Govt. promises to solve soldiers' housing challenges

                                                                                       Monday, January 28, 2013

Soldiers from GAF's special forces unit on parade

By Edmund Mingle & Agnes Opoku Sarpong

The Vice President, Kwesi Amissah Arthur has assured the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) of government’s commitment to deal comprehensively with challenges of accommodation for soldiers.

He said the government acknowledged that in spite of efforts made to address the problem, there were still challenges in the provision of quality accommodation for military personnel.

“This year, the issue of accommodation will be given full attention,” he assured.

Addressing personnel of GAF at this year’s WASSA celebration at Burma Camp in Accra on Friday, Vice President Amissah-Arthur also indicated that emerging challenges regarding the provision of equipment for enhance operations, would be equally addressed.

He commended the personnel of the GAF for their contribution to sustained peace and security in the country, and asked them to be proud of their successful operations in the past year.

“The improved equipment and training available to the Armed Forces paid a significant dividend. You guaranteed us a stable national environment, creating a congenial atmosphere for national peace and development,” he told the soldiers.

In addition, he siiad their effort in international peace support operations continue to give Ghana a very positive image.

He also cited the GAF’s cooperation with the Police in last month’s elections, and the daily joint anti-armed robbery operation, as well as their swift response to disasters relief activities, saying their contributions during 2012 were highly commendable.

“Without your active presence in conflict area, the security situation would certainly have been worse,” he added.

The Vice President also lauded the improved cooperation and understanding between the GAF and the civilian public, but noted that there was room for improvement.

He assured the GAF High Command of government’s continued support and cooperation to enable them to continue delivering on its mandate, and reminded the personnel of the need to remain professional.

Commodore Geoffrey Mawuli Biekro, Chief of Staff at General Headquarters of GAF, in his welcome address, pledged GAF’s renewed commitment to protect the peace being enjoyed by Ghanaians.

“We are ready to put our lives on the line for the people of this country to have peace,” he assured.

He also promised that the military would deliver on its mandate for the meaning development of the nation.

As part of the celebration, two civilian workers-Jonathan Nartey and Vide Adu- who were adjudged best workers for 2012, were awarded.

Also Major Elikem Fiamavle, who won a French essay competition initiated by the Chief of Defence Staff, was honoured.

The essay competition is to encourage the learning of the French by the personnel so that they could easily communication with their counterparts from Francophone countries during international operations.

END

Martey-Newman expresses gratitude

Mr. Martey-Newman(left) receiving a parting gift from the Press Corps

Monday, January 21, 2013 

By Edmund Mingle

John Henry Martey-Newman, the immediate past Chief of Staff at the Presidency has expressed appreciation to the members of the ruling government for the support offered him during his tenure.

 He said the cooperation from the members and other stakeholders contributed significantly to the successful implementation of the better Ghana agenda.

 In addition, he particularly thanked the members of the Presidential Press Corps for actively playing their role in providing the Presidency the platform to communicate with the pubic and also keeping the government accountable to the Ghanaians.

Interacting with a cross section of the members of the Presidential Press Corps who called on him to bid him farewell as he prepares to hand over to the new Chief of Staff, Mr. Martey-Newman said he was very happy to have had the opportunity to serve in that capacity.

He was happy that he had been able to contribute his quota to the better Ghana agenda, but noted that he was able to perform due to the support he enjoyed from all stakeholders.

“I appreciate the support,” he said, and called for similar support for his successor, Prosper Douglas Kweku Bani.

Responding to commendation for good job done by the members of the Press Corps, Mr. Martey-Newman, who was appointed by the late President Mills, thanked God for being his helper.

He reminded people of the need to serve the nation with dedication, loyalty and commitment, saying that was the only for all to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Mr. Martey-Newman urged the media to continue be supportive of the national development agenda, describing the media is critical partners in nation building.

