By Edmund Mingle
Thursday, 13 March 2008
The Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Darien Schemmer, yesterday called on the management of the New Times Corporation (NTC), as the High Commission and the corporation seek to collaborate on various initiatives.
The visit, which formed part of a tour of selected institutions in the country, provided the high commissioner the opportunity to familia-rise himself with the operations of the corporation.
It also created a platform for discussions on a number of programmes they could undertake together.
Areas of interest identified for collaboration include educational exchange programmes, training for journalists and technical staff, publication of educational materials and acquisition of equipment.
Mr Schemmer commended the corporation for its contribution to the development of the media landscape which he described as crucial to socio-economic growth.
He acknowledged the challenge facing the media in the country especially as the country prepares for the general elections which he hoped would be peaceful.
He gave the assurance that the Canadian government, through its agencies, would continue to support development programmes in Ghana towards poverty reduction as well as collaborate with the corporation.
Kofi Asuman, Managing Director of the corporation, expressed appreciation for the visit and welcomed any positive collaborative initiatives that would enhance the company’s performance.
He briefed the High Commissioner on the operations of the corporation and gave the assurance that it would continue to strive to give the public quality products and pursue its mandate as an independent state media organisation.
The High Commissioner, who was accompanied by officials from the commission, was taken round the corpora-tion’s facilities.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Lost Voters ID Cards Replacement
By Edmund Mingle
Saturday, 15 March 2008
A Voters Identity Card Replacement Exercise was started by the Electoral Commission (EC) yesterday.
The exercise, which ends on March 23, is taking place at 5,000 registrations centres throughout the country.
It aims at collecting data from registered voters who have lost their Voter ID cards, for the processing and issuance of new cards.
The exercise is the first major event towards the revision of the Voters Register expected to begin in May.
The Times found during visits to some centres at Osu and Adabraka that the exercise witnessed low patronage on the first day.There were no queues as witnessed during the registration exercises, but the officials at the centres believe the response will pick up as the exercise progresses.
The EC says the exercise is only for those who have lost their ID cards and not registration of voters.
Albert Kofi Arhin, Director of Operations at the EC told journalists yesterday that proof of the lost ID cards, such as a police report was required from the applicants.
That, he said, was part of measures to guard against double registration.
He stressed that voters cannot use the exercise for double registration since the data provided would be cross-checked against the existing data on the register.
Saturday, 15 March 2008
A Voters Identity Card Replacement Exercise was started by the Electoral Commission (EC) yesterday.
The exercise, which ends on March 23, is taking place at 5,000 registrations centres throughout the country.
It aims at collecting data from registered voters who have lost their Voter ID cards, for the processing and issuance of new cards.
The exercise is the first major event towards the revision of the Voters Register expected to begin in May.
The Times found during visits to some centres at Osu and Adabraka that the exercise witnessed low patronage on the first day.There were no queues as witnessed during the registration exercises, but the officials at the centres believe the response will pick up as the exercise progresses.
The EC says the exercise is only for those who have lost their ID cards and not registration of voters.
Albert Kofi Arhin, Director of Operations at the EC told journalists yesterday that proof of the lost ID cards, such as a police report was required from the applicants.
That, he said, was part of measures to guard against double registration.
He stressed that voters cannot use the exercise for double registration since the data provided would be cross-checked against the existing data on the register.
Parties Choose Nov. 7 For Future Elections
By Edmund Mingle, Atimpoku
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
THE four political parties with representation in Parliament have proposed that in future, Ghana’s general election should be held a month earlier, on November 7, instead of the present date of December 7.
That, the parties indicated will enable the transition period to be extended from four to eight weeks to facilitate a more efficient transition and transfer of political power from one administration to another.
The chairmen, general secretaries and policy analysts of the parties in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day retreat for political party leaders here on Sunday to develop proposed guidelines for political transitions, agreed that the extension would help to effectively accommodate election-run-offs and the resolution of any election disputes by the Supreme Court in time before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposal is one of many developed at the retreat to institutionalise structures for political transitions in order to avoid the rancour and ill-feeling that characterised the 2001 transition which marked Ghana’s change of administration from one democratically elected president to another.
However, the parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party and People’s National Convention do not intend to have their proposals, which they want to form the basis of an Act of Parliament termed "The Political Transition Act", to be implemented in this year’s general elections.
The retreat was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) under the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) which is aimed at contributing to the development of structures to consolidate Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
At present, the December 7 election date gives four weeks for all transitional arrangements to be made before the inauguration of a new president.
Where there is a run-off, the transition period is reduced to about seven days, within which the judiciary would have to resolve any petition, against the election results.
The December 7 election date is not an entrenched provision and Parliament can therefore amend it without a referendum.
Among other proposals for a smooth transition, the communiqué suggested that the outgoing administration made up of the executive and heads of ministries, departmetns and agencies, and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies prepare comprehensive handing-over notes for submission to the Chief Justice seven days to the date of election for a smooth take-off of a new administration.
In addition, it proposed that the Chief Justice who is considered as an independent party in the transitional process, "shall within seven days of the declaration of results convene an ice-breaker meeting between the President and the President-elect to prepare the grounds for the formal transfer of power."
In the event of any election petition challenging the election results, the ice-breaker meeting should be held within three days after the settlement of the petition.
The communiqué also suggested that the President should be made to nominate all key ministers within 30 days of the declaration of election results for those nominated ministers to be part of a Joint Transition Team (JTT).
It said the outgoing ministers and government appointees should make themselves available for consultation by the new government after the inauguration.
To facilitate a smooth inauguration of the President-elect, the communiqué suggested that "Parliament shall convene 24 hours earlier to organise itself and elect a Speaker" before whom the new president would be sworn, before the January 7 inauguration.
That, the communiqué explained would avert the delays that characterised President Kufuor’s second inauguration on January 7, 2005, when Parliament delayed in electing a speaker the same day for the inauguration.
The parties called for clearly defined conditions of service for outgoing ministers for them to know their entitlements.
The parties called for the removal of ambiguities surrounding which gifts to the presidency belonged to the state and which are personal to the President.
"It is the belief of the GPPP that the issues raised if not addressed, could undermine national cohesion and the country’s democratic practice.
"Therefore, the GPPP urges all stakeholders to examine the recommendations and support their enactment into law," the communiqué said.
The proposals were made based on two papers presented by Dr Arthur Kennedy, the Communications Director of the NPP flag-bearer’s campaign team and Paul Victor Obeng, a Presidential Adviser on governmental affairs in the NDC administration.
Dr Kennedy’s paper was on "Transitional Arrangements in other countries — success and failure lessons for Ghana," while P.V. Obeng’s presentation was on "Guidelines for transitional arrangements."
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
THE four political parties with representation in Parliament have proposed that in future, Ghana’s general election should be held a month earlier, on November 7, instead of the present date of December 7.
That, the parties indicated will enable the transition period to be extended from four to eight weeks to facilitate a more efficient transition and transfer of political power from one administration to another.
The chairmen, general secretaries and policy analysts of the parties in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day retreat for political party leaders here on Sunday to develop proposed guidelines for political transitions, agreed that the extension would help to effectively accommodate election-run-offs and the resolution of any election disputes by the Supreme Court in time before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposal is one of many developed at the retreat to institutionalise structures for political transitions in order to avoid the rancour and ill-feeling that characterised the 2001 transition which marked Ghana’s change of administration from one democratically elected president to another.
However, the parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party and People’s National Convention do not intend to have their proposals, which they want to form the basis of an Act of Parliament termed "The Political Transition Act", to be implemented in this year’s general elections.
The retreat was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) under the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) which is aimed at contributing to the development of structures to consolidate Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
At present, the December 7 election date gives four weeks for all transitional arrangements to be made before the inauguration of a new president.
Where there is a run-off, the transition period is reduced to about seven days, within which the judiciary would have to resolve any petition, against the election results.
The December 7 election date is not an entrenched provision and Parliament can therefore amend it without a referendum.
Among other proposals for a smooth transition, the communiqué suggested that the outgoing administration made up of the executive and heads of ministries, departmetns and agencies, and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies prepare comprehensive handing-over notes for submission to the Chief Justice seven days to the date of election for a smooth take-off of a new administration.
In addition, it proposed that the Chief Justice who is considered as an independent party in the transitional process, "shall within seven days of the declaration of results convene an ice-breaker meeting between the President and the President-elect to prepare the grounds for the formal transfer of power."
In the event of any election petition challenging the election results, the ice-breaker meeting should be held within three days after the settlement of the petition.
The communiqué also suggested that the President should be made to nominate all key ministers within 30 days of the declaration of election results for those nominated ministers to be part of a Joint Transition Team (JTT).
It said the outgoing ministers and government appointees should make themselves available for consultation by the new government after the inauguration.
To facilitate a smooth inauguration of the President-elect, the communiqué suggested that "Parliament shall convene 24 hours earlier to organise itself and elect a Speaker" before whom the new president would be sworn, before the January 7 inauguration.
That, the communiqué explained would avert the delays that characterised President Kufuor’s second inauguration on January 7, 2005, when Parliament delayed in electing a speaker the same day for the inauguration.
The parties called for clearly defined conditions of service for outgoing ministers for them to know their entitlements.
The parties called for the removal of ambiguities surrounding which gifts to the presidency belonged to the state and which are personal to the President.
"It is the belief of the GPPP that the issues raised if not addressed, could undermine national cohesion and the country’s democratic practice.
"Therefore, the GPPP urges all stakeholders to examine the recommendations and support their enactment into law," the communiqué said.
The proposals were made based on two papers presented by Dr Arthur Kennedy, the Communications Director of the NPP flag-bearer’s campaign team and Paul Victor Obeng, a Presidential Adviser on governmental affairs in the NDC administration.
Dr Kennedy’s paper was on "Transitional Arrangements in other countries — success and failure lessons for Ghana," while P.V. Obeng’s presentation was on "Guidelines for transitional arrangements."
Parties Choose Nov. 7 For Future Elections
By Edmund Mingle, Atimpoku
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
THE four political parties with representation in Parliament have proposed that in future, Ghana’s general election should be held a month earlier, on November 7, instead of the present date of December 7.
That, the parties indicated will enable the transition period to be extended from four to eight weeks to facilitate a more efficient transition and transfer of political power from one administration to another.
