Political party agents have been absent at exhibition centres since the exhibition of the voters register begun on Sunday, October 5, 2008.
Their absence at most exhibition centres to monitor and observe for the successful cleaning of the voters’ register to rid it of the names of minors, aliens and the deceased, have raised questions on their commitment to making the voters register clean for the December 7, 2008 polls.
Their absence is particularly significant now because they were visible and active during the registration exercise about a month ago where there were reports of their active participation in facilitating the registration of some voters who had turned 18, according to a Senior Research Officer of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Mr Peter Fiamor.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on provisional reports sent by observers of the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) deployed nation wide to monitor the exercise, he said in most exhibition centres no party functionary or agent had ever visited to observe what was going on, unlike the registration exercise when they were present and active
"It shows their lack of interest in helping to clean up the register and motivation," he said.
Generally, with regards to sensitising Ghanaians and mobilising all to object to the inclusion of the names of minors and aliens in the register and taking from it the names of the deceased, observers of reported certain inhibiting factors in achieving this.
For instance the sensitivity of the issue of death made it difficult for some come out with information on their dead relations particularly when exhibition officers insisted on some sort of evidence like a death certificate or tried to probe to verify.
The observers reported a slow start of the exhibition exercise with the general absence of the political parties nation-wide.
CFI observers at the Kpong Katamanso constituency of the Greater Accra Region reported that on the first day of the exercise, the provisional register of the recent registration exercise was not exhibited.
In other areas such as the Northern Region, CFI observers noted that some exhibition officers of the Electoral Commission did not seem to know what to do.
For instance, some were reported not to know how to go about filling the objection forms, while some parents were reported to be checking on the details of their children, who are apparently minors.
With no agents of political parties present to scrutinise and insist on the right thing, exhibition officers could only rightly check the details in the register, provided a card was presented.
On a positive note, Mr Fiamor reported that some remote areas in the Northern Region had seen an impressive turn out.
For instance, the Kotilgle exhibition centre had recorded about 108 people coming in to check on their details on the fourth day of the registration exercise.
He said with these provisional issues from observers, there was the need for civil society organisations to increase their sensitisation programmes and get citizens to turn out fully and help clean the register before the exhibition ends on October 12.
Currently, CFI, a coalition of civil society organisations in support of ensuring a clean register for the
December 7, 2008 elections is working in regions and districts to sensitise people on the need to help clean the EC register that has been bloated from the last registration exercise.
When contacted, the National Organising Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the NDC had its agents on the ground.
These agents, he added, were not stationed at the exhibition centres, but went into villages and towns to encourage people to go to the exhibition centres to check on their details.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also said he had received incidents of widespread transfer of votes in the Asutifi South, Asunafo North and the Attebubu districts all in the Brong Ahafo Region, as well as Ejura in the Ashanti Region.
He said this was a breach of the electoral laws as the Electoral Commission at an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting set out the dates for the transfer of votes somewhere in November.
Party functionaries of the other parties could not be contacted as none picked up their telephone calls.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
STORY USED IN ARTICLE "EXHIBITION OF REGISTER RECORDS LOW TURNOUT, WITHOUT LOW TURN OUT OF VOTERS EXHIBITION EXERCISE ENDS TODAY" OF OCTOBER 11, 2008
Political party agents have been absent at exhibition centres since the exhibition of the voters register begun on Sunday, October 5, 2008.
Their absence at most exhibition centres to monitor and observe for the successful cleaning of the voters’ register to rid it of the names of minors, aliens and the deceased, have raised questions on their commitment to making the voters register clean for the December 7, 2008 polls.
Their absence is particularly significant now because they were visible and active during the registration exercise about a month ago where there were reports of their active participation in facilitating the registration of some voters who had turned 18, according to a Senior Research Officer of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Mr Peter Fiamor.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on provisional reports sent by observers of the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) deployed nation wide to monitor the exercise, he said in most exhibition centres no party functionary or agent had ever visited to observe what was going on, unlike the registration exercise when they were present and active
"It shows their lack of interest in helping to clean up the register and motivation," he said.
Generally, with regards to sensitising Ghanaians and mobilising all to object to the inclusion of the names of minors and aliens in the register and taking from it the names of the deceased, observers of reported certain inhibiting factors in achieving this.
For instance the sensitivity of the issue of death made it difficult for some come out with information on their dead relations particularly when exhibition officers insisted on some sort of evidence like a death certificate or tried to probe to verify.
