By Edmund Mingle
Skills development efforts in Ghana has received a major boost with the setting up of special Skill Development Fund (SDF) to support the nurturing of technical skills of the youth to actively take part in industry.
The SDF, set up by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), currently has seed money of over 30 million dollars provided by the Danish government, World Bank, African Development Bank, government of Ghana, with more expected from other donors.
With the establishment of the fund, both public and private sector institutions, as well as individuals can apply for support towards improving the technical skills capacity of their personnel.
A successful management and implementation of the fund is expected to enhance the country’s technical skills base to support the growth of industry.
Consequently, a nine member SDF Committee charged to oversee the management of the fund has been inaugurated in Accra.
The Committee, which has Charles Cofie, ----- of Unilever as its chairman is also tasked to undertake measures to ensure the sustainability so that its desired objectives are achieved.
Inaugurating the committee, Ms Sherry Ayitey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, charged the committee to ensure the fund was also used to support technical innovation by the youth.
“There is a lot of innovation in the system, and you need to help these young talent people such as those in Suame, to fine tune their innovation to feed industry with their products,” she stressed.
She also urged the committee to support skill development in the area of agro processing so that more value could be added to the country’s agriculture to further enhance the economy.
In addition, she asked them to ensure transparency and less cumbersome procedure to enable prospective beneficiaries easily access the funds.
That, she said would avoid the situation where funds intended for very good purposes remain under utilized because of cumbersome procedures.
“Disbursement must be swift and transparent so that those who genuinely qualify are assisted,” she said.
Members of the committee are Major (Rtd) M.S. Tara from the Ministry of Education, Alilagpa Sawyer, from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ms Adelaide Asante, from the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and Fred Pappoe representing the development partners.
Other are Brahons Achiayao representing the COTVET Board, Dan Baffour-Awuah, Executive Director of COTVET, George Afeti, Chief Inspector of Schools, GES, and Joshua Mallet, Director of the Centre for National Distance Learning and Schooling.
Mr. Cofie, speaking for the group, thanked the COTVET for the confidence reposed in them and pledged that they would do their best to deliver.
He called for cooperation between the committee and COTVET Board to ensure harmony in their operations for the benefit of Ghanaians.
END
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Major Job Creation Project Launched
Thursday January 20, 2011
By Edmund Mingle
A job creation project aimed at generating a thousand viable micro ventures this year has been launched in Accra.
The project, which is an intiative under the Youth Enterprises and Skills Development Centre (YESDEC) of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), focuses on creating jobs in agro-processing, manufacturing, services, catering and environmental sanitation management sectors.
It is part of efforts by the government to creating sustainable jobs for the unemployed youth in the country.
Among other things, the project would provide essential training and logistics to enable the beneficiaries to engage in service provision in the various target areas.
For starters, the project will set up 1000 youths in sustainable micro businesses through short training modules and the provision of simple equipment to facilitate their operation.
Madam Akua Sena Dansua, outgoing Minister for Youth and Sports, launching the project said the project was in line with the NYEP’s strategy for 2010-2013 aimed at creating direct employment for over 750,000 youths through targeted employment modules.
The employment modules, she said was aimed at developing the capacity of the youth to engage in multiple business ventures that could create more jobs for others.
She lauded the objective of the project and urged all the partners to collaborate effectively to ensure a successful implementation of the project.
Abuga Pele, National Coordinator of the NYEP, for his part, said the over 40,000 youths are expected to establish micro direct ventures in the long run.
He called on financial institutions to support the implementation of the project since the project would also be beneficial to them.END
By Edmund Mingle
A job creation project aimed at generating a thousand viable micro ventures this year has been launched in Accra.
The project, which is an intiative under the Youth Enterprises and Skills Development Centre (YESDEC) of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), focuses on creating jobs in agro-processing, manufacturing, services, catering and environmental sanitation management sectors.
It is part of efforts by the government to creating sustainable jobs for the unemployed youth in the country.
Among other things, the project would provide essential training and logistics to enable the beneficiaries to engage in service provision in the various target areas.
For starters, the project will set up 1000 youths in sustainable micro businesses through short training modules and the provision of simple equipment to facilitate their operation.
