French President Commends Ghana, ...As Ambassador Svanikier Presents Credentials

The French President François Hollande has praised Ghana for her strides in economic growth and democratic practice, saying Ghana’s achievements in those areas in African are worth emulating.

He has therefore, assured of France’s continued support towards enhancing Ghana’s democracy good governance and economic development.

Ambassador Johanna Odonkor Svanikier,
with President François Hollande
at the Élysée Palace in Paris during the event

President Hollande said this during an interaction with Ghana’s Ambassador to France Mrs. Johanna Odonkor Svanikier, at the Élysée presidential palace in Paris last Friday. The decision which focused on bilateral relations between the two countries and political developments in West Africa, was held after the ambassador, who is also Ghana’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO and the International Organisation of La Francophonie, presented her Letters of Credence to the French President at a brief colourful ceremony at the palace.

President Hollande Ghana’s said democratic credentials had earned it an enormous prestige and respect around the world, and urged the government, political parties, civil society groups and all stakeholders to continue to work together in protection that nation’s remarkable democratic status.

He lauded Ghana’s immense contribution towards regional peace and development, as well as health and the fight against Ebola.

President Hollande commended President John Mahama for his leadership role in the sub-region, and pledged Fance’s renewed support and partnership with Ghana.

He commended Mrs. Svanikier on her achievement as the new ambassador to France and wished her a successful tour of duty tour, adding that the French government would offer her the necessary assistance and cooperation to ensure that she succeeds in strengthening the ties between the two countries.

Ambassador Svanikier thanked President Hollande for receiving her, and expressed her appreciation for the good relationship that exists between the two countries, and pledged to promote economic diplomacy in support of Ghana’s development drive.

She assured her host of her unwavering commitment to the further enhancement of the political, economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

The new Ambassador informed President Hollande that as Chairman of ECOWAS, President John Dramani Mahama had recently visited the three Ebola afflicted countries to pledge the solidarity of member states and to deliver the much needed relief supplies. She explained further that, Ghana had become a coordinating centre for delivering relief items to the affected countries.

On governance in West Africa, she explained that President Mahama had led ECOWAS demand compliance with the principles of democracy and constitutional governance in Burkina Faso, towards achieving peace in that country after the recent ousting of President Blaise Campaore.

Mrs. Svanikier, who was recently appointed by President Mahama, holds a Master’s Degrees in law from the London School of Economics, UK, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University, U.S.A. and a Masters in Political Science and International Relations Research from the University of Oxford, U.K.  She was a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University and was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 1991 and in Ghana in 1992. 

She has worked as a barrister, a university lecturer and a legal and development consultant.

She is a former leacturer at the University of Ghana and a Commissioner at the National Development Planning Commission until her appointment.

She is the author of several publications including "Womens' Rights and the Law in Ghana."

Caption

Economic Challenges Not Peculiar to Ghana--World Bank

By Edmund Mingle

The World Bank says the economic challenges facing Ghana are not peculiar to the country.

According to World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, the current economic difficulty is a global economic phenomenon which many countries were dealing with.

Mr. Yong Kim (left) and Vice President Amissah-Arthur
after their meeting in Accra

Addressing a news conference with Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur at the Flagstaff House in Accra on Thursday during his visit to Ghana to announce the bank’s additional 100million dollar package to aid the fight against the Ebola disease, Mr. Kim described the current global economic phenomenon affecting Ghana as “complex.”

“My view of the situation in Ghana is that there is the need for fiscal consolidation while at the same time government needs to investments so that the economy can grow.

“This is a challenge that many economies in the world, including in Europe, are facing, so this is not unique to Ghana,” he said, and lauded the remedial measures being pursued by the government.

To assist in addressing the challenge in Ghana, he said the bank was providing intensive support to the country citing the bank’s assistance on the Ghana infrastructure facility “where we are trying to ensure that investments in growth enhancing infrastructure continue to be made while necessary fiscal consolidation also happens.

He said the solution was complex, but possible to work for Ghana.

He said the bank would continue to work extremely closely with Ghana, and in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help in addressing the economic challenges the country was confronting.

“We are not going to take our eye off the ball in terms of supporting the Ghanaian economy, especially because of the sacrifices, and the generosity of the Ghanaian people in the middle of this Ebola crisis,” he said.

Ghana is currently negotiating financial and technical assistance from the IMF.

The government is aiming to secure about 800million dollars cash from the Fund to effectively stabilise the economy, and push it on the path of growth.  

