29/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
A 20-year-old man, who was found with a knife and a naked boy about four years old at the beach late in the night, is in police custody.
The suspect, Daniel Andoh, alias Paa Dan, whose behaviour attracted two men who were also at the beach, could not explain what he was doing there at the time of the night and whether the boy was his son.
According to the Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Dompreh??????, on Monday April 21, 2008, two men from Chorkor Lante Maami went to the beach at about 11pm and while sitting on the sand, they spotted a young man who reportedly looked jittery and was looking round as if to make sure nobody else was there.
He said the two men suspected Paa Dan was up to something, so they drew closer to him and as they approached the scene they saw the naked boy sitting on a stone shivering.
The PRO said when the suspect saw the two men, he attempted to run away but he was caught and when he was asked what he was doing there at that time with the boy, he claimed the boy was his son and that his wife had gone to the market to sell used clothing, so he was waiting for her.
His explanation did not go down well with the two who apprehended him and handed him over to the Chorkor police.
During interrogation ,he told the police that he lived at Mallam, near Accra, but he found the boy loitering near the Kaneshie market, so he picked him up.
He could , however, not explain to the police why he took the boy to the beach and what he was doing with the knife.
Inspector Dompreh said the police caused an announcement to be made on some of the radio stations in the city and one Kwabena Darku, a shoemaker at the Total Filling Station at Kaneshie, came and identified the boy as Kofi Asomani, his son, who had been reported missing.
He explained that Kofi went missing three days earlier while playing with his friends around the filling station and when all efforts to trace him proved futile, he made a report to the Kaneshie Police and later he heard his son had been found at Chorkor.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
MANTRAC GHANA TO PROMOTE CATERPILLAR'S ROAD CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT (BUSINESS PAGE)
24/04/08
MANTRAC Ghana, dealers of heavy duty equipment is to promote Caterpillar’s (CAT’s) comprehensive range of road contruction equipment by launching an integrated road construction campaign in Accra.
The aim of the campaign is to highlight the complete package of machines for road construction and the advantages of CAT machines and Mantrac support.
According to the National Sales Manager, Mr Ahmed Saad, the geography of Ghana, its size, diversity and dispersion gave roads a special position in the integration of the national economy.
He said that roads particularly served rural areas where the majority of the people lived than any other dwelling place.
The National Sales Manager said the road network infrastructure had an effective role of contributing to the social and economic development of Ghana.
He indicated that the network performance had continued to grow due to government efforts of building new reliable road networks to maintain the existing ones.
“In collaboration with government’s efforts Caterpillar and Mantrac its sole authorised dealer in Ghana understands how success depends on the reliability of the machines used in the road construction industry”, he said.
Mr Saad said caterpillar motor graders and asphalt compactors have long been working with the road construction industry in Ghana and have played and continue to play a key role in infrastructure development.
He said Mantrac and Caterpillar had acquired decades of experience in the road construction industry offering a complete range of road construction machines supported by an outstanding network and exceptional financial incentives.
He mentioned that Caterpillar was the only manufacturer to offer the complete package of road building solutions; from earthmoving and soil stabilisation, to paving and finishing, through road rehabilitation equipment needs, and ensuring that road contractors will not look further for their needs of road construction equipment.
Mr Saad said each machine supplied is a class leader, enhanced with best-in-the-industry feature and its full line of equipment include Rotary Mixers, Track Type, Tractors & Loaders, Motor Graders, Soil Compactors, Cold Planers, Asphalt Pavers, Asphalt Compactors, ensuring that its customers achieve consistently high levels of productivity and reliability, and an outstanding return on their investment.
He said the antecedent to the success story of Tractor and Equipment when it took its new name Mantrac.
He said the new name carried with it a renewed pledge of excellence, professionalism and a corporate mindset of a responsible partnership in service delivery in Ghana.
The National Sales Manager said the Mantrac Group was recently awarded the exclusive right to distribute and service O&K’s range of heavy mining hydraulic excavators. The deal is part of a global agreement that will allow caterpillar dealerships in over 40 countries to sell and service the equipment.
“The New Development will bring the world’s most successful manufacturing of heavy mining diesel and electric hydraulic excavators together with the world’s biggest manufacturer of construction and mining products, both of which can now be sold and service by the Mantrac Group”, he stated.
MANTRAC Ghana, dealers of heavy duty equipment is to promote Caterpillar’s (CAT’s) comprehensive range of road contruction equipment by launching an integrated road construction campaign in Accra.
The aim of the campaign is to highlight the complete package of machines for road construction and the advantages of CAT machines and Mantrac support.
According to the National Sales Manager, Mr Ahmed Saad, the geography of Ghana, its size, diversity and dispersion gave roads a special position in the integration of the national economy.
He said that roads particularly served rural areas where the majority of the people lived than any other dwelling place.
The National Sales Manager said the road network infrastructure had an effective role of contributing to the social and economic development of Ghana.
He indicated that the network performance had continued to grow due to government efforts of building new reliable road networks to maintain the existing ones.
“In collaboration with government’s efforts Caterpillar and Mantrac its sole authorised dealer in Ghana understands how success depends on the reliability of the machines used in the road construction industry”, he said.
Mr Saad said caterpillar motor graders and asphalt compactors have long been working with the road construction industry in Ghana and have played and continue to play a key role in infrastructure development.
He said Mantrac and Caterpillar had acquired decades of experience in the road construction industry offering a complete range of road construction machines supported by an outstanding network and exceptional financial incentives.
He mentioned that Caterpillar was the only manufacturer to offer the complete package of road building solutions; from earthmoving and soil stabilisation, to paving and finishing, through road rehabilitation equipment needs, and ensuring that road contractors will not look further for their needs of road construction equipment.
Mr Saad said each machine supplied is a class leader, enhanced with best-in-the-industry feature and its full line of equipment include Rotary Mixers, Track Type, Tractors & Loaders, Motor Graders, Soil Compactors, Cold Planers, Asphalt Pavers, Asphalt Compactors, ensuring that its customers achieve consistently high levels of productivity and reliability, and an outstanding return on their investment.
He said the antecedent to the success story of Tractor and Equipment when it took its new name Mantrac.
He said the new name carried with it a renewed pledge of excellence, professionalism and a corporate mindset of a responsible partnership in service delivery in Ghana.
The National Sales Manager said the Mantrac Group was recently awarded the exclusive right to distribute and service O&K’s range of heavy mining hydraulic excavators. The deal is part of a global agreement that will allow caterpillar dealerships in over 40 countries to sell and service the equipment.
“The New Development will bring the world’s most successful manufacturing of heavy mining diesel and electric hydraulic excavators together with the world’s biggest manufacturer of construction and mining products, both of which can now be sold and service by the Mantrac Group”, he stated.
NDC LA DADEKOTOPON RE-ELECTS NII AMASAH NAMOALE (Political Page)
21/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
THE La Dadekotopon Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has re-elected Nii Amasah Namoale, the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, as its parliamentary candidate for the December general elections.
Nii Namoale was elected through popular acclamation at a constituency delegates conference held at La in the Greater Accra Region.
Party Supporters jubilated amidst drumming and dancing after Mr Frederick Osekre, Chief Assistant Electoral Supervisor of the Electoral Commission, introduced him. He was the sole candidate who filed his papers for the primary.
In an acceptance speech, Nii Namoale thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him by endorsing him again as the parliamentary candidate.
He lauded the constituency for being loyal and dedicated to him during the past three -and a half-years.
Recounting some of his achievements, Nii Namoale told the delegates that a lot of progress had been made to uplift the area through his ingenuity, and pledged to continue with the good work when re-elected.
He indicated that victory in the upcoming elections would open a new phase of golden agenda where all major lands of the area which had been taken away by the government would be duly paid for.
Nii Namoale urged NDC faithful to rededicate and recommit themselves to winning more supporters for the party.
Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Affotey-Agbo, MP for Kpone Katamanso, called for team work and unity among members of the party to help in an effective campaign that would culminate in victory in December.
Story: Mary Mensah
THE La Dadekotopon Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has re-elected Nii Amasah Namoale, the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, as its parliamentary candidate for the December general elections.
Nii Namoale was elected through popular acclamation at a constituency delegates conference held at La in the Greater Accra Region.
Party Supporters jubilated amidst drumming and dancing after Mr Frederick Osekre, Chief Assistant Electoral Supervisor of the Electoral Commission, introduced him. He was the sole candidate who filed his papers for the primary.
In an acceptance speech, Nii Namoale thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him by endorsing him again as the parliamentary candidate.
He lauded the constituency for being loyal and dedicated to him during the past three -and a half-years.
Recounting some of his achievements, Nii Namoale told the delegates that a lot of progress had been made to uplift the area through his ingenuity, and pledged to continue with the good work when re-elected.
He indicated that victory in the upcoming elections would open a new phase of golden agenda where all major lands of the area which had been taken away by the government would be duly paid for.
Nii Namoale urged NDC faithful to rededicate and recommit themselves to winning more supporters for the party.
Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Affotey-Agbo, MP for Kpone Katamanso, called for team work and unity among members of the party to help in an effective campaign that would culminate in victory in December.
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION PRESENTS COMPUTERS TO POLICE (Page 28)
21/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
The Deputy British High Commissioner, Ms Menna Rawlings, has presented 10 specialised Dell computers to the Ghana Police Service after closing a five-day training programme on “intelligence analysis of information on small arms and light weapons” in Accra.
The computers will be installed at five separate centres in the country to assist in the quick sharing of information to and from the CID headquarters and the police research department to the regions.
Ms Rawlings said the training formed part of a number of capacity building programmes for the Police Service by the British High Commission.
She said the training programme was directed at tackling the movement of small arms and light weapons into and around Ghana through a sound intelligence approach. She said the commission viewed its collaboration with the police as a really important aspect of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, adding that “we want to work with the IGP in his efforts to build a more effective and efficient police service that will benefit all Ghanaians”.
She urged the participants to use whatever knowledge they had acquired for the benefit of the whole country.
The Deputy Commissioner also thanked the resource persons from Cranfield University and Xpert Software, both from the UK, for their hard work and dedication.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, who received the computers, thanked the British High Commission for their continued assistance to the Ghana Police Service.
He said the training would go a long way to equip the participants with the necessary skills to conduct intelligence-led operations.
CAPTION
PIX ONE : The Deputy British High Commissioner, Ms Menna Rawlings, presenting the computers to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong.
PIX TWO: ???A group photograph of the participants with the resource persons from the UK , the IGP, Ms Rossie Tapper of Political Affairs and the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Menna Rawlings???.
NOTE: Indicate positions in pix
Story: Mary Mensah
The Deputy British High Commissioner, Ms Menna Rawlings, has presented 10 specialised Dell computers to the Ghana Police Service after closing a five-day training programme on “intelligence analysis of information on small arms and light weapons” in Accra.
The computers will be installed at five separate centres in the country to assist in the quick sharing of information to and from the CID headquarters and the police research department to the regions.
Ms Rawlings said the training formed part of a number of capacity building programmes for the Police Service by the British High Commission.
She said the training programme was directed at tackling the movement of small arms and light weapons into and around Ghana through a sound intelligence approach. She said the commission viewed its collaboration with the police as a really important aspect of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, adding that “we want to work with the IGP in his efforts to build a more effective and efficient police service that will benefit all Ghanaians”.
