Posted: The Chronicle |Thu, 24 Dec 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
Though the batik, tie and dye industry is gradually gaining ground on the Ghanaian market, it seems to be reeling under the shadows of the country's struggling manufacturing companies, which are competing with their foreign counterparts for market control.
Currently, most of these individuals and groups of persons who are into the making of batik, tie and dye, are having a difficult time getting easy access to the calico material (white snow) that they use in producing the tie and dye cloth.
An extensive interaction with some of these tie and dye makers, most of who are categorised as Small Scale Industries (SSI), has shown that they all face a similar problem, which has to do with access to calico.
Most of them say they sometimes have to queue for as long as between two weeks to one month in search of the material, since according to them, the local manufacturing companies cannot meet their demand.
According to most of them who spoke with The Chronicle, this is gradually affecting their businesses, since they are sometimes compelled to stay without producing for almost a month.
Even so, they noted that when the materials are ready, it sometimes depends on the links that one has within the company, before he or she may be able to get some of the calico.
One of such SSIs is the Gateway Batik, Tie and Dye Training Centre in Dzorwulu, Accra, which is managed by Charles Acquah.
In an interview with the paper, he raised the suspicion that these local textile manufacturers could be deliberately creating an artificial shortage, in order for people to patronage their cloths, instead of tie and dye, since according to him, “they realise the tie and dye industry is booming with Ghanaians showing a lot of interest in it.”
He attributed the increasing patronage of tie and dye to the national Friday wear campaign, which was initiated by the previous administration.
With time, he noted, Ghanaians have developed a likeness for the product.
Like his other colleagues, Mr. Acquah thus appealed to the government to encourage private businessmen to import calico into the country to feed their businesses, since the current situation falls way below demand.
They have also appealed to the government to assist them with loans to boost production.
However, the Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, Mr. John Gyetuah, says the Ministry was implementing the Trade Sector Support Programme (2006-2010).
According to him, the programme had been developed to set up policy directions for the trade and industrial operations in the country, under which it was developing specific policies for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
This, he said, would enable them restructure and strengthen the National Board of Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) to give adequate support to the SMEs, whilst strengthening business support institutions in Ghana to deliver SME training courses among others.
The Deputy Executive Director of the NBSSI, Dr. J. O. Amuah, says the government generally gives loans to the garment industry, but not specifically to batik, tie and dye makers.
That notwithstanding, he noted, they could still access loan facilities from the Board, that is if they are registered with it and the Registrar General as registered companies.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of GRATIS, Emmanuel Asiedu, said his institution gives some level of assistance to some of these SSIs, by giving them technical training at subsidised rates, which in itself serves as a boost to small scale industries.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
NYEP staff set for showdown with gov`t
Posted: The Chronicle |Thursday, December 24, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
Some staffs of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) have started arriving in Accra, from the various regional capitals, to join their colleagues in the Greater Accra Region to embark on a demonstration to the seat of government, the Osu Castle. This is to back home their demand for the payment of their salaries, which have been in arrears for the past four months.
The spokesman for the group, Kwame Sefa Frimpong, and his other colleagues from the regions who spoke to The Chronicle yesterday, noted that their decision stems from the fact that several meetings with the authorities concerned, have failed to yield results.
In almost all instances that they have met coordinators of the programme, the group noted that they were only paying lip-service, by promising to pay them their salaries, only for them to renege on those promises.
They could therefore not fathom how the authorities expect them to go home with empty hands, especially in this festive season, since they equally have individual responsibilities and family commitments to meet.
For this reason, the NYEP staffs believe that marching to the Castle would make the authorities, and for that matter, the President of the Republic, know their problems and address them appropriately.
But, the National Coordinator of the NYEP and former Member of Parliament (MP) for Paga, Abuga Pele, has asked his ‘boys’ to hold their horses, and exercise a bit of restraint whilst they try to find an amicable settlement of the issue.
Whilst appreciating the concerns of the affected staff, he noted that it would be prudent for them to give the government sometime to expedite action, since it had no such intention to cause any disaffection for the staff.
He told The Chronicle that they were making efforts to pay the aggrieved staff their outstanding salary arrears.
As of yesterday, he noted that the government had succeeded in paying that of the month of September 2009 into the accounts of the staffs, and was currently working on the salaries for the month of October.
He however noted that the salaries for November and December would be paid after the Christmas break, since they were still working on it.
Meanwhile, staffs of the NYEP have called on the government to intervene otherwise they may be forced to lay down their tools. The problem of inadequate funding for the programme started under the previous administration, and its smooth running is still being impeded under the current government.
The challenge concerning inadequate and irregular flow of funds raises red flags for the programme. It is however not clear whether the programme could be sustained without government funds.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
NHIA to sack Kumasi scheme managers
… for alleged malpractices
Posted: The Chronicle |Wednesday, December 23, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester Mensah has hinted that his outfit would dismiss eight of its scheme managers in the Ashanti region, who were involved in shady deals, and handed over to the police. “We cannot co-exist with such people”, he said at a staff durbar held in Accra yesterday.
Mr. Sylvester Mensah said various audits undertaken by the Authority in the individual schemes have revealed very terrible happenings across the country. He therefore stressed the urgent need to rid the scheme of such negative tendencies in order not to collapse it.
The Authority has also decided to interdict not less than 20 of its staff across the country for various offences whilst four of its public service providers would be suspended alongside four other private service providers. Four of its child care service providers will also be suspended for a yet to be disclosed reason.
The CEO admitted that for the past six months the challenges have been quite enormous since he took over from Mr. Ras Boateng as CEO, stressing that “they have been quite exacting.”
In spite of that, he noted that he and his team has been able to put in place a system that can address most of these difficulties, including setting up an internal audit unit, claims and clinical audit directorate, strategy and corporate affairs directorate. Furthermore, the Authority has also engaged the services of Information, Communications Technology (ICT) consultants who he said have brought tremendous achievements into the department.
The CEO, however, admitted that it is still grappling with the issue of leakages in the system. “However, I can confidently say that we have blocked a minimum of 20% of such leakages”, he emphasized, stressing that “you cannot police a system like the National Health Insurance Authority without field trips.”
By the middle of next year, the Authority hopes to develop what Mr. Mensah described as sufficient internal arrangements that would forestall these leakages.
From January 2009 to date, revenue collecting agencies have transferred a total of GH ¢208.48million to the Authority. This represents less than 60% of expected year end transfer or inflows to the fund. That notwithstanding, the Authority has made payments of GH ¢240.52million to the 145 District Mutual Health Schemes across the country for payment of claims submitted as well as other administrative expenditure requirements.
The regional breakdown of payments made to the schemes so far are as follows: Ashanti Region – GH ¢57,979,482.31, Brong Ahafo Region – GH ¢26,040,132.67, Central Region – GH ¢19,352,368.97, Eastern Region – GH ¢28,768,149.66 with Greater Accra Region being GH ¢28,883,790.52.
The rest include Northern Region – GH ¢18,018,689.60, Upper East Region –GH ¢12,540,723.85, Upper West Region – GH ¢ 4,926,101.47, Volta Region – GH ¢ 18, 948,920.84 and Western Region –GH¢ 25,063,530.30, all amounting to GH ¢ 240,521890.19.
The amount received by the authority clearly fell short of the total expenditure as stated above. Under the current circumstance, the NHIA says it has been compelled to withdraw funds from the National Health Fund’s investments to make-up for the short fall.
A recent statement issued by Deputy Director In-Charge of Corporate Affairs and Strategic Direction of the Authority, Eric Ametor-Quarmyne noted that “clearly, it not the case of the NHIA investing in treasury bills but rather the case of the authority disinvesting to absorb arrears due providers over the period.”
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Busia`s family endorses new Secretary for NPP
Posted: The Chronicle |Tuesday, December 22, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
The memory of the former Prime Minister (PM) of the Second Republic, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, yesterday invoked a lot of passion among some members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who support the candidature of his nephew, Obeng Gyan Busia, to become the party’s General Secretary in the upcoming national delegates’ congress.
This, was when some key and influential members of the Busia family, including a former member of Council of State, Ama Busia, a sister of the former Prime Minister, his eldest daughter, Dr. Abena Busia, Hollywood movie star and youngest daughter, Akosua Busia, endorsed his candidature at his formal declaration in Accra yesterday.
Others including the late PM’s niece, Efua Boateng Busia, and one of his grand daughters, Hadar Busia-Singleton, were also there to grace the occasion.
