budget.
The Vice-President noted that the government could not achieve the vision of SADA without the active participation and collaboration with the private sector and commended the delegation for the enthusiasm they had shown for the project.
Giving the media an update of the SADA later, Dr. Sulley Gariba, Development Policy Advisor at the Office of the Vice-President said SADA had gathered pace, following the gazetting of the SADA Authority Bill last Friday.
Having met the critical milestones, he said Parliament would be ready to consider the Bill immediately it resumes later in May.
The SADA covers the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, as well as districts located in the northern Volta and northern Brong-Ahafo regions.
It is expected to undertake comprehensive strategy for the accelerated development of the Savannah, mobilize funding for investment and support NGO efforts in working with ordinary citizens in the programme areas.
Major outcomes of SADA over the five year period include improved coordination of development services in the area, increase in the quality and quantity of infrastructure necessary for accelerated development; a significant increase in the volumes of funding available as additional resources to finance development in the northern savannah; and a significant increase in private sector investments.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku
In a communiqué issued by private sector leaders comprising over 40 representatives of various agricultural, agro-processing, financial services, tourism, mining, transport and allied services, the leaders expressed the wish to see SADA as an engine of unity, peace and development in the Northern Savannah.
The communiqué, adopted at the end of a two-day roundtable on the northern savannah belt at Tamale over the weekend, was presented to Vice-President John Mahama at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
The communiqué, read by Alhaji Asuamah Bandah, Chief Executive officer of Antrak, who led a five-man delegation to present it to the government, endorsed fully the government’s commitment to establish a comprehensive strategy to accelerate development efforts in the Northern Savannah.
It urged government to ensure that SADA was provided with secure and sustainable funding to undertake the ambitious transformation of the Northern Savannah into a growth pole.
“This funding must include a dedicated Savannah Development Fund to assure long-term investments in needed infrastructure and human development,” the communiqué stated.
“Private sector leaders encourage government to be assertive in establishing incentives to attract and retain investors and other businesses in the Northern Savannah,” it added.
The communiqué identified a number of strategic investments in infrastructure-roads, airports, in-land ports, water resources facilities and energy investments to enable rapid deployment of the private sector.
The communiqué undertook to build on the first meeting and convene bi-annual private sector roundtable fora on the Northern Savannah. It also undertook to provide advisory services to SADA Board and Management on critical issues pertaining to the private sector.
The communiqué further expressed the wish to support government’s drive to bring about accelerated development in the Northern Savannah, in partnership with the private sector.
Receiving the communiqué, Vice-President Mahama assured the delegation that the government would study the issues and concerns raised in the communiqué to incorporate it in the policy formulation document of SADA.
He said the vision of opening a new frontier of development in the north would engender a new growth pole in the country and offer employment and trade opportunities.
Mr. Mahama stated that in spite of the SADA strategy, government’s budget in respect of development in the area would be maintained, adding, investments realized from the SADA would be supplementary to the budget.
The Vice-President noted that the government could not achieve the vision of SADA without the active participation and collaboration with the private sector and commended the delegation for the enthusiasm they had shown for the project.
Giving the media an update of the SADA later, Dr. Sulley Gariba, Development Policy Advisor at the Office of the Vice-President said SADA had gathered pace, following the gazetting of the SADA Authority Bill last Friday.
Having met the critical milestones, he said Parliament would be ready to consider the Bill immediately it resumes later in May.
The SADA covers the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, as well as districts located in the northern Volta and northern Brong-Ahafo regions.
It is expected to undertake comprehensive strategy for the accelerated development of the Savannah, mobilize funding for investment and support NGO efforts in working with ordinary citizens in the programme areas.
Major outcomes of SADA over the five year period include improved coordination of development services in the area, increase in the quality and quantity of infrastructure necessary for accelerated development; a significant increase in the volumes of funding available as additional resources to finance development in the northern savannah; and a significant increase in private sector investments.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku
Friday, April 30, 2010
Veep outlines govt's measures on agriculture
Vice President John Dramani Mahama says the government has outlined measures to support farmers to become exporters of food at the end of the farming season.
Some of the measures include increased subsidies on fertilizers, provision of more tractors and creation of Agricultural Mechanical Centres where tractor and other services would be given to farmers.
The Vice President, who spoke to journalists in an interview in his office, said apart from making Ghana an exporter of food, the measures were also geared towards making farmers important and rich personalities in society.
"In most developed countries, farmers are the richest and the most important personalities, but in our own culture here, farmers are poor and despised because of poor farming practices."
Vice President Mahama said the Green Revolution, an organization that supplies improved seeds to farmers and other seed management companies have been contracted to supply farmers with improved seeds and technical expertise, assuring that with all these in place, food production would increase.
"Last year we had a surplus of 145,000 metric tonnes of maize with a 30 per cent increase in rice production. The President and I are engaged in farming and hope that others will take to farming in addition to whatever they are doing," he said.
He said Mahindra Company Limited, an Indian automobile company, has been contracted to supply Ghanaian farmers with tractors while the government works with some other Indian companies to set up a fertilizer company.
The Vice President added that the World Food Programme and Food and Agricultural Organization have expressed interest in buying food from Ghanaian farmers to export to other countries if there are surpluses and urged farmers to take advantage of the opportunity to increase production.
Touching on the country's oil and gas find, he noted that although the government is not going to place all its hopes on it, proceeds that would accrue from the industry would be used for infrastructural development.
"No country can develop properly without adequate infrastructure and that is why we as a government will prioritize it with oil and gas revenue.
Some of the measures include increased subsidies on fertilizers, provision of more tractors and creation of Agricultural Mechanical Centres where tractor and other services would be given to farmers.
The Vice President, who spoke to journalists in an interview in his office, said apart from making Ghana an exporter of food, the measures were also geared towards making farmers important and rich personalities in society.
"In most developed countries, farmers are the richest and the most important personalities, but in our own culture here, farmers are poor and despised because of poor farming practices."
Vice President Mahama said the Green Revolution, an organization that supplies improved seeds to farmers and other seed management companies have been contracted to supply farmers with improved seeds and technical expertise, assuring that with all these in place, food production would increase.
"Last year we had a surplus of 145,000 metric tonnes of maize with a 30 per cent increase in rice production. The President and I are engaged in farming and hope that others will take to farming in addition to whatever they are doing," he said.
He said Mahindra Company Limited, an Indian automobile company, has been contracted to supply Ghanaian farmers with tractors while the government works with some other Indian companies to set up a fertilizer company.
The Vice President added that the World Food Programme and Food and Agricultural Organization have expressed interest in buying food from Ghanaian farmers to export to other countries if there are surpluses and urged farmers to take advantage of the opportunity to increase production.
Touching on the country's oil and gas find, he noted that although the government is not going to place all its hopes on it, proceeds that would accrue from the industry would be used for infrastructural development.
"No country can develop properly without adequate infrastructure and that is why we as a government will prioritize it with oil and gas revenue.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Brazilian Govt. To Give Ghana A Credit Facility
The Brazilian government is giving Ghana a credit facility to acquire a jet for the Ghana Air force to enable it transport troops from one operational are to the other.
The 90 seater plane, known as ERJ190, is being manufactured by Brazilian Aeronautics Company, Inc. (Embraer), a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate.
Vice-president John Dramani Mahama, who is currently in Brazil to conclude the deal on behalf of the Ghana government told journalists, while touring the company's headquarters main production facilities, and engineering/design offices in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, that the agreement was subject to Parliamentary approval.
According to him the Ghana Air Force had already sent a technical team to Embraer that had seen to the resolution of few details in respect of the aircraft.
“A technical team from the Air Force came here about three weeks before we arrived and so ours is to just finalise the political aspect of it and it will go to Parliament. Once Parliament approves it, the contract is signed,” the vice-president indicated.
Even though, Mr. Mahama did not disclose the amount of money involved, he mentioned that it was a “Brazilian Exim Bank facility and it’s payable in about 10 years at 2.5% interest with two years grace period. It’s one of the lowest interest rate.”
He praised the company of fast tracking the contract to enable Ghana acquire the aircraft in ten months instead of the normal twenty-four months periods for orders to be received because of the good relationship existing between Ghana and Brazil.
The vice-president noted that the decision to acquire the aircraft for the military was to give them a better operational efficiency, adding that “normally, when they want to move troops they have to rely on the United Nations (UN) to charter a flight for them.
Mr. Mahama,who was accompanied by Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Agriculture and Mr. Seth Terkper, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, appealed to Embraer to set up a mechanized facility to help maintain the aircraft the Ghana Armed Forces has and also for any other countries who have the same aircraft in Africa when they need maintenance and servicing .
On other areas of investment, vice-president Mahama disclosed that he was in Brazil to also look at attracting Brazilian investors for social and infrastructural development.
He mentioned that another hydro-electric project in Juale on the Oti River where the vice-president is pushing hard for quick take off.
“Brazil has approved it but there are few stumbling blocks we need to clear so that that project can add another 100 megawatt of hydro-electric power to our generation.
“There are several other projects that Brazilians investors looking to establish industries in Ghana,” Mr. Mahama stated.
One of such projects, he said, include cashew processing facility that would give ready market to cashew farmers in Ghana, particularly Brong Ahafo Region and Northern part of the country.
“This should encourage us to think and believe that if we put in our best as Ghanaians, Ghana will become the next emerging economy in Africa,” Mr. Mahama stressed.
The vice-president was conducted round the facilities by Acir Padicha, Vice-President of Embraer, who is in charge of Defense, Marketing and Sales.
Also accompanying the Vice President were Ghana’s ambassador to Brazil. H.E Samuel Kofi Dadey, the Member of Parliament for Krachi West, Francis Safo, Chief Director in the office of the Vice President, Roger Angsomwine and Michael Obuobi, a Presidential Aide in the office of the Vice President.
The Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, left Accra on Monday April 05, 2010 for a 4-day visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil. The visit is at the invitation of the His Excellency José Alencar Gomes da Silva, Vice President of Brazil.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The 90 seater plane, known as ERJ190, is being manufactured by Brazilian Aeronautics Company, Inc. (Embraer), a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate.
Vice-president John Dramani Mahama, who is currently in Brazil to conclude the deal on behalf of the Ghana government told journalists, while touring the company's headquarters main production facilities, and engineering/design offices in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, that the agreement was subject to Parliamentary approval.
According to him the Ghana Air Force had already sent a technical team to Embraer that had seen to the resolution of few details in respect of the aircraft.
“A technical team from the Air Force came here about three weeks before we arrived and so ours is to just finalise the political aspect of it and it will go to Parliament. Once Parliament approves it, the contract is signed,” the vice-president indicated.
Even though, Mr. Mahama did not disclose the amount of money involved, he mentioned that it was a “Brazilian Exim Bank facility and it’s payable in about 10 years at 2.5% interest with two years grace period. It’s one of the lowest interest rate.”
He praised the company of fast tracking the contract to enable Ghana acquire the aircraft in ten months instead of the normal twenty-four months periods for orders to be received because of the good relationship existing between Ghana and Brazil.
The vice-president noted that the decision to acquire the aircraft for the military was to give them a better operational efficiency, adding that “normally, when they want to move troops they have to rely on the United Nations (UN) to charter a flight for them.
Mr. Mahama,who was accompanied by Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Agriculture and Mr. Seth Terkper, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, appealed to Embraer to set up a mechanized facility to help maintain the aircraft the Ghana Armed Forces has and also for any other countries who have the same aircraft in Africa when they need maintenance and servicing .
On other areas of investment, vice-president Mahama disclosed that he was in Brazil to also look at attracting Brazilian investors for social and infrastructural development.
He mentioned that another hydro-electric project in Juale on the Oti River where the vice-president is pushing hard for quick take off.
“Brazil has approved it but there are few stumbling blocks we need to clear so that that project can add another 100 megawatt of hydro-electric power to our generation.
“There are several other projects that Brazilians investors looking to establish industries in Ghana,” Mr. Mahama stated.
One of such projects, he said, include cashew processing facility that would give ready market to cashew farmers in Ghana, particularly Brong Ahafo Region and Northern part of the country.
“This should encourage us to think and believe that if we put in our best as Ghanaians, Ghana will become the next emerging economy in Africa,” Mr. Mahama stressed.
The vice-president was conducted round the facilities by Acir Padicha, Vice-President of Embraer, who is in charge of Defense, Marketing and Sales.
Also accompanying the Vice President were Ghana’s ambassador to Brazil. H.E Samuel Kofi Dadey, the Member of Parliament for Krachi West, Francis Safo, Chief Director in the office of the Vice President, Roger Angsomwine and Michael Obuobi, a Presidential Aide in the office of the Vice President.
The Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, left Accra on Monday April 05, 2010 for a 4-day visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil. The visit is at the invitation of the His Excellency José Alencar Gomes da Silva, Vice President of Brazil.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Veep Secures $300 Million Brazilian Investment
Dias Branco group of companies, a leading biscuit and pasta manufacturing companies in Brazil, is to set up an over $300 million biscuit and pasta factory in Ghana that will create about one thousand jobs for Ghanaians.
The management of Dias Branco is expected in Ghana in May this year to conclude agreements on the modalities in establishing their only company in Africa in Ghana.
Vice-president John Dramani Mahama, who is on a 4-day official visit to Brazil, was able to convince the management of Dias Branco to invest in Ghana as against their original plan to invest in Angola, a Portuguese speaking sister nation in Africa.