Religious Tolerance Vital For National Dev,t.---Veep

By Edmund Mingle
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur yesterday charged the newly appointed Ameer and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, to rally the members of the mission to help sustain the high level of religious tolerance in the country.
“Religious tolerance signifies the unity of the nation, and you must help us in sustaining it,” he told the Ameer, Alhaji Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur gave the admonition when he called on Alhaji Salih at the Mission’s head office in Accra, to congratulate him on his appointment as the spiritual leader of the Mission in Ghana.
Alhaji Salih’s appointment followed the recent demise of his predecessor, Sheikh Maulvi Wahab Adam.
Congratulating Alhaji Salih on his elevation, the Vice President reminded him of the task ahead, and particularly urged him to sustain the Mission efforts for national peace, and contributions towards the development of the education and agriculture sectors.
He assured the Ameer of government’s support and cooperation, and prayed for Allah’s wisdom and guidance to enable him to deliver on his mandate.
“On behalf of the President, I assure you that the government and people of Ghana are solidly behind you,” the Vice President said.
Alhaji Salih, welcoming the Vice President, thanked the government for the support in offering his predecessor a befitting State funeral.
“The international Ahmadiyya community is highly appreciative of that gesture and recognition the government continues to accord the Mission in Ghana,” he said.
Alhaji Salifu he renewed the Mission’s commitment to partner the government in the national development.
He lauded the government’s resolve to fight corruption and indiscipline, and gave assurance of the Mission’s assistance in that respect.
Meanwhile, a five-member delegation from the British America Tobacco called on the Vice President at the Flagstaff House in Accra yesterday.
The delegation, led by Anthony Copty, West Africa Area Manager of the company, discussed with the Vice President challenges facing the company’s operations in Ghana, including tax increases.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the government was mindful of the effect of the increases of taxes on industry, but noted that such policies were vital in sustaining the economy in a way to create a congenial environment for businesses to operate.
He asked the company to address Tobacco-related diseases, and said government would support the company to promote the industry.

Veep Optimistic Of IMF Deal Soon

By Edmund Mingle

The first round of talks between the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been successful, says Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.

Veep Amissah-Arthur is optimistic of IMF deal

He, therefore, expressed confidence that a deal would soon be reached after the subsequent talks in Washington, to enable the Fund to advance financial and technical support to stabilise the national economy.

“We have agreed on many things, and the first round of negotiations has gone quite well,” he said.

Explaining the nation’s economic conditions and the need for the request for the IMF’s help, during a courtesy call on him by the new Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Gerhard Brugger, at the Flagstaff House in Accra yesterday, the Vice President, said the second round of talks would be scheduled soon.

“We have made quite a lot of progress,” he stressed.

He said at the end of the first round of talks, the IMF team, which left the country on Thursday, requested the government to provide clarifications on a few areas, adding that the government would be providing those clarifications to pave way for the second round of talks.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur, who was optimistic of a very beneficial deal for Ghana after the talks, said the partnership with the IMF would enable the government to secure concessional loans from the fund, which are less expensive than commercial loans.

He explained that the decision to seek support from the Fund was to urgently solve the short term fiscal problems that could threaten the country’s bright medium to long term prospects.

The Vice President denied suggestions by critics that the support being sought from the Fund was a “bailout,” explaining that Ghana is seeking a financial and technical support, and not a bailout.”

 Although he did not disclose how much financial support in the form of a concessional loan Ghana may be seeking from the Fund, it is expected that the money would help to bolster the economy for macro-economic stability and growth, while the technical support would help in improving institutional reforms for enhanced economic management.

 After reaching a deal with the IMF, the Vice President said the government would be in a good position to open discussions with its donor and development partners on budget support arrangements for the country.

 Vice President Amissah-Arthur welcoming the new Ambassador to the country, reminded him that he was coming in at a time Ghana was promoting its economic partnership with other countries, and hoped that he would help to improve the trade ties between Ghana and Switzerland.

Mr. Brugger, for his part, lauded the socio-economic progress being made by the country, and pledged his commitment to consolidate the ties between the two countries for mutual benefits.

Timber Industry Faces Collapse

By Edmund Mingle
About 60 timber companies have collapsed, resulting in 70,000 job losses in the past few years due to the dwindling fortunes of the industry, says the Ghana Timber Millers Organisation (GTMO).

Attributed  the decline of the industry to the high cost of operation emanating from the high cost of electricity, fuel and high interest rate on bank loans,
the organisation warned of its total collapse of urgent measures were not instituted to save it.

Mr. Kwame Asamoah Adam, CEO of GTMO

Dr. Kwame Asamoah Adam, Chief Executive Officer of the GTMO, who made this known during an interaction with the journalists in Accra at the weekend said “the future of the industry is very gloomy.”

Among other effects, he said, was the stump of revenue from the timber industry, which remained one of the main export revenue earners for the country from 200million euros to 120million euros.

He said the remaining 45 companies with a total employee population of about 30,000 were also struggling to survive, and could collapse if the challenges facing the industry were to addressed.
Dr.  Adam identified  the main factor contributory to the decline of the industry as the increasing cost of operations as a result of increases in electricity, tariff which constituted between 15 and 20 per cent of production cost, adding that the high cost of fuel was militating against production.

“Any collapse would open the floodgates to illegal loggers, who will the plunder forest resources and massively degrade our lands,” he warned
.
He lamented that despite the high electricity tariff power supply remained irregular, leading to loss of production time and equipment breakdown, “although salaries are paid when there is no production.”

The industry, he said, was worried about fuel cost increases, which in turn increased field operations, compounded by high interest rates of between 27 and 30 percent, against a profit margin of between five and15 per cent, adding that under these conditions, it takes a miracle to keep head above board.”

