General

Think, Speak, Act Peace

2008-11-26T01:22:00Z

A Kenyan Councillor Madam Rachel Wanjiku Kamieru has said that the people of Ghana must think, speak and act out peace in the period before during and after election 2008.

This is the way forward to avoid confusion and the possibility of violence especially in the aftermath of the elections. Madam Kamieru, when interviewed, made copious references to Kenya and said the situation of power sharing which to her is not the best case scenario. In any case, she said the politicians who were suspected of being the instigators of the pre and post election violence in Kenya.

A tribunal has been set up to look into allegations of the fanning of tribal sentiments, provision of funds and the use of abusive and provocative language.

The Waki Commission set up on the recommendation of the body that negotiated the peace deal in Kenya mandates that Kenya must set up a tribunal to punish the politicians guilty of any action or inaction that led the country too near war.”

I use this opportunity to tell the politicians in Ghana that whipping up tribal or violent sentiments does not pay sooner or later you will be found out and made to pay the penalty.” Madam Kamieru aid.

For Rachel it is gratifying that since her arrival in Ghana she has seen evidence of Churches having peace prayers and the hosting of various peace concerts. But to her this is not enough.

The youth of the country must be sensitized to desist from following blindly the dictates of the power hungry politicians who want power by fair means or foul. She had this to say on the topic “In Kenya, firstly, the violence carnage and rape did not happen in the affluent areas. It happened in the working class areas. In addition to this, it is the youth of these working class areas who have been prosecuted and jailed for criminal offences.

When they were caught their instigators, the politicians were nowhere to save them. “Let the youth of Ghana know that there is nothing worse than to allow yourself to be manipulated into wrongdoing by a politician.

He, the politician, will keep his wife and children safe from harm and expose you, your siblings and relatives to violence in a bid to win for himself political power.” Madam cautioned Madam Kamieru, a councilor with the Nairobi City Council; and Deputy General Secretary of the

Democratic Party asked the media to be circumspect in their reportage. The agenda setting role of the press must be in full flight at this time, Madam said. According to her the media must act as gatekeepers and effectively keep out of the public domain any material that will incite people to violence “The media must keep record of the hate messages of the politicians to be better able to name and shame them should the need arises.”

Because of the copious references to the recent Kenya model of power sharing, this writer asked Madam Rachel to about it. Thee Kenyan model cannot be replicated everywhere.

People forget that the two factions that form the government now have worked together in the past so working together is no problem. This is why the model when replicated in Zimbabwe does not seem to be working.

If all parties work towards peace, the security agencies are vigilant and the Electoral Commission only allows the announcement of election results it has certified there will be no violence.

Ghana Expects 2008 Growth of 7%.

2008-11-21T11:59:00Z

Ghana expects 2008 economic growth of about 7 percent, in line with an earlier target, after exports rose, a Finance Ministry spokesman said.

Last month the country's central bank forecast growth of 6.6 percent. The Finance Ministry in May said it expected growth of 6.8 percent.

``We are looking to achieve our GDP growth target, Kwaku Kwarteng, the government's finance spokesman, said in an interview in the capital, Accra, late yesterday.

Ghana is the world's second-biggest cocoa producer after Ivory Coast and ranks behind South Africa as Africa's second- largest gold producer. In the first nine months of the year cocoa exports rose to $1.16 billion from $910.8 million the year earlier, while gold exports jumped to $1.75 billion from $1.25 billion, according to the Bank of Ghana.

Source:
Emily Bowers/Bloomberg

NPP Reports Rawlings

2008-11-21T11:54:00Z

Jerry Rawlings Former President Jerry John Rawlings is under siege over his claim that the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo was ridiculing him for crediting ‘yo ke gari’, and therefore committing an offence for which General Odartey-Wellington, a former Army Commander, was killed.

The NPP had taken a serious exception to the former President’s utterances and accordingly notified the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Security Services to treat it as a threat on Nana Addo’s life.

A statement from the party, signed by its National Campaign Director, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, described Jerry Rawlings’ claims as a “deliberate and calculated attempt to incite the military and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against Nana Akufo-Addo… these threats are reminiscent of similar threats made against judges who had reviewed and overturned AFRC convictions before he staged the 1981 coup.”

The NPP, in the statement, said they would hold the former President fully accountable if anything happens to Nana Akufo-Addo, and called on the party’s supporters who were outraged by Jerry Rawlings’ statement to exercise restraint while investigations are conducted by the appropriate authorities.

