By Edmund Mingle
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
The government is developing a new code of ethics for public officials as part of measures to check corruption and improve productivity, Vice President John Dramani Mahama, has announced.
He said the government was refining existing codes of ethics in the public sector to ensure that public officials work within a specified framework that would plug loopholes for corruption.
Speaking at a meeting with a South African business delegation that is promoting ethics in the business sector, at the Castle, Osu in Accra on Monday, Mr Mahama said the new code would ensure that offending officials answer for breaching the provisions of the code.
“There is no doubt about the political will to fight corruption,” he told the delegation led by the Right Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong Manso, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and Graham Power, Chairman of Power Group of Companies, a South Africa based leading civil engineering firm that is also championing transparency and integrity in the African business community.
The Vice President also spoke of the government’s new assets declaration regime, in which the government was encouraging all public office holders to declare their assets and have it gazetted for public scrutiny, saying the new regime was a departure from the situation where “records of declared assets were locked under key.”
That, he said, was an indication that the government was fighting corruption by “will and deed.”
He lauded the work of the Power group of companies and said their objectives were in line with government’s desire to promote transparency in all spheres of the Ghanaian society.
Touching on business, Vice President Mahama, asked the company to consider investing in the agricultural industry since the sector had the potential to significantly cut poverty, especially in the rural areas.
He also urged the Presbyterian Church to increase its investments in the agricultural sector in support of government agenda to modernise agriculture industry, and assured of government support.
Mr. Power, who stopped over in Ghana on his way to Cote d’Ivoire for a “Global Day of Prayer,” a programme that brings together millions of people, especially from the business community across Africa and beyond to pray together, said the company had through its advocacy work, been encouraging its partners and other firms to do business with companies that uphold ethical principles and transparency.
“We have been challenging leaders in governance and business to be ethical, faithful, transparent, and to report fraud,” he said.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Manhyia Coming With A 40-Man Team
By Edmund Mingle
Thursday, 26 March 2009
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will, on Monday, lead a 40-man delegation of chiefs from Asanteman to the Castle, in Accra, to formally congratulate President J.E.A. Mills on his assumption of office.
This was contained in a press statement issued yesterday by Presidential Spokesman Mahama Ayariga, detailing some activities the President is to undertake.
According to the statement, the President will tomorrow, visit the Jubilee Oilfield in the Western Region, as part of a familiarisation tour of on-going economic development projects in the country.
The President will arrive at the Takoradi Airforce base in the morning and proceed to the oil rig where he would be shown around and briefed extensively, on operations of the rig by Tullow Oil executives including the CEO, who is flying in specifically for the visit by the President.
On his return from the oil rig, President Mills will be in Cape Coast where a durbar of chiefs and people of the Central Region is expected to be held at the Victoria Park on Saturday, March 28, in his honour.
On Sunday, March 29, the Oguaaman Union will host the President to a special luncheon after a church service at the Pentecost Church, near Adisadel College, Cape Coast, to round off his activities in the region.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will, on Monday, lead a 40-man delegation of chiefs from Asanteman to the Castle, in Accra, to formally congratulate President J.E.A. Mills on his assumption of office.
This was contained in a press statement issued yesterday by Presidential Spokesman Mahama Ayariga, detailing some activities the President is to undertake.
According to the statement, the President will tomorrow, visit the Jubilee Oilfield in the Western Region, as part of a familiarisation tour of on-going economic development projects in the country.
The President will arrive at the Takoradi Airforce base in the morning and proceed to the oil rig where he would be shown around and briefed extensively, on operations of the rig by Tullow Oil executives including the CEO, who is flying in specifically for the visit by the President.
On his return from the oil rig, President Mills will be in Cape Coast where a durbar of chiefs and people of the Central Region is expected to be held at the Victoria Park on Saturday, March 28, in his honour.
On Sunday, March 29, the Oguaaman Union will host the President to a special luncheon after a church service at the Pentecost Church, near Adisadel College, Cape Coast, to round off his activities in the region.