To address the situation, Dr. Adam called for fovourable interest rate arrangement for the industry, introduction of modern technology, and an aggressive pursuit of a national industrial timber plantation policy.

In addition to the problem, he said some financial institutions had been confiscating properties of timber firms because of to their inability to repay loans contracted

That, he said, had led to the collapse of most timber firms in Takoradi, Kumasi, and Akyem Oda, among other places, and the selling out of the by the banks for use as bus terminals, fuel filling stations, residential accommodation and hotels.

“Within the Kumasi environs in the Ashanti Region alone, about six companies have been sold this year resulting in the loss of leading to about 5,000 jobs he disclosed.

He expressed fear that the collapse of the industry would pave way for more illegal logging which would result in the destruction  the country’s forests, stressing that the  operations of members of the organization operated in a way to protect the nation’s forest cover.

Dr. Adam also attributed forest degradation to poor and unsustainable agricultural practices in farming areas and feared that the situation could worsen with the collapse of accredited timber operators.

“GTMO engages in selective logging and complies strictly with the laws governing the sector. We presently have a voluntary partnership agreement with the European Union and we can export only legally sourced lumber to that market,” he said.

Touching on stumpage (money collected for felling trees), Dr. Adam said the industry favoured a regime of fees was commensurating with the market of wood and cost of processing  and cautioned that any further increase in  stumpage fee would lead to downsising.

NSS District Coordinator Interdicted Over GHc 2m Payment To Ghost Names

By Edmund Mingle
The National Service Scheme NSS has interdicted the Amansie Central District NSS Coordinator, Zakaria Ibrahim, for allegedly involving himself in the payment of service allowances to ghost names.
About GH¢2million is said to have been paid to non-existence national service personnel in the district over a period.
The interdiction follows a investigations by the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) into the  alleged diversion of national service funds into private accounts and the payment of national service allowance to ghost names at a number of districts.
According to the investigations, some of the district coordinators of the NSS had connived with officials of rural banks to divert the money into private accounts.
Apart from Amansie Central, Obuasi and Bekwei, all in the Ashanti region, are being probed. Some officials at the Jacobu, Obuasi and Bekwei branches of a rural bank (name withheld), are also being investigated for alleged connivance with the scheme’s coordinators.
Alhaji Imoro Alhassan, Executive Director of the NSS, confirmed the interdiction to the Ghanaian Times at the weekend, but declined to comment further, saying his outfit was awaiting the report from its investigation team.
But a source, close to the BNI told the Ghanaian Times that bank statements covering the payment of the moneys into the private accounts had been secured, while the alleged perpetrators and bank officials were being questioned.
The source said the modus oparandi was that the affected coordinators had opened accounts with rural banks in the districts where they lodged the bulk of the money from the Bank of Ghana, into an account for the payment of allowances to both actual service persons and existent ones.
After issuing cheques to the actual service personnel, the remainder of the money, which was uncollected because of the addition of ghost names, was transferred by the bank into a private current account, which was cleared by the Coordinators, the source revealed.
The alleged fraudulent practice, according to the source, had been going on since 2009, and the
 investigation was prompted by a petition to the office of the President by a whistle blower.
According to the source, the whistle blower’s petition indicated that at Amensie Central, for instance, service personnel were previously made to open bank accounts with the rural bank, into which their allowances were paid, but that was recently abolished to allow the money to be paid into an account after which it was disbursed through the issuance of cheques.
The source alleged that move than GH¢2 million was reportedly paid to ghost names as Jacobu branch of the rural bank, while a total of more than GH¢4million had been paid to non-existence service personnel at Obuasi and Bekwai branches of the bank.
Dr. Clement Apaak, Spokesman for the Special Operations Unit at the Office of the President, also confirmed the case to The Ghanaian Times, and indicated that it was one of the alleged corruption cases referred by the President to the investigative agencies for action.

Veep Calls For End To Chieftaincy, Land Disputes In Accra

By Edmund Mingle
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has called for an end to the many chieftaincy and land disputes in the Greater Accra Region, and charged the chiefs to let peace prevail in the area.
He said the high number of litigations, that posed a security threat, did not present a good image of the region, and reminded the chiefs of the need to be more development-oriented.

“Chieftaincy and land disputes, and the resort to violence, using land guards to resolve the disputes, create uncertainty and insecurity among the people,” Vice President Amissah-Arthur said.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur exchanging pleasantries
 with a traditionally dressed girl in front of
Nene Tetteh Djan, Paramonut Chief of Prampram

