Mills talks tough; charges leaders to cut ‘parasitic’ colonial cord

Ghana’s president, Prof. Atta Mills, feels indignant about the failure of some African countries to sever, what he terms, their umbilical cords from their colonial masters and, by extension, western powers.

Speaking against recent foreign interventions on the continent, the president suggested that these so-called 'masters' are cruelly usurping the sovereignty of vulnerable African states and imposing their wishes on them.

“Some countries still believe that countries in Africa should be able to dance to their tunes; unfortunately, some of us also find it very difficult to break the umbilical cords that link us to those countries.”

President Atta Mills was speaking to African diplomats at the Ghana Chancery in Ottawa, Canada as part of his trip to that country.

Without mincing words, Prof. Mills told his colleague African leaders that: “We must take bold steps forward to be able to do this.”

Analysts believe the president's assertions were borne out of NATO’s invasion of Libya, which toppled the country’s decades-old leader, Muammar Qaddafi; and the latest threat from UK’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, intimidating countries to respect gay right or face aid cuts.

President Mills, who has defiantly rejected Mr Cameron’s threat, maintained: “What is happening in Africa is not very pleasant, very palatable, and something that we can be proud of.”

Warning that the trend of recent foreign interventions could have serious repercussions on the continent, President Atta Mills asked his colleague leaders to stand up against foreign dictatorship.

“We as African leaders have to sit down and ask ourselves; what have we done wrong? You see, if you allow others to dictate for you, if you allow others to take your destiny in their own hands, you have no control over how they are going to direct you.

"For far too long we listened to others, now it is not the questions of they talking to us, they are now acting the way they see best, which is not always in our best interest.”

International relations expert, Dr. Niyi Alabi commended President Mills for making such a bold statement, and hoped his peers would be enthused about his position.

“I must say [I’m] quite impressed with this kind of approach, because it is the kind of language that I have been expecting from our leaders to at least let the so-called developed world know that we cannot be doing their bidding [and] always going to them cup in hand.”


From: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76889.php

Only willfully blind won’t appreciate 2012 budget - Haruna

The Minister of Communications, Haruna Idrissu, has refuted the numerous tags the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has put on the 2012 government’s financial statement, insisting that the budget is a “progressive” one.

He said the budget statement is a true reflection of the achievements of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government on various fronts and also what the government intends to do for the country in 2012, adding that under the three-year rule of NDC, “there is an improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians”.

“I believe and maintain that only the willfully blind, who will not appreciate that this budget is a progressive one, and it is only the willfully blind, who will not appreciate that this budget creates a lot of space for the private sector growth and deeper participation in the building of our economy, and it is only the willfully blind, who will point out to World Bank, IMF and make assumptions that do not exist.”

The NPP Minority in Parliament have described the budget statement presented by the Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, on Wednesday as ‘propaganda’ ‘recycled promises’ , ‘bye-bye’, or an ‘empty’ budget.

But Haruna Iddrisu speaking on Joy FM's Newsfile Saturday, retorted: “I think that it is important that the minority recognizes that a budget statement does projections, it gives us an estimate of revenue and expenditure and what government will deliver. And what we are saying is that we are managing the economy better, micro economic indicators are very, very progressive and very encouraging.”

He maintained that in terms of fiscal consolidation, the government’s economic management team and the Finance Ministry have done considerably well to improve the micro economic indicators of the country.

For instance, he said, the NPP in its eight-year rule, “struggled” but could not meet the criteria for the West African Monetary Zone’s single currency – ECO. “It is only under this administration that the four major criteria have been met, including sustainability of single digit inflation for the longest period of our country’s history.”

But a member of the communications team of the New Patriotic Party, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, rubbished the achievements of the government as touted by Haruna Iddrisu.

He said government claims of bringing inflation to single digit does not reflect what is on the ground, saying “demand has been killed” and people are not able to buy due to poor governance.

Touching on the $3 billion Chinese loan government intends to use for massive infrastructural development, Mr. Asamoah was emphatic that the loan will never come to Ghana, describing the government’s effort to secure the loan as a “hoax”.

He explained: “The finance minister can’t sign that loan because he needs the consent of the IMF which he hasn’t got.”



From: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76781.php

Five dead in galamsey disaster

Five illegal miners, popularly referred to as galamsey operators, were trapped to death when an illegal mining pit collapsed on them at a community in the Mpohor/ Wassa East district of the Western Region on Saturday afternoon.

They comprise four women and a man.

Four others have been rushed to the Effia Nkwanta Hospital. Several other illegal miners have also not being accounted for.

Joy News’ Western Regional correspondent Kwaku Owusu Peprah who visited the scene said residents believe more persons have been trapped by the caved pit.

“A lot of them, I am told, are not accounted for; there is suspicion that there could be three or more trapped in the pit.”

He said the five who died were confirmed dead by the police.

The area has been thrown into pandemonium with women and children wailing and searching for missing relatives and loved ones.

Rescue teams were busily looking for survivors or to retrieve more bodies.


From: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76772.php

Don’t be ashamed to beg for help – Kufuor tells govt

Former President J.A. Kufuor has admonished the government to shed off its pride, if any, and call on the international community for help to solve the country’s ‘overwhelming’ sanitation challenges.

He told Joy News Friday, Ghana’s quest to see a healthy and developed society would be a mockery, if proper and pragmatic measures are not put in place to tackle the environmental problems head on.

Former President Kufuor was talking to Joy News’ Sammy Darko about his new international appointment as chairman of the Sanitation and Water for All Partnership. The global institution is an alliance of governments, donors, civil society organizations and agencies working to improve water and sanitation across the world.

Mr. Kufuor said the job he got only this week, provides a good opportunity for him to facilitate donor support in the areas of water and sanitation in Ghana particularly.

He said whilst he’s doing that, government must also make the necessary budgetary allocations to improve the water and sanitary conditions in the country.

“Government [should] try to make the necessary budgetary allocations as well as appeals; if say resources locally are limited, there shouldn’t be any shame in making the appeals to the multinationals, the United Nations itself, or its organs like WHO for support in the supply of portable water as well as sanitary services.”

Sanitation is Crucial

Former President Kufuor said he has often been struck by the piles of rubbish at market places and in the communities, compounded by choked gutters, saying “I see it as a challenge that must be given topmost priority”.

In an effort to solve sanitation problems in the country, he recounted that under his leadership, the government donated an amount to the University of Ghana for studies on environment and sanitation. “The whole idea was for the nation to be availed with a scientific approach in trying to manage the sanitary challenge and also to try to improve upon our environmental situation, the overwhelming challenge of sanitation problem.”

Issues of the environment are crucial, he said, and urged the government to make money available to recruit qualified persons and institutions, warning: “Without a healthy community, talking of economic development reality, it becomes a mockery.”



From: Ghana l Isaac Essel l Myjoyonline.com
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76753.php

Benyiwa Doe, DCE fingered in Apayem Kese brouhaha

The Central Regional Minister Madam, Ama Benyiwa Doe, and the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District Chief Executive, William Atta-Mends, have been accused of being behind the youth group trying to foment trouble in the Apayem Kese festival schedule for this weekend.

The aggrieved youth, mainly from Moree, have warned patrons and organizers of the festival that their security cannot be guaranteed as they plan to disrupt the event.

They accuse the Omanhene Okatakyi Amenfi VII of denying them every opportunity to have a substantive chief for the Moree township.

They also claimed the Omanhene had sidelined the people of Moree, striping them of their dignity.

But the Publicity Chairman of the festival planning committee, Kingsley Koffi Kakari Bondzie, told Joy News the group has ulterior motive to scupper plans to honour former President Kufuor for his contribution to the development of the area during his eight-year rule.

He, however, vowed nothing can stop the event.

“Protocol wasn’t observed because we invited former President Kufuor. They have moved away from security, so we know they have ulterior motive behind that…but nobody can stop us.”

The festival is to raise funds to support the Okatakyi Amenfi VII Education Fund, Kakari Bondzie noted.

Prior to the festival, there have been press conferences and counter-press conferences which had generated some tension.

“The Regional Minister ought to be held responsible [if any confusion ensued] because her utterances on radio have caused a lot to us as citizens; we are hurt.

“So if there should be any anger, it would be directed at the Regional Minister and the District Chief Executive.”