Mr. Mahama, who was accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Ghana’s Ambassador to Brazil and Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana, Messrs. Kwesi Ahwoi, Seth Terkper, Samuel Kofi Dadey and respectively, toured the company’s facilities at Fortaleza in Brazil to acquaint himself with the production of the company.
Other members of the delegation were the Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana H.E Luis Fernando de Andrade Sera, Member of Parliament for Krachi West, Francis Safo, Chief Director in the office of the Vice President, Roger Angsomwine and Michael Obuobi, a Presidential Aide in the office of the Vice President.
Conducting the vice-president and his entourage around the facilities, the Chief Executive Officer of the company Francisco Ivens de Sa Dias Branco said the company was currently the leading company in the manufacture, sales and distribution of crackers, cookies and pasta products in Brazil.
In addition, it offers wheat flour and wholegrain wheat, margarine and vegetable shortening and also produced the majority of two of the principal raw materials for its crackers, cookies and pasta products
According to him the decision to invest in Ghana was based on Ghana’s credentials as a stable political and economy coupled with the good leadership style of President John Evans Atta Mills.
Mr. Branco admitted that the statesmanship and astuteness of Vice-President Mahama further gave them the courage to change their original plan to invest in Angola.
For his part, Mr. Mahama assured Mr. Branco and his group of Ghana’s readiness to welcome the company as it invests in the country.
He described Ghana as the gateway to Africa and that with the rest of the West Africa sub-region’s total population of over 240 million people, there was a guaranteed market for its products.
Mr. Mahama noted that the government of President Mills is to ensure that companies investing in Ghana would derive the maximum benefit in return for their investment.
He said this investment would eventually help to solving the employment needs of Ghana as majority of the workforce would be Ghanaians, particularly the youth.
In another development Vice-president Mahama, met members of the business community, one of the biggest association of business people and industrialists in Brazil in Ceara in a forum.
He assured the businessmen and the industrialists of Ceara that Ghanaian cashew farmers were ready to produce to meet the demands of the Brazilian market for cashew.
Mr. Mahama said what Ghana needed for the take-off was infrastructural development to enable cashew farmers to produce more to meet the new emerging market.
He assured them of Ghana government’s commitment to creating enabling environment such as tax and other incentives to make their operation in Ghana a reality.
The businessmen on their part pledged to invest in Ghana, especially in the cashew business by establishing a factory to process the crop to create ready market for the Ghanaian cashew farmers.
The asked for government commitment to offering them the necessary incentives to encourage more Brazilians to invest in Ghana.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku, Fortaleza-Brazil
The management of Dias Branco is expected in Ghana in May this year to conclude agreements on the modalities in establishing their only company in Africa in Ghana.
Vice-president John Dramani Mahama, who is on a 4-day official visit to Brazil, was able to convince the management of Dias Branco to invest in Ghana as against their original plan to invest in Angola, a Portuguese speaking sister nation in Africa.
Mr. Mahama, who was accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Ghana’s Ambassador to Brazil and Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana, Messrs. Kwesi Ahwoi, Seth Terkper, Samuel Kofi Dadey and respectively, toured the company’s facilities at Fortaleza in Brazil to acquaint himself with the production of the company.
Other members of the delegation were the Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana H.E Luis Fernando de Andrade Sera, Member of Parliament for Krachi West, Francis Safo, Chief Director in the office of the Vice President, Roger Angsomwine and Michael Obuobi, a Presidential Aide in the office of the Vice President.
Conducting the vice-president and his entourage around the facilities, the Chief Executive Officer of the company Francisco Ivens de Sa Dias Branco said the company was currently the leading company in the manufacture, sales and distribution of crackers, cookies and pasta products in Brazil.
In addition, it offers wheat flour and wholegrain wheat, margarine and vegetable shortening and also produced the majority of two of the principal raw materials for its crackers, cookies and pasta products
According to him the decision to invest in Ghana was based on Ghana’s credentials as a stable political and economy coupled with the good leadership style of President John Evans Atta Mills.
Mr. Branco admitted that the statesmanship and astuteness of Vice-President Mahama further gave them the courage to change their original plan to invest in Angola.
For his part, Mr. Mahama assured Mr. Branco and his group of Ghana’s readiness to welcome the company as it invests in the country.
He described Ghana as the gateway to Africa and that with the rest of the West Africa sub-region’s total population of over 240 million people, there was a guaranteed market for its products.
Mr. Mahama noted that the government of President Mills is to ensure that companies investing in Ghana would derive the maximum benefit in return for their investment.
He said this investment would eventually help to solving the employment needs of Ghana as majority of the workforce would be Ghanaians, particularly the youth.
In another development Vice-president Mahama, met members of the business community, one of the biggest association of business people and industrialists in Brazil in Ceara in a forum.
He assured the businessmen and the industrialists of Ceara that Ghanaian cashew farmers were ready to produce to meet the demands of the Brazilian market for cashew.
Mr. Mahama said what Ghana needed for the take-off was infrastructural development to enable cashew farmers to produce more to meet the new emerging market.
He assured them of Ghana government’s commitment to creating enabling environment such as tax and other incentives to make their operation in Ghana a reality.
The businessmen on their part pledged to invest in Ghana, especially in the cashew business by establishing a factory to process the crop to create ready market for the Ghanaian cashew farmers.
The asked for government commitment to offering them the necessary incentives to encourage more Brazilians to invest in Ghana.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku, Fortaleza-Brazil
Ghana On Track To Reduce Inflation
Ghana is on track to achieve a single digit inflation by the end of the year, the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has stated.
He said the country's current economic indicators were showing a positive response to the global economic bounce back, with the rate of inflation declining continuously since October 2009. It stands at 14.23 per cent currently.
The value of the cedi had also stabilised against the major trading currencies, while the balance of payment and the international reserve position had improved and the public sector deficit reduced, he said.
Mr Mahama made the observation in Accra Tuesday at the opening of a four-day international conference organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (lEA) and the USA Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) on public-private dialogue for West African states.
The theme for the conference was, "The impact of the Global Financial Crisis on West African States: Leveraging Public-private Dialogue for Development".
The Vice-President explained that the reduction in public sector deficit implied that the public sector borrowing requirement (PSBR) had declined, creating space for interest rates to fall and increase private sector borrowing for growth and employment creation.
Mr Mahama said the conference was important because it allowed participants to brainstorm and share experiences on the way forward out of the global financial crisis.
He said the global financial crisis, which he said began in the latter part of 2007 and intensified in 2008/2009, plunged most of the economies of the advanced world into recession.
He pointed out that pressure on the economies of developing countries had come from a number of fronts, among them the fact that African exports had been constrained by weaker external demand, particularly from the US and the European Union, with their tighter financial conditions.
The Vice-President said the government, in order to mitigate the effect of the crisis in the poor and restore stability to the economy, had been implementing various measures, including providing school uniforms for children in deprived communities, free exercise books for every pupil in public basic schools and increasing the capitation grant by 50 per cent.
Other measures, Mr Mahama said, were rationalising government expenditure by cutting down cost, reviewing mining, oil and forestry concession agreements to curb excessive repatriation, consolidating 27 ministries into 24 in order to rationalise government expenditure, reducing the number of ministers from 87 in the previous administration to 72, as well as reviewing petroleum taxes with the aim of reducing domestic petroleum prices.
For his part, a Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Terkper, gave background information on the global financial crisis and pointed out that it showed a drop in demand for exports, a decline in remittances and foreign exchange reserves and low budget support from tax revenues, aid and grant.
"Overall, growth fell sharply to 1-3 per cent in the advanced, transition and developing world," he said.
He said during the period, much of the gains from the decade of exuberance was whittled away quickly within a relatively short period of the crisis, adding that it was a crisis that brought consumers, big firms, governments and whole regions of the globe on their knees.
A member of the board of the National Endowment for Democracy, the funding body of the CIPE, Ambassador Lyman, said CIPE was created in 1993 to promote, among other objectives, democracy and good governance.
In his welcoming address, the Chairman of the IEA, Dr Charles Mensa, said looking at the importance of the topics to be discussed, participants were drawn not only from the public and private sectors but also top political party officials from West Africa for their inputs.
Source: Myjoyonline
He said the country's current economic indicators were showing a positive response to the global economic bounce back, with the rate of inflation declining continuously since October 2009. It stands at 14.23 per cent currently.
The value of the cedi had also stabilised against the major trading currencies, while the balance of payment and the international reserve position had improved and the public sector deficit reduced, he said.
Mr Mahama made the observation in Accra Tuesday at the opening of a four-day international conference organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (lEA) and the USA Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) on public-private dialogue for West African states.
The theme for the conference was, "The impact of the Global Financial Crisis on West African States: Leveraging Public-private Dialogue for Development".
The Vice-President explained that the reduction in public sector deficit implied that the public sector borrowing requirement (PSBR) had declined, creating space for interest rates to fall and increase private sector borrowing for growth and employment creation.
Mr Mahama said the conference was important because it allowed participants to brainstorm and share experiences on the way forward out of the global financial crisis.
He said the global financial crisis, which he said began in the latter part of 2007 and intensified in 2008/2009, plunged most of the economies of the advanced world into recession.
He pointed out that pressure on the economies of developing countries had come from a number of fronts, among them the fact that African exports had been constrained by weaker external demand, particularly from the US and the European Union, with their tighter financial conditions.
The Vice-President said the government, in order to mitigate the effect of the crisis in the poor and restore stability to the economy, had been implementing various measures, including providing school uniforms for children in deprived communities, free exercise books for every pupil in public basic schools and increasing the capitation grant by 50 per cent.
Other measures, Mr Mahama said, were rationalising government expenditure by cutting down cost, reviewing mining, oil and forestry concession agreements to curb excessive repatriation, consolidating 27 ministries into 24 in order to rationalise government expenditure, reducing the number of ministers from 87 in the previous administration to 72, as well as reviewing petroleum taxes with the aim of reducing domestic petroleum prices.
For his part, a Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Terkper, gave background information on the global financial crisis and pointed out that it showed a drop in demand for exports, a decline in remittances and foreign exchange reserves and low budget support from tax revenues, aid and grant.
"Overall, growth fell sharply to 1-3 per cent in the advanced, transition and developing world," he said.
He said during the period, much of the gains from the decade of exuberance was whittled away quickly within a relatively short period of the crisis, adding that it was a crisis that brought consumers, big firms, governments and whole regions of the globe on their knees.
A member of the board of the National Endowment for Democracy, the funding body of the CIPE, Ambassador Lyman, said CIPE was created in 1993 to promote, among other objectives, democracy and good governance.
In his welcoming address, the Chairman of the IEA, Dr Charles Mensa, said looking at the importance of the topics to be discussed, participants were drawn not only from the public and private sectors but also top political party officials from West Africa for their inputs.
Source: Myjoyonline
Vice-President Mahama lauds Soyinka's literary achievements
Vice-President John Dramani Mahama has paid glowing tribute to the literary achievement of nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, saying his boldness to tell the truth even in the face of difficulties made him outstanding among his peers.
"What makes Wole Soyinka unique among colleagues is his courage and boldness to say it as it is," the Vice President said.
He made these observations at a programme dubbed 'An evening with Wole Soyinka', organised by Glo Mobile Ghana as part of programmes scheduled to herald the launch of Globacom operations in the country.
Vice President Mahama commended Glo for organising the literary event that brought together all the great minds in the field of literature and the arts and expressed the hope that the event would mark a turning point in reviving interest in literature.
The event is to celebrate excellence and honour great African literary minds whose dedication to the African continent through their works exposed the culture and the everyday life of the people.
Prof. Soyinka one of the world's leading intellectuals in the field of arts and literature and renowned Ghanaian authors and writers, who included Prof. Kofi Awoonor, Prof. Atukwei Okai, Nana Ayebia Clark were the attraction of the audience.
Other distinguished personalities at the programme that was characterised by music and dancing included former President John Agyekum Kufuor, members of Parliament and the Diplomatic corps.
Prof. Wole Soyinka said arts was an instrument for combating the ills in society and at the same time a means to offer hope and consolation to the people.
He said his motivation to write stemmed from the need to deal with the difficulties of society.
Prof. Soyinka lauded the positive contribution of mobile phone technology to the democratisation process in the world.
"I am filled with joy, fulfilled and excited," Prof. Atukwei Okai said, adding that a major end of Pan-African Writers Association was to build the recognition that the writer was an agent of change, whose contribution could support development of society.
Born on 13 July 1934 at Abeokuta, near Ibadan in Western Nigeria, Prof. Soyinka after preparatory university studies in 1954 at Government College in Ibadan, continued at the University of Leeds, where, later, in 1973, he took his doctorate.
During the civil war in Nigeria, Prof. Soyinka was arrested in 1967, accused of conspiring with the Biafra rebels, and was held as a political prisoner for 22 months until 1969.
Prof. Soyinka has published about 20 works: drama, novels and poetry and writes in English and his literary language is marked by great scope and richness of words.
Mr Bode Opesitan, Public Relations Manager of Globacom, said the programme was in line with Glo's quest to inspire the youth through literature and culture.
He said Glo was building a network that would be second to none and would offer Ghanaians all the advances in mobile technology.
Source: GNA
"What makes Wole Soyinka unique among colleagues is his courage and boldness to say it as it is," the Vice President said.
He made these observations at a programme dubbed 'An evening with Wole Soyinka', organised by Glo Mobile Ghana as part of programmes scheduled to herald the launch of Globacom operations in the country.
