Posted to the web July 5, 2006
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
SEVERAL YEARS after leaving the teaching profession, Nana Yeboah AfariObuogyan II, chief of Obo Traditional Area in Kwahu, Eastern Region,has regretted not releasing a publication.He regrets that after 40 years of extensive teaching, he does not havea single publication to his credit."Having taught for 40 long years, I am ashamed I have not written asingle book," he said.Having been the principal and head of several educationalinstitutions, he believes he could have written a couple of books todevelop education in the country.He has therefore stressed the need to inculcate the habit of writingand reading into all children of school-going age to develop andmaximize their potentials in education.Speaking at the launch of 'Octagon', a book on vocabulary to provide amulti-lingua guide for schools and beginners in English, French,Arabic, Hausa, Twi, or Akan, Ga, Ewe and Dagbani, the Chief noted thatit was about time Ghanaians took up the challenge to develop ourlanguages to be accepted by the international community.According to him, there was an urgent need for Ghanaians to committhemselves into studying our local languages and develop them to beaccepted as the English and French languages that have been acclaimedby the international community with most annexing them as their secondlanguages.This, he said, would make teaching and learning much easier sinceGhanaians would feel better and comfortable using their own languagesduring examination periods.Malaysia is one of such countries that have developed its locallanguages to an extent that it translates foreign languages andexamination questions into their local language for better understanding.This is said to be one of the reasons why that country is highlyranked in the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA) examinationin which they score high marks because they better understand and givemore accurate answers.On her part, Mrs. Rosemond Asiamah Nkansah, author of Octagon,reiterated the need for Ghanaians to adopt their own mother languages.According to her, the speaking of 'pidgin English' by Ghanaianstudents was gradually affecting the level of written and spokenlanguage in the country.She said it was evident in the poor writing skills exhibited bystudents of this country lately and also spoke against the poorreading habit of Ghanaian students."The sort of language that people speak nowadays, I don't even know,"she bemoaned. "We want to see our language grow to be acceptedinternationally".
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Ghana: Tussle over VP slot in ruling party underway
story by Charles Takyi-Boadu.
Though talks between the National Executive Council of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen have not yet ended to determine whether or not the latter would rescind his earlier decision and stage a comeback to the party, there are, indications of intense lobbying for him to be made the Running Mate of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party’s Flag bearer.
Party sources have hinted that handlers and supporters of ‘Alan Cash’, the man who resigned from the party a couple of weeks ago have started intense lobbying for him to be given the position of running mate to pacify the soul of the aggrieved defeated Presidential hopeful. Sources close to the NPP have told The Chronicle that this is what has compelled President Kufuor to wade into the affair, since they believe that the exit of Alan, considering the votes he polled at the party’s December congress, has a tendency of affecting its fortunes in the upcoming general elections.
The setting up of a committee to look into his concerns is thus considered an opportunity for Alan to give some conditions for the party’s consideration before he finally rescinds his decision. The lobbying for Alan begun during his supposed ‘thank you’ tour to parts of the Volta region, when some polling station executives in Sogakope, Ho and Hohoe rooted for him to be considered for the position. This, they said was in view of Alan’s overwhelming popularity and ability to attract votes, a quality that cuts across party lines.
Their reason was that this would boost the party’s chances of securing total victory in the 2008 presidential elections in view of his charisma, popularity and vote-winning qualities. For that matter, some of his supporters and handlers are said to have gone to the extent of pushing Alan to ask the leadership of the party to make him Nana Addo’s Running Mate, as a pre-condition for his comeback to the party.Meanwhile, big wigs in the party who the paper spoke to on condition of anonymity have discarded the suggestion, since in their opinions it would be more than a suicide mission for the party to make such a choice.
For them it would be a dangerous precedence and should not be considered. For having resigned from the party when efforts were made to address his concerns, they noted that Alan has proven not to be a thorough bred politician since according to them; he cannot withstand the tests of time. This is what the likes of party big wigs, B. J Da Rocha and Hackman Owusu Agyemang greatly detest and protest against; for an individual to hold the entire Dankwa-Busia tradition to ransom.
When news of Alan’s resignation broke, Hackman was one of the people who was accused of having frustrated the efforts of one of Alan’s supporters who was contesting him in the New Juaben constituency’s Parliamentary primary. Though he expressed regret at Alan’s decision to quit the party, he asked him to stop the blame game and leave the rest of them to work. He did not mince words when he said Alan’s resignation would not in anyway affect the chances of Nana Addo or the party in the upcoming elections.
Just last Friday, another old horse, Mr. B.J Da Rocha who was earlier tasked to mediate the process of bringing Alan Kyerematen back to the party after his infamous resignation, called off Alan’s bluff.For him, it would not only be bad but also a dangerous precedence for the NPP to allow any member to dictate to the party the terms on which he will continue to be a member. In a statement, Mr. Da Rocha noted “I think Mr. Kyerematen is bluffing the party.” For this reason, he asked the party not to tolerate such a bluff.
