A Director of Third World Network (TWN), Malaysia, Mr Martin Khor, yesterday said the neglect and dismantling of good agricultural interventions of the governments of less-developed nations by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in the late 1980s had currently worsened the development challenges of those countries.
He has, therefore, suggested that developing countries nurture their agricultural sector to ensure their development.
He said the conditions that made agriculture successful in the 1970s and 1980s in most developing countries, such as marketing boards, subsidies, provision of seeds, fertilizer and equipment, loans for farmers and farmer cooperatives, and well coordinated market and factory links resulted in making them self-sufficient in the production of rice and other food crops.
That, he pointed out, needed to be brought back on the development agenda.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic on the eve of the closing of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Mr Khor, an economist, journalist and writer of several books, shared his views on the global food insecurities and the conference.
He deplored the neglect of the sector by major donor agencies, but worse of all, he said, was the coercion by the World Bank and the IMF for governments of developing countries to lower their tariffs on agricultural produce to the current tariff rate of 20 per cent, when they were entitled to a 90 per cent tariff rate under WTO rules.
He pointed out that while wrong tariffs were being forced on developing countries to stifle their productive capacity in agriculture, rice in the US was heavily subsidised for it to sell at 34 per cent below the cost of production.
“In fact my study and research of farmers, rice and particularly poultry production in Ghana is very sad. The once thriving poultry industry has been brought to its knees”, said.
He recounted the case in 2003 when under pressure from poultry farmers, the government decided to raise the tariffs to 40 per cent, but the IMF and World Bank insisted on 20 per cent or a withdrawal of loans.
He described the situation as ridiculous, adding that governments of developing countries were not to blame but donor agencies that used double standards in dealing with developing and developed countries.
“They demand of us to get rid of our subsidies to our farmers and reduce tariffs. It is criminal of them that they superintend over distortions in the market, when they are supposed to be against people who do that.”
Mr Khor likened the situation to two countries, with one stockpiling conventional weapons, nuclear and chemical, and the other with nothing to defend itself.
“And even with nothing they tell you that you are not allowed to defend yourself”, he said.
All these had caused food production to be below what developing countries like Ghana, Cameroon and Senegal could produce.
He called for a policy change by the international financing agencies to help address the problem.
He said the UN, Japan, and EU, which controlled the IMF and World Bank had to be sincere and tell them to allow developing countries to increase their tariffs to a level where they could protect farmers to feed themselves.
Secondly, once the policy change was in place then the countries could increase their tariffs and better the lot of farmers through appropriate gain from their productivity.
He said the right technology and application of good farming methods such as organic farming could regenerate the fields of Africa to enhance its productivity.
In the long run, the developing countries had to take the decision to produce more for their own needs and if they did not even become totally self-sufficient, they had to become mainly self-sufficient, he said.
On the conference itself, Mr Khor said civil society organisations were a critical part of the process of development and trade and had been given the necessary collaboration from the UNCTAD XII.
However, he said, it would have been better if more members of civil society organisations had been invited to the panel discussions for more varied and exacting interaction.
On the administrative side, Mr Khor said he had no regrets except that some documents from the session, meant for delegates and participants, were received late.
TWN, Africa, convened the civil society organisation forum that was organised prior to the forum and organised other activities concurrent to the main meetings.
DAILY GRAPHIC, SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2008, PG 34
Friday, May 30, 2008
UNPUBLISHED, DONE THURSDAY 24, APRIL 2008
A Spokesperson for the 12th Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Mr Tafferre Tesfachew, yesterday said the development challenges of developing countries, though daunting, were possible within the current generation.
“We are lucky enough to have lived in an era in which countries in Asia witnessed transformation in their economies and that gives us hope,” he told the Daily Graphic after a press briefing on some sessions of UNCTAD XII in Accra.
Trade among African countries makes up only 10 per cent of total trade on the continent, which is primarily with European countries.
Nearly half of all trade in Asia is among Asian nations themselves, while trade among European countries makes up about 60 per cent of the total trade.
These figures were given by Mr Tesfachew to show that Africa still had to catch up on trade among its countries.
He said with integration, the right policies and the will to follow through, the rapid development of less developed countries would be sooner than later.
Stressing the benefits of trade among African countries, he said if trade links were expanded and made stronger, disturbances in the economies of other regions would not adversely impact African countries.
Mr Tesfachew, who is also the Chief of the Office of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, said the future of developing countries held great opportunity, saying that they were now were showing increasing confidence on how they wanted to develop.
“Some have also become important players in trade and a lot of groupings have emerged, such as the Group of 77, the ACP countries and the group of 50 less development countries (LDC) which are now seen bonding together and negotiating,” he added.
He said Africans needed to strengthen not only their trade links but also harmonise their regional policies on customs and the movement of persons, for instance.
“We are lucky enough to have lived in an era in which countries in Asia witnessed transformation in their economies and that gives us hope,” he told the Daily Graphic after a press briefing on some sessions of UNCTAD XII in Accra.
Trade among African countries makes up only 10 per cent of total trade on the continent, which is primarily with European countries.
Nearly half of all trade in Asia is among Asian nations themselves, while trade among European countries makes up about 60 per cent of the total trade.
These figures were given by Mr Tesfachew to show that Africa still had to catch up on trade among its countries.
He said with integration, the right policies and the will to follow through, the rapid development of less developed countries would be sooner than later.
Stressing the benefits of trade among African countries, he said if trade links were expanded and made stronger, disturbances in the economies of other regions would not adversely impact African countries.
Mr Tesfachew, who is also the Chief of the Office of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, said the future of developing countries held great opportunity, saying that they were now were showing increasing confidence on how they wanted to develop.
“Some have also become important players in trade and a lot of groupings have emerged, such as the Group of 77, the ACP countries and the group of 50 less development countries (LDC) which are now seen bonding together and negotiating,” he added.
He said Africans needed to strengthen not only their trade links but also harmonise their regional policies on customs and the movement of persons, for instance.
GLOBALISATION: NEW MANAGEMENT NEEDED
THE Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Mr Supachai Panitchpakdi, yesterday stressed the need for a new global management system, which he called the “second generation of globalisation”.
Drawing a distinction, he pointed out that the first wave of globalisation was characterised by the uneven relationship between northern developed countries and less developed countries of the south, and accentuated the donor-recipient, rich-poor divisions of the world.
“The second generation of globalisation calls for a new global management for all to participate and share in the management and benefits of the process,” he told delegates and participants at the 12th Session of UNCTAD in Accra.
This was during an interactive session on the theme “Emergence of a new South-South trade as a vehicle for regional and interregional integration for development”.
Mr Supachai said an alternative means of sharing the benefits of the new wave of globalisation more equitably ought to be found to make the world order tilted towards more happy nations.
In the interim, UNCATAD is working with international agencies such as the World Bank and other affiliate organisations on the equitable share of the gains of globalisation.
Sharing his thoughts on the emergence of the increases in trade among developing countries, commonly known as South-South trade, which is most common among developing economies in Asia, Mr Supachai listed certain features for consideration by delegates.
The first was the insatiable demand for energy and minerals that resulted in growth in the extractive industries.
He, however, noted that the gains were not kept in the country as revenue was siphoned abroad, while capacities of local and indigenous people were not built and skills were not transferred.
He said that meant that the requisite knowledge and skills for real economic growth was not developed.
Coupled with that, he pointed out market access was still limited to the most significant and already established networks.
Another feature characterising South-South trade, Mr Supachai said, had to do with the opportunities created in the Doha Development Agenda for discussions within the trade groupings.
He advised that in seeking solutions to challenges in trade, all had to endeavour not to create new problems while unity had to underpin all negotiations within the Doha agenda.
Concerning the possible advantages that less developing African countries could achieve from South-South trade arrangements, the Secretary General said UNCTAD, in its Trade and Development Report of 2007, showed that integrative efforts among countries of similar economic and development capacities resulted in a boost in the various sectors of their economies.
He said for Africa to attract more FDI???????, there was the need for integration, as the differences in trade rules and regulations at borders, as well as the different barriers in all the countries, made it impossible to attract such facility.
A Commissioner of Trade, Customs and Free Movement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Alhaji Mohammed B. Daramy, said although the European Union (EU) had been Africa’s biggest trading partner for a considerable number of years, Africa’s share of trade with it had consistently declined.
He stressed the need for Africa to have an integrated system in trade and economics, before the Economic Partnership Agreement ((EPA) should be signed.
“Market access alone cannot bring development and we will not sign any paper just for trade,” he added.
Alhaji Daramy deplored the current global food crisis, attributing it in part to the lack of commitment of the traditional trading partners of Africa to helping with the infrastructural development for enhancing the productive capacity in food crops.
With the changing global order, he told delegates that African countries were no longer comfortable as producers and suppliers of raw materials but wanted to add value to their produce and UNCTAD had to facilitate that.
When he took his turn, the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry of South Africa, Mr Robert Davies, said the South-South trade had the significant potential of contributing to development in the new world.
He said the opportunities included value addition of primary commodities, the potential for diversified trading that could pull all developing countries towards growth.
Mr Davies impressed upon delegates that regional integration of African countries was an imperative as they engaged with countries of the South, but addressing the supply capacity constraints of African countries was crucial.
Other contributors at the session included representatives of Oman, Japan, Singapore, and China, who shared experiences in regional integration, their willingness to engage Africa and the opportunities and challenges.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business, Barbados, Mr Christopher Sinckler, who moderated the session, said it was critical for African countries to have a united front in the emerging global trends.
DAILY GRAPHIC, FRIDAY,APRIL 25, 2008, PG 20 (SPREAD)
Drawing a distinction, he pointed out that the first wave of globalisation was characterised by the uneven relationship between northern developed countries and less developed countries of the south, and accentuated the donor-recipient, rich-poor divisions of the world.
“The second generation of globalisation calls for a new global management for all to participate and share in the management and benefits of the process,” he told delegates and participants at the 12th Session of UNCTAD in Accra.
This was during an interactive session on the theme “Emergence of a new South-South trade as a vehicle for regional and interregional integration for development”.
Mr Supachai said an alternative means of sharing the benefits of the new wave of globalisation more equitably ought to be found to make the world order tilted towards more happy nations.
In the interim, UNCATAD is working with international agencies such as the World Bank and other affiliate organisations on the equitable share of the gains of globalisation.
Sharing his thoughts on the emergence of the increases in trade among developing countries, commonly known as South-South trade, which is most common among developing economies in Asia, Mr Supachai listed certain features for consideration by delegates.
The first was the insatiable demand for energy and minerals that resulted in growth in the extractive industries.
He, however, noted that the gains were not kept in the country as revenue was siphoned abroad, while capacities of local and indigenous people were not built and skills were not transferred.
He said that meant that the requisite knowledge and skills for real economic growth was not developed.
Coupled with that, he pointed out market access was still limited to the most significant and already established networks.
Another feature characterising South-South trade, Mr Supachai said, had to do with the opportunities created in the Doha Development Agenda for discussions within the trade groupings.
He advised that in seeking solutions to challenges in trade, all had to endeavour not to create new problems while unity had to underpin all negotiations within the Doha agenda.
Concerning the possible advantages that less developing African countries could achieve from South-South trade arrangements, the Secretary General said UNCTAD, in its Trade and Development Report of 2007, showed that integrative efforts among countries of similar economic and development capacities resulted in a boost in the various sectors of their economies.
He said for Africa to attract more FDI???????, there was the need for integration, as the differences in trade rules and regulations at borders, as well as the different barriers in all the countries, made it impossible to attract such facility.
A Commissioner of Trade, Customs and Free Movement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Alhaji Mohammed B. Daramy, said although the European Union (EU) had been Africa’s biggest trading partner for a considerable number of years, Africa’s share of trade with it had consistently declined.
He stressed the need for Africa to have an integrated system in trade and economics, before the Economic Partnership Agreement ((EPA) should be signed.
“Market access alone cannot bring development and we will not sign any paper just for trade,” he added.
Alhaji Daramy deplored the current global food crisis, attributing it in part to the lack of commitment of the traditional trading partners of Africa to helping with the infrastructural development for enhancing the productive capacity in food crops.
With the changing global order, he told delegates that African countries were no longer comfortable as producers and suppliers of raw materials but wanted to add value to their produce and UNCTAD had to facilitate that.
When he took his turn, the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry of South Africa, Mr Robert Davies, said the South-South trade had the significant potential of contributing to development in the new world.
He said the opportunities included value addition of primary commodities, the potential for diversified trading that could pull all developing countries towards growth.
Mr Davies impressed upon delegates that regional integration of African countries was an imperative as they engaged with countries of the South, but addressing the supply capacity constraints of African countries was crucial.
Other contributors at the session included representatives of Oman, Japan, Singapore, and China, who shared experiences in regional integration, their willingness to engage Africa and the opportunities and challenges.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business, Barbados, Mr Christopher Sinckler, who moderated the session, said it was critical for African countries to have a united front in the emerging global trends.
DAILY GRAPHIC, FRIDAY,APRIL 25, 2008, PG 20 (SPREAD)
THREE WOMEN HONOURED AT UNCTAD XII
The maiden EMPRETEC Women in Business Awards was held on Monday at the ongoing 12th ministerial session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII) with three women winning prizes for study tours to enhance their entrepreneurial skills.
The three who were chosen from 10 nominees from developing countries received $6,000, $3,000, and $1,500 respectively.
They were Ms Sanaa Zaal Burgen of Jordan, who won the first study tour cash prize of $6,000, Ms Sapphira Nyabunwa of Uganda who came second, took the second study tour cash prize of $3,000 and Ms Augustina Hammond, a Ghanaian, won the bronze award with a cash prize of $1,500 for a study tour.
Ms Burgen of Jordan founded Med Grant that promotes medical services in her country to clients world- wide.
Through her website, called JoHealth.com, she provides accurate medical information for patients all over the world to access and arrange for treatment in the country.
The site also summarises scientific research carried out by Jordanian doctors and provides a market place where buyers of medical equipment find suppliers.
Coupled with that, she also does charity work related to disease prevention and women’s health.
The estimated value of her business is $450,000.
The second award winner, Ms Nyabunwa of Uganda, runs Safi Cleaning Services Ltd, a cleaning firm based in Kampala that provides professional cleaning services, including lawn cleaning, fumigation, garbage collection, dry cleaning and commercial laundry work to individuals and corporate clients such as Shell Uganda, Stanbic Bank, Total Uganda, and the World Food Programme.
She employs 800 people and her business makes a monthly turnover of $88,000.
Ms Hammond of Ghana, who won the third prize, founded Jem Afrik Creations Limited, an afro-ethnic clothing range, from casual wear to business apparel and evening dresses.
She begun in 1986 with a single employee but now has 55 permanent staff and has trained and mentored 15 workers who have set up their own businesses and function as sub contractors and registered sales representatives in the United States, the Caribbean and southern Africa.
