Stakeholders urged to maintian democratic credentials

Thursday March 4, 2010

By Edmund Mingle

President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday encouraged stakeholders in Ghana’s democracy to work hard to maintain the democratic credentials gained, saying other countries are looking up to Ghana

He particularly urged the various political parties to work together in enhancing the country’s democracy for the national good.

“We have a standard to maintain,” he told the chairmen of the political parties and executives of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), at the Castle, Osu in Accra.

They accompanied Roel Von Meijenfeldt, Executive Director of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), a political think tank collaborating with the IEA and political parties in Ghana, to pay a courtesy call on the President.

According to President Mills, Ghana is considered as a trail blazer in the field of democracy in Africa, and therefore all must work towards its progress of the benefit of Ghanaians.

“Let us work with one another because this is the only way we can enhance the opportunities and be able to show to the outside world that we are fully committed to the tenets of democracy,” he said

He promised that his administration would continue to provide the necessary support to the strengthening of multi-party democracy in Ghana, and called on all the parties to “let fairness and transparency prevail.”

“There is no alternative to democracy,” he said, and reminded the political parties, none of the parties have the power to decide who should lead the country.

“The power to decide who should lead the country is vested in the people,” he said.

The President lauded the contribution of the IEA and the NIMD to the growth of the country’s democracy, indicating that part of the credit for the improved collaboration between the parties should go to the two institutions.

The collaborative work of the IEA and NIMD resulted in creation of a Ghana Political Parties Programme, a platform on which the Chairmen and General Secretaries of the political parties with representation in Parliament, have been working together to address various issue affecting multi-party democracy in Ghana.

Recognising the critical role the Political Parties Programme, President Mills therefore lauded the collaborative work among the parties, and promised that government would continue to lend its support to the Programme.

Mr. Von Meijentfeldt, in his remarks, commended Ghana for the growth of her democracy and the commitment of the stakeholders to remain united in the face of challenges.

“The level of democracy in Ghana is an inspiration to other countries in Africa,” he noted that the NIMD looked forward to deepening “our partnership in democracy with Ghana.”

Dr. Kwabena Adjei, National Chairman of the ruling NDC who is chairman of Chairmen’s caucus of the Ghana Political Parties Programme, said his group valued the partnership with the NIMD since it continues to provide the opportunity the parties to learn from the experiences of other countries around the world.

Jean Mensa, Executive Director of the IEA, for her part, commended President Mills for recognising the importance of the Presidential Transition Bill, developed out of the Ghana Political Parties Programme, and mentioning it in his State of the Nation Address, saying, “we look forward to celebrating the passage on this bill.”

She also lauded the establishment of the Constitution Review Commission, and pledged the necessary support from the IEA and NIMD towards a successful outcome of its work.

In that regard, she noted that Mr. Von Meijenfeldt has, since his arrival in Ghana, met with members of the Commission and offered to support an exchange visit between the commissioners and experienced experts in Zambia, Kenya and South Africa.

“We have no doubt that these exchanges will enrich the entire Constitution review process and help to ensure a Constitution which is acceptable to all Ghanaians,” she stressed.

Prez insists on value for money

Friday March 5, 2010

From Edmund Mingle & Winston Tamakloe, Mafi-Asiekpe.

President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday charged contractors in the country to give value for money, cautioning strongly that the government will not entertain any shoddy work.

“We want value for money,” he said, adding that the government would not allow any of the tax payers’ money to go waste through shoddy construction works, particularly roads projects.

President Mills gave the caution when he cut the sod for the beginning of construction works on two road networks in the Volta Region and Accra yesterday.

The President, who cut the sod for the upgrading of the Ho-Adidome-Sogakope road at Asiekpe in the North Tongu district of the Volta region, before cutting the sod for the construction of the Spintex-Polo Grounds- Airport link road in Accra, bemoaned the situation where a lot of money goes to waste because of poorly executed construction works.

In addition, President Mills gave assurance that the right structures were put in place to ensure proper monitoring of projects, and assured contractors that the government would play its part providing the necessary cooperation and assistance, as well as the prompt payment of contractors.

