Oil Blocks Dish Out To Retail Companies -ACEP

By Mohammed Awal
awalm19@gmail.com

THE AFRICA Centre for Energy policy (ACEP), a policy and economic think tank, says there is so much murkiness and corruption in the oil and gas industry, as oil blocks are dished out to petroleum retail companies.
 

According to the think tank, these petroleum retail companies, most of them from Nigeria, have no experience in the management of deep water field, yet they are the companies “we are giving oil contracts.”

The Executive Director of ACEP, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, revealed to journalists that the process of awarding Ghana’s oil blocks is fishy, thus the need for transparency along the contract value chain.

He said the contract awarding process is so corrupt and shrouded in extreme opacity and secrecy, to the extent that if Ghana does not take care, it may end up as an oil-cursed nation.

“Ghana must avoid the curse of oil, and the only way we can avoid the curse of oil is to open the process of giving out oil blocks… so that we can attract the best companies to Ghana,” cautioned Dr. Amin Adam.

He was speaking at a stakeholders’ forum on the topic: ‘Open Contracting in the Oil and Gas Industry’, organised by ACEP in Accra last Thursday. He, therefore, called for the establishment of a progressive regime that will establish an open and competitive bidding process, as the yardstick for the award of future oil contracts.

“Open contracting means transparency along the contract value chain,” he stated, as it would send a signal that attracts quality investors, warning; “The lack of it breeds corruption and investments that do not pursue the public interest.”

The Petroleum (Exploration & Production) Bill 2014, which is before Parliament waiting passage into law, attempts to address the problem associated with the application of administrative processes in petroleum licensing.

Clause 10(3) of the Bill establishes an open and competitive tender regime for the acquisition of oil blocks. But, Dr. Amin Adam notes that they, at ACEP, have serious issues with the Bill in its current format, as it contains certain exceptionally mysterious clauses that defeat the idea of transparency and accountability.

Ghana, at the moment, does not apply the open and competitive public tender process in oil concessions –what it applies is the administrative process, where oil concessions are awarded based on discretionary power.

“We are not comfortable with the current state of the bill, especially, relating to the contracting process.  “This is the first time the bill is introducing that, unfortunately there are other provisions in the bill which undermines the proposal for open and competitive bidding.

For instance, the Minister has the power to veto the outcome of an open and competitive bidding process, and to use sole-sourcing to award a contract in the oil sector,” he announced.

Whilst c.10 (3) establishes an open bidding regime, he explained, c.10 (4) gives the Minister the leisure to ignore the outcome of an open and competitive tender process, and to use direct negotiations.

The dangers associated with this process are many, he stated, warning, that the Minister may use his power to shield companies that do not want to go through competitive process, and turn back to negotiate directly with them.

Also he observed that the process may be used to expose the terms offered by competing companies to give competitive advantage to those that prefer direct negotiation.  However, the Ministry of Energy has explained that those clauses are necessary, since they may not find any of the competing companies satisfactory, in terms of the technical and financial capacity.

Tags: ACEP, Oil Blocks

Sal-Valley Tops MTN/Joy Reading Clubs Competition

By Mohammed Awal
awalm19@gmail.com

TWO STUDENTS from Sal-Valley Basic School, Kanda, in Accra, have emerged winners in both the junior and senior categories of the MTN/Joy Reading Clubs competition grand finale, held in Accra. The two are Barbara Amoako and Naima Abdul Majeed.
As part of their prize package, they both received a cheque for GH¢500 each, a weekend lodge at Beige Village and an educational trip to the Bunso Arboretum forest reserve.

The competition was contested by nine children selected from Kanda, Ablekuma, Osu and Burma camp communities, all in the Greater Accra enclave. The Executive Director of MTN Ghana Foundation, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, said the project’s aim is to make reading both an educational and enjoyable social undertaking.

“Our ultimate hope is that participants will acquire the habit of reading for life,” she stated with optimism, as the project has so far impacted about 500 school children. She, therefore, admonished the school children to make reading a habit, as it opens their imaginative acumen, while enhancing their creativity.

The MTN/Joy Reading Club is an initiative established to provide interventions that encourage children between the ages of eight and 14 to read, and to enjoy the art of reading.

The competition
Nine contestants were drawn from four communities in the Greater Accra Region, namely, Ablekuma, Osu and Burma Camp, for this year’s MTN/Joy Reading Club competition grand finale held at the Y’Ello Tavern, Ridge Towers, in Accra, last Friday.

There were two categories to be contested – junior and senior. At the end of the junior section of the competition, Naima Abdul Majeed from Sal-Valley School, Kanda, was pronounced the winner, raking 101 points. Andy Osei of Oak Ridge school in Ablekuma-Agape came second with 89 points.

The senior department of the competition saw Barbara Amoako, also from Sal-Valley School, beat Nancy Dadzoe of Airforce School to the ultimate. She raked 98 points to Nancy’s 92.5. As a result, Sal-Valley emerged the overall winners of the season two edition of the MTN/Joy Reading Clubs competition.

Guidelines for the competition required that contestants read a passage, identify a photograph, and spell words chosen from the story books. They were also assessed for their diction, pronunciation, body language and punctuation.

Presidency Is 2nd Most Corrupt…Says IEA

by Mohammed Awal

THE INSTITUTE of Economic Affairs (IEA), a policy and economic think tank says The Ghana Police Service (GPS) and the Office of the President are the most corrupt institutions in Ghana.  The indictment is contained in a public perception survey it conducted last year and released at a news conference in Accra yesterday.

The Police Service is yet to officially react to the report. The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nathan Kofi Boakye, however, told TV3 during a recent interview that the police are always in the news when it comes to corruption because of their regularly contact with the public.

He noted that other institutions in the country may be worst offenders, but because they do not have direct interaction with the public, they are always left off the hook. He also noted that corruption does not involve the exchange of money alone and that if one abuses his or her office, that is also corruption.

He noted that if those who have been conducting the corruption perception survey should focus on this aspect of bribery, they would notice that the police would not always be leading the pack. The government on its part has issued a statement daring the IEA to provide proof that the presidency is the second most corrupt institution in Ghana. The full statement from the presidency is published on page 3 of this newspaper.

