After treacherous Mumbai bombing

India resolves to fight terrorism
…with legislative changes

Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, January 28, 2009
By Charles Takyi-Boadu

The government and people of India have resolved in one accord to fight terrorism and its related incidents. On the eve of the country’s 60th Republican anniversary, the government of Indian announced a new plan to clamp down on the activities and operations of terrorists.
In a statement read on her behalf, the President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil has called on all Indians to brace up to the challenges ahead and face them.
“I call on fellow citizens and the media to be part of the security network”, she emphasised.
The call entreated all Indians to exhibit a high sense of responsible behaviour in which they would be aware of their surroundings and not to inadvertly create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
In a statement read on her behalf by the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mrs. Ruchi Ghanasyan, at India House in Accra, the President announced the setting up of a new agency to deal with terrorist threats, coupled with legislative changes.
She thus stressed the urgent need for a determined, coordinated and concerted approach by all agencies to tackle this menace, saying “our security personnel can be confident that every citizen of India is with them as they take action to safeguard our borders and secure our safety and security within the country.”
In her message to all Indian citizens, both home and abroad, the President further stressed the urgent need for Indians to bury their individual differences to move the country forward, noting that “we cannot give in to regional, sectarian or caste considerations.”
This, according to her, was because these concepts militate against the very principles that Indians as a people chose to follow when they began the journey as a free nation.”
“All Indians, undoubtedly have many identities but with an underlying common identity of being Indian. We may hail from one region but belong to a different caste or religion, or speak a different language that cannot dilute our Indian identity”, she emphasised.
That identity, according to her, in essence meant a civilizational ethos of a shared experience of living together in harmony through generations, in a milieu of great diversity, but in a spirit of tolerance and forbearance that flows from basic belief of unity.
In furtherance of her speech, the High Commissioner cautioned that the incidents of violence by one community against another would have no place in a pluralistic society, and thus appealed to fellow citizens to “fight divisive agendas and work for an India in which our first identity is Indian and only thereafter our other descriptions follow.”
On the economy of India, the President noted that the country has been impacted by the global environment. That notwithstanding, she indicated that the country’s economy has the fundamental strength and resilience to remain on course for economic growth, stressing that “the global financial crisis can be an opportunity to reinforce the structures of our domestic economy.”
For that matter, the government of India has announced monetary and fiscal stimulus packages to increase liquidity in the market and encourage investments.
Considering the fact that it has a large domestic market, and by increasing the purchasing capacity of all sections of the society, the government believes that it can afford to stimulate its economy.
“We could even be one of the nations who can act as an engine to help revive the global economy”, the President noted.
On the occasion of the celebration, three Ghanaian students were honoured for their sterling performance in an essay competition organised in remembrance of Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the eleventh President of India, who served from 2002 to 2007.
The three included Messrs. Kwabena Kwegyir-Aggrey who took home the first prize, whiles Jemima Owusua and Elvis Buule annexed the second and third positions respectively.

Mills keeps mum

…over controversial Chinery-Hesse report

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Friday, January 23, 2009

President J. E. Atta MillsPresident John Evans Atta Mills has decided not to comment on the raging controversy surrounding recommendations of the much-publicised Chinery-Hesse Report, on the retirement package for members of the Executive and Legislative arms of government. Sources close to the President told The Chronicle that he did not intend to comment on the issue, considering the heat it has generated over the last couple of days, since news of the whooping emoluments to former Presidents, Ministers and Members of Parliament broke.
Though Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, has persistently refused to answer his phone to respond to questions bordering on some of these issues that the press would like to know the President’s position on, Head of the Communications Directorate at the seat of government, Koku Anyidoho, told that the paper that a decision would be taken without the President necessarily commenting on them.
According to him, the government would consider the opinions and sentiments being expressed by the teeming Ghanaian populace on the subject matter, since it would impact on the decision-making process.
This, according to him, was because “it is the will of the people that must reign supreme, and once the will of the people is moving in a positive direction, the government will have no option, but to take that into consideration.”
Whilst admitting that he had not picked the President’s thoughts on the issue, Koku was of the conviction that Professor Mills would not like to comment on the issue.
Instead, he noted that he would take the concerns expressed by the teeming Ghanaian populace into consideration, before he takes any concrete decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, would-be members of the Castle Press Corps, who have been covering the activities at the Presidency, have expressed reservations about the lack of communication between them and the Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga.
Most of them believe Ayariga has been avoiding the press for unknown reasons. Several attempts made to interview him, to know the President’s position on the ongoing debate about emoluments for former presidents, have proved futile.
Hesse Committee Report on Emoluments for former presidents.
The Chinery-Hesse report entitles former Presidents to a fully-furnished residence in Accra and another outside the capital, with office and guest accommodation to be maintained by State Protocol with adequate staff, paid overseas travels, six comprehensively insured, fuelled and chauffeur-driven vehicles, to be replaced every four years, and the provision of $1 million as seed money for the establishment of a non-governmental organization, to be managed by the former President, among other entitlements.
It further suggests that physical assets in the ex-gratia award should revert to the family of the former President in the case of his death.

