Parties had no case-- EC

By Edmund Mingle & Stephen Effah
Monday, January 5, 2009

The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan on Saturday said the Commission found no merit in allegations of election irregularities in by the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress, as the two parties failed to provide concrete evidence to support the claims.

The NPP and the NDC, after the December run-off, levelled allegations of vote rigging against each other in their respective strongholds.

While the NDC accused the NPP of rigging the election in the Ashanti region, the NPP accused the NDC of restraining NPP party agent from observing the poll in the Volta region which enabled the NDC to rig there.

Consequently, the EC Chairman asked both parties to provide evidence for investigation and appropriate action.

However, based on the evidence provided, Dr. Afari-Gyan said “the Commission did not find the evidence provided to be sufficient to invalidate the results.”

Explaining the issues before declaring Prof. Mills as winner of the presidential run-off, Dr. Afari-Gyan said that the commission in arriving at the winner of the polls, considered the allegations of vote-rigging in Ashanti and Volta regions by both parties in the run-off which he asked them to provide evidence.

The commissioners, he said, met to examine materials submitted by both the NDC and the NPP in the nature of evidence to support their claims.

“The NDC failed to submit complete sets of polling-station by polling-station declaration of result forms to enable a re-examination of the collated figures for the constituencies in Ashanti that they had complained of,” he stated.

In the case of the NPP, he said “some of the issues raised bother on criminality and therefore, fall outside the competence of the Electoral Commission.”

In view of that, Dr.Afari-Gyan said that “the results as previously tallied from the 299 constituencies remain unchanged,” adding that the results of Tain constituency were added to the national results to make the decider.

Africa gets 3rd seat on World Bank board

From Edmund Mingle, Abuja
November 19, 2008

World Bank has offered Africa an additional third seat on its Executive Board, increasing the total number of representatives on the board from 24 to 25.

This comes in the wake of calls from for Africa, which is the largest beneficiary of the bank’s projects to have an increased representation on the board.

Although the decision for the additional seat is settled, the country to occupy the seat is yet to be finalized.

Simeon Ehui, Sustainable Development Sector Manager of the World Bank Office in Nigeria, confirmed the decision for the additional seat for Africa to foreign journalists in Abuja, described the development as “good news for Africa.”

He told 15 foreign journalists and alumni of the International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of Germany who visited the World Bank office in Abuja, on the sidelines of the Partnership with Africa Forum held here, that the move was part of efforts to enhance the participation of Africa in the bank’s decision making processes.

The Executive Board, which is one of the highest decision making organs in the bank, currently has 24 executive directors of which five are appointed by the members who constitute the five largest shareholders of the bank, being the United States, Japan, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The 19 remaining Executive Directors are elected by the Bank's other member countries.
The Executive Directors select the President who serves as Chairman of the Boards. The Executive Directors approve the President's contract, and also reserves the authority to remove the President
The Executive Directors operate in continuous session and decides on investments, loans, credits and grants advanced by the bank and its institutions, as well as decide on policies that impact the World Bank Group’s general operations.

Mr Ehui, also told the group of journalists, led by Astrid Kohl, the Head of the IIJ, that
the World Bank Group has proposed a new lending facility of $3 billion dollars) for Nigeria between 2009 and 2011, under its International Development Assistance (IDA), to address infrastructural gap in the country.

Nigeria, which has bank’s largest portfolio in Africa totaling over $2.5 billion granted for projects ranging from agriculture, health, communications, roads, power and water, he explained, was eligible to receive the $3 billion to support development projects and eradicate poverty.

“The loan has been offered to Nigeria because of the massive improvement in the economy,” he said.

The World Bank’s offer came after a recent of the disclosure by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance, Remi Babalola, that the country required about $100 billion (about N11.70 trillion) to address critical infrastructural problems, including power.

Ms Kohl, in her remarks commended the bank for its effort in addressing and reducing poverty worldwide.

ECOWAS to partner INWENT

Edmund Mingle, back from Abuja
Novermber 17, 2008

The Commission of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has pledged to collaborate with InWEnt, the German capacity building organization for enhance training of African media practitioners towards the development of the region.

The Commission is particularly interested in partnering the International Institute of Journalism, InWEnt’s wing for journalism training, to create a platform for journalists to contribute meaningfully to West Africa’s regional integration drive and democratic development.

“We cannot do proper integration without the media, Dr. Andrienne Diop, ECOWAS’ Commissioner for Gender and Human Development, said at meeting with a group of IIJ officials and alumni at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the African partnership forum, an initiative of the German President, Horst Kohler to create a platform for dialogue between Africa and Europe towards removing barriers to partnership.

