Major Split In GNAT

By Stephen K.Effah
Thursday, 31 May 2007

There seems to be a split on the front of the largest teachers’ trade union in the country-Ghana National Association of Teachers. This follows the formation of a group known as National Progressive Teachers Association (NAPTA).

The acting National Coordinator of the new association, Budu Yaw Asamoa, said NAPTA has been in existence since the latter part of last year, and has a membership of 60,000, although it is yet to be launched officially.

He noted that the formation of the association, stems from the failure of GNAT to meet the genuine demands of teachers over its 76 years of operation.

At a news conference in Accra on Tuesday, Mr.Asamoa alleged that the Teachers’ Fund set up with contributions from teachers was not accessible to most of them because "the rate chargeable for loan from the mutual fund, attracts 35 per cent way above the Bank of Ghana prime rate.

" Also teachers aged above 45 years cannot access the fund yet "they can still contribute to the fund."Mr. Asamoa alleged that a number of plots of land bought with funds from the mutual fund are nowhere to be found, adding that, they have been resold among the leadership, creating the impression that there was a litigation over the land.

He said that GNAT has failed to partner government to sponsor teachers for further courses, and rather turn round to blame government.

Mr. Asamoa said the association has decided to take a legal action against the GNAT over what it termed "unlawful" deductions from the salaries of NAPTA members.

He told the Times that NAPTA has consulted its lawyer for the preparation of the necessary documentation for the action.

Currently, he said GNAT through the Controller and Accountant General deducts membership dues immediately new teachers names are entered in the Ghana Universal Pay Structure, after training without their consent.

Quoting the Ghana Education Act 506, he said: "No amount shall be taken from the emolument of an employee without the consent of that employee in writing through the Minister of Education."

He added, "Joining GNAT has been compulsory. Teachers have no option than to become automatic members after initial training," explaining that such action is in contravention of the constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.

"This to most members is not the best and must be stopped due to the introduction of the new Labour Act," he said and added that it takes a teacher six months to officially notify GNAT in writing that he or she is not a member of the association and therefore should stop the deduction of dues from their salary.

Mr. Asamoa expressed the association’s confidence in the new pay and educational reforms.

Reacting to some of the concerns raised by NAPTA, a source at the GNAT headquarters said although all GNAT membership dues are deducted upfront, article 32 of the GNAT constitution gives a teacher the opportunity to write officially to GNAT with the necessary documentation for the deduction to be stopped.

ECONOMY RECORDS GROWTH

By Stephen K.Effah
Tuesday, 22 May 2007

The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Paul Acquah, has described the economic activity in the first quarter of the year as robust, in spite of the ongoing load shedding exercise.

He said that the first quarter showed significant growth in imports and exports and strong corporate performance while the bank’s Composite Index of Economic Activity at the end of the quarter was up by 1.8 per cent and attributed it to employment, exports, commercial bank credit, imports and tourism.

He however noted that there were declines in port activities like cement sales and electricity consumption.

Presenting the Monetary Policy Committee report for the first quarter in Accra yesterday, Dr. Acquah said the country’s current debt stands at 2.7 billion dollars and added that total merchandise exports at the end of March amounted to 1,044.8 billion dollars which was an increase of 12 per cent over the fourth quarter of last year.

Total imports at the end of the quarter, he said, amounted to 1,822.71 billion dollars, a growth of 15.8 per cent over that of the first quarter of last year.

"Crude oil imports amounted to 415.43 million dollars, about 24 per cent above the 379.79 million dollars recorded in the first quarter of 2006, reflecting an increase in volume, as the average price declined by 6.7 per cent," he said, adding that the country’s trade deficit narrowed from 842.25 million dollars in the fourth quarter of last year to 778.63 million dollars at the end of the first quarter of this year,

The country’s external current account he said, recorded a deficit of 482.8 million dollars compared to a deficit of 181 million dollars before debt relief recorded in the first quarter of last year.

On the 2007 budget, Dr Acquah said, provisional banking sector data on its implementation indicates that total receipts for the first four months of 2007 amounted to ¢14,402.7 billion.

He said total revenue and grants amounted to ¢10,758.9billion and total payments for the first four months of 2007 amounted to ¢15,962.7 billion, all of which resulted in a deficit of ¢1,560 billion.

The governor said headline inflation continued to be stable on its downward trend but showed an up-pick in April to 10.5 per cent due to unusual increases in food prices attributed to supply conditions.

He said the BoG has formally announced the adoption of an inflation targeting framework measuring inflation as its principal variable for tracking underlying inflation in the country.

He said the monetary policy committee has decided to keep the prime rate unchanged at 12.5 per cent as the risks in the outlook are well balanced.

The Governor said the total assets of the banking industry rose by 41.6 billion per cent to ¢56,275.7 billion over the year to March 2007 compared to 24 per cent a year ago.

"Net loans and advances increased by 58.1 per cent to reach ¢26,354.7 billion in March 2007, compared with 41.8 per cent for the preceding year," he said.

He said the quality of the banking industry’s loan portfolio improved while non performing loans ration declined to 6.9 per cent from 7.9 per cent in December, last year.

Dr.Acquah noted that the country’s reserve money broadly declined at a somewhat more rapid pace in the first quarter of the year.

25 Trafficked Children Re-Unite With Families

By Stephen K.Effah, Ekumpoano
Thursday, 17 May 2007

After years of servitude with fishermen at Kete-Krachi in the Volta Region, 25 children were on Tuesday re-united with their families.

The children, aged between six and 16 years, were ‘loaned out’ to the fishermen through middlemen for various sums of money. They were from the Eastern, Greater Accra, Western and Central Regions.

It was a mixed feeling of guilt and regrets as the parents gathered here to receive their children who were rescued by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), a non-governmental organisation.

Some of the children, their families and the crowd that gathered to witness the ceremony wept while others empathised with them when some of the parents narrated the reasons for giving out their children into servitude.

The re-integration followed the end of a three-month rehabilitation programme at the Department of Social Welfare Rehabilitation Centre at Madina in Accra.

The children, among other things, were also taken through a psychosocial counselling and guidance session at the centre to enable them to overcome the trauma they went through, help build trust, gain their self-worth and take decisions that affect their lives.

Joseph Rispoli, head of the Technical Cooperation Unit of IOM, said the re-unification exercise is to give the children the opportunity to grow and develop within the family setting in a loving and caring home environment.

"We strive to get to the point where all children enjoy being nurtured and cared for by loving, warm and generous parents who put their children’s interest before their own," he said and added that, since the rescue project started in 2002, 612 trafficked children have been rescued, rehabilitated, returned and re-integrated.

He said the parents and guardians of the children, have also been provided with micro-credit assistance in the form of community revolving loans, inputs, skills training and credit management training.

He said the IOM is working closely with the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and other relevant stakeholders to finalise a national plan of action on human trafficking and to contribute to the newly created Human Trafficking Board and Human Trafficking Fund.

While advising parents to uphold their responsibilities towards their children and live up to their roles as primary caregivers, Mr. Rispoli also urged the children to respect their parents and the elderly in their communities.

Ms. Sharon Abbey, Principal of the rehabilitation centre, identified signs of abuse on the children saying, "Their hairs were unkempt, had skin rashes, ear infections, ulcer, craked lips, soles and bilharzia."

She said health screening and medical treatment were conducted on the children to ensure that they were cleared of diseases.

She said the children were also introduced to classroom work to enable them to adjust well in the normal schools after re-integration adding, "23 out of the 25 expressed the wish to go to school while two have decided to learn a trade".

Ghana's Decentralisation Lacks Implementation - Dr. Gariba

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 12 May 2007

The Executive Director of the Institute for Policy Alternative, Dr. Sulley Gariba, has said in spite of the strong legal basis for Ghana’s decentralisation, its implementation so far has been lagging.

That, he attributed to weak capacity for implementation coupled with lack of sufficient resources and personnel among others, adding "there is not much physical decentralisation".

He observed that there were some contradictions in the decentralisation legislations and called for the need to harmonise them.

He indicated that there has been a marginalisation of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the implementation of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy as the various ministries have been assigned the lead role.

Speaking at a best practice workshop on decentralisation in Ghana on Tuesday, he said that, for in stance there is no prescribed role for MMDAs on HIV/AIDS under the GPRS, although the national AIDS strategy has considerable focus on district level strategies and actions.

The two-day workshop is being organised by the Institute of Local Government Studies and sponsored by CIDA with support from the District Capacity Building Project (DISCAP).

It seeks to increase popular participation in governance, improve public accountability and increase public sector effectiveness.

Dr.Gariba further expressed concern about the flow of resources to the MMDAs which is done through the central ministries for projects implementation.