The likes of the 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Professor Mike Oquaye, the MP for Wenchi and former deputy Minister of Finance, Gyan Baffour, and Adjei Awuah former Ambassador to Japan, who draw a lot of inspiration from the former PM, were there to attest to the works of his nephew, Obeng Busia, in the party.
They could not, but give historical antecedents of how the name Busia virtually became synonymous in Ghanaian politics, and attributed it to the good works of Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia.
In his address, Obeng Busia, who happens to be Ghana’s former Consul-General in New York, promised to serve and not be served, with the belief that things cannot continue the way they are at Asylum Down and Kokomlemle any longer, stressing: “there ought to be a change we can believe in.”
When elected into office as the NPP General Secretary, he gave his word to first establish what he called a ‘concerns desk’ at the various constituencies, regions and national levels, to cater for the concerns of the party’s numerous members.
This, according to him, would go a long way to address the many avoidable disputes within the party, whilst instituting programs at the grassroots level, to continuously educate party membership/activists on the ideals, philosophies and the constitution of the NPP. This, he said, had become necessary, with the expansion of the party’s electoral-college.
Furthermore, Obeng Busia, popularly known as ‘OB’ for short, gave intentions of his preparedness to strengthen the NPP’s internal communication structure for effective dissemination of the party’s position on issues, stressing: “the Communication Department of the party will be well-resourced, in which case it will not be constrained by any challenge.”
He also has plans to evolve strategies and mechanisms for raising funds to support the party’s activities, since according to him, only quite a few of members of the NPP had shouldered the financial burdens of the party, a situation he said the NPP cannot be proud of.
For this reason, the candidate said when voted to position, he would embark on an aggressive membership drive that will allow party footsoldiers to take ownership of the NPP.
“Such ownership, however, will be expressed in each and everyone among us contributing our widow’s mite towards the party’s activities,” he stated.
As a national party, Obeng Busia said the NPP must go to all lengths to dismantle the propaganda machinery of its political opponents, “who on numerous occasions have pushed us to the point of aligning us to one ethnic grouping.”
In spite of all these, he said, “what they fail to realise is the courage, determination and the enormous contribution of many non-Akans who have played founding and leading roles in our great tradition.”
He paid glowing tribute to the likes of Chief Dombo, S. G. Anto, Tolon Naa Yakubu Tali, Catherine Tedam, Obetsebi-Lamptey (Snr.), Jato Kaleo, the famous Amadu Baaba of Kumasi Saabo-Zongo, and many more of non-Akan roots who had contributed in no small way to the sustenance of what has come to be accepted as the Dankwa-Busia-Dombo tradition, being the modern day NPP.
He therefore charged members of the NPP to be prepared to suffer the discomfort of seeing their preferred candidates not getting elected by the Electoral College and to accept anyone among them who gets elected.
“So the elections should not be seen as life and death, but a meaningful exercise in democratic governance.
This done, in our collectivity, we can in future vote for a party and a government which will represent the authority of us all, and not just a few interest groups, for we have the duty to ensure the welfare of all Ghanaians, irrespective of socio-economic, gender and ethnic differences,” he emphasised.
He urged members of the party to begin to think outside the box of the party, and come to the realisation that “we sink our differences and acrimony towards one another, and find solutions to our national problems.”
If there could be any incentive to put aside their differences, to create consensus and co-operation, lock arms and horns and move ahead together, as one party with a common destiny, and a march towards victory in 2012, Obeng Busia said: “then we should reflect on what the National Democratic Congress (NDC) strategy of divide and rule has done in the past, is doing today, will do tomorrow, because the piper, whose only exception is decency, still wants to continue calling the tune.”
He therefore noted that the recent piss-ins and piss-outs in the NDC should provide enough lessons to Ghanaians. “Let us think outside the party box, and once again, find solutions to our national problems. This is a call for healing and unity; essentials for victory 2012,” he noted.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Minister astounded by sight
Posted:The Chronicle | Monday, December 21, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
A representative of the Minister of Tourism, Juliana Azumah Mensah, who was asked to stand in her stead at the re-opening of the Golden Oyster bar and restaurant was surprised at what he saw on reaching the facility.
The Minister’s representative who happened to be her Deputy Director at the Ministry, Kwabena Asante-Donkor was overwhelmed by the designs and decorations on display.
This was when he was taken round the facility to see the only six executive lodging facilities at the Golden Oyster, which is located near the A & C shopping mall at East-Legon, in Accra. He could not hide his feelings but to express his desire to spend quality time at the facility, saying “this is exquisite!”’
In a speech read on the Minister’s behalf, she could not but say “I have observed the make-up of this facility and I do encourage you to continue to showcase our culture with the traditional African touch.”
Mr. Asante-Donkor, on behalf of the sector Minister congratulated the owner and management of the lodge, as well as prospective investors in the industry for complementing government efforts in developing and promoting tourism. “Certainly, we should continue to forge a collaborative relationship in this endeavour.
Considering the fact that accommodation is a major component in any tourism industry”, the Deputy Director welcomed the Golden Oyster into a renewed operation and encouraged them to be competitive, aside creating a hospitable environment to move the industry forward.
In spite of all the kind words, he charged the management with responsibility of ensuring quality service delivery, safety and security, clean environment, sanitation, and above all appreciable remuneration of staff and their welfare. “You need to resume with a strong attachment to these qualities and strive to achieve total customer satisfaction”, he said.
On her part, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Oyster bar and restaurant, Sharon G. Perlinger thanked the Minister’s representative for his kind comments about the place. According to her, it attests to the level of importance they attached to their clients and the industry, and urged members of the public to visit the place to have a feel of what the Deputy Director talked about.
Golden Oyster has a rooftop poolside bar with an open course for parties and functions. It also has six executive rooms, a conference room and a swimming pool to match.
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
A representative of the Minister of Tourism, Juliana Azumah Mensah, who was asked to stand in her stead at the re-opening of the Golden Oyster bar and restaurant was surprised at what he saw on reaching the facility.
The Minister’s representative who happened to be her Deputy Director at the Ministry, Kwabena Asante-Donkor was overwhelmed by the designs and decorations on display.
This was when he was taken round the facility to see the only six executive lodging facilities at the Golden Oyster, which is located near the A & C shopping mall at East-Legon, in Accra. He could not hide his feelings but to express his desire to spend quality time at the facility, saying “this is exquisite!”’
In a speech read on the Minister’s behalf, she could not but say “I have observed the make-up of this facility and I do encourage you to continue to showcase our culture with the traditional African touch.”
Mr. Asante-Donkor, on behalf of the sector Minister congratulated the owner and management of the lodge, as well as prospective investors in the industry for complementing government efforts in developing and promoting tourism. “Certainly, we should continue to forge a collaborative relationship in this endeavour.
Considering the fact that accommodation is a major component in any tourism industry”, the Deputy Director welcomed the Golden Oyster into a renewed operation and encouraged them to be competitive, aside creating a hospitable environment to move the industry forward.
In spite of all the kind words, he charged the management with responsibility of ensuring quality service delivery, safety and security, clean environment, sanitation, and above all appreciable remuneration of staff and their welfare. “You need to resume with a strong attachment to these qualities and strive to achieve total customer satisfaction”, he said.
On her part, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Oyster bar and restaurant, Sharon G. Perlinger thanked the Minister’s representative for his kind comments about the place. According to her, it attests to the level of importance they attached to their clients and the industry, and urged members of the public to visit the place to have a feel of what the Deputy Director talked about.
Golden Oyster has a rooftop poolside bar with an open course for parties and functions. It also has six executive rooms, a conference room and a swimming pool to match.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
At 5th Africities Summit in Morocco
Rawlings fumes over Africa under-development
Posted:The Chronicle | Friday, December 18, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
Former President Rawlings was fuming with rage when he had the opportunity to address his colleague ex-Presidents and diplomats at the 5th Africities Summit in Marrakech, Morocco, on Wednesday.
He could not fathom why and how the Africa had been made to sink to its lowest ebb in terms of development.
Delivering what has been touted by his own communications team as a thought-provoking keynote address, under the theme, ‘The Global Crisis, An African Perspective’, in front of a capacity of 3,500 audience in the magnificent La Palais Congress in Marrakech, the former President did not mince words, when he said corruption and the failure of some African leaders to be nationalistic, had led to Africa’s current economic predicament.
