President of Groupe Nduom and the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the party, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom
As the country gears up towards the 2016 elections, the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the Progressive People’s Party, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has advised Ghanaians to elect people who can deliver on the promises.
According to Dr. Nduom, “who you vote for can either have a positive or negative consequence” so Ghanaians need to critically examine the ability of those who want to lead the country to deliver on their promises before deciding to vote for them.
He made these comments on his official Facebook Fan Page “Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom”
“I believe in accountability and holding our leaders to their promises and insisting that they deliver positive results to the people. President Mahama said during the State of the Nation address in January 2013 in Parliament that, ‘…I shall work to ensure that every household in this country will soon enjoy uninterrupted water and power supply’. At the IEA Presidential Debate in Tamale in 2012, he promised that load shedding would be a thing of the past. The President’s promises include solving the unemployment crisis, improving education and related infrastructure and stemming down corruption. Mr. Mahama’s Administration promised to build 50 new community schools by September 1, 2015. President Mahama has not delivered on these promises,” he lamented.
Although the National Committee of the PPP has confirmed to hold its 2015 National Convention on Saturday 31st October, 2015 at Takoradi in the Western Region, Dr. Nduom hinted that the 2016 campaign of the PPP, which has already started, will be based on the successful track record of the leadership of the party and the strength of the policies that they propose to implement- stewardship, education, healthcare and jobs.
“No insults, no mud throwing…just the fact,” he concluded.
The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) is continually entrenching its dominance in the political landscape of the country as its Greater Accra Regional Branch gears up to hold its regional conference to elect regional executives.
The Greater Accra Region will be the 10th region to conduct its regional elections after all the other regions had organized theirs earlier in the year.
A statement signed by the PPP Elections Committee Secretary, Richard Nii Amarh, said the Greater Accra conference will be graced by the President of the Groupe Nduom and the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the party, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, the Chairman of the PPP, Nii Allottey Brew Hammond, Chairman of the Advisory Council Mr. Mike Eghan Jnr, as well as many parliamentary candidates who would wish to use the platform to announce themselves to their constituents.
The statement indicated that each constituency in the region shall present 33 card-bearing members in good standing who will vote at the conference.
The positions to be contested for at the regional elections, according to the statement, will be the following:
1.Chairperson
2.Vice Chairperson
3.Secretary
4.Assistant Secretary
5.Treasurer
6.Organiser
7.Assistant Organiser
8.Women’s Organiser
9.Assistant Women’s Organiser
10.Youth Organiser
11.Assistant Youth Organiser
12.Education Secretary
According to the statement, “it is the aim of the party, not to be third in 2016 elections, but to win enough seats to form a considerable majority in parliament without failing the presidential elections.”
The statement added that the PPP, being the second biggest opposition, wishes to overtake the NPP and NDC and become the problem-solving administration that will help Ghanaians live the life they deserve.
Dr. Ayisis Addo (middle) and Ambassador Francis Tsegah (right) at the event
The Programmes Manager of the National AIDS Control Programme Dr. Ayisi Addo, has said that there is an urgent need to strengthen efforts to address challenges that confronts Persons Living with Human Immune Virus (PLHIVs).
Some of these challenges he cited as the non- availability of Anti-Retrieval Therapy (ARVs), stigma against PLHIVs and unavailability of test kits for the virus among others.
These challenges when not addressed according to him will derail efforts to ending HIV/AIDS in the country.
Dr. Addo was speaking at round table discussion held in Accra to deliberate and highlight on the human right abuses and access to treatment challenges faced by vulnerable groups.
It was organized by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development CCD-GHANA and the United Nations.
According to him, the country has done relatively well by steadily reducing the HIV and infection rate drastically from 3.2 percent in 2006 to a very low rate of 1.3 percent in 2013.
He noted that, people who are affected by HIV do not only suffer personal stigma but the relatives of those affected also suffer discrimination.
A senior research associate at the centre for democratic development, Ambassador Francis Tsegah said despite the consistent decline of HIV over the years, infection rates remain high among certain key populations such as homosexuals, commercial sex workers and drug users.
He said the new UNAIDS Agenda to end HIV/AIDS calls for a renewed focus to ensure that 90 percent of people living with HIV know their status while 90 percent of them are put on treatment to suppress the virus.
Mr. Tsegah called on stakeholders to effectively participate in the campaign to highlight the human right abuses and access to health care by these vulnerable groups in order to harness efforts to address them.