The observers reported a slow start of the exhibition exercise with the general absence of the political parties nation-wide.
CFI observers at the Kpong Katamanso constituency of the Greater Accra Region reported that on the first day of the exercise, the provisional register of the recent registration exercise was not exhibited.
In other areas such as the Northern Region, CFI observers noted that some exhibition officers of the Electoral Commission did not seem to know what to do.
For instance, some were reported not to know how to go about filling the objection forms, while some parents were reported to be checking on the details of their children, who are apparently minors.
With no agents of political parties present to scrutinise and insist on the right thing, exhibition officers could only rightly check the details in the register, provided a card was presented.
On a positive note, Mr Fiamor reported that some remote areas in the Northern Region had seen an impressive turn out.
For instance, the Kotilgle exhibition centre had recorded about 108 people coming in to check on their details on the fourth day of the registration exercise.
He said with these provisional issues from observers, there was the need for civil society organisations to increase their sensitisation programmes and get citizens to turn out fully and help clean the register before the exhibition ends on October 12.
Currently, CFI, a coalition of civil society organisations in support of ensuring a clean register for the
December 7, 2008 elections is working in regions and districts to sensitise people on the need to help clean the EC register that has been bloated from the last registration exercise.
When contacted, the National Organising Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the NDC had its agents on the ground.
These agents, he added, were not stationed at the exhibition centres, but went into villages and towns to encourage people to go to the exhibition centres to check on their details.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also said he had received incidents of widespread transfer of votes in the Asutifi South, Asunafo North and the Attebubu districts all in the Brong Ahafo Region, as well as Ejura in the Ashanti Region.
He said this was a breach of the electoral laws as the Electoral Commission at an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting set out the dates for the transfer of votes somewhere in November.
Party functionaries of the other parties could not be contacted as none picked up their telephone calls.
Their absence at most exhibition centres to monitor and observe for the successful cleaning of the voters’ register to rid it of the names of minors, aliens and the deceased, have raised questions on their commitment to making the voters register clean for the December 7, 2008 polls.
Their absence is particularly significant now because they were visible and active during the registration exercise about a month ago where there were reports of their active participation in facilitating the registration of some voters who had turned 18, according to a Senior Research Officer of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Mr Peter Fiamor.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on provisional reports sent by observers of the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) deployed nation wide to monitor the exercise, he said in most exhibition centres no party functionary or agent had ever visited to observe what was going on, unlike the registration exercise when they were present and active
"It shows their lack of interest in helping to clean up the register and motivation," he said.
Generally, with regards to sensitising Ghanaians and mobilising all to object to the inclusion of the names of minors and aliens in the register and taking from it the names of the deceased, observers of reported certain inhibiting factors in achieving this.
For instance the sensitivity of the issue of death made it difficult for some come out with information on their dead relations particularly when exhibition officers insisted on some sort of evidence like a death certificate or tried to probe to verify.
The observers reported a slow start of the exhibition exercise with the general absence of the political parties nation-wide.
CFI observers at the Kpong Katamanso constituency of the Greater Accra Region reported that on the first day of the exercise, the provisional register of the recent registration exercise was not exhibited.
In other areas such as the Northern Region, CFI observers noted that some exhibition officers of the Electoral Commission did not seem to know what to do.
For instance, some were reported not to know how to go about filling the objection forms, while some parents were reported to be checking on the details of their children, who are apparently minors.
With no agents of political parties present to scrutinise and insist on the right thing, exhibition officers could only rightly check the details in the register, provided a card was presented.
On a positive note, Mr Fiamor reported that some remote areas in the Northern Region had seen an impressive turn out.
For instance, the Kotilgle exhibition centre had recorded about 108 people coming in to check on their details on the fourth day of the registration exercise.
He said with these provisional issues from observers, there was the need for civil society organisations to increase their sensitisation programmes and get citizens to turn out fully and help clean the register before the exhibition ends on October 12.
Currently, CFI, a coalition of civil society organisations in support of ensuring a clean register for the
December 7, 2008 elections is working in regions and districts to sensitise people on the need to help clean the EC register that has been bloated from the last registration exercise.
When contacted, the National Organising Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the NDC had its agents on the ground.