She urged the participants to use whatever knowledge they had acquired for the benefit of the whole country.
The Deputy Commissioner also thanked the resource persons from Cranfield University and Xpert Software, both from the UK, for their hard work and dedication.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, who received the computers, thanked the British High Commission for their continued assistance to the Ghana Police Service.
He said the training would go a long way to equip the participants with the necessary skills to conduct intelligence-led operations.
CAPTION
PIX ONE : The Deputy British High Commissioner, Ms Menna Rawlings, presenting the computers to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong.
PIX TWO: ???A group photograph of the participants with the resource persons from the UK , the IGP, Ms Rossie Tapper of Political Affairs and the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Menna Rawlings???.
NOTE: Indicate positions in pix
SEMINAR FOR QUARRY OPERATORS OPENED (Page 28)
18/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
A ONE-DAY seminar to improve the operations and management of quarries in the construction sector has been organised for quarry operators and other stakeholders in the country.
The seminar, organised by SMICE International, a Ghanaian company, in collaboration with ASTEC Aggregate and Mining Group of the USA, was on the theme: “Employing Best Practices in Quarry Operations for Accelerated Infrastructure Development”.
In an address read on his behalf, the Minister of Transportation, Dr Richard Anane, said the efficient and effective operation of quarries would definitely go a long way to improve quarry operations and reduce the current high cost of bituminous surface dressing of roads.
He said adequate and reliable supply of aggregates was very crucial for the sustenance and effective implementation of government’s programme of road development and maintenance throughout the country.
Dr Anane indicated that the government attached great importance to the development and maintenance of transport infrastructure, in particular road transport, which carries between 95 and 97 per cent of both passenger and freight traffic.
He said one of the main challenges posed to the government’s road construction programme was the issue of lack of readily available chipping’s across the country for chip seal works.
He said the lack of quarries in the northern parts of the country had adversely affected the delivery of bituminous surfacing of roads.
The minister noted that even though there were a number of quarries sited in various parts of the country, they were bedevilled with numerous problems, such as obsolete equipment, and poor operational and financial management practices.
He gave the assurance that the government would continue to provide the enabling environment for companies like SMICE International and ASTEC Group to contribute their quota to the road development programme.
The Managing Director of SMICE International, Mr Shehu Wumbei, said maintenance was very crucial to the company and it also believed in giving value to the machines they sold.
The seminar, he said, was to inculcate maintenance culture in their customers and ensure that their machines were always in good shape.
The President of ASTEC Mining Group, Mr Rick Patek, said customers played a very important role in the success of every business.
Story: Mary Mensah
A ONE-DAY seminar to improve the operations and management of quarries in the construction sector has been organised for quarry operators and other stakeholders in the country.
The seminar, organised by SMICE International, a Ghanaian company, in collaboration with ASTEC Aggregate and Mining Group of the USA, was on the theme: “Employing Best Practices in Quarry Operations for Accelerated Infrastructure Development”.
In an address read on his behalf, the Minister of Transportation, Dr Richard Anane, said the efficient and effective operation of quarries would definitely go a long way to improve quarry operations and reduce the current high cost of bituminous surface dressing of roads.
He said adequate and reliable supply of aggregates was very crucial for the sustenance and effective implementation of government’s programme of road development and maintenance throughout the country.
Dr Anane indicated that the government attached great importance to the development and maintenance of transport infrastructure, in particular road transport, which carries between 95 and 97 per cent of both passenger and freight traffic.
He said one of the main challenges posed to the government’s road construction programme was the issue of lack of readily available chipping’s across the country for chip seal works.
He said the lack of quarries in the northern parts of the country had adversely affected the delivery of bituminous surfacing of roads.
The minister noted that even though there were a number of quarries sited in various parts of the country, they were bedevilled with numerous problems, such as obsolete equipment, and poor operational and financial management practices.
He gave the assurance that the government would continue to provide the enabling environment for companies like SMICE International and ASTEC Group to contribute their quota to the road development programme.
The Managing Director of SMICE International, Mr Shehu Wumbei, said maintenance was very crucial to the company and it also believed in giving value to the machines they sold.
The seminar, he said, was to inculcate maintenance culture in their customers and ensure that their machines were always in good shape.
The President of ASTEC Mining Group, Mr Rick Patek, said customers played a very important role in the success of every business.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
LET CHIEFS CONTROL STOOL LAND REVENUE (Centre Spread)
15/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has called on the government to restore the collection and disbursement of stool land revenue to traditional rulers to make them financially autonomous.
He said local governance was best placed to determine local needs if it worked closely with traditional systems of governance and noted that chiefs could not be worthy partners in development if the revenue from their stool lands was taken away and controlled by the central government.
The Okyenhene was delivering a lecture on the theme, “Chieftaincy, Peace, Security and National Development”, to officer cadets at the Ghana Police College in Accra yesterday.
He said there were over 48,000 settlements in Ghana and that the central government was active in only 12,000 of them.
That, he said, implied that 75 per cent of the people were being governed on a day-to-day basis by chiefs, adding that “if this country has survived the test of time for peace and stability, the gong-gong has played a major role in maintaining peace and security in the country”.
He said there was no doubt that the chieftaincy institution played several roles in the lives of the people and that the history of all the groups that constituted Ghana was full of the heroic deeds of many men and women in the distant past who made sure that their people had peace and security.
He further said the chieftaincy institution handed over an organised system of law and order which ensured peace and security and that in the past chiefs were able to enforce laws better than central governments did in the post-independence era.
Osagyefo Ofori Panin said in the past a law banning people from polluting the source of a community’s drinking water was obeyed to the letter and nobody could enter a sacred grove to harvest timber.
He said deriving their mandate from purely customary roots, traditional rulers wielded a lot of authority and the institution had proved to be the most enduring of all national institutions since pre-independence times.
The Okyenhene said, however, that as a human and dynamic institution, it was imperative that chieftaincy was changed and adapted in order to make the institution more relevant to the demands of our time, adding, “We should not be afraid to change that which has outlived its usefulness and relevance.”
He said there was a clarion call for chiefs to shed the image of being the mere custodians of culture and tradition and offer practical leadership that could help transform the lives of their people.
“My answer to that call is that we have magnificent dreams but we cannot put them into action because the central government holds and controls all revenue,” he said.
Osagyefo Ofori Panin urged the government to re-examine Article 276 of the 1992 Constitution which prohibited chiefs from participating in active political activity, especially in view of calls for the establishment of an upper chamber of the national legislature.
He said the country’s political and economic stability, as well as the peaceful atmosphere prevailing, was not a product of only the good performance of the central and local government structures but also the successful and continuing efforts of governments and traditional authorities.
The Commandant of the college, Osabarima Oware Asare Pinkro III, said the essence of the theme was to inform the public, especially the cadet officers, that chiefs were essential elements for public security stabilisation and tools for peace and security.
He said the services of the traditional rulers could not be dispensed with when their areas of jurisdiction boiled up with acts of lawlessness that could potentially retard development.
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has called on the government to restore the collection and disbursement of stool land revenue to traditional rulers to make them financially autonomous.
He said local governance was best placed to determine local needs if it worked closely with traditional systems of governance and noted that chiefs could not be worthy partners in development if the revenue from their stool lands was taken away and controlled by the central government.
The Okyenhene was delivering a lecture on the theme, “Chieftaincy, Peace, Security and National Development”, to officer cadets at the Ghana Police College in Accra yesterday.
He said there were over 48,000 settlements in Ghana and that the central government was active in only 12,000 of them.
That, he said, implied that 75 per cent of the people were being governed on a day-to-day basis by chiefs, adding that “if this country has survived the test of time for peace and stability, the gong-gong has played a major role in maintaining peace and security in the country”.
He said there was no doubt that the chieftaincy institution played several roles in the lives of the people and that the history of all the groups that constituted Ghana was full of the heroic deeds of many men and women in the distant past who made sure that their people had peace and security.
He further said the chieftaincy institution handed over an organised system of law and order which ensured peace and security and that in the past chiefs were able to enforce laws better than central governments did in the post-independence era.
Osagyefo Ofori Panin said in the past a law banning people from polluting the source of a community’s drinking water was obeyed to the letter and nobody could enter a sacred grove to harvest timber.
He said deriving their mandate from purely customary roots, traditional rulers wielded a lot of authority and the institution had proved to be the most enduring of all national institutions since pre-independence times.
The Okyenhene said, however, that as a human and dynamic institution, it was imperative that chieftaincy was changed and adapted in order to make the institution more relevant to the demands of our time, adding, “We should not be afraid to change that which has outlived its usefulness and relevance.”
He said there was a clarion call for chiefs to shed the image of being the mere custodians of culture and tradition and offer practical leadership that could help transform the lives of their people.
“My answer to that call is that we have magnificent dreams but we cannot put them into action because the central government holds and controls all revenue,” he said.
Osagyefo Ofori Panin urged the government to re-examine Article 276 of the 1992 Constitution which prohibited chiefs from participating in active political activity, especially in view of calls for the establishment of an upper chamber of the national legislature.
He said the country’s political and economic stability, as well as the peaceful atmosphere prevailing, was not a product of only the good performance of the central and local government structures but also the successful and continuing efforts of governments and traditional authorities.
The Commandant of the college, Osabarima Oware Asare Pinkro III, said the essence of the theme was to inform the public, especially the cadet officers, that chiefs were essential elements for public security stabilisation and tools for peace and security.
He said the services of the traditional rulers could not be dispensed with when their areas of jurisdiction boiled up with acts of lawlessness that could potentially retard development.
BRITISH COUNCIL HOLDS BUSINESS FORUM (Business Page)
15/04/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
The British Council Management Express Forum (MEX) presents former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AVIVA, the fifth largest financial Service firm in the world.
Mr Richard Harvey, one of the longest serving CEO’s is also a member of European Financial Roundtable and is expected to deliver an address to facilitate the April forum on the Growth and Leadership in Today’s Business: what it takes Transform Effectiveness.
The MEX forum is a flagship product of the Management Express which is a group of Managers and other professionals who come together through high profile networking events to discuss current topical issues in management.
With the facilitation of a renowned high profile speaker members share experience and expertise and ultimately aim to improve management capacities and leadership skills in Ghana.
Since May, 2006 renowned international and motivational speakers who have facilitated the forum.
Aviva is the world’s fifth largest insurance business, and the biggest in the UK. It works in 27 Countries and deals in fund management, long term savings and general insurance.
Aviva’s has world-wide total sales of £41.5 billion and assets under management of £377 billion and Richard was responsible for the strategic development of the group through both organic and inorganic growth.
Mr Harvey’s notable achievements include the successful merger of Norwich Union and CGU in May 2000 to create Aviva and under Richard’s direction, Aviva took important steps forward; for instance, acquiring RAC in 2005 which enabled the group’s UK business to take a substantial step towards securing high value business and gaining increased access to customers.
He also oversaw the acquisition of AmerUs, a leader in the high-growth US equity-indexed market, which has since expanded Aviva’s US presence four-fold; Richard started the business’s work in China and India with trading in both countries and outsourcing in the latter.
Upon his retirement Richard and his wife Kay decided to take a Gap Year and after meeting with a number of international development organisations, they decided to work with Concern Universal.