Vice President Mahama commended Glo for organising the literary event that brought together all the great minds in the field of literature and the arts and expressed the hope that the event would mark a turning point in reviving interest in literature.
The event is to celebrate excellence and honour great African literary minds whose dedication to the African continent through their works exposed the culture and the everyday life of the people.
Prof. Soyinka one of the world's leading intellectuals in the field of arts and literature and renowned Ghanaian authors and writers, who included Prof. Kofi Awoonor, Prof. Atukwei Okai, Nana Ayebia Clark were the attraction of the audience.
Other distinguished personalities at the programme that was characterised by music and dancing included former President John Agyekum Kufuor, members of Parliament and the Diplomatic corps.
Prof. Wole Soyinka said arts was an instrument for combating the ills in society and at the same time a means to offer hope and consolation to the people.
He said his motivation to write stemmed from the need to deal with the difficulties of society.
Prof. Soyinka lauded the positive contribution of mobile phone technology to the democratisation process in the world.
"I am filled with joy, fulfilled and excited," Prof. Atukwei Okai said, adding that a major end of Pan-African Writers Association was to build the recognition that the writer was an agent of change, whose contribution could support development of society.
Born on 13 July 1934 at Abeokuta, near Ibadan in Western Nigeria, Prof. Soyinka after preparatory university studies in 1954 at Government College in Ibadan, continued at the University of Leeds, where, later, in 1973, he took his doctorate.
During the civil war in Nigeria, Prof. Soyinka was arrested in 1967, accused of conspiring with the Biafra rebels, and was held as a political prisoner for 22 months until 1969.
Prof. Soyinka has published about 20 works: drama, novels and poetry and writes in English and his literary language is marked by great scope and richness of words.
Mr Bode Opesitan, Public Relations Manager of Globacom, said the programme was in line with Glo's quest to inspire the youth through literature and culture.
He said Glo was building a network that would be second to none and would offer Ghanaians all the advances in mobile technology.
Source: GNA
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Veep Calls For Calm
Vice-president John Dramani Mahama has called on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Paramount Chief of the Techiman Traditional Area to tackle the problem of chieftaincy with level headedness.
He said since the two traditional areas shared common culture and traditional values, there was the need for them to bury the hatchet for peace to prevail.
The vice-president who said this at the installation of a new Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boree Essa I, at Damongo in the Northern Region, expressed concern about pockets of chieftaincy and political upheaval in some parts of the country and appealed for calm.
The new Yagbonwura, know in private life as Tuntumba Sulemana Amanfo Jakpa, the Kusawgu Wura.
“This should be a turning point in our lives. No political is worth more than the drop of blood. Shedding of blood to get political power is not the best, he stressed.
He appealed to the new chief to make land registration in Gonja a priority.
According to him as society progresses it is incumbent on chiefs and leaders to adopt new ways of administering land.
Mr. Mahama said the era where lands were not registered as essential commodity were past, adding that “we must now put values on our lands.”
He said the only way the country could confront the eminent food problem well is to use arable land.
Mr. Mahama noted that the healthy environment created by the Mills’ administration would attract investors who would large tracks of land and therefore cautioned against the release of such lands “for a few bottles of drinks and paltry sum of money”
“I appealed to you to seek the proper counseling before you dispose off the land. Investment should not be done at the expense of the toil of our forefathers who laid their blood to acquire the land for us,” he said.
He gave the assurance that the water and road projects earmarked for the area would be completed on time and commended the chiefs and people of the area for the unity of purpose.
The vice-president commended the kingmakers for their sense of integrity in choosing and installing the successor to the Yagbon skin after the demise of Alhaji Bawa Doshie I.
He called on other ethnic and traditional authorities, particularly Dagbon, who were facing chieftaincy problem to emulate the shining examples of the kingmakers of the Gonja Traditional Area.
For his part, the Northern Regional Minister Moses Mabengba said the government , through the Northern Rural Growth Programme, has selected some districts in the region to pilot dry season farming.
“The block farming programme for Youth in Agriculture has been very encouraging in the district. We intend to expand and extend it to cover other parts of the district so as to engage as many of the youth as possible.
The new King, Boree Essa I assured genuine investors of his willingness to release land for projects that could be beneficial to the area.
He called on the government to implement the Youth in Agriculture module of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), stressing, “my chiefs and I are prepared to make land available for programmes that would create jobs and bring prosperity to our people.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku
He said since the two traditional areas shared common culture and traditional values, there was the need for them to bury the hatchet for peace to prevail.
The vice-president who said this at the installation of a new Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boree Essa I, at Damongo in the Northern Region, expressed concern about pockets of chieftaincy and political upheaval in some parts of the country and appealed for calm.
The new Yagbonwura, know in private life as Tuntumba Sulemana Amanfo Jakpa, the Kusawgu Wura.
“This should be a turning point in our lives. No political is worth more than the drop of blood. Shedding of blood to get political power is not the best, he stressed.
He appealed to the new chief to make land registration in Gonja a priority.
According to him as society progresses it is incumbent on chiefs and leaders to adopt new ways of administering land.
Mr. Mahama said the era where lands were not registered as essential commodity were past, adding that “we must now put values on our lands.”
He said the only way the country could confront the eminent food problem well is to use arable land.
Mr. Mahama noted that the healthy environment created by the Mills’ administration would attract investors who would large tracks of land and therefore cautioned against the release of such lands “for a few bottles of drinks and paltry sum of money”
“I appealed to you to seek the proper counseling before you dispose off the land. Investment should not be done at the expense of the toil of our forefathers who laid their blood to acquire the land for us,” he said.
He gave the assurance that the water and road projects earmarked for the area would be completed on time and commended the chiefs and people of the area for the unity of purpose.
The vice-president commended the kingmakers for their sense of integrity in choosing and installing the successor to the Yagbon skin after the demise of Alhaji Bawa Doshie I.
He called on other ethnic and traditional authorities, particularly Dagbon, who were facing chieftaincy problem to emulate the shining examples of the kingmakers of the Gonja Traditional Area.
For his part, the Northern Regional Minister Moses Mabengba said the government , through the Northern Rural Growth Programme, has selected some districts in the region to pilot dry season farming.
“The block farming programme for Youth in Agriculture has been very encouraging in the district. We intend to expand and extend it to cover other parts of the district so as to engage as many of the youth as possible.
The new King, Boree Essa I assured genuine investors of his willingness to release land for projects that could be beneficial to the area.
He called on the government to implement the Youth in Agriculture module of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), stressing, “my chiefs and I are prepared to make land available for programmes that would create jobs and bring prosperity to our people.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku
Veep Secures 1000 Tractors
Vice President John Dramani Mahama has secured a 1000 tractor facility running into millions of dollars from India’s farm machinery manufacturer Mahindra to support Ghana’s agricultural sector.
The company has also agreed to support the government with other agricultural machinery and spare parts component.
Addressing the press on his arrival at the Kotoka International Airport from India where he attended the 6th Asia-Africa Conclave in New Delhi, Mr. Mahama described the trip as fruitful and basketful of opportunities.
The Vice-President, who was accompanied by the President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) Nana Owusu-Afari, attended three-day conclave with other ministers, business people and experts from 34 African countries to discuss business projects worth $9 billion.
Vice-president John Dramani Mahama, who was the guest of honour at the conclave, said the Ghanaian delegation took advantage of the conclave to renew and facilitate bilateral projects arrangements between the two countries.
Significance among this project is India’s readiness to establish a fertilizer plant in Ghana which would use expected bi-products of the oil find to support the industry.
It is estimated that the facility will supply Ghana’s total fertilizer needs and the excess exported to India.
According to the Vice-President a team of Indian experts were expected in the country in a couple of weeks to conduct feasibility studies on a canalisation of the Accra Plains, using water from the lower Volta to irrigate the land, adding that a similar project had been designed for the White Volta to irrigate the overseas areas of the Northern Region.
Mr. Mahama mentioned that with the support of India, Ghana was looking at the possibility of setting up an urban transport system that would run on gas instead of diesel.
“The country is also looking at further possibilities of securing India Oversea Development Assistance into strategic sectors of the country such as energy, especially rural electrification, agricultural and agro-processing.
He was welcome at the airport by the India High Commissioner to Ghana Ruchi Ghanashyam and Mr. Baffoe-Bonney, Special Advisor to the Vice-President.
The conclave laid out a roadmap for the second edition of the India-Africa Forum Summit to be held next year. India hosted the first summit in New Delhi in 2008.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna inaugurated the conference that sought to give a fresh momentum to India s multifaceted engagement with the African continent.
The sixth India-Africa Project Partnership conclave has been jointly organised by the commerce and external affairs ministries, the EXIM bank and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The conclave revolved around four linked sub-themes: India-Africa partnership, Rural economies, Africa tomorrow and Going Green.
The meet provided a platform for Indian and African leaders to intensify their bilateral and regional partnerships, scale up Indian participation in Indian participation in Africa s long-term development projects, enhance capacity building initiatives and resource mobilization programmes.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku
The company has also agreed to support the government with other agricultural machinery and spare parts component.
Addressing the press on his arrival at the Kotoka International Airport from India where he attended the 6th Asia-Africa Conclave in New Delhi, Mr. Mahama described the trip as fruitful and basketful of opportunities.
The Vice-President, who was accompanied by the President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) Nana Owusu-Afari, attended three-day conclave with other ministers, business people and experts from 34 African countries to discuss business projects worth $9 billion.
Vice-president John Dramani Mahama, who was the guest of honour at the conclave, said the Ghanaian delegation took advantage of the conclave to renew and facilitate bilateral projects arrangements between the two countries.
Significance among this project is India’s readiness to establish a fertilizer plant in Ghana which would use expected bi-products of the oil find to support the industry.
It is estimated that the facility will supply Ghana’s total fertilizer needs and the excess exported to India.
According to the Vice-President a team of Indian experts were expected in the country in a couple of weeks to conduct feasibility studies on a canalisation of the Accra Plains, using water from the lower Volta to irrigate the land, adding that a similar project had been designed for the White Volta to irrigate the overseas areas of the Northern Region.
Mr. Mahama mentioned that with the support of India, Ghana was looking at the possibility of setting up an urban transport system that would run on gas instead of diesel.
“The country is also looking at further possibilities of securing India Oversea Development Assistance into strategic sectors of the country such as energy, especially rural electrification, agricultural and agro-processing.
He was welcome at the airport by the India High Commissioner to Ghana Ruchi Ghanashyam and Mr. Baffoe-Bonney, Special Advisor to the Vice-President.
The conclave laid out a roadmap for the second edition of the India-Africa Forum Summit to be held next year. India hosted the first summit in New Delhi in 2008.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna inaugurated the conference that sought to give a fresh momentum to India s multifaceted engagement with the African continent.
The sixth India-Africa Project Partnership conclave has been jointly organised by the commerce and external affairs ministries, the EXIM bank and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The conclave revolved around four linked sub-themes: India-Africa partnership, Rural economies, Africa tomorrow and Going Green.
The meet provided a platform for Indian and African leaders to intensify their bilateral and regional partnerships, scale up Indian participation in Indian participation in Africa s long-term development projects, enhance capacity building initiatives and resource mobilization programmes.
Story: Wisdom Peter Awuku
Veep in India for Investment conclave
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday arrived in New Delhi, India, to participate in the Sixth Annual Confederation of Indian Industries Conclave to explore investment opportunities for Ghana.
The programme, the sixth in the series, is organized by the Government of India; Export and Import (EXIM) Bank of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry and it is aimed at fostering investment partnerships between Indian Companies and African countries.
The Vice President would among other activities hold talks with the Business Community in India and hold bilateral talks with government officials of India, trumpet out the business potentials of Ghana and sign memoranda of understanding with companies or businesses that would express interest in investing in Ghana. He would also deliver an address on the investment potentials of Ghana and whip up the enthusiasm of Indian Companies to invest in Ghana, among other things.
The three-day programme, which would attract Presidents, Vice Presidents and top Government officials from selected African countries, would also seek to empower governments to create jobs and reduce the high rate of unemployment in their countries.
Vice President Mahama is the second Vice President to attend the programme from Ghana after Former Vice President Aliu Mahama, who attended a similar programme in 2007.
Vice President Mahama would also interact with the Ghanaian community in India. 14 March 10
Source: GNA
The programme, the sixth in the series, is organized by the Government of India; Export and Import (EXIM) Bank of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry and it is aimed at fostering investment partnerships between Indian Companies and African countries.
The Vice President would among other activities hold talks with the Business Community in India and hold bilateral talks with government officials of India, trumpet out the business potentials of Ghana and sign memoranda of understanding with companies or businesses that would express interest in investing in Ghana. He would also deliver an address on the investment potentials of Ghana and whip up the enthusiasm of Indian Companies to invest in Ghana, among other things.
The three-day programme, which would attract Presidents, Vice Presidents and top Government officials from selected African countries, would also seek to empower governments to create jobs and reduce the high rate of unemployment in their countries.
Vice President Mahama is the second Vice President to attend the programme from Ghana after Former Vice President Aliu Mahama, who attended a similar programme in 2007.
Vice President Mahama would also interact with the Ghanaian community in India. 14 March 10
Source: GNA
Veep in India for Investment conclave
Veep in India for Investment conclave
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday arrived in New Delhi, India, to participate in the Sixth Annual Confederation of Indian Industries Conclave to explore investment opportunities for Ghana.