Mr Rawlings recently told a group of Nigerian students at his Ridge residence that General Odartey-Wellington was killed because the former army chief was spreading reports at the military barracks that he, Rawlings, had credited ‘yo ke gari’ for breakfast, and added that Nana Akufo-Addo had taken the same path.

“One of the Generals who got badly mauled down; they sprayed him with bullets and he stopped. He was called Odartey-Wellington because he also at that time, after the 15th May mutiny when we were arrested, was going down the Unit and sort of messing up my name. One of the allegations he used was that I was a useless officer who could not even afford a meal; and that I was doing so and so.

“Meanwhile, the soldiers he was talking to came from those Units and they knew what happened. He was invoking and provoking hatred against himself with that kind of story. No wonder when the country exploded on June 4th, he was one person who died terribly even though he was one of the fine ones among that corrupt lot.”

The former President stressed: “Recently, the flagbearer of the NPP, I understand, used the same allegation against me. He stood on a platform and said his father ensured that he went to a good school and I suppose he must have been referring to me when he said that ‘I am not like someone who could not afford yo ke gari”.

Though Jerry Rawlings, founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), had not denied making the statement, various NDC spokespersons, unable to defend what the former President said, had attempted to either play down the issue or give an outright denial.

A press statement issued from his office and signed by Kofi Adams said during the interaction with the Nigerian students, the former President “mentioned the now famous ‘yo ke gari’ crediting story and explained that over time the story had been misrepresented.

“He went on to explain that the meals he credited were not meant for him as most had been made to believe, but rather for junior ranks who could not afford such meals.”

Kofi Adams took issue with DAILY GUIDE, describing the paper as “unashamedly pro-NPP”.

He said the former President did lament the loss of Odartey-Wellington because he respected him as a fine soldier, and cautioned all and sundry including Nana Akufo-Addo to desist from ridiculing the ‘yo ke gari’ crediting saga by their own interpretation.

In his interaction with the Nigerian students, Rawlings had admitted that though the allegation was true, the subject annoyed the junior ranks in the military because they were beneficiaries of the credited ‘yo ke gari’ and thus took advantage of the 1979 uprising to spray several bullets into the Army Chief.

“I went with the soldiers to train that morning in my track suit and those days, we had coins and paper money; you are going to sweat with coins in your track suit and with paper money that would get wet.

“I guess if I had been so foolish to carry those things when I was going training and they had gotten wet, and the coins had inconvenienced me, I wouldn’t be insulted the way I am being insulted with that event. But the point is, I had the food for the boys.

“I was a young officer, a flying officer and are they trying to tell me that I cannot afford a simple little plate of ‘yo ke gari’ for my personal self?” Rawlings had queried.

By Halifax Ansah- Addo,Daily Guide.

US Based Firm Supports Walewale Senior High School

2008-11-19T12:32:00Z

A computer firm, CISCO System Company based in the United States of America, has donated a satellite dish, 40 computers and accessories valued at over 100,000 dollars, to the Walewale Senior High School in the Northern Region.

The company, in collaboration with its local partner-Glomore Motors Limited, also provided the school with internet facilities at their own cost.

Making the presentation, the Operations Manager of Glomore Motors, Mr Nico Pretorius, said the donation formed part of CISCO company’s policy to improve on students academic performance in computer literacy in deprived communities in Africa.

He said “ICT knowledge is the driving force in this global village and there is therefore the need to up-date students’ knowledge in computer”.

He pledged the company’s readiness to continue to assist the school but with the assurance that the facilities would be put to good use.

Mr Daniel Ashitey of the NEPAD E-School project, urged the management of the school to make judicious use of the computers and to cultivate the maintenance culture to prolong their life-span.

The headmaster, Jimah Attah, commended the company and its local partner for the gesture and pledged to ensure that the students would make judicious use of the computers to broaden their knowledge in information and communications technology.

“Posterity would never forgive us if we allow this computer laboratory to go waste,” he cautioned.

Mr Attah, however, appealed to the government to provide the school with adequate resources to maintain the computers and cater for the internet subscription charges.

“The school’s scarce resources cannot cater for payment of the electricity bills, and that it was important for the government to absorb the bills,” he lamented.

Story by: Yakubu Abdul-Majeed, Walewale

Kufuor’s approval rating hits 70%

2008-11-17T12:25:00Z

A recently released Primary Research Associates poll shows that nearly 70 percent of Ghanaians think President Kufuor has done well in his tenure as President of the Republic.

28.5% thought the President had done poorly and 5% did not know. However, a smaller percentage, 50.5% said they would vote for Nana Akufo-Addo to succeed President Kufuor. 35.6% preferred Prof John Atta Mills.