The chairmen, general secretaries and policy analysts of the parties in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day retreat for political party leaders here on Sunday to develop proposed guidelines for political transitions, agreed that the extension would help to effectively accommodate election-run-offs and the resolution of any election disputes by the Supreme Court in time before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposal is one of many developed at the retreat to institutionalise structures for political transitions in order to avoid the rancour and ill-feeling that characterised the 2001 transition which marked Ghana’s change of administration from one democratically elected president to another.
However, the parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party and People’s National Convention do not intend to have their proposals, which they want to form the basis of an Act of Parliament termed "The Political Transition Act", to be implemented in this year’s general elections.
The retreat was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) under the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) which is aimed at contributing to the development of structures to consolidate Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
At present, the December 7 election date gives four weeks for all transitional arrangements to be made before the inauguration of a new president.
Where there is a run-off, the transition period is reduced to about seven days, within which the judiciary would have to resolve any petition, against the election results.
The December 7 election date is not an entrenched provision and Parliament can therefore amend it without a referendum.
Among other proposals for a smooth transition, the communiqué suggested that the outgoing administration made up of the executive and heads of ministries, departmetns and agencies, and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies prepare comprehensive handing-over notes for submission to the Chief Justice seven days to the date of election for a smooth take-off of a new administration.
In addition, it proposed that the Chief Justice who is considered as an independent party in the transitional process, "shall within seven days of the declaration of results convene an ice-breaker meeting between the President and the President-elect to prepare the grounds for the formal transfer of power."
In the event of any election petition challenging the election results, the ice-breaker meeting should be held within three days after the settlement of the petition.
The communiqué also suggested that the President should be made to nominate all key ministers within 30 days of the declaration of election results for those nominated ministers to be part of a Joint Transition Team (JTT).
It said the outgoing ministers and government appointees should make themselves available for consultation by the new government after the inauguration.
To facilitate a smooth inauguration of the President-elect, the communiqué suggested that "Parliament shall convene 24 hours earlier to organise itself and elect a Speaker" before whom the new president would be sworn, before the January 7 inauguration.
That, the communiqué explained would avert the delays that characterised President Kufuor’s second inauguration on January 7, 2005, when Parliament delayed in electing a speaker the same day for the inauguration.
The parties called for clearly defined conditions of service for outgoing ministers for them to know their entitlements.
The parties called for the removal of ambiguities surrounding which gifts to the presidency belonged to the state and which are personal to the President.
"It is the belief of the GPPP that the issues raised if not addressed, could undermine national cohesion and the country’s democratic practice.
"Therefore, the GPPP urges all stakeholders to examine the recommendations and support their enactment into law," the communiqué said.
The proposals were made based on two papers presented by Dr Arthur Kennedy, the Communications Director of the NPP flag-bearer’s campaign team and Paul Victor Obeng, a Presidential Adviser on governmental affairs in the NDC administration.
Dr Kennedy’s paper was on "Transitional Arrangements in other countries — success and failure lessons for Ghana," while P.V. Obeng’s presentation was on "Guidelines for transitional arrangements."
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
THE four political parties with representation in Parliament have proposed that in future, Ghana’s general election should be held a month earlier, on November 7, instead of the present date of December 7.
That, the parties indicated will enable the transition period to be extended from four to eight weeks to facilitate a more efficient transition and transfer of political power from one administration to another.
The chairmen, general secretaries and policy analysts of the parties in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day retreat for political party leaders here on Sunday to develop proposed guidelines for political transitions, agreed that the extension would help to effectively accommodate election-run-offs and the resolution of any election disputes by the Supreme Court in time before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposal is one of many developed at the retreat to institutionalise structures for political transitions in order to avoid the rancour and ill-feeling that characterised the 2001 transition which marked Ghana’s change of administration from one democratically elected president to another.
However, the parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party and People’s National Convention do not intend to have their proposals, which they want to form the basis of an Act of Parliament termed "The Political Transition Act", to be implemented in this year’s general elections.
The retreat was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) under the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) which is aimed at contributing to the development of structures to consolidate Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
At present, the December 7 election date gives four weeks for all transitional arrangements to be made before the inauguration of a new president.
Where there is a run-off, the transition period is reduced to about seven days, within which the judiciary would have to resolve any petition, against the election results.
The December 7 election date is not an entrenched provision and Parliament can therefore amend it without a referendum.
Among other proposals for a smooth transition, the communiqué suggested that the outgoing administration made up of the executive and heads of ministries, departmetns and agencies, and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies prepare comprehensive handing-over notes for submission to the Chief Justice seven days to the date of election for a smooth take-off of a new administration.
In addition, it proposed that the Chief Justice who is considered as an independent party in the transitional process, "shall within seven days of the declaration of results convene an ice-breaker meeting between the President and the President-elect to prepare the grounds for the formal transfer of power."
In the event of any election petition challenging the election results, the ice-breaker meeting should be held within three days after the settlement of the petition.
The communiqué also suggested that the President should be made to nominate all key ministers within 30 days of the declaration of election results for those nominated ministers to be part of a Joint Transition Team (JTT).
It said the outgoing ministers and government appointees should make themselves available for consultation by the new government after the inauguration.
To facilitate a smooth inauguration of the President-elect, the communiqué suggested that "Parliament shall convene 24 hours earlier to organise itself and elect a Speaker" before whom the new president would be sworn, before the January 7 inauguration.
That, the communiqué explained would avert the delays that characterised President Kufuor’s second inauguration on January 7, 2005, when Parliament delayed in electing a speaker the same day for the inauguration.
The parties called for clearly defined conditions of service for outgoing ministers for them to know their entitlements.
The parties called for the removal of ambiguities surrounding which gifts to the presidency belonged to the state and which are personal to the President.
"It is the belief of the GPPP that the issues raised if not addressed, could undermine national cohesion and the country’s democratic practice.
"Therefore, the GPPP urges all stakeholders to examine the recommendations and support their enactment into law," the communiqué said.
The proposals were made based on two papers presented by Dr Arthur Kennedy, the Communications Director of the NPP flag-bearer’s campaign team and Paul Victor Obeng, a Presidential Adviser on governmental affairs in the NDC administration.
Dr Kennedy’s paper was on "Transitional Arrangements in other countries — success and failure lessons for Ghana," while P.V. Obeng’s presentation was on "Guidelines for transitional arrangements."
Parties Choose Nov. 7 For Future Elections
By Edmund Mingle, Atimpoku
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
THE four political parties with representation in Parliament have proposed that in future, Ghana’s general election should be held a month earlier, on November 7, instead of the present date of December 7.
That, the parties indicated will enable the transition period to be extended from four to eight weeks to facilitate a more efficient transition and transfer of political power from one administration to another.
The chairmen, general secretaries and policy analysts of the parties in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day retreat for political party leaders here on Sunday to develop proposed guidelines for political transitions, agreed that the extension would help to effectively accommodate election-run-offs and the resolution of any election disputes by the Supreme Court in time before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposal is one of many developed at the retreat to institutionalise structures for political transitions in order to avoid the rancour and ill-feeling that characterised the 2001 transition which marked Ghana’s change of administration from one democratically elected president to another.
However, the parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party and People’s National Convention do not intend to have their proposals, which they want to form the basis of an Act of Parliament termed "The Political Transition Act", to be implemented in this year’s general elections.
The retreat was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) under the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) which is aimed at contributing to the development of structures to consolidate Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
At present, the December 7 election date gives four weeks for all transitional arrangements to be made before the inauguration of a new president.
Where there is a run-off, the transition period is reduced to about seven days, within which the judiciary would have to resolve any petition, against the election results.
The December 7 election date is not an entrenched provision and Parliament can therefore amend it without a referendum.
Among other proposals for a smooth transition, the communiqué suggested that the outgoing administration made up of the executive and heads of ministries, departmetns and agencies, and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies prepare comprehensive handing-over notes for submission to the Chief Justice seven days to the date of election for a smooth take-off of a new administration.
In addition, it proposed that the Chief Justice who is considered as an independent party in the transitional process, "shall within seven days of the declaration of results convene an ice-breaker meeting between the President and the President-elect to prepare the grounds for the formal transfer of power."
In the event of any election petition challenging the election results, the ice-breaker meeting should be held within three days after the settlement of the petition.
The communiqué also suggested that the President should be made to nominate all key ministers within 30 days of the declaration of election results for those nominated ministers to be part of a Joint Transition Team (JTT).
It said the outgoing ministers and government appointees should make themselves available for consultation by the new government after the inauguration.
To facilitate a smooth inauguration of the President-elect, the communiqué suggested that "Parliament shall convene 24 hours earlier to organise itself and elect a Speaker" before whom the new president would be sworn, before the January 7 inauguration.
That, the communiqué explained would avert the delays that characterised President Kufuor’s second inauguration on January 7, 2005, when Parliament delayed in electing a speaker the same day for the inauguration.
The parties called for clearly defined conditions of service for outgoing ministers for them to know their entitlements.
The parties called for the removal of ambiguities surrounding which gifts to the presidency belonged to the state and which are personal to the President.
"It is the belief of the GPPP that the issues raised if not addressed, could undermine national cohesion and the country’s democratic practice.
"Therefore, the GPPP urges all stakeholders to examine the recommendations and support their enactment into law," the communiqué said.
The proposals were made based on two papers presented by Dr Arthur Kennedy, the Communications Director of the NPP flag-bearer’s campaign team and Paul Victor Obeng, a Presidential Adviser on governmental affairs in the NDC administration.
Dr Kennedy’s paper was on "Transitional Arrangements in other countries — success and failure lessons for Ghana," while P.V. Obeng’s presentation was on "Guidelines for transitional arrangements."
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
THE four political parties with representation in Parliament have proposed that in future, Ghana’s general election should be held a month earlier, on November 7, instead of the present date of December 7.
That, the parties indicated will enable the transition period to be extended from four to eight weeks to facilitate a more efficient transition and transfer of political power from one administration to another.
The chairmen, general secretaries and policy analysts of the parties in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day retreat for political party leaders here on Sunday to develop proposed guidelines for political transitions, agreed that the extension would help to effectively accommodate election-run-offs and the resolution of any election disputes by the Supreme Court in time before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposal is one of many developed at the retreat to institutionalise structures for political transitions in order to avoid the rancour and ill-feeling that characterised the 2001 transition which marked Ghana’s change of administration from one democratically elected president to another.
However, the parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party and People’s National Convention do not intend to have their proposals, which they want to form the basis of an Act of Parliament termed "The Political Transition Act", to be implemented in this year’s general elections.