Mills pledges to honour campaign promises

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Posted: The Chronicle Thursday, January 22, 2009

President J. E. Atta MillsPresident John Evans Atta Mills has promised to deliver on the promises he made to Ghanaians during his presidential campaign.
He has therefore given his word, that his government would endeavour to make policies and programmes that would inure to the benefit of the teeming Ghanaian populace, who reposed their confidence and trust in him, in the just-ended presidential elections.
“As I said during the campaign, when it comes to sharing the resources of our dear nation, I believe that it is only fair that we begin with those who do not have, until they are satisfied, before we move to any other classes,” he emphasised.
Professor Mills gave this assurance when the National Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Osuman Nuhu Sharubutu and a delegation of Moslem leaders paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, to congratulate him on his election to the highest office of the land.
To the people living in the Zongo communities, who clearly fall within this category of people, the President said, “they will be part of the programme that we will be pursuing, to ensure that the resources of our dear nation are used for the benefit of us all.
“As you know, the NDC is a social democratic party. We believe that it is important that the state pays special attention to the under-privileged, to the neglected, and to those who have been marginalised, and therefore, we will put this into action,” he stressed.
Further, Prof. Mills promised to stick to the constitutional provision, which calls for regional balance in the appointment of members and ministers of his government.
Whilst admitting that there were many Moslems out there, who could serve in his government, he noted that anyone who would be chosen to serve would be appointed on the basis of merit and their qualification.
He also sought the face of God, to enable his government steer the affairs of the nation, and urged all religious leaders in the country, to continue to pray for the nation, as they have been doing.
“I will make a special appeal that you pray to Allah, to give me and my team wisdom to be able to lead this country, to be able to better the lot of our people, and create a better Ghana, for the benefit of us all.”
On his part, the National Chief Imam, whose speech was read on his behalf by his Special Aide and Spokesman, Alhaji Mamah Gado Mohammed, noted that taking into account the apparent polarisation that arose during, and after the just-ended general elections, it was imperative that the contending factions are encouraged to bury their differences, and come together to form a united front.
It was his belief that this could lead to a common approach to finding solutions to the diverse ethnic, religious, political and economic problems facing the country.
“Indeed, unity and togetherness is urgently needed, given that Ghana’s economy is in distress in a world struggling with unprecedented financial crisis,” he said.
Under the current circumstances, the National Imam noted that what Ghana needed most, was a purposeful leadership, which had the capacity and ability to command the respect of all, and also the capacity to create a vision of a prosperous future for all Ghanaians.
“We need a selfless leadership that is fair and just and also has the courage of its convictions and the strength, to take bold and firm decisions in the national interest,” he noted.
The Chief Imam also took the opportunity to appeal to the President, to include, not only qualified, but also competent Moslems when making appointments for ministerial positions, and other public offices such as commissions, boards and ambassadorial positions, especially to the Moslem and Arab countries where he believes they would prove useful.
In a related development, Vice President John Mahama is set to participate in the 12th Africa Union (AU) Summit, which will take place from January 26 to February 3, this year, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
A statement signed by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, said he would lead a government delegation that will attend the 12th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, under the theme “Infrastructure development in Africa.”
The Vice President is expected to depart from Accra on January 30, and return on February 4.