He also noted that there is incomplete transfer of financial and human resources to MMDAs and with continuing legislative overlap.

He explained that some personnel who owe allegiance to the central ministries and ought to have been transferred to the MMDAs as indicated in the Local Government Act have still not been transferred.

"Even within the current context, it is possible to enhance decentralisation and achieve improved results," he pointed out.

He said as decentralisation policy is fully implemented best practices should continue to provide useful lessons and models.

Dr.Chris Brown, a Canadian Team Leader of DISCAP, indicated that as a result of these challenges, the desired outcome objectives of decentralisation has not yet been achieved.

He said policy process for and about local government is still dominated by the central governments.

13 UEW Students Die In 4 Months

By Stephen K. Effah, Winneba
Monday, 30 April 2007

Thirteen students of the University of Education, Winneba have died since the beginning of this year.

The causes of death are however not known as the post-mortem reports on their deaths were submitted direct to their families by hospital authorities.

Alarmed at this development, the authorities have decided that starting from next academic year, a yearly medical examination of all its students will be conducted to determine their health status.

Though the examination would not be compulsory, all students would be billed at an average of ¢50,000 for it.

The decision was agreed on jointly by the university authorities and the student leadership.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, announced this when the MP for Awutu Effutu-Senya and Deputy Minister of Health, Samuel Owusu-Agyei, presented assorted medical items valued at ¢15 million through the UEW branch of TESCON to the university clinic.

He said the university with the support of Barclays Bank, Ghana, is putting up a ¢1 billion clinic at the campus for the screening and to serve students who fall sick.

He noted that students who fall sick on campus are unable to access medical attention at the various hospitals because of lack of funds and as a result, most of them instead of having thorough check-ups only get first aid treatment.

Prof. Anamuah-Mensah said that after the screeening those found to have emergency cases or serious sicknesses would be referred to a hospital, adding that those with minor cases would be given treatment on regular basis at the university’s clinic.

Legon Campus Crisis: 3 Students Arrested

By Stephen K. Effah
Monday, 30 April 2007

The second semester examination of the University of Ghana was nearly marred on Saturday morning as a result of the smearing of three examination centres with human excreta.

The faecal matter, suspected to have been the work of a group of the university’s students the night before, resulted in the postponement of one of the 17 papers, and a late start of papers that should have started at 7.30 am

History and Philosophy of Science papers which should have been written by level 300 students at the K.A.B. Jones Quartey Building, popularly known as "Tingitingi", was postponed indefinitely pending final determination by the university’s Director of Academic Affairs.

Meanwhile, DSP Michael Teku said three students from Commonwealth Hall have been arrested by police on suspicion of preparing to disrupt the examinations.

When the Times got to the university campus at 7 am, all was calm with both the police and the university security patrolling the campus.

Most study groups of the students were heard discussing the "shit bombing" while others were busily studying close to their various exams centres.

The university’s cleaners were also seen in hand gloves and nose masks busily cleaning up the mess and disinfecting the centres for the exams to start.

The K.A.B. Jones Quartey Building and new ‘N’ block where the faecal matter was spread all over on the floor, tables and chairs were the worst affected.

At the Central Cafeteria, the doors to the main hall were locked, as a result the faeces were poured in the room through the louvres.

At these centres, one could hardly breathe as the stench there was most ‘overpowering’ and even after the halls had been cleaned, most of the students who wrote their papers in adjoining halls continued to complain of the stench.

A number of the students, who spoke to the Times, commended the perpetrators for their action since it was the only option to let the university authorities know that they are against the ‘in’out’out’out’ accommodation policy.

Some students, on the other hand, condemned the act and urged the authorities to ensure that those involved were brought to book.

In an interview with the Times the Registrar of the University, T.A. Konu, described the incident as "disgusting and a behaviour that only befits animals and not university students."

He wondered why the perpetrators were able to undertake the act despite the fact that the doors were locked and were under strict security control and hinted that all university security personnel on duty at those centres would be dealt with.

Mr. Konu assured that the late start of some of the exams would not in any way affect the examination calendar, saying, "The exams will run according to schedule."

DSP Teku later told the Times that the Police were on the campus "because of law-abiding students. We are ready to protect students who are willing to write the exams. We will not talk to anybody or accost anyone."

He indicated that the fact that the police are holding arms does not mean they would be used against students, adding that the police were taking measures to protect those lecturers who were issued death threat by a group of students.

Landlords Accused Of Not Paying Property Returns

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Friday, 27 April 2007

A Deputy Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), John E.K Sotenga, has expressed concern about non compliance of returns on properties and rent incomes by some landlords.

He indicated that only 60 per cent of landlords pay tax on their properties and rent incomes in the country, adding, "self-compliance level is low. Quite a number of land lords are not coming."

Speaking at the third Revenue Week of the IRS on Wednesday, Mr.Sotenga said returns on properties and rent forms about five per cent of income taxes collected by the IRS.

Under the IRS Act 592 (2000), any person who earns income from rent is expected to furnish the IRS Commissioner with a return on the gross income the end of the year of assessment.

The seminar which was attended by directors, business executives, professional bodies, tax practitioners, accountants, auditors and pay masters, was aimed at making them understand their rights as tax payers and also the various penalties applicable to non compliance with tax laws.

Failure to pay returns within three months, he said attracts a 10 per cent penalty of the amount due and after three months, it attracts 20 per cent of the amount due.

He therefore appealed to land and property owners to comply with that aspect of the law which, he noted, many people are not aware of.

He said the IRS regularly carries out rent survey to improve property and rent tax in the country.

The Deputy Commissioner conceded that a number of Ghanaians are not conscious of section 108 of the IRS Act 592 which requires gifts to be taxed, saying that gifts received are supposed to be declared to the IRS for appropriate taxation.

He said because it is difficult to establish a mechanism to check non- compliance, many people are avoiding it but noted that it is along the line found as an individual submit returns on capital gains.

The Commissioner of IRS, Maj. Daniel S.Ablorh-Quarcoo (Rtd), advised tax administrators to share always accurate information with the IRS and co-operate with the service officials.

He observed that, often times, tax payers do not provide enough information to the IRS for appropriate taxation and therefore advised them against such acts.

Cocaine Barons In Jail-Break Attempt

By Stephen K.Effah & Edith Laari
Wednesday, 18 April 2007

A grand plot to break jail by 13 inmates in custody at the James Fort Prison in Accra last week, was uncovered by the prison’s intelligence network.

The names of the 13 were not disclosed but according to the prison authorities, they are made up of three narcotic drug dealers and10 suspected armed robbers.

They allegedly conspired to raise money to hire thugs in town to attack the prison’s main gate to create confusion and avenue for escape.

They have since been transferred to the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons.

This came to light when the Minister of the Interior, Albert Kan-Dapaah and the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C Quaye, toured the prison yesterday following the abortive plot.

Deputy Director of Prisons in charge of James Fort prison, Alhassan Kariba Legibo, said preliminary investigation revealed that the inmates had planned that the thugs would attack the prison guards at the main gate to the prison yard while they (the inmates) also attack the officers in the yard to escape.

He told the ministers that the action of the 13 inmates was reported to the Prison Headquarters which immediately ordered their transfer to the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons.

Mr. Legibo said about 100 out of the over 900 inmates in custody at the prison are there as a result of narcotic offences, and they constitute a threat to the prison’s security because the fort built in 1640, is "collapsing" with all the facilities broken down.

He also expressed concern about the lifestyle of the inmates, saying, "they don’t work, they just eat and sleep for the long period that some of them spend here".

This situation, coupled with the lack of a system for training and reformation hardens them especially because the inmates mingle together and they learn from each other.

Mr Legibo called for the speedy disposal of cases by the courts to ease the pressure on the prisons, citing the James Fort Prison which was designed to take 450 inmates but now has 966.

He appealed to the ministry to assist the prisons with the requisite tools for training of the inmates to equip them with vocational skills to enable them to lead responsible lives after their discharge.

Sheikh Quaye cautioned the inmates against any plan to escape from custody, saying they should shun all intentions of escaping from custody that would land them into another problem.

He said the authorities are making every effort to ensure that those who have their cases, hanging are heard speedily.

Health Surveillance System Advocated

By Stephen K. Effah, Dodowa
Wednesday, 11 April 2007

The Director of the Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dr. Margaret Gyapong has advocated a surveillance system in all 10 regions of the country to monitor new health threats in the country.

She explained that such a system, known as a "demographic surveillance system" would also help track population changes and assess policy interventions.

"The demographic surveillance system acts as a platform for any health intervention and generate data for planning," she said when members of the Africa Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN), visited the centre to acquaint themselves with its activities.