The research team, led by Prof Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh and Dr Abeeku Essuman-Johnson, interviewed 3,000 Ghanaians in all 10 regions between October 23-November 2.

The poll showed that President Kufuor's high popularity rating of 69.2% after two terms in office is based on Ghanaians" appreciation of his record of performance.

On the contrary, in America, with about 3 weeks to the November presidential election, President Bush set a record by getting the highest disapproval rating of any US president since polling began some 70 years ago. Bush’s rating worsened amid collapsed optimism about the American economy.

But here in Ghana the polls do not reflect any such voter angst. 70.5% of those polled by PRA said President Kufuor’s government had done "things important to them.” Only 3 in 10 answered to the contrary.

When asked to name one such thing, 51% mentioned NHIS, 10.8% good roads, 10.3% capitation grant, 6% school feeding, 5.7% mentioned metro mass transit, 5.3% mentioned the NYEP, HIPC projects scored 3% and 1.4% of respondents mentioned markets.

58.5% of interviewees expressed satisfaction “with the way the Kufuor government has handled the economy.” 36.9% were not satisfied.

“This finding is in the context of another that the economic situation of close to 4-in-5 (74%) of them would affect their voting decision on December 7,” the pollsters note.

52.1% said their quality of life had improved “since President Kufuor assumed office”. 42.2% said their lives had not improved, with 4.8% saying they did not know.

The poll shows Ghanaians being very hopeful about the oil prospects and that they trust the NPP better to handle the oil resources.

Only 2.1% saw the oil as a curse for Ghana. An overwhelming 94.3% of those polled saw the “discovery of oil in commercial quantities” as a blessing for Ghana.

The NPP was seen by 50.3% of Ghanaians as the party “best prepared to manage the oil to the greatest benefit of the nation”. 34.3% trusted the NDC to manage the oil, CPP (7.6%) and PNC (2%).

Respondents would like to see the oil money spent mainly on creating jobs (33.4%), schools (13%), set up factories (10.9%), roads (10.8%), water (7.7%), health facility (5.4%) and electricity (3.5%), among other things.

On who or what to blame for the higher cost in fuel prices were “high world prices” (52.3%), “NPP government” (39.7%) and “all past governments” (4.1%).

Jobs came up as the most pressing problem, with 37.3% of respondents naming jobs. 12.1% each picked fuel prices and corruption as the most pressing problem. 7.2% opted for poor roads.

The interviews were conducted by post-graduate students, graduate teachers and others.

Source: GNA

Inflation drops again in October

2008-11-17T12:24:00Z

The annual inflation rate fell to 17.30 per cent in October down from 17.89 percent a month earlier, Dr Grace Bediako, Government Statistician said on Friday. This is the fourth consecutive monthly drop since inflation went up to a high of 18.41 percent in June.

The month-to-month change, which is the change in the CPI from previous month to the current month, recorded a rate of -0.67 percent in October.

The main reason for the fall is good harvest and falling prices of food items, mostly in the rural areas. Dr Bediako said the level of inflation in 2008 continues to be higher for the non-food group than the food group and higher in the rural areas than in the urban areas.

The contribution of the non-food and food groups in October stood at 10.43 and 6.87 percentage points respectively. In the non-food group the contributions of hotels, caf=E9s and restaurants; clothing and footwear; and housing, utilities sub-groups were highest in price change, contributing more than one percentage point to the annual rate of inflation.

Fish, bread and cereals sub-groups continue to contribute the largest to price change in the food group. Inflation rates recorded in the regions range from 24.18 percent in the Northern region to 13.22 percent in Ashanti. Six regions recorded inflation rates above the national rate of 17.30 points.

Source:GNA

Don't politicise conflicts - Cardinal Turkson

2008-11-12T10:28:00Z

The Chairman .of the National Peace Council (NPC), His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkso,n, has warned against the politicization of any conflict in the country.

He said conflicts were bound to happen but noted with regret that in Ghana when they occurred, especially in an election year, as was being witnessed now, people tended to link them to politics.

"We need to avoid this practice as we strive to attain peaceful elections this year," he said.

Cardinal Turkson stated this at the opening of a three-day workshop on election security management in Kumasi.

Journalists, security personnel, members of youth groups, among others, attended the workshop, which was organised by the NPC, with sponsorship from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Among the topics treated were elections and national security, inter-agency collaboration for peaceful elections and challenges and opportunities of media practitioners during elections.

Cardinal Turkson said every Ghanaian had a role to play in ensuring that the prevailing peace in the country was maintained.