EMPRETEC is an initiative of UNCTAD, launched in Argentina in 1988, to promote entrepreneurship in developing countries.
It was initiated as a result of studies which showed that healthy economic growth depended on the creation of small and medium scale businesses.
Since its inception, the programme has nurtured over 120,000 entrepreneurs in 27 developing countries.
In his remarks, the Secretary General of UNCTAD, Mr Supachai Panitchpakdi, stressed the importance of the awards ceremony, which he said was "an important complement to our discussions in the World Investment Forum".
For him, the right governmental policies and regulator framework for investment and development went hand-in-hand with a vibrant private sector and entrepreneurship.
"The role of entrepreneurial skills is crucial in development and governments should bear this in mind when developing their development strategies" he added.
Mr Panitchpakdi said a holistic and coherent policy framework was therefore essential to developing entrepreneurial skills and spurring the creation of new enterprises.
Within that framework, the complementary roles of governments, the private sector and the donor community in creating an enabling environment for business development had to be addressed.
Particularly, Mr Panitchpakdi said the roles of women deserved attention in that context, as women entrepreneurs faced the additional burden of succeeding in a business environment that was male dominated.
He described the award winners as "pioneering women" who "exemplified the spirit of entrepreneurship and the success of local development initiatives". He said they served as role models for other business women, spearheading a process of cultural change in their communities.
Mr Panitchpakdi expressed his appreciation to collaborating partners of the inaugural UNCTAD/EMPRETEC Women in Business Awards, that is, the African Technology Development Forum (ADRF), which provided planning and co-ordination of the study tours for the award winners and the government of Italy for its financial contribution to the award.
The First Lady of Ghana, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, presented the third award to Ms Hammond, while the former President of Ireland and President of Realising Rights: The Ethical Globalisation Initiatiative, Mrs Mary Robinson and the President of Finland, Ms Tarja Halonen presented the second and first prize respectively to the winners.
DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008 PG 11
The three who were chosen from 10 nominees from developing countries received $6,000, $3,000, and $1,500 respectively.
They were Ms Sanaa Zaal Burgen of Jordan, who won the first study tour cash prize of $6,000, Ms Sapphira Nyabunwa of Uganda who came second, took the second study tour cash prize of $3,000 and Ms Augustina Hammond, a Ghanaian, won the bronze award with a cash prize of $1,500 for a study tour.
Ms Burgen of Jordan founded Med Grant that promotes medical services in her country to clients world- wide.
Through her website, called JoHealth.com, she provides accurate medical information for patients all over the world to access and arrange for treatment in the country.
The site also summarises scientific research carried out by Jordanian doctors and provides a market place where buyers of medical equipment find suppliers.
Coupled with that, she also does charity work related to disease prevention and women’s health.
The estimated value of her business is $450,000.
The second award winner, Ms Nyabunwa of Uganda, runs Safi Cleaning Services Ltd, a cleaning firm based in Kampala that provides professional cleaning services, including lawn cleaning, fumigation, garbage collection, dry cleaning and commercial laundry work to individuals and corporate clients such as Shell Uganda, Stanbic Bank, Total Uganda, and the World Food Programme.
She employs 800 people and her business makes a monthly turnover of $88,000.
Ms Hammond of Ghana, who won the third prize, founded Jem Afrik Creations Limited, an afro-ethnic clothing range, from casual wear to business apparel and evening dresses.
She begun in 1986 with a single employee but now has 55 permanent staff and has trained and mentored 15 workers who have set up their own businesses and function as sub contractors and registered sales representatives in the United States, the Caribbean and southern Africa.
EMPRETEC is an initiative of UNCTAD, launched in Argentina in 1988, to promote entrepreneurship in developing countries.
It was initiated as a result of studies which showed that healthy economic growth depended on the creation of small and medium scale businesses.
Since its inception, the programme has nurtured over 120,000 entrepreneurs in 27 developing countries.
In his remarks, the Secretary General of UNCTAD, Mr Supachai Panitchpakdi, stressed the importance of the awards ceremony, which he said was "an important complement to our discussions in the World Investment Forum".
For him, the right governmental policies and regulator framework for investment and development went hand-in-hand with a vibrant private sector and entrepreneurship.
"The role of entrepreneurial skills is crucial in development and governments should bear this in mind when developing their development strategies" he added.
Mr Panitchpakdi said a holistic and coherent policy framework was therefore essential to developing entrepreneurial skills and spurring the creation of new enterprises.
Within that framework, the complementary roles of governments, the private sector and the donor community in creating an enabling environment for business development had to be addressed.
Particularly, Mr Panitchpakdi said the roles of women deserved attention in that context, as women entrepreneurs faced the additional burden of succeeding in a business environment that was male dominated.
He described the award winners as "pioneering women" who "exemplified the spirit of entrepreneurship and the success of local development initiatives". He said they served as role models for other business women, spearheading a process of cultural change in their communities.
Mr Panitchpakdi expressed his appreciation to collaborating partners of the inaugural UNCTAD/EMPRETEC Women in Business Awards, that is, the African Technology Development Forum (ADRF), which provided planning and co-ordination of the study tours for the award winners and the government of Italy for its financial contribution to the award.
The First Lady of Ghana, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, presented the third award to Ms Hammond, while the former President of Ireland and President of Realising Rights: The Ethical Globalisation Initiatiative, Mrs Mary Robinson and the President of Finland, Ms Tarja Halonen presented the second and first prize respectively to the winners.
DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008 PG 11
CIVIL SOCIETY SPEAKS ON COMMODITY BOOM
Civil society organisations have disputed the benefits of the boom in commodities, saying that farmers and mining communities which are fundamental in the extraction and production of the commodities are missing out on the benefits.
At a press conference on the theme: “The commodity Boom-Civil Society Speaks out”, Mr Mamadou Cissokho, the leader of West African Farmers; Mrs Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, a representative of mining communities in Ghana, and Mr Alistair Smith, a banana trade expert, were unanimous in asking for space to participate in policy and alternatives to policies that would enhance the lives of those at the forefront of producing the commodities.
A publication of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) titled, “Development and Globalisation: Facts and Figures”, shows that economic performance in Africa relies on commodity revenues, with growth positively correlated with trade balances.
The publication says that since 2003, “steep improvements of trade brought sizeable gains in the domestic income in several countries”, with expanding domestic demand, investments in extractive industries, growth rates and trade surpluses.
The commodity boom and its positive impact on the economies of some developing countries are featuring on the agenda at UNCTAD XII.
However, civil society organisations said the benefits being realised were limited and not spread out for hardworking farmers and communities in mining concessions to benefit and had called on UNCTAD to consider the issue and ensure an equitable spread of the benefits, as well as sustainable extraction and production of the commodities.
They noted that rather than improving the lot of the farmers and the communities lying within the concessions where some of these commodities were extracted, livelihoods were rather being threatened and destroyed.
The three representatives said current global challenges of price hikes in energy and inputs, among other things, were worsening an already bad situation.
In their submissions on solutions, they called on UNCTAD XII to consider farmers and communities lying within concessions where minerals were exploited as primary investors.
They noted that mining and oil exploration, like other commodities, had periods of extreme benefits and also periods of no benefits at all and that had to be considered so that indigenous people would not be left out.
They also called for dialogue and partnerships with UNCTAD, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Common Fund for Commodities in the equitable sharing of the benefits of the commodity boom.
“Africans must question the paradoxes of development and, as electors of leaders, change the situation for development to be really beneficial,” Mr Cissokho said, while Mrs Owusu-Koranteng pointed to the need for developing countries to do some self introspection, prioritise their needs and wants and focus on their achievements.
“No country has developed another; the people of a particular country develop the country themselves and we have to seize the opportunity now,” she said.
Mr Smith emphasised dialogue in the sharing of the benefits of the commodity boom, saying that was crucial for developing countries.
The Moderator, Ms Liz Dodd of Traidcraft, a policy advocacy non-governmental organisation, said the challenges needed an “ambitious, assertive and innovative UNCTAD”.
DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2008, SPREAD (PG 24)
At a press conference on the theme: “The commodity Boom-Civil Society Speaks out”, Mr Mamadou Cissokho, the leader of West African Farmers; Mrs Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, a representative of mining communities in Ghana, and Mr Alistair Smith, a banana trade expert, were unanimous in asking for space to participate in policy and alternatives to policies that would enhance the lives of those at the forefront of producing the commodities.
A publication of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) titled, “Development and Globalisation: Facts and Figures”, shows that economic performance in Africa relies on commodity revenues, with growth positively correlated with trade balances.
The publication says that since 2003, “steep improvements of trade brought sizeable gains in the domestic income in several countries”, with expanding domestic demand, investments in extractive industries, growth rates and trade surpluses.
The commodity boom and its positive impact on the economies of some developing countries are featuring on the agenda at UNCTAD XII.
However, civil society organisations said the benefits being realised were limited and not spread out for hardworking farmers and communities in mining concessions to benefit and had called on UNCTAD to consider the issue and ensure an equitable spread of the benefits, as well as sustainable extraction and production of the commodities.
They noted that rather than improving the lot of the farmers and the communities lying within the concessions where some of these commodities were extracted, livelihoods were rather being threatened and destroyed.
The three representatives said current global challenges of price hikes in energy and inputs, among other things, were worsening an already bad situation.
In their submissions on solutions, they called on UNCTAD XII to consider farmers and communities lying within concessions where minerals were exploited as primary investors.
They noted that mining and oil exploration, like other commodities, had periods of extreme benefits and also periods of no benefits at all and that had to be considered so that indigenous people would not be left out.
They also called for dialogue and partnerships with UNCTAD, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Common Fund for Commodities in the equitable sharing of the benefits of the commodity boom.
“Africans must question the paradoxes of development and, as electors of leaders, change the situation for development to be really beneficial,” Mr Cissokho said, while Mrs Owusu-Koranteng pointed to the need for developing countries to do some self introspection, prioritise their needs and wants and focus on their achievements.
“No country has developed another; the people of a particular country develop the country themselves and we have to seize the opportunity now,” she said.
Mr Smith emphasised dialogue in the sharing of the benefits of the commodity boom, saying that was crucial for developing countries.
The Moderator, Ms Liz Dodd of Traidcraft, a policy advocacy non-governmental organisation, said the challenges needed an “ambitious, assertive and innovative UNCTAD”.
DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2008, SPREAD (PG 24)
UNCTAD REPORT ON GLOBALISATION, DEV. LAUNCHED
A publication titled “Development and Globalisation: Facts and Figures” was launched at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting in Accra yesterday.
It summarises trends in trade, development and interrelated issues such as finance, technology, investment and sustainable development.
The report, the second after the first publication in 2004, was prepared by UNCTAD’s Division on Globalisation and Development Strategies, in collaboration with other divisions.
Launching the publication, the Director of the Globalisation and Development Strategies Division of UNCTAD, Mr Heiner Flassbeck, stressed the need for better analyses based on empirical data on globalisation and development and noted that the publication sought to do exactly that.
He said it was an improved one which highlighted important information that could help in the development of policy on trade and development and added that it would now be published annually or bi-annually.
In an overview of some of the useful data that could be used in the publication, Mr Flassbeck said capital flows and the current reversal of trends that saw developing countries becoming net exporters of capital and developed countries net importers challenged orthodox development theories.
He said analyses in the book were useful for consideration in public policy and actions.
The 76-page publication of economic statistics and analyses of economic performance trade and investments gives a snapshot of trends in global growth and composition of demand, payment balances and determinants across regions and countries, external resources and international trade in merchandise and resources.
The foreword to the book, written by the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Mr Supachai Panitchpakdi, points out the key roles being played by developing economies in the global economy.
Apart from accounting for 37 per cent of the world’s merchandise exports in 2006, many also had achieved current account surpluses that had become important providers of capital for the rest of the world, he added.
Reiterating a point made prior to the UNCTAD XII session, Mr Panitchpakdi said a second generation of globalisation was emerging, with a distinctive characteristic being economic multipolarity in which greater roles were played by the South.
“The new economic weight of some developing countries creates significant opportunities for the rest of the developing countries. It also highlights the need for policy diversity,” he said.
Meanwhile, an overview of the publication contained in a press statement released by the UNCTAD Press Unit at the launch said the ratio of per capita gross domestic product (GDP) between developed and developing countries fell from 20 to 1 in 1990 to 16 to 1 in 2006.
With only 16 per cent of the word’s population, developed nations generated 73 per cent of world nominal GDP in 2006, although the proportion was down from 80 per cent in 1992.
It said the progress on developing countries had been rapid, with all developing regions benefiting from recent growth trends. However, significant differences remained, with annual GDP expansion between 2003 and 2007 being 6.2 per cent in Asia, 3.7 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean and three per cent in Africa.
DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008, PG 55
It summarises trends in trade, development and interrelated issues such as finance, technology, investment and sustainable development.
The report, the second after the first publication in 2004, was prepared by UNCTAD’s Division on Globalisation and Development Strategies, in collaboration with other divisions.
Launching the publication, the Director of the Globalisation and Development Strategies Division of UNCTAD, Mr Heiner Flassbeck, stressed the need for better analyses based on empirical data on globalisation and development and noted that the publication sought to do exactly that.
He said it was an improved one which highlighted important information that could help in the development of policy on trade and development and added that it would now be published annually or bi-annually.
In an overview of some of the useful data that could be used in the publication, Mr Flassbeck said capital flows and the current reversal of trends that saw developing countries becoming net exporters of capital and developed countries net importers challenged orthodox development theories.
He said analyses in the book were useful for consideration in public policy and actions.
The 76-page publication of economic statistics and analyses of economic performance trade and investments gives a snapshot of trends in global growth and composition of demand, payment balances and determinants across regions and countries, external resources and international trade in merchandise and resources.
The foreword to the book, written by the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Mr Supachai Panitchpakdi, points out the key roles being played by developing economies in the global economy.
Apart from accounting for 37 per cent of the world’s merchandise exports in 2006, many also had achieved current account surpluses that had become important providers of capital for the rest of the world, he added.
Reiterating a point made prior to the UNCTAD XII session, Mr Panitchpakdi said a second generation of globalisation was emerging, with a distinctive characteristic being economic multipolarity in which greater roles were played by the South.
“The new economic weight of some developing countries creates significant opportunities for the rest of the developing countries. It also highlights the need for policy diversity,” he said.
Meanwhile, an overview of the publication contained in a press statement released by the UNCTAD Press Unit at the launch said the ratio of per capita gross domestic product (GDP) between developed and developing countries fell from 20 to 1 in 1990 to 16 to 1 in 2006.
With only 16 per cent of the word’s population, developed nations generated 73 per cent of world nominal GDP in 2006, although the proportion was down from 80 per cent in 1992.