The trip, which was sponsored by Indepth Network, was also to sensitise the public and policy-makers to the centre’s on-going research works.

Dr. Gyapong said that at present, only Dodowa, Kintampo and Navrongo health centres in the Southern, Middle and Northern belts respectively are involved in the country’s demographic surveillance system.

She stated that the system is key to determining the level of reduction in child mortality, improved maternal health, malaria, HIV and other diseases as in the Millennium Development Goals.

"With demographic surveillance system in place, many MDG indicators can be produced annually," she noted and pointed out that the Dodowa demographic surveillance system has now become significant to the Dangme West district stressing, "it has now become useful to the district assembly for planning in the districts."

She added that the Dodowa demographic surveillance system plays a significant role in all the centre’s researches noting that the District Health Management Team has been using the system for its health interventions.

However, she mentioned the problem facing the system as the numerous requests for all kinds of data and its sustainability which she said is "costly."

Dr. Gyapong called for support for the maintenance of the demographic surveillance system so as to provide adequate and accurate information base for development.

House Must Exercise Oversight Over Executive

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Wednesday, 14 March 2007

A law lecturer, Professor Henry Kwesi Prempeh has expressed concern about the non-existence of legislative oversight of the Executive in the country.

He observed that Parliament has failed to utilise its "approval power" to keep the President in check, noting that Parliament has the power to question or let the President justify the creation of new ministerial portfolios or appointments.

He noted that parliamentary majority has also ceded the appointment of the Speaker of Parliament to the President and at the same time lost its role as the leader of Parliament by the appointment of a Minister of Parliamentary Affairs by the Executive.

Prof. Prempeh, a lecturer in law at Seton Hall University Law School, in the USA, made the observation in Accra on Monday, at a roundtable discussion on the topic, "Progress Towards the Rule of Law and Constitutionalism in Ghana."

It was organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana to commemorate the country’s golden jubilee.

Prof. Prempeh questioned the Executive’s supremacy in law making, which he said provides avenue for wide discretionary powers, adding that the Executive discretion is even widespread in making subsidiary legislation.

He indicated that the statutory grants of rules making authority to the Executive often leave individual ministers, and for that matter the President, wide discretion to apply provisions of the law to individual cases with little or no regulatory guidance to constrain such discretion.

He explained that since government must rule through law, it is necessary that anything designed to have the force of law could become law unless it had been enacted in accordance with constitutionally approved process.

On judicial function and constitutionalism, he said that there is a low level of legal literacy, which has come as a result of under reporting of judicial decisions.

Prof. Prempeh described as "problematic," the unregulated administrative discretion of the Chief Justice within the judiciary.

That, he said, creates risk and the perception of compromising the decisional independence of lower level judges.

In spite of challenges, he lauded the respect for "constitutional commands" in the fourth republican constitution.

He said these included freedom of speech and the media, improved climate of liberty and civilian control of the military.

'Drug Abuse Leads To Shorter Life Span'

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Friday, 16 February 2007

Seventy per-cent of people who become drug abusers in their teens die by the age of 45, earlier than their normal lifespan, Dr. George Osei, Medical Director of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, has said.

He said those who are introduced to drugs after the age of 20 also have their lifespan reduced by 25 years.

Giving a talk at the Ngleshie Amanfro Secondary School in the Ga West District on the topic "Drug Abuse", he said the other 30 per cent of those introduced to hard drugs like cocaine and heroin also get complica-tions such as cancer and mental illness.

The programme was organised by the Parent Teacher Association of the school to educate the students on the effects of drug abuse.

Dr.Osei noted that about 30 per cent of the patients between 15 and 40 years at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital are there because of drug abuse.

"Drug abuse is having serious effects on the people engaged in it," he said, adding that drugs interfere with the function of the brain which brings a certain level of excitement and makes users think they are being helped.

Apart from the brain, he noted that hard drugs sometimes interrupt the normal function of the heart, kidney and the pancreas.

He advised the students to stay away from hard drugs and unprescribed drugs to avoid jeopardising their future. They should rather focus on their studies to become good and responsible citizens.

There was also a quiz on Ghana at 50 during which the students were asked questions ranging from political to economic history of Ghana.

‘Remove Parliamentary, A-GD Reps From Procurement Board’

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Monday, 12 February 2007

AN economist, Kwame Pianim, has described the Public Procurement Act as "cumbersome," and called for the exclusion of representatives of Parliament and Attorney General’s Department from the Public Procurement Board.

He explained that representatives of the two institutions already have busy schedules, saying "these are all busy people, so to get them to review procurements is difficult.

"They are also not necessarily experts in procurement and so they should not be on the board," he said, in an interview with the Times after the opening of the third joint review meeting of the Private Sector Development Strategy and Action Plan in Accra last Friday.

This was in reaction to concerns raised by the participants on delays in the procurement processes.

He noted for instance that it could take an organisation about six months to go through the procurement processes to recruit an expert or acquire a vehicle.

He called for the removal of the cumbersome processes while ensuring that people remain accountable for their jobs.

Mr. Pianim, who was the chairman for the occasion, said representatives from Parliament and the A-G’s Department "are supposed to be doing some work that they do not even have time to do," stressing that their job is to make sure that rules and laws concerning businesses are done properly.

He said that Parliament, for example, represents the sovereign people of the country, and explained that when one misspend funds, it goes to the Public Accounts Committee, which has the time to investigate.

"You cannot be a hunter and also be one of the people being hunted" he said and added: "I don’t think we need the A-G and Parliament to be represented. Parliamen-tarians have no business to be on the Procurement Board."

"They supervise to ensure that things are done properly and should not be part of those recommending the expenditures," he said.

Elephantiasis, Oncho Alert !

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Wednesday, 07 February 2007

AN estimated half of Ghana’s population is at risk of contracting elephantiasis and another four million of onchocerciasis.

This is because these people live in places where the vector and the parasite exist in the country, Professor John Gyapong, Director of Health Research and Management of the Neglected Tropical Diseases NTD of the Ghana Health Service, told newsmen in Accra yesterday.

He also noted that the majority of children in the country, have all kinds of intestinal worm; a situation which is affecting their performance in school.

Prof. Gyapong was speaking at a stakeholders meeting on NTD to discuss a two-year intervention programme developed by the USAID to eliminate NTD to a level that would no longer be public health significance in Ghana by 2015.

He described the NTD situation in Ghana as "pretty much alarming" and noted that the interventions had come at the right time that Ghana is making effort to address the situation saying "it will galvanize all these programmes to manage the situation"

He said NTDs disproportionately affect the health and ruin the lives of people in developing countries, noting "at least one billion people currently suffer from one or more of these diseases worldwide".

In Africa alone, schistosomiasis (bilharzia) affects at least 160 million people out of whom at least 30 million suffer permanent life-threatening complications, he said.

He said that human suffering represented by the figures is enormously greater than the 270 cases of avian influenza reported globally over the past three years yet the neglected tropical diseases are seen not to threaten international health and security.

He said the NTDs occur almost in impoverished populations, adding that the diseases flourish in areas where water supply and sanitation are inadequate, and insects and other disease vectors are constant household and occupational companions.

Prof.Gyapong explained that the consequences of the diseases go beyond severe damage to health.

He mentioned years of agricultural productivity,inefficient land use, food insecurity and missed days at school as some of the burden of NTDs.

The Director-General of Ghana Health Service, Professor Agyemang Badu Akosah, expressed regrets that parliamentarians are using their share of the district assembly’s common fund for infrastructure to the neglect of health problems in the districts.

He therefore appealed to them and district chief executives to use some of the fund for health interventions.

Dr.George Amofa, Director of Public Health, called for massive community investment to be able to make impact in the control of neglected tropical diseases.

Sodom, Gomorrah rebuilds

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Wednesday, 24 January 2007

Five days after a fierce fire gutted Sodom and Gomorrah, a slum in Accra, the residents have started rebuilding the wooden structures to serve as homes.

When the Times visited the affected area yesterday, some residents had finished putting up their structure, made up of plywood, and painted them after the lands were filled with saw dust. Others were seen busily at work.

A fierce fire last Thursday swept through the area and destroyed property worth millions of cedis.

Most of the residents who could not start work immediately have erected wooden pillars on their plots to prevent other people from encroaching upon them.

Those who spoke to the Times,accused the government of being insensitive to their plight.

They said that although some government officials visited the area after last Thursday’s disaster, no assistance has been received.

One of the victims, Mohammed Hamdu, said Nii Tackie Commey,Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, Isaac Amo, Director of NADMO and Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations had inspected the area after the disaster and said "We cannot understand why the government has abandoned us to our fate."