President Invited To Buruli Ulcer Summit
By Edmund Mingle
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
President John Evans Atta Mills has expressed the government’s commitment to significantly contribute to the fight against deadly diseases such as Buruli Ulcer on the African continent, and to improve the health conditions of the citizenry.
“Everything that will improve the health of our people is worth supporting,” he told a delegation from Benin that called on him at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
The team was here to deliver an invitation from Benin’s President, Dr Thomas Yayi Boni, for President Mills to attend to the Second International Conference and Research on ulcers in Cotonou, Benin.
The President noted the debilitating effect of buruli ulcers, especially among the poor in Africa, said Ghana attached importance to the upcoming conference and other initiatives towards eradicating the disease.
He thanked President Yayi Boni for the invitation, and commended Benin , the World Health Organisation and other partners, for the organisation of the conference, and promised that Ghana would be “strongly represented”.
Professor Issifou Takpara, Benin’s Minister of Health who led the delegation, told newsmen after the meeting that the five-day conference, scheduled to start on March 30, was part of an international initiative to focus more attention on controlling the disease.
The Benin conference a follow up to the first conference held in July, 1998 in Côte d'Ivoire, is expected to be attended by hundreds of delegations from endemic countries, development partners, policy makers, scientists and representatives of civil society groups.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
President John Evans Atta Mills has expressed the government’s commitment to significantly contribute to the fight against deadly diseases such as Buruli Ulcer on the African continent, and to improve the health conditions of the citizenry.
“Everything that will improve the health of our people is worth supporting,” he told a delegation from Benin that called on him at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
The team was here to deliver an invitation from Benin’s President, Dr Thomas Yayi Boni, for President Mills to attend to the Second International Conference and Research on ulcers in Cotonou, Benin.
The President noted the debilitating effect of buruli ulcers, especially among the poor in Africa, said Ghana attached importance to the upcoming conference and other initiatives towards eradicating the disease.
He thanked President Yayi Boni for the invitation, and commended Benin , the World Health Organisation and other partners, for the organisation of the conference, and promised that Ghana would be “strongly represented”.
Professor Issifou Takpara, Benin’s Minister of Health who led the delegation, told newsmen after the meeting that the five-day conference, scheduled to start on March 30, was part of an international initiative to focus more attention on controlling the disease.
The Benin conference a follow up to the first conference held in July, 1998 in Côte d'Ivoire, is expected to be attended by hundreds of delegations from endemic countries, development partners, policy makers, scientists and representatives of civil society groups.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Stanbic Votes $100m To Support Agric
By Edmund Mingle
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Ghana is to benefit from a 100 million dollar agricultural financing scheme being supported by the Standard Bank Group and other partners as part of efforts to modernise the agricultural sector in the country.
Jacko Maree, Chief Executive of the group, the largest bank in Africa, who informed President John Evans Atta Mills during a courtesy call at the Castle, Osu, yesterday, said the facility was part of the bank’s programme to support the revamping of the agricultural industries in Africa.
A Memorandum of Understanding for Ghanaian farmers and agro-processing enterprises to benefit from the financing scheme would be signed today.
The facility, which is a collaborative programme among the bank, the Kofi Annan Alliance for Green Evolution in Africa, the Millennium Challenge Account and the Rocky Fella Foundation, is a four-nation facility including Tanzania , Uganda and Mozambique
. Mr. Maree did not indicate the criteria for the selection of the four beneficiary countries but said “we want to help the government to support the growth of the agricultural sector.”
In addition, he explained that the bank would be investing in the petro-chemical industry and the agro-processing industry.
“We are proud to be associated with Ghana ,” he said, and commended the country for peaceful election and political transition which has increased the confidence in the country’s economy.
President Mills, in his remarks, lauded the financial intervention of the bank and its partners, describing it as timely for Ghana .
He reiterated government’s determination to modernise the agriculture sector to increase food production, saying that although the economy was largely dependent on the sector, it has been under-developed.
The President was optimistic that the support would significantly complement government’s efforts at achieving food sufficiency and exports, as well as decreasing the level of food imports.