He said the NPC was still looking for a formula to establish regional peace councils in the country.

A member of the NPC, Maulvi Wahab Adam, expressed confidence that Ghana would go through peaceful elections on December 7, in spite of pockets of disturbances in the build up to the elections.

"We have met the presidential candidates and the leadership of the political parties, top security officers, the Chief Justice and other individuals and interest groups and we are convinced that the elections will be peaceful," he said.

He expressed the hope that the unity among the leadership of the parties would trickle down to the grass roots where there had been pockets of disturbances.

Maulvi Adam reminded Ghanaians that they had no other country than Ghana and as such they must protect the nation at all cost against all forms of trouble.

He pointed out that political 'fanaticism of the extreme order, as was being experienced in certain quarters would not do the nation any good.

Speaking on the topic, "Challenges and Opportunities of media practitioners during elections", Mr.Kofi Yeboah, a joumalist with the Daily Graphic, traced the history of the media in the Fourth Republic and said they had performed creditably.

He, therefore, challenged the media to avoid acts that bring the upcoming elections into disrepute.

Source: Joyonline

Samia Recalls 1966 Coup

2008-11-11T23:46:00Z

Samia Nkrumah

THE ONLY DAUGHTER of Ghana’s first President, Samia Nkrumah has indicated that the new presidential complex brings back fresh memories of the coupe d’etat which overthrew her father’s government.

Samia who was a guest at the opening of the new presidential complex was however happy to have participated in the grand opening of the place and seeing the Flagstaff House which once served as a residence for the first family when she was growing up.

Even though she remembers vividly that she was born in the Castle, Osu which her father used briefly, Samia and her brothers Gamel and Sekou were children residing with their mother, Fathia Nkrumah at the Flagstaff House when the military overthrew her father in a coup on February 24, 1966. Fathia later left with her children to resettle in Egypt while Nkrumah was in Hanoi.

Her brother Sekou Nkrumah who is in Ghana was also invited to the programme but when it was time to join the President to cut the tape he was conspicuously missing as Samia walked to the dais and in the company of the dignitaries present was ushered into the super-imposing building.

In an interview with the DAILY GUIDE after she had toured the office complex that would henceforth serve as the seat of government, Samia, also known as Yaba, who said they were thrown out of the Flagstaff House with only their clothes on, intimated that she was “not here to be resentful” but was rather happy and moved seeing the laudable effort of the incumbent government in restoring the place.

“Today I am happy and privileged to participate in the commissioning of this project,” said the elated daughter of Ghana’s former president.

The new presidential complex christened the “Golden Jubilee House” comprises an office complex to house the President, the Vice President, civil and public servants as well as a residence for the President which can accommodate a visiting head of state.

The project was extended to cover the restoration of the Flagstaff House, which was the official residence of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

The restored Flagstaff House which President Kufuor described as a heritage property will now be called “Nkrumah’s Heritage House”.

She described the naming of the former residence of her father after him as befitting and in recognition of the vision of Ghana’s first president, who played a pivotal role in the freedom movement across the continent of Africa.

Samia, who has stayed, schooled and worked in various parts of the world and had on many occasions expressed her faith in the future of Ghana, said she was committed to reviving her father’s vision.

“Despite our political differences it is good for us to stand together and protect the unity and solidarity of our people,” said Yaba who is contesting the Jomoro parliamentary seat on the ticket of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) founded by her father.

Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff, in an address, announced that the office complex has been completed as phase one of the project and that the second phase will have a building that will house a clinic, a restaurant, bank, post office, a fire service post as well as a large parking area for vehicles.

By Sheilla Sackey& Emelia Ennin Abbey

Kufuor’s Big Dream Jubilee House Born

2008-11-11T23:40:00Z

· The imposing Golden Jubilee House shaped like a chief’s stool

President John Agyekum Kufuor’s dream of bequeathing to the country an edifice worthy of the highest office of the land, was realized yesterday when phase one of the presidential complex was commissioned.

The commissioning of the complex, which is christened ‘Golden Jubilee House’, was steeped in pageantry with representations from various strands of the Ghanaian society from traditional institutions to the clergy.

The project, which started 30 months ago, was constructed through a joint India/Ghana collaboration with the former providing the funding.

No wonder Indian and Ghanaian cultures were showcased as part of the pageantry, with dancers from the two countries thrilling the large turnout of invited guests.

A contingent of officers and men of the Ghana Air Force supported by a combined band of the Army and the Air Force added military colour to the long programme which was telecast live on GTV.