He made the call when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people of the region to mark the annual Homogeneous festival of Ga-Dangme people, at the Efua Sutherland Park in Accra on Saturday.
The durbar, dubbed ‘Homofest 2014’ was the maiden festival organised by the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, and the Tourism Ministry, as a platform to showcase the region’s rich culture and build unity among the chiefs towards the progress.
Attended by all the chiefs in Ga-Dangme, the festival had the theme, “Unity and development.”
But the Vice President reminded the chiefs that “the spate of litigations threatens the unity and the development we are striving to achieve.”
He explained that the situation created insecurity for domestic and external investors, which reduced the opportunity for job creation.
The Vice President said the region’s long history of land litigations and chieftaincy disputes, which inundated the law courts and Regional House of Chiefs, was nothing to be proud of, and admonished the chiefs and all stakeholders to amicable by resolve the disputes for socio-economic progress.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur lauded the objective of Homofest, which brought all the chiefs in the region together, and hoped that was the beginning of their commitment to cooperate and work among themselves to achieve development.
Touching on sanitation and health, the Vice President described as regrettable the outbreak of cholera, especially in the region due to poor sanitation practices.
He, therefore, urged stakeholders, including the chiefs, religious bodies, public and private organisations, schools to join hands in the crusade for improved sanitation, and also urged the Assemblies to support the crusade by enforcing the sanitation by-laws.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur said he recently mobilised support from some private organizations to support the assemblies clear heaps of rubbish in parts of Accra.
He said “We cannot create filth and expect other people to clear it for us,” and urged the people to support the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development’s monthly sanitation exercise, aimed at improving sanitation.
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, said the festival provided them with the opportunity to take stock and reflect on the future of the region.
He said the chiefs would remove barriers to development and support government towards progress.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, said the celebration of the festival, which coincided with the World Tourism Day, was part of effort to use tourism and culture to promote development.
She said “we must take advantage of our cultural resources to improve the standard of living for the people.”
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare congratulated the Ga-Dangme chiefs for adopting the festival which had united the people for development and assured that the ministry would help promote the cultural heritage of the region.
Nii Lante Vanderpuye, a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, urged the chiefs to forge ahead in unity, which remained vital for progress.
“What are you fighting over?,” he asked, adding that “If you are interested in the welfare of the people and development, you do not have to become a chief at all cost to be able to contribute to development.”
The festival, held with pomp and pageantry, was characterized by cultural and traditional performances, amidst the firing of musket by the various Asafo groups.
It was attended by the chiefs from all sections of the region, attired in their rich regalia to showcase the rich traditional heritage of the region.

Veep Urges Auditors To Maintain Standards

By Edmund Mingle
The Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has expressed worry about the deteriorating image of the auditing profession in the public sector, and urged the auditing community to work to change the trend.
He said the highly respectable image which the profession exuded in the past, could be restored by ensuring strict adherence to standards to check financial discipline in public sector institutions.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur said this when he opened the 9th Annual Internal Audit Forum organised by Internal Audit Agency (IAA) in Accra yesterday under the theme, “Improving governance in the public sector”.
He cited the situation in the past where public sector auditors were virtually feared by heads and directors of public institutions because of their strictness and readiness to expose rot in financial management, indicating that the situation was currently the reverse, where some auditors did not perform as required for fear of victimisation.
“Now, public sector managers either ignore audit queries or respond to them late,” he said, noting that the situation had led to financial malpractices exposed in the many financial audit reports on public accounts.
“There is an urgent need for adequacy in internal controls to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public institutions,” he said.
The Vice President said the presence of effective and strict internal financial controls was a vital way to achieve good governance in the public sector and called for support and cooperation for internal auditors from heads of institutions to help in eradicating inefficiencies and ensuring quality management of financial resources.
He commended auditors for their contribution to national development, and urged them to continue to adhere to the tenets of the profession by promoting transparency and accountability, as well as strictly applying the rules and procedures.
The two-day forum, which is being attended by heads of public institutions, professional auditors across the country, is aimed at finding ways of improving internal auditing in the public service towards promoting good governance.
Nii Adumansa-Baddoo, Chairman of Internal Audit Agency Board, who chaired the opening session, noted that good governance in the public sector, was about systematic and sustainable performance improvement.
He said good governance generally covers all aspects of the way a country is governed, including its economic policies and regulatory framework saying “good governance is much more than rules, regulations, accountability, structures and frame-works”.
He said the end product of good governance among other things, includes the availability of basic services such as clean potable water, good road network, quality education, social security, equal opportunities and justice for all irrespective of social status.
Nii Adumansa-Baddoo announced that the agency with assistance from Africa Development Bank was developing a modular training manual in performance Audit for workers in the public sector, saying ”the manual will be used to train 500 internal auditors on performance audit.”
Mr. Kwabena Obese Jecty, Director-General of IAA said internal audit had a critical role to play in the governance process, explaining that “as the third line of defence in the corporate risk management arrangements, the primary focus of the internal auditor is to help the management of organization perform their functions”.
He bemoaned the use of transfers and postings of internal auditors in the public sector as a means of punishment of auditors who did expose wrongdoing, saying the practice was retrogressive.

Keep The City Clean---Veep Charges Local Authorities

By Edmund Mingle

The Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has charged the local authorities in Accra, to take measures to keep the cities clean

Vice-President Amissah-Arthur interacting with Ms Rita Odoley Sowah,
MCE of LaDMA and Dr Joseph Siaw-Adjepong CEO of Zoomlion
at La-Wireles

Reminding them of the responsibility of local authorities in promoting environmental health and effective waste management, the Vice President said there was the need to adopt innovative means to keep the capital clean 

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said this when he paid a follow-up visit to some dumping sites in the metropolis on Friday, to ascertain the progress of work by the local authorities to clear heaps of refuse.