According to the IEA survey, out of a sample size of 1200 households, 23 percent of the people were of the view that “nearly all police officials are corrupt.”

The office of the president followed closely with 19 percent, tax officials –15% percent and Members of Parliament –15%  Others are government officials –13.9 percent, District Chief Executives –13.3 percent, judges/magistrate –13.1 percent, assemblymen/women, the Immigration Service and the Army –11.9, 10.4 and 7.0 percent respectively.

Dr. Ransford Gyampo, a Research Fellow of the Governance Unit of the IEA, presenting the results of the survey on governance said the most governance challenges confronting the country was the “high prevalence of bribery and corruption.”

Whilst countries such as Botswana, Cape Verde, Lesotho, Namibia and war ravaged Rwanda had taken proactive steps in minimizing corruption, that of Ghana continues to plummet,” stated Dr. Gyampo, adding “the survey results clearly point to its severity."

“The purpose of the survey is to solicit and provide information on Ghana’s perceptions on a whole range of subjects, including economic and living conditions, public safety and security, media freedom and abuse, discrimination and relations between ethnic groups, factors which influence elections, trust in institutions, important problems confronting the country, government performance, corruption, bribery and access to public services,” he said.

Ghana in 2013 and 2014 was ranked 63rd and 61st out 177 and 175 countries respectively by the Transparency International and the Corruption Perception Index.  The survey was conducted in all the ten regions of the country with respondents said to be 18 years and above.

Waning trust
The results of the survey also indicate that the public has little confidence in some state institutions especially the tax department.

“The image of the tax department left much to be desired,” Dr. Gyampo noted, as out of the eleven institutions studied, 34.4 percent of the people said they did not trust the Tax Department.

The Electoral Commission (EC) followed closely, recording 35.8 percent, the ruling party –NDC (35.6%), the Police (35.1%) the Metro/Municipal/District Assemblies, the Office of the President and Parliament recording 33.9, 33.8 and 33.1 percent respectively, he added, explaining that this was as a result of their failure to deliver on their respective mandates.

Government Performance
Broadly speaking, about 40% of Ghanaians per the survey thought the economy as a whole is the major problem confronting the country.  Apart from the governance, the survey also focused on the socio-economic conditions of the respondents.  On living conditions –majority of the respondents (63.3%) regard their current living conditions to be bad, with 25.2% indicating theirs are good.

Sack Afotey Agbo … Apollonia Clans Tell Mahama

On January 27, 2015

By Mohammed Awal

Email:  awalm19@gmail.com.

Add caption

THE ACCREDITED heads of Bediako We, Kojo We and Sanshie Sackey – all at Appolonia, near Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region, have called on President John Dramani Mahama to, as a matter of necessity dismiss Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo – the Regional Minister, from his current post as he has become a “security threat” to the people of Appolonia.
 

Dismissing Afotey-Agbo, they argued, would automatically bring an end to months of tyrannical and bullish behavior heaped on the people of Appollonia and also an end to illegal land grab and sales.  A statement signed by Nii Iddrisu Mansro, Numo Seth Affum and Numo Seth Gblie Nartey and issued to the Media at a press conference yesterday, said the Minister is a real thorn in the flesh of the people of Appollonia.

“We wish to bring the attention of the Presidency  that the Regional Minister is a serious  threat to the township and the earlier His Excellency, the President, removes him from office, the better,” the statement added.  Nii Iddrisu Mansro, Numo Seth Affum and Numo Seth Gblie Nartey further told the media that a gentleman by name Dampetey, with the alleged blessings of the Minister, had succeeded in grabbing and re-registering about 4,000 acres of Land in the area, to the extent of having a land title certificate.

Sigh of Relief

The Accredited heads of the three clans further contended that his (Afotey-Agbo) sacking by the President would mean that the persistent conduct of interfering in Chieftaincy and Land related issues by the latter would be brought to an end.  “Indeed, the people of Appollonia will heave a sigh of relief,” they noted.
 

Events at Appollonia disrespectful to Ga/Dangbe customs

The clan leaders further observed that attempts by some imposters, headed by the Regional Minister to install Nathaniel Tettey as Nii Nuertey Amobi II as Manste of Appollonia is disrespectful to the Ga/Dangbe customary practices.  

According to the Ga/Dangbe custom, practice and usage upon the demise of a chief, it was incumbent upon the family and elders to ensure that a fitting burial is given the deceased chief before anyone ascends the throne.

“However, in the case of Appollonia, it was the other way round, as even before the burial of the late chief, certain persons unlawfully parading themselves as King Makers installed one Nathaniel Tettey as Nii Nuertey Amobi II as Manste of the area, with the Regional Minister deeply involved as the main architect, noted the statement.

“In all these developments that have taken place in respect of the said nomination, election and installation of the self-styled Nii Nuertey Amobi II, the incumbent Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey-Abogbo has been directly involved with some other imposters, parading themselves as accredited King Makers.
 

”We would want the whole world to recognize that the Regional Minister has been deeply involved with these imposters not only in chieftaincy, but in sale of lands as well, whereby he directly supports them with soldiers  in uniform to intimidate  the entire township of Appollonia,” they observed.

All efforts made by The Chronicle to get Mr. Afotey Agbo’s side of the story proved unsuccessful. When this reporter first called him, his special assistant picked the call and said that the minister was speaking at a public function and that he should call back.  After waiting for an hour, The Chronicle called again and the special assistant told The Chronicle that the minister was touring the Greater Accra region and that he could not speak.

Court clears Kofi Amoabeng of fraud

Date published: November 10, 2014

By Mohammed Awal

awalm19@gmail.com

The Human Rights Division of the High Court has exonerated Mr. Prince Kofi Amoabeng, President of UT Holdings, of fraud charges brought against him by Nana Otua Swayne.

Nana Otua Swayne, who is the complainant, in her suit claimed that Mr. Kofi Amoabeng had fraudulently acquired her property at Number 23 Ringway Estate in Accra, after she released the title of the said property to him.