It said the progress on developing countries had been rapid, with all developing regions benefiting from recent growth trends. However, significant differences remained, with annual GDP expansion between 2003 and 2007 being 6.2 per cent in Asia, 3.7 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean and three per cent in Africa.
DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008, PG 55
ASSIST AFRICA TO REVERSE HER DWINDLING FORTUNES - PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT John Agyekum Kufuor yesterday gave a strong indication of the need for immediate collaboration to solve global challenges, particularly those affecting Africa.
“Immediate measures should aim at reversing the dwindling fortunes of Africa in the global regime. The continent’s share of export trade fell from 5.5 per cent in 1960 to about 2.1 per cent in 1995,” he told delegates and participants at the opening of the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Accra.
President Kufuor described colonisation as “the first wave of globalisation”, which introduced some imbalance in the world economic system.
“Therefore, at the threshold of this second wave, globalisation must be driven by a high moral imperative to ensure it does not leave in its trail any losers. It should prove beneficial to all and detrimental to none,” he added.
He said UNCTAD had to be seen as the unique opportunity to give a boost to the fight against poverty and human indignity, and strategise to assist Africa and other developing nations of the world to overcome their underdevelopment, for all to reap the full benefits of globalisation.
Recalling the inaugural session of the conference in Geneva in 1964, President Kufuor said the overarching mandate then was to help developing economies and economies in transition to integrate fully into the global economy.
Trade, he said, became an important tool for development, poverty reduction and bridging the gap between rich and poor countries: However, global trade rules that were skewed against developing countries saw the initiation of special provisions, such as the Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to redress that imbalance.
“Sadly, past efforts at attaining this noble objective have been far less than wholesome. The developed world has displayed half-hearted commitment and cynicism, while the developing world also exhibits resignation and scepticism,” he said.
Emphasising the intricate linkages between development goals and policies of nations on one hand and the global economic landscape on the other, President Kufuor charged participants to use the conference as an opportunity to review the processes of empowering nations to meet the ever-changing challenges and conditions of globalisation.
He listed fair market access through special and differential treatment, especially the progressive reduction of subsidies by developed nations, South/South co-operation, aid for trade, FDI, and ODA, as issues that deserved attention at the conference.
He said these issues impacted directly on the productive and trade capacities of developing countries.
He also asked that deliberations at the conference should emphasise the symbiotic relationship that had to exist between the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and UNCTAD.
He said the conference had to be used to review the situation of WTO, and urge moderation of the positions of members.
The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki Moon, called for an urgent action by the international community to address the problem of soaring food prices currently confronting the world.
He said any failure on the part of the international community to act now could trigger a cascading effect of the current high food prices on many countries.
Sharply rising food prices have triggered food riots in recent weeks in Mexico, Morocco, Senegal, Uzbekistan, Guinea, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Yemen and aid agencies around the world worry they may be unable to feed the poorest of the poor.
The UN head said the UN was ready to move into action but would require the support of the international community for any action to succeed.
He said the problem of soaring food prices could not be attributed simply to trade-off but indicated that high transportation cost, droughts, national disasters, financial speculation and fall of the United States dollar were also contributory factors.
“We can’t delay. We need urgent action now to avoid the consequences,” he said, and underscored the need for increased agricultural production.
Mr Moon said there was no reason why Africa could not experience a green revolution, judging from the example that had been set by Malawi.
On the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Mr Ban Ki Moon underscored the need for fresh efforts, thinking and ideas, otherwise many developing countries particularly in Africa would be left behind in achieving the targets of the MDGs.
In 2000, the United Nations adopted MDGs as a development blueprint for the world. The eight targets under the MDGs range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV-AIDS and providing universal primary education by 2015.
The UN chief drew the attention of the participants to climate change as one of the most critical global challenges of now and stressed the need for concerted effort to reverse the trend.
Recent events have emphatically demonstrated the growing vulnerability to climate change. Climate change impacts will range from affecting agriculture — further endangering food security — sea-level rise and the accelerated erosion of coastal zones, increasing intensity of natural disasters, species extinction and the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Mr Moon said the UNCTAD meeting could not have been held at a better time than now to address the issues of trade and development.
He said the world was confronted with a development emergency that required fresh thinking and approach.
The theme for the Accra conference of UNCTAD XII is “Addressing the opportunities and challenges of Globalisation for Development”.
This is the second time that the conference is taking place in Africa and it comes at a time of persistent challenges in the development of African countries.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008, PG 1. REPORTING WITH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT NEHENIAH OWUSU ACHIAW
“Immediate measures should aim at reversing the dwindling fortunes of Africa in the global regime. The continent’s share of export trade fell from 5.5 per cent in 1960 to about 2.1 per cent in 1995,” he told delegates and participants at the opening of the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Accra.
President Kufuor described colonisation as “the first wave of globalisation”, which introduced some imbalance in the world economic system.
“Therefore, at the threshold of this second wave, globalisation must be driven by a high moral imperative to ensure it does not leave in its trail any losers. It should prove beneficial to all and detrimental to none,” he added.
He said UNCTAD had to be seen as the unique opportunity to give a boost to the fight against poverty and human indignity, and strategise to assist Africa and other developing nations of the world to overcome their underdevelopment, for all to reap the full benefits of globalisation.
Recalling the inaugural session of the conference in Geneva in 1964, President Kufuor said the overarching mandate then was to help developing economies and economies in transition to integrate fully into the global economy.
Trade, he said, became an important tool for development, poverty reduction and bridging the gap between rich and poor countries: However, global trade rules that were skewed against developing countries saw the initiation of special provisions, such as the Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to redress that imbalance.
“Sadly, past efforts at attaining this noble objective have been far less than wholesome. The developed world has displayed half-hearted commitment and cynicism, while the developing world also exhibits resignation and scepticism,” he said.
Emphasising the intricate linkages between development goals and policies of nations on one hand and the global economic landscape on the other, President Kufuor charged participants to use the conference as an opportunity to review the processes of empowering nations to meet the ever-changing challenges and conditions of globalisation.
He listed fair market access through special and differential treatment, especially the progressive reduction of subsidies by developed nations, South/South co-operation, aid for trade, FDI, and ODA, as issues that deserved attention at the conference.
He said these issues impacted directly on the productive and trade capacities of developing countries.
He also asked that deliberations at the conference should emphasise the symbiotic relationship that had to exist between the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and UNCTAD.
He said the conference had to be used to review the situation of WTO, and urge moderation of the positions of members.
The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki Moon, called for an urgent action by the international community to address the problem of soaring food prices currently confronting the world.
He said any failure on the part of the international community to act now could trigger a cascading effect of the current high food prices on many countries.
Sharply rising food prices have triggered food riots in recent weeks in Mexico, Morocco, Senegal, Uzbekistan, Guinea, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Yemen and aid agencies around the world worry they may be unable to feed the poorest of the poor.
The UN head said the UN was ready to move into action but would require the support of the international community for any action to succeed.
He said the problem of soaring food prices could not be attributed simply to trade-off but indicated that high transportation cost, droughts, national disasters, financial speculation and fall of the United States dollar were also contributory factors.
“We can’t delay. We need urgent action now to avoid the consequences,” he said, and underscored the need for increased agricultural production.
Mr Moon said there was no reason why Africa could not experience a green revolution, judging from the example that had been set by Malawi.
On the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Mr Ban Ki Moon underscored the need for fresh efforts, thinking and ideas, otherwise many developing countries particularly in Africa would be left behind in achieving the targets of the MDGs.
In 2000, the United Nations adopted MDGs as a development blueprint for the world. The eight targets under the MDGs range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV-AIDS and providing universal primary education by 2015.
The UN chief drew the attention of the participants to climate change as one of the most critical global challenges of now and stressed the need for concerted effort to reverse the trend.
Recent events have emphatically demonstrated the growing vulnerability to climate change. Climate change impacts will range from affecting agriculture — further endangering food security — sea-level rise and the accelerated erosion of coastal zones, increasing intensity of natural disasters, species extinction and the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Mr Moon said the UNCTAD meeting could not have been held at a better time than now to address the issues of trade and development.
He said the world was confronted with a development emergency that required fresh thinking and approach.
The theme for the Accra conference of UNCTAD XII is “Addressing the opportunities and challenges of Globalisation for Development”.
This is the second time that the conference is taking place in Africa and it comes at a time of persistent challenges in the development of African countries.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008, PG 1. REPORTING WITH SENIOR CORRESPONDENT NEHENIAH OWUSU ACHIAW
DR MO IBRAHIM MEETS JOURNALISTS IN ACCRA
DR Mohamed Mo Ibrahim, the founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation that instituted the Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, has interacted with journalists in Accra as part of the foundation's activities to engage West Africa in good leadership and governance.
Dr Ibrahim, with other members of the Foundation and the Prize Committee, addressed varied issues that included how the foundation could use its influence to end conflicts on the continent and contribute to economic opportunities in Africa and the reason for rewarding past African leaders and not sitting ones.
Other members of the Foundation and Prize Committee were Ms Aicha Bah Diallo, Dr Mampheka Ramphele, Mrs Mary Robinson and Ms Nathalie Delapalme.
Touching on the index of African Governance, first published in September 2007, Dr Ibrahim said it was a gift to civil society organisations and the people of Africa to intelligently engage their governments on good governance.
He said the index was not static and would be updated with time to mirror changes in Africa.
Dr Ibrahim said the prize was directed at African leaders who had left office in the last three years, to ensure that they governed appropriately and handed over power.
Ms Delapalme, a special advisor to the Foundation, stressed that one of the aims of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance was to show that good governance was not only a conditionality for Africa to attract aid, but a condition of success.
"It is an African definition and an African concept," she added.
Mrs Robinson said the Foundation was also working with economists the world over to ensure good governance in the economy of African countries.
She said because the index on good governance was evolving, there was room to accommodate the criticism, contributions and objections that would become a body of knowledge for sustainable economic opportunity.
Dr Rampele, who spoke about former President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, who became the first to win the prize, said he was an example of compromise on the continent.
She said Mr Chissano, therefore, as an Ibrahim laureate, demonstrated accommodation of different views and defended the rights of others to believe differently, which was important in good governance.
Ms Ba Diallo, for her part, said the Mo Ibrahim initiative was all about doing the right thing in governance and also in stepping down.
"Leaders must not only manage properly, but must manage their handing over in a democratic way," she pointed out.
The delegation will participate in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development XII Global Leaders' Investment Debate and deliver a lecture on governance and leadership at the University of Ghana, Legon tomorrow.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008, PG 20
Dr Ibrahim, with other members of the Foundation and the Prize Committee, addressed varied issues that included how the foundation could use its influence to end conflicts on the continent and contribute to economic opportunities in Africa and the reason for rewarding past African leaders and not sitting ones.
Other members of the Foundation and Prize Committee were Ms Aicha Bah Diallo, Dr Mampheka Ramphele, Mrs Mary Robinson and Ms Nathalie Delapalme.
Touching on the index of African Governance, first published in September 2007, Dr Ibrahim said it was a gift to civil society organisations and the people of Africa to intelligently engage their governments on good governance.
He said the index was not static and would be updated with time to mirror changes in Africa.
Dr Ibrahim said the prize was directed at African leaders who had left office in the last three years, to ensure that they governed appropriately and handed over power.
Ms Delapalme, a special advisor to the Foundation, stressed that one of the aims of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance was to show that good governance was not only a conditionality for Africa to attract aid, but a condition of success.
"It is an African definition and an African concept," she added.
Mrs Robinson said the Foundation was also working with economists the world over to ensure good governance in the economy of African countries.
She said because the index on good governance was evolving, there was room to accommodate the criticism, contributions and objections that would become a body of knowledge for sustainable economic opportunity.
Dr Rampele, who spoke about former President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, who became the first to win the prize, said he was an example of compromise on the continent.
She said Mr Chissano, therefore, as an Ibrahim laureate, demonstrated accommodation of different views and defended the rights of others to believe differently, which was important in good governance.
Ms Ba Diallo, for her part, said the Mo Ibrahim initiative was all about doing the right thing in governance and also in stepping down.
"Leaders must not only manage properly, but must manage their handing over in a democratic way," she pointed out.
The delegation will participate in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development XII Global Leaders' Investment Debate and deliver a lecture on governance and leadership at the University of Ghana, Legon tomorrow.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008, PG 20
'FOCUS POLITICAL REPORTS ON ISSUES'
A lecturer at the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Anthony Bonnah Koomson, has proposed a shift in the reporting of news by the media, particularly during the run-up to the country’s elections.
He said in order to protect the public interest, the media had to clearly know and understand what that public interest was to enable them better protect it.
With a fuller knowledge and understanding of what the public interest was, the media could then make it a duty to place them before politicians who would seek the public’s mandate to rule in order to find out how they would tackle the issues.
Dr Koomson’s comments came at the heels of reports in some sections of the media that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the dominant opposition National Democratic Party (NDC) were the only parties receiving greater coverage by the media, particularly the state-owned media.
These claims seem to have been bolstered by recent figures of a monitoring exercise by the National Media Commission (NMC), which showed that news on the NPP and NDC dominated all the electronic media monitored, all of which were privately owned, except Uniq FM.
The People’s National Convention (PNC) has been particularly bothered by the apparent disregard of some state-owned media institutions to its cause and some of its officials hinted at seeking legal resolution.
The immediate past General Secretary of the party, Mr Gabriel Pwamang, told the Daily Graphic that the party had decided to dialogue with the state-owned media that persisted in not giving fair coverage to the party.
He said a legal resolution of the matter would be the final action if dialogue failed.
Mr Pwamang said the party had empirical evidence, based on its own research, of how the state-owned media gave them little or no coverage.
For instance, he cited how the preparations prior to and during the conference of the PNC was made a side story on the front page of the Daily Graphic, but those of other parties had been the main front page stories.
In addition, the tour of the Presidential Candidate, Dr Edward Mahama, to the Upper East, West and Northern regions, had been reported only by the private and not state-owned media.
However, Dr Koomson was of the opinion that the constitutional mandate to the state-owned media institutions to give fair coverage did not mean that the media was to give parties publicity and awareness.
He said if those were to be the yardstick in judging how the media measured up to that constitutional mandate then that would be understating the functions of the media.
"Parties must not expect the media to be their public relations agents, following them around and giving them publicity," he said.
They must also initiate issue-related activities, to discuss issues that concern all and create the forum for media coverage, he advised.
To journalists, Dr Koomson’s advice was for them not to follow politicians about and just note what they said but probe for the sophisticated responses on issues that were of concern to all.
Meanwhile the NDC Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Mr Harruna Iddrissu, has credited the Daily Graphic for its reportage of the party.
He said the Daily Graphic had so far given fair and balanced coverage to the party; however, some other state-owned media had not done the same.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008, PG 44
He said in order to protect the public interest, the media had to clearly know and understand what that public interest was to enable them better protect it.