In November last year, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing,Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, announced that government has acquired land at Adjen-Kotoku near Amasaman to relocate the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah.

'Police, Media Need To Fight Crime'

By Stephen Kwabena Effah, Dodowa
Saturday, 20 January 2007

The Minister for the Interior, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has called for a responsible media reportage and a broader education on the complex activities in the country’s criminal justice system.

"Indeed, I have heard it argued that we should seek to institutionalise the media as a regular pillar in the criminal justice system," he said.

Speaking at workshop on combating organised crime here yesterday, he explained that such initiative would make the torch of press freedom burn brighter to guide media practitioners in their role towards peace, security and prosperity of the country.

The two day workshop, oganised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in conjunction with the British High Commission is on the theme: "The Role of the Media in Combating Organised Crime"

Editors, senior journalists and police personnel are discussing ways to improve media-police relations to enhance cooperation to expose organised crime.

The participants will also identify challenges facing the media in crime reporting and security issues, and encourage the police to provide protection to media personnel in their line of duty.

Mr.Kan-Dapaah said that criminologists have established that crime coverage presents negative image regarding the effectiveness of the police and the courts in controlling crime and punishing criminals, adding "news coverage fails to educate readers on the factors leading to crime or how to avoid personal victimization".

Crime and its related activities, he said, pose unbearable effects on the economic dynamics and security of a country, noting "governments lose billions in tax revenues from criminal activities".

He noted that although the criminal justice institutions for combating crime have shown to be doing their best, they still have limited capacity to match the regularity and sophistication of organised crime in recent times.

He therefore advocated a new approach to involve all stakeholders in the country to confront the menace, saying that the portrayal of the police as "toothless bulldogs" in the media urges people to tempt them.

"When we write to ridicule the police as toothless bulldogs, don’t we end up encouraging criminals?"

The president of the GJA, Ransford Tetteh, appealed to the police to provide greater protection for journalists as a result of the high level of occupational hazard.

He said that although journalists are not police offcers, their role in society requires them to be watchdogs of society.

He said the approach, methodology and mode of execution sometimes result in disagreement but advised that such situation should not lead to antagonism which may result in physical attacks on media personnel as was the case last year.

The British High Commissioner, Gordon Wetherell, said fighting organised crime is important in itself, especially as Ghana celebrates its 50th anniversary and pledged the assistance of the United Kingdom in this and other related cases.

Government Secretarial School Hit By Protests

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Friday, 19 January 2007

Students of the Government Secretarial School in Accra on Wednesday went on a five-hour demonstration to register their protest against the school’s acting principal.

Wearing red arm bands, caps and headgears, the students numbering over 100, gathered at the school as early as 8:00 am amidst chanting of war songs that brought academic and administrative activities to a halt.

At 9:45 am, when the acting Principal, Samuel Tetteh arrived, the students started shouting "go away, go away" "you must go" and they would not heed pleas for calm by some members of staff.

They refused to go to their classrooms and turned down Mr.Tetteh’s invitation to meet with their leadership. Rather they proceeded to the Office of the Head of Civil Service where they presented a petition received by the Chief Director, Edward Barnes.

Speaking to the Times, a spokesperson for the students, Mary Colnerrosse gave a catalogue of grievances, accusing the principal of arbitrariness and corruption.

She said that although their admission letters stated that they were to undergo an 18 month course beginning September 2005 to March 2007 Mr Tetteh had extended the period without any explanation.

She said that at a meeting with the students on Monday, January 15, Mr.Tetteh again announced the postponement of the release of the results of Stenographer Grade Two examination they wrote in November/December last year, from February to April.

She explained that although a person referred in a subject had two chances to write and pass the referred subjects before sitting for the Grade One examination, "Mr. Samuel told us that students referred in the Grade Two examination would write the referred paper in June, at the time others would be writing the final paper, that is the Grade One".

"This means that the referred candidates will write their grade one examination in December, and in that case we will be required to come for part time classes at a fee," she said.

She also said Mr.Tetteh was supposed to have gone on retirement last December and wondered why he was still at post. She therefore called for an immediate action to be taken on him.

Miss Colnerrosse again alleged that Mr.Tetteh repeatedly said that "our destiny is in his hands and since he failed his exams seven times, he will also fail us seven times".

Some members of staff expressed support for the students’ action describing the acting principal as a "dictator and morally corrupt person who does not want the school to progress."

They alleged that some students who failed their examinations were passed after paying bribes to the principal, ranging between ¢1.5 million and ¢2 million.

When contacted, Mr.Tetteh said, "I will not comment until I speak to my director"

The Government Secretarial School, located at Cantonments in Accra offers secretarial and business courses for senior secondary school leavers as well as refresher courses for secretaries and office administration.

170 Babies To Test New Malaria Vaccine

By Stephen Kwabena Effah, Kintampo
Tuesday, 09 January 2007 (Page 3)

The Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) is to recruit 170 babies at birth for the second phase of the Malaria Vaccine Trial now ongoing in the Kintampo North and South districts of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

Currently, only children aged between five and 17 months are participating in the two-year malaria vaccine trial which started last September, and is being sponsored by the Malaria Vaccine Initiative.

Dr. Seth Owusu-Adjei, Director of KHRC, said that half of the babies would be given the malaria vaccine alongside the routine polio and tuberculosis vaccines that are given children from the age of six weeks.

"The other half will go on the normal routine vaccinations and the two group would be evaluated later to determine the level of protection that they would have from the malaria vaccine and the level of protection they would have from the routine vaccination," he told a team of journalists.

This was at a Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance sponsored field trip for journalists from the Africa Media and Malaria Research Network to assess the progress of the malaria vaccine trial in the Kintampo districts.

Dr. Owusu-Adjei an epidemiologist, said the plan is going through "ethical approval" and explained that "the earlier you introduce protection for malaria into a child, the better."

"If the vaccine is able to achieve 50 per cent protection against severe malaria after the trial, then it could reduce the mortality from 20,000 to 10,000 annually in the country," he stated.

Dr. Owusu-Adjei said that other forms of malaria protections such as the insecticide-treated nets and intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant women, could also add up to the percentage and help to reduce the malaria burden dramatically.

Asked whether any of the tried participants had experienced an attack, since the trial began, he replied: "We’ve treated some of the kids for malaria," but pointed out that not every child in the trial is on the malaria vaccine.

He said the phase three of the project would begin next year and by 2011, it would be adopted by the government.

Psychiatric Units Needed In Districts

By Stephen Kwabena Effah, Kintampo
Monday, 08 January 2007 (Page 3)

A CLINICAL psychologist at the Kintampo Health Research Centre, Bright Akpalu, has advocated the establishment of psychiatric units in all districts to deal effectively with psychiatry cases.

He observed that lack of such units in the districts makes people take patients with mental problems to prayer camps which worsens their condition.

Speaking to the Times during a visit to the centre by a group of journalists, he said that sometimes when people with mental problems are taken to prayer camps they are subjected to human rights abuses including being chained and beaten.

The journalists from the Africa Media and Malaria Research Network were at the centre to assess the progress of the ongoing malaria vaccine trials in the district.

Mr Akpalu said it is proper to see a doctor immediately one sees a symptom of mental problem since some mental problems can be managed initially."

He noted that the Wenchi, Kintampo, and Tain districts have no mental health personnel to handle reported mental cases in those areas, although a research on schizophrenia conducted by the centre last year in the areas showed a high rate of mental disorders.

He attributed the disorders to genetic disposition, the use of marijuana, and depression.
Depression, he said, is one of the leading causes of psychiatric cases in Ghana which many people do not consider as a mental disorder.

He, therefore, advised those who find themselves in such situations to seek early medical attention. He also advised against the use of the alcoholic "bitters" and other forms of drugs as sexual stimulants, saying "It is a misconception about sex.

The 20-month malaria vaccine trial which is in its second phase started in September in Kintampo and Agogo by the Kintampo Health Research Centre and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research.

Ghana was selected among six other African countries for the trial which was developed by the Glaxo-Smithkline Biologicals in Belgium.

The vaccine is being tried on 540 children in Ghana aged between five and 17 months.

Kweku Ananse Surfaces In Accra

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 16 December 2006

When was the last time you sat by the fireside to be told stories about Kwaku Ananse?

Well, the mischievous Kwaku Ananse, as he is mostly portrayed in the country’s folklore is wanted and as such he must die!

However, Ananse the trickster, is no more in the village stealing from farms as he used to. He is now in a city called Akwaaba — "A land rich with stories" — and making headlines in the dailies for his mischievous acts.

This is the storyline of "Ananse Must Die!"a new, animated cartoon which seeks to address pertinent socio-cultural issues in an exciting new way.