But, the court, presided over by Justice Kofi Essel Mensah, ruled that the complainant, at the time of filing the suit, had long ceased to be the owner of the said property, and, therefore, had no lawful claim to the property, to be defrauded of it.

Dismissing the case, the judge said from the totality of the evidence before him, he found that the complaints against the respondent (Kofi Amoabeng) by Nana Otua (complainant) could not be regarded as criminal in law to warrant prosecution on a charge of fraud.

He, therefore, ruled that those chargers were baseless and unjustifiable in law, describing it as a charge brought in bad faith.

In his response to the ruling at a press conference Wednesday in Accra, Mr. Kofi Amoabeng said he was deeply satisfied with the ruling, as it was a vindication of “my position of innocence.”

“After years of infringing on my human rights and reputation, justice has finally prevailed,” he stated excitedly, pledging to be guided in all his activities by the values of integrity and respect.

Background

In January 2013, Nana Otua Swayne filed a case against Mr. Prince Kofi Amoabeng, alleging the fraudulent acquisition of her property through the release of the title deed of the said property to one Mr. Alexander Adjei (now deceased) to secure a loan from the HFC Bank.

Nana Otua, in October 2005, decided to sell her house at Number 23 Ringway Estate in Accra, and entered into a sale agreement with the late Alexander Adjei, where the payment price was to be made in installments.

The terms of the agreement were that the property should pass to the purchaser on actual completion of payment. Consequently, UT Financial Services released the title deed to the purchaser upon payment of the full purchase price, as agreed.

However, in her statement of claim, the plaintiff, Nana Otua Swayne, said after negotiations, it was agreed that the selling price was US$280,000 US, payable in three installments – in October, November and December respectively.

However, the UT boss suggested that since she (Owusuaa) was relocating to the United Kingdom, and the purchase price was not going to be paid in full, he (UT boss) was ready to advance a loan of GH¢25,000 with a reduced interest rate of 6 percent, so that when the November installment payment comes, it will be deducted at source.

Nana Otua also indicated in her writ that in furtherance of the loan, Mr. Amoabeng collected the indenture as collateral, but failed to provide the loan as promised.

The lawyer for plaintiff advised her that since she was going be out of Ghana for more than 90 days, during which time full payment of the purchase price would have been made, she should execute a “Deed of Assignment” so that upon completion of payments the transfer of ownership would be smooth.

But, after the plaintiff signed the Deed of Assignment, she claimed, her lawyer handed over the said Deed to the UT boss.

On October 14, 2005, the UT boss sent the Indenture and Deed of Assignment to the Lands Commission and registered the property in the name of the late Alexander Adjei.

The statement further explained that on the same day, the UT boss mortgaged the said property to Mr. Asare Akuffo for a facility, and on the same day the plaintiff was given the first installment of US$100,000.

In November 2005, no payment was made, as well in as December 2005, thereby constituting a breach of contract of sale, and then in February, an amount of £40,000 was purportedly paid as part of the contract of sale.

“To the horror of the female chief, she learnt that even though the UT boss never advanced the loan to her, he purportedly absorbed as much as US$80,000 being the supposed third and final installment, claiming a fraudulent interest of GH¢60,000 on the un-awarded loan of GH¢25,000.

She also alleged that Mr. Amoabeng used her property to secure an unknown facility from HFC, which he had used extensively all these years.

Naa Otua Sawyne, in her writ, was seeking a relief of recovery of possession of her house, H/no. 23 Ringway Estate, Osu, from Mr. Amoabeng, recovery of her indenture from him, and award of general damages for the wrongful and unlawful use of her indenture for monetary gain.

Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=82347

‘Chinese chairs mockery of Mahama’

Date published: November 10, 2014

By Mohammed Awal
awalm19@gmail.com
 
The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has descended heavily on Parliament for importing Chinese furniture to refurbish its chamber.

At a news conference themed: “Corruption everywhere-John Mahama must resign” yesterday, AFAG said the move by Parliament to resort to the Chinese to refurbish the chamber was disgraceful and a mockery of the President’s call on Ghanaians to patronize home made products.

“The renovation of the chamber of Parliament at an inflated cost, which undermines the local industries is disgraceful …it’s a disgrace…it’s a disgrace by the institution who makes laws for this country –an institution which superintends over regulations and promoting the interest of the public,” said AFAG’s Chairman, Dr. Nana AyewAfriyie.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agorwu Furniture, Samuel Kwame Diabo, also echoes AFAG’s concerns. He told CITI Business News that the conduct of Parliament was disrespectful and a way to satisfy their pay masters.

“To be very honest, we are totally disappointed in those people who took that particular decision to import foreign furniture to our Parliament House,” he added.

Locals lack the capacity

However, the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Alfred Kwame Agbesi thinks otherwise. According to him, it was impossible for a local company to produce the over 300 furniture pieces per the limited time available.

“It is not the issue that because they say we should use Made in Ghana goods, then if you want to buy 300 furniture at the end of this week, you must go from shop to shop,” he stated, boasting that “We needed over 300 chairs and 300 tables before resuming sitting and now which furniture company in Ghana would have given us this quantity of furniture within this short time?”

Locals have the capacity

Debunking HonAgbesi’s explanation that local furniture producers have not gotten the needed capacity to produce 300 tables and chairs within the limited time of 3 months, Samuel Kwame Diabo said “Our labour force is about 150 and we would have been able to deliver their order and even beyond.

“To be very honest, Agorwu is very well equipped and we have a few other companies in the system that are very good and when we put our heads together, we should be able to put our Parliament in good shape, with our own local products,” he noted.

Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=82338

Wey Gey Hey ‘74 group launches foundation

Date published: November 6, 2014
By Mohammed Awalawalm19@gmail.com

Wesley Girls’ 1974 batch has launched the ‘WGHS 74 Group Foundation’ that seeks to mobilize resources for the advancement of the education of children, especially girls in Ghana.

Apart from using the foundation’s resources in advancing the education of the girl-child, the group said that some of the resources would also be channeled into the provision of facilities for the school and also improving teachers’ welfare.