The programme, the sixth in the series, is organized by the Government of India; Export and Import (EXIM) Bank of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry and it is aimed at fostering investment partnerships between Indian Companies and African countries.
The Vice President would among other activities hold talks with the Business Community in India and hold bilateral talks with government officials of India, trumpet out the business potentials of Ghana and sign memoranda of understanding with companies or businesses that would express interest in investing in Ghana. He would also deliver an address on the investment potentials of Ghana and whip up the enthusiasm of Indian Companies to invest in Ghana, among other things.
The three-day programme, which would attract Presidents, Vice Presidents and top Government officials from selected African countries, would also seek to empower governments to create jobs and reduce the high rate of unemployment in their countries.
Vice President Mahama is the second Vice President to attend the programme from Ghana after Former Vice President Aliu Mahama, who attended a similar programme in 2007.
Vice President Mahama would also interact with the Ghanaian community in India. 14 March 10
Source: GNA
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday arrived in New Delhi, India, to participate in the Sixth Annual Confederation of Indian Industries Conclave to explore investment opportunities for Ghana.
The programme, the sixth in the series, is organized by the Government of India; Export and Import (EXIM) Bank of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry and it is aimed at fostering investment partnerships between Indian Companies and African countries.
The Vice President would among other activities hold talks with the Business Community in India and hold bilateral talks with government officials of India, trumpet out the business potentials of Ghana and sign memoranda of understanding with companies or businesses that would express interest in investing in Ghana. He would also deliver an address on the investment potentials of Ghana and whip up the enthusiasm of Indian Companies to invest in Ghana, among other things.
The three-day programme, which would attract Presidents, Vice Presidents and top Government officials from selected African countries, would also seek to empower governments to create jobs and reduce the high rate of unemployment in their countries.
Vice President Mahama is the second Vice President to attend the programme from Ghana after Former Vice President Aliu Mahama, who attended a similar programme in 2007.
Vice President Mahama would also interact with the Ghanaian community in India. 14 March 10
Source: GNA
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Galvanize the energies of youth to continue Nkrumah's vision - Veep
Vice President, John Dramani Mahama has paid glowing tribute to Hideyo Noguchi for his immense contribution in the field of tropical medicine in Ghana.
Dr. Noguchi, the Japanese researcher whose work, life, and dedication to the health needs of humanity led to the establishment of the Noguchi Institute for Medical Research in Accra in 1979.
He said Dr.Noguchi, who laid down his life for medical research in yellow fever, has in no doubt, enhanced human progress and survival in Ghana and the world at large.
Mr. Mahama made the observation at the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Memorial Symposium held in Accra in March 2010.
The Symposium formed part of programmes and activities for the historic visit of His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan to Ghana.
The vice-president said the work of Noguchi cannot be underestimated citing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals decision to adopt, in September 2000, to fight diseases and improve health care in the area of child mortality, and maternal health care as well as tackle complex diseases was a testimony of the foresight of this illustrious son of Japan.
Mr. Mahama stressed that the Noguchi Memorial Institute established in honour of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, which is the foremost in the sub-region, has contributed enormously to disease control, capacity building and job creation for nationals.
He also stressed that the institute, since its inception, has focused its attention on infectious and communicable diseases such as malaria, measles, tuberculosis and other diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. “The Institute has also taken into research into nutrition, food contamination, parasitic diseases and other problems of public health importance and health systems in the country”, he stressed.
The Vice President was particularly happy that the Institute has served as a platform for continuous collaboration in the development and exchange of ideas and information between Japanese and Ghanaian researchers.
Mr. Mahama commended the Government and people of Japan for being true friends to Ghana, acknowledging that the Japanese taxpayers have continued to fund some of the most critical infrastructural projects in Ghana while young Japanese Oversea volunteers continue to arrive in Ghana to serve in some of the remote and deprived parts of our country.
Mr. Mahama also expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the work the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Institute was undertaking, which, “Undoubtedly, opened our understanding to parasitic and communicable diseases and also contributed immensely to medical research into parasitic and other related diseases in the country”.
For his part, Crown Prince Naruhito said the efforts of great number of people concerned with medicine and health that have followed in Dr. Noguchi’s path have discovered vaccines and the measures taken against yellow fever have significantly advanced compared to the time when Dr. Noguchi was devoting himself to his research.
The Imperial Highness who is an Honorary President of the United Nations Secretary-Generals Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, however, bemoaned that despite the enormous gains in research the 21st century still holds gloom for Africa.
He said Africa continues to suffer from a great number of infectious diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS where over 22.4 million Africans are infected with the HIV/AIDS resulting in about 1.4 million people dying from the virus.
Prince Naruhito, therefore, called on the International Community to take immediate action against such serious problem.
He also urged those attending the symposium to contribute to raising the awareness of the importance of research in the field of infectious diseases and that it will strengthen the healthcare system in Africa.
Story by George Azrigo and Gloria Asinyo
Dr. Noguchi, the Japanese researcher whose work, life, and dedication to the health needs of humanity led to the establishment of the Noguchi Institute for Medical Research in Accra in 1979.
He said Dr.Noguchi, who laid down his life for medical research in yellow fever, has in no doubt, enhanced human progress and survival in Ghana and the world at large.
Mr. Mahama made the observation at the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Memorial Symposium held in Accra in March 2010.
The Symposium formed part of programmes and activities for the historic visit of His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan to Ghana.
The vice-president said the work of Noguchi cannot be underestimated citing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals decision to adopt, in September 2000, to fight diseases and improve health care in the area of child mortality, and maternal health care as well as tackle complex diseases was a testimony of the foresight of this illustrious son of Japan.
Mr. Mahama stressed that the Noguchi Memorial Institute established in honour of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, which is the foremost in the sub-region, has contributed enormously to disease control, capacity building and job creation for nationals.
He also stressed that the institute, since its inception, has focused its attention on infectious and communicable diseases such as malaria, measles, tuberculosis and other diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. “The Institute has also taken into research into nutrition, food contamination, parasitic diseases and other problems of public health importance and health systems in the country”, he stressed.
The Vice President was particularly happy that the Institute has served as a platform for continuous collaboration in the development and exchange of ideas and information between Japanese and Ghanaian researchers.
Mr. Mahama commended the Government and people of Japan for being true friends to Ghana, acknowledging that the Japanese taxpayers have continued to fund some of the most critical infrastructural projects in Ghana while young Japanese Oversea volunteers continue to arrive in Ghana to serve in some of the remote and deprived parts of our country.
Mr. Mahama also expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the work the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Institute was undertaking, which, “Undoubtedly, opened our understanding to parasitic and communicable diseases and also contributed immensely to medical research into parasitic and other related diseases in the country”.
For his part, Crown Prince Naruhito said the efforts of great number of people concerned with medicine and health that have followed in Dr. Noguchi’s path have discovered vaccines and the measures taken against yellow fever have significantly advanced compared to the time when Dr. Noguchi was devoting himself to his research.
The Imperial Highness who is an Honorary President of the United Nations Secretary-Generals Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, however, bemoaned that despite the enormous gains in research the 21st century still holds gloom for Africa.
He said Africa continues to suffer from a great number of infectious diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS where over 22.4 million Africans are infected with the HIV/AIDS resulting in about 1.4 million people dying from the virus.
Prince Naruhito, therefore, called on the International Community to take immediate action against such serious problem.
He also urged those attending the symposium to contribute to raising the awareness of the importance of research in the field of infectious diseases and that it will strengthen the healthcare system in Africa.
Story by George Azrigo and Gloria Asinyo
Veep Lauds Japan’s Support
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday commended the Japanese government for their continuous support to Ghana in the socio-economic development.
According to him, Japan has been one of the countries in the world that has over the years offered grants and loans to Ghana without interest and other conditionalities attached to the loans.
Vice President Mahama said these when he hosted Prince Naruhito, the Crown Prince of Japan at the Akosombo Presidential Lodge in the Eastern Region as part of his three-day official visit to Ghana.
The Prince who was followed by a delegation of government officials and media practitioners also watched video clips of the Akosombo dam project and the potentials of the area in job creation and the reduction of youth unemployment in the country.
The Vice President said Japan had helped Ghana in education, Health, Science and Technology and particularly thanked the Crown Prince Naruhito for choosing to visit Ghana when the relationship between the two countries was growing stronger.
He gave the assurance that Ghana would continue to play her role in ensuring that relationship between the two countries was strengthened further to benefit generations to come.
Prince Naruhito who did not talk during most of his visits watched the video footages and had a closed door talks with the Vice President.
He later made a whistle stop at Akuse Junction where he inspected the produce of grafted mangoes and interacted with the sellers.
Crown Prince Nahiruto has since left Ghana for Kenya to continue with his two nation tour of Africa.
He was seen off at the airport by Mr. Mahama.
Story by: Wisdom Awuku (Office Of The Vice President)
According to him, Japan has been one of the countries in the world that has over the years offered grants and loans to Ghana without interest and other conditionalities attached to the loans.
Vice President Mahama said these when he hosted Prince Naruhito, the Crown Prince of Japan at the Akosombo Presidential Lodge in the Eastern Region as part of his three-day official visit to Ghana.
The Prince who was followed by a delegation of government officials and media practitioners also watched video clips of the Akosombo dam project and the potentials of the area in job creation and the reduction of youth unemployment in the country.
The Vice President said Japan had helped Ghana in education, Health, Science and Technology and particularly thanked the Crown Prince Naruhito for choosing to visit Ghana when the relationship between the two countries was growing stronger.
He gave the assurance that Ghana would continue to play her role in ensuring that relationship between the two countries was strengthened further to benefit generations to come.
Prince Naruhito who did not talk during most of his visits watched the video footages and had a closed door talks with the Vice President.
He later made a whistle stop at Akuse Junction where he inspected the produce of grafted mangoes and interacted with the sellers.
Crown Prince Nahiruto has since left Ghana for Kenya to continue with his two nation tour of Africa.
He was seen off at the airport by Mr. Mahama.
Story by: Wisdom Awuku (Office Of The Vice President)
Highlight of Vice President John Mahama’s Visit to Korea
H.E. Mr. John Dramani Mahama, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana paid an official visit to the Republic of Korea at the invitation of the Korean Government from March 1—4, 2010.
The Vice President was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included the Ministers of Food and Agriculture (Hon. Kwesi Ahwoi) and of Water Resources, Works and Housing (Hon. Alban Bagbin); the Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional \Integration (Hon. Chris Kpodo), Finance and Economic Planning (Hon. Seth Terkper), and of Energy (Hon. Emmanuel Buah).
The delegation also included the Minority Leader (Hon. Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu) as well as Chairman (Hon. James Klutse Avedzi) and Ranking Member (Hon. Anthony Akoto Osei) of the Finance Committee of the Parliament. The inclusion of the Minority is particularly significant because it underscores Government’s commitment to an all-inclusive approach to prosecuting the Better Ghana Agenda. A number of Ghanaian businessmen went with the delegation.
Vice President Mahama and his delegation were warmly received by and also held very fruitful discussions with, the President and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea as well as leaders of the business community, from the private and public sectors in Korea, who were interested in doing business in Ghana.
During the meetings, both the Vice President and his hosts heartily indulged in courtesies that commended Ghana’s advancement in democratic governance and people-centered development efforts. They also applauded Korea’s accession to membership of the OECD, its assumption of leadership of the organization this year and the focus on cooperation with Africa that will define that leadership role. In particular, the two countries reaffirmed South Korea’s decision to play an active role in Ghana’s socio-economic development through the strengthening of mutual-beneficial cooperation.
The Vice President showed appreciation for the wealth of goodwill and support expressed by the Korean Government and reassured both the Government and the private sector of the prevailing peace and stability that ensured guaranteed foreign direct investment and joint venture partnerships in the country. He drew attention to several Korean activities that existed in Ghana already.
At the end of the visit, the Vice President and his delegation were assured of collaboration by the leading Korean Group of Companies, STX Corporation, through its subsidiaries and affiliates in undertaking a “Ghana Investment Plan” for which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the STX Corporation and the Government of Ghana.
Under the Ghana Investment Plan, STX Corporation will make investment for, and execute agreed and commercially viable sub-projects with the Government of Ghana providing the necessary support and cooperation.
The projects included:
1. The National Housing Project (GNHP) under which STX is to build 200,000 units of housing in all the ten regions of Ghana, and for which basic data collection and housing design have been completed since the conclusion of a bilateral agreement in December 2009. Total investment amounting to US$10 billion is estimated for the project.
2. Construction and operation of industrial plants; STX intends to invest for, and build various industrial plants in Ghana including, but not limited to, a cement plant, a rolling mill, and autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC) plant.
3. Stabilization and improvement of operations of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), under which the Government of Ghana confirms its intension to work with STX to secure stable crude oil supply. STX also confirmed its intention to conduct preliminary feasibility study in the construction and operation of oil tank terminals while the Korea National Petroleum Company (KNOC) also expressed interest in collaborating with GNPC on various petroleum projects.
4. Vocational Training of Ghanaian Human Resources: STX and other organizations have agreed to join Government of Ghana’s efforts to improve work skills of Ghanaian human resources. STX will make its best efforts to secure and arrange Korean Government’s cooperation for GOG to set up a training programme with the assistance of Korea’s Knowledge Sharing Project (KSP) and official Development Assistance (ODA) programme. The KSP and investment programs would also benefit Ghana’s ICT and Public Financial Management (PFM) efforts aimed at improving the economy.