He said, "we looked at volunteering our services to a number of charities, but it was the nature and scale of Concern Universal that appealed to us; the chemistry with the people was good, its cost effective reputation in developing countries excellent; it was large enough for us to make a genuine contribution, but at the same time had the feel and personal approach of a smaller organisation that we were looking for.
Their down-to-earth approach has given us the insight and practical experience needed to make a meaningful contribution to the charity sector in the longer term.
As part of their induction, Richard and Kay spent the first month visiting a range of projects in Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique. Up to December 2007, they worked with Concern Universal in Kenya where they were involved in a range of activities; for instance, reviewing the school feeding programme in a specific District and working with local stakeholders to explore the way forward; considering the potential to harness carbon finance for sustainable development purposes and so on. Since January, Richard and Kay have been based in Malawi.
Richard Harvey’s visit to Ghana this month is to experience Concern Universal’s work here and take part in high profile management-related events organized by British Council.
Story: Mary Mensah
The British Council Management Express Forum (MEX) presents former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AVIVA, the fifth largest financial Service firm in the world.
Mr Richard Harvey, one of the longest serving CEO’s is also a member of European Financial Roundtable and is expected to deliver an address to facilitate the April forum on the Growth and Leadership in Today’s Business: what it takes Transform Effectiveness.
The MEX forum is a flagship product of the Management Express which is a group of Managers and other professionals who come together through high profile networking events to discuss current topical issues in management.
With the facilitation of a renowned high profile speaker members share experience and expertise and ultimately aim to improve management capacities and leadership skills in Ghana.
Since May, 2006 renowned international and motivational speakers who have facilitated the forum.
Aviva is the world’s fifth largest insurance business, and the biggest in the UK. It works in 27 Countries and deals in fund management, long term savings and general insurance.
Aviva’s has world-wide total sales of £41.5 billion and assets under management of £377 billion and Richard was responsible for the strategic development of the group through both organic and inorganic growth.
Mr Harvey’s notable achievements include the successful merger of Norwich Union and CGU in May 2000 to create Aviva and under Richard’s direction, Aviva took important steps forward; for instance, acquiring RAC in 2005 which enabled the group’s UK business to take a substantial step towards securing high value business and gaining increased access to customers.
He also oversaw the acquisition of AmerUs, a leader in the high-growth US equity-indexed market, which has since expanded Aviva’s US presence four-fold; Richard started the business’s work in China and India with trading in both countries and outsourcing in the latter.
Upon his retirement Richard and his wife Kay decided to take a Gap Year and after meeting with a number of international development organisations, they decided to work with Concern Universal.
He said, "we looked at volunteering our services to a number of charities, but it was the nature and scale of Concern Universal that appealed to us; the chemistry with the people was good, its cost effective reputation in developing countries excellent; it was large enough for us to make a genuine contribution, but at the same time had the feel and personal approach of a smaller organisation that we were looking for.
Their down-to-earth approach has given us the insight and practical experience needed to make a meaningful contribution to the charity sector in the longer term.
As part of their induction, Richard and Kay spent the first month visiting a range of projects in Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique. Up to December 2007, they worked with Concern Universal in Kenya where they were involved in a range of activities; for instance, reviewing the school feeding programme in a specific District and working with local stakeholders to explore the way forward; considering the potential to harness carbon finance for sustainable development purposes and so on. Since January, Richard and Kay have been based in Malawi.
Richard Harvey’s visit to Ghana this month is to experience Concern Universal’s work here and take part in high profile management-related events organized by British Council.
PARTIES TO ENSURE PEACE PREVAIL (Political Page)
14/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
Political Parties in the country have pledged to ensure that peace prevail during and after the elections to enable the electorate who holds the political power to exercise their franchise in peace.
They promise to hold peaceful campaigns devoid of insults and abusive language.
The representatives of the four leading parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), People’s National Convention (PNC), The Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) made the pledge at a one-day seminar organised for the media in Accra.
They pleged to accept the results in good faith whether they win or lose but indicated however that it must be free and fair.
They also promised to respect all codes of conducts relating to the elections and educating its followers about the do’s and don’ts by living in harmony with one another among others.
The seminar was organised by the Agenda Newspaper in collaboration with the United States Embassy and it was under the theme “Media Practice in Ghana and Efforts towards peaceful and non violence elections in 2008”.
Mr Henry Asante who represented the PNC said peace building takes a long to achieve and once attained should be handled with much care and vigilance.
He said peace is the total absence of tribal, political, ethnic marginalisation and alienation of conflict and other forms of disagreement that may generate into a major conflict.
He said is it is true that Ghana has a country has enjoyed maximum peace for sometime now and have became use to it in such a way that “ we can not afford to lose this peace which has become an envy of other nations”.
Mr Asante indicated that history shows that the PNC has always preached peace and was the first to concede defeat in the in the 1992 elections and congratulated President Jerry Rawlings and this clearly put to rest any move by the NPP to challenge the results in a three man race of Rawlings Kuffour and Mahama.
He said the PNC will commit itself to peace by accepting other views from sister parties be it criticisms or insults without retaliating and by campaigning genuinely devoid of insults and the use of abusive language against its political opponents.
“We will monitor all processes during the elections and will accept the results in good faith whether we win or lose provided it is free and fair”, he said.
On his part, the representative of the NDC, Baba Jamal said his party appreciates efforts that are being made to ensure a peaceful elections come December 2008.
He said for every elections to be peaceful the rules and regulations governing it must be respected and all political parties should play to the to the rules to ensure peaceful elections.
Baba Jamal indicated that the NDC wanted Ghana to grow in peace and democracy and will accept the results provided it was free and fair.
He urged the international community not to wait till elections time before they send in monitors but should monitor all the processes leading to the elections as well.
Dr Nii Moi Thompson who spoke for the CPP said the Electoral Commission has made honest mistakes in the past elections where there has been errors in the collation of results and urged them to correct those mistakes to ensure a peaceful elections.
He said the CPP is committed to ensuring that the elections are peaceful and called on the media to be circumspect in their reportage because they have matured.
Story: Mary Mensah
Political Parties in the country have pledged to ensure that peace prevail during and after the elections to enable the electorate who holds the political power to exercise their franchise in peace.
They promise to hold peaceful campaigns devoid of insults and abusive language.
The representatives of the four leading parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), People’s National Convention (PNC), The Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) made the pledge at a one-day seminar organised for the media in Accra.
They pleged to accept the results in good faith whether they win or lose but indicated however that it must be free and fair.
They also promised to respect all codes of conducts relating to the elections and educating its followers about the do’s and don’ts by living in harmony with one another among others.
The seminar was organised by the Agenda Newspaper in collaboration with the United States Embassy and it was under the theme “Media Practice in Ghana and Efforts towards peaceful and non violence elections in 2008”.
Mr Henry Asante who represented the PNC said peace building takes a long to achieve and once attained should be handled with much care and vigilance.
He said peace is the total absence of tribal, political, ethnic marginalisation and alienation of conflict and other forms of disagreement that may generate into a major conflict.
He said is it is true that Ghana has a country has enjoyed maximum peace for sometime now and have became use to it in such a way that “ we can not afford to lose this peace which has become an envy of other nations”.
Mr Asante indicated that history shows that the PNC has always preached peace and was the first to concede defeat in the in the 1992 elections and congratulated President Jerry Rawlings and this clearly put to rest any move by the NPP to challenge the results in a three man race of Rawlings Kuffour and Mahama.
He said the PNC will commit itself to peace by accepting other views from sister parties be it criticisms or insults without retaliating and by campaigning genuinely devoid of insults and the use of abusive language against its political opponents.
“We will monitor all processes during the elections and will accept the results in good faith whether we win or lose provided it is free and fair”, he said.
On his part, the representative of the NDC, Baba Jamal said his party appreciates efforts that are being made to ensure a peaceful elections come December 2008.
He said for every elections to be peaceful the rules and regulations governing it must be respected and all political parties should play to the to the rules to ensure peaceful elections.
Baba Jamal indicated that the NDC wanted Ghana to grow in peace and democracy and will accept the results provided it was free and fair.
He urged the international community not to wait till elections time before they send in monitors but should monitor all the processes leading to the elections as well.
Dr Nii Moi Thompson who spoke for the CPP said the Electoral Commission has made honest mistakes in the past elections where there has been errors in the collation of results and urged them to correct those mistakes to ensure a peaceful elections.
He said the CPP is committed to ensuring that the elections are peaceful and called on the media to be circumspect in their reportage because they have matured.
MEDIA HAS A CRUCIAL ROLE TO MAINTAIN PEACE (Page 19)
12/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
The Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peace (WANEP), Dr Emmanuel Bombande, has reiterated that the media has a crucial role to play in sustaining the current peace in the country.
He said the perspectives of those who run the media shaped what “we hear and see about conflict”, adding that it was important to choose the correct language in order not to send the wrong signals and create panic among the populace.
Dr Bombande was delivering a paper on the functions of the media in conflict prevention and peace building in Ghana at a one-day seminar organised by the Public Agenda newspaper in collaboration with the American Embassy for journalists in Accra on Thursday.
The seminar was on the theme: “Media practice in Ghana and efforts towards peaceful and non-violence elections in 2008”.
He said conflict was the energy that built up when individuals or groups of people pursued perceived incompatible goals in their drive to meet their needs and interests.
Dr Bombade indicated that the media played several roles including that of a watchdog, gate keeper, peace builder, bridge builder, diplomat, information provider and interpreter.
Media owners, he further said, had economic interests and wanted to sell their stories and programmes to a public that would buy their newspapers or watch their programmes, adding that violent conflict would be headlines and not news of cross-cultural dialogue and understanding.
“The media mostly covers conflicts not peace building,” Dr Bombande noted, adding that “this tendency to cover conflict and violence distorts reality and leads many people to think that conflict is pervasive and peace is abnormal”.
The Executive Director stated that until the causes of conflicts and the issues and dynamics were understood, peace building programming or peace keeping operations would be ineffective.
“Conflict analysis is not a one-time exercise, it must be an ongoing process as the situation is developing, so that you can adapt your actions to changing factors, dynamics and circumstances,” he sated.
The Director of the African University College of Communications (AUCC), Mr Kojo Yankah, also said conflict was a social phenomenon that could not be ignored and that what was most important was to report it in a way that would minimise its effect.
He urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage and look at ways to strengthen the country’s democracy.
The Director of Information at the US Embassy, Mr Chris Hodges, said Ghana enjoyed an enviable reputation throughout Africa for the high degree of social cohesion in its diverse society.
He said the diverse audience gathered for the seminar illustrated the need for stakeholders from all elements of society to co-operate to promote conflict resolution, peace and stability, adding that only a concerted effort from civil society, media, government and the private sector would be truly successful.
He said recent events in Kenya illustrated in unmistakable fashion that peace and stability were not results but ongoing processes built upon a fashionable dialogue, compromise and tolerance.
Story: Mary Mensah
The Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peace (WANEP), Dr Emmanuel Bombande, has reiterated that the media has a crucial role to play in sustaining the current peace in the country.
He said the perspectives of those who run the media shaped what “we hear and see about conflict”, adding that it was important to choose the correct language in order not to send the wrong signals and create panic among the populace.
