3/10/08
Story: Mary Mensah
THE European Organisation for the Exploration of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) is to hold its 8th EUMETSAT User Forum in Africa in Ghana.
The programme, which starts today, is on the theme, “Use of Satellite Data for Monitoring Climate Change and Water Resources”.
More than 150 meteorological experts from Africa and Europe are expected to attend the forum.
Briefing the press in Accra, the International Relations Officer of EUMETSAT, Dr Vincent Gabaglio, said the organisation organised the user forum in Africa on a biennial basis and each time in a different African country.
He said the aim was to reinforce the already well-established dialogue between EUMETSAT and African user communities and their national meteorological services in order to optimise the use of satellite data and products in Africa.
Dr Gabaglio said the forum would also offer an excellent opportunity for the users of satellite to provide direct feedback and recommendations to EUMETSAT, which would be considered when preparing future activities.
He said during the forum, demonstration stands would be set up at the entrance of the Accra International Conference Centre, where the forum would be held, to showcase the use of EUMETSAT satellite images, data and products in various applications — meteorology, oceanography, marine, etc.
Dr Gabaglio said at the end of the forum, it was expected that a clear set of recommendations would be agreed upon by all parties.
A Director at the Scientific Division of the Meteorological Department, Mr Andrew Nkansah, said Ghana started using satellite in 1989 and currently had two receiving stations.
He said one of the new systems had been installed at the Kotoka Airport to serve the aviation industry, while a back-up had been placed at the headquarters of the meteo office to monitor other activities.
He said EUMETSAT had enhanced the capacity of the images that came through satellite, saying that was very useful for meteo operations in the country and elsewhere in Africa.
Monday, October 27, 2008
FOUR NABBED FOR PRINTING FAKE CURRENCY (Page 28)
28/09/08
Story: Mary Mensah
Four men believed to be members of a money printing syndicate which has been circulating fake GH¢20, Gh¢10 and GH¢5 in the country have been arrested by the Madina Police in Accra.
The four, said to be operating at Asylum Down in Accra, are said to be part of a bigger syndicate, and that the police were on the heels of other members of the group currently on the run.
Bundles of large quantities of the printed currency notes concealed in a black suitcase, fake $100 bills, computers, inkjet printers, a pistol with ammunitions, five computer hard disks, 13 cartridges with different colours and money wrappers, among others, were found in the house where the police said the syndicate operated from.
Those arrested are Joseph Osafo, a 26-year-old graphic designer and leader of the syndicate, Appiah Kubi, 30, Frank Owusu, 28, and Stephen Kofi Nortey Kommey, 20.
According to the Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Ayitey, the modus operandi of the group was to travel to the various regions during market days to circulate the fake money to traders.
He said two members of the group who were on their way to Koforidua in the Eastern Region with large quantities of the money were arrested at the Ayi Mensah barrier by plain clothes personnel who had laid ambush for them.
Chief Supt Ayitey said on September 24, 2008 the Madina police had information about the syndicate who had planned to circulate the fake currency inKoforidua on a market day.
He said based on that information a group of personnel were quickly dispatched to the Ayi Mensah barrier where they laid ambush and at about 10:00 a.m. a taxi pulled up with two occupants.
He said when the two men were searched bundles of the fake currency were found in their pockets and some compartments of the taxi.
The commander said the two suspects, both traders, told the police during interrogation that the supplier of the fake notes lived at Asylum Down.
He said they led the police to the house at Asylum Down where Osafo lives, and he was arrested together with another suspect, and the aforementioned items seized from him.
Chief Supt Ayitey said following interrogation Joseph admitted the offence and claimed he started circulating the currency about two months ago and mentioned other accomplices.
Investigations are continuing.
Story: Mary Mensah
Four men believed to be members of a money printing syndicate which has been circulating fake GH¢20, Gh¢10 and GH¢5 in the country have been arrested by the Madina Police in Accra.
The four, said to be operating at Asylum Down in Accra, are said to be part of a bigger syndicate, and that the police were on the heels of other members of the group currently on the run.
Bundles of large quantities of the printed currency notes concealed in a black suitcase, fake $100 bills, computers, inkjet printers, a pistol with ammunitions, five computer hard disks, 13 cartridges with different colours and money wrappers, among others, were found in the house where the police said the syndicate operated from.