A traditional prayer was offered, followed by Christian and Islamic ones to give the commissioning the spiritual touch demanded at such occasions in Ghanaian society.

With the commissioning, the seat of government, the Castle, is gradually being moved to the new structure which has joined the catalogue of skylines in the city of Accra.

President Kufuor was symbolically presented with the keys to the Golden Jubilee House.

The architecturally unique edifice comprises an office complex to accommodate the President, Vice President, civil and public servants as well as a residence for the President which can accommodate a visiting head of state or government.

The complex also houses the official residence of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah which has been dubbed “Nkrumah’s Heritage House” in addition to a services building that will house a clinic, restaurant, bank, post office, fire service post as well as a large parking area for vehicles.

With many Ghanaians especially critics of the incumbent government anxious to know the total cost of the project, the Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani swerved them all, stating that the “exact figure would be announced when the project is fully completed”.

Originally, the project was estimated to cost $36,900,000 comprising a concessionary loan of $30 million with a grant of $15 million from the Indian government and an amount of $6, 900, 000 from the government of Ghana.

President Kufuor was companied by Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Ghana’s first President, to cut the tape and join in the consecration of the place.

Earlier in a speech, the President stated that the Osu Castle which has served as his office since his assumption of office eight years ago, was purposely built as a slaving outpost, and “indeed in many parts continues to bear the indelible scars and stigma of that inhuman trade of those times”.

One of the serious omissions of the past 50 years had been the inability to provide a congenial workplace for the presidency and an official residence for the First Family of the nation and this, the President said, necessitated the construction of the imposing edifice.

He dismissed criticisms that the decision to construct the Golden Jubilee House was ill-timed as it did not take into consideration the plight of Ghanaians, and stated emphatically that government at every stage of the project had been sensitive to the conditions of life of the society.

“At no time has government overlooked the challenges that the critics have tended to overplay,” he noted, and related how he took the initiative to source for funds shortly after he assumed office in 2001, only to receive an offer of a soft loan from the Indian government.

President Kufuor described the offer from the Indian government as “irresistible and God-sent for Ghana” and after expressing his compliment to the Indian government, said the friendship between the two countries since Ghana’s independence in 1957 had been growing and “this project has proved the truism in the adage that ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed”.

He hoped the relationship between the two countries would grow from strength to strength.

Mr. Mpiani explained that the total cost of the project could not be disclosed as a result of an increase in expenditure due to the provision of additional facilities to enhance the internal and external aspects of the structure and to make it more functional.

He said some critics had been so blinded by partisanship that they did not see anything good about the construction of the edifice.

“It is regrettable to hear some of them say they will turn this into a hospital and even more absurdly, some say it should be turned into a poultry complex.”

Indian Minister for External Affairs, Anand Sharma noted that the structure would be a symbol of the Ghana-Indian friendship.

It would also be a “remarkable legacy of President Kufuor” who leaves office at the beginning of 2009, he said.

Though the project was scheduled to have been completed by the middle of this year, it was delayed; but the Indian Minister praised the contractors, Messrs Shapoorji Pallonji of India and the local engineers for a job well done.

“In this century, your people and our people are bound to write an essay. This century belongs to Africa and India,” he concluded.

Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Catholic Archbishop of Cape Coast, consecrated and dedicated the building.

To add more colour to the event, an Indian tradition of lighting a ceremonial lamp was performed by the President with assistance from the Indian Minister for External Affairs, to signify the movement into a new and refreshing period. A cultural troupe from India as well as Ghana’s Noyam Dance Institute entertained the gathering.

In attendance were a cross section of Ghanaians including the Vice President, Aliu Mahama and his wife Ramatu; the First Lady, Theresa Kufuor; Speaker of Parliament, Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes; Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood; Members of the Council of State; Ministers; Parliamentarians; Chiefs and civil servants as well as ordinary people.

Many countries in the world have such edifices for their Presidents, examples of which are the White House in the USA, the Buckingham Palace of Great Britain, the Elysee Palace of France, the Kremlin of Russia, the Aso Rock of Nigeria, and the Executive Mansion of Liberia.

By Sheilla Sackey & Emelia Ennin Abbey

Baah Wiredu laid to rest.

2008-11-09T18:26:00Z

The mortal remains of former Finance Minister Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, were on Saturday laid to rest amidst outpouring of grief at his hometown, Agogo in the Asante Akim North District.

As his casket was lowered into the grave, the final resting place, members of the bereaved family, friends and admirers could not hold back their tears and wept uncontrollably. This was preceded by a pre-burial service.