Dr Bombande was delivering a paper on the functions of the media in conflict prevention and peace building in Ghana at a one-day seminar organised by the Public Agenda newspaper in collaboration with the American Embassy for journalists in Accra on Thursday.
The seminar was on the theme: “Media practice in Ghana and efforts towards peaceful and non-violence elections in 2008”.
He said conflict was the energy that built up when individuals or groups of people pursued perceived incompatible goals in their drive to meet their needs and interests.
Dr Bombade indicated that the media played several roles including that of a watchdog, gate keeper, peace builder, bridge builder, diplomat, information provider and interpreter.
Media owners, he further said, had economic interests and wanted to sell their stories and programmes to a public that would buy their newspapers or watch their programmes, adding that violent conflict would be headlines and not news of cross-cultural dialogue and understanding.
“The media mostly covers conflicts not peace building,” Dr Bombande noted, adding that “this tendency to cover conflict and violence distorts reality and leads many people to think that conflict is pervasive and peace is abnormal”.
The Executive Director stated that until the causes of conflicts and the issues and dynamics were understood, peace building programming or peace keeping operations would be ineffective.
“Conflict analysis is not a one-time exercise, it must be an ongoing process as the situation is developing, so that you can adapt your actions to changing factors, dynamics and circumstances,” he sated.
The Director of the African University College of Communications (AUCC), Mr Kojo Yankah, also said conflict was a social phenomenon that could not be ignored and that what was most important was to report it in a way that would minimise its effect.
He urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage and look at ways to strengthen the country’s democracy.
The Director of Information at the US Embassy, Mr Chris Hodges, said Ghana enjoyed an enviable reputation throughout Africa for the high degree of social cohesion in its diverse society.
He said the diverse audience gathered for the seminar illustrated the need for stakeholders from all elements of society to co-operate to promote conflict resolution, peace and stability, adding that only a concerted effort from civil society, media, government and the private sector would be truly successful.
He said recent events in Kenya illustrated in unmistakable fashion that peace and stability were not results but ongoing processes built upon a fashionable dialogue, compromise and tolerance.
ANTI-NARCOTICS TRAINING PROGRAMME ENDS (Page 3)
12/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, has called for a multi-agency approach in the fight against drug trafficking and other organised crimes in the country.
He said no single agency could combat the drug menace and there was, therefore, the need for greater collaboration among all the security agencies in the country in order to have a common front to combat the menace.
The IGP was speaking in Accra yesterday at the closing of a five-day anti-narcotics training programme organised by the French government for the security agencies
He said in view of that, the police had offered their facilities for the training programme to enable security personnel drawn from the Immigration Service, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), the Ghana Armed Forces, the Police Service, the Narcotics Control Board, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to take part in the programme.
He said in 2002, the French government and the Ghana Police Service signed a co-operation agreement which led to the training of policemen internally and internationally and the provision of equipment to enhance the performance of the service.
The IGP noted that all the entry and exit points in the country were used for the trafficking of drugs and that it was important that the security agencies were trained to enable them to be abreast of the techniques in the drug trade.
He urged the participants to share whatever knowledge they had acquired with their peers and thanked the French Government for the assistance.
Mr Acheampong added that since the French Embassy was prepared to assist the Police Service with further training, the service would also make the French Language Laboratory at the National Police Training Academy available to the other security agencies to enable them to learn French and appreciate the culture of the French people.
The IGP said understanding the French language would greatly assist the security agencies in the sub-region to quickly collaborate to share information and ideas in case of any emergency.
The Charge d’Affaires of the French Embassy, Madam Evelyne Decorps, said it was now a well-established fact that West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea had become major entry, transit and storage points for drugs.
She said that trend was intensifying, since it had become more difficult for structured organisations to ship narcotics through the Caribbean.
Madam Decorps stated that plans of action were being drawn up to boost regional co-operation and in particular exchange intelligence because the battle could not be won by a single country.
She said the well-established Franco-Ghanaian co-operation had taken a new impulse with the posting of a French Police Liaison Officer, Didier Moreno, whose main duty was to counter narcotics trafficking towards Europe through extended operation and co-operation with Ghana.
Madame Decorps indicated that the training programme was part of the co-operation and commended the two resource persons from France, Mr Rignault and Robert Mourachko, and the participants for the work accomplished.
She presented 1,300 drug test kits to be shared among the security agencies fighting drug trafficking at the ports and airports and on the roads and mentioned that the French government had presented 1,400 kits in 2006.
The Course Leader, Supt Ohene Bosompem, said the course had been very beneficial and given participants an insight into the drug menace and promised that they would put the knowledge acquired into good use and fight the barons on all fronts.
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, has called for a multi-agency approach in the fight against drug trafficking and other organised crimes in the country.
He said no single agency could combat the drug menace and there was, therefore, the need for greater collaboration among all the security agencies in the country in order to have a common front to combat the menace.
The IGP was speaking in Accra yesterday at the closing of a five-day anti-narcotics training programme organised by the French government for the security agencies
He said in view of that, the police had offered their facilities for the training programme to enable security personnel drawn from the Immigration Service, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), the Ghana Armed Forces, the Police Service, the Narcotics Control Board, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to take part in the programme.
He said in 2002, the French government and the Ghana Police Service signed a co-operation agreement which led to the training of policemen internally and internationally and the provision of equipment to enhance the performance of the service.
The IGP noted that all the entry and exit points in the country were used for the trafficking of drugs and that it was important that the security agencies were trained to enable them to be abreast of the techniques in the drug trade.
He urged the participants to share whatever knowledge they had acquired with their peers and thanked the French Government for the assistance.
Mr Acheampong added that since the French Embassy was prepared to assist the Police Service with further training, the service would also make the French Language Laboratory at the National Police Training Academy available to the other security agencies to enable them to learn French and appreciate the culture of the French people.
The IGP said understanding the French language would greatly assist the security agencies in the sub-region to quickly collaborate to share information and ideas in case of any emergency.
The Charge d’Affaires of the French Embassy, Madam Evelyne Decorps, said it was now a well-established fact that West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea had become major entry, transit and storage points for drugs.
She said that trend was intensifying, since it had become more difficult for structured organisations to ship narcotics through the Caribbean.
Madam Decorps stated that plans of action were being drawn up to boost regional co-operation and in particular exchange intelligence because the battle could not be won by a single country.
She said the well-established Franco-Ghanaian co-operation had taken a new impulse with the posting of a French Police Liaison Officer, Didier Moreno, whose main duty was to counter narcotics trafficking towards Europe through extended operation and co-operation with Ghana.
Madame Decorps indicated that the training programme was part of the co-operation and commended the two resource persons from France, Mr Rignault and Robert Mourachko, and the participants for the work accomplished.
She presented 1,300 drug test kits to be shared among the security agencies fighting drug trafficking at the ports and airports and on the roads and mentioned that the French government had presented 1,400 kits in 2006.
The Course Leader, Supt Ohene Bosompem, said the course had been very beneficial and given participants an insight into the drug menace and promised that they would put the knowledge acquired into good use and fight the barons on all fronts.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
POLICE DEPLOYED POLICEMEN TO NUNGUA TO QUELL DISTURBANCES
09/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Police Administration yesterday deployed a number of policemen, including its Anti-Riot Control Unit, with two water canons to Nungua, a suburb of Accra, to quell disturbances in the town.
According to a police source, the move became necessary following information received that one of the claimants to the Nungua Stool, Nii Odai Ayiku, was planning to celebrate his 50th enstoolment anniversary with pomp and pageantry.
The source said there had been a protracted chieftaincy dispute at Nungua for many years and that the issue was before the Regional House of Chiefs at Dodowa and the Appeal Court.
The case had not been decided on yet so when information was received that the chief was planning to celebrate the anniversary, policemen were quickly dispatched to the area to ensure that all parties adhered to laid down rules and regulations, the source said.
The Dzasetse of Nungua, Nii Tsaatse Okley III, expressed his disappointment at the behaviour of the police, describing it as intimidating.
He said Nii Odai was born on April 5, 1942 and he decided to mark the day in his private house, near the Nungua Barrier, and not the palace, as was being alleged.
He said invitation cards were sent to people and just as Nii’s household were putting finishing touches to the programme, about 400 policemen, with water canons, stormed the premises and blocked the entrance to the house.
According to the Dzasetse, the police prevented invited guests from entering the house to wish Nii well, while only those who were in the house before the arrival of the police at 8.00 a.m. were allowed to leave.
He said the police remained at the entrance from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. before they left the scene, adding that although it was raining heavily, the police were not deterred by that.
He said if Nii had wanted to celebrate any anniversary, he would have done so at the palace in Nungua, not at his private residence, which was walled.
Nii Ayiku himself wondered why a mere birthday should attract such heavy police presence with water canons and expressed his displeasure at being associated with bloodshed when he was a peaceful person.
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Police Administration yesterday deployed a number of policemen, including its Anti-Riot Control Unit, with two water canons to Nungua, a suburb of Accra, to quell disturbances in the town.
According to a police source, the move became necessary following information received that one of the claimants to the Nungua Stool, Nii Odai Ayiku, was planning to celebrate his 50th enstoolment anniversary with pomp and pageantry.
The source said there had been a protracted chieftaincy dispute at Nungua for many years and that the issue was before the Regional House of Chiefs at Dodowa and the Appeal Court.
The case had not been decided on yet so when information was received that the chief was planning to celebrate the anniversary, policemen were quickly dispatched to the area to ensure that all parties adhered to laid down rules and regulations, the source said.
The Dzasetse of Nungua, Nii Tsaatse Okley III, expressed his disappointment at the behaviour of the police, describing it as intimidating.
He said Nii Odai was born on April 5, 1942 and he decided to mark the day in his private house, near the Nungua Barrier, and not the palace, as was being alleged.
He said invitation cards were sent to people and just as Nii’s household were putting finishing touches to the programme, about 400 policemen, with water canons, stormed the premises and blocked the entrance to the house.
According to the Dzasetse, the police prevented invited guests from entering the house to wish Nii well, while only those who were in the house before the arrival of the police at 8.00 a.m. were allowed to leave.
He said the police remained at the entrance from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. before they left the scene, adding that although it was raining heavily, the police were not deterred by that.
He said if Nii had wanted to celebrate any anniversary, he would have done so at the palace in Nungua, not at his private residence, which was walled.
Nii Ayiku himself wondered why a mere birthday should attract such heavy police presence with water canons and expressed his displeasure at being associated with bloodshed when he was a peaceful person.
ROBBERS ATTACK HOUSEHOLD AT NORTH LEGON (PAGE 31)
09/04/08
Robbers attack household at North Legon
Story: Mary Mensah
Four armed robbers attacked a house on the Kofi Annan Avenue at North Legon yesterday, making away with valuables, including wedding rings.
The robbers, wielding locally made pistols and machetes, were alleged to have used a cement block to break into the house at 1.00 a.m.
According to one of the victims, Mr Augustine Kwabi, he was fast asleep with his pregnant wife and a cousin who is nursing three-month-old twins when they heard a big bang on the door.
Mr Kwabi said when he heard the bang, he first thought something had fallen on the roof and he was about to go out to find out when the robbers entered his room.
