Ghana, 2 Others Adopt Common Position On CET

Saturday, October 26, 2013

From Edmund Mingle, Dakar, Senegal.

Ghana, Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire have adopted a common position on the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), as the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS opened in Dakar, Senegal yesterday.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur in a chat with Nigeria's
Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Dakar, Senegal
on the sidelines the ECOWAS meeting

The three countries rooted for the operationalisation of a CET that would not be inimical to the growth of economies, but facilitate regional integration and promote the growth of industries.

In addition, the three want the summit to adopt adequate protective measures for industrial products in protocols proposed in the CET and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

Details of the common position, which was reached between Ghana's delegation to the summit, led by Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, and the delegations of the two other countries in separate closed door meetings before the start of the summit, was not disclosed to journalists.

The CET aims at establishing a common tariff regime for products that are trade among the 15 West African countries to achieve a harmonised import and export duty system.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur at the meeting with the Nigerian delegation led by Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, indicated Ghana’s commitment to ensure that the CET and EPA fully benefited the sub-region.

He was hopeful that the outstanding issues regarding the CET, which forms the basis for the EPA negotiations, would be settled at the summit.

Although there were no details, Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry, told journalists that “we are optimistic other countries would buy into our proposals for the entire Summit to adopt it.”

Later at the opening session of the Summit, Alassane Quattara, ECOWAS Chairman and President of Cote d’Ivoire, described the meeting as critical in the to the economic development of the sub-region.

“We will be taking a decisive step in the life of ECOWAS,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the individual and collective determination of the group to address the economic challenges facing the sub-region, saying the high level of participation in the summit was indicative of that commitment.

Touching on the agenda for the summit, he said the decisions that would be taken on the CET, EPA and Community Levy, would be “laying the foundation for shared prosperity.”

Their countries believe in the CET

“We need to harmonise our various positions so as to improve our competitiveness for the benefit of the sub-region,” he urged the member countries.

Kadre Desire Quadraogo, President of ECOWAS Commission, in his report, touched on the recent terrorist attack on the Westgate Mall in Kenya where 67 people died, and particularly paid tribute to Prof. Kofi Awoonor, former Chairman of Ghana’s Council of State, and also expressed condolence to the government and people of Ghana over the loss.

He said the attack was a reminder of the lurking threat of terrorism in Africa, and the need for leaders to work together to fight the menace.

The presidents, who Vice President Amissah-Arthur joined for the summit, included Alassane Quattara of Cote d'Ivoire, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, Mamadou Issoufou of Niger, Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin and Macky Sall of Senegal.

ECOWAS is the sub-regional grouping of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

END

Ghanaian Artisans Manufacture Airplane

Wednesday October 23, 2013

The plane would make history if it succeeds in flying.

From Edmund Mingle, Akuse.

A group of youngmen has completed the manufacturing of a locally made airplane, using local materials.

 A test flight is being planned, and if it succeeds, it would become Ghana’s first locally made aircraft.

As part of the preparation for the test flight, the plane was taken through an engine, speed and brake testing exercise on an abandoned runway at Akuse in the Greater Accra region at the weekend. The testing also involved the assessment of the propeller and wind panels.

 According to the group, known as “Team Isaac,” experts from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority have inspected the plane and approved it with suggestions that some polishing was done on the body.

Led by Isaac Otu, 27, who is the mechanic and pilot, the group consists of Daniel Ponani, 28, a business administration graduate from University of Professional Studies who worked on the body and wings, Joseph Sarpong, 23, an IT student who works on the wings, Kofi Yeboah, 34 and Isaac Kombat-Dantiar, 34, both electricians, James Larbi, the gear and brake engineer and Patrick Kofi Kumi, who is in charge of logistics.

The plane ready for the testing

It is the culmination of years of work and creativity by the youngmen inspired by a shared determination to achieve their long cherished dream.