He had earlier visited the sites on August 4 during which he directed that all piled up refuse in the metropolis should be cleared.

Satisfied with the work done by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, (LaDMA) the Vice President urged them to sustain the effort in effectively managing waste in the city.

The piling up of refuse at the various dump sites, which has become a health threat, is as a result of the difficulty in conveying refuse to the Kpong landfill site, amidst its intermittent closure. However, a new landfill site has been created at Nsawam Addoagyiri where tonnes of the city’s waste are currently being dumped.

“From now on, we don’t want to see an accumulation of waste at the dump sites,” he said at its end of his visit at the Kokomlemle dump site where he found a mountain of refuse bag cleared.

He commended Zooomlion Ghana, the leading waste management company, for supporting in the clearing of the refuse, and reminded AMA and LaDMA that the responsibility now lies with them to ensure that refuse was consistently conveyed from dumping the sites to the landfill areas.

In addition, the Vice President assured them of support in the implementation of waste management initiatives, stressing that, “We have to make progress.”

Asked whether his earlier visit to the sites and his directive for the refuse to be cleared was not an indictment on the performance of the local authorities and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, he answered in the negative, adding that his intervention was to lend support in securing the assistance of the private sector in the waste management exercise.

As part of the visit, he inspected the dumping site at La Wireless where a pile of solid waste that existed previously had been cleared.

Rita Odorley Sowah Chief Exective of LaDMA informed the Vice President about plans to build a modern public toilet and dumping site

At Agbogbloshie Market, the Vice President found that heaps of refuse at the market had been cleared, while the main Agbogbloshie drain and the Odaw river, which had been filled with plastic materials, were being dredged by the AMA.

He also visited the Mallam Atta Market where the dumping area had been cleaned, and the Britania dumping site at Kokomlemle, where the AMA has plans to build a refuse transfer station to serve the area.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Julius Debrah, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, Mayor of Accra, Mr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, LaDMA Chief Executive, Rita Sowah and Chief Executive of Zoomlion, Joseph Siaw Agyepong, jointly visited some of the areas to find out how to improve the waste management in the city.

The team’s visit, which was in collaboration with the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), followed the Vice President’s call for improved waste management in the country.

The areas the team visited included the Kaneshie, Agbogbloshie and La markets, and the Tema lorry station in Accra, where sanitation workers were seen cleaning the environment.

Mr. Vanderpuije also took the team to inspect the dredging of the Odaw river, and discussed with the ministers the need for support to keep the drains clean.

Mr. Debrah, called for attitudinal change, saying the poor waste disposal practices by residents and traders, was to blame for the unclean environment.

He announced that the ministry would hold a meeting with the leadership of traders in the various markets to develop measures in keeping the markets clean.

The Minister expressed gratitude to the waste management contractors, particularly Zoomlion Ghana, which provided over 100 tipper trucks and excavators for the refuse cleaning exercise, for their contribution which ensured the success of the exercise.

“We will continue to collaborate with service providers in keeping the country clean,” he said, adding that the nationwide crash exercise, which was launched by the Ministry to clear piled up waste would be sustained.

More Moroccan Firms To Invest In Ghana

By Edmund Mingle

More Moroccan businesses have expressed interest in coming to Ghana to explore the vast investment opportunities in the country.

Mrs. Nezha Alaoui M’hammdi,
 Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana

The increasing interest is the result of governments of the two countries’ effort at enhancing their economic co-operation.

The Moroccans would soon visit Ghana with a high-level business delegation to explore opportunities for investment and business partnerships, particularly in the areas of telecommunication, housing, transportation, fisheries, agro-processing and tourism.

Mrs. Nezha Alaoui M’hammdi, Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, who said this during an interaction with journalists in Accra ahead of her country’s National Day celebration to be marked tomorrow, said there was growing interest about Ghana among the Moroccan investor community.

“We are working to bringing more investments into Ghana,” she said.

The coming of the business delegation follows the recent announcement by a leading Moroccan real estate company, the Addoha Group, to invest 250 million euros in affordable housing and cement production in Ghana.

Also, Palmeraie Holding, one of the largest Moroccan investment groups, recently expressed interest in investing in a number of key areas in Ghana, such as affordable housing, tourism and manufacturing sectors.

According to the Ambassador, apart from foreign direct investments by large Moroccan companies, smaller companies were dealing with their counterparts in Ghana at the enterprise level to take advantage of opportunities in the two economies.

The increasing Moroccan investment in Ghana, she explained, was in line with Morocco’s reformed foreign policy that focused on improved south-south economic and social co-operation.

According to Mrs. M’hammdi, the renewed policy of south-south co-operation was enabling the country to share expertise, investment and knowledge transfer with other African countries within the broad scope of regional integration.

In addition, she explained that the policy promotes skills and technology transfer, and capacity building, as a result of which 45 Ghanaian students are offered state scholarships to study in Morocco annually.

