Spio Says "He is the Man"

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, one of the aspiring candidates for the flagbearership for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday, appealed to party delegates to vote him as the Presidential Candidate to enable the NDC win the 2008 election.He made the appeal when interacting with some constituency executives, ward chairmen, supporters of the party and the media in Bolgatanga.Dr. Spio-Garbrah said he had all what it takes to make the party come back to power come 2008 if given the nod.He explained that, based on his domestic and international assignments and his persuasiveness and innovativeness, he stood the best chance of raising major funds as a flagbearer to strengthen the party structures at the ward, branch constituency, regional and the national levels.He intimated that he was the only aspiring flagbearer candidate who had combined experience of working at the Party Headquarters and member of the Functional Executive (2000-2), Member, Re-organization Committee (2001-2), as a Constituency Organizer (2003), as a Minister and Ambassador (1994-2000), as a chairman of the party's publicity committee (1996), Director of Communication of Presidential Campaign (2000) among others.Dr. Spio-Garbrah stressed that being a Communication and Marketing Professional, he knows exactly what was needed to revamp the NDC's image and make it more popular in order for it to win the 2008.He said he would work hard to unify all factions and interest groups within the party under the NDC umbrella, especially, those who have decided to sit on the fence because they felt aggrieved by the negative attitudes of some party executives.Asked on how he was relating with his other contestants, he said they were in good relationship and would give the necessary support to anybody who wins the slot.He explained that if he happens to be given the nod and subsequently becomes the President of Ghana his administration would help transform the Ghanaian economy to improve the livelihood of Ghanaians.He said having stayed within the Diaspora for a number of years he would lobby Ghanaians expertise there to contribute to the development of the nation and noted that this could be done through the down-loading of rich knowledge in the area of development.The Media, he said, was very crucial in building the nation's democracy and his administration would give the media all the necessary backing, be it the private or the state media to enable them to dispense their duties effectively as the fourth realm of the state.
Source:GNA

Ministry expands new communication strategy

The Deputy Minister of Information and National orientation (MINO), Mrs. Oboshie Sai Cofie has underlined the ministry's commitment to ensure that the positive achievements of government are explained to the people thoroughly. This, she said, was in line with the Ministry's clear-cut and unambiguous mandate "to ensure that the success story of this government's achievements gets told, gets told right and gets told to every single Ghanaian, in such a way that each will truly understand". Mrs. Sai Cofie was briefing High Commissioners and Ambassadors of Ghana's Missions on Government's new Communication Strategy and MINO's role in information management as part of a 4-day conference organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra. The conference, attended by 45 Ambassadors and High Commissioners, was to examine critically Ghana's domestic and foreign policies to enable the diplomats to rationalize the performance of their missions to ensure maximum contributions to the national development effort. It was also targeted at familiarizing the Diplomats with developments on the socio-economic scene at home in Ghana. Mrs Sai Cofie said Ghana, under President John Agyekum Kufuor, was firmly set out in a well thought out path of growth and stability, and all information must be constantly and consistently shared with the people of Ghana. She explained that although the mandate given her ministry appeared easy, it was a complex task, since it required proper management and dissemination of information for the understanding of the people. On the media landscape, Mrs Sai Cofie noted that the freedom enjoyed by the media had not only resulted in a growth of positive media practice, but had also led to a fall of professional standards among sections of media practitioners. This had led to the use of unacceptable language both in print, and on the airwaves, she said, adding that this had become a source of some concern for many well-meaning Ghanaians. "To help address this situation, this government on coming to power introduced the spokespersons concept to address various issues in the country," she said. Apart from the Minister of Information and National Orientation and his deputy, the new government communications strategy organizational chart has four government spokespersons, dealing with vital areas such as social services, governance, finance and economy as well as infrastructure. "These persons form part of government's information and strategic team to manage information in a manner that will get down horizontally and vertically to all sections of the public."