5. Other Potential Cooperation Opportunities; As a world leading shipping and shipbuilding company, STX has expressed firm intent to expand the scope of cooperation with Ghana into the fields of shipping and logistics transport business and construction of commercial and specialized vessels.
In the field of food security, Ghana and Korea agree to share technology and know-how in the agricultural sector. In that connection, Ghana’s Minister for Good and Agriculture has extended his visit to Korea by two days to hold further discussions, initiated during the Vice President’s visit, on mutually-beneficial collaboration with the Korean Rural Development Administration (KRDA) which has tremendous expertise and experience in seed, plants, modernized and mechanized farming.
On bilateral financial relations, the Ghana delegation discussed the EXIM facility with the Korean government and EXIM Bank officials and agreed to take the necessary steps to remove all obstacles that have affected the administration of the facility in recent years. Technically, Ghana is deemed to have defaulted in honoring its full loan obligations as a result of the inability of the two countries to complete the debt-relief process under the HIPC programme. The Korean legislature was required to provide the necessary relief granted by OECD and some non-OECD states to Ghana in accordance with the agreed terms under the HIPC arrangement. This action has now been completed and the two countries have agreed to complete the process expeditiously to allow a new EXIM Bank programme to start this year and fund several of the projects envisaged above.
In cooperation within the wider international community, the Ghana delegation appreciated and commended Korea’s policy towards developing closer collaboration and partnership with Africa within the framework of the Korea-Africa Forum and reassured the Government of Korea of Ghana’s sustained key role in advancing the cause of African development.
The Ghana delegation also reassured the Korean Government of Ghana’s ready disposition to continue to share experiences and concerted efforts in addressing global issues of common interest.
The delegation welcome the prospect of the visit to Africa, including Ghana, by the President of the Republic of Korea in the summer of this year 2010 and considered the visit as an eloquent testimony for renewing shared commitment to further deepen relations to the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two countries.
Story by: Wisdom Awuku (Office Of The Vice President)
The Vice President was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included the Ministers of Food and Agriculture (Hon. Kwesi Ahwoi) and of Water Resources, Works and Housing (Hon. Alban Bagbin); the Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional \Integration (Hon. Chris Kpodo), Finance and Economic Planning (Hon. Seth Terkper), and of Energy (Hon. Emmanuel Buah).
The delegation also included the Minority Leader (Hon. Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu) as well as Chairman (Hon. James Klutse Avedzi) and Ranking Member (Hon. Anthony Akoto Osei) of the Finance Committee of the Parliament. The inclusion of the Minority is particularly significant because it underscores Government’s commitment to an all-inclusive approach to prosecuting the Better Ghana Agenda. A number of Ghanaian businessmen went with the delegation.
Vice President Mahama and his delegation were warmly received by and also held very fruitful discussions with, the President and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea as well as leaders of the business community, from the private and public sectors in Korea, who were interested in doing business in Ghana.
During the meetings, both the Vice President and his hosts heartily indulged in courtesies that commended Ghana’s advancement in democratic governance and people-centered development efforts. They also applauded Korea’s accession to membership of the OECD, its assumption of leadership of the organization this year and the focus on cooperation with Africa that will define that leadership role. In particular, the two countries reaffirmed South Korea’s decision to play an active role in Ghana’s socio-economic development through the strengthening of mutual-beneficial cooperation.
The Vice President showed appreciation for the wealth of goodwill and support expressed by the Korean Government and reassured both the Government and the private sector of the prevailing peace and stability that ensured guaranteed foreign direct investment and joint venture partnerships in the country. He drew attention to several Korean activities that existed in Ghana already.
At the end of the visit, the Vice President and his delegation were assured of collaboration by the leading Korean Group of Companies, STX Corporation, through its subsidiaries and affiliates in undertaking a “Ghana Investment Plan” for which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the STX Corporation and the Government of Ghana.
Under the Ghana Investment Plan, STX Corporation will make investment for, and execute agreed and commercially viable sub-projects with the Government of Ghana providing the necessary support and cooperation.
The projects included:
1. The National Housing Project (GNHP) under which STX is to build 200,000 units of housing in all the ten regions of Ghana, and for which basic data collection and housing design have been completed since the conclusion of a bilateral agreement in December 2009. Total investment amounting to US$10 billion is estimated for the project.
2. Construction and operation of industrial plants; STX intends to invest for, and build various industrial plants in Ghana including, but not limited to, a cement plant, a rolling mill, and autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC) plant.
3. Stabilization and improvement of operations of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), under which the Government of Ghana confirms its intension to work with STX to secure stable crude oil supply. STX also confirmed its intention to conduct preliminary feasibility study in the construction and operation of oil tank terminals while the Korea National Petroleum Company (KNOC) also expressed interest in collaborating with GNPC on various petroleum projects.
4. Vocational Training of Ghanaian Human Resources: STX and other organizations have agreed to join Government of Ghana’s efforts to improve work skills of Ghanaian human resources. STX will make its best efforts to secure and arrange Korean Government’s cooperation for GOG to set up a training programme with the assistance of Korea’s Knowledge Sharing Project (KSP) and official Development Assistance (ODA) programme. The KSP and investment programs would also benefit Ghana’s ICT and Public Financial Management (PFM) efforts aimed at improving the economy.
5. Other Potential Cooperation Opportunities; As a world leading shipping and shipbuilding company, STX has expressed firm intent to expand the scope of cooperation with Ghana into the fields of shipping and logistics transport business and construction of commercial and specialized vessels.
In the field of food security, Ghana and Korea agree to share technology and know-how in the agricultural sector. In that connection, Ghana’s Minister for Good and Agriculture has extended his visit to Korea by two days to hold further discussions, initiated during the Vice President’s visit, on mutually-beneficial collaboration with the Korean Rural Development Administration (KRDA) which has tremendous expertise and experience in seed, plants, modernized and mechanized farming.
On bilateral financial relations, the Ghana delegation discussed the EXIM facility with the Korean government and EXIM Bank officials and agreed to take the necessary steps to remove all obstacles that have affected the administration of the facility in recent years. Technically, Ghana is deemed to have defaulted in honoring its full loan obligations as a result of the inability of the two countries to complete the debt-relief process under the HIPC programme. The Korean legislature was required to provide the necessary relief granted by OECD and some non-OECD states to Ghana in accordance with the agreed terms under the HIPC arrangement. This action has now been completed and the two countries have agreed to complete the process expeditiously to allow a new EXIM Bank programme to start this year and fund several of the projects envisaged above.
In cooperation within the wider international community, the Ghana delegation appreciated and commended Korea’s policy towards developing closer collaboration and partnership with Africa within the framework of the Korea-Africa Forum and reassured the Government of Korea of Ghana’s sustained key role in advancing the cause of African development.
The Ghana delegation also reassured the Korean Government of Ghana’s ready disposition to continue to share experiences and concerted efforts in addressing global issues of common interest.
The delegation welcome the prospect of the visit to Africa, including Ghana, by the President of the Republic of Korea in the summer of this year 2010 and considered the visit as an eloquent testimony for renewing shared commitment to further deepen relations to the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two countries.
Story by: Wisdom Awuku (Office Of The Vice President)
VEEP ASSURES INVESTORS OF GOV'T SUPPORT
The Vice President, John Mahama has lauded the collaboration between the people of Nzema in the Western Region and investors from Trinidad and Tobago which will lead to the establishment of an industrial estate and an energy city in the region.
The project would cater for all activities that would be taking place in the Western Region due to the oil fine.
The vice-president assured them of Government’s commitment to assist the two parties in their long short to long term plans.
He said the location of Nzema to the Ghana’s oil find makes the area conducive to host a number of activities in the Western Region.
Mr. Mahama said this when a joint team from the Western Region led by Chief of Western Nzema , Awulae Annor Adjei III and the investors led by Mrs. Ann Marie De Silva called on him at the Castle to seek government’s commitment to the mutual benefit in the execution of the projects.
Vice-President said Government was particularly happy that the investor was working closely with the chiefs and people in their catchments area, a situation not common to other countries that had found oil, leading to untold hardship to their citizenry.
He advised Ghanaians to be cautiously optimistic about the oil fine since the product may not be the panacea to all their worries.
He therefore urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the numerous opportunities the oil discovery bring instead of looking at it from a different perspective.
Mr. Mahama urged the investor to work closely with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) since that will afford them the opportunity to know at firsthand how much it will cost them to be hooked onto the West African Gas Pipeline project.
Awulae Annor Adjei III said the chiefs of the area considered the importance of land to their people, especially to generations unborn, and had not sold the land but rather leased it to the investors.
He also added that the investors had agreed to vacate the site and return it to its owner if by 2015 they had not delivered on their promises.
Awulae Annor stressed the fact that the investor had agreed not to relocate inhabitants but rather upgrade them when the need be, create a buffer zone for possible expansion and for future agricultural purposes.
For her part, Mrs. De Silva said the possibility of the project is feasible and had come to replicate what had been done in other countries such as Trinidad and Tobago
He pleaded with government to ensure that the project is not starved of gas since the commodity is the sole engine of the project.
Feb. 23 2010
Story by: Wisdom Awuku (Office Of The Vice President)
The project would cater for all activities that would be taking place in the Western Region due to the oil fine.
The vice-president assured them of Government’s commitment to assist the two parties in their long short to long term plans.
He said the location of Nzema to the Ghana’s oil find makes the area conducive to host a number of activities in the Western Region.
Mr. Mahama said this when a joint team from the Western Region led by Chief of Western Nzema , Awulae Annor Adjei III and the investors led by Mrs. Ann Marie De Silva called on him at the Castle to seek government’s commitment to the mutual benefit in the execution of the projects.
Vice-President said Government was particularly happy that the investor was working closely with the chiefs and people in their catchments area, a situation not common to other countries that had found oil, leading to untold hardship to their citizenry.
He advised Ghanaians to be cautiously optimistic about the oil fine since the product may not be the panacea to all their worries.
He therefore urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the numerous opportunities the oil discovery bring instead of looking at it from a different perspective.
Mr. Mahama urged the investor to work closely with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) since that will afford them the opportunity to know at firsthand how much it will cost them to be hooked onto the West African Gas Pipeline project.
Awulae Annor Adjei III said the chiefs of the area considered the importance of land to their people, especially to generations unborn, and had not sold the land but rather leased it to the investors.
He also added that the investors had agreed to vacate the site and return it to its owner if by 2015 they had not delivered on their promises.
Awulae Annor stressed the fact that the investor had agreed not to relocate inhabitants but rather upgrade them when the need be, create a buffer zone for possible expansion and for future agricultural purposes.
For her part, Mrs. De Silva said the possibility of the project is feasible and had come to replicate what had been done in other countries such as Trinidad and Tobago
He pleaded with government to ensure that the project is not starved of gas since the commodity is the sole engine of the project.
Feb. 23 2010
Story by: Wisdom Awuku (Office Of The Vice President)
Galvanize the energies of youth to continue Nkrumah's vision - Veep
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Friday called on the Planning Committee of the Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Celebrations to galvanize the energies of the youth to continue with the uncompleted ideals of Nkrumah.
He noted that the youth played a significant role during Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah's struggle to secure independence and foster development for Ghana and the entire African continent. "I believe it is only fair that we follow those steps to succeed", the Vice President said when he launched the first of 10 Regional series of campus lecturers to be delivered throughout the country at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
The lectures are meant to commemorate the ideals, concepts and themes of Dr Nkrumah in the struggle for independence as part of his centenary celebration.
Vice President Mahama reiterated calls for the Nkrumaist ideals to be incorporated into the school's curriculum to enable students to study about his goals, visions and ideologies.
He recalled the humble beginnings of Dr Nkrumah and indicated that that was never a hindrance against his pursuit for higher education and urged the youth that no matter one's background, with quality education, it was possible to attain greater heights.
Vice President Mahama announced that heads of states of African Union member countries as well as old friends of Nkrumah are expected in the country to climax the Centenary Celebration in May and called on Ghanaians to offer their maximum support for its success. "Nkrumah's personal friends and cronies such as Kenneth Kaunda, Sam Nujoma and all Pan-Africanists would all be in the country to participate in the Centenary celebrations" he emphasized.
He said the Central Region had memorable historical relics and tourist attractions and served as the central point of Nkrumah's struggle for independence, hence the beginning of the lectures in Cape Coast. He commended the Planning Committee for their commitment and sacrifice in ensuring maximum participation.
"I want to further urge the Planning Committee to let the image of Nkrumah and what he actually stood for to emerge in the series of lectures and other programmes to serve as a reference point even beyond the celebrations," he said.
Professor Akilakpa Sawyer, Chairman of the Centenary Planning Committee announced that other programmes lined up included film shows, drama and cultural activities and called on all partners as well as collaborators to give of their best.
In a lecture, Mrs Esi Sutherland Addy, a member of the Centenary Committee and a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, urged Africans to be passionate about their own history and the totality of their lives as Africans as Nkrumah sought to inculcate in them. She noted that Nkrumah was determined to eliminate illiteracy in the country and therefore built so many schools from basic to the tertiary level.
Dr Nasser Gamal Adams, also a lecturer at the University of Ghana, deplored what he termed the "exploitative symbiotic relationship" between the African continent and "imperialists" or the western world. He said paradoxically, Africa is poor because it is rich and that its riches have rather caused its woes and pointed out that capitalist system had rather created excessive wealth for the West while it has generated increased squalor and poverty in Africa.