Amidst intermittent applause, he accused some of these African leaders and their so-called development partners, especially the Western powers and financial institutions, of having let the continent down, through their deeds and actions.
Mr. Rawlings was of the belief that Africa has been vulnerable for the fact that it lacked what he described as “national tenacity, accountability and a spirit of patriotic fervor,” noting that “Africa has been unable to stay united and assertive, because a good number of us in leadership positions, rather than uphold ideals that protect the sovereignty of our countries, have fallen to the dictates of our colonial and development partners, and of late through their multi-national organisations who come in with promises of employment, capital and infrastructural development.”
What seems to bore him most is that “some of these foreign influences even dictate what political directions we need to take, and sadly, we have also embraced their cultures with patronising arrogance.”
Whilst appreciating the fact that corruption had become a major drawback to any developmental process that the continent embraces, Mr. Rawlings noted: “Some of us have created a culture of impunity that allows us a right to employ all manner of methods to fleece our countries of its resources.”
He asked: “if we cannot improve on the corruption index each year, on what basis do we cry about the negative effect of the global economic crisis?”
According to him, the soul of some parts of the continent had literally been sold over the 30 to 50 year period that most African countries have been supposedly independent from colonial rule.
“Most facets of our sovereignty seem to have gone back to our colonial and development partners and some of their corporate entities,” he noted.
Mr. Rawlings therefore called for a concerted effort for decentralisation and regionalisation on the continent, since according to him, prescriptions by international financial institutions on the management of African economies, had failed the continent.
“In Africa, more than anywhere else, arguably, we need a strong developmental state that can protect Africa’s right to contribute to the global economy, and not just as suppliers of raw materials, or as hewers of wood,” he emphasised.
To do this, he stressed the need for Africans, from the north and south of the Sahara, to come together as one people, and build one viable and beautiful political and economic space that can support the creativity and ingenuity and initiative of its diverse and talented people.
He wondered how many governments were not grappling with expensive public relations exercises to convince people with all sorts of excuses about failed projects, noting: “If the decision to implement those projects were not done in a top-down approach, but in discourse with the people in a decentralised environment, there would have been no need to waste scarce resources protecting government’s reputation.”
Mr. Rawlings used his own country, Ghana, as a case study, where decentralisation was achieved by establishing democratically-elected District Assemblies and their sub-structures, through a system of elections and consultative appointments.
While the world ponders over how to modify capitalism, the former President said: “we might consider that now is a good time to emphasise a return to African values, and to seriously question the emphasis on the self-interested individual, which is at the heart of the capitalist model, and which has brought us to this parlous state of affairs globally.
“We need a return to community values, and move away from the values of the selfish individual. This is a time to insist that there is still a great deal that Africa can teach the world, if we believe in ourselves, and value our cultural and spiritual heritage,” he stated.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Ace Ankomah battles Nat`l Security
…over mobile phone registration
Posted: The Chronicle | Thursday, December 17, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
Issues have started emerging over the decision by the National Security, to ask mobile phone service providers in the country for a mandatory registration of their subscribers.
An Accra-based legal practitioner and Partner at the Bentsi-Enchil, Letsa and Ankomah Chambers, Ace Anan Ankomah, says the move is illegal, and should not be made to fly, since it smacks off of insecurity and the invasion of privacy.
He has accordingly advised the government and the National Security to take a second look at its decision, since it in one way or the other breaches individual privacy, as guaranteed under Article 18(2) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
The Article states expressly: “No person shall be subjected to interference with the privacy of his home, property, correspondence or communication, except in accordance with law as may be necessary in a free and democratic society for public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the protection of health or morals, for the prevention of disorder or crime or for the protection of the rights or freedoms of others.”
In a letter to the ministers of Communication and Finance, dated December 14, 2009, and copied to the Minister of Information, the Majority and Minority Leaders in Parliament, and the Director-General of the National Communications Authority, Ace Ankomah noted that the Constitution guarantees the citizens’ right to privacy of ‘correspondence’ and ‘communication,’ and also provides that this right can only be interfered with in accordance with law.
Ace says he is well aware that the National Security has been pushing behind the scenes for a long time, and recently in public, for the mandatory registration of the details of all mobile phone subscribers in Ghana.
That notwithstanding, he also said he knew they now want to set a deadline before 25th December 2009, for the mandatory registration of all new customers, indicating that this is to be followed (at a date that has not been specified yet) by the disconnection of any existing, unregistered customers.
For this reason, the lawyer sought to know the legal basis for which National Security was demanding the ‘registration’ of mobile phones, and therefore unrestricted access to citizens’ details, from telecom operators.
He wondered whether there had been any suggestion or evidence that telecom operators have been cheating on the ‘Talk Tax, which would then require the implementation of the monitoring of communications to “enhance compliance.”
“Is it the case that at present, the police, national security and the military have easy access to individual mobile phone details, by simply writing letters to telecom operators, without any court orders?” he asked.
By this move, he asked whether government wants to compel telecom operators to send all their signaling through ‘black boxes’ it owned, which would monitor all call traffic (i.e. the originating and destination numbers, the time and length of call), and report the data back to itself in real time, or will know the identities of those making calls, who they call, and how often they call and the time they call.
Though the government may not be able to decipher the actual words of voice calls, Ace Ankomah said, “it will be able to read every single SMS coming into and leaving networks, and know every website that a person visits on his/her phone or mobile internet device.”
By simply maneuvering the signaling channel messages, he noted that government would be able to interrupt, process, intercept, block and/or divert calls in order to eavesdrop and know every single detail of happenings on the intercepted calls, without the knowledge and/or the involvement of any competent judicial authority in Ghana.
Mr. Ankomah therefore noted that the current proposed implementation would allow the government, not only to know who is phoning whom, but also (i) from where to where (with accurate location placement), and (ii) whether a person is roaming, and in which country and on which network, indicating “by this means, it is possible to (i) change signaling so that although a specific call is made, all traces of it can be removed or disguised, so that no one can trace its origin or destination, and (ii) create an SMS or call that never existed?”
This, according to him, was evident in the fact that telecom traffic travels in two types of paths, the ‘voice path’ at which the actual conversation moves from one network to another, and the ‘signaling path’ being the means by which one network can communicate with the other about a pending call; and that text messages pass through the signaling path. He also asked which path the government wants to monitor.
Ace Ankomah has thus asked those in-charge to help provide justification for the move, since according to him, it smacks of fear of insecurity.
Posted: The Chronicle | Thursday, December 17, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
Issues have started emerging over the decision by the National Security, to ask mobile phone service providers in the country for a mandatory registration of their subscribers.
An Accra-based legal practitioner and Partner at the Bentsi-Enchil, Letsa and Ankomah Chambers, Ace Anan Ankomah, says the move is illegal, and should not be made to fly, since it smacks off of insecurity and the invasion of privacy.
He has accordingly advised the government and the National Security to take a second look at its decision, since it in one way or the other breaches individual privacy, as guaranteed under Article 18(2) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
The Article states expressly: “No person shall be subjected to interference with the privacy of his home, property, correspondence or communication, except in accordance with law as may be necessary in a free and democratic society for public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the protection of health or morals, for the prevention of disorder or crime or for the protection of the rights or freedoms of others.”
In a letter to the ministers of Communication and Finance, dated December 14, 2009, and copied to the Minister of Information, the Majority and Minority Leaders in Parliament, and the Director-General of the National Communications Authority, Ace Ankomah noted that the Constitution guarantees the citizens’ right to privacy of ‘correspondence’ and ‘communication,’ and also provides that this right can only be interfered with in accordance with law.
Ace says he is well aware that the National Security has been pushing behind the scenes for a long time, and recently in public, for the mandatory registration of the details of all mobile phone subscribers in Ghana.
That notwithstanding, he also said he knew they now want to set a deadline before 25th December 2009, for the mandatory registration of all new customers, indicating that this is to be followed (at a date that has not been specified yet) by the disconnection of any existing, unregistered customers.
For this reason, the lawyer sought to know the legal basis for which National Security was demanding the ‘registration’ of mobile phones, and therefore unrestricted access to citizens’ details, from telecom operators.
He wondered whether there had been any suggestion or evidence that telecom operators have been cheating on the ‘Talk Tax, which would then require the implementation of the monitoring of communications to “enhance compliance.”
“Is it the case that at present, the police, national security and the military have easy access to individual mobile phone details, by simply writing letters to telecom operators, without any court orders?” he asked.