The retreat was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) under the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) which is aimed at contributing to the development of structures to consolidate Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
At present, the December 7 election date gives four weeks for all transitional arrangements to be made before the inauguration of a new president.
Where there is a run-off, the transition period is reduced to about seven days, within which the judiciary would have to resolve any petition, against the election results.
The December 7 election date is not an entrenched provision and Parliament can therefore amend it without a referendum.
Among other proposals for a smooth transition, the communiqué suggested that the outgoing administration made up of the executive and heads of ministries, departmetns and agencies, and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies prepare comprehensive handing-over notes for submission to the Chief Justice seven days to the date of election for a smooth take-off of a new administration.
In addition, it proposed that the Chief Justice who is considered as an independent party in the transitional process, "shall within seven days of the declaration of results convene an ice-breaker meeting between the President and the President-elect to prepare the grounds for the formal transfer of power."
In the event of any election petition challenging the election results, the ice-breaker meeting should be held within three days after the settlement of the petition.
The communiqué also suggested that the President should be made to nominate all key ministers within 30 days of the declaration of election results for those nominated ministers to be part of a Joint Transition Team (JTT).
It said the outgoing ministers and government appointees should make themselves available for consultation by the new government after the inauguration.
To facilitate a smooth inauguration of the President-elect, the communiqué suggested that "Parliament shall convene 24 hours earlier to organise itself and elect a Speaker" before whom the new president would be sworn, before the January 7 inauguration.
That, the communiqué explained would avert the delays that characterised President Kufuor’s second inauguration on January 7, 2005, when Parliament delayed in electing a speaker the same day for the inauguration.
The parties called for clearly defined conditions of service for outgoing ministers for them to know their entitlements.
The parties called for the removal of ambiguities surrounding which gifts to the presidency belonged to the state and which are personal to the President.
"It is the belief of the GPPP that the issues raised if not addressed, could undermine national cohesion and the country’s democratic practice.
"Therefore, the GPPP urges all stakeholders to examine the recommendations and support their enactment into law," the communiqué said.
The proposals were made based on two papers presented by Dr Arthur Kennedy, the Communications Director of the NPP flag-bearer’s campaign team and Paul Victor Obeng, a Presidential Adviser on governmental affairs in the NDC administration.
Dr Kennedy’s paper was on "Transitional Arrangements in other countries — success and failure lessons for Ghana," while P.V. Obeng’s presentation was on "Guidelines for transitional arrangements."
Parties Choose Nov. 7 For Future Elections
By Edmund Mingle, Atimpoku
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
THE four political parties with representation in Parliament have proposed that in future, Ghana’s general election should be held a month earlier, on November 7, instead of the present date of December 7.
That, the parties indicated will enable the transition period to be extended from four to eight weeks to facilitate a more efficient transition and transfer of political power from one administration to another.
The chairmen, general secretaries and policy analysts of the parties in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day retreat for political party leaders here on Sunday to develop proposed guidelines for political transitions, agreed that the extension would help to effectively accommodate election-run-offs and the resolution of any election disputes by the Supreme Court in time before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposal is one of many developed at the retreat to institutionalise structures for political transitions in order to avoid the rancour and ill-feeling that characterised the 2001 transition which marked Ghana’s change of administration from one democratically elected president to another.
However, the parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party and People’s National Convention do not intend to have their proposals, which they want to form the basis of an Act of Parliament termed "The Political Transition Act", to be implemented in this year’s general elections.
The retreat was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) under the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) which is aimed at contributing to the development of structures to consolidate Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
At present, the December 7 election date gives four weeks for all transitional arrangements to be made before the inauguration of a new president.
Where there is a run-off, the transition period is reduced to about seven days, within which the judiciary would have to resolve any petition, against the election results.
The December 7 election date is not an entrenched provision and Parliament can therefore amend it without a referendum.
Among other proposals for a smooth transition, the communiqué suggested that the outgoing administration made up of the executive and heads of ministries, departmetns and agencies, and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies prepare comprehensive handing-over notes for submission to the Chief Justice seven days to the date of election for a smooth take-off of a new administration.
In addition, it proposed that the Chief Justice who is considered as an independent party in the transitional process, "shall within seven days of the declaration of results convene an ice-breaker meeting between the President and the President-elect to prepare the grounds for the formal transfer of power."
In the event of any election petition challenging the election results, the ice-breaker meeting should be held within three days after the settlement of the petition.
The communiqué also suggested that the President should be made to nominate all key ministers within 30 days of the declaration of election results for those nominated ministers to be part of a Joint Transition Team (JTT).
It said the outgoing ministers and government appointees should make themselves available for consultation by the new government after the inauguration.
To facilitate a smooth inauguration of the President-elect, the communiqué suggested that "Parliament shall convene 24 hours earlier to organise itself and elect a Speaker" before whom the new president would be sworn, before the January 7 inauguration.
That, the communiqué explained would avert the delays that characterised President Kufuor’s second inauguration on January 7, 2005, when Parliament delayed in electing a speaker the same day for the inauguration.
The parties called for clearly defined conditions of service for outgoing ministers for them to know their entitlements.
The parties called for the removal of ambiguities surrounding which gifts to the presidency belonged to the state and which are personal to the President.
"It is the belief of the GPPP that the issues raised if not addressed, could undermine national cohesion and the country’s democratic practice.
"Therefore, the GPPP urges all stakeholders to examine the recommendations and support their enactment into law," the communiqué said.
The proposals were made based on two papers presented by Dr Arthur Kennedy, the Communications Director of the NPP flag-bearer’s campaign team and Paul Victor Obeng, a Presidential Adviser on governmental affairs in the NDC administration.
Dr Kennedy’s paper was on "Transitional Arrangements in other countries — success and failure lessons for Ghana," while P.V. Obeng’s presentation was on "Guidelines for transitional arrangements."
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
THE four political parties with representation in Parliament have proposed that in future, Ghana’s general election should be held a month earlier, on November 7, instead of the present date of December 7.
That, the parties indicated will enable the transition period to be extended from four to eight weeks to facilitate a more efficient transition and transfer of political power from one administration to another.
The chairmen, general secretaries and policy analysts of the parties in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day retreat for political party leaders here on Sunday to develop proposed guidelines for political transitions, agreed that the extension would help to effectively accommodate election-run-offs and the resolution of any election disputes by the Supreme Court in time before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposal is one of many developed at the retreat to institutionalise structures for political transitions in order to avoid the rancour and ill-feeling that characterised the 2001 transition which marked Ghana’s change of administration from one democratically elected president to another.
However, the parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party and People’s National Convention do not intend to have their proposals, which they want to form the basis of an Act of Parliament termed "The Political Transition Act", to be implemented in this year’s general elections.
The retreat was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) under the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) which is aimed at contributing to the development of structures to consolidate Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
At present, the December 7 election date gives four weeks for all transitional arrangements to be made before the inauguration of a new president.
Where there is a run-off, the transition period is reduced to about seven days, within which the judiciary would have to resolve any petition, against the election results.
The December 7 election date is not an entrenched provision and Parliament can therefore amend it without a referendum.
Among other proposals for a smooth transition, the communiqué suggested that the outgoing administration made up of the executive and heads of ministries, departmetns and agencies, and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies prepare comprehensive handing-over notes for submission to the Chief Justice seven days to the date of election for a smooth take-off of a new administration.
In addition, it proposed that the Chief Justice who is considered as an independent party in the transitional process, "shall within seven days of the declaration of results convene an ice-breaker meeting between the President and the President-elect to prepare the grounds for the formal transfer of power."
In the event of any election petition challenging the election results, the ice-breaker meeting should be held within three days after the settlement of the petition.
The communiqué also suggested that the President should be made to nominate all key ministers within 30 days of the declaration of election results for those nominated ministers to be part of a Joint Transition Team (JTT).
It said the outgoing ministers and government appointees should make themselves available for consultation by the new government after the inauguration.
To facilitate a smooth inauguration of the President-elect, the communiqué suggested that "Parliament shall convene 24 hours earlier to organise itself and elect a Speaker" before whom the new president would be sworn, before the January 7 inauguration.
That, the communiqué explained would avert the delays that characterised President Kufuor’s second inauguration on January 7, 2005, when Parliament delayed in electing a speaker the same day for the inauguration.
The parties called for clearly defined conditions of service for outgoing ministers for them to know their entitlements.
The parties called for the removal of ambiguities surrounding which gifts to the presidency belonged to the state and which are personal to the President.
"It is the belief of the GPPP that the issues raised if not addressed, could undermine national cohesion and the country’s democratic practice.
"Therefore, the GPPP urges all stakeholders to examine the recommendations and support their enactment into law," the communiqué said.
The proposals were made based on two papers presented by Dr Arthur Kennedy, the Communications Director of the NPP flag-bearer’s campaign team and Paul Victor Obeng, a Presidential Adviser on governmental affairs in the NDC administration.
Dr Kennedy’s paper was on "Transitional Arrangements in other countries — success and failure lessons for Ghana," while P.V. Obeng’s presentation was on "Guidelines for transitional arrangements."
Rich — Poor Gap Increasing’
By Edmund Mingle
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Ghana’s development strategies that have generated macro-economic growth have also widened the gap between the rich and the poor, says Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, Director of the International Service for National Agricultural Research.
Unless social protection programmes are built into development strategies to assist the poor and vulnerable, "we will be recycling poverty from one generation to the next," he said.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, made the call in a lecture in Accra yesterday on the topic: "Living at the expense of future generations: Innovating for sustainable development."
The lecture was part of the "Ghana Speaks" series jointly organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and Joy FM radio station.
For instance, he said the concentration of development in the urban areas such as businesses, road networks, and other infrastructure, has adversely affected the rural areas increasing the problem of rural-urban migration by the youth who are needed to develop their communities.
In addition, he said the high rate of rural-urban migration, is leading to the development of mega cities with high demand for housing and social services, adding that the increasing urban population without the commensurate employment avenues for the youth would continue to contribute to increased crime and moral decadence in society.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere also called for a comprehensive strategic plan for the sustainable management of resources to conserve them for future generations.
Without such a plan he said, the survival of future generations would be severely threatened.
For instance, inadequate strategies to ensure that renewable resources were sustainably exploited, was disturbing he said, adding that agricultural production continues to decline in the absence of effective aforestation and soil fertility management programmes.