The late Minister was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area and died at the Life Little Company Hospital in South Africa, where he had gone for medical treatment on Wednesday, September 24. He was 56 and left behind a wife Margaret and eight children. President John Agyekum Kufuor and the wife, Theresa, were among the thousands of mourners from all walks of life who thronged the Agogo Methodist School Park later in the day for the final funeral rites. They included the Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, Foreign Minister Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Interior Minister, Defence Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah, Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, and other senior Government Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and District Chief Executives.

Also present were the Presidential Candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Mr Peter Mac Manu, the NPP National Chairman, and other national, regional and constituency executives of the party, chiefs, the clergy and youth groups. All clad in red and black and amidst traditional drumming and live band music, the event was a fitting tribute to the late Minister, whose hard work, humility and affable nature won the hearts of many Ghanaians.

Source: GNA

I Will Unite JJ And JAK -Asantehene.

2008-11-08T15:26:00Z

... Duo are priceless assets to the nation
The Asantehene, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has pledged to establish cordial relationship between the former President Jerry John Rawlings and President Kufuor, when the latter’s term of office comes to an end after the December 2008 elections.

Describing the two personalities as the country’s priceless political assets, the Asantehene promised that he would invite President Kufuor and former President Rawlings to his palace after the December elections to see how the two of them could contribute their experience as former Presidents to advance the country’s course for democracy and development.

“As President Kufuor’s term of office comes to an end this year, it is my hope to invite him and Rawlings to my Palace as one people so that we would share common ideas and deliberate on issues that would help in the development of the country,” the King promised. The Asantehene, who made the pledge when the former President and the Founder of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings called on him at his Manhyia Palace, emphasized the need for peaceful co-existence between the political leaders to ensure the forward movement of the country.

The ex-President’s visit to Manhyia was purposely to pay homage to the Asantehene and to ask for his permission to address party supporters at a rally organized at the Bantama constituency. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that both political leaders have contributed immensely in their own way to nurture the country’s young democracy and it was, therefore, their duty to work towards consolidating the peace that the country was currently enjoying.

He said as the former President, Mr.Rawlings set the country on the path of democracy when he agreed to introduce constitutional rule with the election of leaders through the ballot box, and subsequently handed over power peacefully to his successor after his term came to an end, adding that it was his duty to make sure that the democratic seed which he planted years ago yields the desired fruit. The Asantehene stressed that since the whole nation has embraced democracy as the best political option for governing this country, there was the need for all the political parties to conduct their activities within the confines of the law and avoid negative practices that have the tendency to plunge the nation into chaos and anarchy. “I have always maintained that the best way to secure the confidence of voters is to address the myriad of problems which confront us as a nation and tell the people what you can do to solve them when voted into power, and not
use insults and intimidations.”

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, however, emphasized that the success or otherwise of this year’s elections would depend much on the conduct of the Electoral Commission (EC), and therefore, appealed to the commission to be fair, neutral and objective to all the political parties competing in the elections to ensure that sanity would prevail after December 7. The ex-President in his address noted that the overwhelming reception and welcome he had received from the people in the region signified that the people of Ashanti have now come to accept the fact that there was the need for change.

He lamented about the deplorable nature of the country’s political system in the country, which he said had been muddied with lies, dirty political machinations, threats and intimidations from the present government. He said the current government, after failing to deliver on its promise of positive change, had now resorted to the use of lies and money to induce people in their bid to retain power come the December elections. According to him, the current government had reduced the criteria for the election of people to power to the mere use of lies, manipulations and money to buy the conscience of voters.

The founder of the NDC observed that unlike the traditional system whereby a person’s character and integrity are adequately checked before being appointed to lead the people, the same thing could not be said of political leadership, saying one only needs to exploit the people with money, insults and lies to secure their mandate. Mr. Rawlings warned that the country stands the risk of being plunged into more hardship if we fail to assess the quality and the integrity of the people who aspire to lead this country and also question the credibility of their message before voting them into power. “Our problem in this country is that we do not take time to crosscheck and examine the integrity of our political leadership before voting them into power and by the time we realize, it would be too late,” he noted.

The ex-President pointed out that few months to the 2004 elections, the pain and suffering which the government had inflicted on the people gave way to a fresh wind of excitement because the people were ready to change the government, but their enthusiasm suddenly changed into bitterness and sorrow because the government succeeded in manipulating the elections to their advantage. He, however, prayed with the traditional rulers of this country to use their authorities to prevail on the government to allow Ghanaians to exercise their freewill to ensure peaceful elections.

Source:
Ghanaian Chronicle

Ghana pays last respect to Baah-Wiredu.