Dr Babatunde Ahonsi (middle) flanked by Mr. Luc Armand Bodea and Mrs. Pavelyn Tendai Musaka
The Country Manager for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. BabatundeAhonsi, says Africa can achieve zero HIV / AIDS infection.
Speaking at the press briefing of the 2015 International Conference on AIDS and STI’s in Africa (ICASA) which would be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from the 29th November to 4th December 2015, Dr. Ahonsi said Africa can only achieve through a strong leadership which is linked with science and human rights.
He therefore commended the organisers of the conference, the Society for Aids in Africa (SAA), for coming up with the theme which he described as “very timely”
The 2015 conference theme “AIDS in Post 2015: Linking Leadership, Science & Human Rights,” engages the whole continent and all stakeholders in the post MDG framework, where sustainability of the response in reaching 90, 90, 90 of UNAIDS will not be possible if Human rights are not key priority for a new vision of leadership in the context of strengthening the application of science based evidence
Speaking in an interview with The General Telegraph newspaper, the Coordinator of SAA, Mr. Luc Armand Bodea called on government to ensure that funds are readily made available to end HIV / AIDS in Africa.
He said Africa is very rich as a continent so it is only when our leaders start taking HIV / AIDS issues seriously that it be a thing of the past.
“Leadership must think about their people and address their issues. One of their issues now is to end HIV / AIDS now so we do not know why they can not allocate resources so we end it because Africa is not poor”
“The only problem is that our leadership must be more proactive and think about sustainability and stop waiting for help from above,” he added.
For her part, the Ambassador of Zimbabwe, Mrs. Pavelyn Tendai Musaka, said Zimbabwe is the best country to host the ICASA 2015 and outlined some reasons for that.
“Giving the efforts that we have made to manage HIV / AIDS infection, we feel we are the correct venue to host such a conference. We are looking at zero infection rate by 2020 so it is an opportunity for us for all the member countries of Africa and the whole world to come and agree on how we are going to improve on the treatment of HIV / AIDS,” she indicated
She said the ICASA 2015 Conference would also showcase and market Zimbabwe to the world.
“A lot has been said about Zimbabwe and it is high time the media and the private citizens of the world come and see what Zimbabwe is all about,” she concluded.
The Despite Group has made it to the list of 50 best places to work in Ghana.
A report released by Goodman AMC ranked the Despite Group as the 16th best place to work in the country. The ranking placed the Despite Group ahead of other media houses including the Multimedia Group and Citi Fm (Omnicom) which were ranked 19th and 25th respectively.
The United States Government foreign aid agency, USAID topped the list. Following USAID is multinational telecommunication giant; Vodafone Ghana. Google Ghana, Ecole Francais Jacques Prevert and the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) follow in this order.
The 6th place was occupied by UT Bank with Lister Hospital, Office of the President, General Electric following in that order.
For the building and construction industry, construction firms WBHO and Group Five ranked 10th and 21st respectively with adk Consortium, being the only consulting firm providing consultancy in the field of engineering also making it in the list.
Goodman AMC said it conducted a survey to figure out this year’s Top 50 Best Places to Work in Ghana.
The survey sampled employees based on a set of unique metrics calculated to give an overview of key happiness factors at work including: job security, teamwork, public perception, growth opportunities, work environment, organization’s reputation, effective leadership, support for diversity, innovation, organization’s culture, strategic management and relationship with boss and co-workers.
“Each review is then given an average score indicating where the company or organization places, out of a maximum score of five. The reviews from organizations were tabulated to determine the Goodman AMC Top 50 Best Places to Work in Ghana for 2015,” the release on their website indicated.
Below is the full list of Goodman AMC’s Top 50 Best Places to Work in Ghana for 2015.
Hon. Nii Armah Ashitey(R) interacting with Muhamed Bashiru Nii Narh Alema (M)
The Member of Parliament for the Osu Korle-Klottey constituency, Nii Amarh Ashitey, has donated items worth GH¢14,300 to the Muslim community in support of their Ramadan.
The items included bags of rice, cartoons of milk and boxes of sugar.
Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a month where the Holy Quran was first sent down to the Prophet Mohammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa’Sallam). During the Ramadan month, Muslims all around the world must fast.
Presenting the items, the MP, a former Minster of Employment and Labour Relations, said that the items were to support all the Muslims in his constituency as they continued with their fasting.
He urged every Muslim never to give up along the way but endeavor to see the fasting through to the end.
“The last 10 days are very crucial because it is believed that is when the Angels come down and bless his people.
“So pray for the constituency and the nation as a whole so that Allah blesses the land. This flood and fire disaster must never happen again,” Hon. Nii Amarh Ashitey remarked.