He said excessive consumption of non-renewable resources such as fossil fuel leave very little for future generations, and the survival of humans, animals and plants is under serious threat because "we are depleting our resources through mismanagement."
On land management, he suggested there is the need for the building of multiple housing units on a piece of land to accommodate more people rather than building of a single family unit on the same piece of land, thereby wasting a lot of land resource.
He also noted that human activities have resulted in the drying up of many of the nation’s water bodies, and that such water bodies would have to be revived to serve the needs of future generations.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere said without adequate planning to protect the environment against the effects of climate change, the agricultural sector could be adversely affected to the detriment of the country’s food security.
Touching on Ghana’s oil find, he said the country would not gain if the requisite structures are not put in place to effectively manage it and suggested that an oil account be set up into which money from the oil exploration would be channeled for national development.
In addition, he called for alternative livelihood programmes for communities that would be affected by the project.
He advised that in spite of the oil find, the country should continue to explore other sources of renewable energy so that there would be no over-reliance on the oil which could be depleted in about 50 years.
"The challenges that face us compel a new look at consumption and production strategies to be able to adapt and mitigate their effects and conserve the livelihood of future generations," he said.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Ghana’s development strategies that have generated macro-economic growth have also widened the gap between the rich and the poor, says Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, Director of the International Service for National Agricultural Research.
Unless social protection programmes are built into development strategies to assist the poor and vulnerable, "we will be recycling poverty from one generation to the next," he said.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, made the call in a lecture in Accra yesterday on the topic: "Living at the expense of future generations: Innovating for sustainable development."
The lecture was part of the "Ghana Speaks" series jointly organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and Joy FM radio station.
For instance, he said the concentration of development in the urban areas such as businesses, road networks, and other infrastructure, has adversely affected the rural areas increasing the problem of rural-urban migration by the youth who are needed to develop their communities.
In addition, he said the high rate of rural-urban migration, is leading to the development of mega cities with high demand for housing and social services, adding that the increasing urban population without the commensurate employment avenues for the youth would continue to contribute to increased crime and moral decadence in society.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere also called for a comprehensive strategic plan for the sustainable management of resources to conserve them for future generations.
Without such a plan he said, the survival of future generations would be severely threatened.
For instance, inadequate strategies to ensure that renewable resources were sustainably exploited, was disturbing he said, adding that agricultural production continues to decline in the absence of effective aforestation and soil fertility management programmes.
He said excessive consumption of non-renewable resources such as fossil fuel leave very little for future generations, and the survival of humans, animals and plants is under serious threat because "we are depleting our resources through mismanagement."
On land management, he suggested there is the need for the building of multiple housing units on a piece of land to accommodate more people rather than building of a single family unit on the same piece of land, thereby wasting a lot of land resource.
He also noted that human activities have resulted in the drying up of many of the nation’s water bodies, and that such water bodies would have to be revived to serve the needs of future generations.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere said without adequate planning to protect the environment against the effects of climate change, the agricultural sector could be adversely affected to the detriment of the country’s food security.
Touching on Ghana’s oil find, he said the country would not gain if the requisite structures are not put in place to effectively manage it and suggested that an oil account be set up into which money from the oil exploration would be channeled for national development.
In addition, he called for alternative livelihood programmes for communities that would be affected by the project.
He advised that in spite of the oil find, the country should continue to explore other sources of renewable energy so that there would be no over-reliance on the oil which could be depleted in about 50 years.
"The challenges that face us compel a new look at consumption and production strategies to be able to adapt and mitigate their effects and conserve the livelihood of future generations," he said.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
‘Rich — Poor Gap Increasing’
By Edmund Mingle
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Ghana’s development strategies that have generated macro-economic growth have also widened the gap between the rich and the poor, says Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, Director of the International Service for National Agricultural Research.
Unless social protection programmes are built into development strategies to assist the poor and vulnerable, "we will be recycling poverty from one generation to the next," he said.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, made the call in a lecture in Accra yesterday on the topic: "Living at the expense of future generations: Innovating for sustainable development."
The lecture was part of the "Ghana Speaks" series jointly organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and Joy FM radio station.
For instance, he said the concentration of development in the urban areas such as businesses, road networks, and other infrastructure, has adversely affected the rural areas increasing the problem of rural-urban migration by the youth who are needed to develop their communities.
In addition, he said the high rate of rural-urban migration, is leading to the development of mega cities with high demand for housing and social services, adding that the increasing urban population without the commensurate employment avenues for the youth would continue to contribute to increased crime and moral decadence in society.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere also called for a comprehensive strategic plan for the sustainable management of resources to conserve them for future generations.
Without such a plan he said, the survival of future generations would be severely threatened.
For instance, inadequate strategies to ensure that renewable resources were sustainably exploited, was disturbing he said, adding that agricultural production continues to decline in the absence of effective aforestation and soil fertility management programmes.
He said excessive consumption of non-renewable resources such as fossil fuel leave very little for future generations, and the survival of humans, animals and plants is under serious threat because "we are depleting our resources through mismanagement."
On land management, he suggested there is the need for the building of multiple housing units on a piece of land to accommodate more people rather than building of a single family unit on the same piece of land, thereby wasting a lot of land resource.
He also noted that human activities have resulted in the drying up of many of the nation’s water bodies, and that such water bodies would have to be revived to serve the needs of future generations.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere said without adequate planning to protect the environment against the effects of climate change, the agricultural sector could be adversely affected to the detriment of the country’s food security.
Touching on Ghana’s oil find, he said the country would not gain if the requisite structures are not put in place to effectively manage it and suggested that an oil account be set up into which money from the oil exploration would be channeled for national development.
In addition, he called for alternative livelihood programmes for communities that would be affected by the project.
He advised that in spite of the oil find, the country should continue to explore other sources of renewable energy so that there would be no over-reliance on the oil which could be depleted in about 50 years.
"The challenges that face us compel a new look at consumption and production strategies to be able to adapt and mitigate their effects and conserve the livelihood of future generations," he said.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Ghana’s development strategies that have generated macro-economic growth have also widened the gap between the rich and the poor, says Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, Director of the International Service for National Agricultural Research.
Unless social protection programmes are built into development strategies to assist the poor and vulnerable, "we will be recycling poverty from one generation to the next," he said.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, made the call in a lecture in Accra yesterday on the topic: "Living at the expense of future generations: Innovating for sustainable development."
The lecture was part of the "Ghana Speaks" series jointly organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and Joy FM radio station.
For instance, he said the concentration of development in the urban areas such as businesses, road networks, and other infrastructure, has adversely affected the rural areas increasing the problem of rural-urban migration by the youth who are needed to develop their communities.
In addition, he said the high rate of rural-urban migration, is leading to the development of mega cities with high demand for housing and social services, adding that the increasing urban population without the commensurate employment avenues for the youth would continue to contribute to increased crime and moral decadence in society.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere also called for a comprehensive strategic plan for the sustainable management of resources to conserve them for future generations.
Without such a plan he said, the survival of future generations would be severely threatened.
For instance, inadequate strategies to ensure that renewable resources were sustainably exploited, was disturbing he said, adding that agricultural production continues to decline in the absence of effective aforestation and soil fertility management programmes.
He said excessive consumption of non-renewable resources such as fossil fuel leave very little for future generations, and the survival of humans, animals and plants is under serious threat because "we are depleting our resources through mismanagement."
On land management, he suggested there is the need for the building of multiple housing units on a piece of land to accommodate more people rather than building of a single family unit on the same piece of land, thereby wasting a lot of land resource.
He also noted that human activities have resulted in the drying up of many of the nation’s water bodies, and that such water bodies would have to be revived to serve the needs of future generations.
Prof. Asenso-Okyere said without adequate planning to protect the environment against the effects of climate change, the agricultural sector could be adversely affected to the detriment of the country’s food security.
Touching on Ghana’s oil find, he said the country would not gain if the requisite structures are not put in place to effectively manage it and suggested that an oil account be set up into which money from the oil exploration would be channeled for national development.
In addition, he called for alternative livelihood programmes for communities that would be affected by the project.
He advised that in spite of the oil find, the country should continue to explore other sources of renewable energy so that there would be no over-reliance on the oil which could be depleted in about 50 years.
"The challenges that face us compel a new look at consumption and production strategies to be able to adapt and mitigate their effects and conserve the livelihood of future generations," he said.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Gov't's Affordable Houses Nearly Ready
By Edmund Mingle
Saturday, 01 March 2008
THE first phase of the government’s Affordable Housing Project at Borteiman and Kpone near Tema, is nearing completion as the buildings have begun to take shape.
Although the project is four months behind schedule due to non-payment of contractors and inadequate materials, construction work is in progress and some of the flats are at the roofing stage.
There are about 200 contractors engaged on the projects.
Reporters who visited the sites in the company of the Water Resources, Works and Housing Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, on Thursday, found that more than 400 flats are under construction.
Most of the flats at Borteiman have been roofed.
Also under construction are access roads, community centres, police stations, clinics, markets and schools.
It is estimated that the projects would be fully completed by the end of the year for use by public sector workers.
The visit was to enable the Minister to assess the progress of work following reports that some of the contractors had abandoned work due to lack of funds.
The projects form part of the government’s plans to deliver 100,000 housing units within five years for public sector workers in all the regional capitals and some district capitals.
The project, which began in 2006 at the estimated cost of GH¢450 million each, are expected to be in two phases, with the construction of 500 units of single bedroom units and 1,400 two-bedroom types in the first phase.
The second phase will comprise the development of 178 clusters of one and three bungalow house types with two bedroom semi-detached flats.
Alhaji Boniface described the level of progress as impressive and commended the contractors for their support for the project.
He expressed regret for the delay in payment which he attributed to difficulties in accessing funds, but assured the contractors that efforts were being made to effect payment.
He said the Finance Ministry had released some funds but said about GH¢25 million was required to settle the rest.
Joseph Allotey Kofi, Kpone site project manager, told reporters that inadequate supply of construction materials was a major cause of the delay in the project, and urged the government to make resources available on time.
He said the site has been demarcated into four zones with designs of all facilities needed for a modern community.
Alhaji Boniface also visited the Kpong Water Treatment Plant to assess the water production levels and initiatives to improve water supply.
The plant is currently producing about 44 million gallons daily, a drop from the original production level of 60 million gallons a day. It serves Kpong, Tema and eastern parts of Accra.
Solomon Agyeman Manu, the plant manager, said about GH¢200 million was required for major expansion works to produce an additional 40 million gallons a day to serve the rapidly growing demand.