By this move, he asked whether government wants to compel telecom operators to send all their signaling through ‘black boxes’ it owned, which would monitor all call traffic (i.e. the originating and destination numbers, the time and length of call), and report the data back to itself in real time, or will know the identities of those making calls, who they call, and how often they call and the time they call.
Though the government may not be able to decipher the actual words of voice calls, Ace Ankomah said, “it will be able to read every single SMS coming into and leaving networks, and know every website that a person visits on his/her phone or mobile internet device.”
By simply maneuvering the signaling channel messages, he noted that government would be able to interrupt, process, intercept, block and/or divert calls in order to eavesdrop and know every single detail of happenings on the intercepted calls, without the knowledge and/or the involvement of any competent judicial authority in Ghana.
Mr. Ankomah therefore noted that the current proposed implementation would allow the government, not only to know who is phoning whom, but also (i) from where to where (with accurate location placement), and (ii) whether a person is roaming, and in which country and on which network, indicating “by this means, it is possible to (i) change signaling so that although a specific call is made, all traces of it can be removed or disguised, so that no one can trace its origin or destination, and (ii) create an SMS or call that never existed?”
This, according to him, was evident in the fact that telecom traffic travels in two types of paths, the ‘voice path’ at which the actual conversation moves from one network to another, and the ‘signaling path’ being the means by which one network can communicate with the other about a pending call; and that text messages pass through the signaling path. He also asked which path the government wants to monitor.
Ace Ankomah has thus asked those in-charge to help provide justification for the move, since according to him, it smacks of fear of insecurity.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
GJA/BUSAC lobby Parliament
…on behalf of SMEs
Posted:The Chronicle | Tuesday, December 15, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), together with the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund, has appealed to Parliament, as an institution, to be more responsive to the concerns of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
This was after going round the country to gather at firsthand, information of the concerns of these SMEs. The Facilitator of the BUSAC Fund and Chief Executive Officer of KAB Governance Consult (KAC), said they realised the need to brief the Parliament Select Committee on Local Government on some of the challenges of the concerns of the SMEs on their relations with the district assemblies.
Present were the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government, Dominic Azumah, his Vice, George Kuntu Blankson, and other members, including Ranking Member, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Stephen Kunsu and Emmanuel Aboagye Didieye.
Also present were Bright Blewu and Affail Monney, representing the GJA.
In his address, Mr. Afriyie Badu raised issues with the deduction of certain monies from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Though the country’s constitution makes a provision for the transfer of a minimum of 5% to the districts, to address their concerns, he noted that the Central Government had found innovative means of making the deductions, under the pretext of going for mass procurement.
A couple of days before he left office, then President Kufuor decided to raise the threshold from 5 to 7.5%.
For this reason, Mr. Afriyie Badu noted that the assemblies were getting between a quarter and a third of what they were entitled to.
Meanwhile, he noted that the benefits of these deductions were not clear, citing the case of buying mathematical sets.
“Seriously, if these monies had gone into specific districts, they would have found other usages,” he said.
He therefore stressed the need for the government, and for that matter, those in charge of the DACF, to go back to the basis.
“If anything at all; if government will do any deduction; the centre should be negligible, so that the bulk of the money will go to the districts, to enable district assemblies to address the needs of their constituents, including the small micro entrepreneurs.” he emphasised.
He also called for the involvement of business associations in the fee-fixing resolution process, asking for the inclusion of SMEs.
Among others, Mr. Afriyie Badu stressed the need for the government to consider reviewing the constitutional provision, which states that 30% of assembly members should be appointed, since it had a lot of implications.
If the appointment process should be maintained, he said, it would be important for the government to consider the inclusion and involvement of SMEs.
On its part, Members of the Committee called for closer collaboration to help device ways of alleviating the plight of SMEs.
The BUSAC Fund aims to make an impact by enabling the private sector, including business membership organisations, trades unions and the media, to influence public policy formulation, by undertaking appropriate research, developing evidence-based policy positions, and advocating those positions with the government and other private sector institutions/organisations which may be targeted by the action.
The Fund is accessible through a competitive demand-driven mechanism, and transparent selection of the best advocacy actions proposed by associations within the private sector.
The BUSAC Fund finances, through grants, up to 90% of the cost of the Advocacy Actions that are selected in each “Call for Application.”
The actions are then implemented by the grantees themselves, with the help of the Service Providers they may have chosen to complement their own.
Posted:The Chronicle | Tuesday, December 15, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), together with the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund, has appealed to Parliament, as an institution, to be more responsive to the concerns of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
This was after going round the country to gather at firsthand, information of the concerns of these SMEs. The Facilitator of the BUSAC Fund and Chief Executive Officer of KAB Governance Consult (KAC), said they realised the need to brief the Parliament Select Committee on Local Government on some of the challenges of the concerns of the SMEs on their relations with the district assemblies.
Present were the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government, Dominic Azumah, his Vice, George Kuntu Blankson, and other members, including Ranking Member, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Stephen Kunsu and Emmanuel Aboagye Didieye.
Also present were Bright Blewu and Affail Monney, representing the GJA.
In his address, Mr. Afriyie Badu raised issues with the deduction of certain monies from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Though the country’s constitution makes a provision for the transfer of a minimum of 5% to the districts, to address their concerns, he noted that the Central Government had found innovative means of making the deductions, under the pretext of going for mass procurement.
A couple of days before he left office, then President Kufuor decided to raise the threshold from 5 to 7.5%.
For this reason, Mr. Afriyie Badu noted that the assemblies were getting between a quarter and a third of what they were entitled to.
Meanwhile, he noted that the benefits of these deductions were not clear, citing the case of buying mathematical sets.
“Seriously, if these monies had gone into specific districts, they would have found other usages,” he said.
He therefore stressed the need for the government, and for that matter, those in charge of the DACF, to go back to the basis.
“If anything at all; if government will do any deduction; the centre should be negligible, so that the bulk of the money will go to the districts, to enable district assemblies to address the needs of their constituents, including the small micro entrepreneurs.” he emphasised.
He also called for the involvement of business associations in the fee-fixing resolution process, asking for the inclusion of SMEs.
Among others, Mr. Afriyie Badu stressed the need for the government to consider reviewing the constitutional provision, which states that 30% of assembly members should be appointed, since it had a lot of implications.
If the appointment process should be maintained, he said, it would be important for the government to consider the inclusion and involvement of SMEs.
On its part, Members of the Committee called for closer collaboration to help device ways of alleviating the plight of SMEs.
The BUSAC Fund aims to make an impact by enabling the private sector, including business membership organisations, trades unions and the media, to influence public policy formulation, by undertaking appropriate research, developing evidence-based policy positions, and advocating those positions with the government and other private sector institutions/organisations which may be targeted by the action.
The Fund is accessible through a competitive demand-driven mechanism, and transparent selection of the best advocacy actions proposed by associations within the private sector.
The BUSAC Fund finances, through grants, up to 90% of the cost of the Advocacy Actions that are selected in each “Call for Application.”
The actions are then implemented by the grantees themselves, with the help of the Service Providers they may have chosen to complement their own.
Monday, December 14, 2009
National Security grabs car stealing syndicate
...Carl Wilson behind the deals
Posted: The Chronicle | Friday, 11 December 2009
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
President John Evans Atta Mills may have received all the praise for being an incorruptible man, but on the blind sight of the noble Professor, some of his men may be doing things that have the tendency of putting his government in a bad light.
This is exactly what happened on Wednesday, when confusion broke out on the precincts of the National Security Secretariat (Castle Annex), between operatives of the National Security and the customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on one hand and a car syndicate, led by one Mr. Carl Wilson, alias ‘Rambo’, the chairman of the Disposal of Forfeited Vehicles Committee (DFVC) at the Tema Harbour on the other hand.
This was after the security agents impounded a 4x4 Chrysler vehicle that Mr. Wilson, together with his bodyguard whose name was only given as Daniel, and an Ivorian called Nana Kublan Olivier, had taken from the port, and were attempting to re-spray it at Asylum Down in Accra.
Soon after the car had been impounded, Mr. Wilson engaged the National Security operatives in a heated debate, during which he claimed that the said vehicle was to be given to ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, an assertion the ex-President refuted when he was reached on phone by the security operatives for verification.
Mr. Rawlings denied knowing Mr. Wilson, let alone, request for a confiscated car from him.