With a fuller knowledge and understanding of what the public interest was, the media could then make it a duty to place them before politicians who would seek the public’s mandate to rule in order to find out how they would tackle the issues.
Dr Koomson’s comments came at the heels of reports in some sections of the media that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the dominant opposition National Democratic Party (NDC) were the only parties receiving greater coverage by the media, particularly the state-owned media.
These claims seem to have been bolstered by recent figures of a monitoring exercise by the National Media Commission (NMC), which showed that news on the NPP and NDC dominated all the electronic media monitored, all of which were privately owned, except Uniq FM.
The People’s National Convention (PNC) has been particularly bothered by the apparent disregard of some state-owned media institutions to its cause and some of its officials hinted at seeking legal resolution.
The immediate past General Secretary of the party, Mr Gabriel Pwamang, told the Daily Graphic that the party had decided to dialogue with the state-owned media that persisted in not giving fair coverage to the party.
He said a legal resolution of the matter would be the final action if dialogue failed.
Mr Pwamang said the party had empirical evidence, based on its own research, of how the state-owned media gave them little or no coverage.
For instance, he cited how the preparations prior to and during the conference of the PNC was made a side story on the front page of the Daily Graphic, but those of other parties had been the main front page stories.
In addition, the tour of the Presidential Candidate, Dr Edward Mahama, to the Upper East, West and Northern regions, had been reported only by the private and not state-owned media.
However, Dr Koomson was of the opinion that the constitutional mandate to the state-owned media institutions to give fair coverage did not mean that the media was to give parties publicity and awareness.
He said if those were to be the yardstick in judging how the media measured up to that constitutional mandate then that would be understating the functions of the media.
"Parties must not expect the media to be their public relations agents, following them around and giving them publicity," he said.
They must also initiate issue-related activities, to discuss issues that concern all and create the forum for media coverage, he advised.
To journalists, Dr Koomson’s advice was for them not to follow politicians about and just note what they said but probe for the sophisticated responses on issues that were of concern to all.
Meanwhile the NDC Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Mr Harruna Iddrissu, has credited the Daily Graphic for its reportage of the party.
He said the Daily Graphic had so far given fair and balanced coverage to the party; however, some other state-owned media had not done the same.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008, PG 44
'FIND RIGHT RESPONSES TO GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRUNCH'
A Director of Third World Network (TWN) International, Geneva, Mr Martin Khor, has predicted global turbulence in the economic and financial structures of developing countries if the right response is not found to the current financial crisis in the United States (US).
He charged civil society organisations to find the right response to the global financial crunch or risk the little development gained so far.
Mr Khor was speaking at a civil society forum opened in Accra yesterday, prior to the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to be held in Accra from April 20 to 25, 2008.
The forum is to forge a common agenda for trade and development sensitive to the development challenges of developing countries.
Convened by the Third World Network (TWN), Ghana, it drew participation from local and international advocacy and civil society organisations.
Mr Khor stressed that currently, for most people, the most important thing was to have a livelihood in a clean environment with enough natural resources, such as water and land.
That, he said, had been eroded by the global economic interventions pushed by the Bretton Woods Institutions.
He, therefore, urged civil society organisations and other advocacy groups to lead a democratisation process that did away with the global inequalities and injustices.
A member of the local organising committee of the civil society forum and Co-ordinator of TWN, Ghana, Dr Yao Graham, in an overview of the issues to be discussed, mentioned the scale and effect of the financial crisis in the US on developing countries, the sustained high prices of some primary commodities that had led to tremendous growth in the oils and minerals sector and corporate organisations but none in the countries where these commodities were extracted, and the erosions of the influence of UNCTAD in research and alternatives to mainstream development agenda.
He listed the effects of global liberalisation policy, advocated for by the Bretton Woods Institutions, as the spiralling food prices, urban under employment and unemployment as well as the erosion to countries capacities to follow a development plan well adapted to their peculiar situation.
He pointed out that while there had been tremendous growth in export of some primary commodities over the years, attention had not been paid to the expansion of the food crops sector of most developing countries, hence their current detriment.
Dr Graham said UNCTAD had since its inception given the opportunity for interventions that had been of concern to various development advocacy groups, but that opportunity was a target of assault by international corporate organisations, governments and the Bretton Woods Institutions, who profit from the current global arrangement.
He expressed the hope that the discussions would be fruitful and present a cogent front for policies that would correct the global injustices negatively impacting developing countries.
The General Secretary of the Ghana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Mr Kingsley Ofei Nkansah, said the civilised world today stood accused, as in the face of massive growth, there was deepening poverty and squalor.
He said the growth being experienced currently through information technologies and technological innovations was just enjoyed by a few while the majority of the world’s population was deprived.
Mr Nkansah challenged advocacy groups to lead the campaign to redress that situation.
Other representatives from Action Aid, OXFAM and an advocacy group, REBRIP from Brazil, as well as participants, were unanimous in their submissions for a common front to fight the negative impact of globalisation.
DAILY GRAPHIC, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2008, PG 31
He charged civil society organisations to find the right response to the global financial crunch or risk the little development gained so far.
Mr Khor was speaking at a civil society forum opened in Accra yesterday, prior to the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to be held in Accra from April 20 to 25, 2008.
The forum is to forge a common agenda for trade and development sensitive to the development challenges of developing countries.
Convened by the Third World Network (TWN), Ghana, it drew participation from local and international advocacy and civil society organisations.
Mr Khor stressed that currently, for most people, the most important thing was to have a livelihood in a clean environment with enough natural resources, such as water and land.
That, he said, had been eroded by the global economic interventions pushed by the Bretton Woods Institutions.
He, therefore, urged civil society organisations and other advocacy groups to lead a democratisation process that did away with the global inequalities and injustices.
A member of the local organising committee of the civil society forum and Co-ordinator of TWN, Ghana, Dr Yao Graham, in an overview of the issues to be discussed, mentioned the scale and effect of the financial crisis in the US on developing countries, the sustained high prices of some primary commodities that had led to tremendous growth in the oils and minerals sector and corporate organisations but none in the countries where these commodities were extracted, and the erosions of the influence of UNCTAD in research and alternatives to mainstream development agenda.
He listed the effects of global liberalisation policy, advocated for by the Bretton Woods Institutions, as the spiralling food prices, urban under employment and unemployment as well as the erosion to countries capacities to follow a development plan well adapted to their peculiar situation.
He pointed out that while there had been tremendous growth in export of some primary commodities over the years, attention had not been paid to the expansion of the food crops sector of most developing countries, hence their current detriment.
Dr Graham said UNCTAD had since its inception given the opportunity for interventions that had been of concern to various development advocacy groups, but that opportunity was a target of assault by international corporate organisations, governments and the Bretton Woods Institutions, who profit from the current global arrangement.
He expressed the hope that the discussions would be fruitful and present a cogent front for policies that would correct the global injustices negatively impacting developing countries.
The General Secretary of the Ghana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Mr Kingsley Ofei Nkansah, said the civilised world today stood accused, as in the face of massive growth, there was deepening poverty and squalor.
He said the growth being experienced currently through information technologies and technological innovations was just enjoyed by a few while the majority of the world’s population was deprived.
Mr Nkansah challenged advocacy groups to lead the campaign to redress that situation.
Other representatives from Action Aid, OXFAM and an advocacy group, REBRIP from Brazil, as well as participants, were unanimous in their submissions for a common front to fight the negative impact of globalisation.
DAILY GRAPHIC, FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2008, PG 31
FRUSTRATIONS, EXTORTION MAR NOV/DEC WASSCE REGISTRATION
Frustration, anger and allegations of extortion by officials of the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) nearly marred the last day of the on-line registration for the November/December West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) on Monday.
PRESEC is one of the centres for the on-line registration for the WASSCE.
Apart from a shortage of registration cards, parents and students complained that some people were extorting GH¢1.20 for two envelopes and the cost of stamps for inland postage. According to them, WAEC officials there looked on while this went on.
A Physics and Information Technology (IT) tutor at PRESEC, also a guardian, who was there to register a ward, Mr Quamina Ansah Yalley, told the Daily Graphic that he had paid GH¢640 for an online registration card and two extra cards for six papers in the examinations.
He said after going online to register, he had to print out a declaration form which needed the signatures of a guarantor and witnesses. He said the charge for going online was GH¢70.
As if that was not enough, when he had completed requirements and submitted the forms, GH¢1.20 was demanded from him.
He said after a long checklist online, with a lot of don’ts, the online registration gave no indication that envelopes and stamps were required. He contended that students for the remedial examinations had already been through enough trauma for more to be added to their plight at the point of registration.
In his view, if the WAEC could furnish all centres with enough computers and printers, there would be no need for the cards and the payment of extra fees, and certainly no room for the extortion they had been subjected to.
At the registration centre itself, parents and students alleged that after an announcement had been made that the registration cards had run out, a gentleman was seen selling the cards outside the centre.
While some said a police detail at the centre was earlier seen removing the cards from his pocket and surreptitiously selling them, others said it was the WAEC officials, who, in their bid to cash in on the last day registration, had created an artificial shortage to rake in some money.
Mr Damon Laso, a parent who had also come to register, vented his frustration: “Since Wednesday, I have had subject cards with no registration card that will permit me to go online and register”.
When contacted, officials of WAEC at the centre, who did not want to be named, denied the allegations and said the cards had truly run out.
They said registration centres had been set up for the past three months, but students and parents had not availed themselves of the opportunity till the last day.
On allegations of extortion, the officials said the envelopes and stamps that were selling for GH¢1.20 did not belong to WAEC but a private business person, who had brought them there to sell to supposedly help facilitate the process for students.
A Senior Public Affairs Officer of WAEC, Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe when contacted said the incident at PRESEC had not yet come to their notice, though the Council had taken notice of reports of shortage of registration cards.
To address the situation, she said all students and parents with subjects cards but no registration cards could come to WAEC or the registration centres and leave their details.
Mrs Teye-Cudjoe said the Council would endeavour to facilitate the registration of these students.
On incidents at the PRESEC campus, she said WAEC officials were not supposed to be selling envelopes and stamps although some entrepreneurs were known to be doing so at their centres.
On the appeal by a parent, Mr Yalley to have more computers and printers at the registration sites to prevent long queues of people, Mrs Teye-Cudjoe said WAEC’s core function was to facilitate ease of registration and parents could go to any of the numerous Internet cafes to register on line.
DAILY GRAPHIC, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008, PG 11
PRESEC is one of the centres for the on-line registration for the WASSCE.
Apart from a shortage of registration cards, parents and students complained that some people were extorting GH¢1.20 for two envelopes and the cost of stamps for inland postage. According to them, WAEC officials there looked on while this went on.
A Physics and Information Technology (IT) tutor at PRESEC, also a guardian, who was there to register a ward, Mr Quamina Ansah Yalley, told the Daily Graphic that he had paid GH¢640 for an online registration card and two extra cards for six papers in the examinations.
He said after going online to register, he had to print out a declaration form which needed the signatures of a guarantor and witnesses. He said the charge for going online was GH¢70.
As if that was not enough, when he had completed requirements and submitted the forms, GH¢1.20 was demanded from him.
He said after a long checklist online, with a lot of don’ts, the online registration gave no indication that envelopes and stamps were required. He contended that students for the remedial examinations had already been through enough trauma for more to be added to their plight at the point of registration.
In his view, if the WAEC could furnish all centres with enough computers and printers, there would be no need for the cards and the payment of extra fees, and certainly no room for the extortion they had been subjected to.
At the registration centre itself, parents and students alleged that after an announcement had been made that the registration cards had run out, a gentleman was seen selling the cards outside the centre.
While some said a police detail at the centre was earlier seen removing the cards from his pocket and surreptitiously selling them, others said it was the WAEC officials, who, in their bid to cash in on the last day registration, had created an artificial shortage to rake in some money.
Mr Damon Laso, a parent who had also come to register, vented his frustration: “Since Wednesday, I have had subject cards with no registration card that will permit me to go online and register”.
When contacted, officials of WAEC at the centre, who did not want to be named, denied the allegations and said the cards had truly run out.
They said registration centres had been set up for the past three months, but students and parents had not availed themselves of the opportunity till the last day.
On allegations of extortion, the officials said the envelopes and stamps that were selling for GH¢1.20 did not belong to WAEC but a private business person, who had brought them there to sell to supposedly help facilitate the process for students.
A Senior Public Affairs Officer of WAEC, Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe when contacted said the incident at PRESEC had not yet come to their notice, though the Council had taken notice of reports of shortage of registration cards.
To address the situation, she said all students and parents with subjects cards but no registration cards could come to WAEC or the registration centres and leave their details.
Mrs Teye-Cudjoe said the Council would endeavour to facilitate the registration of these students.
On incidents at the PRESEC campus, she said WAEC officials were not supposed to be selling envelopes and stamps although some entrepreneurs were known to be doing so at their centres.
On the appeal by a parent, Mr Yalley to have more computers and printers at the registration sites to prevent long queues of people, Mrs Teye-Cudjoe said WAEC’s core function was to facilitate ease of registration and parents could go to any of the numerous Internet cafes to register on line.
DAILY GRAPHIC, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008, PG 11
CIVIL SOCIETY MEETING ON 12TH UNCTAD
Civil society organisations (CSOs) will meet in Accra from April 17 to 19, 2008 to discuss pertinent issues on trade and development, some of which may not feature on the main agenda of the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), scheduled for April 20 to 25, 2008.
The meeting will also afford civil society organisations the opportunity to finalise a draft communiqué on the agenda of the Accra meeting, which will also be the basis for their contribution to discussions during the main meeting.
The Third World Network (TWN) Africa is facilitating and organising the CSO forum and a press conference was held yesterday to brief the media on preparations so far.
A member of the Steering Committee of the CSO Forum and Member the Co-ordinator of the TWN, Africa, Dr Yao Graham, said the forum would create the opportunity for the discussion of trade issues from the perspective of CSO organisations.
The global financial crisis brought on by the USA’s housing problems and its impact on developing economies, EPAs, free trade agreements and the future of UNCTAD, he said, were some of the issues that would be delved into.
He said the sub-prime mortgage fallout of the USA, which is estimated to cost $1 trillion dollars, with global economic and financial consequences, would be explored for an understanding of the impact on countries.
Although these issues are major themes for the main meeting of UNCTAD XII, the forum will give an elaboration of that.
Dr Graham said the increasingly global nature and effects of the USA economy called for a surveillance on the USA, just as the World Bank and other financial institutions did to countries whose development programmes they financed.
A tentative programme for the forum consists of four plenary sessions during which thematic issues for the main meeting would be discussed.
These sessions, Dr Graham said, would take place at the National Theatre, while other group discussions would be held at the British Council Auditorium.
The CSO forum has been organised to furnish participating CSOs with a series of events on various issues. For instance, various sessions and events were planned daily on thematic areas and issues.
A dedicated session to finalise the CSO communiqué, he added, had also been planned for the morning of the second day of the forum.