Saturday, 01 March 2008
THE first phase of the government’s Affordable Housing Project at Borteiman and Kpone near Tema, is nearing completion as the buildings have begun to take shape.
Although the project is four months behind schedule due to non-payment of contractors and inadequate materials, construction work is in progress and some of the flats are at the roofing stage.
There are about 200 contractors engaged on the projects.
Reporters who visited the sites in the company of the Water Resources, Works and Housing Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, on Thursday, found that more than 400 flats are under construction.
Most of the flats at Borteiman have been roofed.
Also under construction are access roads, community centres, police stations, clinics, markets and schools.
It is estimated that the projects would be fully completed by the end of the year for use by public sector workers.
The visit was to enable the Minister to assess the progress of work following reports that some of the contractors had abandoned work due to lack of funds.
The projects form part of the government’s plans to deliver 100,000 housing units within five years for public sector workers in all the regional capitals and some district capitals.
The project, which began in 2006 at the estimated cost of GH¢450 million each, are expected to be in two phases, with the construction of 500 units of single bedroom units and 1,400 two-bedroom types in the first phase.
The second phase will comprise the development of 178 clusters of one and three bungalow house types with two bedroom semi-detached flats.
Alhaji Boniface described the level of progress as impressive and commended the contractors for their support for the project.
He expressed regret for the delay in payment which he attributed to difficulties in accessing funds, but assured the contractors that efforts were being made to effect payment.
He said the Finance Ministry had released some funds but said about GH¢25 million was required to settle the rest.
Joseph Allotey Kofi, Kpone site project manager, told reporters that inadequate supply of construction materials was a major cause of the delay in the project, and urged the government to make resources available on time.
He said the site has been demarcated into four zones with designs of all facilities needed for a modern community.
Alhaji Boniface also visited the Kpong Water Treatment Plant to assess the water production levels and initiatives to improve water supply.
The plant is currently producing about 44 million gallons daily, a drop from the original production level of 60 million gallons a day. It serves Kpong, Tema and eastern parts of Accra.
Solomon Agyeman Manu, the plant manager, said about GH¢200 million was required for major expansion works to produce an additional 40 million gallons a day to serve the rapidly growing demand.
MPs Visit Circle Brothel
By Edmund Mingle
Saturday, 01 March 2008
THE Parliamentary Committee on Population yesterday afternoon visited 'Soldier Bar', the notorious brothel at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area, which was at the centre of a recent child prostitution scandal.
The wooden structure was deserted at the time of their visit, but the members said they were appalled by what they saw — untidy cubicles that serve as rooms for the prostitutes and their clients including used condoms.
Theresa Amerley Tagoe, chairperson of the committee, said their visit followed recent reports of the alarming increase in child prostitution and the committee was anxious to assess the situation to help it initiate the necessary policy to address it.
The visit drew a crowd of curious passers-by as the lawmakers, accompanied by uniformed and plain clothes policemen, looked around the cubicles with their small beds, and a bathroom.
The wooden structure had on it the bold inscription of an Accra Metropolitan Assembly order: "Remove before January 31, 2008."
Two young men found sitting at the entrance of the brothel said they neither worked there nor knew the owner.
Ms Tagoe said it is after the visit that the committee would urgently meet "to take a firm decision on how to deal with the menace."
Parliament she added would develop stiffer punitive measures against prostitution in the country.
Asked why they did not visit at night to witness the brisk prostitution business, she said the committee already had information about the night activities there from an investigation team.
During a raid on the bar recently, police arrested 161 prostitutes including 60 minors aged between 12 and 16.
The children were handed over to the Department of Social Welfare for shelter but they were soon released, an act which caused considerable public outrage.
Saturday, 01 March 2008
THE Parliamentary Committee on Population yesterday afternoon visited 'Soldier Bar', the notorious brothel at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area, which was at the centre of a recent child prostitution scandal.
The wooden structure was deserted at the time of their visit, but the members said they were appalled by what they saw — untidy cubicles that serve as rooms for the prostitutes and their clients including used condoms.
Theresa Amerley Tagoe, chairperson of the committee, said their visit followed recent reports of the alarming increase in child prostitution and the committee was anxious to assess the situation to help it initiate the necessary policy to address it.
The visit drew a crowd of curious passers-by as the lawmakers, accompanied by uniformed and plain clothes policemen, looked around the cubicles with their small beds, and a bathroom.
The wooden structure had on it the bold inscription of an Accra Metropolitan Assembly order: "Remove before January 31, 2008."
Two young men found sitting at the entrance of the brothel said they neither worked there nor knew the owner.
Ms Tagoe said it is after the visit that the committee would urgently meet "to take a firm decision on how to deal with the menace."
Parliament she added would develop stiffer punitive measures against prostitution in the country.
Asked why they did not visit at night to witness the brisk prostitution business, she said the committee already had information about the night activities there from an investigation team.
During a raid on the bar recently, police arrested 161 prostitutes including 60 minors aged between 12 and 16.
The children were handed over to the Department of Social Welfare for shelter but they were soon released, an act which caused considerable public outrage.
Cocaine Exhibits Probe C’ttee Asks For Extension
By Edmund Mingle
Monday, 03 March 2008
THE independent panel set up to investigate the circumstances leading to the alleged substitution of narcotic drug exhibits at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters, has requested extension of its deadline to enable it to finish its work, a source close to the committee has said.
The five member panel, was inaugurated in Accra on Friday, February 1, by the Interior Minister, Kwamena Bartels, and was given up to the end of the month to present its report.
The Times learned that the extension was needed to enable the panel to round up its investigations into the matter.
Chaired by Kojo Armah, MP for Evalue-Gwira, the panel was tasked to uncover the perpetrators, and recommend punishment for the offenders and to suggest measures to prevent a recurrence. It is also looking into the replacement of some of the substances in custody with other substances and the extent of the replacement.
The sources told the Times that various police officers from the Criminal Investigations Department have appeared before the panel for questioning while the Ghana Standards Board has undertaken a text of the narcotic substances at the exhibits room.
When the new Director-General of the CID, DCOP Adu Poku, took over about four months ago, he ordered an audit of the exhibits in the Narcotics Exhibits Room, located on the sixth floor of the CID headquarters.
The Ghana Standards Board was consequently invited to retest all the parcels in the room, which had been tested previously and sealed.
A test of the first 50 kilos revealed a six per cent substitution of cocaine with other substances that look like cocaine and the alarming discovery was reported by the Police Administration to the Interior Ministry, upon which the minister ordered the arrest of all officers who have access to the room.
Following that order, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Patrick Akakpo, who was in charge of the Narcotics Exhibits Room, was arrested.
The room, which was under 24-hour armed guard with a close-circuit television, was also locked with new keys and sealed to ensure that no one goes in to tamper with the exhibits during investigations.
The other members are Mark Ewuntomah of the Narcotics Control Board, S.A. Afari, a past National Security Coordinator, Kwasi Nkansah, a retired Commissioner of Police, and Jacob J. Yidana of the Ministry of the Interior.
Monday, 03 March 2008
THE independent panel set up to investigate the circumstances leading to the alleged substitution of narcotic drug exhibits at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters, has requested extension of its deadline to enable it to finish its work, a source close to the committee has said.
The five member panel, was inaugurated in Accra on Friday, February 1, by the Interior Minister, Kwamena Bartels, and was given up to the end of the month to present its report.
The Times learned that the extension was needed to enable the panel to round up its investigations into the matter.
Chaired by Kojo Armah, MP for Evalue-Gwira, the panel was tasked to uncover the perpetrators, and recommend punishment for the offenders and to suggest measures to prevent a recurrence. It is also looking into the replacement of some of the substances in custody with other substances and the extent of the replacement.
The sources told the Times that various police officers from the Criminal Investigations Department have appeared before the panel for questioning while the Ghana Standards Board has undertaken a text of the narcotic substances at the exhibits room.
When the new Director-General of the CID, DCOP Adu Poku, took over about four months ago, he ordered an audit of the exhibits in the Narcotics Exhibits Room, located on the sixth floor of the CID headquarters.
The Ghana Standards Board was consequently invited to retest all the parcels in the room, which had been tested previously and sealed.
A test of the first 50 kilos revealed a six per cent substitution of cocaine with other substances that look like cocaine and the alarming discovery was reported by the Police Administration to the Interior Ministry, upon which the minister ordered the arrest of all officers who have access to the room.
Following that order, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Patrick Akakpo, who was in charge of the Narcotics Exhibits Room, was arrested.
The room, which was under 24-hour armed guard with a close-circuit television, was also locked with new keys and sealed to ensure that no one goes in to tamper with the exhibits during investigations.
The other members are Mark Ewuntomah of the Narcotics Control Board, S.A. Afari, a past National Security Coordinator, Kwasi Nkansah, a retired Commissioner of Police, and Jacob J. Yidana of the Ministry of the Interior.
Coalition Wants Water Contract Terminated
By Edmund Mingle
Tuesday, 04 March 2008
THE National Coalition Against Priva-tisation of Water yesterday called for the immediate abrogation of the management contract between the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and Aqua Vi-tens Rand Limited (AVRL) saying AVRL does not have the solution to the "worsening water situation across the country.
"Ever since AVRL took over the operations of GWCL, consumers have not seen any improvement in performance," Alhassan Adam, Southern Sector Coordinator of the coalition, said at a news conference in Accra yesterday.
However, AVRL has, refuted the coalitions’ claims, saying the company has met all of its obligations under the management contract.
AVRL Public Affairs Manager, Stanley Martey, told the Times that the company has used its technical expertise to improve the operations of GWCL particularly in water production, billing and revenue collection.
Although he admitted that the supply was not meeting the increasing demand, he said that gap could only be addressed by expanding the water treatment plants across the country, something that is not the mandate of AVRL.
Mr Adam said for months, the coalition declared an anti-AVRL campaign to put pressure on the government to cancel the contract and improve the water delivery system. Water pressure in the mains for most urban areas have been lower than the pressure levels at the time AVRL took over from the GWCL.
The GWCL and AVRL signed a management contract on June 6, 2006, under which AVRL would take over the operations segment of GWCL to produce and distribute water as well as manage revenue mobilisation.
Schedule Four of the contract enjoined AVRL to, "within six months from the commencement date, produce and maintain water quality, pressure and flow rates at all discharge points from treatment plants and throughout the distribution networks that meet all relevant standards determined by the Ghana Standards Board and consumer charter requirements."