Receiving the donation, the Osu Korle-Klottey Constituency Chairman, Muhamed Bashiru Nii Narh Alema, thanked the Minister for his unflinching support towards all the Muslims in the constituency.
He promised to ensure that the donations were “equitably distributed to the right people” in the constituency.
The Ramadan is obligatory on all Muslims if they are physically and mentally sound and fit. Except for the traveler, elderly, pregnant, menstruating, or chronologically ill. Whoever cannot fast, it is their duty to feed the poor, if they have the financial ability. It is not only abstinence from food and drink but, Ramadan is also a test of patience in refraining from evil actions, evil thoughts, and bad words.
Ramadan is a test to demonstrate submission to ALLAH (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), the only God. Ramadan is a way to keep the mind and body focused on good deeds and attaining self discipline.
President Mahama in a group photograph with the dignitaries at the event
As part of efforts to reduce the high rate of unemployment in the country, President John Dramani Mahama has revealed the government’s intention to create a National Resource Centre to provide job opportunities.
The centre, he said, would facilitate the creation of a national employment and skills database from which employers could freely recruit. The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MERL) would handle it.
He noted that the government would provide incentives to all employers who employ from the database, to ensure that they continue employing from the centre.
President Mahama said this when his delivered his keynote address at the opening ceremony of a two-day National Job Summit in Accra.
“I have assigned key tasks to the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, including the restructuring and reform of the Labour Department. So under this new restructuring and reform, we intend to create a National Employment Resource Centre. The database would have all registered young people who are qualified and are looking for jobs,” he indicated.
Youth Employment Agency
The President also disclosed that he has given his assent to the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Bill.
According to the President, the agency would be a unique instrument for providing employment to our young people.
In addition to that, President Mahama said the Youth Employment Agency would provide the youth with useful training programmes to upgrade their skills and prepare them for the world of work.
“To establish appropriate governance structures and employment opportunities for our teeming youth across the country, I am pleased to announce to you that I have given presidential assent to this all-important Youth Employment Agency Bill and we are in the process of setting up the governing board. Our target under the YEA is to create a hundred thousand jobs,” he added.
Some of the modules under the YEA will include sanitation, community service and protection, education, health assistance and youth initiatives in textiles which would target mainly head potters, popularly referred to as ‘kayaye’.
YES Fund
Touching on the ¢10 million Youth Enterprise Support (YES) Fund that he established last year, the President said the fund was finalizing the list of its first beneficiaries.
He urged young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the fund, since it is “real”. “We have also initiated steps to improve pensions and social protection by amending the National Pensions Regulatory Authority Law and revamping public employment centres to perform their role creditably. These are testimonies to my commitment to a very productive and harmonious labour front,” he posited.
National Employment Policy
President John Mahama also used the opportunity to launch the National Employment Policy (NEP).
The overall goal of the NEP “is to create gainful and decent employment opportunities for the growing labour force to improve their living conditions and contribute to economic growth for national development within the framework of equity, fairness, security and dignity”.
It was developed taking into account the historical antecedents of employment interventions implemented by governments during the colonial and post-colonial eras.
The policy is expected to achieve four major objectives of creating more decent jobs to meet the growing demand for employment and to improve the quality of jobs for those who are employed.
“The spirit behind this newly produced National Employment Policy would be vigorously prosecuted as key strategies for improved jobs and decent work. The policy largely emphasizes growth in businesses and as a reference document for sustainable employment generation and decent work in Ghana,” the President Mahama said.
National Job Summit
The two-day National Job Summit was on the theme “Inclusive growth through the creation of productive employment and decent work”.
In attendance were the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Haruna Iddrisu (the host); the Director General of the International Labour Organization, Mr Guy Ryder, (the special guest of honour); the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress, Kofi Asamoah, and the 1st Vice-president of the Ghana Employers Association, Dr Yaw Adu-Gyamfi.
The Chairperson of the Council of State, Mrs Cecilia Johnson, chaired the event.
A former President of the Ghana Football Association, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has expressed his disappointment about Ghana losing her bid to host the 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The General Telegraph Sports Desk, the former FA boss, who was also a member of Ghana’s 2017 AFCON Bidding Committee, said Ghana presented the best package for the successful hosting of the African Mundial and could not therefore fathom how the nation lost out to Gabon.
He accused the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of not ensuring transparency in the voting process, and described the process as “very unfortunate” and “unbelievable”. “Naturally, I am very disappointed. It appears there was no transparency in what took place; it is very unfortunate.”