Palestinian government is to explore avenues that would promote trade relations with Ghana in the coming years, Mr Saadi Altumaizi, the new Palestine Ambassador to Ghana said on Friday. He said, "Palestine has and enjoys a good relationship with Ghana and therefore it is prepared to further strengthen ties especially in the area of trade relations." Mr Altumaizi said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Asamoah-Boateng. The Ambassador said his focus would be to create a conducive environment for the Palestinian business community in the country and also woe those at home to take up opportunities in Ghana. He mentioned specifically the health and the agricultural sectors and said the relationship would be developed in those areas. Welcoming him, Mr Asamoah-Boateng also touched on Ghana's relationship with Palestine and expressed the desire that it would be deepened further for mutual benefits.GNA

Lack of political will affects integration - Veep

Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Friday said lack of political will was one of the factors that had contributed to the slow pace of the economic and monetary integration of the West African sub-region. He said economic integration was crucial for the sub region and the continent to succeed in meeting developmental goals and also to become effective partners in the global economy. He said however, that efforts towards this goal had been hindered by factors such as the lack of political will, non-achievement of economic transformation, conflicts, low level of implementation of treaty obligations and what he described as “an overly economistic approach that has neglected the resolution of political and social differences.” The Vice President who was speaking in Accra at the opening ceremony of the 19th meeting of the convergence council of ministers and governors of the West African Monetary Zone which is expected to come out with the second currency of the sub region said, “the traditional explanation of the failure of integration schemes on the continent is that, there is lack of political will in the member countries which is necessary to see integration succeed.” Other contributory factors, he said, were the small and disjointed nature of economies, the over dependence on export or primary commodities, weak industrial and agricultural base, low level of intra-regional trade and the vested interests in incomes from trade tariffs. These contributory factors can be identified in the chronic non-observance of commitments undertaken within agreements and also in the insufficient use of the instruments set up by the governments. Five countries; Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone and the Gambia form the West Africa Monetary Zone. The need for a second currency by those countries arose when the leaders realize a common currency was the answer to increased trade, integration and economic growth. Four convergence criteria including single digit inflation and an import cover of more than three months were set in addition to other secondary criteria for the implementation of the currency to take off. The WAMZ which set its self 2003 for take off has had to postpone the date three times to the current date of 2009. The meeting in Accra is one of the annual meetings expected to assess progress made and to commit member countries to targets. Alhaji Mahama said despite the set backs, some progress had been made by the member countries as one body and individually.

Ghana Dreams of a Nuclear Power Plant

Government would soon begin consultations with the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) to determine how it would help generate nuclear power to supplement the hydro-electric power in order to reduce the energy crisis. Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports said on Friday that a committee would be set up to look at the nuclear policy pertaining as a guide to make a firm decision to achieve the objective. Speaking on behalf of President John Agyekum Kufuor at the 40th anniversary celebration of GAEC, he said the increasing pace of development had brought with it an increase in energy consumption and that the time had come to include nuclear power in energy generation and urged the commission to take up the initiative. The anniversary, which was commemorated with a grand durbar, was attended by Ministers of State and Parliamentarians, Chiefs, staff and Directors of GAEC while the Police Band and GAEC Primary and JSS School provided music. Papa Owusu Ankomah said the GAEC was an organisation which was multi-sectoral in scope of work with activities covering health, agriculture, energy, industry, environment and education and whose research results benefited other Ministries, Departments and Agencies. "As research scientists are known to be problem-solvers through research, I have no doubt that with the current power supply problem facing the country, the scientists of GAEC are looking at ways in which we can make available alternative sources of energy to complement what we presently have." He said direct funding for research activities through budgetary allocation was limited and urged beneficiary institutions to support the Commission financially so as to continuously benefit from the results of its researchs. The Minister noted that the rate of attrition of research scientists from GAEC and other research institutions to the Universities was alarming, and said the problem was due to the relatively unattractive salaries paid them compared to the University lecturers. "It is to remedy a situation such as this that in the 2007 Budget statement presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, comprehensive pay reform features prominently." Papa Owusu-Ankomah said one principal objective of this reform was to ensure that there was equal pay for work of equal worth with the fair wages commission having oversight of all activities associated with pay administration to ensure fair wages. He said the government decided to put education and science under one Minsitry to mainstream science and technology into education and made available to as many Ghanaians as possible. He commended the Commission for its innovative programmes including the establishment of a post graduate school of Nuclear and allied sciences with the University of Ghana, the first of its kind in the sub region to build human capacity in nuclear science as a way of checking the brain drain. Professor Mike Oquaye, the MP