Madam Akua Sena Dansua, outgoing Minister for Youth and Sports, launching the project said the project was in line with the NYEP’s strategy for 2010-2013 aimed at creating direct employment for over 750,000 youths through targeted employment modules.
The employment modules, she said was aimed at developing the capacity of the youth to engage in multiple business ventures that could create more jobs for others.
She lauded the objective of the project and urged all the partners to collaborate effectively to ensure a successful implementation of the project.
Abuga Pele, National Coordinator of the NYEP, for his part, said the over 40,000 youths are expected to establish micro direct ventures in the long run.
He called on financial institutions to support the implementation of the project since the project would also be beneficial to them.END
Odinga consults Mills over Ivory Coast
Thursday January 20, 2011
By Edmund Mingle
Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya, who is the African Union’s Mediator on Cote d’Ivoire, visited Ghana yesterday to consult President John Evans Atta Mills for the way forward in resolving the Ivorian crisis.
“Since Ghana is a major player in West Africa, I am here to brief you and seek your advise on the way forward to resolve this crisis,” he said.
Prime Minister Odinga, who was in Ghana after his second mediation visit to Cote d’Ivoire, and paying similar consultation visits to Sierra Leone, Benin and Nigeria, said it was regrettable that the two parties remained adamant.
Speaking to newsmen after holding closed door meeting with President Mills at the Castle, Prime Minister Odinga said there was an increasing uncertainty about the situation in Cote d’Ivoire.
“With the internal tensions and hardships already mounting and bound to escalate amid the destabilizing uncertainty about the future, time is running for an amicably negotiated settlement.
“Mr. Gbagbo must know that his actions may compel the friends of Cote d’Ivoire to resort to a different set of measures in support of democracy, security and stability in the country,” he said.
He said in spite of the setbacks which include Mr. Gbagbo’s refusal to lift the blockage over the Golf Hotel where Mr. Alhassane Quattara was residing, “I still remain hopeful that a peaceful resolution is within our grasp.”
He described the outcome of the meeting with President Mills as “very fruitful,” saying he was able to get a fuller understanding of Ghana’s stance on the Ivorian crisis.
He said contrary to the perception created in the foreign media that Ghana has broken ranks with ECOWAS by not providing troops for a military action to forcibly oust incumbent President Gbagbo who is said to have lost last November’s elections, it was clear that President Mills was in support of the resolution taken by ECOWAS to only use military force to resolve the matter after all avenues, including the use of dialogue have failed.
He said Ghana’s inability to contribute troops in case the military option is activated, was understandable because Ghana’s military has been outstretched with over 4000 men of peacekeeping operations including 500 troops serving with the UN to protect the Gold Hotel in Cote d’Ivoire.
President Mills, in his preliminary remarks before the meeting wnet into a closed session, commended the Prime Minister for the mediation role initiative, and pledged Ghana’s support in that regard.
He described the peace mission embarked on by Mr. Odinga as “very important,” saying he believes he has the requisite experience to helping in bringing the two factions in Cote d’Ivoire to the negotiation table.
“We will support any initiative taken to peacefully resolve the crisis,” he said, adding that “we stand by initiatives taken by ECOWAS to achieve peace in that country.”
The political crisis had divided Cote d’Ivoire into two as incumbent President Gbagba and opposition leader Alassane Quattara, recognized by the international community as winner of the elections, are both laying claim to that country’s presidency.
By Edmund Mingle
Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya, who is the African Union’s Mediator on Cote d’Ivoire, visited Ghana yesterday to consult President John Evans Atta Mills for the way forward in resolving the Ivorian crisis.
“Since Ghana is a major player in West Africa, I am here to brief you and seek your advise on the way forward to resolve this crisis,” he said.
Prime Minister Odinga, who was in Ghana after his second mediation visit to Cote d’Ivoire, and paying similar consultation visits to Sierra Leone, Benin and Nigeria, said it was regrettable that the two parties remained adamant.
Speaking to newsmen after holding closed door meeting with President Mills at the Castle, Prime Minister Odinga said there was an increasing uncertainty about the situation in Cote d’Ivoire.