Those arrested are Joseph Osafo, a 26-year-old graphic designer and leader of the syndicate, Appiah Kubi, 30, Frank Owusu, 28, and Stephen Kofi Nortey Kommey, 20.
According to the Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Ayitey, the modus operandi of the group was to travel to the various regions during market days to circulate the fake money to traders.
He said two members of the group who were on their way to Koforidua in the Eastern Region with large quantities of the money were arrested at the Ayi Mensah barrier by plain clothes personnel who had laid ambush for them.
Chief Supt Ayitey said on September 24, 2008 the Madina police had information about the syndicate who had planned to circulate the fake currency inKoforidua on a market day.
He said based on that information a group of personnel were quickly dispatched to the Ayi Mensah barrier where they laid ambush and at about 10:00 a.m. a taxi pulled up with two occupants.
He said when the two men were searched bundles of the fake currency were found in their pockets and some compartments of the taxi.
The commander said the two suspects, both traders, told the police during interrogation that the supplier of the fake notes lived at Asylum Down.
He said they led the police to the house at Asylum Down where Osafo lives, and he was arrested together with another suspect, and the aforementioned items seized from him.
Chief Supt Ayitey said following interrogation Joseph admitted the offence and claimed he started circulating the currency about two months ago and mentioned other accomplices.
Investigations are continuing.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
CHURCH ELDERS DONATE TO POLICE HOSPITAL (Page 47)
29/09/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
Ministers and Elders of the Ghana Police church have presented various items valued at GH¢8000 to the Police Hospital at a ceremony in Accra.
The items include bedside cabinets, wheel chairs, screens, furniture, disposable gloves, theatre boots wardrobes and air conditioners.
The church has also adopted the female ward of the hospital and pledged to expand and refurbish the reception area to make waiting more comfortable.
Presenting the items, the Superintendent Minister, Very Rev Twum-Baah of the church said the presentation forms part of the church's social responsibility.
He said on a recent visit the elders of the church realised that the hospital lacked certain basic facilities so they decided to help.
He pledged the church’s continuous support to the hospital and expressed the hope that the items will assist the hospital in providing quality service to patients.
Dr Godfried Asiamah, Medical Director of the hospital who received the items thanked the church for the gesture.
He said the government alone cannot provide all the needs of the hospital, adding that such initiatives from the public were always welcome.
CAPTION
Picture: Dr Asiamah, (left) in a handshake with Very Rev Twum-Baah, Chaplain of the church.
Story: Mary Mensah
Ministers and Elders of the Ghana Police church have presented various items valued at GH¢8000 to the Police Hospital at a ceremony in Accra.
The items include bedside cabinets, wheel chairs, screens, furniture, disposable gloves, theatre boots wardrobes and air conditioners.
The church has also adopted the female ward of the hospital and pledged to expand and refurbish the reception area to make waiting more comfortable.
Presenting the items, the Superintendent Minister, Very Rev Twum-Baah of the church said the presentation forms part of the church's social responsibility.
He said on a recent visit the elders of the church realised that the hospital lacked certain basic facilities so they decided to help.
He pledged the church’s continuous support to the hospital and expressed the hope that the items will assist the hospital in providing quality service to patients.
Dr Godfried Asiamah, Medical Director of the hospital who received the items thanked the church for the gesture.
He said the government alone cannot provide all the needs of the hospital, adding that such initiatives from the public were always welcome.
CAPTION
Picture: Dr Asiamah, (left) in a handshake with Very Rev Twum-Baah, Chaplain of the church.
2 COPS INTERDICTED FOR ALLEGED EXTORTION (Page 19)
29/09/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
TWO policemen who allegedly extorted GH¢25,000 from a student at Madina have been interdicted by the Police Administration.
General Lance Corporal Emmanuel Awadzie, stationed at the Adentan Police Station and Lance Corporal Solomon Awuku of the Madina police have been placed in police custody and are currently assisting the police in their investigations.
The Director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, DSP Kwesi Ofori, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Accra, said at about 11.00 p.m. on September 10, 2008, Lance Cpl Awadzie sought the assistance of Cpl Awuku at the Madina Police Station to assist him arrest the student at his house at Akatsi Abor, a suburb of Madina, for an unknown offence.
