Are my leaders listening ?
It's now official The Queen of England is vBlogging. The Christmas Message for the year 2007 would be live on the vblog tommorrow 25 December 2007. Can't wait...
Official Google Blog: A very special Christmas broadcast
Monday, December 24, 2007
Saturday, July 7, 2007
House Leadership to invite GCB Governor on redenomination
Accra, July 6, GNA – Alhaji Malik A. Yakubu, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament has asked the leadership of the House to meet and find an agreeable procedure of inviting the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to answer questions relating to the re-denomination exercise, including how much it cost the tax payer to introduce the new Ghana Cedi.This followed a turbulent period which saw the Minority saying that even though it had brought the question before the House several times, Mr. Felix Owusu Adjepong, Majority Leader has not listed the question on the order paper, which according to a number of Minority MP's was originally listed as an urgent question.
The Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament last week held a press conference to register its disapproval of the refusal of either the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning or the Governor of the BoG to appear before the House on the matter and urged them to quickly address the questions they put.Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi, NDC- Ashaiman, who raised the matter noted that it seemed as if Dr Paul Acquah, Governor of the Central Bank was not keen on appearing before the House to answer questions on how much it cost Ghanaians to print the new currency and other related costs.
He said, he had heard the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning arguing on a radio station that it was the Governor who was charged with talking on the re-denomination exercise.Mr Agbesi said it was relevant point for the governor to explain to the entire Ghanaian population how much it cost the nation to introduce the Ghana Cedi, noting that in other countries, such information was readily available.To this, Mr. Ossei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Chief Whip said it was wrong for anyone to think that Parliament could order everybody before the House to answer questions.
"We have procedures and ways of going about such a situation and it is very important we follow these procedures without recourse to any situation which paints a wrong erroneous picture of the state of affairs. If we do not watch how some of these things are done, we would find a situation where the Chief Justice could be summoned to explain on a certain ruling."
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also argued that the House could invite the Governor to appear before the Committee of the Whole, noting that the first situation in which Dr Acquah appeared before Parliament to give the House a situational report about the re-denomination and its outcomes was wrong and should not have happened.
But this position did not go down well with Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, NDC- Ningo Prampram, who rose to his feet to restate the point that, "all public holders are accountable to the tax payer and must in all circumstances be ready and available to disclose information on their activities, especially when so desired by the representatives of the people.
"We are the representatives of the people and we have the right to hear the Governor of the Bank of Ghana tell us how much it cost the nation to undertake the re-denomination exercise; how much of the old currency is in circulation and how it would be destroyed, among others. We need to know," he repeated.Mr. Owusu-Adjepong agreed with Mr Speaker to meet the other side to find an amicable way of getting the Governor before the House.Later the much delayed private members' motion in which Parliament is expressing disappointment in the inability of government to end the energy crisis, almost a year after it started, took centre stage.The debate had similar colouration of the initial two debates, but less confrontational as the Deputy Speaker warned he was not going to take any unwarranted interventions that could take away the real focus and purpose of the debate.
Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of the Interior, in winding up said the NDC government failed to develop a comprehensive energy plan that was to make thermal power production profitable.
He argued that even though the NDC put up the Aboadze Thrmal Plant, it could not utilize it fully because it learnt too late that running the Plant was expensive, a trend which Mr. Kan-Dapaah said, lends credence to NPP's position that thermal complementation was not the way forward.Mr Lee Ocran, NDC-Jomoro said it was not true that the NDC did not have a long term plan for energy production, arguing that as far back as 1998 efforts were made to engineer an energy mix that relied on solar, nuclear, hydro and thermal.
"We started with the thermal plant which brought on 550 megawatts of power and this was to have been progressively enhanced with a 110 megawatts annually. But was not done when the NPP government came to power."
Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, NPP-Sunyani said it was important to depart from the blame game on who did what and who did not. "What is important for us now is to look at, not just how to build up on the water levels, but also put in place a practical implementation plan to make current searches on the viability of nuclear energy in this country; because we know that it is the cheapest means of energy production."
The Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament last week held a press conference to register its disapproval of the refusal of either the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning or the Governor of the BoG to appear before the House on the matter and urged them to quickly address the questions they put.Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi, NDC- Ashaiman, who raised the matter noted that it seemed as if Dr Paul Acquah, Governor of the Central Bank was not keen on appearing before the House to answer questions on how much it cost Ghanaians to print the new currency and other related costs.
He said, he had heard the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning arguing on a radio station that it was the Governor who was charged with talking on the re-denomination exercise.Mr Agbesi said it was relevant point for the governor to explain to the entire Ghanaian population how much it cost the nation to introduce the Ghana Cedi, noting that in other countries, such information was readily available.To this, Mr. Ossei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Chief Whip said it was wrong for anyone to think that Parliament could order everybody before the House to answer questions.