Touching on the Ho-Adidome-Sogakope road project, which is to part of efforts to improve the road network and facilitate transportation, President Mills noted that the start of the project, was in fulfillment of one of his administration’s campaign promises made to the people of the area.

He said the government was committed the improving the lot of people in the area by undertaking initiatives that could lead to the significant eradication of poverty, and assured them of his administration’s collaboration for to enhance their welfare.

“We can never turn our back on you,” he told a durbar of chiefs and people of Adaklu Kodzobi and Mafi-Asiekpe here ahead of the sod-cutting.

He said the government was up to the task of developing the country, expressing optimism that the government would perform creditably to be retained in power.

“We are in power to serve the people,” he said.

The road is a vital link connecting major towns like Adaklu Tsrepe-Adaklu, Mafi-Kumasi and Adaklu Abuadi in the North Tongu, Adaklu Anyigbe districts and Ho Municipality.

Under the project, the road is expected to be upgraded to a two-lane single carriage way with double surface dressing.

The project, costing over GHc54million, also involves the replacement of weak and damaged culverts, deepening of drains, as well as the provision of access links to the road.

When completed, the road network, is expected to enhance economic activities particularly in the areas of agriculture and tourism.

“The improvement of this route will also provide a shorter travel distance for motorists commuting between Ho, Sogakope and Accra, as compared to the current route from Ho through Denu,” said Joe Gidisu, Roads and Highways Minister, whos also gave the assurance that the contractors, Messrs Ussuya, Jah Nicaf, PMC and Rollider, would do a good job.

Tobge Dzegbade IV, Chief of Adaklu Kodzobi, in his remarks, thanked the government for making the road network issue a priority, and particularly commended it for continuing road projects started in the area by the previous government.

“We will remain grateful for this support,” he said, and assured the government of their full collaboration for the success of all projects initiated in the area.

Later at the sod-cutting for the Spintex-Polo Grounds-Airport link road, President Mills, stressed the importance of that project, saying it would significantly ease traffic on the Spintex, and Accra-Madina roads.

“This will save motorists and commuters a lot of man-hours,” he said, citing the current situation where vehicles stay on traffic for hours on the Spintex road during rush hours.

The project, he said, formed part of efforts to remove the bottlenecks that hamper effective business activities, such as poor road networks that adversely affect transportation.

“This is an importance landmark in the development of Accra,” he said, adding that he was glad to be associated with it.

The 2.6kilometer road project, costing over Ghc12.7million, involves the re-alignment of the Spintex road around the Accra Mall, passing behind the Shangrila hotel to link the Airport by-pass. It also includes the construction of a rail bridge to separate the railway from the road.

Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, the Mayor of Accra, in his remarks, said the project was one of many initiatives to improve the road and transportation system in the metropolis.

He announced that the by the end of June, 47 modern traffic lights, with power back-ups would have been installed in various intersections to improve the traffic situation in the metropolis.

Consequently, President Mills commissioned one of such traffic lights in front of the Fire Service Headquarters in Accra yesterday, to mark the beginning of a mass installation of those lights which are fitted with remote monitoring devices and back-up power which enables it to continue functioning during power outage.

ROPAL Again!

Friday February 26, 2010

By Edmund Mingle

The President, John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday revisited the controversial issue of the Representation of the People Amendment Act (ROPAA), saying the amended Act, which was passed under the previous government to allow Ghanaians abroad to vote, will be entirely revised.

In his second State of the Nation Address to Parliament, President Mills said his administration’s objection to the ROPAA, then in opposition, was based on the flawed processes for its introduction, and not on the principle of Diaspora voting.

“Our commitment to providing opportunity for our brothers and sisters abroad to exercise their franchise was never in doubt,” he stated.

To ensure an effective review of the Act, he said the government would this year, constitute a multi-partisan group, under the guidance of the Electoral Commission, to revisit the whole issue of registration and voting of Ghanaians abroad.

“This will involve a review of the Representation of People Law of 1992 in its entirely and not piecemeal amendment of that legislation,” he said.

According to the President, whose address was dubbed “Partners in vision,” said the matter affects the basic power-conferring law of the country, and that it must not be the prerogative of the ruling government to use its majority to have its way.