The one hour movie, which will be released next March, was written by Cecil Jones Abban, a graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and produced by Parables Productions,a Christian broadcasting organisation.

The movie was unveiled by the Director of the Geothe-Institut, Ms Ellenure Sylla, in Accra on Thursday.

It is aimed at producing an animated story in a modern way as a means of reviving the age-old folktale hero, Kwaku Ananse, who is conspicuously missing in present times.

It opens with a unique African tune which is the theme song.Ananse is brought into the modern world in the movie, accessing the Internet, driving and doing a host of other things.

Living in a land full of stories, the almighty tasks a group headed by Ananse to weave stories in the House of Tales for the people.

Being selfish as usual, Ananse leaves the house to pursue his mischievous acts and is given an ultimatum to find his way back to the house. The heat then starts when ‘Sasa-bronsam’ (the evil one) tries to prevent Ananse from meeting the deadline given him to find his way back to the House of Tales.

But Ananse’s mentor, Suhuroo, tries to help Ananse find his way to the house. But will he be able to assist him. And will Ananse die or not?

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Jones Abban noted that animation in Ghana has become more of commercial work than movie, saying "comparing what is happening in the outside world, there is much more to do in animation in the country."

He said that animation can be used in so many ways, especially in addressing the moral decadence which has plagued the country.

The movie will be produced on DVD, VCD and VHF cassettes. There will also be a series for television stations.

Big Hip-Life Extravaganza To End Year

By Stephen Kwbena Effah
Saturday, 16 December 2006(Times Weekend)

THE fun and the excitement that come with the end of the year will undoubtedly begin next Friday, December 22, when some 70 hip-life artists, their producers and fans among other people come under one roof for what is tagged as "The Celebration of Hip-Life".

Popularly known as the official Christmas party, the crème de la crème in the hip-life industry will converge at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel Pool Side in Accra to interact among themselves and their fans.


Being organised by Citi 97.3FM, over 70 artists are expected to flock the venue night to dine and wine with each other and fans while they strike business deals as well.

Those expected to participate in the annual event include the godfather of hip-life,Reggie Rockstone, Castro the Destroyer, Obour, Mr. All 4 Real, VIP, old Mzbel, Tic Tac, Lord Kenya, Praye and Wutah.

Others are Kwabena Kwabena, Batman, the executioner, Obrafour, Chicago, Barosky, K.K Fosu, 4X4, Slim Buster, Kofi Nti, Shilo, Screw Face, 2Toff, Kokoveli and a host of others.

Although it will not be a night of musical performances by the artists, they will give a line or two of their hit songs at their own will but guess would be treated to good music.

The pre-event atmosphere is getting hotter, and hotter giving an indication of a massive show ever to bring such an array of hip-life artists together in the country for a happy moment. Last year, the party was attended by about 50 hip-lifers but the number is expected to double this year.

Behind the turntable that night will be the "Citi’s" Baby Boy ( E- Double) who will dish out the latest hip-life realease, hip-hop, R&B and hardcore tunes.Expect some of his good remixes as well.

Speaking to Times Weekend, the Programmes Manager of Citi 97.3 Fm,Nii Amah Dagadu, said the event aims at creating a network of the hip-life artists saying "the artists do not meet as friends so we are bringing them together to exchange ideas and criticise their work".

The fans will also get the opportunity to have one-on-one interaction with their favourite artists, wine and dine with them while they make friends.

More importantly, he explained that the platform would more importantly bring about some collaboration in their new albums, which is good for the industry.

They have so far contacted over 70 artists who have expressed their interest and confirmed their participation adding that a lot more will be contacted, he said.

Admission to the party is strictly by invitation, he said, adding that fans and listeners will be invited through a draw. He explained that those who want to participate need to call the station where they will be required to leave their particulars which will be entered into a draw.

The party is being sponsored by One Touch and Accra Brewery Limited.

McCarthy Hill Residents Stop Church Project

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Tuesday, 19 December 2006 (Front Page)

McCarthy Hill off the Winneba road, is a suburb of Accra that evokes wealth, prestige and power. The last thing anyone would associate its residents with is demonstrations, so what were they doing carrying placards, on a Saturday morning?

Picketing: The residents’ were picketing the area’s branch of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGCC) which has started constructing a church building at a site described by residents as unauthorised.

They contended that their rights to a tranquil environment would be breached, should the construction of the church building be allowed in the locality.

So, to protect this right, the McCarthy Hill Residents Association last Saturday morning converged at the building site to register their disapproval of the construction of the church’s building.

Placards carried read: ‘Leave us in peace,’ ‘ practise what you preach;’ ‘Stop the congestion,’ and ‘Don’t disturb others’ among others.

The picket, which lasted for about two hours prevented the workers who had gone to the site that Saturday morning from working.

The association is also threatening legal action against the ICGCC.

Briefing the press, on the issue, the secretary of the association, Kamel Noshie, said that apart from the noisy atmosphere the church’s activities would create, it would also affect the security of the community as there would be an influx of all kinds of people in the area at anytime.

The secretary, who is an architect, questioned the church’s adherence to the various building regulations, especially those with regards to the zoning, parking ratio, consent of adjoining neighbours and building to land ratio.

Mr Noshie explained that the residents upon realising a church was being built in the area, contacted the Ga West District Town and Country Planning Department which ordered the builders to stop work and produce the relevant document, by December 12.

He said that the church defied the order and rather placed a permit number on the building which is at a foundation level.

The association consequently wrote to the Town and Country Planning Department national head office in Accra on December 4, to inform it about the situation. "An officer was delegated to evaluate the building location," he added.

Mr Noshie said since nothing was heard thereafter, the only option left to them now is to take a legal action to restrain the church from continuing with the building.

The building has also allegedly blocked an access road to the houses of some residents while its construction had resulted in damaging some pipelines which supply water to some houses in the area thus denying the affected houses of potable water.

An official of the church, who was at the site during the protest, declined to comment when contacted by the Times.

A planning officer with the Ga West and Country Planning, Christine Hammond, when contacted, expressed surprise at the church’s action saying, "we stopped them from working and even collected some of their tools."

She said the church was not able to produce the drawing upon which the permit was given and besides, had not yet satisfied the Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental assessment.

Ms Hammond warned that the church would risk demolition of the building if it did not satisfy all the building regulations and requirements before going on with the constructional work.

Ms Hammond assured the residents that the Town and Country Planning Department would do all within its powers to settle the issue.

GJA Urges PR Officers To Expose Imposters

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Monday, 18 December 2006 (Page 4)

THE Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has appealed to the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) Ghana, to help it flush out imposters who have invaded the journalism profession and are engaging in extortions.

The President of the GJA Ransford Tetteh, who made the appeal, said that the situation was causing a lot of embarrassment to the GJA and it was about time "we bring sanity into the journalism profession."

He urged public relations practitioners to check the identity cards of people who parade themselves at events as journalists.

Mr. Tetteh was speaking at the 5th investiture and admission of new members into the IPR Ghana in Accra last Friday. In all, 35 new practitioners were admitted into the IPR, 27 of whom were associate members and eight accredited members.

"We need to sanitise the system so that the profession can continue to play its role in the democratic dispensation and be respected by members of society," Mr. Tetteh said, adding that journalists who are not members of the GJA could still practise their profession provided they conducted themselves professionally.

Mr. Tetteh said event organisers were sometimes to blame for the activities of imposters explaining that in their desire to get their evens publicised, they accepted anyone who came to events claiming to be journalists.

Mr. Tetteh also advised accredited journalists to be bold and point out any imposter they meet at programmes to the organisers saying, "you know your colleagues so you should be bold to tell the people parading as journalists that they are not."

He said the GJA will organise more workshops and seminars for its members under continuing educatin programme to promote standards.

"If we do that we may avoid some of the landmines that face us everyday that we are dragged to court, the national Media Commission or the GJA Ethics and Disciplinary council," he said.

Speaking to the Times, the president of the IPR Ghana, Kojo Yankah, said the institute has agreed with the GJA to hold periodic meetings to dialogue on the issue of imposters and how to address it.

He said earlier moves to weed out charlatans from the profession failed, because the mechanism for monitoring was weak, adding that there was the need to strengthen the monitoring mechanism "so that we will be alert all the time."

Kwanyaku Water Works Extension Completed

From Stephen Effah, Kwanyaku
Friday, 15 December 2006 (Page 4)

Expansion work on the Kwanyaku Water Supply System to produce an additional 4.6 million gallons of water daily to serve five districts in the Central Region will be completed by the end of December, seven months ahead of time.

The 24.136 million Euro project, which will be inaugurated in January, involve the rehabilitation of the old water treatment plant to increase its production capacity from 2.7million to 3.8million gallons per day.