"This has led to rationing of water by AVRL and the situation has gone beyond the 30 days period allowed in the management contract," he said to justify the need for an abrogation of the contract. Mr. Adam quoted Clause 9.2 of the contract which entitles GWCL to commence termination processes in the situation where "the operator fails to perform any of its obligations under this management contract in material respects and such failure continues for thirty days, after written notice from the grantor to the operator requesting that such failure be cured, or the operator fails to provide the services to standard level causing directly a widespread danger to the health of the public in the service area."
Water rationing and cut-offs, which he said were not the solution to the water crisis, have become rampant in the urban areas, adding that there are fears the situation would lead to an outbreak of an epidemic.
He described the performance of AVRL, three years into the five year contract, as a failure, saying "AVRL has nothing to offer than recycled excuses and the story of dry season being the hindrance to the provision of potable water to Ghanaians."
He said the fact that AVRL is still using the staff of GWCL for its operations, contrary to expectation that they would bring in "experts" to revamp the water sector, indicates that "AVRL is taking the country for a ride."
Mr. Adam said the coalition believes that GWCL has the ability to perform if it is given the financial support for the necessary investment in infrastructure development.
"Instead of paying AVRL 10 million euros, this amount could be used to replace the overaged infrastructure of GWCL," he stated.
As part of its campaign, he said the coalition will be picketing the head office of AVRL from March 11, and organise mass workplace, community and school meetings against the company.
He urged religious groups, professional bodies, trade unions and civil society groups to join the campaign to prevent a "looming disaster from occurring."
The coalition also criticised the newly launched National Water Policy, saying it attempts to entrench privatisation of the water sector, which poses a danger to the country.
Mr. Adam said the policy’s objective "to promote private sector participation in investment and management of urban water supply as a means of mobilising investment and improving overall efficiency" is not good enough since it can give the private sector a chance to exploit the water sector to the disadvantage of the poor.
Tuesday, 04 March 2008
THE National Coalition Against Priva-tisation of Water yesterday called for the immediate abrogation of the management contract between the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and Aqua Vi-tens Rand Limited (AVRL) saying AVRL does not have the solution to the "worsening water situation across the country.
"Ever since AVRL took over the operations of GWCL, consumers have not seen any improvement in performance," Alhassan Adam, Southern Sector Coordinator of the coalition, said at a news conference in Accra yesterday.
However, AVRL has, refuted the coalitions’ claims, saying the company has met all of its obligations under the management contract.
AVRL Public Affairs Manager, Stanley Martey, told the Times that the company has used its technical expertise to improve the operations of GWCL particularly in water production, billing and revenue collection.
Although he admitted that the supply was not meeting the increasing demand, he said that gap could only be addressed by expanding the water treatment plants across the country, something that is not the mandate of AVRL.
Mr Adam said for months, the coalition declared an anti-AVRL campaign to put pressure on the government to cancel the contract and improve the water delivery system. Water pressure in the mains for most urban areas have been lower than the pressure levels at the time AVRL took over from the GWCL.
The GWCL and AVRL signed a management contract on June 6, 2006, under which AVRL would take over the operations segment of GWCL to produce and distribute water as well as manage revenue mobilisation.
Schedule Four of the contract enjoined AVRL to, "within six months from the commencement date, produce and maintain water quality, pressure and flow rates at all discharge points from treatment plants and throughout the distribution networks that meet all relevant standards determined by the Ghana Standards Board and consumer charter requirements."
"This has led to rationing of water by AVRL and the situation has gone beyond the 30 days period allowed in the management contract," he said to justify the need for an abrogation of the contract. Mr. Adam quoted Clause 9.2 of the contract which entitles GWCL to commence termination processes in the situation where "the operator fails to perform any of its obligations under this management contract in material respects and such failure continues for thirty days, after written notice from the grantor to the operator requesting that such failure be cured, or the operator fails to provide the services to standard level causing directly a widespread danger to the health of the public in the service area."
Water rationing and cut-offs, which he said were not the solution to the water crisis, have become rampant in the urban areas, adding that there are fears the situation would lead to an outbreak of an epidemic.
He described the performance of AVRL, three years into the five year contract, as a failure, saying "AVRL has nothing to offer than recycled excuses and the story of dry season being the hindrance to the provision of potable water to Ghanaians."
He said the fact that AVRL is still using the staff of GWCL for its operations, contrary to expectation that they would bring in "experts" to revamp the water sector, indicates that "AVRL is taking the country for a ride."
Mr. Adam said the coalition believes that GWCL has the ability to perform if it is given the financial support for the necessary investment in infrastructure development.
"Instead of paying AVRL 10 million euros, this amount could be used to replace the overaged infrastructure of GWCL," he stated.
As part of its campaign, he said the coalition will be picketing the head office of AVRL from March 11, and organise mass workplace, community and school meetings against the company.
He urged religious groups, professional bodies, trade unions and civil society groups to join the campaign to prevent a "looming disaster from occurring."
The coalition also criticised the newly launched National Water Policy, saying it attempts to entrench privatisation of the water sector, which poses a danger to the country.
Mr. Adam said the policy’s objective "to promote private sector participation in investment and management of urban water supply as a means of mobilising investment and improving overall efficiency" is not good enough since it can give the private sector a chance to exploit the water sector to the disadvantage of the poor.
E.C. ON ALLEGED BLOATED VOTERS' REGISTER
By Edmund Mingle
Wednesday, 05 March 2008
DR Kwadwo Afari-Djan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), yesterday cleared the air over allegations of bloated figures in the Voters Register for the Ashanti Region, refuting claims by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the register has been bloated by about 113 per cent.
He told the media after a closed-door Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting, that the EC’s own figures which he described as authentic, were far different from those in the possession of the NDC.
The meeting was to discuss the EC’s programme of activities for the December general elections.The EC made available its figures for Ashanti to representatives of the various political parties and the meeting agreed that it should investigate the circumstances leading to the official issuance of a CD ROM to the NDC containing figures that were different from the EC’s figures.
The background to the controversy is that the EC, upon an official request from the NDC, recently provided the NDC with a CD ROM of voters register.
Upon receipt and scrutiny of the data on the CD ROM, which is tamper-proof, the NDC raised the alarm, alleging that it had discovered that the figures for Ashanti had been bloated by 113 per cent between 2004 and 2006.
The figures, which were made available to the press by the EC, show that the number of registered voters increased from 1,892,639 in 2004 to 2,005,875 in 2006, representing an increase of six per cent.
Dr. Afari-Djan said that although the EC provided the NDC with the CD ROM containing the data, the EC was surprised at the astronomical increases the NDC claims to have discovered.
"The fact of the matter is that those figures are not correct and we have provided them with the authentic figures," he said, adding that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
He neither ruled out mischief on the part of "someone" to provide incorrect figures to the NDC, nor system and human error in the matter, hoping that the investigations would reveal the circumstances.
Among other things, he said the NDC would be requested to submit the CD ROM for scrutiny to examine its authenticity by the investigation team that is yet to be instituted.
On whether there would be representatives of the parties on the investigation team, he said, "We agreed that it is our collective responsibility to find out who gave out the CD ROM with that content to the NDC."
He disagreed that the matter would affect the credibility of the EC, saying the EC’s image would have been dented if it had not been able to provide the authentic figures.
"This should not dent the image of the EC in the minds of right thinking people," Dr. Afari-Djan said.
Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the NDC, told the media that the party demands thorough investigations into the matter, and wondered what could have gone wrong for the EC to provide figures to the NDC that are at variance with what it provided yesterday.
He said the NDC proposed that it would be part of the investigation team to prevent a "cover-up", adding that "we are very vigilant."
Peter Mac Manu, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, said he suspected mischief in the whole matter and asked the EC to take action to redeem its image.
He said "someone may have manipulated the figures on the CD ROM so as to create confusion."
Other issues discussed at the meeting included the registration of qualified voters who have turned 18 years, replacement of lost voter ID cards, exhibition and revision of voters’ register and opening of nominations for presidential and parliamentary candidates, as well as dates for voting.
Wednesday, 05 March 2008
DR Kwadwo Afari-Djan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), yesterday cleared the air over allegations of bloated figures in the Voters Register for the Ashanti Region, refuting claims by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the register has been bloated by about 113 per cent.
He told the media after a closed-door Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting, that the EC’s own figures which he described as authentic, were far different from those in the possession of the NDC.
The meeting was to discuss the EC’s programme of activities for the December general elections.The EC made available its figures for Ashanti to representatives of the various political parties and the meeting agreed that it should investigate the circumstances leading to the official issuance of a CD ROM to the NDC containing figures that were different from the EC’s figures.
The background to the controversy is that the EC, upon an official request from the NDC, recently provided the NDC with a CD ROM of voters register.
Upon receipt and scrutiny of the data on the CD ROM, which is tamper-proof, the NDC raised the alarm, alleging that it had discovered that the figures for Ashanti had been bloated by 113 per cent between 2004 and 2006.
The figures, which were made available to the press by the EC, show that the number of registered voters increased from 1,892,639 in 2004 to 2,005,875 in 2006, representing an increase of six per cent.
Dr. Afari-Djan said that although the EC provided the NDC with the CD ROM containing the data, the EC was surprised at the astronomical increases the NDC claims to have discovered.
"The fact of the matter is that those figures are not correct and we have provided them with the authentic figures," he said, adding that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
He neither ruled out mischief on the part of "someone" to provide incorrect figures to the NDC, nor system and human error in the matter, hoping that the investigations would reveal the circumstances.
Among other things, he said the NDC would be requested to submit the CD ROM for scrutiny to examine its authenticity by the investigation team that is yet to be instituted.
On whether there would be representatives of the parties on the investigation team, he said, "We agreed that it is our collective responsibility to find out who gave out the CD ROM with that content to the NDC."
He disagreed that the matter would affect the credibility of the EC, saying the EC’s image would have been dented if it had not been able to provide the authentic figures.
"This should not dent the image of the EC in the minds of right thinking people," Dr. Afari-Djan said.
Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the NDC, told the media that the party demands thorough investigations into the matter, and wondered what could have gone wrong for the EC to provide figures to the NDC that are at variance with what it provided yesterday.
He said the NDC proposed that it would be part of the investigation team to prevent a "cover-up", adding that "we are very vigilant."
Peter Mac Manu, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, said he suspected mischief in the whole matter and asked the EC to take action to redeem its image.