Touching on the bilateral relations between the two countries, Mrs. M’hammdi noted that the historical commitment of the two countries that led them both to gain independence in 1957, “is still driving our co-operation for economic independence.”

“I see the relationship growing to become more diversified,” she said.

Mrs. M’hammdi said although language continued to be a barrier in the dealings between the people of the two countries, the embassies in the respective countries were working to address the problem, and especially to ensure that it did not hinder the trade partnerships between the business sectors of the two sides.

Veep Calls For Vigilance Against Ebola

By Edmund Mingle, Black Star Square

The Vice-President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has called for intense vigilance to prevent the outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease in Ghana, saying the nation cannot afford to lose any life to the disease.

He said though health experts and institutions are on high alert and have instituted measures to prevent and contain any outbreak, the citizenry also need to be vigilant and adopt preventive measures against the disease.

The Vice President made the call when he joined hundreds of Muslims at the Black Star Square in Accra yesterday, for national prayers to celebrate the Eid-ul Fitr.

“We need to protect ourselves from the Ebola virus which has taken the lives of hundreds of people in some ECOWAS countries.

“We have a duty to learn about the virus and change some of our social and dietary habits, improve sanitation and hygienic conditions in order to reduce the chances of contracting the disease,” he enjoined all.

In the area of security, Vice President Amissah-Arthur urged the nation to pray for other countries, particularly Nigeria, where bomb attacks by the militant group Boko Haram, continue to claim lives of innocent citizens, while about 200 school girls adducted three months ago remain in the group’s captivity.

“Our youth must not allow themselves to be influenced by any individual or group, to disrupt the peace and stability of our country,” he told the gathering.

The Vice President congratulated the Islamic community for the celebration of the festival which marked the end of the Ramadan (fasting period), and assured them that the government is working to address all challenges facing Ghanaians.

He particularly lauded the high level of religious tolerance and co-operation in the country, and indicated that such peaceful co-existence among the faiths was vital in guaranteeing a peaceful environment, for national development.

He urged Muslims to continue to pray for the nation in the face of the current economic challenges, expressing optimism that the situation would soon improve, as good results from the difficult economic policies to address the challenges were beginning to emerge.

Quoting a section of the Quran which says that “Indeed, after difficulty, there is ease,” the Vice President said, “the sacrifices, patience and prayers of Ghanaians would produce results.”

Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, the National Chief Imam who led the prayers, thanked Allah for His blessings for the nation and prayed for divine intervention, to help deal with the economic challenges facing the country.

He also prayed for wisdom for the nation’s leaders, and interceded on behalf of the various arms of government, institutions, political parties and all Ghanaians.  

Ada Is Safe For Tourism

By Edmund Mingle, Ada

The business community in Ada in the Greater Accra Region, one of the country’s main tourist destinations, has allayed the fears of domestic and foreign tourists in visiting the town, saying Ada is safe for tourism.

The assurance follows a huge slump in patronage of tourism and hospitality service at Ada, as a result of the recent disappearance of hiplife musician, Castro, and a lady friend while jet skiing in the Volta River, over two weeks ago.

Mrs Ghansah, MP for Ada and Mr John Ahortu,
Ada West DCE on a boat with the journalists on tour
the river sites at the weekend

Hitherto, the town had been bustling with domestic and foreign tourists, but patronage drastically dwindled since the incident in which, Castro also known as Theophilus Tagoe, and his friend, Janet Bandu, were feared to have drowned while jet skiing in the river at Ada.

But the business community says, although the incident was unfortunate, tourists need not fear because the area and the facilities remained safe.

Mrs. Comfort Doeyu Cudjoe Ghansah, Member of Parliament for Ada, speaking on behalf the business community during a tour of the area by a group of journalists, said the incident, which she described as an “accident”, should not discourage people from visiting the town.

“Ada is safe for tourism,” said Mrs. Ghansah, who is a Minister of State in charge of Social and Allied Agencies.

She said that all the resorts along the river enforce strict safety measures, particularly in the activities of clients on the river.

During the tour, only a handful of tourists were found on the banks of the river, with a few of them in a boat. In addition, traders of sea foods, fruits and vegetables, who also benefit from the patronage of tourists, are suffering from the dip in visitor numbers.

Yours Truly, cruising on a boat

That, the Minister said, was a very drastic dwindling in patronage since the area had been bustling with visitors prior to the drowning incident.

She feared that if the situation did not improve, it could have an adverse effect on Ada since most of the workers in the hospitality businesses were locals. Additionally, she feared that it could also affect the impending Asafotufiam Festival of Ada which would be held from August 1 to 7, 2014.

John Nurudeen Ahortu, District Chief Executive of Ada West, who accompanied the MP to conduct the media team around, said the district assembly monitors the operations of the tourism and hospitality industry in the area to ensure strict compliance with safety rules.

He said the area has one of the finest eco-tourism sites in the country, citing the 24 island sites, bird sanctuary and turtle site, in addition to the impressive beach and river scenery.