She commended the IJJ for its initiative in supporting the capacity building of African media practitioners, and promised the Commission’s contribution in that regard, especially training more journalists in political, economic and regional integration reporting.

“The media is our fundamental partner,” she said.

Astrid Kohl, Head of the IIJ who led the delegation to the Commission explained that the Institute has been offering advanced training on various sectors for print and electronic journalists from developing and transitional countries since 1964, and in recent times, special courses for online journalism.

“The courses aim at strengthening the professional skills of the journalists and offer a platform to exchange experiences and ideas,” she said.

About 5,000 journalists have participated in courses conducted by the IIJ, either in Germany or abroad.

Ghana will in early next year host the IIJ’s course on Reporting on ECOWAS.

Veep criticize West over weapons in conflict zones

From Edmund Mingle, Abuja

The Vice President Alhaji Alui Mahama has questioned the commitment of Europe addressing armed conflicts in Africa, saying the flow of weapons from developed countries to conflict zones in Africa is an indictment on Europe’s commitment.

“One question to which an answer has no been found is the sources of sophisticated weapons, which are mostly not manufactured in Africa, that are used by actors in conflicts especially rebels,” he said.

Sharing his thoughts on the issues of democracy and conflict prevention at the fourth Partnership with Africa forum, an initiative by the German President for all stakeholders to dialogue to remove barriers to partnership, Alhaji Mahama, said the source weapons needs critical consideration.

He said the issue of c was conflict management was crucial because there could be no meaningful partnership between Europe and Africa without peace.

For instance, he said the collaboration between African countries and development partners to find lasting solution to conflicts in places like the Darfur region of Sudan, Somalia and DR Congo, would be unproductive if issues such as the provision arms to actors in those areas were not addressed.

“This is an issue that Africa and European partners need to intensely deliberate and seek solutions in order to enhance the socio-economic development of Africa,” he said.

Without such measures, he said democracy and good governance which are vital in creating a platform for bilateral cooperation with other countries would continue to elude some African countries.

“Democracy is a process. We therefore call for the continuous understanding and support of our European partners on Africa’s path to democracy,” he said.

The forum, which discussed ways of making the partnership between Africa and Germany, and Europe in general more productive, had the theme, “Barriers to partnership- how to overcome them.”

It was attended by Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, German President, Horst Kohler, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso and Meles Zenawi, Ethiopian Prime Minister, along with Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission and 50 selected prominent personalities in politics, business, industry and civil society from across Africa and Europe.

Bethuel Kiplagat, Chairman of the African Peer Review Mechanism, in his remarks to open the discussions, cited rigid conditionalities attached to donor support and racial prejudices as some of the impediment to quality cooperation and partnership Africa and Europe.
For instance, he wondered why Africa was referred to as “third world” when there was no continent called second or first world.

Also, he said it was ironical that the West would want poorer countries to cancel subsidies to the agricultural sector before enjoying loan facilities, which the developed countries themselves heavily subsidise their agricultural production.

“True partnership requires all partners to be equal and deal with issues in mutual respect,” he said.

African Finance Ministers to brainstorm on financial crisis

From Edmund Mingle, Abuja.
November 12, 2008
African Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors are to in Tunisia on November 12, to seriously discuss the potential impacts of the global financial crisis and on African economies.
The finance minister and governors are expected to brainstorm and come up with adequate strategies to enable the economies of African countries to withstand the shock as a result of the financial crisis in Europe.
The meeting called at the instance of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, comes in the wake of uncertainty regarding the possible impact of the crisis.
Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission, told the Times here that “the meeting is crucial.”
Talking to the Times after raising the issue at the Partnership with Africa Forum here behind closed doors, Dr. Chambas said he was leading a team of economist experts from ECOWAS to the meeting.
He said it was the conviction of the Commission that it was critical that appropriate measures were developed to protect our economies from the effects.
Sources at the forum, which was attended by the Nigerian President, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, German President, Horst Hohler, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso and Meles Zenawi, Ethiopian Prime Minister, and 50 selected prominent personalities in politics, business, industry and civil society from across Africa and Europe, that Dr. Chambas spoke frankly about the possible effects of the financial crisis on Africa.

Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development, who was a moderator for the forum, which was meant to frankly discuss how to remove barriers to partnership between Africa and Germany, said Dr. Chambas called for practical commitment and framework to deal with the effects crisis.

Economists remain divided over the likely impact of the financial crisis on African economies.