“With the internal tensions and hardships already mounting and bound to escalate amid the destabilizing uncertainty about the future, time is running for an amicably negotiated settlement.
“Mr. Gbagbo must know that his actions may compel the friends of Cote d’Ivoire to resort to a different set of measures in support of democracy, security and stability in the country,” he said.
He said in spite of the setbacks which include Mr. Gbagbo’s refusal to lift the blockage over the Golf Hotel where Mr. Alhassane Quattara was residing, “I still remain hopeful that a peaceful resolution is within our grasp.”
He described the outcome of the meeting with President Mills as “very fruitful,” saying he was able to get a fuller understanding of Ghana’s stance on the Ivorian crisis.
He said contrary to the perception created in the foreign media that Ghana has broken ranks with ECOWAS by not providing troops for a military action to forcibly oust incumbent President Gbagbo who is said to have lost last November’s elections, it was clear that President Mills was in support of the resolution taken by ECOWAS to only use military force to resolve the matter after all avenues, including the use of dialogue have failed.
He said Ghana’s inability to contribute troops in case the military option is activated, was understandable because Ghana’s military has been outstretched with over 4000 men of peacekeeping operations including 500 troops serving with the UN to protect the Gold Hotel in Cote d’Ivoire.
President Mills, in his preliminary remarks before the meeting wnet into a closed session, commended the Prime Minister for the mediation role initiative, and pledged Ghana’s support in that regard.
He described the peace mission embarked on by Mr. Odinga as “very important,” saying he believes he has the requisite experience to helping in bringing the two factions in Cote d’Ivoire to the negotiation table.
“We will support any initiative taken to peacefully resolve the crisis,” he said, adding that “we stand by initiatives taken by ECOWAS to achieve peace in that country.”
The political crisis had divided Cote d’Ivoire into two as incumbent President Gbagba and opposition leader Alassane Quattara, recognized by the international community as winner of the elections, are both laying claim to that country’s presidency.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Mills drops Ashanti Minister, Immigration Director.
By Edmund Mingle
The President, John Evans Atta Mills yesterday announced his second batch of appointments for the year, relieving the Ashanti Regional Minister and the Director of the Ghana Immigration Service of their positions.
The President nominated Dr. Kwaku Ageman-Mensah to replace Kofi Opoku-Manu as the Ashanti Regional Minister.
He also appointed Peter A. Wiredu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police as acting Director of Immigration to replace Ms. Elizabeth Adjei.
A statement signed by J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, Secretary to the President, said Ms. Adjei is to be re-assigned.
Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah until his appointment was the Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission.He has also been a long-standing adjunct faculty member of the University of Ghana and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and teaches various courses in strategic planning and rural development studies.
END
The President, John Evans Atta Mills yesterday announced his second batch of appointments for the year, relieving the Ashanti Regional Minister and the Director of the Ghana Immigration Service of their positions.
The President nominated Dr. Kwaku Ageman-Mensah to replace Kofi Opoku-Manu as the Ashanti Regional Minister.
He also appointed Peter A. Wiredu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police as acting Director of Immigration to replace Ms. Elizabeth Adjei.
A statement signed by J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, Secretary to the President, said Ms. Adjei is to be re-assigned.
Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah until his appointment was the Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission.He has also been a long-standing adjunct faculty member of the University of Ghana and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and teaches various courses in strategic planning and rural development studies.
END
Ghana's Inflation drops to 8.58%
Ghana's inflation slowed to a new 18-year low of 8.58 percent in December, feeding expectations the West African economic heavyweight will keep its policy interest rate on hold in the short term.But mounting price pressures in a country that last month joined the club of African oil producers could end the disinflationary trend in January, the government and economic analysts said on Wednesday.
"The chances of inflation going up in January are 80 to 90 percent," said Ebow Duncan, director of economic statistics, at a press conference, citing a government move to hike retail fuel prices by 30 percent.
Annualised inflation fell to 8.58 percent in December, from 9.08 percent in November, marking the 18th straight month of slowing or stable inflation and bringing the rate to the lowest since June 1992, according to the statistics office.
The decline was greater than analysts anticipated, and supported expectations the Bank of Ghana would avoid raising interest rates in the near term.