Meanwhile, District Chief Executive, William Atta-Mends, has warned the situation in the area is “very, very dicey” because of a “growing danger” in connection with the festival.

He therefore wants the necessary action taken to avert any unforeseen calamity.

Meanwhile, it is unclear if former President Kufuor would honor an invitation to the Apayem Kese festival at Asebu in the Central region.

Staff at his office refused to confirm or deny his participation when Joy News inquired, even though they say he has received the invitation to honour him.



http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76731.php
From: Ghana/Myjoyonline.com/Isaac Essel

NHIS: One-time premium in 2012; but NPP says it’s nonstarter

The much hyped campaign promise of the ruling National Democratic to implement a one-time premium under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), after years of no show, may materialized in 2012, if what promised by the 2012 budget statement is executed.

Presenting the 2012 budget statement to Parliament Wednesday, Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor said one-time premium forms part of the NDC government’s commitment to continue the implementation of a number of pro-poor intervention programmes that will provide equal opportunities and improvement in the well-being of Ghanaians.

The scope of the numerous social intervention programmes, he emphasized, will be expanded to benefit a greater number of vulnerable people in the society.

“In order to accelerate the achievement of universal health coverage, government will commence the implementation of the one-time premium payment policy under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).”

Dr Duffuor was hopeful the review of the NHIS law would result in a major restructuring of the scheme at the district, regional and national levels.

Touting the government’s achievements under the health sector, the Finance Minister said to ensure adequate coverage, the Ministry of Health collaborated with the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare where the very poor in society were identified for registration under the National Health Insurance Scheme.

“Major achievements in the area of claims management were made and this included auditing of 28,925,293 claims and the recovering of GH¢471,215 and GH¢755,582 from services and medicines respectively,” he claimed.

The Minister also mentioned the establishment of 276 Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Zones.

Minority Spokesperson on Health, Dr Richard Anane, told Joy News Dzifa Bampoh that the government is only trying to play politics with the NHIS.

He is at a loss why the government put it into the budget, knowing very well that implementing the one-time premium in Ghana is impossible.

He said even though government had made it a campaign promise prior to the 2008 elections, it was advised that the new scheme would create a problem for the NHIS, and thought the government would have taken a cue and done its home work.

“I only think that the government has only shown this in its last budget just because it made a campaign promise, not because it is a practicable alternative. We believe that the health of the people of this nation should not be taken to the platform of politics. It is serious and we want the government to take particular note of it and to do the right [thing].”

He maintained that of all the countries with an insurance scheme, only Australia attempted the one-term premium, and though it is a well endowed country, he said the implementation failed.

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76610.php
From: Ghana l Isaac Essel l Myjoyonline.com

That was a "bye-bye budget" - Minority Leader

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has pooh-poohed the 2012 budget statement presented by the Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, saying the statement that is supposed to give hope to Ghanaians is ironically, the one to see the NDC out of government.

The 2012 financial statement delivered on Wednesday to Parliament was themed: “Infrastructural Development for Accelerated Growth and Job Creation.”

According Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Ghanaians should expect to see massive infrastructure development, job creation and sustained economic growth next year. Government also intends to increase its revenue mobilization - for instance, mining companies will be paying more – with oil revenue remaining an important component of the country’s revenue targets.

Dr Duffuor also highlighted some achievements of the NDC government over the past year.

"Madam Speaker, we promised Ghanaians a better Ghana and we have significantly delivered on this promise; we promised to remove schools under trees and we are very much on course; we promised to remove inequities in incomes through the single spine and we are very much on course; we promised to move the economy from fragility to robustness, yes we have; we promised to significantly expand the economy and we have; we promised to arrest inflation, yes we have…”

As usual, this budget has been greeted with a partisan approach, while Dr Duffuor thinks the achievements he enumerated give the government confidence that in the coming years, Ghanaians can continue to trust the NDC government to faithfully steer the affairs of our dear nation, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and his colleagues in the minority strongly think otherwise.

“Clearly, we have come a full cycle, and we’ve realised that anko yie (it didn’t go well); yenhu so (all is not well), ya'setenamu no ansesa (our lives were not bettered), and to me [it is] bye-bye budget," Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told Joy FM's Bernard Saibu.

The Minority was the least moved by the enumerated achievements, and also, very much doubted what the budget holds for the nation.

By that conviction, he told Joy News: “To me it is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Although he admitted that the government in 2011 has “done a bit” like the construction of schools “that should translate into good results. What did we see?”

He was highly suspicious of claims by the government to stimulate and generate employment, because, according to him, the manufacturing industry which is expected to play that role “is collapsing”.

K.T Hammond, Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, re-echoed the position of his Minority Leader, saying the statement did not sound like a budget to him, adding “I hope it is the last budget” for the ruling NDC party.


From: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76603.php

STX bounces back; local partners to pay off Korean partners

The local partners of STX Engineering and Construction Company Ghana have provided a settlement package for their Korean partners in a bid to end the wrangling that has stalled the STX housing project.

B.K. Asamoah’s G.K Airport Company Tuesday presented an undisclosed amount, meant to pay off the Koreans, to the Commercial Court hearing the STX case in Accra.

Joy News’ Sammy Darko who was in court during Tuesday’s proceedings reported that the court is set to rule on the “amicable settlement package” on 24 November 2011, which is expected to determine whether the contract involving the two partners would be terminated or not.

Even though information about the package is sketchy, it is believed that B.K. Asamoah’s G.K Airport Company will pay their Korean counterpart every money spent in the course of the partnership.

Snippets of information picked from the court indicate that if the ruling is given in favour of the local partners, the STX housing project will start early December.

G.K Airport Company has also brought in a new investor, Western Form Technology, for the project to commence smoothly.

The project is expected to provide 30,000 housing units across the country at the cost of $1.5 billion for the security agencies.

Later in an interview with Sammy Darko, Chief Executive of STX Engineering and Construction Ghana, B. K. Asamoah, apologised to President Atta Mills for the pain the internal wrangling of the partners might have caused him.

“I want to take this opportunity to first of all apologise to His Excellency the President for any embarrassment caused to him due to this back and forth with the South Koreans.”

Despite the longstanding internal strife, Mr Asamoah is confident the project would meet the deadline.

“It will not have any effect on the time-line,” he explained, “We will expand the membership of the project to engage more Ghanaians so that we can quickly deliver as we did promise.”

The project has the finances secured and technology agreed, he said.

“The issue is not governmental, it is not personal, but it is commercial in nature,” Mr Asamoah stressed.

He insisted that in spite of the fact that the partners have changed, there would not be the need to go back to the government for another approval.


From: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76518.php

Experts disagree with Catholic Bishops on SHS computerised placement

Some stakeholders in the education sector want calls by the Catholic Bishops asking the government to abolish the Computerised School Selection and Placement System to be disregarded.

According to the Minister of Education, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, calls for the abolition of the system are “premature”.

Whilst an Education Policy Analyst, Kofi Asare, thinks the calls cannot provide solutions to challenges bedeviling the system, a former Director of Ghana Education Service, Michael Nsowah says abolishing the system would worsen issues.

Leaders of the Catholic faith, at the end of a five-day conference in Takoradi issued a communiqué, calling on the government to suspend its decision to reintroduce the three-year SHS. The Conference also called for the abolition of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

Mr Michael Nsowah, though, pointed out that the 30% quota to localities should largely be blamed for the discrepancies in the selection process; he strongly disapproved that the system should be abolished.

“I think it is something that helped in a very big way and if there are certain challenges, I think we need to look at those challenges and make it work. We cannot go back to the manual because that was fraught with more fraud than we are talking about now.”

According to Kofi Asare, an Education Policy Analyst with Action for Rural Education, the system has suffered some challenges since its inception, but this year’s “problem seems to be quite handful”.

“But I don’t think the solution to the problem is to abolish the CSSPS; it is not the solution… Abolishing it will take us back to the regime which was worse compared to the current regime. So abolishing is out of the options we should be considering at this time.”

He attributed this year’s flaws to the “seemingly incoherence between data on vacancy available to the Computerised School Selection and Placement Secretariat and the actual vacancies in the senior high schools”.

The Minister of Education Betty Mould-Idrissu has announced that there would be a stakeholders' meeting on Tuesday to iron out all the teething issues concerning the selection process. Mr Asare has, therefore, called on the ministry to take a critical look at the gap to ensure that information on vacancies in schools corresponds with what the secretariat has.