“How can people vote and not even know the number of votes they got? Even the delegates themselves there didn’t even know where their votes went to,” he alleged.
Explaining further, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe, a football enthusiast also, said the process was so dubious and non-transparent such that there was no delegation present when the votes were being counted. “I have never heard of this before; I have never seen this kind of thing before.
All that happened was that we were just told that these people [Gabon] have won,” he told The General Telegraph.
“You don’t do things that way…I was very much surprised. I am very much disappointed at what is happening at CAF at the moment; this is unbelievable,” he added.
Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe is not the first person to make this accusation about the 2017 AFCON voting process as a former FA Spokesperson and member of Ghana’s 2017 Bidding Committee, Mr Randy Abby, also shared a similar sentiment.
Randy has accused CAF President Issa Hayatou of rigging the election to favour Gabon, which has been announced as the 2017 AFCON host.
Meanwhile, a cross section of Ghanaians has expressed their excitement about Ghana losing out the bid to Gabon. They took to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to express their excitement. They want government to rather commit its efforts to solving the current energy crisis and economic conditions than focusing on hosting the 2017 AFCON.
However, the immediate past Sports Minister, Mahama Ayariga, has expressed his disappointment in the Ghanaians who are jubilating about the country’s failed bid. “I am concerned about people trying to run down their country and creating an impression that their country is not good,” he told Citi Fm.
Mrs Shirley Boateng- Gyasi of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital presenting the effects of alcohol on the feotus
ACCRA Brewery Limited (ABL) in partnership with the German Development Agency (GIZ) has organized a week-long sensitization programme at the Kaneshie Polyclinic and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to educate over 700 pregnant women on the need to avoid alcohol consumption due to the negative effects of alcohol on their foetus.
The programme forms part of the ABL’s wider ongoing efforts to engage its stakeholders to collectively address and promote responsible drinking, in compliance with the Beer, Wine and Spirits Producers Commitments signed by 13 global alcohol-producing companies (including ABL’s parent company, SABMiller Plc) in October 2012 to reduce harmful drinking in their areas of operation. Accra Brewery Limited, with the help of doctors, midwives and healthcare professionals, sensitized expectant mothers to the effects of alcohol on the unborn child and provided tips to help prevent Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).
Speaking on the sidelines of the programme, Ms Adjoba Kyiamah, Corporate and Legal Affairs Director of ABL, indicated that while increasing sales is a priority, given the competitive nature of the brewery industry, Accra Brewery will not renege on its commitment to promote responsible alcohol consumption in Ghana. ‘‘As a subsidiary of SABMiller Plc, ABL is enjoined to help create a ‘sociable world’ where all our alcoholic products are developed, marketed, sold with high regard for individual and community well-being,’’ she remarked.
Narrating the company’s efforts in this quest, she indicated that through ABL’s alcohol policy framework, employees are encouraged and trained to drink responsibly. She also cited ABL’s Responsible Retailing Programme which started in 2013 and has so far trained hundreds of retailers in Accra and Kumasi and their environs on the need to sell responsibly and not to serve the underage, pregnant women and intoxicated customers.
Ms Kyiamah indicated that Accra Brewery would continue to collaborate with its stakeholders to promote issues of responsible drinking, which is a significant factor in ensuring the sustainability of the alcohol industry.
Professor S. A. Obed, Head of the Obstetrician & Gynaecology Department at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, commended ABL and GIZ for the initiative, promising to be ambassadors and continue to caution expectant mothers about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption on the unborn child.
ABL in 2014 also partnered GIZ to commemorate the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Day at the Ridge Hospital to educate pregnant women on the risks associated with alcohol consumption.
…Public demands radical restructuring of VRA, Akosombo, Bui operations
By Bismark Bebli and Frank Owusu-Ofori
H.E JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA
AS President John Dramani Mahama presents his state of the nation address tomorrow to the lawmaking house, a number of stakeholders have prevailed upon him to not only focus on the current energy crisis but to let the address be a pillar with concrete solutions to solving the problems.
The stakeholders that this paper spoke to, who include political parties, energy technocrats, the Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana (CDD) and others, suggested there should be a paradigm shift from the old rhetoric of solving the crisis and called for proper overhaul and restructuring of key institutions.
To them, restructuring of the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Bui and Akosombo dams, the thermal projects among others, could be a panacea for ending the severe power crisis that is creating massive unemployment, redundancy, collapse of the economy and untoward economic hardships on the citizenry.
The National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Boadu, told The General Telegraph yesterday that the government should frantically roll out plans to solve the energy crisis, corruption and unemployment.