Credible sources at the National Security, who witnessed the incident, told the Chronicle newspaper that Mr. Rawlings subsequently sent three of his bodyguards, led by one Dr. Lawson, to disassociate him from the stolen car.
Having been embarrassed by the ex-President’s denials, Mr. Wilson then changed his story that the stolen 4x4 Chrysler vehicle was rather meant for the Department of State Protocol, much to the amusement of the security operatives. The Spokesman for the ex President, Kofi Adams, told the Chronicle that they were not aware of any such request for the vehicle.
Though he admitted knowing Mr. Wilson, Mr. Adams could however not tell whether the Office of the President had issued any such directive for a vehicle to be sent to Mr. Rawlings. For this reason, he said they have asked for an investigation into the issue, since they could not ascertain its veracity or otherwise.
According to our sources, the National Security and its related security agencies had closely monitored Mr. Wilson and his group for some time now, due to the rampant and strange circumstance at which confiscated cars at the Golden Jubilee Terminal at the Tema Harbour get missing without any trace.
However, the paper’s sources said Wilson and his group have been selling the vehicles to some second hand cars dealers in town, who buy these cars from them after they have been confiscated from their original owners.
But luck eluded him on Wednesday, when the security operatives caught him pants down, after trailing him from Tema.
A security source told the Chronicle that at about 6:00pm, during the day in question, the 4x4 Chrysler vehicle was moved by a towing truck with registration number GT 2454 E, with an inscription Koo Town Services. The truck moved from Tema to Accra, got to the Castle junction, as though it was heading for the Presidency, turned and headed towards Castle Annex, only to drive past the famous Blue Gate to Asylum Down, where it stopped at a garage.
Mr. Wilson is said to have joined Daniel Olivier and demanded that the 4x4 Chrysler vehicle, which was still bearing a foreign registration number plate, be sprayed in the night, but the owner became alarmed and explicitly told them to leave his garage but they refused and rather chose to change the registration number to avoid suspicion, and have it sprayed in a different garage.
It was at this stage that the security operatives pounced on them, and arrested Wilson and his colleagues, and impounded the car. The National Security Coordinator, Colonel Larry Gbevlo Lartey (Rtd), admitted when The Chronicle contacted him on phone, that there were some issues between his outfit and Carl Wilson, but said The Chronicle information was not entirely true, and asked the Chronicle to cross-check from his sources and get back to him later.
All efforts to reach him again, as agreed upon earlier, proved futile as his phone had been switched off. Carl Wilson also who failed to pick calls put through to his cell phone to get his side of the story. He also did not reply to text messages sent to him.
Meanwhile, some CEPS officers are asking the government to probe the activities of Mr. Wilson at the Tema Harbour, to know the true number of cars that have gone missing and the amount involved.
Friday, December 11, 2009
In order to avoid a Niger-Delta situation in Ghana
A-G pushes for review of oil & gas laws
… For effective management of resources
Posted: The Chronicle |Wednesday, December 09, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
Ghana seems to be learning a lot of lessons from neighbouring West-African countries, including Nigeria, which are having a tough time dealing with the challenges presented them by their oil find and exploration.
Though there are existing legal and regulatory frameworks governing the oil industry in the country, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, says the government is striving to modify it.
Speaking at the All Africa Energy Summit, which opened in Accra yesterday, she noted “Ghana must rapidly make the transition from a country competing to attract valid oil and gas investment, into one that is a major producer.”
The transition, according to her, is complex, and must be managed with skill, in order to avoid the pitfalls other countries have suffered.
In order to achieve this, she said the government intends to maximise the country’s revenue from the oil and gas discoveries, effectively manage oil and gas operations to ensure proper development of fields, maximise local content in the industry i.e. the participation of Ghanaians in the revenue associated with the industry, to facilitate job creation and introduce transparency into the nascent industry in Ghana.
Considering the fact that there are many aspects to an effective transition, the Attorney-General says one indispensable component was the establishment of a solid legal framework, to ensure that Ghana’s interests are maximised and fully protected.
She stressed the need for Ghana, as a country, to “approach the industry from a position of legal strength,” laying emphasis on the fact that “we must confront head-on the legal challenges of becoming a major oil and gas producer.”
In the light of this, Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu said, “it is imperative that Ghana’s legal regime, relating to the oil and gas industry, is reviewed and adapted to Ghana’s new condition as a major oil producer.”
This, according to her, might include the need to review and update the Petroleum Exploration and Production law PNDCL 84, issuance of Petroleum Regulations in accordance with PNDCL 84, and also review and update the country’s petroleum taxation and revenue laws.
“The current stabilisation clauses may also have to be looked at again, since they are too broad, and were incorporated at a time when Ghana did not know its oil and gas potential,” she indicated.
She however noted that the government had already begun the review of the regulatory framework, indicating, “the Ministry of Energy has drafted a local content policy and proposals on various regulations, which are in the process of being referred to the Ministry of Justice for drafting.”
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice also talked about a new oil and gas revenue bill, which seeks to manage revenue from the oil and gas industry, and ensure transparency, stressing, “the oil and gas tax law has been reviewed and incorporated in the general income tax law.”
Meanwhile, she said there were proposals for the formation of an independent regulator, which, according to her, are being made ready for preparation into a bill, and it is expected that most, if not all, of the proposed review legislation, would be ready by the production date in 2010.
According to her, the amendment expands the responsibility for the regulation of activities in the Petroleum Up and Mid Stream sub-sectors.
The objective of these amendments, she said, was to regulate, oversee and monitor activities in the upstream, midstream and downstream petroleum sector, and support the national policy objectives of the up, mid, and downstream petroleum sector.
Whilst admitting that Ghana had not been given much time to prepare for the transition, the A-G said, “we are determined to make our oil find a blessing, and not a curse, by putting the appropriate legal and regulatory structures in place, to ensure that Ghana gets the most out of its oil and gas reserves, and runs an industry that is transparent and best-practices oriented.”
Available information has it that the PNDC Law 64 established the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, and makes it responsible for the development and production and disposal of oil and gas.
PNDCL 84 provides a framework for the management of oil and gas exploration development and production, and makes it clear that all petroleum existing in its natural state, is the property of Ghana, and also that the exploration, development and production of petroleum, shall be done only in accordance with the terms of a petroleum agreement that is regulated and executed with the Minister of Energy, and the interest acquired cannot be assigned to any other person, without the prior consent in writing of the Minister of Energy.
Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu believes this is essential, because the rights to petroleum products in its natural state is the property of the people of Ghana vested in the government, since the law provides the basic terms of every petroleum agreement.
It also spells out the rights and objectives of the parties, and the sanctions to be applied in case of breaches.
Section 32 of the Act provides for regulations to be made in 24 areas of oil and gas management, unfortunately, since 1982 most of them have not been made.
… For effective management of resources
Posted: The Chronicle |Wednesday, December 09, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
Ghana seems to be learning a lot of lessons from neighbouring West-African countries, including Nigeria, which are having a tough time dealing with the challenges presented them by their oil find and exploration.
Though there are existing legal and regulatory frameworks governing the oil industry in the country, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, says the government is striving to modify it.
Speaking at the All Africa Energy Summit, which opened in Accra yesterday, she noted “Ghana must rapidly make the transition from a country competing to attract valid oil and gas investment, into one that is a major producer.”
The transition, according to her, is complex, and must be managed with skill, in order to avoid the pitfalls other countries have suffered.
In order to achieve this, she said the government intends to maximise the country’s revenue from the oil and gas discoveries, effectively manage oil and gas operations to ensure proper development of fields, maximise local content in the industry i.e. the participation of Ghanaians in the revenue associated with the industry, to facilitate job creation and introduce transparency into the nascent industry in Ghana.
Considering the fact that there are many aspects to an effective transition, the Attorney-General says one indispensable component was the establishment of a solid legal framework, to ensure that Ghana’s interests are maximised and fully protected.
She stressed the need for Ghana, as a country, to “approach the industry from a position of legal strength,” laying emphasis on the fact that “we must confront head-on the legal challenges of becoming a major oil and gas producer.”
In the light of this, Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu said, “it is imperative that Ghana’s legal regime, relating to the oil and gas industry, is reviewed and adapted to Ghana’s new condition as a major oil producer.”
This, according to her, might include the need to review and update the Petroleum Exploration and Production law PNDCL 84, issuance of Petroleum Regulations in accordance with PNDCL 84, and also review and update the country’s petroleum taxation and revenue laws.