He said after interacting with some parents and education practitioners, the 30% quota was fingered as a contributing factor to this year’s mess.

He noted that the implementation of the system came after the pupils have filled the forms to select their preferred senior high schools; hence the 30% quota was done manually alongside the computerized system.

On the back and forth with the SHS duration, Education Minister Betty Mould-Iddrisu told Joy News the law introducing the four-year SHS system has been amended and there is no turning back.

Kofi Asare has thrown his weight behind Education Minister’s rejection of calls by the Catholic Bishops.

“The timing is even wrong. I think we have crossed the bridge on the debate between three years and four years. There are so many pressing issues in education that we need to discuss, so we should discuss emerging issues in a progressive manner,” Kofi Asare told Joy FM’s Top Story Monday.

Education Policy Analyst noted that it would be inappropriate to revisit the debate, having previously been weakened with political coloration.

He said after the necessary legal amendment has been made to the Education Act 2008, Act 778 to go three years, people should be more concerned with how to put the three years adopted into good use.

“We also realised that Ghana actually was not prepared for the four-year system, which experienced severe inadequate infrastructure, lack of good preparation in terms of curriculum availability and even teachers and so many other things,” Kofi Asare stressed.

But Mr Michael Nsowah maintained he was still in support of the four-year system.


From: Ghana l Isaac Essel l Myjoyonline.com
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/education/201111/76475.php

No award for Kufuor if… - Moree youth threaten

The youth of Moree in the Central Region are up in arms against the Omanhene of the Asebu traditional Area, Okatakyi Amenfi VII, and have threatened to disrupt this year’s Apayem-kese festival.

The youth, who say they are determined to carry out their threat, have created some tension. They are also advising the chiefs and people of the area, as well as tourists that their safety cannot be guaranteed if they decide to participate in the festival scheduled to come off this week.

Joy FM's Central Regional correspondent, Richard Kojo Nyarko, reports that the youth accuse Okatakyi Amenfi of denying them every opportunity to have a substantive chief for the Moree township as he refuses to recognize any chief proposed to him.

They also claimed the Omanhene had sidelined the people of Moree, striping them of their dignity.

Former President J.A. Kufuor is expected to be honoured by the chiefs and people of the Asebu traditional area for what they say is his contributions to peace and rapid development of the area.

But the Youth have vowed to stop the Omanhene of the traditional area from giving any award to the former President in the name of Asebuman.

Isaac Nketia, spokesperson of the youth, warned: “We are therefore cautioning the organisers of the so-called Apayem-Kese, they should not attempt organising any occasion at Moree beach; two, no entertainment should be organised by the organisers of Apayem-kese in Moree. We cannot further guarantee their safety if they failed to adhere to the above.”

The Omanhene of the Asebu traditional Area, Okatakyi Amenfi VII, has however expressed shock at the assertions of the youth.

He told Joy News that Moree was faced with a number of chieftaincy disputes, and disagreed with the youth’s attempt to draw in the entire traditional area in their chieftaincy issues.

He therefore asked the youth to desist from any acts that would raise tension and bring about violence in the area.

He also defended the need for his area to honour former President Kufuor.

“If President Kufuor and his party or government had refused to hand over the reign of administration to the next government [Ghana would not have been a peaceful state]. So that is the issue, the point is we need people who have the nation at heart and who can take the right decisions at the right time to save the nation from destruction.”

From: Ghana /Myjoyonline.com/Isaac Essel
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76451.php

Quashigah hits back at Kufuor: You envy Rawlings

The Propaganda Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Richard Quashigah has taken a swipe at former President J.A. Kufuor for saying Mr Rawlings’ self-assessment of his era was boastful.

In a press release, issued on Friday, Mr Quashigah says Mr Kufuor’s take on former President Rawlings was nothing but double standards and sheer envy of his predecessor.

“For him to now describe as boastful President Rawlings’ assessment of his regime's performance smacks of double standard, envy and hypocrisy. It is not lost on us that President Kufuor is the only Ghanaian leader who has so far conferred on himself the highest award of the land while still President; an awards category he himself created.”

The statement further stated: “In fairness, if there is any former leader apart from Nkrumah, worth applauding, then it must be Jerry Rawlings.”


Below is the full statement

KUFUOR’S DOUBLE STANDARD AND ENVY

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has observed with great amusement and shock former President Kufuor’s criticism of his predecessor President Rawlings’ assessment of the Rawlings era as sterling which brought out the best in people. According to President Kufour such self assessment is boastful.

It will be recalled that in 2009 former President Kufuor repeatedly adjudged himself as having done more for Ghana than any other leader Ghana has ever had. At the time he made this statement we urged him not to tickle himself and laugh since his achievements were insignificant as compared to those of Dr. Nukrumah and Mr. Rawlings.

For him to now describe as boastful President Rawlings’ assessment of his regime‘s performance smacks of double standard, envy and hypocrisy. It is not lost on us that President Kufuor is the only Ghanaian leader who has so far conferred on himself the highest award of the land while still President; an awards category he himself created.

We would wish to remind Mr. J. A. Kufuor that since the Nkrumah era or after Nkrumah’s overthrown, this country was left badly bruised, until 1983, when the nation begun registering positive growth under the management of the Rawlings’ PNDC. The Rawlings regime, begun on the threshold of negative economic indicators (the worse economy any regime in Ghana ever inherited). It was a period described in a document published in 2005 by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, as one of economic decay and attributed it largely to counterproductive policies pursued before. So bad was the situation that, between the period of 1970-1983, real GDP grew at an average rate of 0.81% per annum while the growth of real per capita GDP on average was -8.34%.

It was at such point of suffocation and stagnation from which Ghana was resuscitated with Rawlings as the captain in the coxswain

So sterling were his economic achievements not to mention strengthening of institutions such as the judiciary, and instilling in the Ghanaian people the “can do spirit” that at varied international fora, he was acclaimed as ‘one of few African leaders to resuscitate a collapsed economy.
In fairness, if there is any former leader apart from Nkrumah, worth applauding, then it must be Jerry Rawlings.

Mr. Kufuor must therefore be reminded that no conscious effort of his to obliterate or overshadow Mr. Rawlings’ exemplary achievements will work.

Signed

Richard Quashigah
NDC National Propaganda Secretary


Credit: Joy Online

Kufuor replies ‘boastful’ Rawlings

In a subtle attempt to discredit claims by former President J.J. Rawlings that he is the best ever Ghanaian leader, ex-President J.A. Kufuor has described Mr Rawlings as a man who is full of himself.

Mr Rawlings, who is also an AU envoy to Somalia, stoked a controversy in an interview with a South Africa-based television station, eTV when he asserted that the strengthening of institutions like the judiciary and empowerment of Ghanaians qualified him as the best Ghanaian leader.

“And my leadership, to be quite honest, I don’t know any other type of leadership that want to bring the best out of people…I will cite instances, the progress that was made within the judiciary, when people actually, you know, felt that they owned the political atmosphere,” he stressed.

But in a sharp rebuttal, former President Kufuor has called the bluff of his predecessor for blowing his own trumpet.

Moreover, when asked by Joy News’ Jefferson Sackey if he concurs or holds a contrary view to the claims, Mr Kufuor replied: “Let the people of Ghana say so [that Rawlings is the best leader Ghana has ever had], otherwise it becomes a boastful statement.”

Former President Kufuor, who attracted the accolade ‘Gentle Giant’ during his eight-year rule, further maintained: “I am not prone to boasting, I don’t like that”.

He justified his position with an Akan proverb which says ahwene pa nkasa to wit ones does not need others attention to promote itself, insisting “let the people of Ghana say, over this period, this is the best leader we have had, I will not say I am the best, I won’t say that; it should be the people I led.”

Asked to assess his tenure as the President of Ghana, he remarked: “I did my best for my country.”

He was convinced that Ghanaians were largely satisfied and approved of his leadership style, “otherwise they wouldn’t be coming to me for guidance and advice, if they were not satisfied.”

Meanwhile, a governance expert, Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, suggested that former President Rawlings’ claim could be subjective depending on how one views it.