For his part, Samuel Ablordepey, the spokesman for the delegation, thanked the outgoing Chief of Staff for being supportive of the work of the Corps.

He lauded his contribution towards the successes chalked by the Mills-Mahama administration, saying the members of Corps admired him for the hardwork, dedication and discipline.

“The Press Corps wishes you well, and we pray to God to continue to bless and guide you,” he said.

END

President Mahama nominates more Ministers

President John Mahama

In accordance with article 78 of the 1992 Constitution, His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, has nominated the following as Ministers of State designate:

1. Dr. Henry Seidu Daannaa, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs.
2. Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Ministry of the Interior.
3. Hon. Mark Woyongo, Ministry of Defence.
4. Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Ministry of Trade and Industry.
5. Hon. Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
6. Mr. Nayon Bilijo, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.
7. Hon. Alhassan Azong, Minister of State at the Presidency.
8. Hon Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, Minister of State at the Presidency.
9. Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, Minister of State at the Presidency.
10. Hon. Fifi Kwetey, Minister of State at the Presidency.
11. Alhaji Limuna Mohammed Muniru, Minister of State at the Presidency.
12. Hon. Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, as Minister of State at the Presidency.
Meanwhile the President has also appointed Mr. P.V. Obeng as a Senior Presidential Adviser at the Presidency.

The following persons have also been designated by the President to Coordinate the implementation of presidential priority projects relating to: the construction of 200 Senior High Schools, 10 Teacher Training Colleges and 1 Public University in the Eastern Region; the Development of ultra modern Regional and Specialist Hospitals; and the development of new International and Regional Airports:
1. Hon. E. T. Mensah.
2. Hon. Alban Bagbin.
3. Hon. Cletus Avoka.
Finally, the President has appointed Ms. Mawuena Dumor Trebah as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.

Ghana extradites Ble Goude

Sunday, January 20, 2013

By Edmund Mingle

The government has extradited Charles Ble Goude, the fugitive Ivorian youth leader, after his arrest in the country last Thursday.

Ble Goude, who was being sought by his country and the International Criminal Court to answer war crime charges in connection with the electoral violence in Cote d’Ivoire, was sent back to his country on Friday, barely 24 hours after his capture.

Sources at National Security confirmed to the Times that the suspect, who has been in hiding since April 2011, was duly handed over to Ivorian security, and was currently in custody.

The swift extradition surprised his lawyers who were said to be preparing to launch a legal fight against the extraction.

He is the second high-profile Ivorian close to former president Gbagbo to be arrested in Ghana after Justin Kone Katinan, who has been fighting his extradition to Cote d’Ivoire in a Magistrate Court in Accra, since his arrest last year.

Ble Goude, who fled Cote d’Ivoire across its eastern border into Ghana after President Gbagbo, is said to been implicated in human rights crimes during the fighting between supporters of Gbagbo and President Alassane Ouattara, during the disputed elections.

He was apprehended in Ghana during a joint police operation between Ghana and Ivory Coast last Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Ivorian government has explained in a statement that Ble Goude was currently being held in Ivory Coast by Ivorian police authorities in the framework of judicial proceedings already launched against him in Ivory Coast.

He is being accused of running a militia which masterminded the killings of hundreds of people during the civil war resulting from the election dispute in 2010.

But Mr. Ble Goude denies the accusations, claiming that as leader of the Young Patriots group, a political youth wing, he had only organised rallies and meetings, but never run a militia.

In 2006, Mr. Ble Goude was first put under UN sanctions after he was accused of inciting attacks against UN personnel.

Meanwhile, Huma Right Watch has described Ble Goude’s arrest as a significant opportunity to continue the process of accountability for victims of the crises in Cote d’Ivoire.

In a statement, Corinne Dufka, Senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, also commended Ghana for the action.

“Ble Goude arrest shows that Ghanaian authorities are taking steps to ensure the country will not be used as a safe haven from justice,” Dufka said.