“The current stabilisation clauses may also have to be looked at again, since they are too broad, and were incorporated at a time when Ghana did not know its oil and gas potential,” she indicated.
She however noted that the government had already begun the review of the regulatory framework, indicating, “the Ministry of Energy has drafted a local content policy and proposals on various regulations, which are in the process of being referred to the Ministry of Justice for drafting.”
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice also talked about a new oil and gas revenue bill, which seeks to manage revenue from the oil and gas industry, and ensure transparency, stressing, “the oil and gas tax law has been reviewed and incorporated in the general income tax law.”
Meanwhile, she said there were proposals for the formation of an independent regulator, which, according to her, are being made ready for preparation into a bill, and it is expected that most, if not all, of the proposed review legislation, would be ready by the production date in 2010.
According to her, the amendment expands the responsibility for the regulation of activities in the Petroleum Up and Mid Stream sub-sectors.
The objective of these amendments, she said, was to regulate, oversee and monitor activities in the upstream, midstream and downstream petroleum sector, and support the national policy objectives of the up, mid, and downstream petroleum sector.
Whilst admitting that Ghana had not been given much time to prepare for the transition, the A-G said, “we are determined to make our oil find a blessing, and not a curse, by putting the appropriate legal and regulatory structures in place, to ensure that Ghana gets the most out of its oil and gas reserves, and runs an industry that is transparent and best-practices oriented.”
Available information has it that the PNDC Law 64 established the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, and makes it responsible for the development and production and disposal of oil and gas.
PNDCL 84 provides a framework for the management of oil and gas exploration development and production, and makes it clear that all petroleum existing in its natural state, is the property of Ghana, and also that the exploration, development and production of petroleum, shall be done only in accordance with the terms of a petroleum agreement that is regulated and executed with the Minister of Energy, and the interest acquired cannot be assigned to any other person, without the prior consent in writing of the Minister of Energy.
Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu believes this is essential, because the rights to petroleum products in its natural state is the property of the people of Ghana vested in the government, since the law provides the basic terms of every petroleum agreement.
It also spells out the rights and objectives of the parties, and the sanctions to be applied in case of breaches.
Section 32 of the Act provides for regulations to be made in 24 areas of oil and gas management, unfortunately, since 1982 most of them have not been made.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
In order to avoid a Niger-Delta situation in Ghana
A-G pushes for review of oil & gas laws
… For effective management of resources
Posted: The Chronicle | Wednesday, December 09, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
Ghana seems to be learning a lot of lessons from neighbouring West-African countries, including Nigeria, which are having a tough time dealing with the challenges presented them by their oil find and exploration.
Though there are existing legal and regulatory frameworks governing the oil industry in the country, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, says the government is striving to modify it.
Speaking at the All Africa Energy Summit, which opened in Accra yesterday, she noted “Ghana must rapidly make the transition from a country competing to attract valid oil and gas investment, into one that is a major producer.”
The transition, according to her, is complex, and must be managed with skill, in order to avoid the pitfalls other countries have suffered.
In order to achieve this, she said the government intends to maximise the country’s revenue from the oil and gas discoveries, effectively manage oil and gas operations to ensure proper development of fields, maximise local content in the industry i.e. the participation of Ghanaians in the revenue associated with the industry, to facilitate job creation and introduce transparency into the nascent industry in Ghana.
Considering the fact that there are many aspects to an effective transition, the Attorney-General says one indispensable component was the establishment of a solid legal framework, to ensure that Ghana’s interests are maximised and fully protected.
She stressed the need for Ghana, as a country, to “approach the industry from a position of legal strength,” laying emphasis on the fact that “we must confront head-on the legal challenges of becoming a major oil and gas producer.”
In the light of this, Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu said, “it is imperative that Ghana’s legal regime, relating to the oil and gas industry, is reviewed and adapted to Ghana’s new condition as a major oil producer.”
This, according to her, might include the need to review and update the Petroleum Exploration and Production law PNDCL 84, issuance of Petroleum Regulations in accordance with PNDCL 84, and also review and update the country’s petroleum taxation and revenue laws.
“The current stabilisation clauses may also have to be looked at again, since they are too broad, and were incorporated at a time when Ghana did not know its oil and gas potential,” she indicated.
She however noted that the government had already begun the review of the regulatory framework, indicating, “the Ministry of Energy has drafted a local content policy and proposals on various regulations, which are in the process of being referred to the Ministry of Justice for drafting.”
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice also talked about a new oil and gas revenue bill, which seeks to manage revenue from the oil and gas industry, and ensure transparency, stressing, “the oil and gas tax law has been reviewed and incorporated in the general income tax law.”
Meanwhile, she said there were proposals for the formation of an independent regulator, which, according to her, are being made ready for preparation into a bill, and it is expected that most, if not all, of the proposed review legislation, would be ready by the production date in 2010.
According to her, the amendment expands the responsibility for the regulation of activities in the Petroleum Up and Mid Stream sub-sectors.
The objective of these amendments, she said, was to regulate, oversee and monitor activities in the upstream, midstream and downstream petroleum sector, and support the national policy objectives of the up, mid, and downstream petroleum sector.
Whilst admitting that Ghana had not been given much time to prepare for the transition, the A-G said, “we are determined to make our oil find a blessing, and not a curse, by putting the appropriate legal and regulatory structures in place, to ensure that Ghana gets the most out of its oil and gas reserves, and runs an industry that is transparent and best-practices oriented.”
Available information has it that the PNDC Law 64 established the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, and makes it responsible for the development and production and disposal of oil and gas.
PNDCL 84 provides a framework for the management of oil and gas exploration development and production, and makes it clear that all petroleum existing in its natural state, is the property of Ghana, and also that the exploration, development and production of petroleum, shall be done only in accordance with the terms of a petroleum agreement that is regulated and executed with the Minister of Energy, and the interest acquired cannot be assigned to any other person, without the prior consent in writing of the Minister of Energy.
Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu believes this is essential, because the rights to petroleum products in its natural state is the property of the people of Ghana vested in the government, since the law provides the basic terms of every petroleum agreement.
It also spells out the rights and objectives of the parties, and the sanctions to be applied in case of breaches.
Section 32 of the Act provides for regulations to be made in 24 areas of oil and gas management, unfortunately, since 1982 most of them have not been made.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
CONFUSION ERUPTS @ GCB
… As gov’t galls board over appointment of new MD
Posted: The Chronicle | Tuesday, December 08, 2009
By Charles Takyi Boadu
Credible information reaching The Chronicle indicates that powerbrokers and influence peddlers close to the Presidency, are putting excessive pressure on the government to hand-pick the Managing Director (MD) of Stanbic Bank, Mr. Alhassan Andani, for the position of Managing Director of the nation’s biggest bank, the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), to succeed Lawrence Adu Mante.
A source close to the interviewing panel set up by the Council of State, led by Professor Kofi Awoonor, has confided in The Chronicle that among the three individuals shortlisted out of the seven applicants interviewed, Mr. Andani scored the least points in their grading.
The shortlisted three are Mr. Alhassan Andani of Stanbic Bank, Charles Asare of Ecobank Development Corporation, and Simon Dornoo of Barclays Bank. The paper learnt that Mr. John Kofi Mensah, the Deputy MD of Unibank, was earlier picked by the board to succeed the outgoing MD, but the government’s intervention halted his elevation with the excuse that the interviewing process had not been completed.
The board Chairman and experienced banker, Kojo Thompson of SG-SSB fame, refused to comment on the story when this reporter contacted him on phone. Workers at GCB however consider the maneuverings of the government, as an attempt to usurp and undermine the authority of its board.
It is also said that the government wants to pacify Mr. Andani for not being given the position of Governor of the Central Bank (Bank of Ghana), as well as the top post at the Agricultural Development Bank, when they became vacant.
In the wake of the search for a person to succeed the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Paul Acquah, media speculations bandied the name of Mr. Andani as the government’s choice for the enviable position.
Then out of the blue, came K. B. Amissah-Arthur, a guru in Statistical Economics, to grab the position.
Meanwhile, credible sources at the GCB say its staff is unhappy about the way and manner in which the government is bent on imposing Mr. Andani on their bank, and are kicking heels ready to protest.
The GCB, they are quoted as saying, has a myriad of managerial problems that need a seasoned banker to handle.
The Ghana Commercial Bank is the biggest bank adjudged by total assets, loans and advanced and shareholders’ fund, and came on a close second by deposits at end of 2008.