He said even though excesses, especially trampling of human rights, of the revolutionary regime could not be ruled out of his 20-year rule, he contributed greatly to Ghana’s return to constitutional and democratic rule – stabilizing the Fourth Republic – and reforming the economy in the 80s.

“So those issues are there and would always colour and discolour his records,” he told Joy News.

Dr Akwetey called for a “more dispassionate analysis” of his assertion to ascertain its veracity, “but I think he’s made very significant contributions”.

From: Ghana l Isaac Essel l Myjoyonline.com
http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76285.php

I'm the best leader ever in Ghana's history - Rawlings

Former President Jerry John Rawlings says his nearly 20-year rule can be described as the best ever in the annals of the country's political history.

The former President who is also an AU envoy to Somalia, in an interview with a South Africa-based television station, eTV averred that the strengthening of institutions like the judiciary and empowerment of Ghanaians qualified him as the best Ghanaian leader.

He said, all these were done with a conviction that when Ghanaians are united with a sense of vision, and with a sense of purpose, “no one can take them for a ride”.

He stressed: “And my leadership, to be quite honest, I don’t know any other type of leadership that want to bring the best out of people…I will cite instances, the progress that was made within the judiciary, when people actually, you know, felt that they owned the political atmosphere.”

The programme host challenged him that during the revolutionary period, he sidelined the Ashanti’s and some Ewes, and even disposed off some Akan ministers when he took over power, “causing a great divide in government”.

But Mr Rawlings debunked that assertion and promised to make available “documents and personalities” both from opposition and from within the revolution period to speak for him on those allegations.

The former President said whilst some African countries refer to persons on the other side of the political divide as opposition, “in actual fact...they treat us like enemies”.

Mr Rawlings justified his long stay in power. He stated that he deliberately held onto power so he could empower Ghanaians.

“I lasted for many years not because I was using the coercive machinery, but because we were engaged in empowering the power,” he said, explaining that “Having become empowered, [the people] will demand accountability from you, will demand transparency from you, will demand integrity from you. How many of us in this position are prepared to render accountability to the people?”

“That is the difference.” He continued: “That is why they have a problem with Rawlings, and have to misrepresent it to make it seem as if he is divisive. He is so and so; he is so and so. No! Rawlings believes in accountability, he believes in transparency, he believes in the empowerment of the people.”

Meanwhile, Kofi Adams, the spokesperson of JJ Rawlings, has dared anyone with evidence to come out to accuse his boss of murder during his reign as a military ruler.

Mr. Adams told Citi FM in Ghana that although there were some excesses during the revolution, Rawlings as the junta leader never had a hand in any killing throughout his military rule.

According to Mr. Adams, “not a single person has so far proven that President Rawlings took a knife or a gun, threw or shot somebody to kill that person.”

From: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel

MP wants ‘notorious’ camp housing ex Ivorian combatants closed

The Eagle Star Refugee Camp could be shut down by December this year after ex-combatants currently being housed there are transferred to other camps.

The need to relocate the camp comes after complaints by the Member of Parliament for Takoradi that the presence of the ex-combatants threatens the country’s security.

Following two unresolved murders at the nearby Ambenu refugee camp, the MP, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, blamed the deaths on the former fighters.

He wants government to as a matter of urgency repatriate the ex combatants.

He told Joy News if the government fails to relocate them, “it is going to be a mess if something goes wrong again. I believe that Ghana is on a time bomb, when it comes to the issue of the ex-combatants refugees from Ivory Coast after the election, and I believe government should work on it as quickly as possible”.

Meanwhile, the Manager of the Ambenu Refugee Camp, Kelly Forson explains to Joy News the UN statutes on refugees do not permit forced repatriation.

He however says there are plans to improve the monitoring of their activities.


By Isaac Essel/ myjoyonline.com

Baba Jamal goofed; Mills had 2nd Class Upper, not 1st Class

President Mills obtained Second Class (Upper) from the University of Ghana contrary to claims by a deputy Information Minister that he had First Class, Communication Director at the the presidency has confirmed.

Information available to Myjoyonline.com from the Office of the President indicates that Koku Anyidoho has been directed by the president to correct the misinformation.

Professor Mills had a Bachelor’s Degree and Professional Certificate in Law in 1967 from the University of Ghana. Many reports of the president’s scholastic acumen suggest that he obtained a First Class from school.

A deputy Minister of Information Baba Jamal this week buttressed claims that President Mills had a first class, and used that as a basis to cast aspersion at NPP flag-bearer Nana Akufo-Addo, who had a Third Class in Economics in the same year at the same university, arguing that Prof. Mills would make a better president than Nana Addo.

The NPP flag-bearer, addressing the Tertiary Education Students Conference (TESCON) of the NPP at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi last week, called for visionary leaders who think big, act big and do big things to develop the country.

But according to Baba Jamal, the NPP flag-bearer does not have the moral right to talk about intelligence and vision when he obtained a Third Class from the University.

“It is a statement of fact that they (Mills and Nana Addo) sat in the same classroom but one had First Class and the other had Third Class,” he added.

“Prof Mills had his doctorate degree at the age of 27 years, he taught law for 25 years and was the boss of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for ten years whiles Nana Addo was just a lawyer,” he said on Asempa FM’s programme Thursday, insisting there are light years between the two leaders in terms of abilities and capacity to deliver.

But Myjoyonline.com checks at the presidency indicates that Baba Jamal got his facts wrong.

"His Excellency Professor Mills as a matter of fact had a Second Class (Upper Division),” a source told Myjoyonline.com on Saturday.

Communications Director at the Presidency Koku Anyidoho told Joy News that the President has admitted obtaining a Second Class Upper and has subsequently directed that the anomaly put out by his deputy Information Minister, Baba Jamal, be corrected as soon as possible.

A member of the opposition New Patriotic Party Mike Ocquaye Jnr had doubted that President Mills had a First Class. He earlier dared the President and his supporters to provide proof that he indeed obtained a First Class at the University of Ghana.

Speaking on Joy FM’s news analysis programme Newsfile Saturday, Mike Ocquaye Jnr maintained: “Baba Jamal, I put it to you that President Mills did not get a First Class. I am reliably informed that he did not get a first class; he got a 2:1, Second Class Upper.”

“So why do you come and lie to Ghanaians that he got a first class,” he quizzed.


by Isaac Essel / myjoyonline.com
http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76026.php

Mills’ first class degree in dispute

A staunch member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NDC) is daring the President, John Evans Atta Mills, to provide proof that he indeed obtained a first class at the University of Ghana.

Professor Mills had a Bachelor’s Degree and Professional Certificate in Law in 1967 at the University of Ghana. Many reports of the president’s scholastic acumen suggest that he obtained a first class in his undergraduate degree.

Lending credence to that, Deputy Minister of Information Baba Jamal cast aspersion on NPP’s flag-bearer Nana Akufo-Addo, who had a Third Class in the same year at the same university, arguing that Prof. Mills would make a better president than Nana Addo.

But his position has come under intense criticisms, especially from persons who commented on his assertion on myjoyonline.com.

Adding his voice to the avalanche of condemnations on Joy FM’s news analysis programme Newsfile Saturday, Mike Ocquaye Jnr of the NPP averred that incontrovertible information available to him indicated that claims that President Mills had a first class were false.

“Baba Jamal, I put it to you that President Mills did not get a first class. I am reliably informed that he did not get a first class; he got a 2:1, second class upper.”

He therefore challenged Prof Mills and those who hold views contrary to his to provide evidence to support what has widely been publicised.

“So why do you come and lie to Ghanaians that he got a first class,” Mike Ocquaye wondered and demanded: “Go and bring that [first class] certificate and let us see. Now the president’s certificate is going to be the subject of public scrutiny because of the irresponsible statement by Baba Jamal.”

Nevertheless, he pointed out that getting a third class doesn’t make one a less better politician.

“President Rawlings, did he go to university? And now Nana Addo got a third class in economics, a subject he may not have enjoyed in university...Nana Addo therefore switched to law, and since then he has shown the excellence.”

by Isaac Essel / Joy Online

We need an office for Presidential Emoluments - Fred Oware

A proposal has been tabled for the establishment of a permanent office to be tasked with the responsibility of looking into salaries and emoluments of presidents of Ghana.

A member of the committee that fixed the ex-gratia for former President Kufuor, Fred Oware, who mooted the idea was hopeful the body will bring to an end, the back and forth with former presidents’ emoluments.