He said the two policemen drove in Awadzie’s car to the Agbogba Police Post and reported to another policeman on duty at the charge office that they needed assistance to effect the arrest of a wanted suspect.
He said after Cpl Awadzie had convinced the third policeman to believe that they were indeed performing an official assignment, he made entries into the station notebook, picked a riffle and followed the two.
DSP Ofori said between 1.00 am and 2.00 a.m. the three policemen broke into the room of the complainant while he was in bed with his fiancee.
He said they told the complainant that he was on the police wanted list at headquarters and they had been sent to effect his arrest for investigations.
DSP Ofori said they arrested and handcuffed the complainant and the girlfriend after which they ransacked the whole room in search of money.
When they failed in getting any money in the complainant’s room, they packed a computer with accessories together with some documents into a VW Passat saloon car with registration number GR 979 Z belonging to the complainant.
They asked the complainant where he had kept his money and after threatening to shoot him he told them that the money was at the house of his girlfriend.
They drove the complainant and his girlfriend to her house where they collected the GH¢25,000.00 and afterwards released them and sped off in their car thus abandoning the complainant's car.
A complaint was later lodged at the Madina Police Station and the policeman from Agbogba police was arrested because he was in uniform during the incident.
Upon interrogation, he mentioned the two others as those who sought his assistance to help in apprehending a wanted suspect from his hideout.
DSP Ofori said since the beginning of the year, 74 police officers had been dismissed from the service for gross misconduct.
He said 91 personnel were also sacked in 2007, adding that this was being done to inject sanity into the service to serve as a deterrent to others.
Story: Mary Mensah
TWO policemen who allegedly extorted GH¢25,000 from a student at Madina have been interdicted by the Police Administration.
General Lance Corporal Emmanuel Awadzie, stationed at the Adentan Police Station and Lance Corporal Solomon Awuku of the Madina police have been placed in police custody and are currently assisting the police in their investigations.
The Director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, DSP Kwesi Ofori, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Accra, said at about 11.00 p.m. on September 10, 2008, Lance Cpl Awadzie sought the assistance of Cpl Awuku at the Madina Police Station to assist him arrest the student at his house at Akatsi Abor, a suburb of Madina, for an unknown offence.
He said the two policemen drove in Awadzie’s car to the Agbogba Police Post and reported to another policeman on duty at the charge office that they needed assistance to effect the arrest of a wanted suspect.
He said after Cpl Awadzie had convinced the third policeman to believe that they were indeed performing an official assignment, he made entries into the station notebook, picked a riffle and followed the two.
DSP Ofori said between 1.00 am and 2.00 a.m. the three policemen broke into the room of the complainant while he was in bed with his fiancee.
He said they told the complainant that he was on the police wanted list at headquarters and they had been sent to effect his arrest for investigations.
DSP Ofori said they arrested and handcuffed the complainant and the girlfriend after which they ransacked the whole room in search of money.
When they failed in getting any money in the complainant’s room, they packed a computer with accessories together with some documents into a VW Passat saloon car with registration number GR 979 Z belonging to the complainant.
They asked the complainant where he had kept his money and after threatening to shoot him he told them that the money was at the house of his girlfriend.
They drove the complainant and his girlfriend to her house where they collected the GH¢25,000.00 and afterwards released them and sped off in their car thus abandoning the complainant's car.
A complaint was later lodged at the Madina Police Station and the policeman from Agbogba police was arrested because he was in uniform during the incident.
Upon interrogation, he mentioned the two others as those who sought his assistance to help in apprehending a wanted suspect from his hideout.
DSP Ofori said since the beginning of the year, 74 police officers had been dismissed from the service for gross misconduct.
He said 91 personnel were also sacked in 2007, adding that this was being done to inject sanity into the service to serve as a deterrent to others.
4 ARRESTED FOR PRINTING FAKE CEDIS (Page 14)
29/09/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
Four men believed to be members of a money printing syndicate which has been circulating fake GH¢20, Gh¢10 and GH¢5 in the country have been arrested by the Madina Police in Accra.