A member of the national steering committee of the UNCTAD XII CSO Forum and a Programme Officer of the Gender Unit of TWN, Mrs Kathy Boohene, in an overview said so far about 150 individuals and organisations from various institutions world-wide had registered to participate and estimated participants to be more than 400.
Apart from an impressive presence of African countries, India, Nepal, other Asian, South American, European and international groups would also attend.
DAILY GRAPHIC, APRIL 11, 2008, PG 31
The meeting will also afford civil society organisations the opportunity to finalise a draft communiqué on the agenda of the Accra meeting, which will also be the basis for their contribution to discussions during the main meeting.
The Third World Network (TWN) Africa is facilitating and organising the CSO forum and a press conference was held yesterday to brief the media on preparations so far.
A member of the Steering Committee of the CSO Forum and Member the Co-ordinator of the TWN, Africa, Dr Yao Graham, said the forum would create the opportunity for the discussion of trade issues from the perspective of CSO organisations.
The global financial crisis brought on by the USA’s housing problems and its impact on developing economies, EPAs, free trade agreements and the future of UNCTAD, he said, were some of the issues that would be delved into.
He said the sub-prime mortgage fallout of the USA, which is estimated to cost $1 trillion dollars, with global economic and financial consequences, would be explored for an understanding of the impact on countries.
Although these issues are major themes for the main meeting of UNCTAD XII, the forum will give an elaboration of that.
Dr Graham said the increasingly global nature and effects of the USA economy called for a surveillance on the USA, just as the World Bank and other financial institutions did to countries whose development programmes they financed.
A tentative programme for the forum consists of four plenary sessions during which thematic issues for the main meeting would be discussed.
These sessions, Dr Graham said, would take place at the National Theatre, while other group discussions would be held at the British Council Auditorium.
The CSO forum has been organised to furnish participating CSOs with a series of events on various issues. For instance, various sessions and events were planned daily on thematic areas and issues.
A dedicated session to finalise the CSO communiqué, he added, had also been planned for the morning of the second day of the forum.
A member of the national steering committee of the UNCTAD XII CSO Forum and a Programme Officer of the Gender Unit of TWN, Mrs Kathy Boohene, in an overview said so far about 150 individuals and organisations from various institutions world-wide had registered to participate and estimated participants to be more than 400.
Apart from an impressive presence of African countries, India, Nepal, other Asian, South American, European and international groups would also attend.
DAILY GRAPHIC, APRIL 11, 2008, PG 31
GREATER ACCRA EC TO RELOCATE
THE Electoral Commission (EC) will by June this year move into its new regional office located in the Amasaman District of the Greater Accra Region.
It will also begin to use the national warehouse built at the same location, to keep and manage logistics for the 2008 elections.
The Director of Administration, Mr Isaac Kwame Boateng, said the location was a convenient and strategic for the effective and efficient deployment of logistics nation- wide during elections on December 8, 2008.
The building of regional office and a national warehouse is part of the strategic 10-year plan of the EC that began in 1999 and will end this year.
However, the contract for the construction of the Greater Accra Regional office and national warehouse with an initial cost of GH¢ 900,000 (¢9, billion) was awarded in June 2006, and it took a year and nine months to be completed.
Mr Boateng said a warehouse for the storage of election logistics, a block of offices for the warehouse and a separate block of offices for administration had all been completed and would be handed over to the commission next month.
He emphasised the mandate of the EC in managing and deploying election logistics, and said that that was one of the key functions that went hand in hand with the appropriate infrastructure.
The regional office at Wa has also been completed and according to Mr Boateng, with the completion of that, the Greater Accra Regional Office and national warehouse, the EC will focus on the building of another regional office.
Currently, the EC has completed 12 district offices and has regional offices in Kumasi, Bolgatanga, Tamale, and Ho, with the Accra and Wa offices being the latest additions.
The 2008 budget statement of the government mentioned the completion of the regional offices in Wa and the Greater Accra regions as well as the national warehouse as some of the infrastructural development activities for the EC this year.
Others are the expansion of ICT infrastructure and the procurement of logistics and communication equipment in the completed district and regional offices.
DAILY GRAPHIC, STURDAY APRIL 5, 2008, PG 3
It will also begin to use the national warehouse built at the same location, to keep and manage logistics for the 2008 elections.
The Director of Administration, Mr Isaac Kwame Boateng, said the location was a convenient and strategic for the effective and efficient deployment of logistics nation- wide during elections on December 8, 2008.
The building of regional office and a national warehouse is part of the strategic 10-year plan of the EC that began in 1999 and will end this year.
However, the contract for the construction of the Greater Accra Regional office and national warehouse with an initial cost of GH¢ 900,000 (¢9, billion) was awarded in June 2006, and it took a year and nine months to be completed.
Mr Boateng said a warehouse for the storage of election logistics, a block of offices for the warehouse and a separate block of offices for administration had all been completed and would be handed over to the commission next month.
He emphasised the mandate of the EC in managing and deploying election logistics, and said that that was one of the key functions that went hand in hand with the appropriate infrastructure.
The regional office at Wa has also been completed and according to Mr Boateng, with the completion of that, the Greater Accra Regional Office and national warehouse, the EC will focus on the building of another regional office.
Currently, the EC has completed 12 district offices and has regional offices in Kumasi, Bolgatanga, Tamale, and Ho, with the Accra and Wa offices being the latest additions.
The 2008 budget statement of the government mentioned the completion of the regional offices in Wa and the Greater Accra regions as well as the national warehouse as some of the infrastructural development activities for the EC this year.
Others are the expansion of ICT infrastructure and the procurement of logistics and communication equipment in the completed district and regional offices.
DAILY GRAPHIC, STURDAY APRIL 5, 2008, PG 3
TALK TAX TO COVER OTHER AREAS
THE Communications Service Tax Act, 2008 (Act 754) will now cover other information and communications technologies.
Internet services like voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) and other technologies that aid communication like voice mails have all been included in the tax to make it more inclusive.
The proposed charge of a pesewa per minute of talk time has also been changed to six per cent of the cost of using a communication service.
The Co-ordinator of the Tax Policy Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP), Mr Kofi Nti, in an interview, explained that in collaboration with the National Communications Authority (NCA) and other partners, a tax of six per cent of the charge of using the service was settled on as the best option.
That was due to the variations in service charges by the various service providers.
“A pesewa per minute means KASAPA users who, for instance, pay .08 pesewas (or ¢800) per minute will be paying eight per cent of that in taxes, which is about .06 pesewas, while MTN and ONETOUCH users who pay about ¢1,440 per unit will be paying 12.5 per cent of that in taxes, which will give approximately .02 pesewas,” he pointed out.
That, according to him, would be unfair to consumers on networks that charged relatively less.
He said it was also thought that a pesewa per minute could be expensive with time and might not encourage competition within the industry.
“With the six per cent of the charge of a service, competition will be vibrant among the service providers,” Mr Nti said.
He said the bill also anticipated innovations in communications technology and that such innovations could easily be included in that tax system.
On Section 2 of the bill that states that “the tax will be paid with the communications service charge to communication service providers by consumers of the service,” Mr Nti discounted public views on increasing taxes in the country and urged all to re-orient themselves to developing the country through the toil of its citizens.
He, however, said the tax burden would be proportionately borne by service providers and consumers, with the proportion of the burden on each group dependent on the demand and supply of the mobile telephony service.
Mr Nti called the tax progressive and proactive in adapting to the changes in the industry.
He said with the tax, Ghanaians would also be vigilant in monitoring the use of their resources and help in the development of their country.
Meanwhile, the ministry is drafting guidelines to implement the act, which, among other things, makes the Value Added Tax Service responsible for the receipt, management and payment of the tax into the Consolidated Fund.
DAILY GRAPHIC, FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2008, PG30
Internet services like voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) and other technologies that aid communication like voice mails have all been included in the tax to make it more inclusive.
The proposed charge of a pesewa per minute of talk time has also been changed to six per cent of the cost of using a communication service.
The Co-ordinator of the Tax Policy Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP), Mr Kofi Nti, in an interview, explained that in collaboration with the National Communications Authority (NCA) and other partners, a tax of six per cent of the charge of using the service was settled on as the best option.
That was due to the variations in service charges by the various service providers.
“A pesewa per minute means KASAPA users who, for instance, pay .08 pesewas (or ¢800) per minute will be paying eight per cent of that in taxes, which is about .06 pesewas, while MTN and ONETOUCH users who pay about ¢1,440 per unit will be paying 12.5 per cent of that in taxes, which will give approximately .02 pesewas,” he pointed out.
That, according to him, would be unfair to consumers on networks that charged relatively less.
He said it was also thought that a pesewa per minute could be expensive with time and might not encourage competition within the industry.
“With the six per cent of the charge of a service, competition will be vibrant among the service providers,” Mr Nti said.
He said the bill also anticipated innovations in communications technology and that such innovations could easily be included in that tax system.
On Section 2 of the bill that states that “the tax will be paid with the communications service charge to communication service providers by consumers of the service,” Mr Nti discounted public views on increasing taxes in the country and urged all to re-orient themselves to developing the country through the toil of its citizens.
He, however, said the tax burden would be proportionately borne by service providers and consumers, with the proportion of the burden on each group dependent on the demand and supply of the mobile telephony service.
Mr Nti called the tax progressive and proactive in adapting to the changes in the industry.
He said with the tax, Ghanaians would also be vigilant in monitoring the use of their resources and help in the development of their country.
Meanwhile, the ministry is drafting guidelines to implement the act, which, among other things, makes the Value Added Tax Service responsible for the receipt, management and payment of the tax into the Consolidated Fund.
DAILY GRAPHIC, FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2008, PG30
EMPLOYMENT ASSOC CALLS FOR FLEXIBLE WAGE SYSTEM, DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2008, PG 28
The Ghana Employers Association (GEA) has called for a flexible wage system based on productivity to replace the current system of fixed wages in the country.
It has also called on the government to develop appropriate and comprehensive policies to facilitate wage restructuring.
The GEA said within the confines of the Labour Act (651) the introduction of a flexible wage system tied to productivity would enhance business and ensure industrial harmony.
Moreover, it said, that would enable a closer link between wages and productivity to enhance competitiveness and promote employment stability.
These and other suggestions were contained in a study conducted by the association with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the accuracy and validity of a World Bank Publication titled “Doing Business Report”.
The IEA’s recommendations were disclosed at a stakeholders meeting in Accra yesterday.
The publication, one of the best known publications of the World Bank, is used by investors in deciding where to invest, with the terms and conditions of employment in countries a key factor in investment decisions.
The application of the report to developing countries has been contentious as some have said it does not reflect what pertains particularly in Africa which has its peculiar labour market.
The GEA/ILO study was, therefore, a result of that and a desire to come out with appropriate indicators on employment and labour, regulations and policies to advise government for appropriate polices to enhance the participation of the private sector in development and strengthen support for the growth of enterprises in the country.
The study focused particularly on the “Employing Worker Indicator”, and analysed its implication within the Labour Law, employment practices, regulations and polices in the country.
A comparison of results of the study with the Doing Business Report showed that the indicator that measured the difficulty of hiring workers dropped from the published level of 11 to 22, with a higher indicator signalling a more rigid system.
The indicators measuring the difficulty of dismissing workers and the rigidity of working hours remained unchanged.
The overall indicator of employment rigidity rose from 34 to 37 which brought Ghana from 120th to 138th among the 178 countries, signalling to investors that Ghana was slightly more rigid in employment although the overall ranking of ease of doing business dropped from 94th to 87th position.
Other results from the study showed that the lack of appropriate productivity indices at the sectoral and national levels made it difficult for productivity to be factored into the setting of the minimum wage, which most respondents saw as an effective policy tool for reducing wage inequality and poverty.
The lack of productivity indices also prevented a majority of informal sector operators from supporting the economy with increased labour productivity.
The study also proposed, among others, the strengthening of existing policies for promoting on-the-job training and apprenticeship aimed at raising the level of skills on the labour market and the development of labour regulation policies for the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Sector to provide the necessary flexibility and protection for enhanced productivity and job creation avenues.
DAILY GRAPHIC, APRIL 3, 2008, PG 28
It has also called on the government to develop appropriate and comprehensive policies to facilitate wage restructuring.
The GEA said within the confines of the Labour Act (651) the introduction of a flexible wage system tied to productivity would enhance business and ensure industrial harmony.
Moreover, it said, that would enable a closer link between wages and productivity to enhance competitiveness and promote employment stability.
These and other suggestions were contained in a study conducted by the association with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the accuracy and validity of a World Bank Publication titled “Doing Business Report”.
The IEA’s recommendations were disclosed at a stakeholders meeting in Accra yesterday.
The publication, one of the best known publications of the World Bank, is used by investors in deciding where to invest, with the terms and conditions of employment in countries a key factor in investment decisions.
The application of the report to developing countries has been contentious as some have said it does not reflect what pertains particularly in Africa which has its peculiar labour market.
The GEA/ILO study was, therefore, a result of that and a desire to come out with appropriate indicators on employment and labour, regulations and policies to advise government for appropriate polices to enhance the participation of the private sector in development and strengthen support for the growth of enterprises in the country.
The study focused particularly on the “Employing Worker Indicator”, and analysed its implication within the Labour Law, employment practices, regulations and polices in the country.
A comparison of results of the study with the Doing Business Report showed that the indicator that measured the difficulty of hiring workers dropped from the published level of 11 to 22, with a higher indicator signalling a more rigid system.
The indicators measuring the difficulty of dismissing workers and the rigidity of working hours remained unchanged.
The overall indicator of employment rigidity rose from 34 to 37 which brought Ghana from 120th to 138th among the 178 countries, signalling to investors that Ghana was slightly more rigid in employment although the overall ranking of ease of doing business dropped from 94th to 87th position.
Other results from the study showed that the lack of appropriate productivity indices at the sectoral and national levels made it difficult for productivity to be factored into the setting of the minimum wage, which most respondents saw as an effective policy tool for reducing wage inequality and poverty.
The lack of productivity indices also prevented a majority of informal sector operators from supporting the economy with increased labour productivity.
The study also proposed, among others, the strengthening of existing policies for promoting on-the-job training and apprenticeship aimed at raising the level of skills on the labour market and the development of labour regulation policies for the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Sector to provide the necessary flexibility and protection for enhanced productivity and job creation avenues.
DAILY GRAPHIC, APRIL 3, 2008, PG 28
Sunday, May 4, 2008
GHANA: FIFTY YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
Book: Ghana: 50 Years of Independence
Author: Joseph Godson Amamoo
Pages: 617
Reviewer: Caroline Boateng
“GHANA, 50 Years of Independence” written by Joseph Godson Amamoo, is a comprehensive review of the politics, the society, the culture and the economy of Ghana since independence.