This was announced to the media at the launch of the Foundation –WGHS ‘74 year Group Foundation, yesterday in Accra.

The President of the 1974 batch, Esther A.N. Cobbah, who also doubles as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of STRATCOMM-AFRICA said the establishment of the foundation to support the school’s activities was a way of saying thank you after 40 years.

She said the vision of Wesley Girls High School was to produce self-confident individuals who are capable of taking the challenges of a fast–changing world in their stride, “whilst making the most of every opportunity for self-fulfillment and service to mankind,” thus the ultimate goal of the ‘74 batch was to champion excellence in Ghana.

According to her, there were still many girls who needed training and education, hence the establishment of the foundation to contribute to the education of brilliant but needy girls from all parts of the country at Wesley Girls.

“Invest in the lives of these girls –they are being abused because of their excellence…let’s invest in our girls and for the development of Ghana,” appealed Ms. Cobbah.

The Foundation  is expected to raise GHS100,000 by January 2015, stated Ms. Cobbah, noting that the fund raising would be done through a variety of activities and one such activity would be an ‘Afternoon jump’ to be organized on Friday 5^th December, 2014, at the Barclays Club House, under the theme: “Dance Down Memory Lane.”

Professor Afua Hesse of the 1969 batch, in her keynote address said the women worldwide are entitled to and “must be given equal opportunities in education, politics, jobs, access to health services and decision-making, relating to various family, community, national and even international matters.

“Therefore, education of children is very critical to the development of the country,” said Prof. Hesse, observing that it goes a long way in reducing child mortality, early marriage, fighting poverty and improving health.

The headmistress of Wesley Girls, Mrs. Betty Dzokoto congratulated the 1974 batch for their benevolence, saying “such commitments are awesome”, as many more would benefit from that novelty.

How to contribute
There is a bank account in the name of the foundation where donations can be credited. Cheque payment in the name of WGHS ‘74 year Group is acceptable.

Accounts Details are as follows:
Account Name:    The WGHS 74 Year Group Foundation
Bank Name     :    UT Bank
Account Number: 000126202037018

Foreign Account
Account Name:     The WGHS 74 Year Group Foundation
Bank Name:          UT Bank
Currency:              US Dollar ($)                                                                                                              
Account Number: 1071262037035
 Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=82311

Christian Council fights against filth

Date published: October 27, 2014
By Mohammed Awal  awalm19@gmail.com
The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong has appealed to Ghanaians to support efforts by the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development to rid the country of filth, which has resulted in the worst Cholera outbreak ever recorded in thirty years.

As at 13th October, this year, according to Dr. Emmanuel Dzotsie, a public health specialist with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), in an interview with The Chronicle said: “Cumulatively a total of twenty-two thousands, eighty-seven cases (22,087) were recorded, including one hundred and twenty-four (124) deaths, giving it a case fatality rate of 0.8% -involving 107 districts across the ten regions.” 

Dr. Opuni-Frimpong told The Chronicle in a telephone interview yesterday that the initiative by the Minister of Local Government & Rural Development, Mr. Julius Debrah is “very much welcomed” and that the CCG identifies fully with it.

He said the country is grappled with sanitation issues which should be seen as a national canker that “affects all of us,” noting that “we us leaders of the Christian Council identify with what the minister is doing because it is good and godly.”

The General Secretary of the CCG urged Christian leaders to mobilize their members to observe the NSD which comes off this Saturday, he said physically the leader must also be in attendance.

 Prosecute sanitation bye-laws flouters

On October 16, 2014, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development launched the National Sanitation Day (NSD).

The day would be observed every first Saturday of every month across the country, and the first of this will be on Saturday November 1, 2014.

The NSD seeks to encourage the public to take greater responsibility at improving their environment and ensure that laws promoting good sanitation are respected.

The Vice-president of Ghana, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, who launched the NSD, themed: “Environmental Sanitation, a shared responsibility,” called on the metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to prosecute people who flout sanitation bye-laws.

A move in the right direction

Dr. Opuni-Frimpong said the Minister (Julius Debrah) deserves recognition for moving the country towards the right direction to address sanitation problems.

According to Dr. Opuni-Frimpong, the minister’s action should not go un-noticed, adding that “if we have a leader who says that let’s solve this problem –for us it’s a welcoming news.”

He urged Christians to identify themselves with the laudable idea of ridding the country of filth as initiated by the minister and support him to succeed. Education key to success Dr. Opuni-Frimpong noted that intensive public education would be very important in ensuring that Ghanaians do not flout the sanitation bye-laws.

In view of this, MLGRD signed a memorandum of Understanding with the information service Department (ISD) to embark on an “intensive educational campaign” throughout the country to sensitize the public on the need to ensure a clean environment.

Per the MOU, ISD is expected to deploy its tools, logistics and personnel within all MMDAs in the country, in an effort to complement other initiatives, through massive educational campaigns.

First reported in June 2014 in the Accra Metropolis, the Cholera outbreak in Ghana is rapidly becoming the deadliest disease ever witnessed in about 30 years.
Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=81933

Buah pleads with consumers to conserve energy

Date published: October 28, 2014
By Mohammed Awal
awalm19@gmail.com
As Ghana’s exploitable hydro power capacity is fast declining, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoEP) has appealed to Ghanaians to develop the habit of energy conservation.

Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah, the sector Minister made this appeal yesterday at the launch of an energy conservation guidelines for Senior High Schools in Ghana titled: “Your Guide to Energy Conservation: Save Energy, Save Money, Save the Environment.”

This is part of the MoEP’s National awareness campaign on energy efficiency and Conservation

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah

Speaking at the ceremony, he said the exploitable hydro capacity yet to be developed stands at 1,200 Megawatts –thus forcing government to resort to more expensive ways of power generation just to meet the “ever growing demand for electricity –which is growing at more than 10% per annum.”

He, however, assured that the government was working very hard to solve the power rationing conundrum that Ghanaians have been experiencing over the last two years.
Notwithstanding the efforts made by government at resolving the power crisis, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah believes more could also be done by the public to save the situation through the adherence of the energy efficiency and conservation guidelines which would go a long way to save about 200MW of power that is being wasted annually.