The four, said to be operating at Asylum Down in Accra, are said to be part of a bigger syndicate, and that the police were on the heels of other members of the group currently on the run.
Bundles of large quantities of the printed currency notes concealed in a black suitcase, fake $100 bills, computers, inkjet printers, a pistol with ammunitions, five computer hard disks, 13 cartridges with different colours and money wrappers, among others, were found in the house where the police said the syndicate operated from.
Those arrested are Joseph Osafo, a 26-year-old graphic designer and leader of the syndicate, Appiah Kubi, 30, Frank Owusu, 28, and Stephen Kofi Nortey Kommey, 20.
According to the Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Ayitey, the modus operandi of the group was to travel to the various regions during market days to circulate the fake money to traders.
He said two members of the group who were on their way to Koforidua in the Eastern Region with large quantities of the money were arrested at the Ayi Mensah barrier by plain clothes personnel who had laid ambush for them.
Chief Supt Ayitey said on September 24, 2008 the Madina police had information about the syndicate who had planned to circulate the fake currency inKoforidua on a market day.
He said based on that information a group of personnel were quickly dispatched to the Ayi Mensah barrier where they laid ambush and at about 10:00 a.m. a taxi pulled up with two occupants.
He said when the two men were searched bundles of the fake currency were found in their pockets and some compartments of the taxi.
The commander said the two suspects, both traders, told the police during interrogation that the supplier of the fake notes lived at Asylum Down.
He said they led the police to the house at Asylum Down where Osafo lives, and he was arrested together with another suspect, and the aforementioned items seized from him.
Chief Supt Ayitey said following interrogation Joseph admitted the offence and claimed he started circulating the currency about two months ago and mentioned other accomplices.
Investigations are continuing.
Story: Mary Mensah
Four men believed to be members of a money printing syndicate which has been circulating fake GH¢20, Gh¢10 and GH¢5 in the country have been arrested by the Madina Police in Accra.
The four, said to be operating at Asylum Down in Accra, are said to be part of a bigger syndicate, and that the police were on the heels of other members of the group currently on the run.
Bundles of large quantities of the printed currency notes concealed in a black suitcase, fake $100 bills, computers, inkjet printers, a pistol with ammunitions, five computer hard disks, 13 cartridges with different colours and money wrappers, among others, were found in the house where the police said the syndicate operated from.
Those arrested are Joseph Osafo, a 26-year-old graphic designer and leader of the syndicate, Appiah Kubi, 30, Frank Owusu, 28, and Stephen Kofi Nortey Kommey, 20.
According to the Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Ayitey, the modus operandi of the group was to travel to the various regions during market days to circulate the fake money to traders.
He said two members of the group who were on their way to Koforidua in the Eastern Region with large quantities of the money were arrested at the Ayi Mensah barrier by plain clothes personnel who had laid ambush for them.
Chief Supt Ayitey said on September 24, 2008 the Madina police had information about the syndicate who had planned to circulate the fake currency inKoforidua on a market day.
He said based on that information a group of personnel were quickly dispatched to the Ayi Mensah barrier where they laid ambush and at about 10:00 a.m. a taxi pulled up with two occupants.
He said when the two men were searched bundles of the fake currency were found in their pockets and some compartments of the taxi.
The commander said the two suspects, both traders, told the police during interrogation that the supplier of the fake notes lived at Asylum Down.
He said they led the police to the house at Asylum Down where Osafo lives, and he was arrested together with another suspect, and the aforementioned items seized from him.
Chief Supt Ayitey said following interrogation Joseph admitted the offence and claimed he started circulating the currency about two months ago and mentioned other accomplices.
Investigations are continuing.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
DEC 7 POLLS WILL BE PEACEFUL-AMOO (Page 3 Lead)
24/09/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
THE National Security Co-ordinator, Dr Sam Amoo, has given the assurance that the December parliamentary and presidential polls will be held in an atmosphere of peace.
He affirmed that the security apparatus of the country had, in times past, stood the test of time and would rise to the occasion once again to avert any possible threat to the state as the elections approached.
Speaking at a two-day Election Monitoring and Policing seminar for Police commanders and members of the National, Regional and District Elections Security Task Force in Accra, Dr Amoo said the perception of insecurity and mayhem, and the spectre of a Kenya or a Zimbabwe occurring here, would not happen.