2008-11-07T12:10:00Z

Accra, Nov 6, GNA-President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday led Ghanaians to pay their last respects to the late Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, immediate former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, proposing the establishment of a trust fund in memory the late politician and chartered accountant.

The body of the late Minister, also Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, lied in a wooden coffin draped with the Ghana national colours of red, yellow and green, with a black star in the yellow, at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra, ahead of a burial service and private interment at his hometown, Agogo next Saturday. The coffin rested under a canopy surrounded by wreaths laid by the President on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana; the Speaker of Parliament Mr Ebenezer Hughes; the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; and the wife, Mrs Magaret Wiredu.

The Forecourt of the State House in Accra where the funeral was held became a sea of mourning paraphernalia, in mostly red and black colours, signifying the deep sense of the nation's loss of her Finance Minister, who died on September 24, 2008, in a South African Hospital of what was described as post surgery complications of prostrate cancer. Tributes from the Presidency, Parliament, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the wife, and children re-echoed the affability, industriousness, honesty and humility characteristics of the life of the Minister, voted twice as Africa's Best Economics Minister. The funeral service was interspersed with hymns, elegies, poems and incantations to celebrate the life of the man who was called "the action man" by the local press.

President Kufuor's tribute read by Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister Trade, Industries and President's Special Initiatives, observed that the news of the death of the late Baah Wiredu, who was the first named cabinet when the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) came into power in 2001, shocked him to the core.

The President recounted how they met under the auspices of the Danquah-Busia tradition and eulogised Mr Baah-Wiredu as someone who spoke not just to be heard, but to add value.

"He was not the man who was to make plans in the air. This was the man whose focus was on Ghana and to make Ghana," the President said, and praised the efforts of the late Minister in the establishment of the Bui Dam and affiliate projects. President Kufuor observed that the late Minister set the shining example of setting aside April 14 for the filing of the tax returns of taxes of high profile personalities. Delivering the sermon, Rt. Rev Abraham Tagoe, the Methodist Bishop of Accra, reiterated the need for discipline to make the forthcoming December polls incident free. He said indiscipline was growing on Ghana motor roads with resultant carnages, and had also crept into the churches. Rev Tagoe encouraged Ghanaians to strive against anything that would hinder the development of the nation, abide by the rules in the race of life, spiritual discipline and positive thoughts, and feeding of the mind on virtues, righteousness and holiness no matter the challenges in life.

"We need to run according to the rules that God has given us. If we fail to run with the fear of God, we will never win the race and all will be a chasing after the wind. If we play by the rules, God will bless us all" Rev Tagoe said, and enjoined Ghanaians to continue to from where the late Minister left off. Born on June 3, 1952 at Agogo, in the Asante Akim North District in the Ashanti Region, the 56 year old chartered accountant and politician entered Parliament in 1997 and remained a parliamentarian until he died. The late Minister was one of the campaigners against the Union government (UNIGOV) concept put forward by General Acheampong's Supreme Military Council in 1978. He joined the New Patriotic Party when it was formed in 1992.

He became an MP in the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic after the 1996 parliamentary elections and has retained his seat since then.

He became a Minister in Kufuor's NPP government since 2001. He has so far held the portfolios of Local Government and Rural Development (2001-2003) and Education, Youth and Sports, and died holding the Finance and Economic Planning portfolio.

The body of Baah-Wiredu will be conveyed to Agogo in the Ashanti Region for burial on Saturday.

Baah-Wiredu goes home November 8.

2008-11-03T23:25:00Z

The late Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu will be interred at Agogo in Ashanti on Saturday, November 8.

Before the interment however, the body will be laid in state at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra, between 7:00am and 9:30am on Thursday, November 6, to be followed by church service from 9:30am to 12:30pm the same day.

A state announced funeral arrangement says on Saturday, November 8, the body will again be laid in state for family, friends and sympathizers to file past at the Agogo Presby Senior High School Park between 4:00am and 9:00am. Burial and memorial service will follow immediately at the Presby Junior High School Park at 9:00am before interment at 11:00am.

A Thanksgiving Service will be held at the Ebenezer Methodist Church, Agogo on Sunday, November 9 at 9:00am.

The late minister and MP for Asante Akim North died at the Life Little Company of Mary Hospital, South Africa, on Wednesday September 24, 2008 after a short illness. He was 56.

Myjoyonline

Business In Ghana Now Easy - Dutch Minister .