The old and the new plant will together produce a total of 7.7 million gallons a day to meet the demand of 750,000 people.

The Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company, Mr Gerald Samuel Odartey Lamptey, made this known to newsmen when the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hackman Owusu Agyemang, inspected the project site on Wednesday.

Funding for the project, which started in January 2005 was provided by the Dutch and Ghana governments and was scheduled to be completed in June 2007. It is being executed by Denys Engineers and contractors.

He said 13 towns and 160 surrounding villages in the Agona, Gomoa, Mfantsiman, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Awutu-Efutu-Senya districts will benefit.

The Director of Denys Engineers and Contractors, Bruno Geltmeyer said the new conventional treatment plant is currently being test-run, and added "we have been doing testing of the water quality at the laboratory in the last week to ensure good quality".

He said the standard of treated water in the country is better than the required standards by the World Health Organisation.

Mr.Owusu Agyemang commended the Netherlands for the support and the contractors for the good work done so far to solve the water problems facing the people.

He said that apart from Assin area all other major towns and cities in the Central Region will now have treated water which is a major step towards solving the water crisis in the region.

He said that government is committed to ensuring that 85 per cent of Ghanaians have access to potable water by 2015, noting that water is one of the Millennium Development Goal that Ghana can achieve "because of the concern government is giving to the sector."

He said that government is sourcing funds from Exim Bank China to construct a major treatment plant at Kpone Number 2 by middle of next year to produce about 4 million gallons of water per day which will also be complemented by the Accra Rural water project to cater for Dodowa and its surroundings.

Mr.Owusu Agyeman said that while water is being produced, it is important that Ghanaians take its management very seriously saying "management of the water we produce is very important and we cannot use treated water for washing cars".

Ghanaian BBC Juror Talks To Times Weekend

Interview: Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 09 December 2006

The BBC has selected a 24-year-old computer science and chemistry student of the University of Ghana, Selase Kwawu, to help judge the regional stages of its first ever BBC Africa Radio Awards in February. He was one of three people in Africa selected from over 1,200 people who entered a competition dubbed: “How Radio Changed My world”. Times Weekend spoke to him about his interest in radio. Excerpts:





QUESTION: Since when have you been a BBC listener?

ANSWER: Well, I loved radio. I picked up an interest in listening to the radio quite young. But I think somewhere along the line, when I was taken to school, infact my attention got attracted to something else so I lost that desire to listen to the radio.

But after school, when I got the chance to read, I got back to the habit of wanting to listen to many news items before the day ended. I mean I have been very ardent with BBC for four years.

Q: There are a number of international radio services like Deutche Welle Radio and Voice of America. Why the passion for BBC?

A: Well, as I mentioned earlier on, I have a very keen interest in the quality of things I hear and see around, especially English language. I see English as the only tool I have to communicate. I can’t speak my local language very well, and that is shameful, so I see English as the only means of expressing myself very well.

I always look out for the best when it comes to listening. I don’t know much about DW and other stations though but I think that my eagerness to get to the best led me to the BBC and I must say that I was extremely overwhelmed by the quality of the content that the BBC delivers and so it immediately caught my heart.

Since then, I find it difficult switching to some other network, even though occasionally I listen to some of the documentaries on other radio stations. I must say that BBC programmes are very educative.

Q: So how do you marry your studies with radio listening?

A: You see, if you have passion for something you’d make time for it .We don’t create time ourselves. All we are expected to do is to manage time. Now it’s been found out that the average person can memorize a whole encyclopedia if he decides to do it.

I believe that you can make time to be ‘a jack of all trades’ and master of all. David Livingston (medical doctor, a visionary, a writer and all that) demonstrated that and he succeeded in all of them. So even though my course is very, very demanding, I find time for the radio at least, every morning and every evening before I go to bed. The radio wakes me up from bed and sends me to bed.

Q: What is your favourite programme on BBC and why the preference for that programme?

A: Generally, I am overwhelmed by anything I hear on BBC, even though I don’t have the time to tune in to the BBC in the day. I realise that anytime it’s BBC and I hear the voices of the presenters, something runs through my body.

I think these three programmes distinguish themselves: One is Digital Planet, a programme which focuses on current trend on ICT in the world and there’s Focus on Africa which helps you have a broaden view, perspective on the African continent and Have Your Say which obviously brings together views from all parts of Africa and its more interactive and a discussion.

Q: How have the programmes impacted on your life?

A: The BBC as a whole has had a really tremendous impact on me and it will be very difficult for me to say that just three have done something exceptional in any life because, one it is the culture of broadcasting of the BBC that I appreciate the most, the level of intellectualism and the high standard of professionalism.

Those were the qualities that drove me to the BBC in the first place and those are the qualities that have kept me with the BBC as at now. I think my world view, my philosophy about life and how I think the African continent can be improved.

Q: What informed your decision to enter the competition. “How Radio Has Changed My World”?

A: Well, I heard a couple of the entries. You know people contributed and I heard some of them being read on air. I thought like well, I could do something. I entered the competition because I see radio as a vital tool in shaping what I call the philosophical consensus and general world view of on continent.

If in one small way I can help fine-tune or re-configure the very foundation of this great institution which in my opinion is moving from its implementation to its establishment stages in, that was what I thought, that if I have a personal view that this tool can transform the African continent and there is an opportunity, why not.

Q: How do you feel about being selected as one of the three listeners to join the three regional panel judges?

A: You can just imagine. I was really, really excited but then when I thought about the whole thing later on, it humbled me completely.

Q: Why?

A: I had read other people’s work on the internet which were equally good. So I saw this as God’s intervention

Q: What was the expression on your face when you heard that you have been selected?

A: I find it difficult to express how I felt. And fortunately for me too, that day there was no one in the office. I was alone and so when the news came, I had a brief bout of shouting, and waved my arms in the air, that kind of thing. So at least, I managed to show joy. I was very, very excited.

I did not even tell anybody that day because I didn’t know how to say it. It was the next morning that I informed colleagues.

Q: What are your thought about the BBC Africa Radio Award?

A: This award plays essential role in giving the media in this continent an identity, confidence and recognising their achievements over a period of time. I must say I’m very excited to be among the judges in deciding which of these works comes out as the best.
I must be quick to add that even this award is going to celebrate an achievement, I see the media in Africa in its very, very germinal stage, and I think that this is the time we all need to come together and build it stronger.

Because if we do not lay a very solid foundation for it, and we want to lay a foundation that is weak, a foundation that is based on people’s personal sentiments, it won’t be the best. I also see it as an opportunity to point out the loopholes and help stakeholders to correct it. Then we can boast of proud broadcasting institutions in the future.

Q: So what do you think is the best way to be able to achieve this?

A: Well, one is to tell stories in a clear, concise and balanced, manner.

Q: Do you see the media in Ghana not playing this role effectively?

A: It’s very difficult to slam a verdict on the media in Ghana, to say that the media in Ghana has done well or the media has not done well. I see the media in Ghana as having more than room for improvement. I think the media in Ghana is probably a model for some African countries but then as we believe that there is so much that we need to do in terms of quality of work we present on radio. In terms of the vision of a particular radio station and that is what I find very difficult to crystallize when I listen to radio in Ghana.

I find it very difficult to get what the vision of the radio station is. Is it to educate the youth or the general public of the country or to advertise? If radio has a powerful force in shaping people’s way of thinking, then we need to do more in Ghana.

Idols West Africa Premiere In February

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 09 December 2006
(Times Weekend)

Are you harbouring a dream of becoming a superstar and or can you sing to move hearts?
Then start training your vocal cords, perfecting your lyrics and plan to audition for one of the most successful reality shows in television history in the world-Idols West Africa- to be premiered on M-Net in February.

Throughout January, a three-member panel will begin to scout for 1,500 people between the ages of 18 and 30 from 17 West African countries at four locations in two countries to compete for a prestigious international recording contract.

On January 6, the panel will start the search at the Ibru Victoria Gardens in Lagos, Nigeria, after which the train will move to Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria on January15.

It will be Ghana’s turn on January 20 at the Aviation Social Centre in Accra and then end at the Cultural Centre in Calabar,Nigeria on January 26.

All "wanna be stars" who will flock the auditioning centres would be required to perform a song from a wide array of music, including traditional, western, English, African, pop, reggae, R&B, and rock.

However, those who will be selected at the auditioning stage into the theatre group and top ten stages will be required to sing pop as the show is looking for a pop star.

"The contestants must choose their songs wisely," said Joseph Hundah, Operations Director of M-Net Africa at the launch of the show in Accra on Tuesday.