 

As part of Saturday’s testing exercise, the plane sped several times on the about 900 meter runway, as the members of the group rectified minor defects on the 40 horsepower engine, braking system and wind control panels.

 

During one of the speeding sessions, the plane took off momentarily above the runway, but the pilot had to land it because flying was not part of the day’s exercise.

 The engine, which runs on petrol, is a used Volkswagen engine that was redesigned by the group to drive the propeller of the plane.

 

Built with aluminum sheets, the body of the plane is built around a frame of iron square pipes.

It has control system connected to the radar and elevator panels attached to the wings. It also has a speedometer, pressure and fuel meters built on the dashboard, and a six-gallon capacity fuel tank.

 

Members of the group fixing the plane for the test run.

The plane, built by the group at Dome Pillar Two, a suburb of Accra, was conveyed to Akuse in a truck. It had to be dismantled for easy transportation and re-assembled at Akuse for the testing.

The testing exercise ended when the propeller unfortunately broke off due to high speed.

But the group said the breaking of the propeller was good.

“It is very good for use since we will now build a new propeller that can withstand the speed of the engine,” said Daniel Ponani, who acts as the spokesman.

Asked whether the plan can really fly, he answered in the positive.

“You witnessed today’s exercise, and we are sure that it will be in the air,” he told this Reporter.

Asked how much they have invested in the product, he could not quantity it, saying “all our little resources have gone into this.”

According to Daniel, the group continues to encounter numerous challenges, including finance to get modern parts for the plane, adding that only their determination has helped them to get to current stage.

“We want to show that it is possible to manufacture these planes here in Ghana, and we need support to be able to get a new engine,” he said.

 

This Reporter had a feel of the aircraft.

ECOWAS Assigns President Mahama To Monitor Convergence Process

From Edmund Mingle, Dakar

The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has assigned President John Mahama to facilitate and monitor the convergence process for the establishment of a common currency in the sub-region.

The ECOWAS leaders at the start of the
summit in Dakar on Friday.

The Authority was optimistic that the role assigned to the President would help in speeding the process by countries in the West Africa Monetary Zone (WAMZ) to attain the convergence requirements for the single currency to take off.

It was part of measures taken at the Extra-ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Dakar, Senegal, to facilitate the process.

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who represented President Mahama at the Summit, which ended at the weekend, described the role entrusted to the President as a very critical assignment.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur at the summit
in Dakar, Senegal

He told journalists at the airport in Dakar before departing to Accra that assignment signified the confidence the Authority has the Ghana economy to lead in the process of achieving convergence criteria.

He was confident that President Mahama would effectively deliver on the assignment, and prayed for full cooperation and support from Member States.

The Heads, in a communiqué issued at the end of the summit and read by ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Quadraogo, also charged the ECOWAS Commission to take the necessary steps in collaboration with the West African Monetary Agency and West African Monetary Institute to support efforts of Member States in ensuring smooth implementation of the activities on the roadmap for the ECOWAS single currency.

“To this end the Authority encourages all Member States, particularly those in WAMZ to tale all the necessary measures to ensure the required convergence of their macro-economic policies to the establishment of the monetary zone,” it said.

Touching on controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between African, Pacific and Caribbean (ACP) countries and the European Union, the Authority directed the chief negotiators for West Africa to expeditiously resume discussions with their European counterparts with a view of concluding the agreement as soon as possible.

“The Authority calls for the flexibility needed by the two parties in the search for a compromise on all issues in the interest of the two regions,” the leaders noted.

According to the communiqué, the Heads took into account the new market access scenario attained by the region, and which considers the required coherence with the Common External Tariff (CET) and development objectives envisaged in the agreement.

“The Authority welcomes the spirit of cooperation between the Commissions of ECOWAS and UEMOA which produced significant outcomes in the analysis of various questions on the deepening of the economic integration process.

“It calls for the strengthening of this cooperation in the implementation of the decisions taken to that effect,” the communiqué said.