“To forestall this, perhaps we need to have a permanent office to take charge of this responsibility,” he told Joy News on Monday.

Various committees on presidential emoluments recommended, among other benefits, that a former president should be given at least a house. However, President Mills says it's time for the taxpayer to rather pay rent allowance to former heads of state instead of the state building a house for them. He is proposing that 20 per cent of the salary of the president should be used to pay his rent every month.

Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto explained to Joy News the decision by President Mills is the best for the nation, adding that it will reduce the cost of catering for ex-presidents.

Urging that the issue should not be treated as an NPP and NDC affair, Mr Fred Oware said Article 71 of the constitution needs to be amended before the president’s proposal could be legal.

However, he said: “What he (Mills) has not said is whether the sum total to be paid as an allowance would even be more than necessary in buying a house - nobody knows that.”

Mr Oware, who is the 1st Vice Chairman of the NPP, said the Chinery Hesse Committee which recommended the emoluments of former President Kufuor took a number of issues into consideration to arrive at its recommended benefits for the ex-president.

“We took into consideration some governance issues; we looked at Liberia, we looked at Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, we looked at Kenya, and we think that if a president has peace of mind; that after office, there is life for him, and that his condition of life would not be altered to his disadvantage, he probably will focus on the job without dipping his fingers into the national kitty.”

Victor Brobbey, a research fellow at CDD-Ghana, supported the call for permanent office to be established to look into the salaries and emoluments of the president.

Inasmuch as ad hoc committees for the emoluments were not recommendable, according to Mr Brobbey, the payment of monthly allowance is neither the best option.

He also wondered whether Ghanaians should be concerned about the house of former presidents.

“Invariably, the people that become the president of Ghana already have their houses; we really should think of compensating them in ways other than housing…but to build him a new one or to pay for a new one, I am not sure that is the right place to go.”


Story by Isaac Essel/Ghana/Myjoyonline.com
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75325.php

Mills appoints Charlotte Osei as new NCCE boss

President John Evans Atta Mills has appointed Mrs. Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei as the Chairperson for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).

The appointment was made in consultation with the Council of State, a statement signed by Secretary to the President J.K. Bebaako-Mensah has said.

“The appointment takes immediate effect,” the statement noted.

Prior to the appointment, Mrs Osei was the founder and Lead Counsel of Prime Attorneys, a leading law firm in Accra. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Commercial Bank Limited and the Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited.

Mrs Osei had earlier served as a Senior Legal Officer for the Ghana Commercial Bank and as a Company Secretary/Legal Adviser for the Unibank Ghana Limited.

Mrs Charlotte Osei holds a Master of Law Degree (LL.M) from Queen's University, Canada, and a Master in Business Leadership (MBL) from the University of South Africa.

Charlotte Osei has significant experience in several facets of Law with particular specialization in Corporate/Business Law, banking, investment and employment law.

Mrs Osei replaces Mr Larry Bimi, who died in July this year.

Story by Isaac Essel/Ghana/Myjoyonline.com
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75315.php

Many graduates not ready for job market – UG VC

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana has conceded that many of the graduates being churned out in recent times are unfit for the job market.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Springboard programme Sunday, Professor Ernest Aryeetey called on stakeholders to accept that there are challenges with graduates being produced by the universities.

“There are many people leaving our universities that are not ready for the world of work, or that are not ready to do anything meaningful with their lives. That is a challenge; unfortunately, it has taken us too long to acknowledge that.”

Prof. Aryeetey said most of the complaints he is confronted with, come up during interaction with persons in the industry and public servants, noting “I hear complaints about the quality of today’s university graduates. I think there are some merits in that complaint that is coming up.”

He cited graduates’ poor articulation of issues, lack of effective communication and a strong analytical mind as some of the complaints about Ghanaian university graduates.

The Vice Chancellor was concerned that it has taken too long for stakeholders to accept that “we are producing some people that don’t deserve the degrees that we give them”.

Nevertheless, he stated that inasmuch as some of the products are not so good, the universities have been churning out equally good graduates who are adequately prepared for the job market.

To address the situation, Prof. Aryeetey suggested that lecturers are provided with the necessary means to deliver better, admission of highly qualified students, equip the library and a conducive environment for students to learn.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana cited the planned decongestion exercise at residential halls as one of the attempts by the school to arrest the situation.

Story by Isaac Essel/Ghana/Myjoyonline.com
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/education/201110/75277.php

Haruna appeals to doctors; but insists strike is unethical and illegal

The acting Minister of Health, Haruna Iddrisu, has reiterated government’s appeal to doctors to call off their strike, noting their action runs counter to doctors’ own ethics and the laws of Ghana.

There have been several calls from individuals and various groups - including President Mills, the Council of State, religious bodies – on doctors to return to work, but the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) have refused to back down on their two-week industrial action, accusing the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) of exhibiting bad faith in negotiations to migrate doctors onto the single spine salary structure (SSSS).

The standoff between the GMA and the FWSC has occasioned a compulsory arbitration. The National Labour Commission (NLC) is expected to commence the arbitration process on Monday.

Commenting on the issue on Joy FM’s news analysis programme Newsfile on Saturday, Haruna Iddrisu stated: “I expected even the political opposition for the good of this country to at least be seen publicly, admonition the medical doctors that what they have done, by the ethics and values of your training and profession is unethical; under the laws of Ghana, it’s illegal and unlawful.”

The negotiations to migrate the doctors were centered on grading structure, promotion pattern and issues of market premium, he noted.

For instance, doctors had demanded that the government pay them a reasonable premium on additional hours, but the government admitted and told them that it does not have the financial backbone to meet their demand, Mr Iddrisu revealed. The government, he said, therefore proposed that for “purpose of sustainability” it would pay 50% of their request.

He stated that President Mills cancelled his trip to the Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting in Australia because “he cannot leave whilst his back is burning, with medical doctors not providing services[so he has ordered the vice president to go and represent him at the Commonwealth Meeting]that is a president demonstrating sensitivity.”

Mr Iddrisu disclosed that it is not the wish of the president for the two sides to go for the arbitration.

“They should consider, even if it means a voluntary action and return to work whilst negotiation continues with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. We understand their issues but government is unable to do better than it is offering them today, because of its implications on the wage bill of government.”

Meanwhile, NPP stalwart and a medical doctor, Dr. Arthur Kennedy, is asking President Mills to make a direct appeal to striking doctors to call off their industrial action.

The GMA council is meeting this weekend to deliberate on their strike ahead of Monday’s compulsory arbitration at the labour commission. But NPP stalwart Dr. Arthur Kennedy says the way forward is for President Mills to personally intervene.


Story by Isaac Essel/Ghana/Myjoyonline.com
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75198.php

Cabinet approves training of 250 doctors by Cuban govt

The government of Ghana has reached an agreement with the Cuban government to train about 250 Ghanaian medical doctors next year.

This was announced by the acting Minister of Health, Haruna Iddrisu, Saturday, on Joy FM’s news analysis prgoramme Top Story.

The disclosure comes in the wake of a two-week-long strike by doctors in the country over their migration onto the single spine salary structure, in which all pleas to them to rescind their action are yet to be considered.

“I happy to know that the government has just reached a cooperation agreement with the government of Cuba to train some 250 more doctors beginning January 2012,” Haruna Iddrisu stated.

He said Cabinet gave approval to the agreement at its last sitting.

To ensure a fair distribution, the care-taker Minister of Health remarked: “I am insisting that we should decentralised it, so that, at least, each regional coordinating council can have at least 20 persons trained from that region, [and] dispersed across the district.”

He proposed a review of the operations of the teaching hospitals in the country and believed, “in future they can be on their own if they are given some financial autonomy,” to enable them even recruit doctors.

To further bridge the doctor-patient ratio gap in Ghana, he also made known that the Turkish government has also announced, through its Minister of Health, its indication to support specialist training of Ghanaian, and was upbeat the training would be extended to medical doctors.

Haruna Iddrisu concurred with persons who said teaching hospitals must be made faculties of medical schools.

He said government is doing its part to improve facilities at the various medical schools, and called on corporate entities to support the government's effort as part of their corporate social responsibility, so that the various medical schools can adjust their cutoff point to enroll more people.