“All political parties must be involved to enable us reach consensus on a Bill to replace the Representation of the People and its amendments.

“When I am convinced that there is real consensus on its provisions, the Draft Bill will be presented to Parliament,” he said.

President Mills, who called for more inter-party collaboration in pursuit of national reconciliation, said “we cannot impose reconciliation by legislation. Genuine reconciliation must come from our hearts.”

He lauded the collaborative work among the parties on the Ghana Political Parties Programme under the auspices of the Institute of Economic Affairs, which has resulted in the development of the Presidential Transition Bill aimed at effectively managing future political transitions to avoid acrimonious transfer of political power, and urged the parties to continue to work together to achieve the common goal of national progress.

Because of the multi-partisan nature associated with the development of the Bill, he was optimistic that Parliament would have no difficulty in passing it.

Touching on another critical issue of honours given to leaders of the land, he said the National Honours Class of the Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana awardable only to presidents of Ghana “is discriminatory and inappropriate.”

“I have therefore decided that the National Honours Instrument of 2008, which created that Class, should be repealed.
“A repealing Executive Instrument will be laid before the House in the course of the year to restore the original non-discriminatory Honours Warrant of July 1, 1960 executed by the first President of the Republic, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah,” he said.

He was of the view, however, that those persons who received those honours under the 2008 Instrument, which generated a lot of controversy because of the unclear nature of criteria for the nominations, acquired vested or accrued right to them.
“They will therefore be allowed to keep those honours,” he said.

In helping to facilitate the work of MPs, he said a fund would be created to provide facilities such as offices in the offices for MPs in their various constituencies, to enable them to effectively play their role in the governance system.

He called for responsible citizenship, and hoped that the current atmosphere of unfettered free speech would be enjoyed responsibly.

The government, he said, was open to criticisms, saying “nobody has a monopoly of either vision or wisdom, and we will take honest criticisms in good faith.”

“We will work together to fashion out the appropriate policies that will help our nation face and overcome her many challenges in these times of great uncertainty,” he said.

Touching on the efforts at improving the culture of indiscipline in Ghana, President Mills charged Members of Parliament, Ministers and government officials to lead the crusade against indiscipline.

He said there was a need for them to be time conscious and put up good self-discipline and attitude for emulation by the public, saying for instance that he expected all Ministers and officials to be punctual to functions to which they are invited.

He asked organisers of such functions to draw the attention of the Presidency to the attitude of official who become “notorious later comers,”, and also urged the organisers to adopt proper time management practices by making their events less time consuming.

With regard to the addressing the rampant road accidents, President Mills charged the Police Service to urgently come up with a blue-print for tackling the menace.
END

President Mills declares: So Far, So Much Better

Friday February 26, 2010

By Edmund Mingle

President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday assured Ghanaians that the national economy is improving significantly, saying the current state of the nation is good.

“One year after our election, I am proud to stand before you and say with confidence that “the state of the nation is good,” he said as he delivered his second State of the Nation Address to Parliament yesterday.

Describing the progress of the national economy and the state of affairs under his administration as compared to the period where they took over power as “so far, much better,” President Mills, however indicated that there was still a lot of work to be done in making Ghana a prosperous country.

But he strongly assured Ghanaians that his administration was up to the task of making Ghana a much better place for the citizenry, saying he and his team were “fully committed to our election promises.”

The President recalled promised his administration made in its early days to cool the overheated economy and revive the declining currency, pursue economy stability, a diversified industry-based economy, ensure good governance, transparency and peace, all inclusiveness and rule of law, saying gains have been made in fulfilling these promises.

“We took over a run-down economy characterised by unbridled spending that did not offer value for money. But in the face of mountainous challenges, we can now offer good news and hope to Ghanaians,” he stressed.

“Today, we have a stable currency as well as other indicators pointing to healthy economic conditions for real take-off of into sustained growth,” the President added.

President Mills, in his address, dubbed “Partners in vision,” also outlined various initiatives being pursued by the government in the oil and gas industry, agriculture sector public sector management, private sector growth for increase job creation to fast-track national development.