These agents, he added, were not stationed at the exhibition centres, but went into villages and towns to encourage people to go to the exhibition centres to check on their details.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also said he had received incidents of widespread transfer of votes in the Asutifi South, Asunafo North and the Attebubu districts all in the Brong Ahafo Region, as well as Ejura in the Ashanti Region.
He said this was a breach of the electoral laws as the Electoral Commission at an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting set out the dates for the transfer of votes somewhere in November.
Party functionaries of the other parties could not be contacted as none picked up their telephone calls.
PARTS OF STORY PLAGIARIZED IN ARTICLE "VOTERS EXHIBITION EXERCISE ENDS TODAY" OF OCTOBER 11, 2008
Political party agents have been absent at exhibition centres since the exhibition of the voters register begun on Sunday, October 5, 2008.
Their absence at most exhibition centres to monitor and observe for the successful cleaning of the voters’ register to rid it of the names of minors, aliens and the deceased, have raised questions on their commitment to making the voters register clean for the December 7, 2008 polls.
Their absence is particularly significant now because they were visible and active during the registration exercise about a month ago where there were reports of their active participation in facilitating the registration of some voters who had turned 18, according to a Senior Research Officer of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Mr Peter Fiamor.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on provisional reports sent by observers of the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) deployed nation wide to monitor the exercise, he said in most exhibition centres no party functionary or agent had ever visited to observe what was going on, unlike the registration exercise when they were present and active
"It shows their lack of interest in helping to clean up the register and motivation," he said.
Generally, with regards to sensitising Ghanaians and mobilising all to object to the inclusion of the names of minors and aliens in the register and taking from it the names of the deceased, observers of reported certain inhibiting factors in achieving this.
For instance the sensitivity of the issue of death made it difficult for some come out with information on their dead relations particularly when exhibition officers insisted on some sort of evidence like a death certificate or tried to probe to verify.
The observers reported a slow start of the exhibition exercise with the general absence of the political parties nation-wide.
CFI observers at the Kpong Katamanso constituency of the Greater Accra Region reported that on the first day of the exercise, the provisional register of the recent registration exercise was not exhibited.
In other areas such as the Northern Region, CFI observers noted that some exhibition officers of the Electoral Commission did not seem to know what to do.
For instance, some were reported not to know how to go about filling the objection forms, while some parents were reported to be checking on the details of their children, who are apparently minors.
With no agents of political parties present to scrutinise and insist on the right thing, exhibition officers could only rightly check the details in the register, provided a card was presented.
On a positive note, Mr Fiamor reported that some remote areas in the Northern Region had seen an impressive turn out.
For instance, the Kotilgle exhibition centre had recorded about 108 people coming in to check on their details on the fourth day of the registration exercise.
He said with these provisional issues from observers, there was the need for civil society organisations to increase their sensitisation programmes and get citizens to turn out fully and help clean the register before the exhibition ends on October 12.
Currently, CFI, a coalition of civil society organisations in support of ensuring a clean register for the
December 7, 2008 elections is working in regions and districts to sensitise people on the need to help clean the EC register that has been bloated from the last registration exercise.
When contacted, the National Organising Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the NDC had its agents on the ground.
These agents, he added, were not stationed at the exhibition centres, but went into villages and towns to encourage people to go to the exhibition centres to check on their details.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also said he had received incidents of widespread transfer of votes in the Asutifi South, Asunafo North and the Attebubu districts all in the Brong Ahafo Region, as well as Ejura in the Ashanti Region.
He said this was a breach of the electoral laws as the Electoral Commission at an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting set out the dates for the transfer of votes somewhere in November.
Party functionaries of the other parties could not be contacted as none picked up their telephone calls.
Their absence at most exhibition centres to monitor and observe for the successful cleaning of the voters’ register to rid it of the names of minors, aliens and the deceased, have raised questions on their commitment to making the voters register clean for the December 7, 2008 polls.
Their absence is particularly significant now because they were visible and active during the registration exercise about a month ago where there were reports of their active participation in facilitating the registration of some voters who had turned 18, according to a Senior Research Officer of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Mr Peter Fiamor.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on provisional reports sent by observers of the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) deployed nation wide to monitor the exercise, he said in most exhibition centres no party functionary or agent had ever visited to observe what was going on, unlike the registration exercise when they were present and active
"It shows their lack of interest in helping to clean up the register and motivation," he said.
Generally, with regards to sensitising Ghanaians and mobilising all to object to the inclusion of the names of minors and aliens in the register and taking from it the names of the deceased, observers of reported certain inhibiting factors in achieving this.