Written in easy, current language, the book amplifies the key progressions of the country through the labyrinth of national development with its first renowned President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to the present, that is, 50 years on.
With rich anecdotes, he tells of individuals, events, places, industry, key achievements and harrowing experiences of the country.
A combination of historical facts, narrations of personal experiences, comments and opinion give the reader a complete and rich picture of the country, Ghana.
Mr Amamoo clearly distinguishes facts from his opinion in the book by often using the words “the author views with...”, or “thinks...” before the opinion or comment is given. This culminates in a rich and in-depth review, which is one of the hallmarks of the book.
Although the book dates back to the time of independence and ends 50 years after, historical facts prior to independence and colonisation can be found.
He devotes the first chapter to the pre-independence era, the Bond of 1844, the Yaa Asantewaa War of 1900, the great expeditions by the Germans, Britons, and Portuguese resulting in treaties that made protectorates of some territories in the country, while others came under agreements of trusteeship, and finally colonisation.
The book debunks long-held notions of Dr Nkrumah’s anti-capitalist and anti-white posture.
“This submission of mine that Nkrumah was not necessarily anti-capitalist is supported by the fact, inter alia, that some of his close associates e.g., Paa Grant and Krobo Edusei (Interior Minister for several years) were dyed-in-the wool capitalists”, it says.
It further adds that Dr Nkrumah’s closest economic and financial adviser, as well as his confidant, Mr Aryeh Kumi, was an “unashamed capitalist, often seen in public with Nkrumah throughout his tenure as president”.
Admittedly, the president’s national and international campaign against colonialism, racism and apartheid created the impression that he was anti-white, but that, the author points out, was completely wrong and inaccurate.
He says Dr Nkrumah’s constant diatribes against the Western countries were not because he was anti-white but because they were the colonial powers on the African continent at that time.
Mr Amamoo points out some associates and advisers of the President, who were White and with his own personal experience concludes the matter.
He recounts how in his bid to marry a white woman and meeting with some resistance at the Foreign Ministry, he broached the matter to President Nkrumah, who acquiesced with the words “In this world, it is the person that counts and not his or her skin colour”.
Highlights of Nkrumah’s presidency, the cohesion of development programmes, his drive and achievements in education, industry and the infrastructure of the young independent country are captured with insightful personal comments on what propelled him.
Mr Amamoo recounts major and some significant minor events of all the military regimes and the civilian governments of the country.
As an insider who was participating actively in the government of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and also the National Liberation Council (NLC) regime, he gives an experiential commentary, but at the same time dispassionately brings out some excesses.
Having lived through all civilian governments and the military regimes, participating in some of them, particularly the first civilian rule of Dr Nkrumah as an ambassador, and subsequently as the Editor of the Ghanaian Times during the NLC rule, Mr Amamoo becomes an astute commentator who gives an expert’s opinion on the various types of governance of the country.
He describes the NLC as pro-West and the efforts by that military regime at major economic and social reforms that included a liberalised economy and the reduction of the role of the state in the economy.
Major accomplishments that characterised the government of Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, the President of the Second Republic, the author says, were the programmes of rural development, social infrastructure and the provision of services that were “outstanding and a model for subsequent governments”.
The National Redemption Council (NRC) military regime led by Lt Col I. K. Acheampong, is seen as an unwanted and unwarranted intrusion of the Busia government on January 13, 1972.
Acheampong is described as a disgruntled and unhappy military officer, whose delayed promotion egged him on to his coup that was “a monstrous travesty of truth, justice and constitutional reforms”.
Despite that, his efforts at instilling discipline in the public service of the country, his programme to make the country self-sufficient in food supply and less reliant on foreign imports are some of the achievements of the regime.
The reorganisation of the NRC and transition to the Supreme Military Council (SMC) that was expected to soften public hostility and discontent for the regime did not happen, the author says.
The change from SMC I to SMC II that saw Acheampong resigning as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Ghana armed forces, ushered in the Gen. Fred Akuffo administration and paved the way for a new civilian government.
The Akuffo administration at its inception discontinued with Acheampong’s unpopular Union Government (UNIGOV) programme and rather instituted a programme of preparing the country for elections and a return to civilian rule.
The coup of May 15, 1979 which ousted the SMC II under Gen. Fred Akuffo interrupted political association and party preparation for popular adult suffrage for civilian rule.
The author says that the coup of June 4, 1979 was the completion of the abortive May 1979 coup of Flt Lt Rawlings, and characterises the latter as a reign of terror.
Disenchantment with frequent military regime birthed high expectations to the Dr Hilla Limann’s government of September 24, 1979.
Whereas Dr Busia’s democratic regime and penchant for constitutional order and the rule of law for many was not assertive enough to deal with the economic and social challenges that contributed to its demise, Dr Limann’s fall is attributed to his “acts of omission and commission and by it prevarication and procrastination” in dealing with economic, social and national security issues.
The return of Rawlings to disrupt the Limann government and his transition to a civilian government, is given detailed analysis.
Mr Amamoo gives considerable space to the National Patriotic Party (NPP) of President J. A. Kufuor.
He also dedicates a chapter captioned “Africa’s Man of Peace” to him.
“Ghana: 50 Years of Independence” is a huge resource volume with the pictures and biographies of people who have shaped the history of the country.
It overflows with information and sometimes the reader gets lost in the maze of bits of information that all add up to the book’s comprehensiveness.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2008
Author: Joseph Godson Amamoo
Pages: 617
Reviewer: Caroline Boateng
“GHANA, 50 Years of Independence” written by Joseph Godson Amamoo, is a comprehensive review of the politics, the society, the culture and the economy of Ghana since independence.
Written in easy, current language, the book amplifies the key progressions of the country through the labyrinth of national development with its first renowned President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to the present, that is, 50 years on.
With rich anecdotes, he tells of individuals, events, places, industry, key achievements and harrowing experiences of the country.
A combination of historical facts, narrations of personal experiences, comments and opinion give the reader a complete and rich picture of the country, Ghana.
Mr Amamoo clearly distinguishes facts from his opinion in the book by often using the words “the author views with...”, or “thinks...” before the opinion or comment is given. This culminates in a rich and in-depth review, which is one of the hallmarks of the book.
Although the book dates back to the time of independence and ends 50 years after, historical facts prior to independence and colonisation can be found.
He devotes the first chapter to the pre-independence era, the Bond of 1844, the Yaa Asantewaa War of 1900, the great expeditions by the Germans, Britons, and Portuguese resulting in treaties that made protectorates of some territories in the country, while others came under agreements of trusteeship, and finally colonisation.
The book debunks long-held notions of Dr Nkrumah’s anti-capitalist and anti-white posture.
“This submission of mine that Nkrumah was not necessarily anti-capitalist is supported by the fact, inter alia, that some of his close associates e.g., Paa Grant and Krobo Edusei (Interior Minister for several years) were dyed-in-the wool capitalists”, it says.
It further adds that Dr Nkrumah’s closest economic and financial adviser, as well as his confidant, Mr Aryeh Kumi, was an “unashamed capitalist, often seen in public with Nkrumah throughout his tenure as president”.
Admittedly, the president’s national and international campaign against colonialism, racism and apartheid created the impression that he was anti-white, but that, the author points out, was completely wrong and inaccurate.
He says Dr Nkrumah’s constant diatribes against the Western countries were not because he was anti-white but because they were the colonial powers on the African continent at that time.
Mr Amamoo points out some associates and advisers of the President, who were White and with his own personal experience concludes the matter.
He recounts how in his bid to marry a white woman and meeting with some resistance at the Foreign Ministry, he broached the matter to President Nkrumah, who acquiesced with the words “In this world, it is the person that counts and not his or her skin colour”.
Highlights of Nkrumah’s presidency, the cohesion of development programmes, his drive and achievements in education, industry and the infrastructure of the young independent country are captured with insightful personal comments on what propelled him.
Mr Amamoo recounts major and some significant minor events of all the military regimes and the civilian governments of the country.
As an insider who was participating actively in the government of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and also the National Liberation Council (NLC) regime, he gives an experiential commentary, but at the same time dispassionately brings out some excesses.
Having lived through all civilian governments and the military regimes, participating in some of them, particularly the first civilian rule of Dr Nkrumah as an ambassador, and subsequently as the Editor of the Ghanaian Times during the NLC rule, Mr Amamoo becomes an astute commentator who gives an expert’s opinion on the various types of governance of the country.
He describes the NLC as pro-West and the efforts by that military regime at major economic and social reforms that included a liberalised economy and the reduction of the role of the state in the economy.
Major accomplishments that characterised the government of Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, the President of the Second Republic, the author says, were the programmes of rural development, social infrastructure and the provision of services that were “outstanding and a model for subsequent governments”.
The National Redemption Council (NRC) military regime led by Lt Col I. K. Acheampong, is seen as an unwanted and unwarranted intrusion of the Busia government on January 13, 1972.
Acheampong is described as a disgruntled and unhappy military officer, whose delayed promotion egged him on to his coup that was “a monstrous travesty of truth, justice and constitutional reforms”.
Despite that, his efforts at instilling discipline in the public service of the country, his programme to make the country self-sufficient in food supply and less reliant on foreign imports are some of the achievements of the regime.
The reorganisation of the NRC and transition to the Supreme Military Council (SMC) that was expected to soften public hostility and discontent for the regime did not happen, the author says.
The change from SMC I to SMC II that saw Acheampong resigning as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Ghana armed forces, ushered in the Gen. Fred Akuffo administration and paved the way for a new civilian government.
The Akuffo administration at its inception discontinued with Acheampong’s unpopular Union Government (UNIGOV) programme and rather instituted a programme of preparing the country for elections and a return to civilian rule.
The coup of May 15, 1979 which ousted the SMC II under Gen. Fred Akuffo interrupted political association and party preparation for popular adult suffrage for civilian rule.
The author says that the coup of June 4, 1979 was the completion of the abortive May 1979 coup of Flt Lt Rawlings, and characterises the latter as a reign of terror.
Disenchantment with frequent military regime birthed high expectations to the Dr Hilla Limann’s government of September 24, 1979.
Whereas Dr Busia’s democratic regime and penchant for constitutional order and the rule of law for many was not assertive enough to deal with the economic and social challenges that contributed to its demise, Dr Limann’s fall is attributed to his “acts of omission and commission and by it prevarication and procrastination” in dealing with economic, social and national security issues.
The return of Rawlings to disrupt the Limann government and his transition to a civilian government, is given detailed analysis.
Mr Amamoo gives considerable space to the National Patriotic Party (NPP) of President J. A. Kufuor.
He also dedicates a chapter captioned “Africa’s Man of Peace” to him.
“Ghana: 50 Years of Independence” is a huge resource volume with the pictures and biographies of people who have shaped the history of the country.
It overflows with information and sometimes the reader gets lost in the maze of bits of information that all add up to the book’s comprehensiveness.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2008
GHANA CAN BE A PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS HUB
IN 2006 when the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) initiated efforts to acquire the bulk of its food requirements from Ghana, it was then just a policy shift which came with no heralding.
Two years after the implementation, Ghana has benefited in the shoring up of the capacity of its farmers, agro processors and packaging industries.
The policy shift has been a model of a successful development effort which has tackled some challenges associated with underdevelopment, that is, the lack of value addition, viable markets and basic information and knowledge acquisition.
Ms Trudy Bower-Pirinis, who initiated the policy change when she took office as the WFP Country Representative in 2003, told the Daily Graphic that “Ghana has a lot of potential to become a procurement and logistics hub in the sub-region”.
From initial grain acquisitions worth $200,000 in 2003, the WFP purchased about $1.7 million worth of commodities in 2007.
The goal of buying 60 per cent of food commodities needed for the 2006-2010 WFP Country Programme in Ghana for a total value of $10 million is on track.
Food items procured are maize, soya blend, vegetable oil, iodised salt and sugar and they are used in rapid response to humanitarian needs and other development programmes such as the WFP’s supplementary feeding, health and nutrition education, take home rations for girls and support to the Ghana School Feeding Programme in basic schools.
The acquisition from local sources has led to the WFP building the capacity of farmers in good practices in harvesting and post-harvest care.
Agro processors have also had training in best practices to meet international standards for food requirements for food items such as corn soya blend, while the skills of others have been improved for standard packaging.
With other partners such as CIDA, the President’s Special Initiatives (PSIs), and the Micronutrient Initiative, small and medium-size salt producers in the country have been supported with iodisation equipment and business management skills.
This paid off with about US$40,000 worth of purchases by WFP/Ghana last year in iodised salt and the first successful tender for iodised salt from Ghana for WFP/Burkina Faso.
In July 2006, the WFP launched its first tender for locally produced fortified corn soya blend after building the capacity of farmers and manufacturers on its specifications and that led to the purchase of a 1,000 metric tonnes of the blend, worth $460,000.
Procurement and other figures at the WFP show that many of these producers are now capable of supplying national food assistance programmes, with tendering for WFP regional operations as a next step.
However, these gains must be maintained in the face of global market challenges of rising fuel and commodity prices.
The successes underlie challenges, untapped opportunities and the need for initiatives to sustain these programmes by the local and central governmental authorities at the expiration of some of the safety-net development programmes of the WFP.
Much more education and training for farmers in proper storage and quality control to keep grains free of spoilage in order to meet international standards is needed.
Suppliers, agro processors and other participants in agricultural markets need a sense of supply deadlines and packaging requirements that meet international standards.
The commitment of local and central authorities is, above all, required to sustain these programmes and make them fulfil what they were instituted for.
In the words of Ms Bower-Pirinis, “The success story of Ghana in meeting the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving poverty is in the making. The challenge is how to redistribute production surpluses and ensure high quality grains. Ghana is moving from dependence on external food sources to its local sources.”
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY MARCH 31, 2008
Two years after the implementation, Ghana has benefited in the shoring up of the capacity of its farmers, agro processors and packaging industries.
The policy shift has been a model of a successful development effort which has tackled some challenges associated with underdevelopment, that is, the lack of value addition, viable markets and basic information and knowledge acquisition.
Ms Trudy Bower-Pirinis, who initiated the policy change when she took office as the WFP Country Representative in 2003, told the Daily Graphic that “Ghana has a lot of potential to become a procurement and logistics hub in the sub-region”.
From initial grain acquisitions worth $200,000 in 2003, the WFP purchased about $1.7 million worth of commodities in 2007.
The goal of buying 60 per cent of food commodities needed for the 2006-2010 WFP Country Programme in Ghana for a total value of $10 million is on track.
Food items procured are maize, soya blend, vegetable oil, iodised salt and sugar and they are used in rapid response to humanitarian needs and other development programmes such as the WFP’s supplementary feeding, health and nutrition education, take home rations for girls and support to the Ghana School Feeding Programme in basic schools.
The acquisition from local sources has led to the WFP building the capacity of farmers in good practices in harvesting and post-harvest care.