Touching on the oil and gas sector, President Mills, whose address was greeted with laud cheers and applause from the majority side of the House, said he has instructed the Energy Minister, in collaboration with the Transport Ministry to fast-track investment in the necessary facilities, including the Deep Sea Port with dedicated oil services facility, as well as the rehabilitation of the western railway corridor.

“These flagship investments will not only create employment themselves, but will support the growth of other businesses,” he said, adding that the proper development of the gas sector would help to ensure dependable electricity supply at internationally competitive tariffs.

With the anticipated commercial exploitation of crude oil and gas, he said the government was positioning Ghana for major industrial take-off, mentioning initiatives for the development of an integrated aluminium industry based on bauxite, a petrol chemical industry based on salt and natural gas, and a fertilizer industry to give impetus to agriculture production.

Currently, he said they were putting together the building blocks of an oil and gas-based industrial architecture to ensure that by 2016, “we would have exploited these resources and changed the country’s economic paradigm so that our dependence on traditional raw material exports of cocoa, gold and timber, will be a thing of the past.”

On efforts towards achieving food security, which is a priority to the government, President noted that they were marshalling all the necessary resources to achieve food security so as to halt the country’s over-dependence on imported foods.

“Tomatoes, onions, plantain and other items are native to our climate, and we have the land and the resources to deliver these and more to our people. We can have no excuses if at the end of our tenure we fail in this task,” he said.

Among other things, he said the Buffer Stock Management Agency set up to hold food security buffer stocks and intervene in the market when there was a glut, would this year rehabilitate 12 warehouses of the erstwhile Ghana Food Distribution Corporation, for its operations across the country.

In addition, he said, the fertilizer subsidy programme, aimed at supporting farmers would be extended to all crop farmers, while the Youth in Modern Agriculture Development Programme, was being accelerated to provide more jobs for the youth and increase food production.

With regard to fishing, President Mills noted that the problems that characterised the distribution of the pre-mix fuel have been resolved while pair-trawling by foreign vessels that threatened the livelihood of local fishermen, has been prohibited.

As a solution to the disturbing gap in financing for the agriculture sector, President Mills announced that an Agriculture Development and Investment Fund idea was being worked on as a respond to their manifesto promise of promoting rural financial intermediation and to establish an Agriculture Development Fund.

On job creation, President Mills observed that National Youth Employment, and Youth in Agriculture programmes were only temporal solutions to the problem of large numbers of unemployment youth in the country.

Ultimately, he said the solution lied in skills training and the expansion of the economy, saying that the government was addressing the unemployment issue through a three pronged approach through the expansion of the services, manufacturing and agro-processing sectors to create more jobs.

In addition, he said he has directed that job creation was mainstreamed in the programmes of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Touching on the conditions of service in the public sector, President Mills particularly decline to give further promises to teachers.

“I have said enough about the conditions of service of teachers in the past.
“At the end of this year, I expect the GNAT, NAGRAT and UTAG to make separate pronouncements on whether the lot of teachers has improved under my administration or not,” he said.

On healthcare service delivery, the President, who called for all hands on deck to build the country, said the National Health Insurance Authority has submitted a revised NHIS Bill to Cabinet for consideration.

When passed by Parliament, the Bill is expected to ensure greater accountability and the operations of the health scheme, and also redefine premium payment mechanisms and claim management.

On the critical issue of housing, President Mills bluntly noted that that “spectacle of homeless people and street children in our urban areas is not acceptable and cannot be tolerated.”

In most countries, he said housing for the lower and lower-middle income groups, is the responsibility of local authorities, adding that Ghana should not be an exemption.

He said in addition to efforts of the central government to improve the housing sector this year, “we shall expect our Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to invest sizeable proportion of their Assemblies Common Fund in rental housing for lower and middle-income groups.”

In pursuit of that objective, he said the Assemblies would be directed to commit substantial portions of the Common Fund allocations to rental housing.

In addition, a national District Assemblies Rental Housing Project Taskforce will be established to oversee the programme of housing.

In the interim, the President said he has directed the Housing Ministry to complete all “affordable” rental housing projects, initiated by the previous government, to help alleviate the acute housing problem facing the country.