He said three of them held locally made pistols, while the fourth had a machete, adding that the robbers ordered them to surrender all the money in their possession, including jewellery and other valuables, and asked for the keys to two vehicles parked in front of the house.
The robbers managed to make away with jewellery, including the wedding rings on their victims’ fingers, two DVD players, eight mobile phones, electric irons and a sound system.
He said after leaving the room, the robbers tried moving one vehicle but they could not, for which reason they abandoned the idea and left.
Afterwards, he rushed to the Madina Police Station about 3.00 a.m. to report the incident but added that the police had not bothered to come to the house to investigate the incident.
Mr Kwabi said four days after the incident, another house was attacked by the same group of robbers who made away again with valuables and the wedding rings of their victims.
Robbers attack household at North Legon
Story: Mary Mensah
Four armed robbers attacked a house on the Kofi Annan Avenue at North Legon yesterday, making away with valuables, including wedding rings.
The robbers, wielding locally made pistols and machetes, were alleged to have used a cement block to break into the house at 1.00 a.m.
According to one of the victims, Mr Augustine Kwabi, he was fast asleep with his pregnant wife and a cousin who is nursing three-month-old twins when they heard a big bang on the door.
Mr Kwabi said when he heard the bang, he first thought something had fallen on the roof and he was about to go out to find out when the robbers entered his room.
He said three of them held locally made pistols, while the fourth had a machete, adding that the robbers ordered them to surrender all the money in their possession, including jewellery and other valuables, and asked for the keys to two vehicles parked in front of the house.
The robbers managed to make away with jewellery, including the wedding rings on their victims’ fingers, two DVD players, eight mobile phones, electric irons and a sound system.
He said after leaving the room, the robbers tried moving one vehicle but they could not, for which reason they abandoned the idea and left.
Afterwards, he rushed to the Madina Police Station about 3.00 a.m. to report the incident but added that the police had not bothered to come to the house to investigate the incident.
Mr Kwabi said four days after the incident, another house was attacked by the same group of robbers who made away again with valuables and the wedding rings of their victims.
BUSINESS SECTOR, SECURITY AGENCIES MUST COLLABORATE TO FIGHT BUSINESS FRAUD (Business Page)
08/04/08
Business sector, security agencies must collaborate
— To fight business fraud
Story: Mary Mensah
Security agencies need to have closer collaboration with the business sector to fight all forms of business fraud.
In this way, they would be effectively supporting the government’s efforts in creating a secured business environment in order to sustain the level of business and investor confidence required to attract foreign direct investments (FDI) into the economy.
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said this yesterday in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Dominic Donkor, Chief Economic Officer of the ministry, at the opening of a one-day seminar on Business Fraud in Accra.
The seminar, which was organised by the Tema Regional branch of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was on the theme, “Business fraud, impact, detection and prevention”.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said Ghana is currently enjoying tremendous international recognition as one of the few countries on the African continent with a stable democratic government, a stable macro economy and an investor-friendly business environment.
He said it was therefore imperative to ensure that those achievements were not eroded overnight by fraudsters and other social deviants.
Mr Baah-Wiredu noted that business fraud was not peculiar to Ghana but that it was more of a global phenomenon, assuming more sophisticated dimensions each day, especially with the advent of e-business, e-banking and other innovations in information technology (IT).
He observed that in 2007 alone the country experienced a number of bank frauds and other high-tech manipulations and embezzlements in both the private and public institutions.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said Internet fraud had also taken on new dimensions, making firms more vulnerable each day as they embark on IT-based innovations purposely aimed at reducing cost, enhancing their competitive advantage, expanding into new markets and for some other productive reason.
The minister noted that in line with government’s aim of making Ghana the gateway to the sub-region, it was very important to have very efficient and vigilant fraud detection and prevention mechanisms to nip in the bud all forms of crime.
An official of KPMG Ghana, Mr Reindoff B. Perbi, said business fraud was a very serious phenomenon, which if not checked, would lead to the collapse of businesses.
He, therefore, called on managing directors and heads of departments to be abreast of developments in their organisations to avoid fraud.
Mr Perbi mentioned tax evasion, frauds in employment or recruitment, fictitious documents, leaking of confidential documents to third parties and breach of internal control measures as some of the business frauds in organisations.
Mrs Victoria Maame Ekua Hajar, Regional Chairperson of the Chamber, said in this day and age when fraudsters are becoming more and more sophisticated and the nature of their crimes complex, it was imperative to have highly skilled and dedicated staff who are prepared to rise up to the challenge.
She said the chamber believed that programmes such as the seminar could help inform organisations about the modern trends of business fraud so that it could be prevented in a professional way.
Business sector, security agencies must collaborate
— To fight business fraud
Story: Mary Mensah
Security agencies need to have closer collaboration with the business sector to fight all forms of business fraud.
In this way, they would be effectively supporting the government’s efforts in creating a secured business environment in order to sustain the level of business and investor confidence required to attract foreign direct investments (FDI) into the economy.
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said this yesterday in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Dominic Donkor, Chief Economic Officer of the ministry, at the opening of a one-day seminar on Business Fraud in Accra.
The seminar, which was organised by the Tema Regional branch of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was on the theme, “Business fraud, impact, detection and prevention”.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said Ghana is currently enjoying tremendous international recognition as one of the few countries on the African continent with a stable democratic government, a stable macro economy and an investor-friendly business environment.
He said it was therefore imperative to ensure that those achievements were not eroded overnight by fraudsters and other social deviants.
Mr Baah-Wiredu noted that business fraud was not peculiar to Ghana but that it was more of a global phenomenon, assuming more sophisticated dimensions each day, especially with the advent of e-business, e-banking and other innovations in information technology (IT).
He observed that in 2007 alone the country experienced a number of bank frauds and other high-tech manipulations and embezzlements in both the private and public institutions.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said Internet fraud had also taken on new dimensions, making firms more vulnerable each day as they embark on IT-based innovations purposely aimed at reducing cost, enhancing their competitive advantage, expanding into new markets and for some other productive reason.
The minister noted that in line with government’s aim of making Ghana the gateway to the sub-region, it was very important to have very efficient and vigilant fraud detection and prevention mechanisms to nip in the bud all forms of crime.
An official of KPMG Ghana, Mr Reindoff B. Perbi, said business fraud was a very serious phenomenon, which if not checked, would lead to the collapse of businesses.
He, therefore, called on managing directors and heads of departments to be abreast of developments in their organisations to avoid fraud.
Mr Perbi mentioned tax evasion, frauds in employment or recruitment, fictitious documents, leaking of confidential documents to third parties and breach of internal control measures as some of the business frauds in organisations.
Mrs Victoria Maame Ekua Hajar, Regional Chairperson of the Chamber, said in this day and age when fraudsters are becoming more and more sophisticated and the nature of their crimes complex, it was imperative to have highly skilled and dedicated staff who are prepared to rise up to the challenge.
She said the chamber believed that programmes such as the seminar could help inform organisations about the modern trends of business fraud so that it could be prevented in a professional way.
ASARE-DONKOR TO CONTEST SEAT
07/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
A former journalist of the Daily Graphic and a past Deputy General Secretary of †he Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Frankie Asare-Donkoh, is contesting the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa parliamentary seat on the ticket of the New Patrotic Party (NPP).
Asare-Donkor hopes to unseat the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon P. C. Appiah-Ofori, and as such has already filed his norminations.
According to Mr Asare-Donkor his vision and immediate plans if elected the Member of Parliament for the constituency’s is to set up an educational fund to support bright needy children.
He said that this would ensure that the human resource and intellectual base of the district were strengthened while the marketability of most graduating children from the area were greatly enhanced.
He said that his tenure would encourage team-work and gave the assurance to mobilise all the various talents, experiences and expertise of people from the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District (Constituency) both home and abroad for the speedy development of the district.
He said that the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency had a wealth of talents and experienced personalities some of whom had previously occupied very high national and international positions but who had been neglected in the past in the affairs of the area.
He, therefore plans to effectively mobilise and get them involved in the development of the area.
He said the area was lagging behind in development and there was the need to mobilise everybody to assist in the development of the area, adding that if he won the seat he would set up a health fund to cater for the health needs of people aged 60 years and above and the fund would also support extremely poor people who would be identified by their communities.
He indicated that there seemed to be division in the party so he hoped to unite the various groups in order to retain the seat and ensure a resounding victory for the NPP.
Asare- Donkoh is currently an Associate Lecturer at the Cardiff University in Wales, United Kingdom. He is a product of the Ghana Institute of Journalism and holds a Master of Arts degree in International Journalism from Cardiff University.
Asare-Donkoh was a former Head of News Department of Choice FM, and the Secretary of the Ghanaian Centre of International PEN, a worldwide association of writers,
He was a Director of the Brakwa- Breman Rural Bank until he resigned in 2001 to enable him undertake further studies overseas.
He has since 1992 been the Tufuhene of Gomoa Abora, his father’s hometown, until he stepped down last month prior to his going into active politics.
Story: Mary Mensah
A former journalist of the Daily Graphic and a past Deputy General Secretary of †he Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Frankie Asare-Donkoh, is contesting the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa parliamentary seat on the ticket of the New Patrotic Party (NPP).
Asare-Donkor hopes to unseat the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon P. C. Appiah-Ofori, and as such has already filed his norminations.
According to Mr Asare-Donkor his vision and immediate plans if elected the Member of Parliament for the constituency’s is to set up an educational fund to support bright needy children.
He said that this would ensure that the human resource and intellectual base of the district were strengthened while the marketability of most graduating children from the area were greatly enhanced.
He said that his tenure would encourage team-work and gave the assurance to mobilise all the various talents, experiences and expertise of people from the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District (Constituency) both home and abroad for the speedy development of the district.
He said that the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency had a wealth of talents and experienced personalities some of whom had previously occupied very high national and international positions but who had been neglected in the past in the affairs of the area.
He, therefore plans to effectively mobilise and get them involved in the development of the area.
He said the area was lagging behind in development and there was the need to mobilise everybody to assist in the development of the area, adding that if he won the seat he would set up a health fund to cater for the health needs of people aged 60 years and above and the fund would also support extremely poor people who would be identified by their communities.
He indicated that there seemed to be division in the party so he hoped to unite the various groups in order to retain the seat and ensure a resounding victory for the NPP.
Asare- Donkoh is currently an Associate Lecturer at the Cardiff University in Wales, United Kingdom. He is a product of the Ghana Institute of Journalism and holds a Master of Arts degree in International Journalism from Cardiff University.
Asare-Donkoh was a former Head of News Department of Choice FM, and the Secretary of the Ghanaian Centre of International PEN, a worldwide association of writers,
He was a Director of the Brakwa- Breman Rural Bank until he resigned in 2001 to enable him undertake further studies overseas.
He has since 1992 been the Tufuhene of Gomoa Abora, his father’s hometown, until he stepped down last month prior to his going into active politics.
Monday, April 7, 2008
POLICE NAB TWO ROBBERS (Page 47)
07/04/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested two suspected robbers who allegedly used motorbikes to snatch bags and mobile phones from members of the public in broad daylight.
The two were arrested at Adabraka near the Roxy Cinema when they snatched a handbag belonging to a young lady.
Abdulai Amadu, 20, and Iliasu Sahadu were riding a Yamaha motorbike with registration number GR 3582 X at the time of the theft.