He commended the bank for the initiative and urged other financial institutions to emulate the intervention to provide viable solutions to financial challenges confronting farmers.
Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, who accompanied the delegation, said the assistance of the banks fall in line with the government’s agenda of modernising agriculture which was critical for economic growth.
Also at the Castle to see the President was a delegation from Tianshi Health and Business Consultancy, producers of herbal supplements, who briefed the President about the operations of the company.
John Gasper Annan, Country Director of the Company, with its headquarters in China , called for government’s assistance to enable the company establish a local production factory and a supermarket in Ghana.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Ghana is to benefit from a 100 million dollar agricultural financing scheme being supported by the Standard Bank Group and other partners as part of efforts to modernise the agricultural sector in the country.
Jacko Maree, Chief Executive of the group, the largest bank in Africa, who informed President John Evans Atta Mills during a courtesy call at the Castle, Osu, yesterday, said the facility was part of the bank’s programme to support the revamping of the agricultural industries in Africa.
A Memorandum of Understanding for Ghanaian farmers and agro-processing enterprises to benefit from the financing scheme would be signed today.
The facility, which is a collaborative programme among the bank, the Kofi Annan Alliance for Green Evolution in Africa, the Millennium Challenge Account and the Rocky Fella Foundation, is a four-nation facility including Tanzania , Uganda and Mozambique
. Mr. Maree did not indicate the criteria for the selection of the four beneficiary countries but said “we want to help the government to support the growth of the agricultural sector.”
In addition, he explained that the bank would be investing in the petro-chemical industry and the agro-processing industry.
“We are proud to be associated with Ghana ,” he said, and commended the country for peaceful election and political transition which has increased the confidence in the country’s economy.
President Mills, in his remarks, lauded the financial intervention of the bank and its partners, describing it as timely for Ghana .
He reiterated government’s determination to modernise the agriculture sector to increase food production, saying that although the economy was largely dependent on the sector, it has been under-developed.
The President was optimistic that the support would significantly complement government’s efforts at achieving food sufficiency and exports, as well as decreasing the level of food imports.
He commended the bank for the initiative and urged other financial institutions to emulate the intervention to provide viable solutions to financial challenges confronting farmers.
Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, who accompanied the delegation, said the assistance of the banks fall in line with the government’s agenda of modernising agriculture which was critical for economic growth.
Also at the Castle to see the President was a delegation from Tianshi Health and Business Consultancy, producers of herbal supplements, who briefed the President about the operations of the company.
John Gasper Annan, Country Director of the Company, with its headquarters in China , called for government’s assistance to enable the company establish a local production factory and a supermarket in Ghana.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
GE here to explore investment opportunities
By Edmund Mingle
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
A delegation from General Electric (GE), a multinational business entity investing in various fields, yesterday called on President John Evans Atta Mills, at the Castle, Osu in Accra, with the aim of finding which areas the company could invest to support the government’s economic drive.
According to the company, the recent peaceful political transition, coupled with country’s economic prospects, have given them an incredible confidence and faith in the Ghanaian economy.
Lazarus Angbazo, President and Chief Executive Officer (Sub-Sahara Africa) of GE, who led a delegation to the Castle, told the President that “we are happy about the prospects and how we can work together.”
He did not say which areas of the economy the company would be immediately investing in but said informed the President that GE has appreciable investments in the energy, health infrastructure, oil and gas, aviation and railway sectors among others.
He explained that the meeting was to afford the company the opportunity to know where the government would want to have the company’s investment in line with the government’s goals.
GE’s desire to invest in Ghana, he said was part of the company’s programme to focus more on investing in emerging markets, especially in Africa.
President Mills, in his remarks, described the visit as timely since it came at a time the government was getting started with programmes and investment initiatives towards creating jobs and building the necessary infrastructure for socio-economic development.
He welcomed the investment by GE and assured them of government’s support by creating a friendly business environment through removing all bottlenecks.