He noted that the auditioning stage would be very "demanding" since the contestants would have to bring out their best in order to be selected for the next stage of the competition, adding "the show embraces Africa’s lasting love-affair with music."

He added "Wherever you go in West Africa, there are songs in the air, voices in harmony, a radio humming, a rhythm being celebrated. That’s what Idols is about."

Mr.Hundah said that the excitement factor of the Idols West Africa would increase in the weeks ahead when the names of the presenters for the show and the judges are announced early next year.

"This rich continent has massive potential. The key to our success will lie in understanding continental diversity and appreciating cultural differences."

He said that M-Net would consider signing a deal with a local television station which will have the right to broadcast the event for non DSTv subscribers.

Like every television reality show, the public will not be left out as they would be the judges to decide who qualifies for which stage through text messaging. The role of the judges would only be in shaping the contestants to bring out their best.

In the United States, "American Idol" has now become one of the biggest shows in television history, and was the number one show in that country last year. In South Africa, the "South African Idol" has reportedly also caught up well with the public.

DISABLED COMPLAIN ... About Computerised Schools Selection

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Friday, 01 December 2006 (Front Page)

PERSONS With Disabilities (PWDs) have called for a review of the computer placement system to recognise blind candidates who do not offer Mathematics and Science.

They explained that although the blind do not offer mathematics and science subjects, these subject are being used in grading those who write the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The appeal was contained in a resolution adopted by the PWDs after four regional sensitization workshops held nationwide to increase their access to productive resources and development opportunities in the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II) to improve their livelihood and welfare.

Presenting the resolution in Accra at a press conference yesterday, Mrs Sefakor Pomeyie, Chairperson of the Ghana Society for the Physically Disadvantaged, also called for the exemption of the deaf from taking part in English and French orals, saying “a lot of the deaf fail English partly because they normally do not have interpreters.

“Even where there are interpreters, the phonetics and semantics are difficult to grasp,” she added.

Mrs Pomeyie said that while the PWDs commended government for the GPRS II Initiative which has a major focus on human resource development, it should expand opportunities such as the provision of incentives and enhancement of training for teachers in special schools, text books and physical infrastructure and modernization of formal education for PWDs in both mainstream and special schools.

She urged the government and development organisations to develop information sharing mechanisms for the visually impaired and deaf by providing brail versions and sign interpretations of important information for them to access.

"Interpreters should be provided at various social service points such as hospitals banks courts etc," she stressed.

She expressed regret about the non-payment of the five per cent of the District Assembly Common Fund to PWDs for their self-development as recommended by government.

In cases where it is paid, the assemblies do not pay the five per cent of the total amount received, she noted and urged the government to operationalise the draft modalities development by the Ghana Federation of the Disadvantaged on how PWDs can access their share of the DACF.

She commended government for facilitating the passage of the disability law and urged it to expedite action on the implementation pf the law by the various agencies, government department and bodies.

The Chief Executive of the SEND Foundation West Africa, Siapha Kamara, observed that none of the infrastructure, especially school buildings built with HIPC funds is friendly to people with disabilities and therefore urged the government to take into consideration those with disabilities whenever putting up any infrastructure.

Gov't Acts On Sodom & Gomorrah Squatters

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Wednesday, 29 November 2006 (Page 3)

RESIDENTS of Sodom and Gomorrah, a slum in Accra are to be relocated to Adjen-Kotoku, near Amasaman in the Ga West District by the first quarter of next year.

The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, who announced this in Accra yesterday, gave the assurance that the necessary social and physical infrastructure would be provided in order not to detach the residents from the source of livelihood.

Speaking at the West Africa High-Level Peer Exchange Conference on Government of Private Sector Lending for Affordable Housing, the Minister said: “Sodom and Gomorrah is certainly not fit for human habitation.”

He emphasized that government’s focus is not only on new housing areas but also on existing slums and informal settlements where the housing environment and conditions needed to be improved.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang explained that the government’s decision to sell over 6,000 state-owned rental low-cost houses in the country to the sitting tenants at affordable prices is to encourage Ghanaians to own their homes and also to raise additional capital to support the government’s affordable housing programme.

Opening the conference, President J.A. Kufuor said that government was providing a radical reform in acquisition and registration of title to land to assure investors of security of their investments.

“As a first measure, government is putting together a land bank which already possesses 50,000 acres throughout the country to support commercial estate developers,” he said.

He blamed weak town and country planning offices for unregistered and poorly laid out urbanization which is rapidly degenerating into slums.

He said that it is critical and urgent that the department concerned is strengthened and empowered to control proper and efficient use of land to guarantee the requisite provision of physical, sanitary and utility infrastructural services.

President Kufuor said that government has identified urban slum upgrading as a priority intervention area to improve lives of the urban poor in line with the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals.

Kentefest Launched

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 25 November 2006 (Times Weekend)

AN exposition to promote Ghana’s foremost colourful indigenous Kente fabric, as an original Ghanaian brand was on Thursday launched in Accra.

Christened: "KenteFest", it will identify Ghana as the place of origin for the unique kente cloth.

It also seeks to expose the rich Ghanaian cultural heritage, history and people to the world.

The festival which takes place from February 13 to 16, next year at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra and Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, will also feature other handicraft as well as jewellery alongside the Kente.

It is being organized by Davida Expositions in collaboration with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture Affairs, National Commission on Culture and Office of Asanteman Nkosuohene.

As part of the festival themed: "Discover Ghana…The Homeland of Kente, an annual Kente Excellence Award has been instituted to award Ghanaians who have excelled in their various fields for the past 50 years.

In all 25 deserving nominees in the fields of science, journalism, performing arts, media, personality, innovations, lifetime achievers, business and traditional rulers among others will be the first to be inducted in to a "Kente Hall of Fame".

KenteFest will bring together professionals in the fashion and the mining and jewellery industries as well as tourists, investors and business professionals.

Visitors at the exposition will have the opportunity to see kente weavers and adinkra makers in action as well as skilled craftsmen and goldsmith working on their products from concept to finish using locally made tools in a traditional way.

There will also be a traditional durbar featuring some traditional chiefs in a cultural explosion, receiving visitors and exhibitors alike amidst drumming and dancing.

A modern Catwalk show will also be staged featuring clothes designed with the Kente cloth by some of Ghana’s renowned fashion designers.

The KenteFest will be crowned with a highlife extravaganza involving most of Ghana’s renowned highlife musicians.

The history of Kente dates back to over 400 years ago when a man named Ota Karaban and his friend Kwaku Ameyaw from the town of Bonwire in Ashanti went to a forest and saw a spider waving its web.

The two learned to weave by observing the spider.

¢100billion Earmarked To Start Students’ Loan Fund

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Wednesday, 22 November 2006 (Page 3)

OVER ¢100 billion is expected to be disbursed under the implementation of the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) for the 2006/2007 academic year which began in August.

A total of ¢5 trillion will be needed by the fund within the next six years to disburse to fresh students in the various tertiary institutions starting from this academic year.

The Fund’s acting Chief Executive, Kokui Adu, who announced this at a media briefing in Accra yesterday, said the initial implementation of the fund is being done in collaboration with SSNIT which has a database.

She said SSNIT will play the role of assisting with the distribution, receiving and processing of application forms and authenticate guarantors.

Mrs. Adu pointed out that only students enrolled in accredited tertiary institutions to pursue accredited tertiary programmes and who are in need qualify for the SLTF.

She said the amount to be given to each applicant will be based on the programme of study, adding, "In the 2007/2008 academic year and beyond, loans will be given based on the genuine need of each student".

To ensure effectiveness, she said the fund would establish campus offices in all the tertiary institutions to serve as enquiry points for students, to pickup and drop off application forms, check for completeness of forms and disseminate information to students in a timely manner.

She indicated that it would be the responsibilities of the institutions to provide office space, verify students’ status and provide any other relevant information that would be useful in the processing of loan applicants.

Mrs. Adu said the funds would be sourced from GETFund, development partners, loans from SSNIT, tax deductible voluntary contributions and loan repayments by beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries will have a two years of grace period after completion of their programme, before they start repaying adding, "The beneficiary will have nine years of repayment period"

Mrs.Adu said that the fund is considering as part of its long term plan, to introduce an internet-based information scheme where a beneficiary would be given an account to enable him to have access to their records wherever they may be.

First Rural Credit Union Inaugurated

From Stephen Kwabena Effah, Agona Nyakrom
Wednesday, 22 November 2006 (Page 9)

The first of 20 rural credit unions to be established throughout the country to support the mobilisation of rural savings was opened at Agona Nyakrom in the Central Region on Friday.