With regard to discussion on the CET, the Authority underscored the importance of a customs union as a “decisive and irreversible phase in the process of consolidating the common market.”

“The Authority commends in particular the participatory process that characterised the identification of the major axes of the deepening of the regional market and the flexibility demonstrated by Member States in arriving at a consensus on the final CET structure and all its supporting measures,” it said.

The ECOWAS leaders who attended the summit included Alassane Quattara of Cote d'Ivoire, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, Mamadou Issoufou of Niger, Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin and Macky Sall of Senegal, Mrs. Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson of Libera, Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, Alpha Conde of Guinea, Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, Manuel Sherifo Nhamajo of Guinea Bissau, Mrs. Ajaratou  Njie-Siady, Vice President of The Gambia and Jose Maria Pereira Neves, Prime Minister of Cape Verde.

ECOWAS is the sub-regional grouping of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

END

STERLING INTERNATIONAL WINS PLATINUM AWARD

Sterling International Ltd has received a Platinum Award at the 23^rd National Awards for Export Achievement, 2012 in the exports of Auto-Industrial and Marine Paints category.

This was after consistent winning of Gold Awards in previous years for excellent export performances and repatriation of Export proceed to the country.

Mr. Arun Patil (right), Director of Sterling Int.
 receiving the award from Mr. Ade Coker 

The award was presented to Mr. Arun Patil, Director of Sterling International Ltd by Mr. Kobina Ade Coker, Chairman of Ghana Export Promotion Authority.

Sterling International Ltd has been playing a leading role in the manufacturing of advanced coating systems for the automotive refinish, Industrial and Marine paints category.

In this regard, the company has also been collaborating with Koreans in formulating eco friendly water based systems for the export market.

The success story of Sterling International has gone beyond the West and Central African Sub-regions.

Sterling International has recently ventured into the Asian market by exports to INDIA after obtaining requisite approvals. It will be interesting to note that Sterling International Ltd. is the first company to export paint products to a competitive market like India.

In a comment Mr. Arun Patil expressed his gratitude to the GEPA for the recognition and honour done to the company and attributed the achievement to pursuit of Research and Development, excellent team work and Quality Assurance.

Punish Offending Presiding Officers-----Adawudu

By Edmund Mingle, Akosombo

Victor Adawudu, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal team for the 2012 presidential election petition has called for the strict enforcement of regulations to punish presiding officers who fail to perform their required functions during elections.

That way, he said presiding officers would be alert to diligently perform, knowing that any slip would attract sanctions.
He cited as improper the failure of some presiding officers to sign results sheets in the last general election, as manifested during the election petition hearing, adding that the regulation should be enforced.

The participants in a group photograph after
the opening of the forum

Mr. Adawudu made the suggestion at a post-election workshop organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs at Akosombo in the Eastern Region at the weekend.

It had the theme, “Towards transparent and acceptable elections in Ghana: a review of Ghana’s electoral system,” and was attended by leaders of the political parties, legal practitioners, media practitioners, and biometric data experts.

Article 49(3) of the Constitution and Regulation 36 of Constitutional Instrument (CI) 75 provide that after the counting of votes, the Presiding Officer and the candidates who are present or their representatives “shall sign the declaration of poll.

Also Regulation 17(5) of CI 75 states that,  “A presiding officer or polling assistant who contravenes  the laws governing the conduct of elections, commits an offence and is liable to sanctions applicable under the electoral laws of Ghana.”
In that regard, Mr. Adawudu wants full sanctions to be applied to check negligence on the part of the presiding officers.

Mr Kofi Portuphy, Coordinator, a National Vice Chairman of the NDC, touching on the training for officers manning the elections, called for a common training platform for all the security personnel, polling assistants, presiding and returing officers, and party polling agents.

Lawyer Victor Adawudu

He said that, he would provide a common understanding of the election process among all the stakeholders  to effectively and efficiently manage the system at the polling stations.