Story by Isaac Esse/ myjoyonline.com
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75203.php

Doctors appalled by Rojo’s statement; want him sanctioned

The Ghana Medical Association has expressed grave reservations about comments made by the deputy Minister of Health, daring striking doctors to resign or accept government’s offer.

It has been two weeks since the doctors and government, represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), have been haggling over the matter of their placement on the new pay structure. The Labour Commission has therefore directed that the doctors and the FWSC go into compulsory arbitration on Monday.

Even before meeting the NLC, Rojo Mettel-Nunoo, deputy Minister of Health, Friday made audacious statements on Joy FM, much to the displeasure of many doctors.

General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Sodzi Sodzi-Tetteh has described the minister’s statements as “sad”, adding that they are “extremely prejudicial”.

He told Dzifa Bampoh on Joy FM’s Top Story that though they are yet to be given any ultimatum from the government, statements, such as the one made by Mr Mettle-Nuoo, have the tendency to mar the arbitration process and fundamentally undermine any negotiation process.

“You are supposed to negotiate in good faith, and you are not supposed to becoming to negotiation table with threats.”

Dr. Sodzi-Tetteh also called on the National Labour Commission to “hold the Hon. Deputy Minister in total contempt of its proceedings; hauled him before their panel and sanction him promptly”.

He said reprimanding the Deputy Minister would give “integrity” to the arbitration process; otherwise, the process would be “fundamentally flawed”.

He said doctors, on their part, are ready to meet the FWSC and negotiate, but accused the latter of taking entrenched position and unwilling to amend its decision.

Meanwhile, a labour analyst, Ben Agbai, has counseled both parties to avoid the arbitration, warning they may not like the consequences.

“Infact, arbitration settlement are lose, lose settlement; so if you can avoid arbitration settlement, the better”

He explained further: “It may turn out not to be in the interest of either of them…because they don’t have any control over what the arbitrator is going to say. The arbitrator is only going to look at the facts on the ground and give a ruling that both sides are expected to abide by.”

Mr Agbai was worried about the standoff, saying it could be likened to the proverbial elephants fighting where the grass suffer, noting that it is the general public that is facing the brunt of the two parties’ actions.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Medical Association Council is expected to meet on Sunday October 23 to review the doctors' strike.

Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75183.php

Doctors must take govt’s offer or resign – Rojo

Deputy Minister of Health, Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, has given the strongest indication yet that government is not prepared to yield to the doctors’ demand and has dared them to take the government’s offer or leave it.

He also stated - now that the Ghana Medical Association and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission would undergo a compulsory arbitration - the doctors have no choice but to call off the strike, since their resolve would amount to flouting the rules of engagement of arbitration.

He told Joy News’ Araba Koomson on Friday that it would be “unethical” for the doctors to insist on going on strike whilst the arbitration continues.

“The rules of engagement of arbitration are very clear; that the parties, before arbitration can be empanelled, cannot continue with the lockout action, and cannot continue with the strike action.

“And that it behoves them (doctors), if they want to prepare themselves for arbitration, to go back to work immediately. It is not an option that is available to them.”

Mr Mettle-Nunoo minced no words when he challenged the doctors to advise themselves, and if possible, resign from government health facilities and resort to their private practice.

“The options are clear…the reason for establishing the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission was to establish fair wages. They are free to advise themselves if, they think the employer, which is government, is unable to meet their demand; I think they have an option of going to private practice.”

The Deputy Minister, who appeared livid by the insistence of the doctors said the doctors are not reasoning along that lines life lost can never be regained.

“If they can promise me that they can bring every single person who died in Ghana back to life, right, I can accept the kind of things they are going through.”

It has been two weeks since the doctors and government have been haggling over the matter of their placement on the new pay structure. The Labour Commission has directed that the doctors and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission go into compulsory arbitration on Monday. Junior doctors have served notice they will not accede to any compulsory arbitration, contending the last time they did, they were the poorer for it.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Medical Association Council is expected to meet on Sunday October 23 to review the doctors' strike.


Story by Isaac Essel/myjoyonline.com/Ghana
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75157.php

LESDEP is key to govt’s better Ghana agenda – Afriyie Ankrah

The Local Enterprises and Skills Development Program (LESDEP) has been lauded as a pillar and a key component in fulfilling President Mills’ better Ghana agenda.

Deputy Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, observed that the programme “marks the beginning of a major paradigm shift for a new Ghana”

He was speaking at a four-day orientation workshop for zonal coordinators of Local Enterprises and Skills Development Program in Accra on Thursday.

He was hopeful the advent of LESDEP would produce world acclaimed entrepreneurs and multinational companies.

“I envisage that very soon, joblessness among the youth will be mitigated,” he remarked, adding that the menace and nuisance of foot soldiers would be curtailed. Mr Afriyie Ankrah explained that LESDEP would create numerous job opportunities, in a sense that the youth would not have any excuse not to work but to continue depending on people’s largesse.

He charged on the coordinators to see themselves as transformers in Ghana’s development agenda by making impact on the lives of many more Ghanaians.

The Deputy Minister also challenged them to identify talents within their areas and help them, as well as exploring for resources under their jurisdiction that could be tapped. He warned them against nepotism. “You must be fair to everybody.”

National Coordinator of LESDEP Adem Gariba said the workshop would equip the participants with information and skills required to execute their job effectively.

He noted that LESDEP is a public-private partnership, remarking that such partnerships are very important in nation building since the government alone cannot shoulder all the responsibilities of the state.

Professor Paul N. Boakye, a resource person and chairman for the workshop, maintained that it is the wish of every government to see transformation in its people, as they use that transformation to work diligently for the benefit of the state.

He charged the zonal coordinators to lead a live worthy to be seen as a light to entrepreneurs under them, adding that to become effective entrepreneurs they “must be quick to listen but slow to speak”.

He also asked them to be agents for transformation in their communities and committed to the vision of LESDEP.

The zonal coordinators are expected to among others operationalize the programme at the district level, recruit and facilitate training and monitor and evaluate the programme.

LESDEP which aims to achieve development through local entrepreneurship is expected to create about the 20,000 direct jobs estimated to be created in 2011.


Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline
http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75118.php

NAGRAT jumped the gun by going on strike - govt

Government has made a passionate appeal to striking NAGRAT members to repose good faith in government and reconsider their decision.

Deputy Minister of Education Mahama Ayariga, who made the plea, said the strike was called too early whilst negotiations were on-going, saying NAGRAT’s action does “not give the negotiation the opportunity to make the best offer”.

He told Dzifa Bampoh on Joy FM’s Top Story Thursday that; “Whilst negotiations are going on, it is best that our teachers, at least, make their services available to the students so that we will consider the merits of the offers and counter offers that are being made.”

The graduate teachers in Accra started the strike action on Monday before it spread to all the regions except Ashanti and Volta. The NAGRAT members are protesting a decision by government to pay their salary arrears over a period of four years.

Chairman of Western region NAGRAT, Samuel Frank Dadzie, told Joy News his members remain resolute on their decision.

“We decided to suspend work because we asked the government to give us a payment schedule as to when our arrears of 21 months would be paid to us, and that has not come. It was only last Monday that they called a meeting, and the information we have gathered is that the government want to take 36 months to pay us the arrears.

“Already these monies have been standing for 21 months, the value has been dissipated and so teachers cannot wait for 36 more months.”

Jacob Anaba, Chairman of NAGRAT in Brong Ahafo, said government’s decision to spread their arrears over four years “is unacceptable”, adding “in fact our members are angry with that statement”.

But deputy Minister Ayariga said the arrears was incurred when the increased base rate of teachers’ was backdated. He further stated that when they were migrated onto the single spine salary structure, salaries were increased, and also backdated.

“So when he says that they have 21 months arrears, it is not the case. It is 13 months for the single spine arrears, and then 8 months for the base pay increase.”

Mr Ayariga, however, appealed to the teachers to continue meeting the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to thrash out issues.

He also explained that the four years payment method was not meant for only NAGRAT but for all the public servants being migrated onto the new pay policy.

“So government made an initial offer, that given the amount involved and given the fact that it covers all public servants, it will take us this period of time to pay. Government is waiting for their (GMA's) counter offer because this is negotiation. This is the offer from government, you should also tell us what your counter offer is, and we will negotiate. So we are surprised that whilst negotiation is going on, our teachers – NAGRAT – have decided to declare strike action.”



story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

FWSC’s ‘Makola bargaining’ won’t work for doctors – Adom-Winful

President of the Ghana Medical Association Dr. Emmanuel Adom-Winful has rejected government’s back-and-forth approach being adopted to resolve the doctors’ strike action.