IGP has done no wrong - Police Council

Government on Friday accepted recommendations by the Police Council that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Patrick Kwateng Acheampong had not done anything to show that he acted wrongly in his capacity to warrant any sanctions. A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of the Interior said: "Government has carefully considered the Committee's (Georgina Wood) Report and the advice of the Police Service Council and has decided to accept the recommendations of the Council as summarised." "Council has consequently advised government that in their opinion the IGP has not done anything to show that he acted wrongly or was at fault and, therefore, is unable to recommend the application of any sanctions to the IGP." On the IGP's friendship with Alhaji Issah Abass, an alleged drug baron, the statement said, while the Council found as appropriate the Committees admonition that the IGP should be careful about people he associated with, members were of the opinion that there was no evidence that the IGP knew that Alhaji Issah Abass was a drug dealer and that it was possible for anyone to have friends engaged in criminal activity without the person knowing. "Members felt that the IGP had not associated himself with the man in a manner to bring his office into disrepute," it said. On Ms. Grace Asibi's visit to the IGP's house, the Police Council said it was of the opinion that an IGP, as head of the Ghana Police Service and supervisor of police officers in the country, should not prevent people from coming to him since every caller was said to be a potential ally or informant. "The IGP's advice to Ms Asibi that she could go to court through a lawyer was probably the most classic response from a seasoned officer and the Council was therefore of the view that the IGP did not err in that regard." The statement said the Police Council advised against jumping to conclusion, without evidence that the IGP was at fault since it reflected seriously not only on the personality of the incumbent IGP but also on the integrity of the Ghana Police Service as a whole. The Georgina Wood Committee investigated two drug-related cases, which were the missing 76 parcels of cocaine in board a ship and alleged bribery of senior police officers in the 588 kilogramme cocaine at East Legon. Although the Committee found no adverse findings against the IGP his conduct was referred to the government. The Committee said while the Inspector-General of Police had every right to make friends, it found that his status required that he chose his friends with care in order not to compromise the high office of the IGP. The Committee said it found that to grant audience to Grace Asibi whose boyfriend was under investigation for such a serious offence and direct her on the options open to her had the tendency of leading to wrong perceptions and bringing the high office of the IGP and of the Ghana Police Service into disrepute. The government subsequently referred the findings to the Police Service Council with its supporting transcripts for study, discussion and advice.GNA

Ninety kayayei pass out

Assemblies of God Relief and Development Services (AGREDS), an NGO based at the Agbogbloshie Market in Accra, has assisted 90 kayayei (female porters) by helping them to learn various vocational skills. The skills include catering, dressmaking, tie and dye, hairdressing, cosmetic making and bead making. Mr Joseph Wumbee, Executive Director of AGREDS, said this at the Seventh Graduation Ceremony of the Skills and Empowerment Programme for Girls in Accra under the theme, "Growth and Poverty Reduction; The Role of Skills Training for the Vulnerable in Society." He said since the inception of the NGO eight years ago, it had trained 631 girls within the Agbogbloshie area. Mr Wumbee said the deprived and vulnerable trainees were victims of poverty who had been physically and emotionally abused adding that after graduating, 90 per cent of the girls returned to their communities to start life. He said through the support of the partners of the NGO, each of the 90 was receiving an input credit support in the form of tools and a start-up capital on the skills acquired. They would also participate in an ongoing refresher training support scheme as part of their reintegration, monitoring and mentoring programme. Further funding was also being mobilised for the payment of apprenticeship and attachment fees requiring top-up and further training to enable them to compete favourably in the changing market environment while plans were also being put in place to help them acquire their own work space upon completion. Mr Wumbee added that they had constructed a pre-school building for children of market women and street girls. The Minister for Women and Children's Affairs Hajia Alima Mahama in a speech read on her behalf said government had set up the micro finance and small loans fund to improve access to credit for women and the vulnerable. "This year the government has through the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre provided 17,770 women with credit," she said, and urged those who had passed out to access the credit and work hard in order to pay back the loans. Hajia Alima said government was implementing a poverty reduction strategy to ensure sustainable growth and protecting the vulnerable and deprived in society. She urged AGREDS to create awareness on the human traffic law since some of the girls were trafficked.GNA