As government provides a good environment for them to invest, he reminded them as well as all investors of the need for them work within the legal framework in the country.
President Mills reiterated the government’s determination to be transparent in its dealings, adding that his administration wanted to ensure that the masses benefited from the resources of the country.
General Electric develops, manufactures, and markets a wide variety of products for the generation, transmission, distribution, control and utilization of electricity and provides a wide array of products such as aircraft engines, electronic appliances (kitchen and laundry appliances), industrial products and systems (lighting, electrical distribution, and control equipment), and materials (plastics, silicones, laminates, and abrasives).
In addition, GE, which is currently operating in 160 countries across the globe, offers a broad array of financial services including consumer, commercial, and industrial financing.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
A delegation from General Electric (GE), a multinational business entity investing in various fields, yesterday called on President John Evans Atta Mills, at the Castle, Osu in Accra, with the aim of finding which areas the company could invest to support the government’s economic drive.
According to the company, the recent peaceful political transition, coupled with country’s economic prospects, have given them an incredible confidence and faith in the Ghanaian economy.
Lazarus Angbazo, President and Chief Executive Officer (Sub-Sahara Africa) of GE, who led a delegation to the Castle, told the President that “we are happy about the prospects and how we can work together.”
He did not say which areas of the economy the company would be immediately investing in but said informed the President that GE has appreciable investments in the energy, health infrastructure, oil and gas, aviation and railway sectors among others.
He explained that the meeting was to afford the company the opportunity to know where the government would want to have the company’s investment in line with the government’s goals.
GE’s desire to invest in Ghana, he said was part of the company’s programme to focus more on investing in emerging markets, especially in Africa.
President Mills, in his remarks, described the visit as timely since it came at a time the government was getting started with programmes and investment initiatives towards creating jobs and building the necessary infrastructure for socio-economic development.
He welcomed the investment by GE and assured them of government’s support by creating a friendly business environment through removing all bottlenecks.
As government provides a good environment for them to invest, he reminded them as well as all investors of the need for them work within the legal framework in the country.
President Mills reiterated the government’s determination to be transparent in its dealings, adding that his administration wanted to ensure that the masses benefited from the resources of the country.
General Electric develops, manufactures, and markets a wide variety of products for the generation, transmission, distribution, control and utilization of electricity and provides a wide array of products such as aircraft engines, electronic appliances (kitchen and laundry appliances), industrial products and systems (lighting, electrical distribution, and control equipment), and materials (plastics, silicones, laminates, and abrasives).
In addition, GE, which is currently operating in 160 countries across the globe, offers a broad array of financial services including consumer, commercial, and industrial financing.
First batch deputy Ministers sworn in
By Edmund Mingle
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
The President, John Evans Atta Mills yesterday swore into office the first batch of five deputy Ministers with a charge to them to work for the good of the country.
Also sworn in were three Ministers of State at the Presidency
The deputy Ministers are Mrs. Elizabeth Amoah-Tetteh and Dr. Joseph Annan, both for Education, Dr Kwabena Donkor and Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, both for Energy, and Seth Emmanuel Terkper for Finance.
Those sworn in as Ministers of State at the Presidency are Alhaji Seidu Amadu, Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo and Kwajo Tawiah Likpalimor.
President Mills, after swearing them in at the Castle, Osu in Accra, admonished the deputy ministers against undermining their Ministers, and rather assist them to undertake the mandates of the respective Ministries.
He said the credit would go to the deputy ministers as well if their Ministers were able to achieve their goals, saying “we are here to work as a team.”
President Mills also cautioned the Ministers of State against abuse of office.
He said the fact that they would be operating from the Castle, does not make them superior over other Ministers working outside the Castle, and therefore urged them to collaborate and work together towards advancing the welfare of Ghanaians.
The President reiterated the need for them to be humble and honest, reminding them that being a Minister was not a right but a privilege which they should take advantage of to promote the welfare of the people in accordance with the mission and vision of the government.