In addition, he announced that the government was in the process of signing an agreement with the government of Korea, for the construction of some 200,000 affordable housing units for workers across the country. The batch of 30,000 units, he said, would be allocated to the security services.

Also, he noted that the Engineer Corps of the Ghana Army would be re-equipped to once again play an integral role in the government’s rural infrastructure expansion programme.

Responding to criticisms by the minority side that his government is slow, President Mills noted that he is “slow but sure.”

“In all our undertakings, I will be guided by a principle I have long cherished-to always strive to make a right decision rather that a quick decision,” he told the House.

Mills Registers for National ID Card

March 1, 2010

By Edmund Mingle

President John Evans Atta Mills has registered for the National Identification card, with a call for all to take the exercise very serious.

He said the NI, which is intended to provide unique identification to all Ghanaians, was very crucial in the country’s development process.

“This should solve all kinds of problems related to identification,” he said as he finished the registration process at the Castle Gardens on Friday.

The President, who begun the process at 10:05am, encouraged all those who have not registered to do so.

He commended the National Identification Authority (NIA), managers of the exercise for the progress made so far, and assured the Authority of the necessary support to ensure its success.

Dr. William Ahadzie, Executive Director of the Authority, who briefing the President on the progress of the exercise, said they were currently doing a mopping up exercise in Greater Accra, after the mass registration ended on February 11.

From Greater Accra, he said the exercise would conducted in the Ashanti Region from March 22 to June.

So far, he said the five regions, made up of Central, Western, Eastern, Volta and Greater Accra have been covered by the exercise, which begun in July 2008, but was suspended due to logistical difficulties.

Dr. Ahadzie later told newsmen that the turn out has so far been encouraging.
He said their main challenge was the long queues created at the registration centres, saying many people joined the queues without adequate knowledge about the exercise.

In that regard, he said the Authority was undertaking a conducting public education campaign in the remaining regions to be covered to inform people about the registration dates and the information they would be required to provide at the centres.

Niger junta seeks democratic lessons from Ghana

By Edmund Mingle
Nine days after the military junta took over power in Niger, the leaders of the junta are in Ghana to solicit ideas to help return that country to democratic rule.

“Ghana is a school in terms of democracy in Africa, and we have come to the school for advice,” Colonel Mossi Hasaan, a leading member of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy, currently controlling power in Niger, told President John Evans Atta Mills at the Castle in Accra yesterday.

Col. Hassan, who led a seven-man delegation from the Council to Accra, to explain developments in that country to President Mills, and to seek support, said the junta was aware of the drawbacks coups create on national progress, but noted that circumstances forced the military to take over power.

“What we are seeking is true democracy,” he said, and expressed optimism that other African countries, particularly Ghana, with her vast experience, would provide the necessary assistance for them to lay an effective foundation for democratic rule.

He promised gave the assurance that none of the members of the junta would be allowed to stand for elections, saying the Supreme Council, which has already appointed a civilian Prime Minister to oversee the transition to democratic rule, was determined to return power to the people.

President Mills, in his response, thanked the delegation for the visit, saying Ghana has been concerned over recent events in Niger.

He recalled that political developments in that country was a subject of discussion at the recent ECOWAS Summit in Abuja, Nigeria, some interventions were agreed on to keep Niger on the track of democracy.

Such issues in Niger, he stressed were of concern to other countries in the sub-region, “since we are brother and sisters.”

“We want the best for our countries,” he said, and reminded the delegation that “power resides in the people.”

The government, he said would be following events in Niger, and would provide the necessary assistance to ensure that there was peace in that country.

The delegation has already been in Nigeria to solicit that country’s assistance.
Thousands of Nigeriens, who accused ousted President Mamadou Tandja of becoming a tyrant, have been celebrating his overthrow on February 18, 2010.
Mr. Tandja, 71, had been growing more authoritarian as the end of his second term in office approached last year.
He changed the constitution to make presidential term limitless, and pushed elections back to 2012.
He also dissolved parliament and tightened his grip on the press in Niger, one of the poorest countries in Africa.