He told Joy News on Thursday that the association has been “very disappointed about our encounters” with the various groups which are working to find a lasting solution to the impasse.

Numerous meetings this week to address the concerns of the doctors have failed to produce any result. The doctors were hoping their meeting with the Council of State Thursday, would have provided a team with the mandate to negotiate over their concerns relating to their migration onto the new pay policy.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Medical Association and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) are both preparing to face off at the next arbitration meeting on Monday.

There are concerns that the arbiter – National Labour Commission – may toe government’s line. Though Dr Adom-Winful would not join the speculation train on that, he remarked “that would be very unfortunate”, adding “that would be an indictment on the Commission’s independence”.

He was appalled at the ad hoc approach in determining the salaries of workers in the country. He also accused the FWSC of abandoning a scientific, transparent assessment – evaluation of salaries – that was conducted, which he said the GMA is insisting should form the bases and reference for determining salaries for public service workers.

“The issue has come down to bargaining, the higher you bargain, the more you get, there is no scientific basis to what fair wages is doing today.”

Makola bargaining

He recalled that a second evaluation report by experts initiated by FWSC was accepted, however, “now you the same organisation has thrown away those results and you are resorting to ‘Makola bargaining’ procedures.”

Nevertheless, Dr Adom-Winful maintained that the GMA is “very much concern about the situation”, noting that it has taken them a year to come to this far. “The GMA is not recalcitrant,” he stressed.

“What we are saying is that if you are asking us to go back to work, please let us see in place a proper high-powered group that is sufficiently mandated to do this job, now that the job has been taken from a scientific hand.”

He also downplayed on calls on him to resign his position for his public comments on the strike, especially with respect death at the hospitals, which some say were callous.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has rebuffed media reports detailing how much they are paid and suggesting that they are demanding 40 percent pay increment across board.

GMA General Secretary, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tetteh told Joy News that it is also not true that they are rejecting offers of between GH¢4,200 and GH¢4,800 from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.


Story by Isaac Essel/myjoyonline.com/Ghana
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/75130.php

Poorly rated MPs vent their spleen on Africa Watch

Characteristic of Africa Watch Magazine's ratings, the 2011 ratings would not pass without stirring controversies and resentment, as some disappointed politicians roll up their sleeves to take on the magazine’s editor.

The Magazine’s 2011 Political Performance Index (PPI) on 309 Ghanaian politicians scored 18 of them the lowest possible grade - F.

The editor Steve Mallory has also refused to disclose his methodology for assessing the political heads. After last year’s ratings had sparked heated debates, some MPs who scornfully rejected the ratings dragged the editor to the Privilege Committee of the House - an invitation he ignored.

Many MPs are outraged at the audacity of the publishers to grade them a second time after they condemned the first one. MP for Sege Alfred Wallace Abayateye who inched up from C to C+ is the least enthused.

He told Joy News on Tuesday, with an angry tone, that the editor of the magazine has no moral right to rate him.

“He (Steve Mallory) has not set any question for me to write for him to grade me. He has not elected me so he has no right, he has no moral right and obligation to give a grading, whether he is giving me ‘A’ plus or ‘A’ plus, plus, he has no moral right or justification to do that, he is not my constituent…”

He told Joy News’ Sammy Darko he had to respond to the rating because his integrity is at stake, reiterating “he has not given me any job to grade me”.

He maintained that the MPs work cannot be judged solely on the floor of Parliament, but should be inclusive of contributions at the committee level, constituency among several other areas.

Mr Abayateye stated that, he just finished a tour throughout the country with the Public Accounts Committee, as a member, and wondered if “his (Steve Mallorey's) people were there, those who are called his correspondents, were they there, were they following us all over the country to see the type of work we are doing?”

MP for Offinso North, Augustine Collin Ntim, also challenged people to “go to my constituency and examine what I am doing there, come to the committee level and examine critically what we are doing there, so what are they measuring”.

He “totally rejected” the ‘F’ grade on him, and was confident his constituent would agree with him that he does not deserve that rating. He had D+ in last year’s rating, but he insisted they did not use the right criteria in assessing the MPs.

According to the MP for Ayawaso Central, Sheik I. C. Quaye, who scored ‘F’, the magazine is “completely out of touch with the duties of an MP in the present day Parliament of Ghana.”

He said he continues to enjoy massive popularity in his constituency because of his hard work.

“If they had checked my background, they would have known that I used to be [talk a lot] in Parliament, and I [still do].”

Sheik I. C. Quaye, who is not seeking re-election in 2012 election said he is now grooming young MPs in parliament “to be up and coming, this is what a good man should be doing”.

But for the highly-rated politician in Ghana, Prof. Mike Ocquaye who had an ‘A’, “some of these things {ratings} you accept them with humility and commitment”.

The Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Rashid Pelpuo, who was given a B+ told Joy News such ratings do not “reflect badly” on what he has done in parliament.

Asked if parliament has accepted the ratings of the magazine, he replied; “No. We cannot accept what we do not understand…Parliament is not a party to it. We don’t know how he developed those tools, we don’t know how he developed his indicators, we don’t know whether it has been tested and sound to be scientific enough for it to have enough validity, so we can’t say that we accept it.”

He said for Steve Mallory’s refusal to appear before the Privileges Committee, “he has flouted not just the Standing Orders of Parliament, but the laws of Ghana”, saying his action is “regrettable”, and counselled him to honour that invitation to explain his methodology to Parliament.

Kwaku Baako Jnr, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, and Kwesi Pratt, Managing Editor of the Insight, have all discounted the accuracy of the ratings.


Story by Isaac Essel/Ghana/Myjoyonline.com
http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74987.php

Doctors’ strike continues unabated as NLC postpones arbitration

Hopes that the National Labour Commission could secure a truce and bring an end to the nearly two weeks strike by doctors seems to be dashed, after an arbitration to resolve the impasse on Wednesday was rescheduled.

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has been at loggerheads with the Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC) over the former’s migration onto the single spine salary structure, which culminated into the strike.

After months of stalled negotiations between the two parties, the National Labour Commission convened a “compulsory arbitration” meeting on Monday but the meeting was suspended to allow the GMA and FWSC to go back to the negotiation table and report back to the NLC on Wednesday.

It was hopeful that the next arbitration meeting could give a clear-cut idea when the strike action would come to an end, but the meeting was rescheduled for Monday October 24, 2011.

Meanwhile, the Council of State on Wednesday held a meeting with the GMA to iron out some issues, and the meeting has been described as “largely productive” by the General Secretary of the GMA, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi Tetteh.

“It offers the opportunity to explain some of the challenges we have had along the way; it offered the council an opportunity as well to appeal to us to consider a broad range of alternatives that we could pursue,” he told Dzifa Bampoh on Top Story.

Though he would not go public with the outcome of the meeting, Dr Tetteh said the council was not happy with the tone of both GMA and FWSC, and “pledged to do follow to bring the issue to a closure”.

He would also not give a hint as to when his colleagues would call off the strike, only to say that in due course, the council of the GMA would meet to decide its next line of action, after they have pondered on calls by various respectable groups to end their strike.

Dr Sodzi Sodzi Tetteh noted that parallel processes are ongoing to solve the issue, and also ruled out any “stubbornness” on the part of the doctors.

“The GMA is not even particularly demanding money per sey, and we are simply not asking that everything should be addressed at a go; but we need to be made sure that the way the problems are going to be addressed is well understood and well outlined.”

A member of the Council of State Rev. Amoo-Darko told Joy News it is the prayer and hope of the council that things will change for the better.

“It is the hard cry of every Ghanaian that these doctors will reconsider their position, and go back to work whilst we talk.”

Nevertheless, Mr Ben Agbai, a labour analyst, was very optimistic the compulsory arbitration would solve the strike crisis.

He explained to Joy FM that with the arbitration, both parties would be compelled to waive their right in order for them to negotiate the issue at stake.

“Some of us have been frustrated and disheartened about the turn of event in Ghana, not only with the doctors’ strike but also [the] contagious nature of strike in our industrial relations environment,” Mr Agbai noted.


Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
http://lifestyle.myjoyonline.com/pages/health/201110/75063.php

Edward Mahama vows to lead PNC for the 5th time to 2012 elections

After four consecutive attempts to become Ghana’s president on the ticket of the People’s National Convention (PNC) have failed, Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama is pleading with the party to give him the fifth chance.

The party is divided, Dr. Mahama conceded on Joy News, blaming himself for the divisions.

He is therefore looking for the opportunity to lead the party, not just flagbearer in the forthcoming general elections, but to unite the PNC.

“I want to reunite this party, I can’t leave this party divided as it is,” he told Joy News’ Araba Koomson on Tuesday. He explained that the party was divided after he failed to give a clear direction as to which party to support in the 2008 presidential runoff, and also cited members’ resentful argument on air in recent times.

Dr Mahama opined: “I am responsible for the division because unlike 2000 that I led them [in the runoff], 2008 I said 'make the decision', and that is the social example, it’s social experiment. Without the leadership of Edward Mahama the party is divided right in the middle, so leadership is very important.”

His turn around may come as a surprise to many political pundits, after his earlier indication that he will not contest the 2012 elections. Dr Mahama explained that he reversed his decision because some party members have prevailed on him to take up the challenge, stressing his unwillingness to handover a divided party.

Moreover, he said, he has the interest to grow the party, noting his continuous election as the PNC’s flag-bearer speaks volumes of his leadership quality.

“PNC keeps sending me because they have seen my leadership quality. I have sacrificed everything to support the party because I am not interested for my own well-being.”

Dr Edward Mahama has also rejected calls on him to step aside and give the mantle to an equally, if not a more, competent person to lead the party to the 2012 elections.

“Some people in my party have said don’t stand; if you stand and anybody beats you it would be a shame, I said no! It will be an indication that you people are tired of the kind of leadership I am giving, and I will shake whoever wins and walk away from it.”

Dr Mahama is hopeful Ghanaians would one day be convinced that the PNC, led by him would be the best party to govern the country, after the other parties have toyed with the nation and disappointed them.

He will face a stiff challenge from the new entrant, Alhassan Ayariga, as the latter promises to give him a good run for his money.


Story by Isaac Essel/Ghana/Myjoyonline.com
http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74958.php

Crunch meeting to resolve doctors’ strike suspended

A crucial meeting involving the National Labour Commission (NLC), Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FSWC) and Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to resolve the week-long strike by doctors on Monday morning has been suspended.

The meeting, a “compulsory arbitration” was at the instance of the NLC to settle the dispute between the FWSC and GMA on the migration of the doctors onto the single spine salary structure.

The meeting became necessary after a stalled negotiation between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and Ghana Medical Association on the latter’s migration.

At the meeting, the two feuding parties informed the Commission of an earlier consultation held by the FWSC and GMA, which they indicated their optimism of reaching an agreement on the outstanding issue within 48 hours, a press release issued by the NLC’s Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Afum, said.

They therefore requested the arbiter to suspend the arbitration process to enable them carry on with their negotiations and report back to the NLC on Wednesday, October 19, 2011.

Joy FM’s Seth Kwame Boateng who was monitoring the meeting reported that the parties emerged from the meeting with smiles.

They were also seen exchanging pleasantries with the Chief Executive of FWSC, George Smith Graham, and President of the GMA, Dr. Emmanuel Adom-Winful, in a warm hand shake, a gesture that could mean something good may come out of their negotiations soon.

“I saw them happy this morning, so let’s pray and hope that something good or positive will come out today,” Seth Boateng remarked.


Story by Isaac Essel/Ghana/Myjoyonline.com
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74858.php

Mills honours national heroes; urges youth to die for Ghana

The President, John Evans Atta Mills, has reiterated the clarion call on the youth of Ghana to develop more interest in what they can do for the nation, rather than what the nation has for them.

He stated that many have laid down their lives and dedicated themselves to the development of Ghana, and asked the youth to emulate such people.

The President was speaking at the investiture ceremony at which deserving individuals were decorated with State Honours at the Accra International Conference Centre on Friday.

“This ceremony is a very important one, because it’s intended to send positive signals to especially the young people, that it is not for them to ask what their nation can do for them, but what they can do for their nation,” President Mills stressed.

The President maintained that those who were awarded have contributed in diverse ways to Ghana’s development, and congratulated the award winners for their dedicated services, which he said are worth emulating.

“I am particularly happy that, especially at this important time in our history, we are able to showcase people whose examples and whose contributions have propelled our country forward and are therefore sources of inspiration to all of us.”

He indicated that “a lot of objectivity and transparency” went into the selection of the awardees.

Nevertheless, President Mills remarked that a lot more people in the country deserve to be awarded, and assured that “their time will come”.

The President was also grateful to the recipients for not succumbing to challenges, noting that though their paths were not easy, their tenacity emboldened them to confront all the difficulties.

Speaker of Parliament, Justice Joyce Bamford Addo, who was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Volta, spoke on behalf of the awardees, saying their “hearts have been gladdened” by the gesture.

She said they were elated that their “modest contributions” to the country have been recognised by the state, remarking, “we have been very, very much humbled by the honour bestowed on us”.

“This serves as a good lesson for all Ghanaians, especially the younger generation, not to judge the harvest they reap each day, but rather, they seeds they sowed.”

Mrs Bamford Addo noted that it beholds on all to uphold the selfless spirit of Ghana’s forbearers for a better Ghana.

“It is against this background that the recipients of the national awards dedicate the remaining years of our lives to the national cause.”

Among the forty-six distinguished award winners are elder statesman Harry Sawyerr, Professor Nana Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem and Sergeant Baiden Ebenezer Morgan. The Black Stars team that qualified to the quarter final of the World Cup and the Black Satellites team that won the World Under-20 Tournament were also decorated.

Full list of the Awardees

Medal for Gallantry

Divisional Officer Grade II, Kwame Seddoh (Posthumous)

Sub Officer, Isaac Newton Adjei (Posthumous)

Group Officer, Hannah Yawson (Posthumous)

Petty Officer Class II, Dongyiri Paul (Posthumous)

General Constable Frank William Blankson (Posthumous)

Sergeant Baiden Ebenezer Morgan

Lance Corporal Mohammed Iddrisu Adam

Grand Medal

ACP Christian Tetteh Yohuno

Management teams

Black Satellites 2009

Kwesi Nyantakyi - Leader of Delegation

Jordan Anagblah - Chairman

Isaac Addo - Administrator

Dr. Joe Ofori-Attah Management Member

Black Stars 2010

Kwesi Nyantakyi - GFA President

Fred Pappoe - Vice President

Kofi Nsiah - General Secretary

Joseph Yaw Appiah Team Management

Aloysius Denkabe - Team Management

Mr E. H Michael Haddad

Mr Eshun John

Mustapha Ibrahim

Order of the Volta

Mr David Ghartey-Tagoe

Stephanie Baeta Ansah member

Mrs Leticia Benewah Osafo-Addo

Mr John Owusu-Addo

Mr Charles Yao Mensah

Bridgette Jubilee Katsriku

Professor John Owusu

Naa Alhaji Iddrisu abu Kumbun Naa Yiri II

Justice rtd Alexander Kwabena Baah Ampiah

Justice Samuel Glenn Baddoo

Mr Robert Amaltinga Atuguba

Madam Akushika Barbara Rose Baeta

First television newscaster David Kweku Ghartey Tagoe

Black Satellites playing team

Officer of the Order of the Volta

Mr Emmanuel Botchwey

Mr Lionel Mobilla

Professor Ebenezer Laing

Professor Jeremias Mama Akita

Professor Sefa Dede

Prof Nana Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi AMPEM II

Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman

Prof. Emeritus Kwame Sarpong

Ernest Bediako Sampong

Prof. Daniel Mireku Gyimah

Ing Kwaku Twum Boafo

Marian Ewurama Addy

Companion of the order of the Volta

The Black Stars of Ghana

Mr Ernest Owusu Poku

Rev Bishop Palmer Buckle

Rev Joseph Oliver Bowers

Ambassador James Victor Gbeho

Harry Sawyer

Mr Issifu Ali

Rt Hon Joyce Adeline Bamford Addo


Story by Isaac Essel/ Joy Online
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74747.php