He said the current situation where training is offered by the Electoral Commission for the various groups separately, “is not the best”.

“Let us give all of them one training so that all the officers and agents would have a common understanding of what needs to be done,” he said, adding that when that happens there would be harmony and peer checking at the polling stations.

Mr Dan Botwe, Member of Parliament for Okere and former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, spoke against violence at polling stations saying the law should be amended to take into consideration violent actions that could have an effect on the results of the polls.

He wondered whether it was not possible to have the results of a polling station that witnessed violence, nullified.
But that suggestion ignited a heated debate, with some cautioning that it was a dangerous thing to do because the threshold for the extent of violence would be difficult to determine.

Others believed that such a move could attract legal action because somebody’s violent act should not nullify another innocent person’s vote.

Mr Atik Mohammed, a policy analyst of the People’s National Convention, believed that any breach of peace and the election process should be handled by the security agencies present at the polling station.

With regard to the cleansing of the voters’ register of minors, Mr Gabriel Pwamang, General Secretary of the PNC, who was the lead discussant, recommended that the EC be empowered to seek legal permission to delete the names of clearly identified minors from the register.

Dr. William Ahadzie, former Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), touching on the authentication of biometric data in the voters’ register, said it was possible for the EC to access the data of the NIA to verify data provided by voters.

28 Feb Christianborg Crossraods Shooting Remembered

By Edmund Mingle & Collins Boateng

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur yesterday presided over the commemoration of the 65^th anniversary of the 28^th February Christianborg Crossroads Shooting at the Freedom Monument at Osu in Accra.

The solemn ceremony, which was characterised by a parade by both serving and ex-service soldiers, wreathing laying and the sounding of the last post, takes place annually in honour of the three soldiers who were killed during a pre-independence agitation.

Sergeant Adjetey , Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey were killed when a British Superintendent, Imray, fired at a group of unarmed ex-servicemen who were marching peacefully to the Osu Castle on that day in 1948 to present a petition to the Governor.

The war veterans were going to petition the Governor for improved gratuity after their participation in the world war.

The killings resulted in more agitations across the country, and culminated in the speeding up of the processes towards the attainment of independence from the colonial government.

As part of this year’s commemoration, the busts of the three killed ex-servicemen were unveiled, in recognition of their sacrifice for the nation.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur laid a wreath on behalf of the government and Ghanaians, while the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Peter Augustine Blay, laid one on behalf of the security services.

 Commodore (Rtd) Steve Obimpeh, Chairman of the Veterans Administration of Ghana (VAG) laid a wreath on behalf of the surviving war veterans, while Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, representing the Ga Traditional Council, laid another on behalf traditional leaders, with David Hammond, head of the Private Odartey Lamptey’s family, laying a wreath on behalf of the families of the three fallen ex-soldiers.

After the sounding of the last post, the reveille was blown after which a minute’s silence was observed in honour of the three ex-servicemen.

Prayers were also said for the repose of their souls and for strength for the surviving war veterans.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur, before departing the venue, interacted with the surviving war veterans, and assured them of their improved welfare.

END

Svani Motors to build Vehicle Assembly Plant in Ghana

By Edmund Mingle

Svani Motors, one of the leading automobile dealers in Ghana has initiated moves to establish a Vehicle Assembly Plant in the country.

As part of preparatory works, Svani Motors, a subsidiary of the Svani Group, a 9.6 acre land has been secured along the Accra-Tema Motorway for building of the modern Automobile Plaza that would house the assembly plant and a service centre.

Thomas Svanikier, Executive Chairman of Svani Group, who announced this at the company’s launch of new Mahindra vehicles onto the Ghanaian market, said the decision to build the assembly plant was inform by the need to explore the vast investment potentials and service the needs of the vehicle market in the sub-region

According to Mr. Svanikier, the Automobile Plaza would explore the potential of the fast expanding local automobile market, and offer quality and affordable vehicles and services to meet increasing market demand in Ghana and other neighbouring countries.