It recently opened its 153rd branch at Nima, a sprawling suburb of Accra.
The GCB has a 12-member board, with Mr. Kojo Thompson as Chairman, Mr. Lawrence Adu-Mante, Managing Director, Mr. Samuel Sarpong, Deputy Managing Director In-Charge of Operations, and Mr. Samuel Amankwah, Deputy Managing Director In-Charge of Finance
Others include Mr. Fiifi Kwetey (Non-Executive Director), Mr. Lovelace Prempeh (Non-Executive Director), Mr. Samuel Amankwah (Deputy Managing Director - Finance), Dr. Fritz Gokel (Non-Executive Director), Mrs. Charlotte Osei (Non- Executive Director), with Mrs. Adelaide Mary Benneh, Mr. Joshua K. Peprah, Ms. Lauretta Vivian Lamptey and Mr. Elliot Gordor as members.
In a related development, a Ghanaian resident in the heart of the United Kingdom, London, one Phillip Kobina Baidoo Jnr., has suggested the privitisation of GCB.
In his widely circulated feature article titled ‘Ghana Commercial Bank, the elephant in the living room,’ he wrote, “Though I know that the word privatisation is an anathema to a lot of Ghanaian intellectuals that is what I will shout from the rooftops.”
According to him, most people think that the GCB is a private enterprise, but it is a de facto State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), because the government owns 21.36% and SSNIT, which is a government organisation, 29.81%, summing up to 51.17% of GCB’s operations.
“You therefore can see who calls the tune at the stockholders meeting. Ghana Commercial Bank should be fully privatised. For those who think privatisation is bad, I will assure them that there is no better option,” he noted.
He believes privatisation is just like democracy, which Winston Churchill satirically defined as the worst form of government, except for all those others that have been tried.
“The only way we can get the best out of the nation’s resources we have invested into this company, is a complete privatisation of the bank,” he reiterated. In the final analysis, Phillip Kobina Baidoo Jnr. said it was when the management becomes answerable to irate stockholders, who will always demand their pound of flesh, that those at the helm of affairs will sit up to do the right thing.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
CIVIL SERVANTS BATTLE GOV`T
…Over Single Spine Pay Policy
…Calls for immediate review
Posted: The Chronicle | Thursday, December 03, 2009
By Charles Takyi - Boadu
The Civil and Local Government Association - Ghana (CLOGSAG), have started raising issues with the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) which is set to take off in January next year. The group claims that its recommendations were not incorporated into the final report, which led to the issuance of a white paper on the policy by the government.
At a press conference in Accra yesterday, Vice President of the Association, Tennyson Foli said they realized certain anomalies in the policy document, as a result of which they made recommendations for changes to be made into issues, including the entry point of University graduates into the Civil Service.
The Association claimed that though government promised to incorporate their concerns into the policy document at a stakeholder’s forum at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra, it failed to do so in the final report.
The Vice President of the Association raised issues with certain provisions in the policy document which discriminate against University graduates who enter the Civil Service.
According to him, these graduates are graded lower that their colleagues in other sectors of the economy, though they have the same qualification.
Mr. Foli also talked about the situation where Directors working in the capital city are paid higher salaries than their colleagues in the regional capital. These, according to him, are some of the anomalies that government has failed to rectify.
In its present state, the association said it would not accept the Single Spine Pay Policy since it does not address their concerns.
Meanwhile, the technical committee of the Association has reconvened to examine the white paper, whilst the national executive committee is scheduled to meet from 10th-12th December 2009, to take a firm decision on the issue.
It has thus enjoined all members of CLOGSAG to remain calm and continue to have confidence in the executives, since they were ready to fight their cause whilst assuring them that “the Association shall not accept any policy that will disadvantage them.”
A government statement issued on Thursday November 26, 2009, and signed by Information Minister Zita Okaikoi, said the Single Spine Pay Policy has been given Executive approval of the President, John Atta Mills.
The White Paper confirmed government’s promise to commence the implementation of the policy from January 2010.
Mrs. Zita Okaikoi explained that the White Paper details government’s plans for the implementation of the new pay policy for the Public Services, which aims at addressing disparities, distortions and restoring equity in the pay structure. “The implementation would, however, be in phases over a five-year period starting from January. Because we noted that there are some outstanding issues, the White Paper gives a six-month period, during which challenges would be tackled” the Minister said.
Furthermore, the Information Minister noted that the issuance of the White Paper and scheduled commencement of the policy in January next year further demonstrate government’s commitment to the welfare of the worker and “an affirmation of the communiqué adopted at the May 2009 Consultative workshop at GIMPA.”
Government stated that it was looking forward to equity and fairness in the country’s pay arrangement as it works with all the social partners in the implementation process.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Fireworks@GIA
… As CEO battles pilots, accountants over media exposure
Posted: The Chronicle | Wednesday, December 02, 2009
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
A staff durbar organised by the management of Ghana International Airlines to discuss the wayforward for the company, nearly turned into a boxing arena, when the Chief Executive, Madam Gifty Anna-Myers, and the Accountant, Mr. John Oduro, clashed over some disagreements in the operations of the company.
The meeting ended abruptly, after Madam Anna-Myers refused to allow the Accountant continue his submissions on how over $1 million had been made to go waste under her watch, and the celebration of the GIA@4.
The two were restrained by staff to prevent an escalation of their debate, since the issue could have degenerated into fisticuffs.
According to sources at the meeting held last week Wednesday, it began when the CEO opened the meeting with a fierce attack on some of the pilots and engineers, who she claimed were behind a media war against her.
She went ballistic, and at various times described them in unprintable words.
She further noted that some operational staff were peeved following her refusal to let them go abroad to inspect, what she described, as ghost (non-existent) aircraft on offer by Spinoza, one of the companies interested in investing in the GIA.
She described the airline’s pilots as “self-seekers who want the company’s resources used on their training, after which they would do the runner, while the rest of the staff go hungry.”
During question time, the Senior Accountant expressed regret that the CEO was using such a forum to denigrate members of staff who disagreed with her handling of the affairs of the company.
To him, the CEO could have called on those she suspects were behind the ‘war’, and talk to them in private.
The Accountant accused Madam Anna-Myers of allowing $400,000 to go to waste on the training of pilots, which was aborted by her at the last minute, when it was almost completed.
According to the Accountant, there was information that the pilots could not continue with the training after $400,000 had already been spent on them.
Additionally, Mr. Oduro noted that about $600,000 had been spent on the salaries of pilots recruited under her watch, who had remained dormant close to two years, as the airline did not have its own aircraft, since the leased aircraft, Astraeus, came with its own crew.
“The pilots are redundant; some of them even don’t come to the office; they come here at the end of the month to pick their salaries,” the Accountant reiterated.
He also protested the setting aside of $9,700 to celebrate the four year anniversary of the airline.
Oduro argued that there was nothing to celebrate, since the company had consistently made average losses of ¢1.2 million throughout the four years.
The sources said at this juncture, the CEO would not allow the Accountant to continue his submission, a position which led to exchanges between the two.
The Accountant urged the house to disregard the issues raised by the CEO, since it was abusive, self-serving, personally-driven, and principally aimed at settling personal scores with some individuals.
When The Chronicle contacted Mr. Oduro on the allegations, he refused to comment.
“My brother this is an internal matter, so leave me out. I don’t want to comment about it,” he stressed.
Madam Anna-Myers confirmed to The Chronicle about holding a staff durbar, adding that if the pilots did not stop the attacks against her, she would be compelled to expose them in public.
She alluded that the pilots were employed by her predecessors, as a result, she could not be blamed for their redundancy.
She said there had been an occasion where pilots had gone to inspect aircraft, which turned out that they did not exist, hence she declined to grant the pilots permission to inspect the aircraft Spinoza claimed they had acquired for the GIA.
She maintained that the aircraft would be bought if the government was ready to release the necessary amount for the purchase and maintenance. In a related development, the GNA reports that Mr. Kosi Foli, immediate past Secretary General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), says African Airlines need to form progressive alliances, in order to ensure their successful operations on the continent.
To build a successful aviation industry, “Africa needs a Pan-African solution,” he stressed.
Mr. Foli was speaking to journalists at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra, after joining a South African Airways team to assess Ghana’s prospects of developing into an aviation hub within the sub-region.
He observed that Africa held great potential for growth in the aviation sector, adding that this potential was open for exploration by airlines operating within the continent.
Mr. Foli noted that for airlines to be successful in their operations, the government had to stay out of their operations.