The ¢510 million sponsored initiative by the Barclays Bank of Ghana in partnership with the Ghana Co-Operative Credit Unions Association, is part of the bank’s micro banking programme launched last year.

Under the initiative, the bank will support the unions by funding the first set of deposit boxes for the people, provide office spaces for the unions and pay a credit manager for two years.

The Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, in a speech read on his behalf said that government, under the Millennium Challenge Account, allocated 20 million dollars to rural and community banks for on-lending to micro, small and medium enterprises.

He noted that government has also secured 25 million dollars from its development partners to support small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) to get access to credit at a cheaper cost.

Mr.Baah Wiredu said the bane of the development of the micro and SMEs is access to finance, adding "I therefore see this partnership as key to providing a lot more access to funds for our micro and SMEs".

The Managing Director of Barclays Ghana, Mrs.Margaret Mwanakatwe, noted that mobilization of rural savings has been one of the key challenges facing the finance sector, adding that credit unions are best placed to perform that function.

She said it was as for this reason that Barclays introduced the Micro banking policy to work with and through financial intermediaries to bring banking services and product to the doorstep of most petty traders and market women.

"Since February when we begun working with Susu Collectors in Accra and Kumasi, we have mobilized ¢18 billion in deposits and given out ¢1.5 billion as loans", she added.

The Chairman of the Board of Ghana Co-Operative Associations, Robert Ngissah, said credit unions exist not completely for profit but to provide a safe, convenient place for members to save money and get loans and other financial services at affordable rates.

Pensions Service Company Takes Off

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Monday, 13 November 2006 (Page 3)

PREMIER Pensions Administration Company, a services company for pension plans, has been inaugurated in Accra.

Founded in September, Premier, as it is called, is a private company expected to provide third party administration services, pension trustee services and software development for pensions systems under the pensions reforms.

Inaugurating it, the chairman of the Pension Reform Implementation Committee, T. A. Bediako, urged companies and Ghanaians to brace themselves to meet the challenges and capitalise on opportunities offered by the pension reforms.

"With the pension reforms taking place in Ghana, I believe that many companies will be seeking to establish, redesign or refine their pension schemes," he said.

Mr Bediako pointed out that as result of the reforms, a growing number of organisations would be outsourcing the administration of their pension plans to specialists in the field.

That the demand on a pensions administration have become greater with the ever-increasing complexity of legislation, higher member expectations and greater trustee responsibilities, he said.

He said that pension has become a topical issue in Ghana in recent times because of its implications for life after retirement.

He recalled that it was as a result of agitations and protests by organised labour that government set up a Presidential Commission on pension which also recommended, among other things, a new three-tier pension structure.

Mr Bediako said the committee to implement the recommendation is currently preparing hard toward the implementation of the reforms.

"The committee will facilitate, among other things, the drafting of a new pension reform bill that will give legal backing to all the recommendations requiring the passage of laws," he said.

The Chairman of Premier Pensions Administration Company, Yaw Berkoh Nketia, said the company would provide reliable, customer focused and cost effective pension administration and trustee services that would generate maximum returns for all its stakeholders.

'Don't Publish Low Class Books'

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 11 November 2006 (Page 3)

THE Ministry of Education, Science and Sports has warned publishers against putting low class supplementary books with sub- standard language onto the market.

"Any publisher found to have introduced low class supplementary readers with sub-standard language will be sanctioned," Angelina Baiden-Amissah, Deputy Minister for the ministry said.

She explained that such acts would in the long run "corrupt the intellectual ability of the reading public" and therefore asked publishers to desist from the practice.

The minister gave the warning at the 2006 National Reading Competition organized by the Ghana International Book Fair Trust as part of the 6th Ghana Book Fair in Accra on Thursday.

In all, some 60 pupils from 40 basic schools across the country received awards including reading and writing books, cash, school bags, T-shirts and wall clocks.

Mrs Baiden-Amissah observed that there are some books on the market which have spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and sub-standard language.

She spoke about what she called a silent revolution going on globally where children are now educating themselves through books, game devices, and the internet, and stressed that the Ghanaian child should not be left out.

Children must be enabled, through the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education programme to have access to quality education to be able to read and write.

She said reading enhances one’s vocabulary and raises the intellectual tone of society, adding, "Reading is an inexpensive means of developing the mind and a giant step towards academic excellence for a better future."

Mrs Baiden-Amissah said it is the duty of parents to guide children to mould their life for a meaningful adulthood and called on publishers and book sellers to aid this responsibility by providing children with reading materials and increased access to books.

The chairperson of the Trust, Akoss Ofori-Mensah, said besides helping to increase one’s vocabulary, books give emotional and social awareness, encourage creativity and raise the quality of learning.

Stars On Parade To-night

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 11 November 2006(Times Weekend)

THE stars will to-night shine like never before at the posh Accra International Conference Centre.

The auditorium, if not set on fire, would certainly be close to that experience when over 13 Ghanaian music stars, stage what could be described as a spectacular musical performance expected to be second to none in the recent history of the industry.

Mr. All 4 Real (Ofori Amponsah), Batman, Obrafour, Lord Kenya, Akatakyie, Praye, Obour,Tic Tac, Ewura Esi, Wutah, King Ayisoba and Kwaku Gyasi are the stars billed to perform.

The rest are the evergreen celebrated highlifers: A.B Crentsil, C.K.Mann and Papa Yankson.

Christened: "Joy FM Nite with the Stars", it will be no other’s business than the stars’ showing off their stagecraft, creativity, lyrical and musical powers.

All eyes will undoubtedly be on Batman, Obrafour and Ofori Amponsah who have been nominated from the lots to be voted for by the public as the Best Joy FM artiste for the year 2006.

This year’s contest is expected to be a keen one because all the nominees have carved a niche for themselves for the period they have been in the music industry, and the fact that their latest albums have been a hit.

Last year, it was the contemporary highlifer, Ofori Amponsah, who beat Obour, K.K. Fosu, Castro and Kofi Nti to be crowned the Joy FM Music Star of the year 2005 at the event which gave the audience exactly what they had come for.

For his prize, he took home ¢60 million worth of air time, a plaque, three months supply of Gordon’s Spark drink and three boxes of Lux beauty soap.

Tonight’s event will be no exceptional as it promises to be fun and excitement. Some of the artistes will be pairing with some staff of Joy FM, the organizers of the annual event.

The host of the Cosmopolitan Mix, Doreen Andoh will pair with Ofori Amponsah to perform his hit song "Emmanuella" while the Mr. Tumtum (DJ Black) pairs with Obrafour to remix his finest "Heavy" and Ato Kwamena Dadzie, a member of the morning show team joins Rootsman King Ayisoba to sing the hit song "I want to see my father".

Bola Ray a.k.a Bolex, the host of Joy Drive Time will perform "Samini" with the MOBO Award winner, Batman while Kwadwo Oppong Nkrumah pairs with C.K Mann to do Adwoa Yanki.

Speaking to Times Weekend, the Events and Promotion Executive of Joy, Gabriel Appiah said the Nite with the Stars was introduced in 2000 with the aim of promoting Ghanaian music.

He explained that the nominees for the Joy Music Star Award were selected based on their standings on the Joy Local Chart Show adding ,"It is the public who will be those to choose their star through voting by SMS on a Tigo short code."

Voting will end today at exactly 12 noon.

Students Told To Stop Frivolous Lifestyles

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Monday, 06 November 2006 (Page 4)

Students of tertiary institutions have been advised against unnecessary competition to the detriment of their pursuit of academic excellence.

The Managing Director of Unique Trust Financial Services, Prince Kofi Amoabeng, who gave the advice observed that some students are now competing in fashion and use of flashy cars instead concentrating on their studies.

He questioned: "Who do you want to impress. Is it the world population of 70 billion or Ghana’s over 20 million people?"

Speaking at the fourth matriculation ceremony of the Wisconsin International University in Accra on Saturday, he advised students to avoid craving for unworthy things.

"Control your personal interest. Go at your own pace and do not try to impress anybody," he urged.

In all, 366 students were admitted into the university for a four-year programme in various fields.

Mr.Amoabeng said that leadership in Africa has failed the generation a for not providing excellent education, adding that "the systems to ensure that people who qualify get what they deserve or are put in the right place, have failed us as a nation."

"Those who come out from our educational institutions with the best grades are not the best," he said and explained that some of them get their grades by dubious means like "grade buying".

He advised the students to be realistic in all aspects of life and stay focused.

Always make their grievances known to the authorities and not resort to attempts to overthrow the system.

The Principal of the university, Dr. John Anum Sackey, said that the number of matriculants is the largest intake since the establishment of the university in 2000, bringing the student population to 720.

He said that the university has begun evening programmes for workers who want to improve their professional competencies.