For instance the sensitivity of the issue of death made it difficult for some come out with information on their dead relations particularly when exhibition officers insisted on some sort of evidence like a death certificate or tried to probe to verify.
The observers reported a slow start of the exhibition exercise with the general absence of the political parties nation-wide.
CFI observers at the Kpong Katamanso constituency of the Greater Accra Region reported that on the first day of the exercise, the provisional register of the recent registration exercise was not exhibited.
In other areas such as the Northern Region, CFI observers noted that some exhibition officers of the Electoral Commission did not seem to know what to do.
For instance, some were reported not to know how to go about filling the objection forms, while some parents were reported to be checking on the details of their children, who are apparently minors.
With no agents of political parties present to scrutinise and insist on the right thing, exhibition officers could only rightly check the details in the register, provided a card was presented.
On a positive note, Mr Fiamor reported that some remote areas in the Northern Region had seen an impressive turn out.
For instance, the Kotilgle exhibition centre had recorded about 108 people coming in to check on their details on the fourth day of the registration exercise.
He said with these provisional issues from observers, there was the need for civil society organisations to increase their sensitisation programmes and get citizens to turn out fully and help clean the register before the exhibition ends on October 12.
Currently, CFI, a coalition of civil society organisations in support of ensuring a clean register for the
December 7, 2008 elections is working in regions and districts to sensitise people on the need to help clean the EC register that has been bloated from the last registration exercise.
When contacted, the National Organising Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the NDC had its agents on the ground.
These agents, he added, were not stationed at the exhibition centres, but went into villages and towns to encourage people to go to the exhibition centres to check on their details.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also said he had received incidents of widespread transfer of votes in the Asutifi South, Asunafo North and the Attebubu districts all in the Brong Ahafo Region, as well as Ejura in the Ashanti Region.
He said this was a breach of the electoral laws as the Electoral Commission at an Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting set out the dates for the transfer of votes somewhere in November.
Party functionaries of the other parties could not be contacted as none picked up their telephone calls.
SENSITISE IMPORTERS ON TRADE STANDARDS, REGULATIONS
THE Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiatives (PSI), Papa Owusu-Ankomah, has said the flooding of Ghanaian markets with used underwear will not occur if importers are sensitised to standards and trade regulations.
He said in the country’s efforts to facilitate trade, it had failed to ensure that the processes for making goods to conform to standards were followed.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after opening a two-day workshop organised by the Ghana Standards Board (GSB), the African Regional Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) and the German National Institute of Meteorology (PTB), the minister said from his interaction with some dealers in second-hand or used clothing, he had realised that regulations and standards were not being adhered to, hence the influx of those items on the markets.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah, therefore, urged industry and trade sector practitioners to constantly liaise with the GSB to improve their knowledge, boost industry in the country and trading with other countries.
He said such a liaison would also ensure that only standard goods entered the Ghanaian market.
He said while standards and standardisation shaped the development of industry, trade and the services sector, technical regulations ensured that some mandatory standards enforceable by law were kept.
These mandatory standards under the global multilateral trading system included sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures, as well as technical barriers to trade (TBT).
He said the GSB was the national enquiry point for such technical barriers under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and all partners, in preparing, revising or applying standards and technical regulations and associated conformance procedures, among other things, had to harmonise their actions with those international regulations.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah lauded the collaboration of the three institutions in developing robust standards and quality infrastructure to help enterprises to overcome technical barriers and seize emerging opportunities.
The Executive Director of the GSB, Mr Adu Gyamfi Darkwah, in a speech read on his behalf by Mrs Charlotte Ohene-Manu, said globalisation had brought in its wake the free movement of goods and services that, most often, was to the detriment of the economies of developing countries.
Mr Darkwah said most developing countries had not come to terms with the required standardisation infrastructure, which was a pre-requisite for improved productivity, market competitiveness and export capabilities of the country on the international market.
He said it was for that reason that the sensitisation workshop was being held to sensitise all to the relationship between standards and technical regulation, the relevance of their application and the opportunities of improved markets if they were adhered to.
A consultant for PTB, Mr Alex Inklaar, said the workshop would provide the opportunity for signatories to WTO agreements to fulfil their obligations and expand their trade with other countries.
He said the effective interplay of standards and technical regulations would help protect developing countries from cheap quality goods, while enhancing their ability to freely move good quality goods to other countries.