“Whilst energy shortages and the growing demand can be addressed by adding generation capacities to the system, energy efficiency and conservation presents the best means of making energy available to the people for all economic activities,” he noted

“Use the right appliances and more importantly we have to be very judicious in the use of electricity –turn it off when we don’t need it,” he urged.

The book
The book, titled –“Your Guide to Energy Conservation: Save Energy, Save Money, Save the Environment,” is a reader friendly book produced under the auspices of the MoEP, as part of its efforts to create awareness amongst the youth on issues of energy conservation.

The book, which had been prepared for usage among students of Senior High Schools (SHS) in Ghana was launched at the Labone SHS in Accra yesterday.

It presents tips on the need and methods of energy efficiency and conservation in the home. The book will be distributed to all SHSs throughout the coun

‘Dr. Pink Sheet’ Partners Nana

Date published: October 27, 2014
By Mohammed Awal
awalm19@gmail.com
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has once more put his trust in Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia to aid him in his search for the formula to reach the Jubilee House.

Yesterday, the man who has been given a fresh mandate to lead the Elephant Family into the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections met the key players in the party and named Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, as his running mate into the elections.

In 2008 and 2012, and again in 2012, Nana Akufo Addo put his trust in Dr. Bawumia, who was the star witness in the NPP electoral petition before the Supreme Court that took eight months to prosecute.

After convincing party authorities of his running mate’s credentials, Nana Akufo-Addo assured Ghanaians that the NPP was ready to wrest power from the incompetent National Democratic Congress (NDC) with “Mahamudu by my side.”

Eulogizing Dr. Bawumia’s astuteness as an economist and a politician, Nana Addo said his running mate’s credentials as a top notch economist, were omnipresent.

These perceptions, he told the leadership of the party, have been reinforced by his “analytical work and performance in this sector in the past five years which has earned him the sobriquet of Dr. Prophet.

“It has been a joy to see him blossom as a consummate politician and win the affection of Ghanaians… and we all know how the nation took to his performance in the witness box in the Supreme Court during the historic election petition… Dr. Pinksheet is yet another of his name,” said the excited NPP 2016 flagbearer.

Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, who was given a resounding endorsement – 94.3% of the valid votes cast by the NPP Electoral College – made no secret of his desire to re-nominate Bawumia as his running mate. “There is real chemistry between the two of us,” he said.

According to the new leader of the NPP, the economy was always going to be the main battle ground for the 2016 elections. The dire situation that the nation has been plunged into by the incompetent NDC regime makes the presence of Dr. Bawumia on the NPP presidential ticket even more appropriate.

“I am confident that he will make an outstanding Vice President of the Republic and very good manager of the economy, who will help me reverse the decline of the economy, if Almighty God and the Ghanaian people favour us with the opportunity of service, come January 2017,” Nana Addo declared, cheered on by the large partisan crowd.

In his acceptance remark, Dr. Bawumia said the suffering that Ghanaians were going through under the NDC was needless.

The NPP, he stated emphatically, refuse to accept this hopeless situation assuring the long suffering masses that he would help in every capacity he could to ensure that the NDC was booted out of power come 2016 and restore hope.
Thanking Nana Addo and the party hierarchy for the confidence they have reposed in him,

Dr. Bawumia said: “No candidate in our political landscape has demonstrated this consistency and faith in his running mate and I am truly grateful once again for the opportunity to partner him to restore hope to the Ghanaian people and to deliver a competent and honest leadership which can alleviate the undeserved suffering of the Ghanaian people.”

He  called on Ghanaians to support the NPP to win the 2016 elections so they could collectively build a nation  that “we can all be proud of and a nation where every person,  desirous of working will find the skills and employment with a decent wage; a Ghana where we do not only build a future for our youth, but also build our youth for the future; a Ghana where the basics like water, electricity and sanitation are available; a Ghana where our hard-working entrepreneurs can easily access capital; a Ghana where our young people will be well-educated and empowered to better compete in the global economy.”

Nana Addo, his running and the entire leadership of the NPP are expected to attend this afternoon’s prayer at the Abbosey Okai Central Mosque in Accra, to pray with the Chief Imam for God’s blessings.

On Tuesday November 4, 2014, the Party will hold an inter-denominational service at the National Theatre, “to seek God’s blessings on the Party and on our ticket, and to thank Him for the peace and success of the primary,” Nana Akufo-Addo announced.

MOHAMMED AWAL: Preference For Exotic Products Killing Local Indus...

MOHAMMED AWAL: Preference For Exotic Products Killing Local Indus...: Preference For Exotic Products Killing Local Industries Date published: September 24, 2014 By Mohammed Awal awalm19@gmail.com The C...

Preference For Exotic Products Killing Local Industries

Date published: September 24, 2014

By Mohammed Awal

awalm19@gmail.com

The Continuous preference of exotic products by Ghanaians to locally manufactured ones is seriously crippling the local manufacturing industries, the Administrative Manager of KPOGAS Standard Furniture, Christian Agyare, has said.

Corroborating these claims, Victor Cordell, a retired Professor of Fisher Graduate School, noted in his work titled: “The effects of consumer preferences for foreign sourced products,” said that in economically underdeveloped countries, preferences for domestic products always tends to be weaker, and Ghana is no exception.

As a result, there have been incessant pleas on Ghanaians to patronize goods and services made locally, so as to help local industries stay in operation, thus contributing to national economic development.

These calls have come as a result of the low interest Ghanaians have shown in patronizing local goods and services and the related challenge it poses to the country’s industrial development and ultimately economic development.

One such industry that has suffered most from this unquenchable taste for foreign goods and services is the furniture industry.

To understand the extent to which the Ghanaian furniture industry has been suffocated as a result of these unabated preference of exotic furniture to local ones, The Chronicle explores the views of some industry players.

The Administrative Manager of KPOGAS Standard Furniture, Christian Agyare, in an interview with The Chronicle yesterday, blamed the industry’s current slump on the attitude of the Ghanaian towards domestic products.