2008-10-24T22:15:00Z

THE Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade, Mr F. Heemskerk, has commended Ghana for her steady economic growth and the foundation laid for smooth business operations, saying “starting business in Ghana has become easier.”
He said Dutch companies now consider Ghana as a good place for investment and added that the Dutch private sector will be willing to contribute Ghana’s continuous success on the economic front.

Mr Heemskerk who made the commendation when President J.A. Kufuor met members of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce here on Wednesday, said the Dutch business community considers Ghana as special, a perception which has heightened their interest in that country.

President Kufuor assured the business community in the Netherlands of Ghana government’s total commitment to engage them in genuine business founded on the basis of a win-win approach.

He said Ghana, since the launch of the Golden Age of Business in 2001, has laid a solid foundation for the smooth operation of business activities and urged Dutch businesses to look at Ghana for profit oriented investments.

“I assure you that my government is for business and that implies joint ventureship with Ghanaian entrepreneurs,” he said.

President Kufuor said Ghana, with its abundant raw materials, stands ready to partner the Netherlands which has the technical know-how to strategically place themselves to effectively compete in the global market.

In the current global market which is increasingly posing challenges to many countries, he said, it was only nations which were able to strategise effectively that could gain comparative advantage over others and survive.

“We have the raw materials and you have the know-how. If we strike the partnership now, by the time the world settles, our partnership will be among the winners,” he said.

The President briefed them on government’s intention to make Ghana the gateway to the West African sub-region and added that extensive expansion works have been undertaken in the two main ports of Tema and Takoradi and called for joint ventureship to develop an inland port currently under construction.

He also called for partnership in the oil sector where Ghana wants to develop a comprehensive petrol-chemical industry following the oil find in the country.

Earlier, President Kufuor paid a courtesy call on the Mayor of Amsterdam, Mr J. Cohen, where he expressed hope of a brighter future for the trade and investment relations between the two countries.

He also laid a wreath at the Dam Square in Central Amsterdam in memory of those who fought for the country in the Second World War.

The President also visited the Sitos Storage and Distribution Centre where a substantial proportion of cocoa exported from Ghana is stored.

By Samuel Amoako, Amsterdam.

Dutch Queen lauds Ghana for stability and growth.

2008-10-23T23:00:00Z

Queen Beatrix, the Dutch Monarch, has given thumbs-up to Ghana for the impressive level of development within the last eight years and pledged her country's commitment to stand by it as a dependable ally to help her to continue on its path of progress. "Ghana is now an example of progress and stability, a modern state and vibrant democracy," she said, in a toast at a state banquet she hosted in honour of President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.
The two countries have had contacts for more than 300 years and enjoy warm relations with the European nation's annual development assistance put at about 70 million euro.
Additionally, Ghana is ranked the fourth largest trading partner of the Netherlands in sub-Sahara Africa. About 80 Dutch affiliated companies have registered in the country and the total volume of trade between them stands at over 400 million euro.
Dutch-Ghanaian trade balance is more favourable to Ghana as Dutch exports to the country amount to about 150 million euro whereas their imports are one- and-a-half times more.
Queen Beatrix gave credit to President Kufuor for the country's political stability and democratic governance that was going hand-in-hand with economic growth and social progress. "Prosperity has increased considerably in a relatively short time. Thanks to your admirable efforts to combat poverty, many have been able to share in these economic benefits."
She also recognized Ghana's important global position as a result of its priority to the promotion of regional security and stability and role in peacekeeping.
"The fact that until recently one of your compatriots was Secretary-General of the United Nations has also contributed to your international prestige."
President Kufuor said the two countries were no strangers to each other as the Dutch were one of the earliest Europeans to have come to the shores of Ghana in the early 17th Century. Since Ghana's independence, they have reconnected trade and cultural relations between them on mutually beneficial and respectful diplomatic relationship.
The Netherlands is a major importer of cocoa, the main backbone of Ghana's economy.
Besides, Ghana enjoys substantial budgetary support form that country towards provision of water and good sanitation, health and environment and infrastructure development, especially roads and harbours improvement.
Added to these, the President said, was the Dutch contribution to the establishment of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, which was now a "Centre of Excellence" for training of peacekeepers and reconstruction agents around the continent of Africa. President Kufuor reiterated the need to forge a strategic Europe-Africa partnership to enable them to occupy a strong position in the global market.
Meanwhile, President Kufuor wrapped up his three-day visit at the invitation of the Dutch Government with a tour of the Evides Water Company Thursday morning. He was accompanied by his wife, Theresa, Foreign Minister, Akwasi Osei-Adjei, the Attorney-General, Mr Joe Ghartey and other senior government officials.

Source:
GNA

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