DAILY GRAPHIC, OCTOBER 10, 2008, PG 31
He said in the country’s efforts to facilitate trade, it had failed to ensure that the processes for making goods to conform to standards were followed.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after opening a two-day workshop organised by the Ghana Standards Board (GSB), the African Regional Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) and the German National Institute of Meteorology (PTB), the minister said from his interaction with some dealers in second-hand or used clothing, he had realised that regulations and standards were not being adhered to, hence the influx of those items on the markets.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah, therefore, urged industry and trade sector practitioners to constantly liaise with the GSB to improve their knowledge, boost industry in the country and trading with other countries.
He said such a liaison would also ensure that only standard goods entered the Ghanaian market.
He said while standards and standardisation shaped the development of industry, trade and the services sector, technical regulations ensured that some mandatory standards enforceable by law were kept.
These mandatory standards under the global multilateral trading system included sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures, as well as technical barriers to trade (TBT).
He said the GSB was the national enquiry point for such technical barriers under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and all partners, in preparing, revising or applying standards and technical regulations and associated conformance procedures, among other things, had to harmonise their actions with those international regulations.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah lauded the collaboration of the three institutions in developing robust standards and quality infrastructure to help enterprises to overcome technical barriers and seize emerging opportunities.
The Executive Director of the GSB, Mr Adu Gyamfi Darkwah, in a speech read on his behalf by Mrs Charlotte Ohene-Manu, said globalisation had brought in its wake the free movement of goods and services that, most often, was to the detriment of the economies of developing countries.
Mr Darkwah said most developing countries had not come to terms with the required standardisation infrastructure, which was a pre-requisite for improved productivity, market competitiveness and export capabilities of the country on the international market.
He said it was for that reason that the sensitisation workshop was being held to sensitise all to the relationship between standards and technical regulation, the relevance of their application and the opportunities of improved markets if they were adhered to.
A consultant for PTB, Mr Alex Inklaar, said the workshop would provide the opportunity for signatories to WTO agreements to fulfil their obligations and expand their trade with other countries.
He said the effective interplay of standards and technical regulations would help protect developing countries from cheap quality goods, while enhancing their ability to freely move good quality goods to other countries.
DAILY GRAPHIC, OCTOBER 10, 2008, PG 31
GHANAIANS MUST INSIST ON PEACE - VEEP
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has underscored the need for all Ghanaians to insist on peace as the basis for all their actions as they prepare for the December 7 general election.
He said their insistence on peace would ensure that no one threatened the prevailing peace in the nation.
Opening the 7th regional consultation of the West African Inter-Religions Co-ordinating Committee (WAIRCC) in Accra last Tuesday, Alhaji Mahama stressed the need for peace as the pre-requisite for development and progress.
The week-long meeting is being organised in collaboration with the Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace (GCRP), the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL) and Religions for Peace (RfP).
“As human beings, there will always be differences. It is the approach to resolutions that matters. And that is why the wonderful initiative of bringing different religions together in one council for dialogue must be commended,” the Vice-President told the participants.
He lauded the initiative of the organisers for bringing different beliefs and practices together to share and foster mutual respect for each other’s views, even where they differed fundamentally, and also their efforts at forging an international network of people of diverse religious backgrounds, beliefs and practices.
Alhaji Aliu said the potential of such collaborations were enormous because in using each other’s belief system as a common factor, leaders’ attitude and examples could greatly influence the perceptions and attitudes of numerous people.
He, therefore, tasked participants to provide the kind of leadership that shunned violence and intolerance, promoted respect for other people and rejected all forms of intolerance.
Welcoming participants, the Ameer and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Dr Wahab Adam, spoke about the need for all to collaborate to ensure peace in the sub-region since religion was meant to be a source of immense blessing for mankind.
The Ameer, who is also the Chairman of the GCRP, said although religion had been used to divide, cause anguish and pain, the RfP focused on uniting people for the promotion of peace and development.
He expressed the hope that deliberations on the theme, “Confronting Violence and Advancing Shared Security in West Africa”, would deepen the commitment of all to the promotion of peace.
The General Secretary of the Liberian Council of Churches and Co-ordinator of WAIRCC, Dr Benjamin Dorme Lartey, tracing the beginning of such collaborative efforts, said some warlords in the Liberian War tried to use religion as a factor for the conflicts.