He said Ghanaian authorities now needed to accord Ble Goude his full rights, including ensuring that there was no credible risk of inhuman treatment or torture if they extradited him to Cote d’Ivoire.

END

Ivorian fugitive Charles Ble Goude arrested in Ghana

Friday, January 18, 2013
By Edmund Mingle 
Charles Ble Goude, the fugitive Ivorian youth leader, has been reportedly arrested here in Ghana.

Mr. Ble Goude, a Youth Minister under former President Laurent Gbagbo, has been on the run from his country, which issued an arrest warrant for him.

He was being sought to answer charges in connection with violence linked to Cote d’Ivoire’s disputed presidential election two years ago, which left hundreds dead.

Mr. Ble Goude was implicated by Human Rights Watch in grave crimes committed during the violence linked to the electoral dispute in late 2010 and early 2011, between former President Gbagbo and the current leader, Alassane Ouattara.

It is believed that he is being held at the Bureau of National Investigations, but officials of both the bureau and National Security are tight-lipped over the arrest.

The whereabouts of Mr. Ble Goude was unknown at the time of going to press, but his Netherlands-based lawyer, Nick Kaufman, was reported by the Associated Press (AP) as having been in contact with Ghanaian officials, seeking the legal grounds for the arrest.

Mr. Ble Goude, who was a former leader of the Young Patriots group, an influential youth organization linked to former President Gbagbo, was put under UN sanctions in 2006, accused of inciting attacks against UN personnel, but he denied the claims.

He went into hiding, after the capture in April 2011, of ex-President Gbagbo, who had refused to accept electoral defeat and now faces war crimes charges at The Hague.

Some time before his arrest, Mr. Ble Goude told the BBC from his hiding place outside that he was not running from justice, but from people who were after his life.
"I'm not running from justice... people are looking to kill me," he said.

Known for his vitriolic speeches, Mr Ble Goude is alleged to have mobilised thousands of young men to join the army in the final days of the election dispute.

But he told the BBC that, as head of the Young Patriots group, he only organised rallies and meetings and never ran a militia.

"I am not chief of militia - I've never bought weapons; we went to the streets against those who had weapons, we were bare handed," he said.

He said he was ready to go to the International Criminal Court in The Hague if that was what it would take to clear his name.

Mr. Ble Goude said he was prepared to go home on a number of conditions.

“I want all the prisoners to be freed; I want all those people in exile to come back home with their dignity."

He said there would never be peace in the Cote d’Ivoire unless the different sides of the political divide learnt to live together.

Earlier this month, the Ivorian authorities said they had foiled a plot to overthrow the government organised by pro-Gbagbo supporters who were linked to cross-border raids from Liberia.

We are on the right path--President

President John Mills---May His Soul rest in perfect peace

Friday July 20, 2012 
 By Edmund Mingle

President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday, asked his supporters not to entertain any fears as the general elections draw close, saying “we are on the right path.”

“I have no fears,” he declared, expressing confidence victory.

President Mills who said this during an interaction with the Presidential Press Corps at the Castle in Accra on the eve of his 68th birthday.

He called for unity and teamwork among members of government and the ruling party.

“I want all of us to work together to overcome the challenges,” he said.

 The said although the journey through his first term has not been easy, due to “ups and downs” the good thing was that the right things had been done.

“Let us be confident because I know that when you are doing the right things, the people of Ghana will support you.

“Let’s work hard and show them that we have used the resources given us purposefully,” he stressed.

 The President thanked his appointees for the support, saying the future was bright for the country.
The President gave special thanks to God for adding another year to his life, and prayed for more blessings for the nation.

“I know that there will be many more happy returns from all Ghanaians,” he said.

 Note: this was my last story I wrote for President Mills before his sudden demise on July 24, 2012.
My his soul rest in perfect peace.