Dr Adams stressed that currently there is a new "colonialist elites" who together with their imperialists' partners were plunging the rich resources of the continent such as gold, diamonds and oil. He urged all Africans to unite and forge a common front to deal with issues confronting them to help better their lot.
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang Vice-Chancellor of UCC, who chaired the function, said Dr Nkrumah has made a positive impact on many lives and mentioned education and research as some of his ideals.
She challenged academicians to make education relevant to the needs of society and also urged Africans to believe in themselves, be innovative and build their confidence to stamp out stereotyping others.
Feb. 12 2010
He noted that the youth played a significant role during Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah's struggle to secure independence and foster development for Ghana and the entire African continent. "I believe it is only fair that we follow those steps to succeed", the Vice President said when he launched the first of 10 Regional series of campus lecturers to be delivered throughout the country at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
The lectures are meant to commemorate the ideals, concepts and themes of Dr Nkrumah in the struggle for independence as part of his centenary celebration.
Vice President Mahama reiterated calls for the Nkrumaist ideals to be incorporated into the school's curriculum to enable students to study about his goals, visions and ideologies.
He recalled the humble beginnings of Dr Nkrumah and indicated that that was never a hindrance against his pursuit for higher education and urged the youth that no matter one's background, with quality education, it was possible to attain greater heights.
Vice President Mahama announced that heads of states of African Union member countries as well as old friends of Nkrumah are expected in the country to climax the Centenary Celebration in May and called on Ghanaians to offer their maximum support for its success. "Nkrumah's personal friends and cronies such as Kenneth Kaunda, Sam Nujoma and all Pan-Africanists would all be in the country to participate in the Centenary celebrations" he emphasized.
He said the Central Region had memorable historical relics and tourist attractions and served as the central point of Nkrumah's struggle for independence, hence the beginning of the lectures in Cape Coast. He commended the Planning Committee for their commitment and sacrifice in ensuring maximum participation.
"I want to further urge the Planning Committee to let the image of Nkrumah and what he actually stood for to emerge in the series of lectures and other programmes to serve as a reference point even beyond the celebrations," he said.
Professor Akilakpa Sawyer, Chairman of the Centenary Planning Committee announced that other programmes lined up included film shows, drama and cultural activities and called on all partners as well as collaborators to give of their best.
In a lecture, Mrs Esi Sutherland Addy, a member of the Centenary Committee and a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, urged Africans to be passionate about their own history and the totality of their lives as Africans as Nkrumah sought to inculcate in them. She noted that Nkrumah was determined to eliminate illiteracy in the country and therefore built so many schools from basic to the tertiary level.
Dr Nasser Gamal Adams, also a lecturer at the University of Ghana, deplored what he termed the "exploitative symbiotic relationship" between the African continent and "imperialists" or the western world. He said paradoxically, Africa is poor because it is rich and that its riches have rather caused its woes and pointed out that capitalist system had rather created excessive wealth for the West while it has generated increased squalor and poverty in Africa.
Dr Adams stressed that currently there is a new "colonialist elites" who together with their imperialists' partners were plunging the rich resources of the continent such as gold, diamonds and oil. He urged all Africans to unite and forge a common front to deal with issues confronting them to help better their lot.
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang Vice-Chancellor of UCC, who chaired the function, said Dr Nkrumah has made a positive impact on many lives and mentioned education and research as some of his ideals.
She challenged academicians to make education relevant to the needs of society and also urged Africans to believe in themselves, be innovative and build their confidence to stamp out stereotyping others.
Feb. 12 2010
VICE PRESIDENT SECURES IFC DEAL FOR GHANA
Vice President, John Dramani Mahama has secured a deal with the International Financial Corporation (IFC), a subsidiary of the World Bank to assist the country with technical support in its effort to map-up, number and name major streets with zip codes. Mr. Mahama told the IFC that Ghana needed technical support in the mapping-up, street numbering and street naming process to enable government to effectively and efficiently collect property rates and also make mailing easy in the country.
The vice-president made the request when he interacted with officials of IFC at the recent United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the Vice President attended this year’s 14th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Governments meeting.
In a meeting with Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr. Mahama said Ghana would contribute to bridging the technological divide and make the country an ICT hub for Africa and a market where other sister African countries can draw from. In pursuant to this, Vice-president Mahama sadi it was imperative for government to review existing regulations to bring the sector up to standard to be in tune with international practice so as to build capacity for the future.
Mr. Mahama assured officials of the IFC of government’s commitment in keeping to and conserving the environment.
He said Ghana had already put in place policies like the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), the Youth-in-Agriculture policy and other afforestation programmes to generate employment for the youth and also check environmental degradation.
For his part, Mr. Janneh assured Mr. Mahama that the IFC has more than the necessary capacity, technology and financial resources to assist Ghana in achieving its objectives in its Information Communication Technology programmes and the street naming and numbering projects.
Mr. Janneh assured the vice-president of a team of experts who would soon visit Ghana to undertake feasibility studies of the street numbering and street naming project for the immediate commencement of the exercise.
In a related development, the Vice President, Mr. Mahama has repeated Ghana Government’s call on the Millennium Challenge Authority and the US government to reconsider making the bidding process for contracts under the Millennium Challenge Account flexible for local contractors to win some of the contracts.
He said this would create a multiplier effect and allow the building of indigenous local industries which would invariably improve the economy and standards of living. He bemoaned the way Chinese companies are winning all contracts under the MCA due to their financial muscle and said much as their local counterparts can not much the Chinese financially, they have the technical know-how to execute good quality jobs and called on the US government to involve local content in the award of contract in the MCA.
Mr. Mahama reiterated the call when a Special Assistant to the US President and Director of African Affairs, Ms. Michelle Gavin called on him at the UN Conference Centre in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia .
Mr. Mahama also said the Mills’ administration was taking all the necessary steps to fight the drug menace that rocked the country some years back.
He said government was seeking support to procure surveillance equipments for the Ghana navy to could monitor and apprehend intruding vessels, check the country’s territorial waters and pair trawling and guard the country’s new found oil.
He assured the Ms. Gavin that Government would not leave no stone unturned to ensure that Ghanaians benefit from the oil fine that would start streaming in November 2010.
Ms. Gavin assured the vice-president that her Government would do everything within her power to assist Ghana fight the drug menace.
She also assured the Vice President that she would relay the concerns he had raised with respect to the local content in the award of contract by the MCA.
The vice-president made the request when he interacted with officials of IFC at the recent United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the Vice President attended this year’s 14th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Governments meeting.
In a meeting with Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr. Mahama said Ghana would contribute to bridging the technological divide and make the country an ICT hub for Africa and a market where other sister African countries can draw from. In pursuant to this, Vice-president Mahama sadi it was imperative for government to review existing regulations to bring the sector up to standard to be in tune with international practice so as to build capacity for the future.
Mr. Mahama assured officials of the IFC of government’s commitment in keeping to and conserving the environment.
He said Ghana had already put in place policies like the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), the Youth-in-Agriculture policy and other afforestation programmes to generate employment for the youth and also check environmental degradation.
For his part, Mr. Janneh assured Mr. Mahama that the IFC has more than the necessary capacity, technology and financial resources to assist Ghana in achieving its objectives in its Information Communication Technology programmes and the street naming and numbering projects.
Mr. Janneh assured the vice-president of a team of experts who would soon visit Ghana to undertake feasibility studies of the street numbering and street naming project for the immediate commencement of the exercise.
In a related development, the Vice President, Mr. Mahama has repeated Ghana Government’s call on the Millennium Challenge Authority and the US government to reconsider making the bidding process for contracts under the Millennium Challenge Account flexible for local contractors to win some of the contracts.
He said this would create a multiplier effect and allow the building of indigenous local industries which would invariably improve the economy and standards of living. He bemoaned the way Chinese companies are winning all contracts under the MCA due to their financial muscle and said much as their local counterparts can not much the Chinese financially, they have the technical know-how to execute good quality jobs and called on the US government to involve local content in the award of contract in the MCA.
Mr. Mahama reiterated the call when a Special Assistant to the US President and Director of African Affairs, Ms. Michelle Gavin called on him at the UN Conference Centre in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia .
Mr. Mahama also said the Mills’ administration was taking all the necessary steps to fight the drug menace that rocked the country some years back.
He said government was seeking support to procure surveillance equipments for the Ghana navy to could monitor and apprehend intruding vessels, check the country’s territorial waters and pair trawling and guard the country’s new found oil.
He assured the Ms. Gavin that Government would not leave no stone unturned to ensure that Ghanaians benefit from the oil fine that would start streaming in November 2010.
Ms. Gavin assured the vice-president that her Government would do everything within her power to assist Ghana fight the drug menace.
She also assured the Vice President that she would relay the concerns he had raised with respect to the local content in the award of contract by the MCA.
Ghana-Italy Unite To Fight Organized Crime
The Governments of Ghana and Italy have intensified their resolve to fight organized crime and illegal immigration by signing agreements that would enable both the police and immigration agencies of both countries to collaborate in information sharing to check crime.
Addressing an Italian delegation led by the Italian Minister of Interior Robert Maroni at the Castle on Monday, Vice-President John Dramani Mahama stated that the level of sophistication being used by criminals across the world was a clear signal to governments that fighting crime was no longer the preserve of only one country.
He therefore reiterated the need for collaboration between countries, especially the developed and underdeveloped ones, to pool their resources to fight the menace of crime.
According to the vice-president Ghana will not hesitate to sign any agreement that will make the world a safer place to live.
He commended the Italian government for collaborating with Ghana to fight organized crime, trans border crimes, the drug menace, illegal migration and human trafficking.
Mr. Mahama said terrorism knew no bound and that the cost of living in peace was to be alert at all times, adding that illegal immigration and smuggling were cankers that needed to be weeded out.
Mr. Mahama indicated that young Africans, especially from Ghana, have lost their lives, in their quest to travel for greener pastures, embarked on dangerous journeys to migrate to Italy and other European countries.
He mentioned the death of about 40 Ghanaians in The Gambia as one of such dangerous ventures that had led to a stalled relationship between Ghana and The Gambia.
The vice-president therefore appealed to the Italian government to support Ghana with agricultural machinery and technology to revamp its agricultural sector to entice the youth to go into agricultural and to dissuade them from travelling abroad illegally.
He said the government of Ghana was determined to make Ghana a haven where the youth would be encouraged to stay in the country to deploy their talents for the development of the country.
The Italian delegation, who were accompanied by the Minister of the Interior Cletus Avoka and Appiah Kubi, the deputy Minister of the Interior later signed the two agreements at the Ministry of the Interior in Accra.
The agreement emphases capacity building and technical cooperation programmes to consolidated partnership approaches between Ghana and Italy.
It also seeks to provide exchange of information, joint operations and mutual visits.
“Moreover, it seeks to provide training and capacity building through professional seminars and courses, practical training as in the attachment of Immigration officers to Italian Immigration Operations.
“Lastly, the agreement seeks to provide technical support though the provision of equipment for Border control,” it said.
Hon. Avoka, signing on behalf of the government of Ghana, noted that “the world has become a Global village and Ghana as a member of the International Community has faced the same security challenges as experienced by many other countries.”
He mentioned that illegal immigration were characterized as trans-national crimes organized by international criminal organizations who were often connected to drug trafficking, terrorism, money laundering and arms trafficking.
Mr. Avoka acknowledged the importance of the agreement and said “this agreement therefore comes at an opportune time when the Ghana Immigration Service is expanding its Border Patrol Programme and requires all the support, both technical and financial to succeed.”
“The prospect of more training and equipment support for Ghana Immigration Service and the Police is very crucial in strengthening the Border management system as well as the enforcement capacities to combat cross border threats,” the Minister indicated.
He commended the Italian Government for the support and appealed for further assistance in all areas of Security for the Ghanaian Law Enforcement Agencies in their bid to curb and fight crime in the country.
For his part, Mr. Maroni praised the government of Ghana for its democratic principles and its role in curbing crime and maintaining peace in the sub-region.
He mentioned, in particular, internal security where Italian citizens residence in Ghana have mentioned that they have found Ghana a very peaceful place to live.
Mr. Maroni also said Italy was the only Schegen country that gives the highest of visas to Ghanaian applicants to Italy more than any other country.
He disclosed that the Italian government was putting in place measures to absorb qualified Ghanaians into the Italian economy, who wanted to live and work in Italy.
Mr. Maroni later presented 11 vehicles, made up of nine Toyota Land Cruisers with two of them to be uses as Ambulannces and two Toyota Coaster buses to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) for the Border Patrol Unit of the GIS.
Present at the function were Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, the Inspector-General of Police and some top GIS officials.
By Wisdom Peter Awuku and George Asirigo (Office Of The Vice President)
Addressing an Italian delegation led by the Italian Minister of Interior Robert Maroni at the Castle on Monday, Vice-President John Dramani Mahama stated that the level of sophistication being used by criminals across the world was a clear signal to governments that fighting crime was no longer the preserve of only one country.
He therefore reiterated the need for collaboration between countries, especially the developed and underdeveloped ones, to pool their resources to fight the menace of crime.
According to the vice-president Ghana will not hesitate to sign any agreement that will make the world a safer place to live.
He commended the Italian government for collaborating with Ghana to fight organized crime, trans border crimes, the drug menace, illegal migration and human trafficking.
Mr. Mahama said terrorism knew no bound and that the cost of living in peace was to be alert at all times, adding that illegal immigration and smuggling were cankers that needed to be weeded out.