He said Christian and Muslim leaders decided to come together to correct the erroneous impressions and their efforts had nurtured peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone, while further collaborations had been achieved in countries like Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.
He announced the expansion of the network to Benin, Senegal and Nigeria.
“Our membership is increasing because it makes sense for religious leaders to come together and work to promote peace,” he added.
In a goodwill message, the West African Regional Director of RfP, Reverend William Tolbert III, said RfP was the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace.
It had also collaborated with inter-religious councils in 70 countries across six continents to build peace, eradicate conflict and advance sustainable development.
The Regional Programme Co-ordinator of the Advocacy for Children Programme for ACRL-RfP, Ms Zebib Kavuma, for her part, said that multi-religious co-operation was the only way forward in consolidating peace in the sub-region and promote the development of people.
The Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr K. T. Hammond, assured Ghanaians that God was in charge of the country and would ensure a peaceful outcome in the December elections.
DAILY GRAPHIC, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2008, PG 17
He said their insistence on peace would ensure that no one threatened the prevailing peace in the nation.
Opening the 7th regional consultation of the West African Inter-Religions Co-ordinating Committee (WAIRCC) in Accra last Tuesday, Alhaji Mahama stressed the need for peace as the pre-requisite for development and progress.
The week-long meeting is being organised in collaboration with the Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace (GCRP), the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL) and Religions for Peace (RfP).
“As human beings, there will always be differences. It is the approach to resolutions that matters. And that is why the wonderful initiative of bringing different religions together in one council for dialogue must be commended,” the Vice-President told the participants.
He lauded the initiative of the organisers for bringing different beliefs and practices together to share and foster mutual respect for each other’s views, even where they differed fundamentally, and also their efforts at forging an international network of people of diverse religious backgrounds, beliefs and practices.
Alhaji Aliu said the potential of such collaborations were enormous because in using each other’s belief system as a common factor, leaders’ attitude and examples could greatly influence the perceptions and attitudes of numerous people.
He, therefore, tasked participants to provide the kind of leadership that shunned violence and intolerance, promoted respect for other people and rejected all forms of intolerance.
Welcoming participants, the Ameer and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Dr Wahab Adam, spoke about the need for all to collaborate to ensure peace in the sub-region since religion was meant to be a source of immense blessing for mankind.
The Ameer, who is also the Chairman of the GCRP, said although religion had been used to divide, cause anguish and pain, the RfP focused on uniting people for the promotion of peace and development.
He expressed the hope that deliberations on the theme, “Confronting Violence and Advancing Shared Security in West Africa”, would deepen the commitment of all to the promotion of peace.
The General Secretary of the Liberian Council of Churches and Co-ordinator of WAIRCC, Dr Benjamin Dorme Lartey, tracing the beginning of such collaborative efforts, said some warlords in the Liberian War tried to use religion as a factor for the conflicts.
He said Christian and Muslim leaders decided to come together to correct the erroneous impressions and their efforts had nurtured peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone, while further collaborations had been achieved in countries like Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.
He announced the expansion of the network to Benin, Senegal and Nigeria.
“Our membership is increasing because it makes sense for religious leaders to come together and work to promote peace,” he added.
In a goodwill message, the West African Regional Director of RfP, Reverend William Tolbert III, said RfP was the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace.
It had also collaborated with inter-religious councils in 70 countries across six continents to build peace, eradicate conflict and advance sustainable development.
The Regional Programme Co-ordinator of the Advocacy for Children Programme for ACRL-RfP, Ms Zebib Kavuma, for her part, said that multi-religious co-operation was the only way forward in consolidating peace in the sub-region and promote the development of people.
The Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr K. T. Hammond, assured Ghanaians that God was in charge of the country and would ensure a peaceful outcome in the December elections.
DAILY GRAPHIC, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2008, PG 17
STORY USED WITHOUT MY BYLINE. OTHER REPORTERS HAD THEIR BYE LINES
STORY USED WITHOUT MY BYLINE. OTHER REPORTERS HAD THEIR BYE LINES
EXHIBITION of the voters register got off on a low key note in centres visited around the country.
The first day of the exercise coincided with church services across the country. By 11 a.m, only 11 and seven voters respectively had visited the Faith Community Baptist School Centre A and B polling stations in the Madina-Abokobi Constituency in the Ga East District to check on their voter data, reports Caroline Boateng.