The seminar is being sponsored by the British High Commission.
He said although it was widely acclaimed that Ghana was a peaceful country, the security apparatus would not take any chances for the electoral process to be threatened.
"We have planned and will effectively execute the necessary security measures to ensure peace and stability before, during and after Election 2008," he said.
The co-ordinator said the seminar was timely, in view of the fact that the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections were less than three months away and given the backdrop of the anxiety currently being generated about them.
He said the topics for discussion included the electoral law and electoral offence, the role of the media in elections, the role of civil society in elections and democracy and human rights and the management of election conflicts.
Dr Amoo expressed the hope that all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliations, would be governed by the rules, regulations and guidelines set out by the Electoral Commission to ensure peaceful elections in December 2008.
He urged the participants to approach the seminar with seriousness in order to be fully prepared for the challenges they would encounter in December.
For his part, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, said since its inception in May this year, the National Elections Task Force had made steady progress.
He said a budget had been approved and members of the various sub-committees were doing their final rounds of tours in the regions to confirm earlier analyses and assessments.
The IGP said the seminar had five parts, saying the remaining four would be held in Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi and Ho and that at the end of it all members would have improved on their store of information on the elections and the general overview of analyses and assessment countrywide.
The Political Officer of the British High Commission, Ms Rosie Tapper, said the commission had spent £500,000 in training the police, of which the seminar formed part.
She said the High Commission was confident that the elections would proceed smoothly and that there would be no room for complacency.
The Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Mr David Kanga, said the laws on the electoral process were many but the crucial ones would be made available to the public.
He called on the participants to act professionally during the elections and disseminate the right information to avoid any clashes.
Story: Mary Mensah
THE National Security Co-ordinator, Dr Sam Amoo, has given the assurance that the December parliamentary and presidential polls will be held in an atmosphere of peace.
He affirmed that the security apparatus of the country had, in times past, stood the test of time and would rise to the occasion once again to avert any possible threat to the state as the elections approached.
Speaking at a two-day Election Monitoring and Policing seminar for Police commanders and members of the National, Regional and District Elections Security Task Force in Accra, Dr Amoo said the perception of insecurity and mayhem, and the spectre of a Kenya or a Zimbabwe occurring here, would not happen.
The seminar is being sponsored by the British High Commission.
He said although it was widely acclaimed that Ghana was a peaceful country, the security apparatus would not take any chances for the electoral process to be threatened.
"We have planned and will effectively execute the necessary security measures to ensure peace and stability before, during and after Election 2008," he said.
The co-ordinator said the seminar was timely, in view of the fact that the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections were less than three months away and given the backdrop of the anxiety currently being generated about them.
He said the topics for discussion included the electoral law and electoral offence, the role of the media in elections, the role of civil society in elections and democracy and human rights and the management of election conflicts.
Dr Amoo expressed the hope that all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliations, would be governed by the rules, regulations and guidelines set out by the Electoral Commission to ensure peaceful elections in December 2008.
He urged the participants to approach the seminar with seriousness in order to be fully prepared for the challenges they would encounter in December.
For his part, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, said since its inception in May this year, the National Elections Task Force had made steady progress.
He said a budget had been approved and members of the various sub-committees were doing their final rounds of tours in the regions to confirm earlier analyses and assessments.
The IGP said the seminar had five parts, saying the remaining four would be held in Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi and Ho and that at the end of it all members would have improved on their store of information on the elections and the general overview of analyses and assessment countrywide.
The Political Officer of the British High Commission, Ms Rosie Tapper, said the commission had spent £500,000 in training the police, of which the seminar formed part.
She said the High Commission was confident that the elections would proceed smoothly and that there would be no room for complacency.
The Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Mr David Kanga, said the laws on the electoral process were many but the crucial ones would be made available to the public.
He called on the participants to act professionally during the elections and disseminate the right information to avoid any clashes.
Friday, September 26, 2008
GHANA IMPROVES RATING ON CORRUPTION INDEX (Page 21)
25/09/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
Ghana Scored 3.9 out of the maximum possible score of 10 and ranked 67 on the list of 180 countries included in the 2008 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International.