Asked whether he knows why Ghanaians prefer foreign furniture to what is being manufactured locally, he said: “Well there could be different reasons.” He, however, argues that most of them had to do with the finishing.

The finishing, he noted, gives the product its aesthetic qualities and Ghanaians tend to appreciate those aspects of a product, as against the locally manufactured ones, even though those may not be durable.

Apart from that, he observed that several years of colonialism is also a factor. “Colonialism has made it such a way that Ghanaians feel that once the thing is from outside it is better. That is really a mystery that I do not know,” bemoaned Mr. Agyare.

“Even if the thing is coming from Togo, the Ghanaian perception is that it is better, which unfortunately is not true,” he pointed out.

Reality

He said the general notion among some Ghanaians that the locally produced goods are inferior to the imported ones in terms of performance and quality, to the extent that local manufacturers have had to sometimes resort to claiming foreign origins for their products, so as to attract the public to purchase them, “is not just a notion but reality.”

Government’s directive

 On the government’s call that Ghanaians should cultivate the culture of patronizing products manufactured domestically, Mr. Agyare said the directive is a laudable one, only if it would be adhered to diligently.

“That is a very good directive and I believe that it will boost the local industries…we will be proud using our own locally manufactured products, thus deepening our identity us Ghanaians”, he said.

According to him, diligent adherence to the directive would bring about an improvement in the country’s economic development, helping stabilize the cedi against the dollar.

“This is good, instead of always importing – importing, importing. So it’s a good directive provided it would be adhered to.”

The president, during the last sectional address gave a directive that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should patronize locally manufactured furniture.

 

Also, the Minister of Local Government, Julius Debrah said that strenuous adherence to the President’s directive would help stabilize the local currency which had witnessed momentous dip in value against the dollar and other major trading currencies.

“When you import any piece of furniture from outside, the first thing we suffer is that we need to exchange our currency for foreign ones [dollar] to be able to access it,” Mr. Debrah told myjoyonline.com

 “We are trying to appeal to the conscience of our people that if we can patronize our own [furniture], we would then be in the process of creating jobs for our citizenry and also saving hard earned foreign exchange,” he added.

Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=80779

MOHAMMED AWAL: CHRAJ Boss Must Resign Now -PNF

MOHAMMED AWAL: CHRAJ Boss Must Resign Now -PNF: CHRAJ Boss Must Resign Now -PNF Date published: September 18, 2014 By Mohammed Awal awalm19@gmail.com Ms. Lauretta Vivian Lamptey, ...

CHRAJ Boss Must Resign Now -PNF

Date published: September 18, 2014

By Mohammed Awal

awalm19@gmail.com

Ms. Lauretta Vivian Lamptey, Boss, CHRAJ

The woes of Ms. Lauretta Vivian Lamptey, Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), who reportedly spent over GH¢203,000 on rent for a period of three years, are far from over.

The Progressive Nationalist Forum (PNF) is threatening to haul her before her own outfit if she fails to resign from her current job as Commissioner.

The PNF, in a statement signed by Richard Nyamah and Fred Amankawh-Sarfo, questioned the competence, as well as the commitment of Ms. Lauretta to fight corruption, as she is being cited for one.

Over the past three years, the PNF stated, Ms. Lauretta has been a “drain on the public purse,” as she watched aloof for issues of “high levels of corruption, hitherto unknown to Ghana,” to elude her sight.

According to the PNF, not a single high profile case of public interest has been heard by Lauretta’s administration, compared to Emile Short’s reign, saying this is “mind boggling.”

The PNF further noted that the purported scandal that has rocked her administration is the latest institutional head to be enmeshed in such allegations of reckless misapplication of the tax payers’ money.

The Commissioner, according to media reports, currently stays at Best Western Premier Hotel, where the tax payer is being billed $450 daily on accommodation.

“The PNF is humbly requesting Ms. Lamptey to resign her post as Commissioner of CHRAJ, or the President should dismiss her with immediate effect.

“Failure on her part to resign, and should the President fail to fire her, the PNF will bring a case of conflict of interest against Ms. Lamptey before the Commission in the next seven days, and see if she will seek to be a judge in her own court,” the PNF threatened.

Sinking CHRAJ

Meanwhile, her predecessor, Justice Emile Short, has lamented over how fast the Commission’s reputation is sinking under the auspices of his successor, Ms. Lamptey, who is being embroiled in profligacy.

Speaking on Citi Eye Witness News on Tuesday, Justice Short said he had received negative reports from within and without CHRAJ about the soaring state of affairs in the Commission. However, he was reluctant to say a word, as he feared to be misconstrued.

“I have had negative reports from within and outside CHRAJ about the state of affairs in CHRAJ. I have been very reluctant to speak publicly about these reports, because any comment I make might be misconstrued, especially, since I was there before,” he stated.

Such disconcerting reports depict CHRAJ as “rather sinking in nature,” hence, the call for a drastic measures to be adopted by the Commission to redeem its image that has come under public ridicule.

Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=80713

LG Unveils G3 Smartphone

Date published: September 17, 2014

By Mohammed Awal

awalm19@gmail.com

LG electronics, a global leader in mobile communications has unveiled its new smartphone device G3, in Accra. Developed under the ‘Simple is the New smart’ concept, G3 is a culmination of culmination consumer research based on LG’s product development philosophy, Learning from You.

The Branch Manager of LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Cheolhong Park said at the launch that the G3 “is the best innovation in a fast evolving smartphone market.”

The G3, Mr. Park noted, creates harmony between advanced technology and a simplified user experience. The G3 comes with a breathtaking 5.5 inch Quad HD display with four times the resolution  of HD and almost two times higher resolution that a Full HD display for sharper, crisper, clearer and more realistic colour reproduction stated Mr. Park.

It also boasts of 13MP Optical Image Stabilizer Plus (OIS+) camera with faster Laser Auto Focus in a smartphone to capture quality images and videos with minimal blur, even in near complete darkness.

In addition, the G3 possess simple and intuitive UX features including smart keyboard which reduces input errors  by up to 75 percent by tracking and analyzing user’s typing habits; smart notice, a personal assistant application that provides real time information and notifications even before being asked said YC Choi, Product Manager, Ivory Coast branch.