Some foreign tourists enjoying themselves during a cruise

Gerhard Peter Ursprunger, General Manager of Aqua Safari Resort, where Castro rented the Jet Ski, said the company’s facilities, including its speed boats, were safe.

He noted that the company and the other resorts along the river at Ada have lifeguards and collaborates to ensure the adherence to safety measures on the river.

“You are extremely safe here provided you, as a tourist, followed safety instructions when going on the river,” he said. 

Abu Sakara supports 6-year presidential term

By Edmund Mingle

Dr. Michael Abu Sakara Foster, the 2012 presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has advocated a six-year one-term presidency for Ghana.

That, he believed would provide adequate time for governments to effectively implement their development plan for the benefit of the country.

According to him, the present four-year term does not allow  any meaningful planning and implementation, explaining that  the first year was used to study the system and planning, including the appointments of Minister, Chiefs of State, Executives and other officers.

Dr Abu Sakara Foster

The fourth year had been  used for campaigning for the next elections, leaving a government with only two years for actual work.

“Nothing meaningful can be achieved in two years,” he said, adding that with a six year term, a government would have four years of focused development.

Speaking on political reforms during and consultive meeting with the Institute of Economic Affairs’ Winner-Takes-All (WTA) Advisory Committee in Accra, Dr. Sakara, said the proposal of a five or six-year one term, would also save the country the cost organising election every four year.

The meeting was part of the committee’s series of consultations to solicit views concerning on-going constitutional review process, particularly to address the WTA political system which contributes to the political polarisation of the country.

Mr. Sakara pointed out that the bane of Ghana’s progress has been the lack of continuity in governance, explaining that a prolonged presidential tenure would help to address that challenge.

According to him, countries such as Singapore that started with Ghana after independence, have progressed incredibly due to the benefit of continuity in governance.

“Let us ask ourselves whether our system allows continuity. If no, then we must reform it,” adding that “we start all over after every general elections.”

Dr. Sakara supported calls for an entrenched National Development Plan in a new constitution that would be followed by every government.

He added that there was the need for the more focused development.

Regarding the constitutional reform process, Dr. Sakara cautioned against rushing the process

UK Hosts First Girls' Summit To End FGM

By Jon Benjamin, British High Commissioner to Ghana

Jon Benjamen

Girls and women have the right to live free from violence and discrimination and achieve their potential.  Around the world millions are prevented from doing so by harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM).   

Forcing a girl into marriage can rob her of the right to choose her own future, and put her at greater risk of not going to school and dying through early childbirth.  Poverty, lack of education and social norms are among the root causes of child marriage.  The African countries with the highest rates of child marriage include Niger, where 3 in every 4 women are married before the age of 18, and Mali and Burkina Faso, where 1 in every 2 women are affected.  

The figures are slightly better here in Ghana but the issue remains a great concern.  In Ghana, 1 in 4 women are married before the age of 18 years; 1 in 17 before they are 15 years old.  CEFM is more common in poorer households and among those with little education.  Education is one of the most powerful tools to delay the age at which girls marry. 

FGM is a human rights violation and can have a lifelong impact on survivors’ physical and psychological health.  The practice of FGM is almost universal in Somalia, Guinea, Djibouti and Egypt.  FGM continues in Ghana despite the fact that there is a law against the practice. Nationally, around 4% of women and girls aged between 15 and 49 years have been subjected to FGM.  In Upper East, 3 in every 10 women and girls have been subjected to FGM and in Upper West this is 4 in every 10. FGM has no health benefits but has harmful health consequences which include severe pain, shock, recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections, infertility, newborn deaths and childbirth complications. 

Things are changing.  In the heart of communities and families around the world, more and more people are saying ‘no’ to these practices.  Thousands of communities have chosen to abandon the practice and are encouraging others to follow suit.  Many governments in developing countries are already working to end these practices and have passed laws and developed plans. In 2012, an African led resolution calling for a ban to FGM was passed unanimously at the UN General Assembly.

In London on 22 July 2014, the UK Prime Minister David Cameron will host the UK’s first Girl Summit, aimed at mobilising domestic and international efforts to end FGM and CEFM within a generation.  UNICEF will co-host the event.  Ghana’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection— Honourable Nana Oye Lithur—will attend the Summit along with the Queenmother of Asante Mampong Traditional Area, Nana Agyarkomaa Difie II.  The Girl Summit will bring together girls, women and community leaders from the UK and other countries, alongside governments, international organisations, faith leaders, civil society organisations and the private sector to agree on actions to end these practices.  The summit will also share success stories and spread good practice in tackling these issues.  It will hear from girls and women who have lived through the ordeal of FGM or CEFM, and from individuals from affected communities who are driving change so that other girls and women can enjoy greater opportunities in the future.

Ahead of the summit, please pledge your support to end these practices at www.girlsummitpledge.com

Jon Benjamin                           

British High Commissioner

Twitter: @JonBenjamin19

Parliament Ratifies Atuabo Free Port Project

By Yaw Kyei

A prototype of the port project

Parliament has ratified a $600 million commercial agreement among the government of Ghana, Lonrho Ports Ghana Limited and Atuabo Free Port Company Limited for the development of the Ghana Oil and Gas Free Port Project.