Fifteen voters had checked their details at the Mora International Preparatory School at the Madina District Police Station by mid-day, while 31 voters had checked their details at the Nima Roman Catholic School (St Kizito) polling station in the Ayawaso East District as at 2. 40 p.m. when the Daily Graphic got there.
Generally the exhibition exercise started on a peaceful note and no voter had challenged the eligibility of any person to vote.
At all the polling stations visited, two registers were exhibited, the list of voters for 2006 and the recent registration list, that is, the one for 2008.
At the St Kizito polling station, the exhibition officer, Mr John Kofi Adjoda, said only two people had had their names not appearing in the register, although the number on their cards suggested their names had to appear in the register for the polling station.
He said the two were new voters so the non-inclusion of their names in the register could be an oversight that could easily be corrected.
Apart from that, Mr Adjoda reported that voters had been trickling in to check on their details in the register, although he had expected a good turn out because it was a Sunday.
Mr Kwesi Tough Asiedu, the exhibition officer at the Madina Police Station, also reported a slow start of the exhibition exercise, which opened at 7 a.m.
Messrs Kofi Agbeli and Emmanuel Osei Gyansah Jnr of the Faith Community Baptist School Centre A and B respectively also reported a slow start at the polling station located at a school that also served as the worship place for some members of the Baptist Church.
On the slow pace of the exercise, the exhibition officers attributed it partly to the fact that most people were at church and partly to the attitude of most Ghanaians who always waited until the last minute before they hurriedly did what was expected of them.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2008, PG 66
EXHIBITION of the voters register got off on a low key note in centres visited around the country.
The first day of the exercise coincided with church services across the country. By 11 a.m, only 11 and seven voters respectively had visited the Faith Community Baptist School Centre A and B polling stations in the Madina-Abokobi Constituency in the Ga East District to check on their voter data, reports Caroline Boateng.
Fifteen voters had checked their details at the Mora International Preparatory School at the Madina District Police Station by mid-day, while 31 voters had checked their details at the Nima Roman Catholic School (St Kizito) polling station in the Ayawaso East District as at 2. 40 p.m. when the Daily Graphic got there.
Generally the exhibition exercise started on a peaceful note and no voter had challenged the eligibility of any person to vote.
At all the polling stations visited, two registers were exhibited, the list of voters for 2006 and the recent registration list, that is, the one for 2008.
At the St Kizito polling station, the exhibition officer, Mr John Kofi Adjoda, said only two people had had their names not appearing in the register, although the number on their cards suggested their names had to appear in the register for the polling station.
He said the two were new voters so the non-inclusion of their names in the register could be an oversight that could easily be corrected.
Apart from that, Mr Adjoda reported that voters had been trickling in to check on their details in the register, although he had expected a good turn out because it was a Sunday.
Mr Kwesi Tough Asiedu, the exhibition officer at the Madina Police Station, also reported a slow start of the exhibition exercise, which opened at 7 a.m.
Messrs Kofi Agbeli and Emmanuel Osei Gyansah Jnr of the Faith Community Baptist School Centre A and B respectively also reported a slow start at the polling station located at a school that also served as the worship place for some members of the Baptist Church.
On the slow pace of the exercise, the exhibition officers attributed it partly to the fact that most people were at church and partly to the attitude of most Ghanaians who always waited until the last minute before they hurriedly did what was expected of them.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2008, PG 66
VICKY BIDS FAREWELL
THE management of Unilever Ghana has held a farewell cocktail for Mrs Vicky Wereko-Andoh, a former Corporate Relations Manager of the company, after 19 years of dedicated service.
In attendance were management members and staff of Unilever, trade and business partners of the company, as well as some media practitioners.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Ghana, Mr Charles Cofie, paid glowing tribute to Mrs Wereko-Andoh, saying she had helped deepen the company’s engagement with all the different media in the country.
Moreover, she had fostered a warm motherly relationship and built that over the years with all the company’s partners.
Mr Cofie said in finding a replacement for her, Unilever had endeavoured to find one who would step into what he termed the “gigantic shoes” of Mrs Wereko-Andoh and build on the good work she had left behind.
That person is Ms Bernice Natue, who he said was “a person new to the role but not new to most partners” of the organisation.
He said Ms Natue had been with Unilever for 11 years and had served in customer, development and marketing functions in the organisation and expressed his confidence in her ability to take on the role.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Unilever Foundation for Education and Development (UFED), Mr Andrew Quayson, who had worked with Mrs Wereko-Andoh in the early 1990s, said she was “one of the best organised managers” he had ever come across.