In his considered view, it would not be in the best interest of the NPP to receive Alan back into the party, since according to him “he will become a disruptive factor in the party, a stumbling block, a loose canon.”Mr. Da Rocha noted with surprise the statement issued by Alan for the reason that he had written to party Chairman, Peter Mac Manu resigning his membership.
Though talks between the National Executive Council of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen have not yet ended to determine whether or not the latter would rescind his earlier decision and stage a comeback to the party, there are, indications of intense lobbying for him to be made the Running Mate of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party’s Flag bearer.
Party sources have hinted that handlers and supporters of ‘Alan Cash’, the man who resigned from the party a couple of weeks ago have started intense lobbying for him to be given the position of running mate to pacify the soul of the aggrieved defeated Presidential hopeful. Sources close to the NPP have told The Chronicle that this is what has compelled President Kufuor to wade into the affair, since they believe that the exit of Alan, considering the votes he polled at the party’s December congress, has a tendency of affecting its fortunes in the upcoming general elections.
The setting up of a committee to look into his concerns is thus considered an opportunity for Alan to give some conditions for the party’s consideration before he finally rescinds his decision. The lobbying for Alan begun during his supposed ‘thank you’ tour to parts of the Volta region, when some polling station executives in Sogakope, Ho and Hohoe rooted for him to be considered for the position. This, they said was in view of Alan’s overwhelming popularity and ability to attract votes, a quality that cuts across party lines.
Their reason was that this would boost the party’s chances of securing total victory in the 2008 presidential elections in view of his charisma, popularity and vote-winning qualities. For that matter, some of his supporters and handlers are said to have gone to the extent of pushing Alan to ask the leadership of the party to make him Nana Addo’s Running Mate, as a pre-condition for his comeback to the party.Meanwhile, big wigs in the party who the paper spoke to on condition of anonymity have discarded the suggestion, since in their opinions it would be more than a suicide mission for the party to make such a choice.
For them it would be a dangerous precedence and should not be considered. For having resigned from the party when efforts were made to address his concerns, they noted that Alan has proven not to be a thorough bred politician since according to them; he cannot withstand the tests of time. This is what the likes of party big wigs, B. J Da Rocha and Hackman Owusu Agyemang greatly detest and protest against; for an individual to hold the entire Dankwa-Busia tradition to ransom.
When news of Alan’s resignation broke, Hackman was one of the people who was accused of having frustrated the efforts of one of Alan’s supporters who was contesting him in the New Juaben constituency’s Parliamentary primary. Though he expressed regret at Alan’s decision to quit the party, he asked him to stop the blame game and leave the rest of them to work. He did not mince words when he said Alan’s resignation would not in anyway affect the chances of Nana Addo or the party in the upcoming elections.
Just last Friday, another old horse, Mr. B.J Da Rocha who was earlier tasked to mediate the process of bringing Alan Kyerematen back to the party after his infamous resignation, called off Alan’s bluff.For him, it would not only be bad but also a dangerous precedence for the NPP to allow any member to dictate to the party the terms on which he will continue to be a member. In a statement, Mr. Da Rocha noted “I think Mr. Kyerematen is bluffing the party.” For this reason, he asked the party not to tolerate such a bluff.
In his considered view, it would not be in the best interest of the NPP to receive Alan back into the party, since according to him “he will become a disruptive factor in the party, a stumbling block, a loose canon.”Mr. Da Rocha noted with surprise the statement issued by Alan for the reason that he had written to party Chairman, Peter Mac Manu resigning his membership.
Ghana: Retail trade under siege
Information gathered by The Chronicle points to a looming threat in the country, as the executive and members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) are gearing up for a massive demonstration to hit the streets of Accra in the next couple of weeks.By Ghanaian Chronicle (Ghana), by Charles Takyi-Boadu 11.09.2005
Indications are that members of the association have girded up their loins long ago, for what insiders consider to be probably the worst demonstration ever to hit the capital city over their dissatisfaction with foreigners' invasion into areas of the retail sector of businesses, stipulated under our laws to be the preserve of indigenous Ghanaians.
Though the leadership of the association has refused to either confirm or deny this information through the paper's fact-finding mission, reliable sources close to the leadership have hinted that though the leadership has so far restrained members, they may not be able to contain them for long.
Some shop owners of the association told the paper last week that should the authorities fail to take positive steps in forestalling the unrestrained invasion, nothing can hold them back from taking to the streets.