The project is a public private partnership aimed at creating a specialised port dedicated to providing support to the supply chain in the oil and gas services sector.

It is expected to facilitate the transportation of logistics and support requirements in the petroleum industry and the entire region along the Gulf of Guinea.

The project will include the construction of an airstrip and a helipad to facilitate flight transportation, as well as other infrastructure like power generators, boreholes, office and home accommodations, a naval base, hydrocarbon fuel storage area and roads.

According to a report by the Joint Committee on Finance and Road and Transport, the port, when completed, would provide logistic supply base, offshore fabrication yard, and shipyard facilities to provide a base to undertake rig and ship repairs and other support services.

“The provision of facilities to support rig and ship repairs in Ghana are uniquely located to accommodate the sudden growth in deepwater exploration across the West African coastline with an expected increase in about 300 offshore supply vessels,” it said.

The chairman of the Finance Committee, James Avedzi, who moved the motion for the adoption of the committee’s report, said under the terms and conditions of the agreement, the project would be a private sector joint venture with the government, with total funding by the private developer.

Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah,
Energy and Petroleum Minister

“The committee was informed that the capital cost for the development is approximately US$600 million which will be funded under a non-recourse project finance,” he said.

When completed, Mr. Avedzi said the project would considerably reduce logistics costs to other oil and gas development in the Western Region.

He added that although 45 per cent interest in the port would be owned by Ghanaian institutions and the government, the country would further benefit from taxes and surface rent to be paid by companies that would operate from the free zone enclave at the port.

As part of the efforts by the government to ensure greater local participation in the development and implementation of the project, he said the project had been subjected to the local content and local participation regulations for the petroleum sector.

The Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Emmanuel Kofi Buah,  in a contribution to the motion, on Wednesday,argued that though the country had two ports at Takoradi and Tema, the facilities were not built to support the requirements of the petroleum industry.

He noted that the project, when completed, would not only turn the country into an oil and gas hub within the West African sub-region but also create about 5,000 jobs.

“As Ghana joins the community of oil producing nations, it will be vital to have facilities such as a dedicated port for oil and gas operations, from storage, fabrications, and maintenance work, all at one location,” he said.

Minority Spokesperson on Roads and Transport, Kofi Owusu Aduomi described the project as very controversial, raising concerns with Lornho’s capacity to build such a port, and indicated that the free port constructed by the company in Equatorial Guinea raised concerns about its capacity to deliver the project.

Mr. Aduomi argued that the Takoradi Port, after the House had approved a loan of £ 194 million to expand its operations, was positioning itself to support the hydro-carbon industry and was currently restructuring and expanding its existing facilities to support the industry.

“The committee visited the Takoradi Port and we are all impressed about the expansion works to support oil and gas,” he said and suggested that the port should rather be developed to meet the demands of the petroleum industry.

After the arguments, the agreement was passed by majority voice vote, as the Minority side, which expressed reservations about the project, abstained.   

Forum advocates attitudinal change, not constitutional amendment

By Edmund Mingle, Takoradi

Participants at a Western Regional forum on the constitutional review process yesterday agreed that the problem of the 1992 Constitution was of attitudinal rather than interpretation as has been perceived by some Ghanaians.

According to the participants, politicians sometimes interpret some provisions of the constitution to suit their political expediency, and the problem includes mistrust, exclusive governance, nepotism and political polarisation.

A participant making a contribution at the forum

Some participants were of the view that although the constitution did not forbid any government from pursuing an all-inclusive governance, however, the selfish attitude of some Ghanaians have created the winner-takes-all political system, which has become the bane of Ghana’s politics.

The forum, organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), at Takoradi yesterday, aimed at helping the Institute’s Anti Winner-Takes-All (WTA) Advisory Committee to collate views for inputs into the constitutional amendment process.

As one of the series of nationwide consultations, the forum was attended by representatives of political parties, public institutions, civil society groups, traditional and religious leaders, security services, business groups and professional bodies.

Participants also noted that the constitution did not compel a new government to change the heads of public institutions, but the people’s attitude of selfishness, political vendetta and mistrust, has led to the practice becoming a convention.

“No matter how we amend the constitution, these problems would persist if we do not change our attitude,” said a participant, Joseph Kwame Armo, a Counsellor at the Upper Dixcove Traditional Council.

Other contributors believed that Ghana’s democracy has been abused to the extent that democracy has become a threat to the nation’s existence.

They therefore advocated fairness in governance and the interpretation and implementation of the constitution in a manner that would ensure all Ghanaians feel secure.

Participants also expressed worry over the dabbling of chiefs, religious leaders and professors, in partisan politics, describing the trend as a dangerous.

They further bemoaned the situation were politics, which should be a platform to serve, has rather become a lucrative business for some politicians.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, Chairman of the WTA Advisory Committee, called for consensus in addressing the problems generated by the Winner-Takes-All system which posed a threat to national cohesion and development.

He said Ghanaians need to collectively agree whether the situation was as a result of “the consitution, its intepretation or the attitude of the people.”