Mr. Mahama indicated that young Africans, especially from Ghana, have lost their lives, in their quest to travel for greener pastures, embarked on dangerous journeys to migrate to Italy and other European countries.
He mentioned the death of about 40 Ghanaians in The Gambia as one of such dangerous ventures that had led to a stalled relationship between Ghana and The Gambia.
The vice-president therefore appealed to the Italian government to support Ghana with agricultural machinery and technology to revamp its agricultural sector to entice the youth to go into agricultural and to dissuade them from travelling abroad illegally.
He said the government of Ghana was determined to make Ghana a haven where the youth would be encouraged to stay in the country to deploy their talents for the development of the country.
The Italian delegation, who were accompanied by the Minister of the Interior Cletus Avoka and Appiah Kubi, the deputy Minister of the Interior later signed the two agreements at the Ministry of the Interior in Accra.
The agreement emphases capacity building and technical cooperation programmes to consolidated partnership approaches between Ghana and Italy.
It also seeks to provide exchange of information, joint operations and mutual visits.
“Moreover, it seeks to provide training and capacity building through professional seminars and courses, practical training as in the attachment of Immigration officers to Italian Immigration Operations.
“Lastly, the agreement seeks to provide technical support though the provision of equipment for Border control,” it said.
Hon. Avoka, signing on behalf of the government of Ghana, noted that “the world has become a Global village and Ghana as a member of the International Community has faced the same security challenges as experienced by many other countries.”
He mentioned that illegal immigration were characterized as trans-national crimes organized by international criminal organizations who were often connected to drug trafficking, terrorism, money laundering and arms trafficking.
Mr. Avoka acknowledged the importance of the agreement and said “this agreement therefore comes at an opportune time when the Ghana Immigration Service is expanding its Border Patrol Programme and requires all the support, both technical and financial to succeed.”
“The prospect of more training and equipment support for Ghana Immigration Service and the Police is very crucial in strengthening the Border management system as well as the enforcement capacities to combat cross border threats,” the Minister indicated.
He commended the Italian Government for the support and appealed for further assistance in all areas of Security for the Ghanaian Law Enforcement Agencies in their bid to curb and fight crime in the country.
For his part, Mr. Maroni praised the government of Ghana for its democratic principles and its role in curbing crime and maintaining peace in the sub-region.
He mentioned, in particular, internal security where Italian citizens residence in Ghana have mentioned that they have found Ghana a very peaceful place to live.
Mr. Maroni also said Italy was the only Schegen country that gives the highest of visas to Ghanaian applicants to Italy more than any other country.
He disclosed that the Italian government was putting in place measures to absorb qualified Ghanaians into the Italian economy, who wanted to live and work in Italy.
Mr. Maroni later presented 11 vehicles, made up of nine Toyota Land Cruisers with two of them to be uses as Ambulannces and two Toyota Coaster buses to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) for the Border Patrol Unit of the GIS.
Present at the function were Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, the Inspector-General of Police and some top GIS officials.
By Wisdom Peter Awuku and George Asirigo (Office Of The Vice President)
AU WELCOMES THE CELEBRATION OF NKRUMAH CENTENARY
The African Union (AU) has reiterated its commitment to honouring Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah by institutionalizing his birthday as a holiday on the African continent.
The declaration was made by the new AU Chairman Bingu Wa Mutharika after Vice-President John Mahama addressed African Heads of State and Government meeting at the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union and the 16th Executive Council Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According President Wa Mutharika, who is also the President of Malawi, the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana by all stretch of the imagination and standard needed to be glorified because of his contribution to Pan-Africanism and his struggle for African liberation. He said the AU would definitely join Ghana in celebrating Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
AU Commissioner, Dr. Jean Ping in a separate meeting with the Vice-President, said even though he never saw the late Dr. Nkrumah he can stick his neck out that Nkrumah was Africa and Africa was Nkrumah.
He said the Commission through its Commissioner for Social Affairs, Culture and Sports was planning a commemoration for “This Great Man” and would not hesitate to incorporate and assist in whatever programme Ghana would come out with to celebrating Kwame Nkrumah.
Dr. Ping called on Ghana to submit a detailed timeline programme for AU to assist.
The declaration was made by the new AU Chairman Bingu Wa Mutharika after Vice-President John Mahama addressed African Heads of State and Government meeting at the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union and the 16th Executive Council Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According President Wa Mutharika, who is also the President of Malawi, the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana by all stretch of the imagination and standard needed to be glorified because of his contribution to Pan-Africanism and his struggle for African liberation. He said the AU would definitely join Ghana in celebrating Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
AU Commissioner, Dr. Jean Ping in a separate meeting with the Vice-President, said even though he never saw the late Dr. Nkrumah he can stick his neck out that Nkrumah was Africa and Africa was Nkrumah.
He said the Commission through its Commissioner for Social Affairs, Culture and Sports was planning a commemoration for “This Great Man” and would not hesitate to incorporate and assist in whatever programme Ghana would come out with to celebrating Kwame Nkrumah.
Dr. Ping called on Ghana to submit a detailed timeline programme for AU to assist.
World Bank to support rice farming in Ghana - Vice President
Vice President John Dramani Mahama, on Tuesday announced that the government was negotiating with the World Bank to support Ghanaian farmers to increase rice production. He said when the agreement is sealed, the World Bank would support in the transportation of water from the lower Volta to irrigate arable rice farm lands in the Accra plains.
Vice President Mahama made the announcement when he inspected rice farms of Brazil Agro-Investment limited, a solely Brazilian organization, engaged in rice production in Dabala in the Volta Region. The Vice President said prudent agricultural policies adopted a year ago by the NDC Government were yielding dividends as rice production had stepped up by 30 percent within a one-year period and hoped that it would further be increased to about 60 percent within the next two years. He said the government annually spent about $500million dollars on the importation of rice alone.
Vice President Mahama said that with the new measures of providing tractors and irrigation facilities to organized farmers in the country, government could save about $300million dollars in the next three years. He gave the assurance that government would continue to support all private initiatives that were geared towards the development of every Ghanaian in the country.
Mr. Leor Valer, Director of the rice company, said its initial 150-hectare rice farm was encouraging and hoped to increase the production to 480 hectares in the next few months in the Volta Region. He said the company was targeting to cultivate 5000 hectares of rice in the next five years in the country and appealed to government to consider controlling the importation of rice into the country to boost local production. Mr. Valer said the rice farms had created jobs for the people in the area as many of them were now engaged in sewing, fertilisation, fishing, harvesting, milling, packaging among other activities. He said rice had become a major staple food for Ghanaians and called on the government to protect local rice production.
9 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
Vice President Mahama made the announcement when he inspected rice farms of Brazil Agro-Investment limited, a solely Brazilian organization, engaged in rice production in Dabala in the Volta Region. The Vice President said prudent agricultural policies adopted a year ago by the NDC Government were yielding dividends as rice production had stepped up by 30 percent within a one-year period and hoped that it would further be increased to about 60 percent within the next two years. He said the government annually spent about $500million dollars on the importation of rice alone.
Vice President Mahama said that with the new measures of providing tractors and irrigation facilities to organized farmers in the country, government could save about $300million dollars in the next three years. He gave the assurance that government would continue to support all private initiatives that were geared towards the development of every Ghanaian in the country.
Mr. Leor Valer, Director of the rice company, said its initial 150-hectare rice farm was encouraging and hoped to increase the production to 480 hectares in the next few months in the Volta Region. He said the company was targeting to cultivate 5000 hectares of rice in the next five years in the country and appealed to government to consider controlling the importation of rice into the country to boost local production. Mr. Valer said the rice farms had created jobs for the people in the area as many of them were now engaged in sewing, fertilisation, fishing, harvesting, milling, packaging among other activities. He said rice had become a major staple food for Ghanaians and called on the government to protect local rice production.
9 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
Veep Blasts Tabloid Joy fm
…Over Concocted Story
… Concerns Heighten Over Lowering Standards
Whilst the Editor of the New Punch newspaper, Ebenezer Ato Sam, a.k.a. Baby Ansabah, was busily purging his conscience over concocted stories against the current president, Joy FM, a popular radio station in reporting his story, ended up concocting their own story about the current vice President.
The usually genteel and media shy Vice President John Dramani Mahama, is said to be fuming with rage at Joy FM, for concocting such a terrible story about him.
The Joy FM story implied that Baby Ansabah, Editor of The New Punch newspaper was under pressure to make confessions about concocted stories he published against President John Evans Atta Mills, because he is acting under a spell of blackmail from a monetary payment he received from the Vice President.
Meanwhile, sources within Joy Fm’s newsroom have told The Enquirer that the initial storyline was that the government paid the editor to go on several radio stations with his confessions and again paid Metro TV to allow him to appear on their current affairs programme to repeat the allegations.
The Joy FM sources said, when they contacted the host of the Good Evening Ghana Programme, he debunked the story and stated that the decision to bring Mr. Ansabah on the TV programme was made by the producer of the show and that the allegation was too wild.
The Joy FM sources continued that when that leg of the story collapsed, another allegation surfaced immediately, which was that the Vice President had, as a condition for paying monies to Baby Ansabah, requested him to make certain confessions.
“Even that allegation too, was shot down by family members of the late pastor, who told us that they had not received any payment from Mr. Ansabah. In the absence of evidence that the Veep paid any money to Ansabah, there was no story. But my people went ahead and run the story against the Veep,” revealed the newsroom source.
Reacting to the Joy FM blackmail news story, the Office of the Vice President has described as “highly irresponsible another deliberate attempt to malign the Vice President, John Mahama, the Mills administration and the ruling NDC.”
The statement signed by John Abdulai Jinapor, Media Co-ordinator to the Vice President, said the JoyFM news report can, at best, be described as a “fabrication calculated to impugn the reputation of the Vice President.”
The statement said, Joy FM in its report claimed, among others, that it had been able to confirm that the Vice President assisted the said Baby Ansabah with money to pay compensation to the family of a pastor he allegedly knocked down in a motor accident. The statement says the report also falsely claimed that officials of the NDC used that assistance to blackmail Mr. Ansabah to avoid prosecution.
Mr. Janipor stated that neither has the Vice President given out any money to Mr. Ansabah nor has he coerced him to make any confession.
“Despite the clear denial by both a family representative of the deceased pastor and Mr. Ansabah that there has not been any such compensation paid, JoyFM claimed in its news report that it had gathered that as a fact and went ahead to broadcast the news item though it did not prove that so-called fact,” the Veep’s office stated.
The Office of the Vice President, in the statement said whilst the “Mills government believes in the freedom of the media and will continue to promote that, the media must desist from the deliberate peddling of falsehood and the fabrication of stories intended to malign personalities and institutions.”
The statement advised JoyFM, in particular, to remember the basics of journalism and endeavour to promote professionalism in the trade.
Meanwhile, there have been general concerns about falling standards at Joy FM, with others speculating that certain particular journalists at the station appear to have taken a negative political stance against the current government.
There are some media observers who also say the lowering of standards at the station could be attributable to the exit of key news anchors over the years.
These pundits say the station has not found fitting replacements for some of its key anchors, who include, Komla Durmor, Akwasi Sarpong, Sony Decker, Mawuko Zormelo, Stan Dogbe, and Paul Adom Otchere.
8 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
… Concerns Heighten Over Lowering Standards
Whilst the Editor of the New Punch newspaper, Ebenezer Ato Sam, a.k.a. Baby Ansabah, was busily purging his conscience over concocted stories against the current president, Joy FM, a popular radio station in reporting his story, ended up concocting their own story about the current vice President.
The usually genteel and media shy Vice President John Dramani Mahama, is said to be fuming with rage at Joy FM, for concocting such a terrible story about him.
The Joy FM story implied that Baby Ansabah, Editor of The New Punch newspaper was under pressure to make confessions about concocted stories he published against President John Evans Atta Mills, because he is acting under a spell of blackmail from a monetary payment he received from the Vice President.
Meanwhile, sources within Joy Fm’s newsroom have told The Enquirer that the initial storyline was that the government paid the editor to go on several radio stations with his confessions and again paid Metro TV to allow him to appear on their current affairs programme to repeat the allegations.
The Joy FM sources said, when they contacted the host of the Good Evening Ghana Programme, he debunked the story and stated that the decision to bring Mr. Ansabah on the TV programme was made by the producer of the show and that the allegation was too wild.
The Joy FM sources continued that when that leg of the story collapsed, another allegation surfaced immediately, which was that the Vice President had, as a condition for paying monies to Baby Ansabah, requested him to make certain confessions.
“Even that allegation too, was shot down by family members of the late pastor, who told us that they had not received any payment from Mr. Ansabah. In the absence of evidence that the Veep paid any money to Ansabah, there was no story. But my people went ahead and run the story against the Veep,” revealed the newsroom source.
Reacting to the Joy FM blackmail news story, the Office of the Vice President has described as “highly irresponsible another deliberate attempt to malign the Vice President, John Mahama, the Mills administration and the ruling NDC.”
The statement signed by John Abdulai Jinapor, Media Co-ordinator to the Vice President, said the JoyFM news report can, at best, be described as a “fabrication calculated to impugn the reputation of the Vice President.”
The statement said, Joy FM in its report claimed, among others, that it had been able to confirm that the Vice President assisted the said Baby Ansabah with money to pay compensation to the family of a pastor he allegedly knocked down in a motor accident. The statement says the report also falsely claimed that officials of the NDC used that assistance to blackmail Mr. Ansabah to avoid prosecution.