He said the company was in the process of concluding the modalities with its partners for the establishment of the facility that would assemble Mahindra vehicles.

Svani Motors, which is the sole importer and distributor of Mahindra vehicles, he said was collaborating with the manufacturers of Mahindra in India for the project.

“We will start assembling of the Wheelers and then move on to assemble the pick-ups in 2014,” he said.

Touching on the three new Mahindra cars that were outdoored, he said  new vehicles have been designed and built to satisfy and delight customers, and are sure to beat the competition.

There new cars, dubbed, “next generation of Mahindra cars” were the Mahindra XUV 500, Mahindra Genio and Mahindra Xylo.

“We are providing technology at its luxurious best to the Ghanaian market,” he said, explaining that customer needs gathered from the experience of supplying Mahindra vehicles in Ghana for the past seven years have been incorporated into the design of the new breed of Mahindra vehicles.

During the that seven year period, he said Svani Motors has supplied over 3,500 Mahindra vehicles to state institutions, private organizations, industries, UN agencies and individuals in Ghana.

Mr. Svanikier assured customers of the availability of quality spare parts and efficient after sales services.

Currently, he said the Svani Motors, which controls about 20 per cent of the global vehicles market in Ghana, has service centres in Accra, Takoradi, Koforidua and Kumasi.

In addition, he said Svani Motors was collaborating with Fidelity Bank to introduce a Vehicle Hire Purchase and Lease scheme to make it easy for more people, particularly organisations and workers, to purchase the vehicles from Svani Group.

The vehicles, which are part of the new generation of Mahindra vehicles based on the “Mahindra Rise” philosophy, present a blend of durability, style, strength, comfort, safety and affordability.

Edward Effah, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, launching the cars, commended the company for the strides achieved in contributing to the growth of the national economy.

He confirmed the bank’s preparedness to offer customers financing to purchase Mahindra vehicles, and assured the company of cooperation.

The Svani Group, which has presence in the West African region, operates in several sectors including the trading of automobiles, private equity ventures in banking, real estate, energy, oil & gas services, financial consulting and advocacy, accessories and logistics.

END

Morocco Upholds Human Rights Of Migrants

By Edmund Mingle

The government of Morocco says it is refocusing its immigration policy to tolerate the increasing migration to that country, and to uphold respect for the human rights of immigrants.

The move, which comes in the wake of the increasing numbers of immigrants, mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa, into Morocco, is to ensure that the migrants are treated fairly in accordance with international human right treaties.  

King Mohammed VI of Morocco

According to Mrs. Nesha Alaoui M’Hammdi, the Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, the initiative was part of efforts to strengthen bilateral co-operation with other African countries.

She explained that statistics on immigration in Morocco had shown that the migrant population from sub-Saharan African countries has quadrupled, and that Morocco is also experiencing a new form of immigration from countries such as Spain, France and other European countries

as a result of the global economic crisis.

“The combination of these diversified forms of migration makes Morocco, gradually and irreversibly, a cosmopolitan country. The regular and irregular emigration of Moroccans and the growing visibility of new populations of emigrants in Moroccan cities, undoubtedly attest to the fact that Morocco is concerned by the globalization of human mobility,” she said.

A policy statement on the new focus of that country’s foreign immigration policy, said Morocco, which has demonstrated its ability to manage the most difficult political transitions, has become a land of asylum and long-term settlement for migrants. It welcomes regular immigrant workers, a relatively large number of foreign students, migrants with an irregular status, “in transit” often for years, an asylum seekers and refugees.

This fact has been clearly highlighted by His Majesty the King Mohammed VI of Morocco, who has called for a new approach to meet the new challenges of immigration and immigrant rights.