On his part, the Deputy Minister of Communication, Atto Sarpong congratulated LG for their dynamism in providing mobile phone users in Ghana with a sumptuous technology.

Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=80633

Attack On Journalists Is Attack On Democracy

Attack On Journalists Is Attack On Democracy … Media Unions Warn

Date published: September 16, 2014
By Mohammed Awal
Email: awalm19@gmail.com

Dr. Affail Monney

“If we allow the torch bearers of public openness to be cowed by physical attacks, there would be nobody to speak in defense of society when the entire community comes under attack,” the National Media Commission (NMC), Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Private News Publishers Association  (PRINPAG) and Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) said in a joint statement, issued yesterday.

According to the three groups, the attacks on journalists must be seen as an attack on the poor and vulnerable in the society, whose cause the media champion. They promised to ensure that those who perpetrate such barbaric activities are punished by law.

Reading the statement on behalf of the other three organizations at a press conference in Accra yesterday, the president of the GJA, Dr. Affail Monney, said these attacks were coming from a wide range of sources, indicating that the “propensity for using violence in processing claims on society is widening.”

He observed that the consistency, rapidity and sheer audacity of some of those attacks suggest that respect for law and order and due process could suffer a massive decline if nothing was done to check the system.

Continuing, Dr. Monney bemoaned how those attacks on free expression metamorphosed suddenly from traditional source – government to a generalized arena of “ordinary folks and petty officialdom. It is a spreading canker that must be halted,” he noted.

When the 1992 Constitution guaranteed freedom and independence for the media, it did so to safeguard public safety, respect for human rights and the rule of law, the group said with the hope that it would create atmosphere for journalists who would hav

e the courage to speak the truth and reflect the nation back to its realities.

“As a result, any attacks on the media constitute an attack on our democracy itself,” they noted, assuring that they will stand united to use all appropriate measures within the law to fight impunity”.

The four institutions encouraged the police and other security agencies to exercise the greatest restraint in dealing with journalists and also entreating the latter to be extremely circumspect in the way they go about their work, “knowing that we all serve one nation” and that it was our collective effort which would develop Ghana.

Background

 In recent times, there had been many physical attacks on journalists in the course of doing their work. Some of these attacks had come from people who felt aggrieved by the content reported by the former.

Some were simply by people who did not want their concealed actions and inactions to be brought into the daylight of “public scrutiny,” and from people who are irritated by freedom of expression and democracy, the group’s statement said.

The NMC’s investigations catalogued series of attacks on journalists since January when police arrested three persons in the studios of Sungmale FM at Wa.

Also in February, irate youth vandalized the premises of Gift FM in Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo region.

March also saw the arrest of TV Africa crew at Adjei Kojo by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly. In that same month, a Ghanaian Times photographer was assaulted by a soldier in Tamale for attempting to take pictures of a confrontation between soldiers and some group of young men.

Other incidents the NMC recorded were the assaults on Nana Konadu Agyemang of the Daily Graphic for attempting to take a picture of Eric Amoateng, a former MP for Nkoranza, Daniel Kenu by Gyan brothers, and arrest of staff of Multi TV by AMA etc.

Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=80598

Gov’t Deepens Fight Against Money Laundering

Date published: September 11, 2014

By Mohammed Awal

(awalm19@gmail.com)

Some participants at the workshop

Government’s fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism has received a major boost, following the commencement of a National Risk Assessment (NRA) workshop to set up a robust and resilient Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime in Ghana.

The workshop, which commenced on the 9^th September and ends today aims to identify, assess and understand money laundering and terrorism financing risk in the country, as part of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations of 2012.

Also, it’s in fulfillment of Economic Committee of West African States (ECOWAS) ministerial committee of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa’s (GIABA) directive that all member states should conduct risk assessment of themselves before 2016.

In a speech read for the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mrs. Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong she described the NRA workshop as very timely, “not only because of the spate of the high incidence of insecurity in West Africa” when it comes to transnational organized crime, including money laundering and terrorism financing, but the outcome would enable the country to deploy its “scarce resources judiciously to address critical segments” that are vulnerable to these risks.

“The final product (blue-print) of the NRA exercise, which foundation is being laid today, will place Ghana in a better stead for the next round of mutual evaluation that would be conducted in 2016, on the basis of assessing the effectiveness or measurable achievements made as a result of the AML/CFT measures of the country,” she indicated.

Mrs. Appiah-Oppong urged the working group to ensure that the NRA was built on sound foundations observing that efforts must be made to ensure that the risks are well identified, assessed and understood before anything is done.

She said “as such the NRA should be based on an assessment of the threats, vulnerabilities, consequences and the likelihood of crime to be committed.

She also tasked the group to make sure the description of fundamental background information to assist designated competent authorities like the Financial Intelligence Center (FIC), Financial Institutions and Designated Non-Financial Bodies and Professions (DNFBPs) to ensure that decisions about allocating responsibilities and resources at the national level were based on a “practical, comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the risks in the various sectors of the economy.”

The Director of Research and Planning, GIABA, delivering the remarks of Adama Coulibaly’s, the Director General of GIABA, revealed that NRA exercise would help the country to “clearly indentify and set priorities for intervention in order to systematically build its AML/CFT regime.”

A well executed NRA with comprehensive action plan he reiterated would bring improvement in the country’s compliance ratings, a successful RBA program for financial institutions and DNFBPs, an effective AML/CFT, “robust enough to detect almost all financial crimes.”

But he warned that all these expected results would not be achieved without collaboration, cooperation and effective coordination.

In order for all these to be optimum, “we need an effective coordination mechanism, wherein those stakeholders responsible for coordinating, understand what it takes and also making sure it is implemented effectively.”

Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=80405

Mahama Launches Mara Mentor Network …To Support Young Entrepreneurs

Date published: September 8, 2014

By Mohammed Awal

awalm19@gmail.com

President John Dramani Mahama has launched the Mara Mentor network, an online mentoring network aimed at providing mentorship for young entrepreneurs in Ghana, indicating that the youth terribly need mentorship.