Mr. Janipor stated that neither has the Vice President given out any money to Mr. Ansabah nor has he coerced him to make any confession.
“Despite the clear denial by both a family representative of the deceased pastor and Mr. Ansabah that there has not been any such compensation paid, JoyFM claimed in its news report that it had gathered that as a fact and went ahead to broadcast the news item though it did not prove that so-called fact,” the Veep’s office stated.
The Office of the Vice President, in the statement said whilst the “Mills government believes in the freedom of the media and will continue to promote that, the media must desist from the deliberate peddling of falsehood and the fabrication of stories intended to malign personalities and institutions.”
The statement advised JoyFM, in particular, to remember the basics of journalism and endeavour to promote professionalism in the trade.
Meanwhile, there have been general concerns about falling standards at Joy FM, with others speculating that certain particular journalists at the station appear to have taken a negative political stance against the current government.
There are some media observers who also say the lowering of standards at the station could be attributable to the exit of key news anchors over the years.
These pundits say the station has not found fitting replacements for some of its key anchors, who include, Komla Durmor, Akwasi Sarpong, Sony Decker, Mawuko Zormelo, Stan Dogbe, and Paul Adom Otchere.
8 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
Vice President denies blackmail story
The Office of the Vice President has described as highly irresponsible, a deliberate attempt by a section of the media to malign the government through claims that some public officials attempted to blackmail a journalist.
A statement signed by John Abdulai Jinapor, Media Co-ordinator to the Vice President, said the story on an Accra radio station could best be described as a fabrication, calculated to impugn the reputation of the Vice President.
It refuted claims that Mr John Dramani Mahama assisted Baby Ansabah, the journalist with money to pay compensation to the family of a pastor he allegedly knocked down in a motor accident.
The statement said it was also false that officials of the National Democratic Congress capitalised on the assistance to blackmail Mr. Ansabah.
It said neither has the Vice President given out any money to Mr. Ansabah nor coerced him to make any confession.
According to the statement, despite the clear denial by a family representative of the deceased pastor and Mr. Ansabah about the report, Joy FM reported the allegations.
"While the Mills government believes in the freedom of the media and will continue to promote that, the media must desist from the deliberate peddling of falsehood and the fabrication of stories intended to malign personalities and institutions," the statement said.
The statement advised journalists to remember the basics of journalism and endeavour to promote professionalism in the trade.
7 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
A statement signed by John Abdulai Jinapor, Media Co-ordinator to the Vice President, said the story on an Accra radio station could best be described as a fabrication, calculated to impugn the reputation of the Vice President.
It refuted claims that Mr John Dramani Mahama assisted Baby Ansabah, the journalist with money to pay compensation to the family of a pastor he allegedly knocked down in a motor accident.
The statement said it was also false that officials of the National Democratic Congress capitalised on the assistance to blackmail Mr. Ansabah.
It said neither has the Vice President given out any money to Mr. Ansabah nor coerced him to make any confession.
According to the statement, despite the clear denial by a family representative of the deceased pastor and Mr. Ansabah about the report, Joy FM reported the allegations.
"While the Mills government believes in the freedom of the media and will continue to promote that, the media must desist from the deliberate peddling of falsehood and the fabrication of stories intended to malign personalities and institutions," the statement said.
The statement advised journalists to remember the basics of journalism and endeavour to promote professionalism in the trade.
7 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
Ghana to host conference on Right of Access to Information
A three-day African Regional Conference on the Right of Access to Information opens at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra this Sunday.
Organised by the Carter Centre and other African partners, the conference is to advance the right of access to information on the continent.
Former US President Jimmy Carter, Vice-President John Mahama, Attorney General Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu and Mr Sanjay Pradhan, Vice President of the World Bank Institute would be leading speakers at the conference, according to an official statement issued in Accra on Friday.
It said participants would be drawn from governments, regional and international institutions, civil society, media and the private sector from at least 15 focus countries on the continent.
In-depth discussions will be held on the four main objectives of the conference - Identify and explore challenges and potential solutions specific to Africa; Bring together stakeholders to enhance a regional community of practice; Encourage multi-stakeholder national clusters to advance the right of access to information; Create and disseminate regional findings and a plan of action.
The statement said the first day of the conference would be chaired by former President Carter and would reflect on the state of the right to information in Africa.
In addition, plenary panels will focus on questions such as "Does transparency matter?" and "If so, why have African countries not advanced further?" These panels will spotlight the value of transparency for managing oil revenues, addressing climate change, and improving development, as well as providing seeds for discussion on political commitment, institutional capacity, and civil society engagement.
The statement said the plenary sessions would serve to inform the discussions that will take place during the remainder of the conference. The second day, it said, would be dedicated to group work, with the participants strategically placed into one of five multi-stakeholder groups to explore topics such as politics and economy: shifting the balance toward openness; structural context and culture: creating an environment for transparency; non-state and multi-lateral actors: examining roles and responsibilities; regional norm-building: considering regional instruments and standards and demand and use of new technology: engaging citizens and increasing awareness "These working groups will examine the challenges to the passage and implementation of the law, constraints, and next generation issues, as well as engage the issue of impact-topics that without our consideration could undermine past advances or retard future gains in the right to information." It said each of the working groups would be led by a well-known facilitator with expert rapporteurs, and would be tasked with creating a set of findings and recommendations for the action plan.
5 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
Organised by the Carter Centre and other African partners, the conference is to advance the right of access to information on the continent.
Former US President Jimmy Carter, Vice-President John Mahama, Attorney General Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu and Mr Sanjay Pradhan, Vice President of the World Bank Institute would be leading speakers at the conference, according to an official statement issued in Accra on Friday.
It said participants would be drawn from governments, regional and international institutions, civil society, media and the private sector from at least 15 focus countries on the continent.
In-depth discussions will be held on the four main objectives of the conference - Identify and explore challenges and potential solutions specific to Africa; Bring together stakeholders to enhance a regional community of practice; Encourage multi-stakeholder national clusters to advance the right of access to information; Create and disseminate regional findings and a plan of action.
The statement said the first day of the conference would be chaired by former President Carter and would reflect on the state of the right to information in Africa.
In addition, plenary panels will focus on questions such as "Does transparency matter?" and "If so, why have African countries not advanced further?" These panels will spotlight the value of transparency for managing oil revenues, addressing climate change, and improving development, as well as providing seeds for discussion on political commitment, institutional capacity, and civil society engagement.
The statement said the plenary sessions would serve to inform the discussions that will take place during the remainder of the conference. The second day, it said, would be dedicated to group work, with the participants strategically placed into one of five multi-stakeholder groups to explore topics such as politics and economy: shifting the balance toward openness; structural context and culture: creating an environment for transparency; non-state and multi-lateral actors: examining roles and responsibilities; regional norm-building: considering regional instruments and standards and demand and use of new technology: engaging citizens and increasing awareness "These working groups will examine the challenges to the passage and implementation of the law, constraints, and next generation issues, as well as engage the issue of impact-topics that without our consideration could undermine past advances or retard future gains in the right to information." It said each of the working groups would be led by a well-known facilitator with expert rapporteurs, and would be tasked with creating a set of findings and recommendations for the action plan.
5 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
Government to replace traffic lights in Accra-Tema
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Friday announced that the government would this year replace all the traffic lights with ultra-modern ones that would help reduce jams in the Accra-Tema Metropolis.
The modern traffic lights, he said, had back-up power that could sustain and work for extra two days when power goes off. Vice President Mahama announced this when he cut the sod for the commencement of work on a total of 53 kilometres of roads in Tema, Ashaiman and Kpone in the Tema Metropolis.
The projects, which would take one year to be fully executed, include asphalting, ordinary tarring and upgrading of roads in the Ashaiman, Klagon and Lashibi areas, were awarded on contract valued at about GH¢30 million from the Government of Ghana funds.
He said the current state where streets became jammed up with vehicles during lights off was unacceptable, considering the fact that more people were acquiring private vehicles in Accra and Tema.
Mr. Mahama explained that the current increase of tolls on the highways was to generate more funds to construct, maintain and upgrade more roads. He charged the Ministry of Roads and Highways to, at the end of every year, publish the total amount of money accrued from the tolls and how much would be used in financing road projects.
"Ghanaians are ready to sacrifice, but such willingness will only pay off, if those in leadership are also willing to be transparent." The Vice President appealed to the residents of the areas to cooperate with the contractors as the execution of those projects were likely to inconvenience them in one way or the other.
Mr. Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways, said roads in the entire country needed special attention since a lot of them had not received any major rehabilitation since independence. He called on Chiefs in the project areas to cooperate with contractors and officials of the Ministry to reduce the perennial litigations that normally characterised such projects.
"The construction and upgrading of so many roads in the Accra-Tema Metropolis is a total demonstration that the Better Ghana agenda we promised is on course." Mr. Kempes Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, said in spite of the financial constraints the government was facing, it would do everything possible to upgrade all the roads in the area.
5 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
The modern traffic lights, he said, had back-up power that could sustain and work for extra two days when power goes off. Vice President Mahama announced this when he cut the sod for the commencement of work on a total of 53 kilometres of roads in Tema, Ashaiman and Kpone in the Tema Metropolis.
The projects, which would take one year to be fully executed, include asphalting, ordinary tarring and upgrading of roads in the Ashaiman, Klagon and Lashibi areas, were awarded on contract valued at about GH¢30 million from the Government of Ghana funds.
He said the current state where streets became jammed up with vehicles during lights off was unacceptable, considering the fact that more people were acquiring private vehicles in Accra and Tema.
Mr. Mahama explained that the current increase of tolls on the highways was to generate more funds to construct, maintain and upgrade more roads. He charged the Ministry of Roads and Highways to, at the end of every year, publish the total amount of money accrued from the tolls and how much would be used in financing road projects.
"Ghanaians are ready to sacrifice, but such willingness will only pay off, if those in leadership are also willing to be transparent." The Vice President appealed to the residents of the areas to cooperate with the contractors as the execution of those projects were likely to inconvenience them in one way or the other.
Mr. Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways, said roads in the entire country needed special attention since a lot of them had not received any major rehabilitation since independence. He called on Chiefs in the project areas to cooperate with contractors and officials of the Ministry to reduce the perennial litigations that normally characterised such projects.
"The construction and upgrading of so many roads in the Accra-Tema Metropolis is a total demonstration that the Better Ghana agenda we promised is on course." Mr. Kempes Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, said in spite of the financial constraints the government was facing, it would do everything possible to upgrade all the roads in the area.
5 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
Veep - We would soon become food sellers instead of buyers
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Monday told the Ghanaian community in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that the government had drawn up agricultural policies to change Ghana from an importer to an exporter of food.
He said apart from acquiring numerous tractors for organised farmers in the country, the government was also investing in the Youth in Agriculture programme to take the country out of its permanent position of importing foodstuff that she could comfortably produce.
Mr. Mahama was interacting with the Ghanaian community as part of his five-day visit to Addis Ababa to attend the 14th Ordinary Session of African Union summit. He is also holding bilateral discussions with groups and governments from other parts of the World.
The Vice President said rice production, for example, had increased tremendously, while other staples such as maize and sorghum had also recorded significant increases.
He urged Ghanaians living in other parts of the country to consider investing in the country to take her to greater heights in the coming years. "Ghana has the comparative advantage of producing rice, sorghum, millet, cotton and other staples and we shall pay special attention to these areas to ensure that countries in the sub-region and beyond import these foodstuff from us."
He said the government would in the interim engage a lot more youth in the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEB) while alternative measures were sought to make the country comfortable to live in.
On oil production, the Vice President said the drilling of oil and gas would commence by November this year adding that, "Ghana has the potential of producing about 125,000 barrels of oil a day by 2015." Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister for Foreign Affairs, appealed to the Ghanaians in Addis Ababa to be law abiding and exhibit all the positive Ghanaian values.
He said Ghana was respected everywhere in the world because of her immense contributions in world-wide programmes adding "it will be unfair to exhibit negative attitudes which will consequently tarnish the image of the country".
1 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
He said apart from acquiring numerous tractors for organised farmers in the country, the government was also investing in the Youth in Agriculture programme to take the country out of its permanent position of importing foodstuff that she could comfortably produce.
Mr. Mahama was interacting with the Ghanaian community as part of his five-day visit to Addis Ababa to attend the 14th Ordinary Session of African Union summit. He is also holding bilateral discussions with groups and governments from other parts of the World.
The Vice President said rice production, for example, had increased tremendously, while other staples such as maize and sorghum had also recorded significant increases.
He urged Ghanaians living in other parts of the country to consider investing in the country to take her to greater heights in the coming years. "Ghana has the comparative advantage of producing rice, sorghum, millet, cotton and other staples and we shall pay special attention to these areas to ensure that countries in the sub-region and beyond import these foodstuff from us."
He said the government would in the interim engage a lot more youth in the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEB) while alternative measures were sought to make the country comfortable to live in.
On oil production, the Vice President said the drilling of oil and gas would commence by November this year adding that, "Ghana has the potential of producing about 125,000 barrels of oil a day by 2015." Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister for Foreign Affairs, appealed to the Ghanaians in Addis Ababa to be law abiding and exhibit all the positive Ghanaian values.
He said Ghana was respected everywhere in the world because of her immense contributions in world-wide programmes adding "it will be unfair to exhibit negative attitudes which will consequently tarnish the image of the country".
1 Feb. 10
Source: GNA
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