Agro processors have also had training in best practices to meet international standards for food requirements for food items such as corn soya blend, while the skills of others have been improved for standard packaging.
With other partners such as CIDA, the President’s Special Initiatives (PSIs), and the Micronutrient Initiative, small and medium-size salt producers in the country have been supported with iodisation equipment and business management skills.
This paid off with about US$40,000 worth of purchases by WFP/Ghana last year in iodised salt and the first successful tender for iodised salt from Ghana for WFP/Burkina Faso.
In July 2006, the WFP launched its first tender for locally produced fortified corn soya blend after building the capacity of farmers and manufacturers on its specifications and that led to the purchase of a 1,000 metric tonnes of the blend, worth $460,000.
Procurement and other figures at the WFP show that many of these producers are now capable of supplying national food assistance programmes, with tendering for WFP regional operations as a next step.
However, these gains must be maintained in the face of global market challenges of rising fuel and commodity prices.
The successes underlie challenges, untapped opportunities and the need for initiatives to sustain these programmes by the local and central governmental authorities at the expiration of some of the safety-net development programmes of the WFP.
Much more education and training for farmers in proper storage and quality control to keep grains free of spoilage in order to meet international standards is needed.
Suppliers, agro processors and other participants in agricultural markets need a sense of supply deadlines and packaging requirements that meet international standards.
The commitment of local and central authorities is, above all, required to sustain these programmes and make them fulfil what they were instituted for.
In the words of Ms Bower-Pirinis, “The success story of Ghana in meeting the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving poverty is in the making. The challenge is how to redistribute production surpluses and ensure high quality grains. Ghana is moving from dependence on external food sources to its local sources.”
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY MARCH 31, 2008
JUDGES URGED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS
N international jurist yesterday challenged judges in Ghana to broaden their knowledge on human rights principles and give expression to the intention of the government to adhere to them.
Justice Hassan B. Jallow, the United Nations Under Secretary-General and Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR); Justice K. Date-Bah, a Supreme Court judge; Ms Evelyn A. Ankumah, the Executive Director of Africa Legal Aid (AFLA), and Ms Anna Bossman, the acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) were speaking at a two-day rights-based judicial workshop for some members of the Judiciary.
Justice Jallow said when governments ratified international instruments on human rights, they demonstrated their intention to adhere to them and so the onus lay on the courts and judges to give expression to that intention and enable the people to enjoy those rights.
Delivering the keynote address at the workshop, Justice Jallow pointed out that it was unacceptable and impracticable to have a body of international legislation on human rights that was only binding on countries at the international level.
He asked judges to be progressive front-line advocates in ensuring the adoption, respect and observance of the broad array of human rights principles by governments and the people.
He stressed that modern trends did not permit legal practice that was carried out in isolation and apart from international human rights legislation.
Justice Jallow said the enjoyment of rights by people was not automatically assured by benevolent and enlightened governments but by consistent advocacy and information sharing by civil society organisations, human rights-based groups and all other development partners.
He emphasised the importance of that in entrenching human rights principles in countries, as infringement affected the whole spectrum of a governance system.
Justice Date-Bah, who stood in for the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, said Article 33 (5) of the 1992 Constitution gave judges great opportunities in applying all the varied categories of human rights in their judgements, thereby ensuring their institution in the democratic system.
He said the importance of human rights to good governance could not be overemphasised, adding that evidence showed that disregard for and contempt of these principles led to barbaric acts.
That was why all written constitutions had human rights provisions, he pointed out.
Justice Date-Bah urged judges to be abreast of new developments in international human rights provisions to enhance their practice.
Ms Ankumah stressed that national courts and human rights institutions had the first responsibility in upholding human rights in countries, hence the workshop to build the capacity of judges in that area.
Ms Bossman, who was the moderator for the session, emphasised the importance of human rights in national development and reminded Ghanaians that pursuing a political agenda without a strong human rights basis was not worth the effort.
The two-day workshop is being organised by AFLA, CHRAJ and the Ghana Judicial Training Institute as the first in a series scheduled for a three-year period.
DAILY GRAPHIC, SATURDAY MARCH 29, 2008
Justice Hassan B. Jallow, the United Nations Under Secretary-General and Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR); Justice K. Date-Bah, a Supreme Court judge; Ms Evelyn A. Ankumah, the Executive Director of Africa Legal Aid (AFLA), and Ms Anna Bossman, the acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) were speaking at a two-day rights-based judicial workshop for some members of the Judiciary.
Justice Jallow said when governments ratified international instruments on human rights, they demonstrated their intention to adhere to them and so the onus lay on the courts and judges to give expression to that intention and enable the people to enjoy those rights.
Delivering the keynote address at the workshop, Justice Jallow pointed out that it was unacceptable and impracticable to have a body of international legislation on human rights that was only binding on countries at the international level.
He asked judges to be progressive front-line advocates in ensuring the adoption, respect and observance of the broad array of human rights principles by governments and the people.
He stressed that modern trends did not permit legal practice that was carried out in isolation and apart from international human rights legislation.
Justice Jallow said the enjoyment of rights by people was not automatically assured by benevolent and enlightened governments but by consistent advocacy and information sharing by civil society organisations, human rights-based groups and all other development partners.
He emphasised the importance of that in entrenching human rights principles in countries, as infringement affected the whole spectrum of a governance system.
Justice Date-Bah, who stood in for the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, said Article 33 (5) of the 1992 Constitution gave judges great opportunities in applying all the varied categories of human rights in their judgements, thereby ensuring their institution in the democratic system.
He said the importance of human rights to good governance could not be overemphasised, adding that evidence showed that disregard for and contempt of these principles led to barbaric acts.
That was why all written constitutions had human rights provisions, he pointed out.
Justice Date-Bah urged judges to be abreast of new developments in international human rights provisions to enhance their practice.
Ms Ankumah stressed that national courts and human rights institutions had the first responsibility in upholding human rights in countries, hence the workshop to build the capacity of judges in that area.
Ms Bossman, who was the moderator for the session, emphasised the importance of human rights in national development and reminded Ghanaians that pursuing a political agenda without a strong human rights basis was not worth the effort.
The two-day workshop is being organised by AFLA, CHRAJ and the Ghana Judicial Training Institute as the first in a series scheduled for a three-year period.
DAILY GRAPHIC, SATURDAY MARCH 29, 2008
PINA SHORT LISTS 29 TO SUPPORT
THE Platform for Independent National Alternatives (PINA) has shortlisted 29 people for support as independent parliamentary candidates in the upcoming elections.
The foundation is also yet to receive a response from Osahene Boakye Djan, who was contacted to be supported to run as an independent presidential candidate.
Osahene Boakye Djan is consulting with a wide spectrum of people before responding to the request of PINA and that would be given by May this year, Nana Akosa, the Spokesperson in charge of Operations of PINA, told the Daily Graphic in Accra.
He said the foundation was also making overtures to Messrs Alex Hammer and ????Amofa? Yeboah to support them as independent candidates for the presidential slot.
Although most parliamentary and presidential candidates of most political parties are far advanced in their campaign, Nana Akosa was confident that PINA was not behind time as it had scheduled six months to the election date to begin intensive public sensitisation on its candidates and activities.
“With a well-packaged message that is also well targeted, as well as a high intensity campaign but at a lesser cost, we believe we will not lag behind at all,” he said.
Nana Akosa said PINA met with all shortlisted candidates on March 15, 2008, and discussed with them the objectives of the foundation, resources at their disposal, their schedule for the elections and deployment.
He said based on that the candidates were asked to go and draw up their budgets and proposals for the election campaign.
Nana Akosa said the basis for the choice of the candidates was their commitment to go independent, which meant that they were providing alternatives to the political parties in the country.
He said political parties had failed to improve upon the political dispensation of the country with a dominant Executive and a majority membership of a party dominating in Parliament, subjecting the country to what they wanted.
He was of the view that an influx of independent candidates in Parliament and as President would correct that. He, however, said the type of political structure they were supporting was intolerant of political party funding.
“How can the state remove subsidies from utilities, fuel and other critical social areas and dissociate itself from involving in enterprise, then turn round to fund political parties?” He queried.
“This does not make sense and PINA does not support the funding of political parties,” he added.
PINA was formed in September 2007 as a non-governmental foundation to support political alternatives to all other political parties in the country.
DAILY GRAPHIC, FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008
The foundation is also yet to receive a response from Osahene Boakye Djan, who was contacted to be supported to run as an independent presidential candidate.
Osahene Boakye Djan is consulting with a wide spectrum of people before responding to the request of PINA and that would be given by May this year, Nana Akosa, the Spokesperson in charge of Operations of PINA, told the Daily Graphic in Accra.
He said the foundation was also making overtures to Messrs Alex Hammer and ????Amofa? Yeboah to support them as independent candidates for the presidential slot.
Although most parliamentary and presidential candidates of most political parties are far advanced in their campaign, Nana Akosa was confident that PINA was not behind time as it had scheduled six months to the election date to begin intensive public sensitisation on its candidates and activities.
“With a well-packaged message that is also well targeted, as well as a high intensity campaign but at a lesser cost, we believe we will not lag behind at all,” he said.
Nana Akosa said PINA met with all shortlisted candidates on March 15, 2008, and discussed with them the objectives of the foundation, resources at their disposal, their schedule for the elections and deployment.
He said based on that the candidates were asked to go and draw up their budgets and proposals for the election campaign.
Nana Akosa said the basis for the choice of the candidates was their commitment to go independent, which meant that they were providing alternatives to the political parties in the country.
He said political parties had failed to improve upon the political dispensation of the country with a dominant Executive and a majority membership of a party dominating in Parliament, subjecting the country to what they wanted.
He was of the view that an influx of independent candidates in Parliament and as President would correct that. He, however, said the type of political structure they were supporting was intolerant of political party funding.
“How can the state remove subsidies from utilities, fuel and other critical social areas and dissociate itself from involving in enterprise, then turn round to fund political parties?” He queried.
“This does not make sense and PINA does not support the funding of political parties,” he added.
PINA was formed in September 2007 as a non-governmental foundation to support political alternatives to all other political parties in the country.
DAILY GRAPHIC, FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008
PURC GIVES GUIDELINES ON TAKER SERVICES
THE Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has formulated guidelines on water tanker services.
The guidelines are to, among other things, check the quality, safety and reliability of water supplies by tanker services to communities in the country that depend on them.
It covers best practices on filling points for tankers; the personal hygiene of drivers; the registration of tankers by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and their appropriate licensing for performing the service; water quality monitoring and the responsibilities of GWCL and tanker associations, among other things.
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, launching the guidelines in Accra yesterday, noted that the launch of the document was timely, coming at a time of widespread concerns about the water situation in Accra, Tema and other places in the country.
He said population growth, which had not been equally matched with the water infrastructure in the country, had resulted in deficits in the supplies of water.
While the country is projected to be growing at a rate of 2.5 per cent annually, water infrastructure has grown at 1.0 per cent, leaving a deficit of 1.5 per cent, he pointed out.
Despite the deficit in the water infrastructural system, Alhaji Boniface said the government was on record to have invested the most in the sector, with Parliament having recently also approved a loan of $75 million to boost water supplies to the Accra/Tema metropolitan areas, as well as the Eastern Region.
The minister said high rising architectural structures and illegal connections all contributed to low pressure of water in distribution systems and its lack in some areas.
He said all Ghanaians contributed to the challenges of the scarcity of water and cited how an inspection tour had revealed an illegal connection that was being used to irrigate vegetation.
With the scarcity of water, he said tanker services were vital and congratulated the PURC on the guidelines, while assuring them of the government’s commitment to its compliance.
Giving highlights of the guidelines, Mr N.O. Kotei of the PURC emphasised that PURC was not responsible for pricing water from secondary suppliers such as tankers to the end users.
He said the guidelines were the framework in which to ensure safe and good quality water to consumers and ensure reliability and efficiency of tanker services, which had assumed a prominent role in the water delivery chain in the country.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abokobi/Madina and deputy ranking member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, Alhaji Ahmadu Sorogho, said it was important for all to collaborate to ensure compliance with the guidelines.
A representative of the Tanker Owners Association, Commander Charles Addo, recommended more filling points to cut down on the cost of transporting water to required areas.
He also requested for a waiver of taxes or a tax concession on tankers. However, the minister, while responding during an open forum, said that would not be possible as it could be abused.
A representative of the Teshie Residents Association, Mr Seth Tagoe, asked for concerted efforts to ensure adherence to the guidelines.
A commissioner of the PURC, Mr Andrew Quayson, who chaired the function, said the introduction of the guidelines was a result of the PURC’s mandate and desire to promote the development of a competitive market in the supply of water by tankers.
The guidelines are to, among other things, check the quality, safety and reliability of water supplies by tanker services to communities in the country that depend on them.
It covers best practices on filling points for tankers; the personal hygiene of drivers; the registration of tankers by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and their appropriate licensing for performing the service; water quality monitoring and the responsibilities of GWCL and tanker associations, among other things.
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, launching the guidelines in Accra yesterday, noted that the launch of the document was timely, coming at a time of widespread concerns about the water situation in Accra, Tema and other places in the country.
He said population growth, which had not been equally matched with the water infrastructure in the country, had resulted in deficits in the supplies of water.
While the country is projected to be growing at a rate of 2.5 per cent annually, water infrastructure has grown at 1.0 per cent, leaving a deficit of 1.5 per cent, he pointed out.
Despite the deficit in the water infrastructural system, Alhaji Boniface said the government was on record to have invested the most in the sector, with Parliament having recently also approved a loan of $75 million to boost water supplies to the Accra/Tema metropolitan areas, as well as the Eastern Region.
The minister said high rising architectural structures and illegal connections all contributed to low pressure of water in distribution systems and its lack in some areas.
He said all Ghanaians contributed to the challenges of the scarcity of water and cited how an inspection tour had revealed an illegal connection that was being used to irrigate vegetation.
With the scarcity of water, he said tanker services were vital and congratulated the PURC on the guidelines, while assuring them of the government’s commitment to its compliance.
Giving highlights of the guidelines, Mr N.O. Kotei of the PURC emphasised that PURC was not responsible for pricing water from secondary suppliers such as tankers to the end users.
He said the guidelines were the framework in which to ensure safe and good quality water to consumers and ensure reliability and efficiency of tanker services, which had assumed a prominent role in the water delivery chain in the country.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abokobi/Madina and deputy ranking member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, Alhaji Ahmadu Sorogho, said it was important for all to collaborate to ensure compliance with the guidelines.
A representative of the Tanker Owners Association, Commander Charles Addo, recommended more filling points to cut down on the cost of transporting water to required areas.
He also requested for a waiver of taxes or a tax concession on tankers. However, the minister, while responding during an open forum, said that would not be possible as it could be abused.
A representative of the Teshie Residents Association, Mr Seth Tagoe, asked for concerted efforts to ensure adherence to the guidelines.