The immediate past AFRAA Secretary General said there was the need for airlines to be responsible for the success of their operations, adding that such responsibility would ensure better accountability, which would in the long run, lead to efficiency in the airline industry in Africa.
Mr. Foli said his team was determined to help revamp Ghana International Airline and brighten its prospects.
He said the airline had great potential for growth, adding that with the right strategies and initiatives, it could become one of the most efficient carriers within the sub-region.
Mr. Jason Krause, Head of Business Development, South African Airways (SA), said his outfit was embarking on the assessment project in countries where it had experienced very successful operations.
He said Ghana was one of such places, prompting the airline to embark upon the initiative.
Mrs. Doreen Owusu Fianko, Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, said the aviation sector was a catalyst for national development.
She noted that South Africa wields great potential for foreign direct investment in Ghana throughout the aviation sector.
“The demands we are having are such that we may have to re-vamp the airports in the other regions of the country. KIA alone might not be enough.”
Mrs. Fianko said at the right time, Ghana would collaborate with SA, to build a vibrant and strong aviation industry in the country.
Local Manufacturers Go Wild
...Ask gov't to stop Chinese or...
Posted: The Chronicle | Tuesday, December 1, 2009
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh and Charles Takyi-Boadu
Members of the Textile, Garment and Leather Employees' Union of Ghana Federation of Labour are not the least happy about Chinese invasion of the industry. They have, therefore, asked government to as a matter of urgency stop the Chinese from their nefarious activities before they cripple the local textile industry.
To this end, they have appealed to government to set up a taskforce, comprising representatives of the security agencies, Ghana Standard Board, the local manufacturers and the Trades Union to conduct periodic checks at the point of sales of smuggled products, with the view to arresting culprits and confiscating goods smuggled into the country.
Speaking to journalists at a press conference on the upsurge in smuggling of African Textile Prints and Pirating of Designs, the General Secretary of the Textile, Garment and Leather Employees' Union of Ghana Federation of Labour, Mr. Abraham Koomson, observed that the escalating illegal activities of some traders and their Chinese counterparts had aggravated the woes of the textile industry in the country, the employees and the Ghanaian economy.
He stressed that "The workers in the industry live in constant fears of losing their jobs because of the illegal activities of people in the textile trade" Indeed, the fears of workers are genuine because the sector which used to employ about 25,000 workers in the 1970s, has only 3000 workers made up of casual and permanent staff. While the state losses over GH¢40million as revenue annually.
Mr. Koomson, flanked by Mr. Moses Zizer, told the journalists that apart from smuggling fake textile products into the country, the Chinese traders and their partners in crime were also engaged in copying of brand design and brand names, names of local companies, among others.
He therefore appealed to the media to help them expose and deal severely with these economic saboteurs and nation wreckers. On wide disparity in product pricing between China and Ghana, Mr. Koomson mentioned, included low cost of raw material, low interest rates, highly subsidized electricity by the Chinese Government, and evasion of appropriate taxes by the Chinese traders as the major advantages enjoyed by the Chinese traders.
However, he indicated that local textile manufacturing companies faced challenges included high cost of raw material, high energy cost, high interest rates, no export subsidy and high cost of electricity in the country.
Instructively, in 2005, the government took steps to address the issues and accordingly directed as follows: "Imported African prints, real super wax, block prints, super real wax imitation wax, java and fancy prints-were being regarded as "high risk goods" and should be subjected to 100% physical examination jointly to be conducted by CEPS and the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) at the entry points".
The directive further stressed that "the new measures formed part of the guidelines to control the numerous unfair trading practices as evasion of import duties and other taxes, under invoicing, poor quality prints, pirating of patents and trade marks". These good measures are yet to be enforced to save the country of heavy revenue losses, collapse of industries and loss of jobs.
After being accused of corruption
GIS, CEPS to Sack Corrupt Officers
Posted: The Chronicle | Tuesday, December 1, 2009
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) have vowed to weed out the supposed 'few' bad nuts among them from the Services. This was after a data gathered by the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) indicted the two security agencies together with the Ghana Police Service (GPS) of massive corruption.
The data report which was gathered between the periods of September and October 2009 by three separate teams revealed serious delays and widespread corruption along the Tema-Ouagadougou trade corridor.
In a swift response to the research findings, the Head of Communications of the Ghana Immigration Service, DSI Francis Palmdeti said the GIS was prepared to dismiss any individual or group of persons who are proven to have compromised their conscience for money.
He has, therefore, encouraged those who fall victim to some of these corrupt practices to report the officers involved for prompt action, since they were not prepared to sacrifice the name and reputation of the service for anything.
On his part, Assistant Collector Phillip Amoh of the Public Relations Department of the CEPS gave the Service's commitment to institute punitive measures against officers who indulge in corrupt practices to serve as a deterrent to others who may be harbouring the intention to take bribes.
Speaking at the report launched in Accra yesterday, Director of Programmes at the LRC, Ms. Daphne Lariba Nabila talked of serious delays and widespread corruption along the trade route where drivers were stopped not less than 24 times, which averages to 2.3 times per 100km.
She noted that CEPS agents have set up the most checkpoints with an average of 9.5 stops per trip while the GPS averaged 6.5 stops per trip. In Ghana, the report indicates that drivers paid from GH ¢2.00 to GH ¢3.00 in bribes per stop, with CEPS officers accepting no less than GH ¢3.00.
The report further has it that on any given day, the number of trucks plying the route can reach 120, thereby making the total amounts of bribes collected estimated to reach GH ¢12,000 per day, GH ¢84,000 per week, GH ¢360,000 per month and GH ¢4,380,000 per year.
In addition, the report further noted that each of these stop causes delay, particularly when drivers try to bargain, indicating "on every journey, drivers were delayed from 5 to 20minutes per stop. On an average journey, it is said that a driver will be delayed a total of 5hours which averages to 29minutes per 100km. At the Ghanaian border for instance, the report indicates that GIS officer collected a minimum of GH ¢5.00 bribes per person and often asked for more.
In order instances, a traveler with all documents crossing the Ghana border to Burkina Faso was said to have been asked to pay GH ¢20.00 and when he offered to pay only GH ¢15.00, he was detained in custody for not less than 45minutes whilst those who were unable to pay were not allowed to cross the border.
The report further reveals that foreign nationals travelling in Ghana are stopped more frequently, and pay higher bribes than their Ghanaian counterparts, stating "Burkinabe businessmen travelling from Kumasi to Paga endured 19 stops by Police and CEPS, and paid a total of GH ¢48.00 in bribes per person. It was thus noted that it took them 12hours to complete their trip. Ghanaians on the other hand were said to have endured 10hours with 15 stops and a total of GH ¢35.00 in bribes per person.
Ms Nabila thus believes that these practices are a direct violation of obligations under the ECOWAS treaty to "grant full and unrestricted freedom of transit through its territory for goods proceeding to or from a third country and such transit shall not be subject to any discrimination, quantitative restrictions, duties or other charges."
Meanwhile, information available indicates that there are more stops in Ghana than in Burkina Faso and for that matter, drivers are unlawfully charged a total of 20,000 CFA to enter Burkina Faso and 12,000 CFA to exit.
Once inside Burkina Faso it is said that there are no less than 3 stop s before Ouagadougou whilst travelers pay 50 CFA at a toll booth.
However, a report released by the Improved Road Transport Governance (IRTG) initiative on interstate trade corridors for the second quarter of 2009 has it that the number of checkpoints have increased by 6% whilst the value of bribes collected have increased by 24% and the delays caused by checkpoints increased by 11%.
But Ms. Nabila attributes some of these worsening trends to the introduction of axle-load weight restrictions. This, according to her, was because "agents at axle-load weighbridge stations will fine drivers for being overloaded but do not provide a receipt to legitimize the transaction", stressing "in Ghana, agents operating toll booths and weighbridges collected the most bribes, followed by Customs agents, then Police officers and finally Immigration officers."
As a result of the widespread practice of corruption along the Tema-Ouagadougot route, the LRC says "drivers and traders are growing to accept bribery and long delays as the order of the day", emphasizing "some drivers set bribe money aside for Police, Customs and Immigration officers along the route."
According to the Centre, such additional costs are one of the reasons why transportation in West Africa has become the most inefficient and most expensive in the world, stressing "inevitably, these higher costs of transport are added to the price of goods and are passed on to consumers in Ghana and neighbouring countries."
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