According to the Accra Regional Crime Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boi-Bi-Boi, the police had received several reports from members of the public about the activities of the robbers.
He said they usually operated around Adabraka where they either knocked down or slapped their victims’ face, blinding them in the process, before snatching the bags, mobile phones or other valuables.
ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said luck, however, ran out on the two suspects last Friday when they attempted to snatch the bag from the young lady who was waiting to cross the road.
The Crime Officer said eyewitnesses rushed to the scene and managed to arrest them.
But for the timely intervention of a police motor rider, the two suspects would have been lynched by the angry mob.
Police investigations continue.
Story: Mary Mensah
The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested two suspected robbers who allegedly used motorbikes to snatch bags and mobile phones from members of the public in broad daylight.
The two were arrested at Adabraka near the Roxy Cinema when they snatched a handbag belonging to a young lady.
Abdulai Amadu, 20, and Iliasu Sahadu were riding a Yamaha motorbike with registration number GR 3582 X at the time of the theft.
According to the Accra Regional Crime Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boi-Bi-Boi, the police had received several reports from members of the public about the activities of the robbers.
He said they usually operated around Adabraka where they either knocked down or slapped their victims’ face, blinding them in the process, before snatching the bags, mobile phones or other valuables.
ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said luck, however, ran out on the two suspects last Friday when they attempted to snatch the bag from the young lady who was waiting to cross the road.
The Crime Officer said eyewitnesses rushed to the scene and managed to arrest them.
But for the timely intervention of a police motor rider, the two suspects would have been lynched by the angry mob.
Police investigations continue.
MANTRAC SETS UP NEW DIVISION (Page 38)
07/04/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
MANTRAC Ghana, the sole authorised Caterpillar dealer in the country, has established a used equipment division in order to meet the needs of customers who require buying used equipment.
The company inspects and ships used CAT equipment through its links with recognised used equipment suppliers world-wide.
According to the Marketing and Public Affairs Director, Ms Beatrice Johnson, Caterpillar equipment are built tough to withstand years of use and still perform like it did when new.
She said sometimes buying a piece of used equipment made more sense to one’s budget and scope of work and previously local contractors would source used Caterpillar machines from second-hand suppliers, who were driven more by profit than the satisfaction of supplying quality used equipment to customers.
She said most often used equipment from these sources were unsafe, which could often result in costly breakdowns and increased downtime.
“Our experienced engineers vigorously examine all used machines before purchase, carrying out exhaustive diagnostic tests in order to ensure their excellent condition,” she said.
Ms Johnson said Mantrac Ghana was covering the country through its branches located at the head office in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi, and these branches covered all the customer’s needs and demands, adding that buyers would get the best customer service with the best quality.
She said the antecedent to the success story of Tractor of Equipment when it takes its new name Mantrac becomes brighter, clearer and more solidified as the years roll on.
She said the new name carries with it renewed pledge of excellence, professionalism and corporate mindset of a responsible partnership in service delivery in Ghana.
Ms Johnson said the Mantrac group was recently awarded the exclusive right to distribute and service O&K’s range of heavy mining hydraulic excavators and the deal is part of global agreement that will allow caterpillar dealerships in over 40 countries to sell and service the equipment.
“The New Development will bring the world’s most successful manufacturing of heavy mining diesel and electric hydraulic excavators together with the world’s biggest manufacturer of construction and mining products, both of which can now be sold and service by the Mantrac Group”, she stated.
Story: Mary Mensah
MANTRAC Ghana, the sole authorised Caterpillar dealer in the country, has established a used equipment division in order to meet the needs of customers who require buying used equipment.
The company inspects and ships used CAT equipment through its links with recognised used equipment suppliers world-wide.
According to the Marketing and Public Affairs Director, Ms Beatrice Johnson, Caterpillar equipment are built tough to withstand years of use and still perform like it did when new.
She said sometimes buying a piece of used equipment made more sense to one’s budget and scope of work and previously local contractors would source used Caterpillar machines from second-hand suppliers, who were driven more by profit than the satisfaction of supplying quality used equipment to customers.
She said most often used equipment from these sources were unsafe, which could often result in costly breakdowns and increased downtime.
“Our experienced engineers vigorously examine all used machines before purchase, carrying out exhaustive diagnostic tests in order to ensure their excellent condition,” she said.
Ms Johnson said Mantrac Ghana was covering the country through its branches located at the head office in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi, and these branches covered all the customer’s needs and demands, adding that buyers would get the best customer service with the best quality.
She said the antecedent to the success story of Tractor of Equipment when it takes its new name Mantrac becomes brighter, clearer and more solidified as the years roll on.
She said the new name carries with it renewed pledge of excellence, professionalism and corporate mindset of a responsible partnership in service delivery in Ghana.
Ms Johnson said the Mantrac group was recently awarded the exclusive right to distribute and service O&K’s range of heavy mining hydraulic excavators and the deal is part of global agreement that will allow caterpillar dealerships in over 40 countries to sell and service the equipment.
“The New Development will bring the world’s most successful manufacturing of heavy mining diesel and electric hydraulic excavators together with the world’s biggest manufacturer of construction and mining products, both of which can now be sold and service by the Mantrac Group”, she stated.
5 PRISON OFFICERS OFF FOR COURSE (Page 32)
07/04/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
FIVE psychologists from the Ghana Prisons Service are currently undergoing a two-week special capacity building programme at the Galilee College in Israel.
This brings to 11 the number of officers who have participated in the programme started last year.
The Chief Public Affairs Officer of the Prisons Service, DSP Gloria Fati Abudu, told the Daily Graphic that it had become imperative for the Service to upgrade the knowledge and skills of its officers in view of the shift towards correctional approach to prison management.
She said initially the focus of the service was on safe custody and welfare of prisoners but now the emphasis was on rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners into the society after their discharge.
DSP Abudu said majority of ex-convicts returned to prison for committing the same or another offence.
She said the training programme, which is on New Approaches to Psychological Services in Correctional Institutions, is aimed at training the officers in their roles as psychologists in the rehabilitation of inmates and in the prevention of recidivism.
She gave the names of the five officers who left on March 28, 2008 as Assistant Director of Prisons (ADP) Emmanuel Yao Adzator, Rev. (Supt) James Teye Tetteh, Supt Edward Ashun, Supt. Sampson K. Gunu and Deputy Supt of Prisons (DSP) Augustina Mensah Fiadzo.
Story: Mary Mensah
FIVE psychologists from the Ghana Prisons Service are currently undergoing a two-week special capacity building programme at the Galilee College in Israel.
This brings to 11 the number of officers who have participated in the programme started last year.
The Chief Public Affairs Officer of the Prisons Service, DSP Gloria Fati Abudu, told the Daily Graphic that it had become imperative for the Service to upgrade the knowledge and skills of its officers in view of the shift towards correctional approach to prison management.
She said initially the focus of the service was on safe custody and welfare of prisoners but now the emphasis was on rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners into the society after their discharge.
DSP Abudu said majority of ex-convicts returned to prison for committing the same or another offence.
She said the training programme, which is on New Approaches to Psychological Services in Correctional Institutions, is aimed at training the officers in their roles as psychologists in the rehabilitation of inmates and in the prevention of recidivism.
She gave the names of the five officers who left on March 28, 2008 as Assistant Director of Prisons (ADP) Emmanuel Yao Adzator, Rev. (Supt) James Teye Tetteh, Supt Edward Ashun, Supt. Sampson K. Gunu and Deputy Supt of Prisons (DSP) Augustina Mensah Fiadzo.
POLICE SETS UP UNIT TO CHECK HUMAN TRAFFICKING (Back Page)
05/04/08
Story: Mary Mensah
AN Anti-Human Trafficking Unit has been established at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to handle human trafficking cases.
The Unit will receive from the public complaints regarding human trafficking, investigate, arrest and prosecute all offenders under the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694).
The new unit will also collaborate with other stakeholders to embark on a vigorous awareness and sensitisation campaign to inform members of the public about the dangers and effects of human trafficking both locally and internationally.
Some of the stakeholder institutions are the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNICEF, International Organisation of Migration (IOM), Department of Social Welfare, Ghana Immigration Service, Attorney General's Office, Passport Office and some NGOs.
According to the Director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, DSP Kwesi Ofori, trafficking in human beings has assumed grave international dimensions.
Following this, the United Nations, other international agencies and governments all over the world are tackling issues of trafficking in human beings in a more organised and focussed way.
He said the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), for example, considered it as one of its six priority crime areas and had planned elaborate annual programmes for workshops, conferences, provision of reference materials ad sponsorship packages for police training activities in human trafficking.
DSP Ofori said in view of this, most law enforcement agencies had or were creating specialised units to deal effectively with this growing menace in co-operation with other agencies dealing with other forms of organised crime.
“Unfortunately, pundits opine that due to cultural and customary practices, human trafficking is not considered a serious crime in Africa and in Ghana, despite the promulgation of the Human Trafficking Act 2005(Act 694), a significant number of people in some communities actively engage in human trafficking,” he said.
He indicated that the unit would liaise with other stakeholders to adopt proactive methods to prevent trafficking in human beings (domestic and international), co-operate with Law Enforcement Agencies world-wide in operations to crack down on international/domestic criminal gangs involved in human trafficking;
The director noted that the new unit would liaise with the National Headquarters Operations, Regional Operational Units, Rapid Deployment Forces, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and INTERPOL/Ghana, to offer prompt response to human trafficking cases.
He said the unit would again liaise with regional, divisional, district and unit crime officers to collect and collate information on human trafficking cases to feed the National Crime Statistics Database.
DSP Ofori said the new Unit fell under the Organised Crime Unit, which has been restructured and re-organised.
Human trafficking, commonly referred to as "modern day slavery", is a global phenomenon that involves obtaining or maintaining the labour or services of another through the use of force, fraud or coercion in violation of an individual's human rights.
Generating billions of dollars in profit each year for patrons, human trafficking is one of the world's fastest growing criminal activities, operating on the same scale as the illegal trade in guns and drugs.
Fuelled by global economic conditions and increased international mobility, the market for and trade in human beings continues to expand rapidly.
Story: Mary Mensah
AN Anti-Human Trafficking Unit has been established at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to handle human trafficking cases.
The Unit will receive from the public complaints regarding human trafficking, investigate, arrest and prosecute all offenders under the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694).
The new unit will also collaborate with other stakeholders to embark on a vigorous awareness and sensitisation campaign to inform members of the public about the dangers and effects of human trafficking both locally and internationally.
Some of the stakeholder institutions are the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNICEF, International Organisation of Migration (IOM), Department of Social Welfare, Ghana Immigration Service, Attorney General's Office, Passport Office and some NGOs.
According to the Director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, DSP Kwesi Ofori, trafficking in human beings has assumed grave international dimensions.
Following this, the United Nations, other international agencies and governments all over the world are tackling issues of trafficking in human beings in a more organised and focussed way.
He said the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), for example, considered it as one of its six priority crime areas and had planned elaborate annual programmes for workshops, conferences, provision of reference materials ad sponsorship packages for police training activities in human trafficking.
DSP Ofori said in view of this, most law enforcement agencies had or were creating specialised units to deal effectively with this growing menace in co-operation with other agencies dealing with other forms of organised crime.