Govt. reclaims Tema Drydock after 13 years

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

 

By Edmund Mingle

Government has become the sole owner of the Tema Shipyard and DryDock after reclaiming the 60 per cent shares owned by the Malaysian private partner in the company.

It follows a negotiated agreement between the government, which had 40 per cent and Penang Ship Building Company (PSC) of Malaysia which controlled 60 per cent, in an effort by the government to salvage the company from total collapse.

The move, which was finalized by Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday May 10, comes after 13 years of what is described as gross mismanagement, and labour agitation for the government to take full control of the strategic national asset.

“The decision to urgently salvage such a strategic national asset was taken by Cabinet in the supreme interest of Ghana,” said Koku Anyidoho, Director of Communications at the Presidency, who confirmed the decision of Cabinet.

In addition, he explained that the move to reclaim the shares, which begun which the government took office in 2009, was informed by the need to operate a shipyard and drydock that could serve the sub-region in Ghana’s aim of becoming a sub-regional hub for the oil and gas industry.

With the sea traffic moving in the direction of Ghana, coupled with Ghana’s emerging oil and gas industry, he said he has become critically important that the shipyard and drydock was effectively positioned to create wealth and employment for the nation.

As part of the negotiated settlement, the government is expected to pay Penang gross amount payable to PSC about 6.3million dollars, out of which the private company will pay a capital gain tax of about 0.12million dollars to the Ghana Revenue Authority.

But according to Mr. Anyidoho, the amount paying to the company would pale into insignificance if the revenue expected to be generated for the government through proper management was considered.

In addition to that, he said the revamping of the shipyard would provide sustainable jobs for many of Ghanaians youths who have undergone training for the oil and gas industry, as well as provide the relevant platform for the transfer of skills.

The Tema Shipyard and Dry-Dock Corporation (TSDC) was built in the 1960's during the construction of the Tema Habour as part of the overall infrastructure requirement for the country maritime industry and socio-economic development. It has two graving docks and slip way.

The Shipyard is strategically placed to take advantage of dry-docking and repair needs of ship of up to 100,000 deadweight (DWT) plying the western shoreline of Africa. It was built before the advent of containership and the modern super oil tankers and is capable of docking the largest oil tankers.

Government had earlier last year hinted of plans to reclaim the 60 percent shares in the Tema Shipyard and Dry-Dock Corporation (TSDC) which it divested to the PSC of Malaysia 13 years ago, following the latter's failure to fulfill the goals of the Joint Venture Agreement(JVA) between two parties, signed on November 8, 1996.

According to Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister for Transport, government's vision of transforming the dry dock into "a modern well-equipped facility to meet the nation's strategic objectives" and for which purpose the facility was divested but has not been met after 13 long years, hence the abrogation of the contract.

"Essentially, the government and Penang agreed that, pursuant to the SPA, Penang will rehabilitate the Shipyard and also procure such funding as is reasonably required by the Company to meet the costs in connection with the rehabilitation and completion of refurbishment of the shipyard. Unfortunately, after 13 years, this important vision of had not been achieved and the goals of JVA have not been met," he said a news conference last September.

In 2009, a Committee of Inquiry headed by lawyer Chris Ackummey, tasked to investigate the dry dock's operations and make recommendations that would lead to improvement in performance, recommended, among other things, that government regains control of the shipyard.

But after many deliberations during which the government took into consideration Ghana's good relationship with Malaysia, the spirit of South-South co-operation and the intervention of Prime Minister of Malaysia, government decided to take a majority stake in the shipyard in order to determine its future direction."

Subsequently, the government set up a negotiating team to explore an amicable resolution of the issues including increasing government's equity shares to at least 60 percent.

After numerous sessions the negotiations reached a deadlocked, principally relating to shareholding structure and management control.

Following representations from the Malaysian Prime Minister to President John Evans Atta-Mills and vice versa and subsequent meetings arising out of the correspondence, it was mutually agreed that the ownership and management of the dry dock should revert to Ghana.

END