While the some believe it could result in a cut down on donor inflows which would adversely affect development projects in Africa, others believe the financial industry would not be affected because there is an insignificant link between the financial markets in Europe and Africa.
But Dr. Chambas, according to Prof. Gyimah-Boadi, wants the continent to have ready measures to deal with any eventuality and whatever the effects may be.
The forum, initiated by the German President four years ago to create a platform for dialogue among African and German leaders and stakeholders to discuss ways of making the partnership between Africa and Germany more productive, had the theme, “Barriers to partnership- how to overcome them.”

German President advocates new world order

From Edmund Mingle, Abuja
Monday, November , 10 2008

The German President, Horst Kohler has strongly advocated a new regulatory framework for the global economy to make the wealth generated more meaningful to the global population.

“It is time for a new regulatory framework for the global economy which makes capital the servant, not the master, and it which combating poverty and climate change is defined as a strategic task for each and every on of us,” he said.

Speaking in the context of the global financial crisis at the opening of the fourth Partnership with Africa Forum in Abuja on Friday, urged the G20 summit scheduled to take place in Washington on November 15, to consider putting in place measures to make the economy of the developed world more open and beneficial to Africa.

The Group of 20 most powerful countries in the global economy, is expected to meet to assess the financial crisis and agree on a common set of principles for reform of the regulatory and institutional regimes for the world's financial sectors.
According to President Kohler, the financial crisis has shown that even the most powerful economic were vulnerable to shocks, and therefore, it should afford the developed countries to learn and rethink their economies.

“We can lay milestones for a new, cooperative world order,” he said, adding that their future actions should be coordinated and sustained.

He was of the view out of the lessons from the crisis, the developed countries do well to derive greater modesty from it and cooperate more with poorer countries.

“Egoism today means caring about others too,” he said.

He told the delegates at the forum which created a platform for frank and open discussion on how to remove barriers hindering quality partnership between Africa and Germany and Europe in general, he said there was need for a new world order in a spirit of cooperation.

Such a new world order, he said could ensure that there were unconditional multilateral trade systems, serious commitment to tackle conflicts and climate change, as well as comprehensive plans to support poorer countries.

The forum, initiated by the German President four years ago to create a platform for dialogue among African and German leaders and stakeholders to discuss ways of making the partnership between Africa and Germany more productive, had the theme, “Barriers to partnership- how to overcome them.”

Hosted by Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and the German President, the forum was Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama of Ghana, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso and Meles Zenawi, Ethiopian Prime Minister, along with Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission and 50 selected prominent personalities in politics, business, industry and civil society from across Africa and Europe.

Opening the forum, the Nigerian President lauded the objectives of the forum and asked all stakeholders to view the partnership between the two continents with “new hope, mutual trust and respect.”

That, he said would engender a formidable platform for genuine partnership and cooperation.

Be fair to all--Jugdes told

By Edmund Mingle
October 5, 2008

The 51st Legal Year opened last Saturday with a call on the Judiciary to be fair and give justice to all.

“Use your power of justice with wisdom and vision, and let your justice be a region of morality and peace,” the Most Reverend John Sentamu, Archbishop of York told members of the Judiciary at a special church service in Accra on Saturday to open the legal year.

The service, which had the theme, “Access to justice: consolidating judicial accountability and integrity,” was attended by the members of the Bench and Bar, the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, government officials and justices from South Africa.

Most Rev. Setanu, preaching the sermon, reminded the judiciary of the need to ensure high level of morality and equity in their dealings with society saying, “no one is neither above nor below the law.”

He said how they conducted themselves in the administration of justice largely depended in the values they believed in, and asked them to uphold the values of faith, trust, liberty, justice and allegiance to country.

“We reject these values at our own peril,” said Most Rev. Setanu, a former Justice of Uganda.

He reminded the judiciary of the need to an influence on society with the tenets of justice, and asked them to consider using the power entrusted to them for socio-economic development.

He prayed to God to grant the Judiciary the ability to perform its best at all times and prayed for a successful legal year.

As part of the service, officiated by Most Rev. Justice Ofei Akrofi, Primate and Anglican Archbishop of West Africa, prayers were offered for the nation, the President, the Chief Justice, the judiciary, and the Bar Association for God’s guidance through the legal year.

In her goodwill message, the Chief Justice Her Ladyship Justice Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood gave the assurance that the judiciary would deepen the country’s democratic values “through the pursuit of accountability and integrity enhancing initiatives.”

As the nation prepares for the December election, she recognized that “it has become increasingly clear that a truly impartial, independent and effective judiciary is a a sine qua non to national peace and stability.”

“In this 51st legal year, May God continue to grant us divine favour and endow us with knowledge, insight and understanding in our work, and may he keep us in peace and safety,” the Chief Justice prayed.