"The 8.58 percent outturn is historically low and was achieved on the back of fiscal consolidation, as well as fairly stable food prices and exchange rates," said Sampson Akligoh at Databank Financial Services."
This should support stable interest rates for at least the first quarter of 2011 even as developments in the economy point to a build-up of inflationary pressures."The central bank's Monetary Policy Committee last month held the prime interest rate steady at 13.5 percent, after shaving off five percentage points since late 2009.
"We were expecting a print of 9 percent," said Razia Khan, head Africa economist at Standard Chartered Bank. "
There will be little pressure for the Bank of Ghana to alter its monetary policy any time soon.
"The next Bank of Ghana Monetary Policy Committee meeting is expected in February.MOUNTING PRESSURESGhana is one of a handful of sub-Saharan countries with a Eurobond and is poised to be Africa's fastest-growing economy in 2011 after joining the club of oil exporters with the start-up of its offshore Jubilee field last month.
The government announced last week it had raised the price of petrol and diesel by 30 percent in an effort to offset a costly surge in crude oil prices on the world market and to pay off the state-owned refinery debt.
"With the recent increase in fuel prices, we expect (the pace of inflation) to inch up this month by at least 50 basis points," said Kwabena Owusu Yeboah of Access Bank.
Analysts had already expected Ghana's inflation to begin ticking slightly higher in the coming months due to a less favourable year-on-year base, utility price and public wage hikes, and the onset of oil revenues.Critics warned the fuel hike will hurt ordinary Ghanaians and small business by rippling through the transport and manufacturing sectors, but analysts said the move could boost investor confidence by showing Ghana is willing to make tough choices to tame its budget deficits.
The country's 2011 budget, approved by parliament last month, predicts economic growth doubling to 12.3 percent -- above the IMF's forecast for 9.9 percent but roughly in line with analyst projections.
The yield on Ghana's $750 million 2017 Eurobond eased 0.002 points to 6.322 percent on Wednesday with the Ghanaian cedi firming slightly to 1.4790 to the dollar.
Source : Reuters Wed 12th January, 2011 16:22 GMT
"The chances of inflation going up in January are 80 to 90 percent," said Ebow Duncan, director of economic statistics, at a press conference, citing a government move to hike retail fuel prices by 30 percent.
Annualised inflation fell to 8.58 percent in December, from 9.08 percent in November, marking the 18th straight month of slowing or stable inflation and bringing the rate to the lowest since June 1992, according to the statistics office.
The decline was greater than analysts anticipated, and supported expectations the Bank of Ghana would avoid raising interest rates in the near term.
"The 8.58 percent outturn is historically low and was achieved on the back of fiscal consolidation, as well as fairly stable food prices and exchange rates," said Sampson Akligoh at Databank Financial Services."
This should support stable interest rates for at least the first quarter of 2011 even as developments in the economy point to a build-up of inflationary pressures."The central bank's Monetary Policy Committee last month held the prime interest rate steady at 13.5 percent, after shaving off five percentage points since late 2009.
"We were expecting a print of 9 percent," said Razia Khan, head Africa economist at Standard Chartered Bank. "
There will be little pressure for the Bank of Ghana to alter its monetary policy any time soon.
"The next Bank of Ghana Monetary Policy Committee meeting is expected in February.MOUNTING PRESSURESGhana is one of a handful of sub-Saharan countries with a Eurobond and is poised to be Africa's fastest-growing economy in 2011 after joining the club of oil exporters with the start-up of its offshore Jubilee field last month.
The government announced last week it had raised the price of petrol and diesel by 30 percent in an effort to offset a costly surge in crude oil prices on the world market and to pay off the state-owned refinery debt.
"With the recent increase in fuel prices, we expect (the pace of inflation) to inch up this month by at least 50 basis points," said Kwabena Owusu Yeboah of Access Bank.
Analysts had already expected Ghana's inflation to begin ticking slightly higher in the coming months due to a less favourable year-on-year base, utility price and public wage hikes, and the onset of oil revenues.Critics warned the fuel hike will hurt ordinary Ghanaians and small business by rippling through the transport and manufacturing sectors, but analysts said the move could boost investor confidence by showing Ghana is willing to make tough choices to tame its budget deficits.