“Unfortunately, pundits opine that due to cultural and customary practices, human trafficking is not considered a serious crime in Africa and in Ghana, despite the promulgation of the Human Trafficking Act 2005(Act 694), a significant number of people in some communities actively engage in human trafficking,” he said.
He indicated that the unit would liaise with other stakeholders to adopt proactive methods to prevent trafficking in human beings (domestic and international), co-operate with Law Enforcement Agencies world-wide in operations to crack down on international/domestic criminal gangs involved in human trafficking;
The director noted that the new unit would liaise with the National Headquarters Operations, Regional Operational Units, Rapid Deployment Forces, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and INTERPOL/Ghana, to offer prompt response to human trafficking cases.
He said the unit would again liaise with regional, divisional, district and unit crime officers to collect and collate information on human trafficking cases to feed the National Crime Statistics Database.
DSP Ofori said the new Unit fell under the Organised Crime Unit, which has been restructured and re-organised.
Human trafficking, commonly referred to as "modern day slavery", is a global phenomenon that involves obtaining or maintaining the labour or services of another through the use of force, fraud or coercion in violation of an individual's human rights.
Generating billions of dollars in profit each year for patrons, human trafficking is one of the world's fastest growing criminal activities, operating on the same scale as the illegal trade in guns and drugs.
Fuelled by global economic conditions and increased international mobility, the market for and trade in human beings continues to expand rapidly.
Friday, April 4, 2008
GHANA TO BENEFIT FROM SWISS SUPPORT (Centre Spread)
04/04/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
GHANA has been selected as one of seven countries to benefit from an $800 million credit facility instituted by the government of Switzerland to support economic and trade policy measures in developing countries for a period of four years.
The measures, which are part of Switzerland’s development policy strategy, are aimed at integrating partner countries into the global economy. They are also expected to promote the sustainable economic growth of these countries, thereby contributing effectively to long-term poverty reduction.
The other countries are Egypt, Indonesia, Colombia, Peru, South Africa and Vietnam.
The Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Nicolas Lang, who announced this at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, said Ghana was selected due to its rapid economic growth.
He said Switzerland decided to reduce the number of countries from an initial 12 to seven, and added that Ghana was selected among the seven countries because of its promotion of good governance in the country, and that the action also confirmed his country’s recognition of Ghana’s achievements since it returned to democratic rule in 1992.
He said traditional development assistance under the auspices of Switzerland’s Development Co-operation (SDC) would continue to operate as in the past and the overall volume of Switzerland’s development assistance to developing countries would remain unchanged.
He said activities will be oriented more towards measures that would enable partner countries to attain sustainable economic growth and benefits from increased international economic exchange.
He said Switzerland’s office in charge of economic and trade policy measures in developing countries, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, would focus increasingly on its core competencies in an effort to improve effectiveness and efficiency in Swiss development co-operation.
The ambassador said the seven countries selected were currently experiencing rapid economic growth, striving towards greater integration into the world economy and were of significant economic importance in their regions although they faced problems relating to the reduction of poverty.
“With its strong thematic and geographical focus, Switzerland takes into account the recommendations of its parliament and of relevant international organisations such as the OECD which promote a greater focus and improved division of labour amongst development partners to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of development co-operation and reduce transaction costs for government,” the ambassador said.
Story: Mary Mensah
GHANA has been selected as one of seven countries to benefit from an $800 million credit facility instituted by the government of Switzerland to support economic and trade policy measures in developing countries for a period of four years.
The measures, which are part of Switzerland’s development policy strategy, are aimed at integrating partner countries into the global economy. They are also expected to promote the sustainable economic growth of these countries, thereby contributing effectively to long-term poverty reduction.
The other countries are Egypt, Indonesia, Colombia, Peru, South Africa and Vietnam.
The Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Nicolas Lang, who announced this at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, said Ghana was selected due to its rapid economic growth.
He said Switzerland decided to reduce the number of countries from an initial 12 to seven, and added that Ghana was selected among the seven countries because of its promotion of good governance in the country, and that the action also confirmed his country’s recognition of Ghana’s achievements since it returned to democratic rule in 1992.
He said traditional development assistance under the auspices of Switzerland’s Development Co-operation (SDC) would continue to operate as in the past and the overall volume of Switzerland’s development assistance to developing countries would remain unchanged.
He said activities will be oriented more towards measures that would enable partner countries to attain sustainable economic growth and benefits from increased international economic exchange.
He said Switzerland’s office in charge of economic and trade policy measures in developing countries, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, would focus increasingly on its core competencies in an effort to improve effectiveness and efficiency in Swiss development co-operation.
The ambassador said the seven countries selected were currently experiencing rapid economic growth, striving towards greater integration into the world economy and were of significant economic importance in their regions although they faced problems relating to the reduction of poverty.
“With its strong thematic and geographical focus, Switzerland takes into account the recommendations of its parliament and of relevant international organisations such as the OECD which promote a greater focus and improved division of labour amongst development partners to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of development co-operation and reduce transaction costs for government,” the ambassador said.
27,000 TO GO HOME (Front Page)
02/04/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
ALL 26,967 Liberian refugees resident in the country are to be repatriated to Liberia by the Government of Ghana for them to help to rebuild their country.
The repatriation exercise, which will be sponsored by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), is expected to start after Friday, April 4, 2008.
In the interim, all Liberian refugees at the Buduburam settlement will be dispersed and settled into smaller communities for better management and monitoring.
The Minister for the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, who announced this in Accra yesterday when he met the press at the Ministry of Information, said the government would no longer tolerate the situation where people who had been warmly received in the country continued to undermine the security of the state.
“Our national security is supreme and shall not be compromised on any account. Besides, refugees have a responsibility to respect our laws, as well as refrain from subversive activities against the state,” he stated.
He said the government was aware of the presence of a number of ex-combatants at the Buduburam settlement and would not sit down unconcerned for the security of the country to be jeopardised.
Mr Bartels said the government held a meeting with a high-powered delegation of the Liberian government, during which the government’s position was made clear to the Liberians and they agreed that a tripartite committee made up of representatives of the governments of Ghana and Liberia, as well as the UNHCR, be set up to work out the practical modalities for the repatriation.
He explained that Ghana had, on the onset of the Liberian Civil War in 1989/90, received and hosted several thousands of Liberian refugees who had fled the conflict, in the spirit of African unity and brotherliness.
He said the country’s doors had been opened since independence and recounted how Ghana had received the ill-fated “Bulk Challenge” ship carrying hundreds of Liberians fleeing the conflict in 1996 as it drifted helplessly on the high seas, after it had been rejected by almost every country on the west coast of Africa.
The minister said Ghana had played a very active and pivotal role in the search for peace in Liberia and also contributed troops to peace-keeping operations to the extent that Ghanaian lives had been lost in the search for peace in Liberia.
He said Liberian refugees fled to Ghana because of the civil conflict which had presently ended, with the country returning to democratic rule and normalcy, adding that the government signed a tripartite agreement in September 2004 for the voluntary repatriation, which ended on June 30, 2007.
“All Liberian refugees in Ghana are refugees under the 1969 OAU Convention governing the specific aspects of the refugee problems in Africa and not under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. No Liberian refugee in Ghana is here on account of war of prosecution and it is the belief of the government that the vast majority of them can return to Liberia in safety and dignity,” he said.
The Minister of the Interior said for the past five years there had been absolute peace in Liberia and over one million refugees had returned home.
Consequently, the government had requested for the invocation of the Cessation Clause under Article 1 (4) of the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention because the grounds on which they remained here were no longer valid.
Mr Bartels expressed displeasure at the fact that a group of Liberians had, since February 19, 2008, embarked on an illegal demonstration at the Buduburam Refugee Settlement, stating, among other things, that they did not wish to remain in Ghana to be integrated into the Ghanaian society.
They had rather demanded resettlement in a Western country, probably the United States or Canada, and the payment of $1,000 to each of them opting to voluntarily resettle in Liberia.
He said the cause of action had been a matter of grave concern to the government because it did have grave security implications and the leaders of the demonstration had hidden behind the women and innocent children to perpetrate their illegal acts.
The minister said the seemingly innocent demonstration by women and children was part of a wider plot by a number of persons to cause mayhem on the settlement, as well as threaten the security of the nation.
Mr Bartels said Ghana, as an independent and sovereign country, had the right to protect itself from subversive elements and would take any action appropriate to protect and preserve the peace in the country without apology to anybody.
Story: Mary Mensah
ALL 26,967 Liberian refugees resident in the country are to be repatriated to Liberia by the Government of Ghana for them to help to rebuild their country.
The repatriation exercise, which will be sponsored by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), is expected to start after Friday, April 4, 2008.
In the interim, all Liberian refugees at the Buduburam settlement will be dispersed and settled into smaller communities for better management and monitoring.
The Minister for the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, who announced this in Accra yesterday when he met the press at the Ministry of Information, said the government would no longer tolerate the situation where people who had been warmly received in the country continued to undermine the security of the state.
“Our national security is supreme and shall not be compromised on any account. Besides, refugees have a responsibility to respect our laws, as well as refrain from subversive activities against the state,” he stated.
He said the government was aware of the presence of a number of ex-combatants at the Buduburam settlement and would not sit down unconcerned for the security of the country to be jeopardised.
Mr Bartels said the government held a meeting with a high-powered delegation of the Liberian government, during which the government’s position was made clear to the Liberians and they agreed that a tripartite committee made up of representatives of the governments of Ghana and Liberia, as well as the UNHCR, be set up to work out the practical modalities for the repatriation.
He explained that Ghana had, on the onset of the Liberian Civil War in 1989/90, received and hosted several thousands of Liberian refugees who had fled the conflict, in the spirit of African unity and brotherliness.
He said the country’s doors had been opened since independence and recounted how Ghana had received the ill-fated “Bulk Challenge” ship carrying hundreds of Liberians fleeing the conflict in 1996 as it drifted helplessly on the high seas, after it had been rejected by almost every country on the west coast of Africa.
The minister said Ghana had played a very active and pivotal role in the search for peace in Liberia and also contributed troops to peace-keeping operations to the extent that Ghanaian lives had been lost in the search for peace in Liberia.
He said Liberian refugees fled to Ghana because of the civil conflict which had presently ended, with the country returning to democratic rule and normalcy, adding that the government signed a tripartite agreement in September 2004 for the voluntary repatriation, which ended on June 30, 2007.
“All Liberian refugees in Ghana are refugees under the 1969 OAU Convention governing the specific aspects of the refugee problems in Africa and not under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. No Liberian refugee in Ghana is here on account of war of prosecution and it is the belief of the government that the vast majority of them can return to Liberia in safety and dignity,” he said.
The Minister of the Interior said for the past five years there had been absolute peace in Liberia and over one million refugees had returned home.
Consequently, the government had requested for the invocation of the Cessation Clause under Article 1 (4) of the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention because the grounds on which they remained here were no longer valid.
Mr Bartels expressed displeasure at the fact that a group of Liberians had, since February 19, 2008, embarked on an illegal demonstration at the Buduburam Refugee Settlement, stating, among other things, that they did not wish to remain in Ghana to be integrated into the Ghanaian society.
They had rather demanded resettlement in a Western country, probably the United States or Canada, and the payment of $1,000 to each of them opting to voluntarily resettle in Liberia.