As part of the policy, a number of new measures would be taken. These include “the establishment of a policy of integration of refugees and their families, in terms of housing, health, schooling, training and employment; to allow married statutory refugees to proceed legally to family reunification; to ensure compliance with the principle of prohibition of expulsion or return (non­refoulement) as a cornerstone of the right of the refugees, as mentioned in article 33 of the 1951 Geneva Convention by giving potential asylum-seekers the right to fill out, upon their arrival on Moroccan territory, an asylum application; and to establish a national legal and institutional framework of asylum, which is based on the principles set out in the preamble of the 2011 Moroccan constitution, and which organizes the status of refugees in Morocco and the conditions for the exercise of the right of asylum recognized in article 30 of the constitution.”

Further, “the government will officially consider the development and establishment of an operation of special regularization of some categories of migrants in irregular administrative situations, according to criteria that take into account the duration of stay in Morocco, the right to family co-residence, the conditions for insertion in Moroccan society, the settlement agreements reached by the Kingdom with other partners (international organizations of the United Nations system, partner countries of Morocco, including European countries and the European Union).”

Under the new focus, the Moroccan government would also ban all forms of violence against undocumented migrants during arrest procedures; take measures to discourage employers who exploit undocumented migrants, and guarantee access to labor inspectors without fear of retribution; and facilitate the registration of new births and issuing of death certificates.

With regard to fighting human trafficking, the statement said the government plans to develop, in a collaborative manner, a national plan of action to combat human trafficking and strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies in their fight against human trafficking, while improving on partnership with organizations against human trafficking and for the protection of victims of abuse.

 Reacting to the new policy, The United Nations Office in Morocco applauded the interest shown by Morocco’s National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) to respect the human rights of foreigners in the Kingdom and the scope of its recommendations in that regard,

A UN statement in Morocco said it has noted the publication of a report on the human rights situation of foreigners in Morocco, particularly refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. "

Agencies of the United Nations in Morocco, including the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reiterated the Moroccan authorities " their willingness to support national efforts to ensure that refugees, asylum seekers and migrants a home up to the humanistic traditions of the Kingdom and the requirements of national and international legal framework , " the statement concluded.

 END

Sterling International Aids Red Sea Housing

By Edmund Mingle
Sterling International Limited, a major producer and supplier of Jotun Protective Coatings in

Mr. Arun Patil(right), Mr. Vanskey(Middle) and Mr. EmmanuelDagadu, 
a Manager at Sterling Int. pose with the Blast Equipment

Ghana, has presented a Clemco Blasting Equipment in support of Red Sea Housing Services, a free-zone company at Tema.

The donation, worth GHc 19,000.00 was to appreciate Red Sea Housing Services for its customer loyalty over the past four years, and to assure the company of continued corporate support from Sterling International Ltd.

It is also part of Sterling International’s commitment towards promoting corporate partnership to advance business interests for the benefit of the economy and society in general.

The Clemco Blasting Equipment is critical in removing rust off metals on vessels, oceans stations and oil rigs before applying protective anti-corrosive coatings.

Mr. Arun Patil, a Director of Sterling International, presenting the machine, assured the Management of Red Sea Housing Services of continued technical assistance and prompt service delivery to ensure Rea Sea meets its contractual obligations on schedule to maintain its reputation for excellent performance.

He added that Sterling International was proud to be part of the success story of Red Sea Housing Services and thanked the management for their confidence in JOTUN products, and gave assurance of continued high quality.

Mr. Todd Vansky, Assistant General Manager of Red Sea Housing Services, receiving the equipment on behalf of the company, expressed appreciation for the support, saying it will immensely benefit his company to enhance its operations.

He also thanked Sterling International for the provision of free technical training to the sprayers of Red Sea Housing, saying and the “Blast Machine is an icing on the cake.”

Red Sea Housing Services manufactures movable offices, workshops and living rooms for ocean going vessels, oil & gas producing outstations, mining industries and remote desert area sites.