The country's 2011 budget, approved by parliament last month, predicts economic growth doubling to 12.3 percent -- above the IMF's forecast for 9.9 percent but roughly in line with analyst projections.
The yield on Ghana's $750 million 2017 Eurobond eased 0.002 points to 6.322 percent on Wednesday with the Ghanaian cedi firming slightly to 1.4790 to the dollar.
Source : Reuters Wed 12th January, 2011 16:22 GMT
Monday, January 10, 2011
We won't send troops--President
Saturday, January 8, 2011
By Edmund Mingle
President John Evans Atta Mills says Ghana will not interfere in the Cote d’Ivoire crisis, saying it will not be in the best interest of Ghanaians for the government to take sides in the crisis.
“Ghana is not taking sides. It is not for Ghana to choose a leader for Cote d’Ivoire,” he said.
He said although the government remained concerned about the crisis since there are over a million Ghanaians in the neighbouring country, and an escalation of violence would adversely affect Ghana, Ghana will mind its own business.
Responding to questions about Ghana’s stance on the Ivorian crisis during an interaction with Editors and senior media practitioners at the Castle in Accra yesterday, President Mills said Ghana supports the stand of ECOWAS that ways should be found to implement resolve the crisis.
He said although ECOWAS decided to send troops to that country to use military force to implement the election results, Ghana could not contribute troops because the nation did not have the capacity to do so.
This is because currently the country’s troops are overstretched in various countries serving with the United Nations to forestall peace in those countries, adding that there were over 500 hundred Ghanaian troops with the UN in Ivory Coast.
Touching on the implications of a military intervention to remove incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, he said it could rather escalate the crisis.
President Mills also dispelled allegations that Ghana is covertly sending arms to neighboring Cote d’Ivoire to support incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, saying government would not indulge in such an act.
“We have our problems to solve and we don’t want to be saddled with the problems of Cote d’Ivoire,” he said.
By Edmund Mingle
President John Evans Atta Mills says Ghana will not interfere in the Cote d’Ivoire crisis, saying it will not be in the best interest of Ghanaians for the government to take sides in the crisis.
“Ghana is not taking sides. It is not for Ghana to choose a leader for Cote d’Ivoire,” he said.
He said although the government remained concerned about the crisis since there are over a million Ghanaians in the neighbouring country, and an escalation of violence would adversely affect Ghana, Ghana will mind its own business.
Responding to questions about Ghana’s stance on the Ivorian crisis during an interaction with Editors and senior media practitioners at the Castle in Accra yesterday, President Mills said Ghana supports the stand of ECOWAS that ways should be found to implement resolve the crisis.
He said although ECOWAS decided to send troops to that country to use military force to implement the election results, Ghana could not contribute troops because the nation did not have the capacity to do so.
This is because currently the country’s troops are overstretched in various countries serving with the United Nations to forestall peace in those countries, adding that there were over 500 hundred Ghanaian troops with the UN in Ivory Coast.
Touching on the implications of a military intervention to remove incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, he said it could rather escalate the crisis.
President Mills also dispelled allegations that Ghana is covertly sending arms to neighboring Cote d’Ivoire to support incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, saying government would not indulge in such an act.
“We have our problems to solve and we don’t want to be saddled with the problems of Cote d’Ivoire,” he said.
We won't fight in a needless war - GAF
Monday, January 10, 2011
By Edmund Mingle
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has lauded President Mills' decision not to commit troops to La Cote d'Ivoire to fight in a "needless war", saying a war in that country will not be in the interest of Ghana."The soldiers fully support and are satisfied with the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the GAF," Lt. General J.H. Smith, Minister of Defence told newsmen in Accra yesterday.
He said "the soldiers believe that although they have a duty to be prepared and assigned to missions, sending them on a military mission to forcibly oust the incumbent Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, would be improper."
ECOWAS Heads of State recently agreed to the use of military force to resolve the political crisis in La Cote d'lvoire, and asked member states to contribute troops.However, Ghana can not contribute troops because her forces are outstretched, according to the President.
