Veep opens website to promote transparency in mining industry

Vice President Alhaji Mahama on Monday launched a website to promote efforts to ensure that transparency and accountability become the hallmark of the mining industry in Ghana. The website: http://www.gheiti.gov.gh/, which was the brainchild of the Executive, with support from Germany would showcase information on fiscal inputs and outputs of the industry.

Vice President Mahama launched the Information, Communication and Technology facility in Accra at day's international workshop on Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), launched by the British Prime Minister in South Africa in 2002 to among other things ensure greater transparency and accountability in the exploitation of natural resources. "We all know that this website will be inaccessible to the average Ghanaian.

However, they listen to radio and read local newspapers," he said. Vice President Mahama, therefore, challenged the Independent Aggregator to publish its reports in the mass media or bulletins and newsletters of the district assemblies to "constitute a veritable part of the transparency and accountability process in governance". He said the setting up of a National Steering Committee and the establishment of a Secretariat on EITI called for accountability and transparency in the management of forest resources.

Vice President Mahama said: "Ghana as a signatory to the EITI concept has to ensure that things are done right on the part of the investor, operator and government in a collaborative manner. "To this end, a legislative framework will soon be put in place to give legal backing to the concept, which will then enable Government to give regular budgetary support to the initiative." Referring to the publish-what- you- pay media concept adopted by the Ghana Chamber of Mines for mining companies, Vice President Mahama asked the Chamber to improve on the notion by adding: "Restore -what-you damage" in order to reduce tensions associated with mining activities in some local communities.

This attracted cheers. He said Ghana had introduced generous incentive packages and a fiscal regime to boost the mining industry. Some of these incentives include royalty payments of three per cent on production; loss carry forward for five years and capital allowance of 80 per cent in the first year of operation while the rest is spread over the lifetime of the mine.

"Its is common knowledge that the price of gold has increased steadily in recent times, yet mining companies continue to pay three per cent royalty to Government. One would have expected an increase in royalty payments based on the sliding scale of three and six per cent. "This is not being done and it is of concern to Government," he said.GNA

African Heads of State arrive for forum

A number of African Heads of State have started arriving in Accra to attend the second conference of the "Partnership with Africa" from the January 12 to January 14 at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Teshie, Accra, on the theme: "Two Generations-One Future."Organised under the auspices of German President Horst Kohler, the conference is a sequel to the first Africa Conference he convened in Bonn in November 2005, where he launched the Africa Partnership Initiative.President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria was the first to arrive. He was followed by President Festus Mogae of Bostwana and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia.

Mr Alpha Oumar Konare, President of the African Union Commission has also arrived.They were all met by President John Agyekum Kufuor of the Republic of Ghana, Ministers of States, members of the Diplomatic Corps and Senior Service Personnel at the Kotoka International Airport.
Source:GNA

Ghana is grateful for Germany's development support

President John Agyekum Kufuor has expressed Ghana's appreciation to Germany for its development support to the country, which crossed the billion Euros mark last year. In addition, a 270 million Euro debt owed her by Ghana was also cancelled, something, that significantly contributed to the turn around of the country's economy. President Kufuor conveyed the country's appreciation at the opening of bilateral talks with the visiting German President Horst Kohler at the Castle, Osu, on Thursday.

Accompanied by the wife Eva and a 170-member delegation, made up of Government Officials and businessmen, he is in the country for a four-day visit during which, he would participate in the Partnership with Africa Forum. The last time Mr Kohler came to Ghana was about four years ago when he was then the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

President Kufuor noted that apart from development assistance, there were technical and economic cooperation between the two countries in the areas of education, agriculture, good governance as well as the fight against the HIV-AIDS pandemic. He recalled the encouragement President Kohler as Managing Director of the IMF gave to the country, when it opted for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. "It is a credit to you. The encouragement you gave to us to go through the HIPC has helped to turn the economy around. It is now strong, stable and showing a lot of hope."

President Kufuor also referred to the "Initiative on Partnership with Africa", a baby of President Kohler, and his decision that Ghana should co-chair the Forum, which seeks to promote understanding among peoples of the world, in Accra from the January 12 to January 14 and said: "This reflects the confidence you and your Government have in Ghana." He said it was significant the Forum was being held at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPC), which the Germans helped to established to assist to restore peace and security to the West African Sub-Region.

President Kohler said his country was impressed with President Kufuor's leadership which, has led to high economic performance and stability of Ghana's economy. He also lauded President Kufuor for his role in the African Union and said he saw it as a privilege to be one of the first leaders to visit Ghana as it celebrated its 50 years of nationhood.

President Kohler said his Partnership with Africa Initiative was meant to find ways and means of promoting dialogue based on equal footing. He noted that through joint effort and activity by the rich nations and Africa, the Continent would be put on a path of prosperity.

Bailiff breaks into Eva Lokko’s office to take inventory

After over a year of being under lock and key, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Former Director-General, Eva Lokko's office was on Thursday broken into to allow an inventory to be taken. The entry into the office was necessitated by the refusal of Ms Lokko and her Legal Team, Bentsi Enchill and Letsa to open the door to enable Mr Franklin Duncan-Williams, the Bailiff to carry out a high court order given on January 8, 2007, consequent to a judgement by Mr Justice E. L. Dzakpasu on November 6, 2006.



The Court ordered Ms Lokko and her Legal Team to open the doors to her office for the Bailiff to take inventory of items in the office on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at exactly 11:00 hours. Contrary to the Court’s order, neither Ms Lokko nor her Legal Team showed up at the premises of GBC with the keys to the door.




When GBC Lawyers, Matthews Consult represented by Mr Michael Anokye managed to get Mr Ace Ankomah on phone at about 11:30 hours, he (Mr. Ankomah) claimed he had gotten the High Court Registrar, Mr S. B. Issaka to postpone the implementation of the order to January 12, 2007 at 15:00 hours. The GBC Lawyers contacted the High Court Registrar on phone and he vehemently denied ever postponing the effective date for the office to be opened.




After waiting for about one-and-a-half hours, Mr Anthony Matthews, Chief Executive Officer of Matthews Consult, showed up with a faxed letter from Ms Lokko's legal representatives stating their request for the postponement, but Mr Matthews insisted that the letter arrived at 10:50 hours, 10 minutes before the effective time and moreover it was not legally binding on them.
GNA