This represents an improvement of 0.2 over Ghana’s 2007 ranking of 69 with a score of 3.7 just as last year’s score was an improvement over the 2006 performance.
The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mr Vitus Azeem, who announced this at a press briefing to launch Transparency International’s 2008 CPI, said this year’s score took Ghana back to its highest score ever of 3.9 that it obtained only in 2002.
He attributed Ghana’s improvement to the enactment of laws aimed at promoting transparency and accountability, considered the basis in the fight against corruption in the country.
He said the creation and support of anti-corruption or accountability institutions by the government and development partners such as DANIDA, GTZ, USAID and DFID had played an important role in getting Ghana this score.
Mr Azeem said it was unfortunate that Ghana had not reached the pass mark after eight years of zero tolerance for corruption but had taken it five years to return to its first-time high score attained in 2002, adding that with the current rate Ghana would reach the 50 per cent mark in 10 years or more.
The Executive Director indicated that the low levels of enforcement of anti-corruption laws, the newspaper reports about alleged corruption that the government did little about and the impunity with which public officials reacted to such allegations, no doubt explained Ghana’s failure to score even 4.0 on the TI’s CPI.
“Thus, while we might rejoice at the improvement of the scores from 3.7 to 3.9 we should recognise that there is more to be done. In fact the trend should awaken us to the fact that we are far from winning the fight against corruption, which also frustrates our fight against poverty reduction, disease, ignorance and efforts to reach the middle-income status,” he said.
He said globally, Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden shared the highest score of 9.3 followed immediately by Singapore at 9.2 with Somalia in the rear with 1.0 slightly trailing Iraq and Myanmar at 1.3 and Haiti at 1.4.
He said Botswana topped Africa’s performance list with 5.8 followed by Mauritius at 5.5, South Africa 4.9 and Namibia 4.5.
Spelling out what needed to be done by the current President and whoever would take over from him come January 2009, Mr Azeem called for the fast-track passage of the freedom of Information Law, to ensure that the Assets Declaration Law was complied with and that disclosures could be verified, among others.
Story: Mary Mensah
Ghana Scored 3.9 out of the maximum possible score of 10 and ranked 67 on the list of 180 countries included in the 2008 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International.
This represents an improvement of 0.2 over Ghana’s 2007 ranking of 69 with a score of 3.7 just as last year’s score was an improvement over the 2006 performance.
The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mr Vitus Azeem, who announced this at a press briefing to launch Transparency International’s 2008 CPI, said this year’s score took Ghana back to its highest score ever of 3.9 that it obtained only in 2002.
He attributed Ghana’s improvement to the enactment of laws aimed at promoting transparency and accountability, considered the basis in the fight against corruption in the country.
He said the creation and support of anti-corruption or accountability institutions by the government and development partners such as DANIDA, GTZ, USAID and DFID had played an important role in getting Ghana this score.
Mr Azeem said it was unfortunate that Ghana had not reached the pass mark after eight years of zero tolerance for corruption but had taken it five years to return to its first-time high score attained in 2002, adding that with the current rate Ghana would reach the 50 per cent mark in 10 years or more.
The Executive Director indicated that the low levels of enforcement of anti-corruption laws, the newspaper reports about alleged corruption that the government did little about and the impunity with which public officials reacted to such allegations, no doubt explained Ghana’s failure to score even 4.0 on the TI’s CPI.
“Thus, while we might rejoice at the improvement of the scores from 3.7 to 3.9 we should recognise that there is more to be done. In fact the trend should awaken us to the fact that we are far from winning the fight against corruption, which also frustrates our fight against poverty reduction, disease, ignorance and efforts to reach the middle-income status,” he said.
He said globally, Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden shared the highest score of 9.3 followed immediately by Singapore at 9.2 with Somalia in the rear with 1.0 slightly trailing Iraq and Myanmar at 1.3 and Haiti at 1.4.
He said Botswana topped Africa’s performance list with 5.8 followed by Mauritius at 5.5, South Africa 4.9 and Namibia 4.5.
Spelling out what needed to be done by the current President and whoever would take over from him come January 2009, Mr Azeem called for the fast-track passage of the freedom of Information Law, to ensure that the Assets Declaration Law was complied with and that disclosures could be verified, among others.
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