He explained during his encounter with editors in Accra last Friday, that the nation could not commit more troops because in addition to limited numbers of the forces available, the government did not believe that military action was the solution to the crisis in La Cote d'lvoire.
Lt.Gen. Smith explained that the President's decision was based on the result of a critical analysis of the situation in La Cote d'lvoire, indicating that there was no need to commit more troops since there were already about 500 Ghanaian soldiers serving with the UN Peace Mission in that country.
Besides the troops in La Cote d'lvoire, he said over 4,000 Ghanaian troops were serving on other peacekeeping operations in Liberia, Congo and Lebanon, adding that "we recently pulled out of Chad on the advice of the UN."
He said before sending out troops, the rule required that such a move would not affect a country's capacity for internal security, saying the GAF High Command advised the President on the need to have adequate numbers for homeland security, including protecting the oil , resources.
"It is laudable that the President heeded the advice of the GAF High Command," he stressed.
Supporting the President's view that military force would not solve the Ivorian crisis, Gen. Smith was of the opinion that the ECOWAS Secretariat should have consulted experts to critically analyse the crisis before asking the Heads of State to take a decision on that country.
"This is because the sub-region will suffer serious consequences if a war should start in La Cote d'lvoire.
"It's easy to start a war but very difficult to sustain and end it," the Defence Minister said, adding that "our President has taken a very wise decision."
He said there was the need for all avenues to be explored to resolve the political impasse before a military intervention might be considered as a last resort.
Asked about the welfare of the Ghanaian troops already in La Cote d'lvoire, the Defence Minister noted that a high powered team was constantly monitoring the Ivorian situation and briefing the President on a daily basis.
Last November's presidential election has left La Cote d'lvoire divided with both incumbent President, Laurent Gbagbo and opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, claiming to be winners of the polls, and declared themselves as President.
By Edmund Mingle
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has lauded President Mills' decision not to commit troops to La Cote d'Ivoire to fight in a "needless war", saying a war in that country will not be in the interest of Ghana."The soldiers fully support and are satisfied with the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the GAF," Lt. General J.H. Smith, Minister of Defence told newsmen in Accra yesterday.
He said "the soldiers believe that although they have a duty to be prepared and assigned to missions, sending them on a military mission to forcibly oust the incumbent Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, would be improper."
ECOWAS Heads of State recently agreed to the use of military force to resolve the political crisis in La Cote d'lvoire, and asked member states to contribute troops.However, Ghana can not contribute troops because her forces are outstretched, according to the President.
He explained during his encounter with editors in Accra last Friday, that the nation could not commit more troops because in addition to limited numbers of the forces available, the government did not believe that military action was the solution to the crisis in La Cote d'lvoire.
Lt.Gen. Smith explained that the President's decision was based on the result of a critical analysis of the situation in La Cote d'lvoire, indicating that there was no need to commit more troops since there were already about 500 Ghanaian soldiers serving with the UN Peace Mission in that country.
Besides the troops in La Cote d'lvoire, he said over 4,000 Ghanaian troops were serving on other peacekeeping operations in Liberia, Congo and Lebanon, adding that "we recently pulled out of Chad on the advice of the UN."
He said before sending out troops, the rule required that such a move would not affect a country's capacity for internal security, saying the GAF High Command advised the President on the need to have adequate numbers for homeland security, including protecting the oil , resources.
"It is laudable that the President heeded the advice of the GAF High Command," he stressed.
Supporting the President's view that military force would not solve the Ivorian crisis, Gen. Smith was of the opinion that the ECOWAS Secretariat should have consulted experts to critically analyse the crisis before asking the Heads of State to take a decision on that country.
"This is because the sub-region will suffer serious consequences if a war should start in La Cote d'lvoire.
"It's easy to start a war but very difficult to sustain and end it," the Defence Minister said, adding that "our President has taken a very wise decision."
He said there was the need for all avenues to be explored to resolve the political impasse before a military intervention might be considered as a last resort.
Asked about the welfare of the Ghanaian troops already in La Cote d'lvoire, the Defence Minister noted that a high powered team was constantly monitoring the Ivorian situation and briefing the President on a daily basis.