Brigadier-General (Rtd) Nunoo Mensah, National Security Advisor, sharing his experience with the ministers, asked them to be focused on addressing the problems of poverty confronting the lot of Ghanaians, and to avoid the temptation of amassing wealth.
Alhaji Seidu Amadu, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the President for the opportunity offered them to serve in his administration.
“We shall do all that is possible to in our individual capabilities and collective responsibility to assist you to achieve your goal of building a better Ghana,” he said.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
The President, John Evans Atta Mills yesterday swore into office the first batch of five deputy Ministers with a charge to them to work for the good of the country.
Also sworn in were three Ministers of State at the Presidency
The deputy Ministers are Mrs. Elizabeth Amoah-Tetteh and Dr. Joseph Annan, both for Education, Dr Kwabena Donkor and Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, both for Energy, and Seth Emmanuel Terkper for Finance.
Those sworn in as Ministers of State at the Presidency are Alhaji Seidu Amadu, Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo and Kwajo Tawiah Likpalimor.
President Mills, after swearing them in at the Castle, Osu in Accra, admonished the deputy ministers against undermining their Ministers, and rather assist them to undertake the mandates of the respective Ministries.
He said the credit would go to the deputy ministers as well if their Ministers were able to achieve their goals, saying “we are here to work as a team.”
President Mills also cautioned the Ministers of State against abuse of office.
He said the fact that they would be operating from the Castle, does not make them superior over other Ministers working outside the Castle, and therefore urged them to collaborate and work together towards advancing the welfare of Ghanaians.
The President reiterated the need for them to be humble and honest, reminding them that being a Minister was not a right but a privilege which they should take advantage of to promote the welfare of the people in accordance with the mission and vision of the government.
Brigadier-General (Rtd) Nunoo Mensah, National Security Advisor, sharing his experience with the ministers, asked them to be focused on addressing the problems of poverty confronting the lot of Ghanaians, and to avoid the temptation of amassing wealth.
Alhaji Seidu Amadu, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the President for the opportunity offered them to serve in his administration.
“We shall do all that is possible to in our individual capabilities and collective responsibility to assist you to achieve your goal of building a better Ghana,” he said.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Mumuni accuses NDC of leaving him in the lurch
By Edmund Mingle
Monday,16 March 2009
Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has criticized the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for not going to his aid when he encountered accusations of corruption from the opposition New Patriotic Party during his recent Parliamentary vetting before becoming minister.The Minister, who sounded very bitter as he made his grievance known during a retreat of Ministers and Deputy Ministers at GIMPA in Accra on Saturday, said he expected his party to have intervened in the matter.He said he considered himself a captive in the diabolic scheme of the NPP. "I was all alone and had to fight them all by myself," he said at the retreat, which some believe was not the right platform to address party issues.The Minority side of the Vetting Committee in Parliament maintained during his vetting that Alhaji Mumuni had corruption charges to answer, citing alleged misapplication of funds in an audit report relating to the operations of the NVTI when he was Minister of Employment and Social Welfare in the previous NDC administration.Alhaji Mumuni maintained his innocence and indicated that there was no such audit report in existence. He also explained that no such report had ever been sent to Parliament.Consequently, the Minority side boycotted his vetting and objected to him becoming a Minister, but Alhaji Mumuni sailed through with a majority vote.What may have broken Alhaji Mumuni’s heart, according to him was the fact that some of the leading members of the NDC secretly supported the action by the NPP.The Minister poured out his feelings, saying that although he was not indicting his party, he expected the NDC to have come to his rescue during the tough times.President Mills, responding, told the retreat that he, together with other leading members, met Alhaji Mumuni to discuss the issue for solutions.Although he did not hold brief for the party, he said he felt that he and the other members of government who met the Minister were also members of the party who have found themselves in government, and therefore Alhaji Mumuni could have considered it as an intervention by the party.Responding also to a call by Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communication on the need for the government to carry out its promises especially those which they said would be done in the first l00 days, such as the Freedom of Information Bill, President Mills gave the assurance that “we will do all things possible to fulfill the promises."
Source:Ghanaian Times
Source:Ghanaian Times
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