He said even though the President cannot trust himself because he has on a number of occasions failed to honour his promises, he should try this time round to fulfil his promises.
To him, the current situation of the situation under President Mahama is unbelievable and that he should also desist from wanton borrowing.
“Borrowing for investment is okay but borrowing to service debts is not a right policy. He should be realistic for once,” he asserted.
George Lawson, a Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), said, ‘I hope the President is going to focus on measures being put in place to end what has become known as dum-dum-sor.”
He said another area that the President will pay attention to is the increasing unemployment in the country and measures that would be put in place to address it.
“I can tell you that the President is not resting on these issues and he is not going to just make statement, he would roll out comprehensive measures which are achievable to end the current challenges,” he said.
He contends that the President would briefly touch on the state of the IMF bailout.
The leader and founder of the United Renaissance Party (URP), Mr Charles Kofi Wayo, says though the President thinks about the ordinary people and Ghanaians at large, he lacks the needed support to drive the country out of its quagmire.
“Have you seen the footbridge at the Tetteh Quarshie and Kwame Nkrumah interchanges? They’re fantastic. A lot of developmental projects are ongoing and that will tell you that he cares about everybody but he grew as an African and so there is still a problem. I know he can solve the problems but he needs people to help him to think outside the box,” he said.
To Mr Wayo, even though President Mahama can be blamed partially for the current power crisis he should not bear the responsibility alone. “The fault is with Rawlings, Kufuor and Mills,” he claimed, but was swift to add that his attention should be on the energy crisis.
The Centre for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD) on its part has urged President Mahama to be very truthful and honest in his state of nation address in Parliament tomorrow.
According to the Deputy Director of the CDD, Dr Franklin Oduro, the President must provide the nation with a well-calculated sustainable policy response to the severe energy crisis that the country is currently facing.
He said the rhetoric that is coming from government officials on the energy crisis is very contradictory so the President must be very truthful and honest to Ghanaians in terms of what the challenges are and how he plans to deal with them.
“We need a policy response to the energy crisis. A response that is not a short-term response, but a response that provides the nation and Ghanaians with the medium to long-term sustainable policy change.”
“It appears the government officials have been very economical with the whole truth about what exactly the problem is and how we are going to get out and that is why we are where we are today,” he told The General Telegraph in an interview.
Another issue that Dr Oduro wants the President to touch on is Ghana’s ongoing engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He wants the President to give assurances to Ghanaians that once this new agreement with the IMF is sealed, the foundation that will be built will be in such a way that Ghana will not return to them again.
“As Ghana is going to sign a new deal with the IMF, we need to know what the expectations of the government are, what they hope this new agreement or deal with the IMF is going to take Ghana; from where to where. Some honesty and truthful responses from the presidency to Ghanaians are important at this stage,” he added.
The government is hoping to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the IMF by Friday after it seals negotiations with the Fund on Thursday to demonstrate a commitment to meeting targets set out by the Fund.
The IMF programme will ease the pressure on Ghana’s economy and help tackle its short-term challenges – rising inflation, high cost of living, a rising public sector debt and a wobbling local currency.
To the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), which was formed by Dr Papa Kwesi Ndoum, the address would be nothing but politics as usual. “We don’t expect much from the President in his state of the nation address. It is going to be usual politics. He will not use the platform to provide appropriate solutions to the mountainous challenges facing the nation. To be frank, it is going to be the normal ritual,” Mr Kofi Asamoah-Siaw, the party’s national secretary, said.
He said the party and the country at large would be shocked if the President provides proper antidotes to end the dumsor crisis and give hope to the majority of Ghanaians.
The People’s National Convention (PNC) shared similar sentiments.
Mr Bernard Mornah, the General Secretary of the PNC, told this paper that the issues of energy deficit should not elude the President and that concerted efforts should be made to arrest the challenges the country faces.
He said the level of unemployment, economic hardship, redundancy coupled with massive decline in production should be addressed, adding, “The address should bring some kind of hope and clarity to what he intends to do to end the crises. We are not excited at all about what is happening,” he said.
He further appealed to the President to focus on agriculture, especially the shea-butter and cashew industries.
Kingsly Acquah, an energy expert, called for the restructuring of the Bui and Akosombo dams, the thermal plants and all power-producing institutions.
In addition, he said reforms are needed in the eastern corridor fibre optic project, as well as the import-led policies of the government, and that he expects the government to touch on these.
Meanwhile this paper has gathered that tomorrow’s state of the nation address will heavily dwell on progress made by the government and how to effectively tackle the current challenges.
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