Last November's presidential election has left La Cote d'lvoire divided with both incumbent President, Laurent Gbagbo and opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, claiming to be winners of the polls, and declared themselves as President.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Mills, 4th best President in Africa
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
By Edmund Mingle
President John Evans Atta Mills has been ranked fourth best performing President in 2010 among Africa’s 52 leaders.
He was graded with an A on the African Presidents Index undertaken by The East African Magazine, a renowned magazine in its year long survey of the performance of leaders on the continent.
Only five leaders where in the A category, with Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius gaining A+ with 83.54 points, while Presidents Pedro Peres of Cape Verde(78.98), Seretse Ian Khama of Botswana (78.7), Atta Mills of Ghana (72.56), all had A, and Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba of Namibia had A- with 71.07.
The ranking was based on the leaders’ performance and contribution to the development of their countries with regard to progress and achievement in the fight against poverty, corruption, human and drug trafficking, as well as the socio-economic growth, the promotion of press freedom, peace, democracy and political stability.
The ranking was also influenced by the scores by the leaders and their countries on various indexes including the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, The Democracy Index, Freedom House’s Press Freedom Index Transparency International’s Corruption Index and the UN’s Human Development Index in addition to the magazine’s Nation Media Group Index.
In its December 27, 2010 to January 2, 2011 issue in which the rankings were published, the Magazine praised President Mills for the commitment to the nation’s development agenda, the strides in economic growth, the consolidation of peace and democracy, and measures being taken to ensure that Ghanaians benefited from the oil production.
Among others, Presidents Jacob Zuma of South Africa’s was ranked sixth, James Michel of Seychelles, seventh, Amadou Toure of Mali,eighth, Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, ninth, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, tenth and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, 11.
Presidents Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria had the 25th position, Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, 26, Muamar Ghaddafi of Libya was 27, Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria, 28. Alpha Conde of Guinea 29 and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt had the 30th position.
At the tail end are Presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon (44), Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar(45), Francois Bozize of the Central Africa Republic(46), Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe (47), Sheikh Ahmed of Somalia (48), Idriss Deby Itno of Chad (49), Teodoro Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea (50), Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan (51) and Isaias Afweriki of Eritrea taking the last slot.
By Edmund Mingle
President John Evans Atta Mills has been ranked fourth best performing President in 2010 among Africa’s 52 leaders.
He was graded with an A on the African Presidents Index undertaken by The East African Magazine, a renowned magazine in its year long survey of the performance of leaders on the continent.
Only five leaders where in the A category, with Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius gaining A+ with 83.54 points, while Presidents Pedro Peres of Cape Verde(78.98), Seretse Ian Khama of Botswana (78.7), Atta Mills of Ghana (72.56), all had A, and Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba of Namibia had A- with 71.07.
The ranking was based on the leaders’ performance and contribution to the development of their countries with regard to progress and achievement in the fight against poverty, corruption, human and drug trafficking, as well as the socio-economic growth, the promotion of press freedom, peace, democracy and political stability.
The ranking was also influenced by the scores by the leaders and their countries on various indexes including the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, The Democracy Index, Freedom House’s Press Freedom Index Transparency International’s Corruption Index and the UN’s Human Development Index in addition to the magazine’s Nation Media Group Index.
In its December 27, 2010 to January 2, 2011 issue in which the rankings were published, the Magazine praised President Mills for the commitment to the nation’s development agenda, the strides in economic growth, the consolidation of peace and democracy, and measures being taken to ensure that Ghanaians benefited from the oil production.
Among others, Presidents Jacob Zuma of South Africa’s was ranked sixth, James Michel of Seychelles, seventh, Amadou Toure of Mali,eighth, Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, ninth, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, tenth and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, 11.
Presidents Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria had the 25th position, Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, 26, Muamar Ghaddafi of Libya was 27, Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria, 28. Alpha Conde of Guinea 29 and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt had the 30th position.
At the tail end are Presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon (44), Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar(45), Francois Bozize of the Central Africa Republic(46), Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe (47), Sheikh Ahmed of Somalia (48), Idriss Deby Itno of Chad (49), Teodoro Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea (50), Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan (51) and Isaias Afweriki of Eritrea taking the last slot.
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