Sources, hinted that notwithstanding the several attempts by the association and other equally concerned bodies to draw the attention of government and other stakeholders of the dangers indigenous businesses are exposed to, little or virtually nothing has been done to forestall what is predicted to be a doom for the economy.
The influx of these foreigners, mostly from the sub-region and China, into the retail area, according to observers, does not only threaten indigenous businesses but also result in a massive evasion of the country's tax system as well as pose security problems, since most of these foreigners are said not to have valid traveling and working documents to enable monitoring of their activities.
Some of the traders believed that all these activities are being allowed to go on under the pretext of ECOWAS protocols, which contravene our sovereign laws on investment.
The situation has prompted many to raise doubts about the vigilance of government and other security agencies in regulating the activities of foreigners in this country, leading to a feeling of insecurity among traders in none than their own country.
Some traders the paper spoke to, expressed grave concern about the strict security checks and at times abuses that they are taken through anytime they were on business trips to countries like Nigeria and Togo, also ECOWAS member countries.
According to most of them, one was not even allowed to sell products from the Ghanaian market in those countries, let alone go into competition with their indigenous businesses and products, as we allowed them to do in this country, as if there are virtually no laws and statutes protecting indigenous businesses.
"Master, just think of the recent action of the Nigerian government to ban the importation of Ghanaian products into that country, what do you think it was about? Nothing, but to protect national sovereignty and indigenous businesses," said the President of the Ghana Electrical Dealers' Association (GEDA), Mr. J. K. Obeng.
He wondered why the Ghanaian government could, like our neighbours do, enforce the provisions of the investment code, in the interest of local traders, as these activities compound the problem of capital flight we are all complaining about.
Mr. Obeng further indicated that they were not against foreigners trading in Ghana, but that they must find their levels. He said the scale envisaged under our laws for them is as demonstrated by Melcom, Max Mart and a few others, and appealed to the authorities to ensure that others got into that scale of trading, but not to displace the indigenous retailer.
Some of the traders questioned whether the Ghanaian government gives credence to national sovereignty and constitutional provisions or kowtow to unfavorable international protocols, which have severe implications for the economy.
Indications are that members of the association have girded up their loins long ago, for what insiders consider to be probably the worst demonstration ever to hit the capital city over their dissatisfaction with foreigners' invasion into areas of the retail sector of businesses, stipulated under our laws to be the preserve of indigenous Ghanaians.
Though the leadership of the association has refused to either confirm or deny this information through the paper's fact-finding mission, reliable sources close to the leadership have hinted that though the leadership has so far restrained members, they may not be able to contain them for long.
Some shop owners of the association told the paper last week that should the authorities fail to take positive steps in forestalling the unrestrained invasion, nothing can hold them back from taking to the streets.
Sources, hinted that notwithstanding the several attempts by the association and other equally concerned bodies to draw the attention of government and other stakeholders of the dangers indigenous businesses are exposed to, little or virtually nothing has been done to forestall what is predicted to be a doom for the economy.
The influx of these foreigners, mostly from the sub-region and China, into the retail area, according to observers, does not only threaten indigenous businesses but also result in a massive evasion of the country's tax system as well as pose security problems, since most of these foreigners are said not to have valid traveling and working documents to enable monitoring of their activities.
Some of the traders believed that all these activities are being allowed to go on under the pretext of ECOWAS protocols, which contravene our sovereign laws on investment.
The situation has prompted many to raise doubts about the vigilance of government and other security agencies in regulating the activities of foreigners in this country, leading to a feeling of insecurity among traders in none than their own country.
Some traders the paper spoke to, expressed grave concern about the strict security checks and at times abuses that they are taken through anytime they were on business trips to countries like Nigeria and Togo, also ECOWAS member countries.
According to most of them, one was not even allowed to sell products from the Ghanaian market in those countries, let alone go into competition with their indigenous businesses and products, as we allowed them to do in this country, as if there are virtually no laws and statutes protecting indigenous businesses.
"Master, just think of the recent action of the Nigerian government to ban the importation of Ghanaian products into that country, what do you think it was about? Nothing, but to protect national sovereignty and indigenous businesses," said the President of the Ghana Electrical Dealers' Association (GEDA), Mr. J. K. Obeng.
He wondered why the Ghanaian government could, like our neighbours do, enforce the provisions of the investment code, in the interest of local traders, as these activities compound the problem of capital flight we are all complaining about.
Mr. Obeng further indicated that they were not against foreigners trading in Ghana, but that they must find their levels. He said the scale envisaged under our laws for them is as demonstrated by Melcom, Max Mart and a few others, and appealed to the authorities to ensure that others got into that scale of trading, but not to displace the indigenous retailer.
Some of the traders questioned whether the Ghanaian government gives credence to national sovereignty and constitutional provisions or kowtow to unfavorable international protocols, which have severe implications for the economy.
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