He said "someone may have manipulated the figures on the CD ROM so as to create confusion."
Other issues discussed at the meeting included the registration of qualified voters who have turned 18 years, replacement of lost voter ID cards, exhibition and revision of voters’ register and opening of nominations for presidential and parliamentary candidates, as well as dates for voting.
I Will Contest - Says Samia Nkrumah
By Edmund Mingle
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
SAMIA Nkrumah, the daughter of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, has confirmed recent media speculation that she intends to contest for a parliamentary seat on the ticket of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in the December elections.
At present, the leadership of the CPP, founded by her father, is discussing various seats in the Nzema area in the Western Region to decide which one she can contest, Samia said in an interview with the Times in Accra on Saturday.
Although Samia, based in Rome, Italy, has been visiting Ghana in recent times, she says her latest trip is "more purposeful and urgent." She arrived in the country last Tuesday, March 4.
"I am here to see what role I can play politically to help strengthen the CPP," she said.
Asked whether she has a particular constituency in mind, she said although it was her wish to contest any constituency to serve the nation, the constitutional requirements binding aspiring Members of Parliament limit her options to the Nzema area where she hails from.
"This is a matter that has to be discussed and decided on by the party leadership without making hasty moves," she said.Samia, 48, a journalist and consultant on diasporan affairs and pan-Africanism in Italy and the United States of America, says she is ready for Ghana politics despite the fact that she is relatively new to politics in Ghana.
Although she was invited by the party’s leadership to join in the campaign for political power, she said "I would have come anyway because I need to connect with my people."
Her coming back to Ghana, she said, was important because like many other Nkrumaists abroad, she has been waiting for the rejuvenation of the CPP since they could not make any effective contributions and decisions from outside.
Touching on the chances of the CPP in the December elections, Samia who plans relocating to Ghana in June with her family for good, said she was optimistic that the party would win power.
"The CPP will never die. The rejuvenated CPP of today stands the chance of being a credible alternative.
"The party is growing in popularity and there is a very strong support that is bound to translate into votes," she said.
Asked whether she would consider persuading her brother Sekou to join the CPP, she said that Sekou Nkrumah, who is now with the National Democratic Congress, is mature and an independent man who cannot be told what decisions to make.
"I dare not tell Sekou what to do!" she said, but believed that Sekou would have joined the CPP if at the time of his joining the NDC, the CPP had been vibrant.
Although she would be happy if her brother joined the CPP, she said she did not have a problem with which parties Sekou and other Nkrumaists joined provided they continued to promote the ideals of Nkrumah.
She said as children of Dr. Nkrumah, "we serve as symbols of his vision and inspiration" for rapid socio-economic development and pan-Africanism.
Samia is married to an Italian and they have a 10-year-old son named Kwame.
She is the second of three children born to Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia, an Egyptian.
The eldest is Gamal; Sekou is the last born.
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
SAMIA Nkrumah, the daughter of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, has confirmed recent media speculation that she intends to contest for a parliamentary seat on the ticket of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in the December elections.
At present, the leadership of the CPP, founded by her father, is discussing various seats in the Nzema area in the Western Region to decide which one she can contest, Samia said in an interview with the Times in Accra on Saturday.
Although Samia, based in Rome, Italy, has been visiting Ghana in recent times, she says her latest trip is "more purposeful and urgent." She arrived in the country last Tuesday, March 4.
"I am here to see what role I can play politically to help strengthen the CPP," she said.
Asked whether she has a particular constituency in mind, she said although it was her wish to contest any constituency to serve the nation, the constitutional requirements binding aspiring Members of Parliament limit her options to the Nzema area where she hails from.
"This is a matter that has to be discussed and decided on by the party leadership without making hasty moves," she said.Samia, 48, a journalist and consultant on diasporan affairs and pan-Africanism in Italy and the United States of America, says she is ready for Ghana politics despite the fact that she is relatively new to politics in Ghana.
Although she was invited by the party’s leadership to join in the campaign for political power, she said "I would have come anyway because I need to connect with my people."
Her coming back to Ghana, she said, was important because like many other Nkrumaists abroad, she has been waiting for the rejuvenation of the CPP since they could not make any effective contributions and decisions from outside.
Touching on the chances of the CPP in the December elections, Samia who plans relocating to Ghana in June with her family for good, said she was optimistic that the party would win power.
"The CPP will never die. The rejuvenated CPP of today stands the chance of being a credible alternative.
"The party is growing in popularity and there is a very strong support that is bound to translate into votes," she said.
Asked whether she would consider persuading her brother Sekou to join the CPP, she said that Sekou Nkrumah, who is now with the National Democratic Congress, is mature and an independent man who cannot be told what decisions to make.
"I dare not tell Sekou what to do!" she said, but believed that Sekou would have joined the CPP if at the time of his joining the NDC, the CPP had been vibrant.
Although she would be happy if her brother joined the CPP, she said she did not have a problem with which parties Sekou and other Nkrumaists joined provided they continued to promote the ideals of Nkrumah.
She said as children of Dr. Nkrumah, "we serve as symbols of his vision and inspiration" for rapid socio-economic development and pan-Africanism.
Samia is married to an Italian and they have a 10-year-old son named Kwame.
She is the second of three children born to Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia, an Egyptian.
The eldest is Gamal; Sekou is the last born.
NPP Rejects EC's Committee
By Edmund Mingle
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the Electoral Commission (EC) for setting up a team to investigate the alleged bloating of the Voters Register without involving political parties, and called for open and transparent stakeholder investigations into the matter.
"We do not object to the EC carrying out its own investigations. However, with the lingering of the impasse, without any open and transparent approach towards getting to the bottom of the matter, the suspicions and mistrust brewing over the register can only get worse," Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of the party, said at a news conference in Accra yesterday.
The EC’s acting Head of Public Affairs and Human Resources, Samuel Yorke Aidoo, confirmed on Joy FM yesterday morning that the commission has constituted a three-member team of EC officials to investigate claims by the National Democratic Congress of an alleged bloating of the Ashanti Region Voters Register.
The development is contrary to a consensus at an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting that decided to ensure transparency, a committee comprising political party representatives, the EC and IT experts to investigate how the NDC had the alleged bloated figures on the register provided on a CD ROM.
Nana Ntow said that although the NPP respects the competence of the EC in handling its constitutional mandate, "we think the EC could act more expeditiously than it has done so far in the matter of the ongoing confusion over the voters register."
He said the issue of the alleged bloated register was a threat to the credibility of the register and that urgent efforts should be made by the EC to correct all anomalies and erase the growing negative perception about the register.
Although the IPAC is not a constitutional body whose decisions are binding, he hoped the EC would respect such consensus to demonstrate the goodwill with which the parties and the EC worked.
He said the party was worried about the growing negative perception because, as a ruling party, it is a major stakeholder in the electioneering process and would want the country to have peaceful and fair elections.
Nana Ntow condemned the NDC’s claims that the NPP was behind the alleged bloating of the register as part of attempts to rig the December elections.
"Clearly this is a baseless and mischievous fabrication calculated to put the credibility of the EC, the NPP and the whole electoral process into doubt," he said.
He said that had the NDC gone ahead to simply call the attention of the EC to the alleged anomaly in the register, they would have succeeded in convincing everyone of their noble intention.
"However, to fabricate a charge against the NPP simply betrays their sinister agenda, and confirms their earlier intention to raise doubts over the results of the upcoming elections in the most likely event of the NDC losing," the General Secretary said.
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the Electoral Commission (EC) for setting up a team to investigate the alleged bloating of the Voters Register without involving political parties, and called for open and transparent stakeholder investigations into the matter.
"We do not object to the EC carrying out its own investigations. However, with the lingering of the impasse, without any open and transparent approach towards getting to the bottom of the matter, the suspicions and mistrust brewing over the register can only get worse," Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary of the party, said at a news conference in Accra yesterday.
The EC’s acting Head of Public Affairs and Human Resources, Samuel Yorke Aidoo, confirmed on Joy FM yesterday morning that the commission has constituted a three-member team of EC officials to investigate claims by the National Democratic Congress of an alleged bloating of the Ashanti Region Voters Register.
The development is contrary to a consensus at an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting that decided to ensure transparency, a committee comprising political party representatives, the EC and IT experts to investigate how the NDC had the alleged bloated figures on the register provided on a CD ROM.
Nana Ntow said that although the NPP respects the competence of the EC in handling its constitutional mandate, "we think the EC could act more expeditiously than it has done so far in the matter of the ongoing confusion over the voters register."
He said the issue of the alleged bloated register was a threat to the credibility of the register and that urgent efforts should be made by the EC to correct all anomalies and erase the growing negative perception about the register.
Although the IPAC is not a constitutional body whose decisions are binding, he hoped the EC would respect such consensus to demonstrate the goodwill with which the parties and the EC worked.
He said the party was worried about the growing negative perception because, as a ruling party, it is a major stakeholder in the electioneering process and would want the country to have peaceful and fair elections.
Nana Ntow condemned the NDC’s claims that the NPP was behind the alleged bloating of the register as part of attempts to rig the December elections.
"Clearly this is a baseless and mischievous fabrication calculated to put the credibility of the EC, the NPP and the whole electoral process into doubt," he said.
He said that had the NDC gone ahead to simply call the attention of the EC to the alleged anomaly in the register, they would have succeeded in convincing everyone of their noble intention.
"However, to fabricate a charge against the NPP simply betrays their sinister agenda, and confirms their earlier intention to raise doubts over the results of the upcoming elections in the most likely event of the NDC losing," the General Secretary said.
Canadian Envoy Visits New Times Corporation
By Edmund Mingle
Thursday, 13 March 2008
The Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Darien Schemmer, yesterday called on the management of the New Times Corporation (NTC), as the High Commission and the corporation seek to collaborate on various initiatives.
The visit, which formed part of a tour of selected institutions in the country, provided the high commissioner the opportunity to familia-rise himself with the operations of the corporation.
It also created a platform for discussions on a number of programmes they could undertake together.
Areas of interest identified for collaboration include educational exchange programmes, training for journalists and technical staff, publication of educational materials and acquisition of equipment.
Mr Schemmer commended the corporation for its contribution to the development of the media landscape which he described as crucial to socio-economic growth.
He acknowledged the challenge facing the media in the country especially as the country prepares for the general elections which he hoped would be peaceful.