He said the cause of action had been a matter of grave concern to the government because it did have grave security implications and the leaders of the demonstration had hidden behind the women and innocent children to perpetrate their illegal acts.
The minister said the seemingly innocent demonstration by women and children was part of a wider plot by a number of persons to cause mayhem on the settlement, as well as threaten the security of the nation.
Mr Bartels said Ghana, as an independent and sovereign country, had the right to protect itself from subversive elements and would take any action appropriate to protect and preserve the peace in the country without apology to anybody.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Fidelity Bank Expands Frontier (Business Page)
28/03/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
The Head of Banking Supervision Department of the Bank of Ghana, Mr Dela Selormey, has called on banks to embark on an intensive training programmes to raise the competency level of their newly engaged staff.
Mr Selormey said one of the challenges that confronted the banking industry was inadequate number of well-trained bankers to meet the rapidly growing financial sector.
He made the call at the simultaneous opening in Accra yesterday of three new branches of Fidelity Bank Limited. The branches are located at Osu, Spintex Road and High Street.
Mr Selormey said the BoG for its part had initiated a number of regulatory and policy reforms to ensure a congenial legal framework and that it issued periodic directives to promote transparency in the banker-customer relationships.
The BoG’s directives were also to ensure that banks undertook risks commensurate with their size and complexity, he stated.
Mr Selomey said the licensing of two more banks in the first quarter of this year had brought the commercial banks’ branch network to 539, which had further deepened the competition.
He commended the management and staff of Fidelity Bank for their contribution towards the development of the banking sector and the bank’s own rapid expansion.
The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Gyan-Baffour, who inaugurated the branches, called on banking institutions to reduce interest rates to enable more small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to access loans to expand their businesses.
That, he said, would not only be beneficial to customers and investors but the banks as well and would also help the economy to expand.
He said the government’s vision of promoting the private sector as the engine of growth would be undermined without increased financial intermediation.
“As an economy in which over 90 per cent of companies are SMEs, we need more banking outlets to support the SMEs to facilitate access to credit at a cheaper cost so that they can expand their businesses, grow the economy and provide jobs,” he stated.
The Deputy Finance and Economic Planning Minister expressed the hope that the passage of the Credit Reporting Act (Act 720) and the consequent licensing of credit reference bureaux would help address the risk factor in the banking sector and impact positively on interest rates.
The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Limited, Mr Edward Effah, said the opening of the three branches was to bring enhanced services to the doorstep of its customers and prospective ones.
He said the vision of the bank was to provide a benchmark for retail banking in the country, defined by positive customer service and employee efficiency.
The Director, Retail Banking, of the bank, Mr John Sam Acquah, said the bank planned to open more branches by the close of the year in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and other business districts of the country.
He announced that by the end of June this year, the bank would roll out its automatic teller machines (ATMs), Internet banking product, phone banking and mobile banking facilities, among others.
Picture: Mr Edward Effah, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank (left), taking the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Prof George Gyan-Baffour, (3rd left) around the banking hall. With them include the Board Chairman, Mr William Panford-Bray (4th left) and an Advisor to the Finance Minister, Mr Poku Kyei (2nd left) and other staff of the bank.
Story: Mary Mensah
The Head of Banking Supervision Department of the Bank of Ghana, Mr Dela Selormey, has called on banks to embark on an intensive training programmes to raise the competency level of their newly engaged staff.
Mr Selormey said one of the challenges that confronted the banking industry was inadequate number of well-trained bankers to meet the rapidly growing financial sector.
He made the call at the simultaneous opening in Accra yesterday of three new branches of Fidelity Bank Limited. The branches are located at Osu, Spintex Road and High Street.
Mr Selormey said the BoG for its part had initiated a number of regulatory and policy reforms to ensure a congenial legal framework and that it issued periodic directives to promote transparency in the banker-customer relationships.
The BoG’s directives were also to ensure that banks undertook risks commensurate with their size and complexity, he stated.
Mr Selomey said the licensing of two more banks in the first quarter of this year had brought the commercial banks’ branch network to 539, which had further deepened the competition.
He commended the management and staff of Fidelity Bank for their contribution towards the development of the banking sector and the bank’s own rapid expansion.
The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Gyan-Baffour, who inaugurated the branches, called on banking institutions to reduce interest rates to enable more small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to access loans to expand their businesses.
That, he said, would not only be beneficial to customers and investors but the banks as well and would also help the economy to expand.
He said the government’s vision of promoting the private sector as the engine of growth would be undermined without increased financial intermediation.
“As an economy in which over 90 per cent of companies are SMEs, we need more banking outlets to support the SMEs to facilitate access to credit at a cheaper cost so that they can expand their businesses, grow the economy and provide jobs,” he stated.
The Deputy Finance and Economic Planning Minister expressed the hope that the passage of the Credit Reporting Act (Act 720) and the consequent licensing of credit reference bureaux would help address the risk factor in the banking sector and impact positively on interest rates.
The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Limited, Mr Edward Effah, said the opening of the three branches was to bring enhanced services to the doorstep of its customers and prospective ones.
He said the vision of the bank was to provide a benchmark for retail banking in the country, defined by positive customer service and employee efficiency.
The Director, Retail Banking, of the bank, Mr John Sam Acquah, said the bank planned to open more branches by the close of the year in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and other business districts of the country.
He announced that by the end of June this year, the bank would roll out its automatic teller machines (ATMs), Internet banking product, phone banking and mobile banking facilities, among others.
Picture: Mr Edward Effah, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank (left), taking the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Prof George Gyan-Baffour, (3rd left) around the banking hall. With them include the Board Chairman, Mr William Panford-Bray (4th left) and an Advisor to the Finance Minister, Mr Poku Kyei (2nd left) and other staff of the bank.
MTTU TO CONDUCT SPECIAL EXERCISE (Page 3)
29/03/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
An exercise by the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service begins throughout the country today to check the insurance and roadworthy certificates of all vehicles.
The exercise, expected to last for five days, is to ensure that all vehicles on the roads are covered with the two documents and comply with motor traffic laws to reduce accidents.
The Director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, DSP Kwesi Ofori, who disclosed this in an interview in Accra yesterday, said all vehicles without the documents would be impounded and the drivers prosecuted.
He said the withdrawal of road checks was still in force and reiterated that the ECOWAS and NEPAD-approved barriers were operational for 24 hours to facilitate the free flow of goods and persons within the West African sub-region.
He said shortly after the review of the road checks the police embarked on a public education at vantage points, using both the print and the electronic media to sensitise members of the public especially owners of vehicles to the importance of the two documents.
The Public Relations Director urged organisations and all security personnel who drove without insurance and roadworthy certificates to immediately acquire them before the beginning of April.
The director said the aim of the exercise was to ensure compliance with motor traffic laws and reduce the number of barriers within the country to the barest minimum to facilitate the free flow of goods and persons.
He urged members of the public, especially drivers, to co-operate with the police during the exercise.
The police last month announced the review of police operations with the view of intensifying the hunt for illegal arms and ammunition and combating armed robbery and other forms of violent crimes.
Consequently, night snap checks were intensified across the country but all checkpoints mounted by the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service were removed until further notice.
Story: Mary Mensah
An exercise by the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service begins throughout the country today to check the insurance and roadworthy certificates of all vehicles.
The exercise, expected to last for five days, is to ensure that all vehicles on the roads are covered with the two documents and comply with motor traffic laws to reduce accidents.
The Director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, DSP Kwesi Ofori, who disclosed this in an interview in Accra yesterday, said all vehicles without the documents would be impounded and the drivers prosecuted.
He said the withdrawal of road checks was still in force and reiterated that the ECOWAS and NEPAD-approved barriers were operational for 24 hours to facilitate the free flow of goods and persons within the West African sub-region.
He said shortly after the review of the road checks the police embarked on a public education at vantage points, using both the print and the electronic media to sensitise members of the public especially owners of vehicles to the importance of the two documents.
The Public Relations Director urged organisations and all security personnel who drove without insurance and roadworthy certificates to immediately acquire them before the beginning of April.
The director said the aim of the exercise was to ensure compliance with motor traffic laws and reduce the number of barriers within the country to the barest minimum to facilitate the free flow of goods and persons.
He urged members of the public, especially drivers, to co-operate with the police during the exercise.
The police last month announced the review of police operations with the view of intensifying the hunt for illegal arms and ammunition and combating armed robbery and other forms of violent crimes.
Consequently, night snap checks were intensified across the country but all checkpoints mounted by the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service were removed until further notice.
EFFORTS TO SORT HOUSEHOLD WASTE (Page 3)
25/03/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Chemical Engineering Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in collaboration with Zoomlion Company Limited, has begun a pilot project in Kumasi aimed at sorting household waste from selected households.
The project, funded by Zoomlion Limited, will examine the potential for the source-sorting process at the household level, since this provides the most meaningful approach for an integrated waste management system.
According to the Project Co-ordinator, Dr Moses Mensah of KNUST, the results were expected within the next six months.
He said the project involved the composting of the organic fractions and recycling of plastic waste, thereby reducing the quantity of waste that had to be disposed of at the landfill site.
The research will further examine prospects for the production of biogas, as well as the generation of power from municipal waste and landfills through integrated landfill management.
Dr Mensah said the project was expected to lead to a reduction in the quantity of waste that would get to the landfill sites.
He said the source-sorting would a go a long way to solve the problem of waste disposal and create value for the organic and plastic fractions.
“This way, many people will begin to see waste as a resource and a marketable commodity,” he added.
He said the management of Zoomlion did not want to limit itself only to waste collection and that it wanted to engage in using waste for profitable activities.
The Public Relations Officer of Zoomlion, Mr Oscar Provencal, said the current landfills were not adequate and that it was difficult acquiring land for that purpose, hence the need to find new ways of channelling waste.
He stressed that no company could be efficient in waste collection if it had difficulty with acquiring disposal sites.
.
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Chemical Engineering Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in collaboration with Zoomlion Company Limited, has begun a pilot project in Kumasi aimed at sorting household waste from selected households.
The project, funded by Zoomlion Limited, will examine the potential for the source-sorting process at the household level, since this provides the most meaningful approach for an integrated waste management system.
According to the Project Co-ordinator, Dr Moses Mensah of KNUST, the results were expected within the next six months.
He said the project involved the composting of the organic fractions and recycling of plastic waste, thereby reducing the quantity of waste that had to be disposed of at the landfill site.
The research will further examine prospects for the production of biogas, as well as the generation of power from municipal waste and landfills through integrated landfill management.
Dr Mensah said the project was expected to lead to a reduction in the quantity of waste that would get to the landfill sites.
He said the source-sorting would a go a long way to solve the problem of waste disposal and create value for the organic and plastic fractions.
“This way, many people will begin to see waste as a resource and a marketable commodity,” he added.
He said the management of Zoomlion did not want to limit itself only to waste collection and that it wanted to engage in using waste for profitable activities.
The Public Relations Officer of Zoomlion, Mr Oscar Provencal, said the current landfills were not adequate and that it was difficult acquiring land for that purpose, hence the need to find new ways of channelling waste.
He stressed that no company could be efficient in waste collection if it had difficulty with acquiring disposal sites.
.
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