President Mahama in warm embrace with Ashish J Thakkar

He said at the Launching of the network at the Flagstaff House last week Friday, that the youth were “in dire need of mentorship and inspiration” to propel them to fully harness the opportunities that abound in the country, thus the introduction of the network in Ghana.

“An idea is only as good as its execution, which is why it is important for our youth to tap into the experience and expertise that Mara Mentor’s seasoned business leaders have to offer and use that to their advantage. Only then will they start seeing ideas become reality,” he accentuated.

Urging the youth to sign onto the network, he expressed optimism that it would help boost the confidence of the teeming unemployed youth to venture into entrepreneurship.

He said: “Facilitaing the growth of entrepreneurship in Ghana has long been a core focus for this government,” and they were pleased to build on the launch of the recent Youth Entrepreneurship Support Fund, with the introduction of this fantastic mentoring platform.

Mara Mentor is an online community that connects ambitious entrepreneurs with successful and experienced business leaders, and it is an initiative of Mara Foundation, a social enterprise established in 2009.

Its focus is on fostering entrepreneurialism in Africa through a myriad of programmes designed to address the complete life-cycle of an entrepreneur’s business idea.

Ashish J. Thakkar, the founder of Mara Group and Foundation said the network was carved in such a way that it would “encourage idea and knowledge sharing among Africa’s most promising young entrepreneurs, inspiring a collaborative approach to business start-up and growth.”

Continuing, he observed that technology was the key to unlocking the potential of entrepreneurs in Africa, thus the creation of the network to “empower Africa’s youth in their business endeavours, ”in recognition that they are the driving force behind the continent’s growth and future prosperity.”
 Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=80242

Garden And Flower Show Underway In Accra

Date published: September 1, 2014

By Mohammed Awal (awalm19@gmail.com)

The second Ghana Garden and Flower Show (GGFS) that aims at creating awareness about the commercial and psychological benefits of urban beautification and gardening is underway at the Efua Sutherland Park in Accra.

The event, which started on August 29, 2014, will end on September 8, 2014. It is on the theme: “Gardening for Value: Health, Beauty, Jobs and Income.”

At the official opening of the show, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Strategic Communications Africa Ltd (Stratcomm Africa), Miss Esther Cobbah, said the initiative was designed to help create employment and income earning opportunities for the massive unemployed youth, as well as promoting tourism, healthier and modern lifestyles and also support Ghana’s growth and development.

The second successive organization of the GGFS was a testimony that “the gardening movement is here to stay with a culture of sustainable gardening gaining ground in Ghana,” she stated.

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed noted that agricultural and horticultural products are among the export diversification opportunities the government considers as “important for the economic future of Ghana in deliberations at the Senchi Forum”.

It is unfortunate that instead of effectively developing our own agriculture and horticulture to meet our needs, we rather depend on importation of flowers from other countries, Mr. Murtala lamented.

Calling for a reverse of the current situation, he indicated that “this dependence on imports is what has been putting pressure on our limited foreign exchange.”

He urged garden and flower enthusiast to be part of the solution to Ghana’s economic challenges saying: “I throw a challenge to the garden and flower enthusiasts who are involved in this garden and flower show to ensure that they are part of the solution to our countries’ economic challenges by making the horticulture industry a key contributor to foreign exchange for Ghana. Importing of flowers must be a thing of the past,” he reiterated.

The show brings together florists, horticulturists, garden lovers, investors and policy makers among others to admire the beauty associated with flowering.

More Whales To Die -EPA

Date published: August 25, 2014

By Mohammed Awal (awal19@gmail.com)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has raised concerns over the increasing cetaceans (whales and dolphins) mortality in Ghana’s waters, fearing the worst was yet to come if nothing was done to curb the trend.

It said “there had been a remarkable increase in the incidence of the beaching of whales and dolphins on the coasts of Ghana between 2009 and 2013, documenting 24 deaths with 20, 3 and 1 in the Western, Greater and Central regions respectively.”

In order to have a full understanding of these deaths, “the EPA instituted a committee headed by Professor P.K. Ofori-Danso to investigate the possible causes of the increase in mortality and stranding of whales in Ghana’s coastal waters and to make recommendations for curbing future occurrence,” the EPA told journalists at a press conference last week.

Causes of death
Presenting the committee’s findings, Prof. Ofori-Danso said the causes of these deaths were “multi-factoral.”  He said during their investigations they had ‘hard’ evidences that suggested that these cetacean mortalities were as a result of  ship strikes, entanglement with fishing nets and targeted killings where meat from these cetaceans were used as baits in trapping sharks.

The highest number of mortalities of these sea mammals was reported in 2013 recording 12, from which 11 occurred in the Western region and one in Greater Accra he said at a press conference last week. Prof. Ofori-Danso, however, noted that due to the “highly decomposed” state of some of the carcasses the team came into contact with, it could be possible that some of the deaths did not occur in Ghana’s territorial waters.

He said: “Most of the cetaceans that beached in Ghana were in highly decomposed state and it is possible that some of the carcasses could have drifted from neighbouring countries into Ghanaian waters. “This is because the phenomenon of beaching of dead cetaceans has been reported in other countries in the Gulf of Guinea,” he added.

Recommendations
According to him, the committee’s investigations found out that there was massive institutional weakness in enforcing legislations that sought to protect these sea mammals. He, therefore, called for the need to strengthen the capacity of these institutions as well as streamline the legislative roles and loopholes.

Continuing further, Prof. Ofori-Danso recommended that appropriate measures should be instituted to recover ghost nets from the sea, effective management of urban waste in coastal communities, a satellite sighting and reporting system of cetaceans for ships installed, efficient management of maritime vessel traffic to reduce ship strikes and improved collaborations among relevant institutions.

The  government should embark on comprehensive legislative reforms by amending the Wild Animal Preservation Act, 1961 (Act 43) to include (whales and dolphins) in the list of animals to be protected as well as amending regulations under the maritime transport regime to ensure protection of cetaceans from ship strikes, he urged.

Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=79754