He gave the assurance that the Canadian government, through its agencies, would continue to support development programmes in Ghana towards poverty reduction as well as collaborate with the corporation.
Kofi Asuman, Managing Director of the corporation, expressed appreciation for the visit and welcomed any positive collaborative initiatives that would enhance the company’s performance.
He briefed the High Commissioner on the operations of the corporation and gave the assurance that it would continue to strive to give the public quality products and pursue its mandate as an independent state media organisation.
The High Commissioner, who was accompanied by officials from the commission, was taken round the corpora-tion’s facilities.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
The Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Darien Schemmer, yesterday called on the management of the New Times Corporation (NTC), as the High Commission and the corporation seek to collaborate on various initiatives.
The visit, which formed part of a tour of selected institutions in the country, provided the high commissioner the opportunity to familia-rise himself with the operations of the corporation.
It also created a platform for discussions on a number of programmes they could undertake together.
Areas of interest identified for collaboration include educational exchange programmes, training for journalists and technical staff, publication of educational materials and acquisition of equipment.
Mr Schemmer commended the corporation for its contribution to the development of the media landscape which he described as crucial to socio-economic growth.
He acknowledged the challenge facing the media in the country especially as the country prepares for the general elections which he hoped would be peaceful.
He gave the assurance that the Canadian government, through its agencies, would continue to support development programmes in Ghana towards poverty reduction as well as collaborate with the corporation.
Kofi Asuman, Managing Director of the corporation, expressed appreciation for the visit and welcomed any positive collaborative initiatives that would enhance the company’s performance.
He briefed the High Commissioner on the operations of the corporation and gave the assurance that it would continue to strive to give the public quality products and pursue its mandate as an independent state media organisation.
The High Commissioner, who was accompanied by officials from the commission, was taken round the corpora-tion’s facilities.
Lost Voters ID Cards Replacement
By Edmund Mingle
Saturday, 15 March 2008
A Voters Identity Card Replacement Exercise was started by the Electoral Commission (EC) yesterday.
The exercise, which ends on March 23, is taking place at 5,000 registrations centres throughout the country.
It aims at collecting data from registered voters who have lost their Voter ID cards, for the processing and issuance of new cards.
The exercise is the first major event towards the revision of the Voters Register expected to begin in May.
The Times found during visits to some centres at Osu and Adabraka that the exercise witnessed low patronage on the first day.There were no queues as witnessed during the registration exercises, but the officials at the centres believe the response will pick up as the exercise progresses.
The EC says the exercise is only for those who have lost their ID cards and not registration of voters.
Albert Kofi Arhin, Director of Operations at the EC told journalists yesterday that proof of the lost ID cards, such as a police report was required from the applicants.
That, he said, was part of measures to guard against double registration.
He stressed that voters cannot use the exercise for double registration since the data provided would be cross-checked against the existing data on the register.
Saturday, 15 March 2008
A Voters Identity Card Replacement Exercise was started by the Electoral Commission (EC) yesterday.
The exercise, which ends on March 23, is taking place at 5,000 registrations centres throughout the country.
It aims at collecting data from registered voters who have lost their Voter ID cards, for the processing and issuance of new cards.
The exercise is the first major event towards the revision of the Voters Register expected to begin in May.
The Times found during visits to some centres at Osu and Adabraka that the exercise witnessed low patronage on the first day.There were no queues as witnessed during the registration exercises, but the officials at the centres believe the response will pick up as the exercise progresses.
The EC says the exercise is only for those who have lost their ID cards and not registration of voters.
Albert Kofi Arhin, Director of Operations at the EC told journalists yesterday that proof of the lost ID cards, such as a police report was required from the applicants.
That, he said, was part of measures to guard against double registration.
He stressed that voters cannot use the exercise for double registration since the data provided would be cross-checked against the existing data on the register.
Parties Choose Nov. 7 For Future Elections
By Edmund Mingle, Atimpoku
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
THE four political parties with representation in Parliament have proposed that in future, Ghana’s general election should be held a month earlier, on November 7, instead of the present date of December 7.
That, the parties indicated will enable the transition period to be extended from four to eight weeks to facilitate a more efficient transition and transfer of political power from one administration to another.
The chairmen, general secretaries and policy analysts of the parties in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day retreat for political party leaders here on Sunday to develop proposed guidelines for political transitions, agreed that the extension would help to effectively accommodate election-run-offs and the resolution of any election disputes by the Supreme Court in time before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposal is one of many developed at the retreat to institutionalise structures for political transitions in order to avoid the rancour and ill-feeling that characterised the 2001 transition which marked Ghana’s change of administration from one democratically elected president to another.
However, the parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party and People’s National Convention do not intend to have their proposals, which they want to form the basis of an Act of Parliament termed "The Political Transition Act", to be implemented in this year’s general elections.
The retreat was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) under the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) which is aimed at contributing to the development of structures to consolidate Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
At present, the December 7 election date gives four weeks for all transitional arrangements to be made before the inauguration of a new president.
Where there is a run-off, the transition period is reduced to about seven days, within which the judiciary would have to resolve any petition, against the election results.
The December 7 election date is not an entrenched provision and Parliament can therefore amend it without a referendum.
Among other proposals for a smooth transition, the communiqué suggested that the outgoing administration made up of the executive and heads of ministries, departmetns and agencies, and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies prepare comprehensive handing-over notes for submission to the Chief Justice seven days to the date of election for a smooth take-off of a new administration.
In addition, it proposed that the Chief Justice who is considered as an independent party in the transitional process, "shall within seven days of the declaration of results convene an ice-breaker meeting between the President and the President-elect to prepare the grounds for the formal transfer of power."
In the event of any election petition challenging the election results, the ice-breaker meeting should be held within three days after the settlement of the petition.
The communiqué also suggested that the President should be made to nominate all key ministers within 30 days of the declaration of election results for those nominated ministers to be part of a Joint Transition Team (JTT).
It said the outgoing ministers and government appointees should make themselves available for consultation by the new government after the inauguration.
To facilitate a smooth inauguration of the President-elect, the communiqué suggested that "Parliament shall convene 24 hours earlier to organise itself and elect a Speaker" before whom the new president would be sworn, before the January 7 inauguration.
That, the communiqué explained would avert the delays that characterised President Kufuor’s second inauguration on January 7, 2005, when Parliament delayed in electing a speaker the same day for the inauguration.
The parties called for clearly defined conditions of service for outgoing ministers for them to know their entitlements.
The parties called for the removal of ambiguities surrounding which gifts to the presidency belonged to the state and which are personal to the President.
"It is the belief of the GPPP that the issues raised if not addressed, could undermine national cohesion and the country’s democratic practice.
"Therefore, the GPPP urges all stakeholders to examine the recommendations and support their enactment into law," the communiqué said.
The proposals were made based on two papers presented by Dr Arthur Kennedy, the Communications Director of the NPP flag-bearer’s campaign team and Paul Victor Obeng, a Presidential Adviser on governmental affairs in the NDC administration.
Dr Kennedy’s paper was on "Transitional Arrangements in other countries — success and failure lessons for Ghana," while P.V. Obeng’s presentation was on "Guidelines for transitional arrangements."
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
THE four political parties with representation in Parliament have proposed that in future, Ghana’s general election should be held a month earlier, on November 7, instead of the present date of December 7.
That, the parties indicated will enable the transition period to be extended from four to eight weeks to facilitate a more efficient transition and transfer of political power from one administration to another.
The chairmen, general secretaries and policy analysts of the parties in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day retreat for political party leaders here on Sunday to develop proposed guidelines for political transitions, agreed that the extension would help to effectively accommodate election-run-offs and the resolution of any election disputes by the Supreme Court in time before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposal is one of many developed at the retreat to institutionalise structures for political transitions in order to avoid the rancour and ill-feeling that characterised the 2001 transition which marked Ghana’s change of administration from one democratically elected president to another.
However, the parties, including the New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress, Convention Peoples Party and People’s National Convention do not intend to have their proposals, which they want to form the basis of an Act of Parliament termed "The Political Transition Act", to be implemented in this year’s general elections.
The retreat was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) under the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP) which is aimed at contributing to the development of structures to consolidate Ghana’s multi-party democracy.
At present, the December 7 election date gives four weeks for all transitional arrangements to be made before the inauguration of a new president.
Where there is a run-off, the transition period is reduced to about seven days, within which the judiciary would have to resolve any petition, against the election results.
The December 7 election date is not an entrenched provision and Parliament can therefore amend it without a referendum.
Among other proposals for a smooth transition, the communiqué suggested that the outgoing administration made up of the executive and heads of ministries, departmetns and agencies, and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies prepare comprehensive handing-over notes for submission to the Chief Justice seven days to the date of election for a smooth take-off of a new administration.
In addition, it proposed that the Chief Justice who is considered as an independent party in the transitional process, "shall within seven days of the declaration of results convene an ice-breaker meeting between the President and the President-elect to prepare the grounds for the formal transfer of power."
In the event of any election petition challenging the election results, the ice-breaker meeting should be held within three days after the settlement of the petition.
The communiqué also suggested that the President should be made to nominate all key ministers within 30 days of the declaration of election results for those nominated ministers to be part of a Joint Transition Team (JTT).
It said the outgoing ministers and government appointees should make themselves available for consultation by the new government after the inauguration.
To facilitate a smooth inauguration of the President-elect, the communiqué suggested that "Parliament shall convene 24 hours earlier to organise itself and elect a Speaker" before whom the new president would be sworn, before the January 7 inauguration.
That, the communiqué explained would avert the delays that characterised President Kufuor’s second inauguration on January 7, 2005, when Parliament delayed in electing a speaker the same day for the inauguration.
The parties called for clearly defined conditions of service for outgoing ministers for them to know their entitlements.
The parties called for the removal of ambiguities surrounding which gifts to the presidency belonged to the state and which are personal to the President.
"It is the belief of the GPPP that the issues raised if not addressed, could undermine national cohesion and the country’s democratic practice.
"Therefore, the GPPP urges all stakeholders to examine the recommendations and support their enactment into law," the communiqué said.
The proposals were made based on two papers presented by Dr Arthur Kennedy, the Communications Director of the NPP flag-bearer’s campaign team and Paul Victor Obeng, a Presidential Adviser on governmental affairs in the NDC administration.
Dr Kennedy’s paper was on "Transitional Arrangements in other countries — success and failure lessons for Ghana," while P.V. Obeng’s presentation was on "Guidelines for transitional arrangements."
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