A commissioner of the PURC, Mr Andrew Quayson, who chaired the function, said the introduction of the guidelines was a result of the PURC’s mandate and desire to promote the development of a competitive market in the supply of water by tankers.
NIA GAZETTES 13,500 REGISTRATION CENTRES
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has completed the gazetting of 13,500 registration centres nationwide for the mass data capture exercise.
The Logistics Co-ordinator of the NIA, Mr Francis Denteh, who made this known to the Daily Graphic, said that the gazetting of the centres was in fulfilment of Section 14 of the National Identification Registration Act 2008, which mandates prior notification of the names and location of registration centres by gazetting or through the mass media.
The law, he said, also prescribed that registration centres were selected based on their accessibility, safety and convenience, among other things.
Mr Denteh said some of the registration centres selected by the NIA were the same as the polling centres of the Electoral Commission (EC).
He further said that 1500 Mobile Registration Work Stations (MRWS) would be deployed to the regions, beginning with the Central Region.
According to him, the Central Region alone had 1500 registration centres that had been gazetted.
He mentioned some of the registration centres in the Central Region as the Catholic Chapel and the Methodist Primary School both at Abura-Dunkwa in the Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese District; the Ministry of Agric Offices and the Methodist JHS both at Agona Swedru in the Agona District, and the Zongo/Low Cost D/C School, and the Traditional Council Office, both in Komenda in the Komenda/Adina/Eguafo/Abirem District.
Mr Denteh added that because of the low population density of the Upper East and Upper West regions, the two regions would be treated as one operational area.
He explained that in areas of high population density, two MRWs would be situated at a registration centre that might serve two polling centres.
Other MRWs, he added, would be moved from one centre to another, especially in areas where there were hospitals and where people could not come to the registration centres to register.
Meanwhile, the NIA, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Information Services Department (ISD) are in close collaboration to ensure public sensitisation for the mass registration exercise.
The Executive Secretary of the NIA, Prof. Ernest Dumor, said public sensitisation and awareness had been planned at the regional and district levels and at registration centres.
He said while the ISD would be in charge of publicising general information on the exercise at the registration centres and districts, the public address systems of the EC would be used to give technical information about the exercise.
“The ISD is ready for the Central Region and they will be passing on information to people on exactly what to do during the exercise. The public address systems of the EC will be a back-up to this,” Prof. Dumor said.
DAILY GRAPHIC, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008
The Logistics Co-ordinator of the NIA, Mr Francis Denteh, who made this known to the Daily Graphic, said that the gazetting of the centres was in fulfilment of Section 14 of the National Identification Registration Act 2008, which mandates prior notification of the names and location of registration centres by gazetting or through the mass media.
The law, he said, also prescribed that registration centres were selected based on their accessibility, safety and convenience, among other things.
Mr Denteh said some of the registration centres selected by the NIA were the same as the polling centres of the Electoral Commission (EC).
He further said that 1500 Mobile Registration Work Stations (MRWS) would be deployed to the regions, beginning with the Central Region.
According to him, the Central Region alone had 1500 registration centres that had been gazetted.
He mentioned some of the registration centres in the Central Region as the Catholic Chapel and the Methodist Primary School both at Abura-Dunkwa in the Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese District; the Ministry of Agric Offices and the Methodist JHS both at Agona Swedru in the Agona District, and the Zongo/Low Cost D/C School, and the Traditional Council Office, both in Komenda in the Komenda/Adina/Eguafo/Abirem District.
Mr Denteh added that because of the low population density of the Upper East and Upper West regions, the two regions would be treated as one operational area.
He explained that in areas of high population density, two MRWs would be situated at a registration centre that might serve two polling centres.
Other MRWs, he added, would be moved from one centre to another, especially in areas where there were hospitals and where people could not come to the registration centres to register.
Meanwhile, the NIA, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Information Services Department (ISD) are in close collaboration to ensure public sensitisation for the mass registration exercise.
The Executive Secretary of the NIA, Prof. Ernest Dumor, said public sensitisation and awareness had been planned at the regional and district levels and at registration centres.
He said while the ISD would be in charge of publicising general information on the exercise at the registration centres and districts, the public address systems of the EC would be used to give technical information about the exercise.
“The ISD is ready for the Central Region and they will be passing on information to people on exactly what to do during the exercise. The public address systems of the EC will be a back-up to this,” Prof. Dumor said.
DAILY GRAPHIC, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008
GHANA TO HELP SIERRA LEONE, GUINEA WITH POWER GENERATION
GHANA has been invited by Sierra Leone and Guinea to help in their electric power generation and supply systems.
Both spend huge sums of money and energy in hauling oil for power generation in their countries and see Ghana as wielding a competitive edge in that area.
Major General Francis Adu-Amanfoh, Ghana’s Ambassador to Liberia, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of an Emergency Power Programme (EPP) in Liberia on Tuesday.
He said the invitation was a direct result of the exemplary efficiency of the Volta River Authority (VRA) in executing the EPP in Liberia.
The skills, efficiency and success of the VRA in executing the EPP were the toast at the ceremony, while President John Agyekum Kufuor’s commitment to executing the project and the opportunity offered by the Liberian President, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, to Ghanaians to share their skills, were all highly commended by all the speakers at the function.
“The introduction of the VRA to the project and the timely and efficient manner of execution has won the recognition of the countries of the MANO River Union. The republics of Sierra Leone and Guinea have invited the VRA to be part of similar projects there,” Maj Gen Adu-Amanfoh said.
The Government of Ghana and the Government of Liberia on March 31, 2006 signed a memoranda of understanding (MOU) for an EPP in Liberia, under which the VRA, as the implementing agency, was to supply and install diesel generating sets and distribution networks.
The VRA was also to provide training and skills transfer to workers of the Liberian Electricity Corporation (LEC), as well as maintenance services for a period.
Funding for the project was from the Government of Liberia, the United States and the European Commission.
President Johnson-Sirleaf, in her inaugural speech on January 16, 2006, pledged to light up key areas in Monrovia in her first 150 days in office.
The areas were the Kru Town, Congo Town, Paynesville, as well as military, health and some educational facilities in the city.
The pledge of the President was made at a time when all the electrical systems and distribution lines had collapsed because of the 14 years of conflict during which some of these things were used as target practice by armed individuals, others wantonly destroyed and copper wiring in electrical cables stolen.
Mr Adu-Amanfoh recounted the daunting challenges at the onset of the project and how each partner rose to the task in their own peculiar way.
He said the slogan “small light today, big light tomorrow” of the staff of LEC was becoming a reality as the government of Liberia extended the programme to other parts of the country.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Kwame Amporfo-Twumasi, said the project had offered Ghana the opportunity to showcase itself and the skills of its people and was also evidence of the benefits of strong cooperation.
“As part of the Government of Ghana’s technical assistance to the Liberian EPP, 45 Ghanaians worked directly on the construction works here in Monrovia and about 200 others back home were responsible for the engineering design and planning, logistics, consolidation and packaging of the distribution materials used for the project,” he said.
Dr Amporfo-Twumasi emphasised Ghana’s readiness to assist Liberia as it prepared to rebuild its Mount Coffee Hydroelectric Station and other power installation facilities destroyed during the conflict.
The Liberian Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Dr Eugene Shannon, said the accomplishments under the EPP were evidence of the concretisation of Ghana-Liberian relations.
He stressed the need for joint partnerships and self-help efforts in Africa as“the relevant expertise can be found in Africa”.
The Vice President of Liberia, Mr Joseph Nyumah Boakai, who was the special guest of honour, commended Ghana for her efforts, especially when everything had to be built from scratch after the destruction of all social infrastructure in the conflict.
He described the VRA’s work in Liberia as “excellent not only in the installation but also in the training of the LEC staff”.
He said the initial collaboration in the power sector would open new doors of cooperation for both countries.
DAILY GRAPHIC, SATURDAY MARCH 15, 2008
Both spend huge sums of money and energy in hauling oil for power generation in their countries and see Ghana as wielding a competitive edge in that area.
Major General Francis Adu-Amanfoh, Ghana’s Ambassador to Liberia, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of an Emergency Power Programme (EPP) in Liberia on Tuesday.
He said the invitation was a direct result of the exemplary efficiency of the Volta River Authority (VRA) in executing the EPP in Liberia.
The skills, efficiency and success of the VRA in executing the EPP were the toast at the ceremony, while President John Agyekum Kufuor’s commitment to executing the project and the opportunity offered by the Liberian President, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, to Ghanaians to share their skills, were all highly commended by all the speakers at the function.
“The introduction of the VRA to the project and the timely and efficient manner of execution has won the recognition of the countries of the MANO River Union. The republics of Sierra Leone and Guinea have invited the VRA to be part of similar projects there,” Maj Gen Adu-Amanfoh said.
The Government of Ghana and the Government of Liberia on March 31, 2006 signed a memoranda of understanding (MOU) for an EPP in Liberia, under which the VRA, as the implementing agency, was to supply and install diesel generating sets and distribution networks.
The VRA was also to provide training and skills transfer to workers of the Liberian Electricity Corporation (LEC), as well as maintenance services for a period.
Funding for the project was from the Government of Liberia, the United States and the European Commission.
President Johnson-Sirleaf, in her inaugural speech on January 16, 2006, pledged to light up key areas in Monrovia in her first 150 days in office.
The areas were the Kru Town, Congo Town, Paynesville, as well as military, health and some educational facilities in the city.
The pledge of the President was made at a time when all the electrical systems and distribution lines had collapsed because of the 14 years of conflict during which some of these things were used as target practice by armed individuals, others wantonly destroyed and copper wiring in electrical cables stolen.
Mr Adu-Amanfoh recounted the daunting challenges at the onset of the project and how each partner rose to the task in their own peculiar way.
He said the slogan “small light today, big light tomorrow” of the staff of LEC was becoming a reality as the government of Liberia extended the programme to other parts of the country.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Kwame Amporfo-Twumasi, said the project had offered Ghana the opportunity to showcase itself and the skills of its people and was also evidence of the benefits of strong cooperation.
“As part of the Government of Ghana’s technical assistance to the Liberian EPP, 45 Ghanaians worked directly on the construction works here in Monrovia and about 200 others back home were responsible for the engineering design and planning, logistics, consolidation and packaging of the distribution materials used for the project,” he said.
Dr Amporfo-Twumasi emphasised Ghana’s readiness to assist Liberia as it prepared to rebuild its Mount Coffee Hydroelectric Station and other power installation facilities destroyed during the conflict.
The Liberian Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Dr Eugene Shannon, said the accomplishments under the EPP were evidence of the concretisation of Ghana-Liberian relations.
He stressed the need for joint partnerships and self-help efforts in Africa as“the relevant expertise can be found in Africa”.
The Vice President of Liberia, Mr Joseph Nyumah Boakai, who was the special guest of honour, commended Ghana for her efforts, especially when everything had to be built from scratch after the destruction of all social infrastructure in the conflict.
He described the VRA’s work in Liberia as “excellent not only in the installation but also in the training of the LEC staff”.
He said the initial collaboration in the power sector would open new doors of cooperation for both countries.
DAILY GRAPHIC, SATURDAY MARCH 15, 2008
GHANA, LIBERIA TO STRENGTHEN TIES
Ghana and Liberia have indicated their willingness to strengthen the ties of cooperation existing between them for accelerated economic growth and development.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Kwame Amporfo-Twumasi and the Liberian Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Dr Eugene Shannon expressed these sentiments when Mr Amfomfo Twumasi paid a courtesy call on the latter Monrovia last Monday.
Accompanying the Mr Amporfo-Twumasi were the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy, Mrs Gifty Eugenia Kusi, the Director of Power at the Ministry of Energy, Mr Emmanuel Antwi Darkwa, a Deputy Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Eric Yankah, and other officials of the VRA and the MOE working with the Liberian Electricity Company (LEC) to restore the electricity infrastructure system completely destroyed during the 15 year war of Liberia.
Mr Amporfo-Twumasi said Ghana was willing and interested in exploring other opportunities of cooperation in Liberia and other friendly African countries.
He lauded the collaboration and cooperation of the Liberians with workers of the VRA in the restoration of electricity to key areas of Liberia under an emergency power programme (EPP) of the Liberian Government.
Dr Shannon on his part said Liberia was gradually getting on its feet, with the economy gradually picking up and its skilled labour trickling in from countries where they had sought refuge during the war.
He said the country had begun prospecting its mines for minerals, and several billions of dollars worth of contract had been signed.
Dr Shannon added that skilled labour and expertise in engineering, geology, environmental protection and other allied mining professions were therefore required to help in that sector.
He said Ghana and Liberia could, therefore, cooperate in areas of skills and technical knowledge transfer through sterling institutions such as the Tarkwa School of Mines in Tarkwa.
The Government of Ghana in 2006 through the VRA, begun assisting the Liberian Government with technical assistance to restore the country’s electricity.
The programme was funded by the European Commission, the United States of America and the Liberian Government with the Government of Ghana and the VRA providing technical assistance and implementing the programme.
DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY MARRCH 13, 2008
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Kwame Amporfo-Twumasi and the Liberian Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Dr Eugene Shannon expressed these sentiments when Mr Amfomfo Twumasi paid a courtesy call on the latter Monrovia last Monday.
Accompanying the Mr Amporfo-Twumasi were the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy, Mrs Gifty Eugenia Kusi, the Director of Power at the Ministry of Energy, Mr Emmanuel Antwi Darkwa, a Deputy Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Eric Yankah, and other officials of the VRA and the MOE working with the Liberian Electricity Company (LEC) to restore the electricity infrastructure system completely destroyed during the 15 year war of Liberia.
Mr Amporfo-Twumasi said Ghana was willing and interested in exploring other opportunities of cooperation in Liberia and other friendly African countries.
He lauded the collaboration and cooperation of the Liberians with workers of the VRA in the restoration of electricity to key areas of Liberia under an emergency power programme (EPP) of the Liberian Government.
Dr Shannon on his part said Liberia was gradually getting on its feet, with the economy gradually picking up and its skilled labour trickling in from countries where they had sought refuge during the war.
He said the country had begun prospecting its mines for minerals, and several billions of dollars worth of contract had been signed.
Dr Shannon added that skilled labour and expertise in engineering, geology, environmental protection and other allied mining professions were therefore required to help in that sector.
He said Ghana and Liberia could, therefore, cooperate in areas of skills and technical knowledge transfer through sterling institutions such as the Tarkwa School of Mines in Tarkwa.
The Government of Ghana in 2006 through the VRA, begun assisting the Liberian Government with technical assistance to restore the country’s electricity.
The programme was funded by the European Commission, the United States of America and the Liberian Government with the Government of Ghana and the VRA providing technical assistance and implementing the programme.
DAILY GRAPHIC, THURSDAY MARRCH 13, 2008
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