He added that her rapport and ability to communicate with all partners, particularly the media, had helped to enhance the image of Unilever, while her commitment and innovation had helped in the achievement of targets by the organisation.
A former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, said Mrs Wereko-Andoh had always been and would always be a part of the media in Ghana.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ad Media, Mr Emmanuel Addo, wished Mrs Wereko-Andoh God’s blessings as she embarked on a new phase in her life, while challenging Ms Natue to sustain the relationships and associations built over the years by her predecessor.
Ms Natue, in her remarks, said she felt honoured to be stepping into the shoes of Mrs Wereko-Andoh, which, though “big”, were “beautiful”.
She said having been a protégé of Mrs Wereko-Andoh’s, she was hopeful of making Unilever’s relationships more beautiful with the continuing help of her mentor.
She said Mrs Wereko-Andoh’s diplomacy and her commitment to corporate relations functions were the two key characteristics she was going to emulate as she took over.
Mrs Wereko-Andoh, for her part, was grateful to all media practitioners in the country who had, during her tenure, made the effort most of the time to clarify issues with Unilever before going to press.
Describing her retirement as a “readjustment”, she said she was going back to the media “where I will stay”.
She later told the Daily Graphic that she would use her experience gained from her years of work to transform public relations and communication in the country.
She said although those were specialised management tools, they were practised haphazardly in the country and so she would endeavour to restore the kind of respectful face into the public relations function in the country.
Mr Cofie presented Mrs Wereko-Andoh with two sets of jewellery, while Mr Quayson and Prof Kwame Gyekye, a former Board Chairman of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, presented her with an art work depicting dancers carved in stone.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2008, PG 39
In attendance were management members and staff of Unilever, trade and business partners of the company, as well as some media practitioners.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Ghana, Mr Charles Cofie, paid glowing tribute to Mrs Wereko-Andoh, saying she had helped deepen the company’s engagement with all the different media in the country.
Moreover, she had fostered a warm motherly relationship and built that over the years with all the company’s partners.
Mr Cofie said in finding a replacement for her, Unilever had endeavoured to find one who would step into what he termed the “gigantic shoes” of Mrs Wereko-Andoh and build on the good work she had left behind.
That person is Ms Bernice Natue, who he said was “a person new to the role but not new to most partners” of the organisation.
He said Ms Natue had been with Unilever for 11 years and had served in customer, development and marketing functions in the organisation and expressed his confidence in her ability to take on the role.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Unilever Foundation for Education and Development (UFED), Mr Andrew Quayson, who had worked with Mrs Wereko-Andoh in the early 1990s, said she was “one of the best organised managers” he had ever come across.
He added that her rapport and ability to communicate with all partners, particularly the media, had helped to enhance the image of Unilever, while her commitment and innovation had helped in the achievement of targets by the organisation.
A former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, said Mrs Wereko-Andoh had always been and would always be a part of the media in Ghana.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ad Media, Mr Emmanuel Addo, wished Mrs Wereko-Andoh God’s blessings as she embarked on a new phase in her life, while challenging Ms Natue to sustain the relationships and associations built over the years by her predecessor.
Ms Natue, in her remarks, said she felt honoured to be stepping into the shoes of Mrs Wereko-Andoh, which, though “big”, were “beautiful”.
She said having been a protégé of Mrs Wereko-Andoh’s, she was hopeful of making Unilever’s relationships more beautiful with the continuing help of her mentor.
She said Mrs Wereko-Andoh’s diplomacy and her commitment to corporate relations functions were the two key characteristics she was going to emulate as she took over.
Mrs Wereko-Andoh, for her part, was grateful to all media practitioners in the country who had, during her tenure, made the effort most of the time to clarify issues with Unilever before going to press.
Describing her retirement as a “readjustment”, she said she was going back to the media “where I will stay”.
She later told the Daily Graphic that she would use her experience gained from her years of work to transform public relations and communication in the country.
She said although those were specialised management tools, they were practised haphazardly in the country and so she would endeavour to restore the kind of respectful face into the public relations function in the country.
Mr Cofie presented Mrs Wereko-Andoh with two sets of jewellery, while Mr Quayson and Prof Kwame Gyekye, a former Board Chairman of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, presented her with an art work depicting dancers carved in stone.
DAILY GRAPHIC, MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2008, PG 39
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