"We have procedures and ways of going about such a situation and it is very important we follow these procedures without recourse to any situation which paints a wrong erroneous picture of the state of affairs. If we do not watch how some of these things are done, we would find a situation where the Chief Justice could be summoned to explain on a certain ruling."
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also argued that the House could invite the Governor to appear before the Committee of the Whole, noting that the first situation in which Dr Acquah appeared before Parliament to give the House a situational report about the re-denomination and its outcomes was wrong and should not have happened.
But this position did not go down well with Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, NDC- Ningo Prampram, who rose to his feet to restate the point that, "all public holders are accountable to the tax payer and must in all circumstances be ready and available to disclose information on their activities, especially when so desired by the representatives of the people.
"We are the representatives of the people and we have the right to hear the Governor of the Bank of Ghana tell us how much it cost the nation to undertake the re-denomination exercise; how much of the old currency is in circulation and how it would be destroyed, among others. We need to know," he repeated.Mr. Owusu-Adjepong agreed with Mr Speaker to meet the other side to find an amicable way of getting the Governor before the House.Later the much delayed private members' motion in which Parliament is expressing disappointment in the inability of government to end the energy crisis, almost a year after it started, took centre stage.The debate had similar colouration of the initial two debates, but less confrontational as the Deputy Speaker warned he was not going to take any unwarranted interventions that could take away the real focus and purpose of the debate.
Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of the Interior, in winding up said the NDC government failed to develop a comprehensive energy plan that was to make thermal power production profitable.
He argued that even though the NDC put up the Aboadze Thrmal Plant, it could not utilize it fully because it learnt too late that running the Plant was expensive, a trend which Mr. Kan-Dapaah said, lends credence to NPP's position that thermal complementation was not the way forward.Mr Lee Ocran, NDC-Jomoro said it was not true that the NDC did not have a long term plan for energy production, arguing that as far back as 1998 efforts were made to engineer an energy mix that relied on solar, nuclear, hydro and thermal.
"We started with the thermal plant which brought on 550 megawatts of power and this was to have been progressively enhanced with a 110 megawatts annually. But was not done when the NPP government came to power."
Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, NPP-Sunyani said it was important to depart from the blame game on who did what and who did not. "What is important for us now is to look at, not just how to build up on the water levels, but also put in place a practical implementation plan to make current searches on the viability of nuclear energy in this country; because we know that it is the cheapest means of energy production."
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Ninth Ordinary Session of the African Union opens in Accra, Ghana
Accra, July 1, GNA – The 9th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) opened in Accra, Ghana, on Sunday.
President John Agyekum Kufuor, President of AU; President Alpha Oumar Konare, President of the African Commission, and Dr Ahmed Esmat abd al-Meguid, Secretary General of the Arab League, addressed the opening session.Dr Rose Asha-Mirigo, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, read Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-Moon's speech while China formally presented a miniscule of the new AU complex it has promised to build for the Union at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
President John Agyekum Kufuor, President of AU; President Alpha Oumar Konare, President of the African Commission, and Dr Ahmed Esmat abd al-Meguid, Secretary General of the Arab League, addressed the opening session.Dr Rose Asha-Mirigo, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, read Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-Moon's speech while China formally presented a miniscule of the new AU complex it has promised to build for the Union at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Three-day orientation workshop for assembly members held at Nyinahin
Nyinahin (Ash), July 1, GNA – Mr. Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah, Atwima-Mponua District Chief Executive, has called on assembly members to maintain close contact with their electorate and interact with them on regular basis on policies and programmes of the Assembly.
They should also be actively involved in how the assembly's funds are utilized.The DCE said this at a three-day orientation workshop organized for assembly members in the district at Nyinahin.It was aimed at enlightening them on their roles and functions.He appealed to them to collect and collate views, opinions and proposals on matters affecting the electorate and present them to the assembly meetings for discussions and solutions.Mr Ernest Yaw Kwarteng, Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, advised the assembly members not to regard themselves as superior to the electorate and traditional authorities but work closely with them to move the area forward in terms of development.
They should also be actively involved in how the assembly's funds are utilized.The DCE said this at a three-day orientation workshop organized for assembly members in the district at Nyinahin.It was aimed at enlightening them on their roles and functions.He appealed to them to collect and collate views, opinions and proposals on matters affecting the electorate and present them to the assembly meetings for discussions and solutions.Mr Ernest Yaw Kwarteng, Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, advised the assembly members not to regard themselves as superior to the electorate and traditional authorities but work closely with them to move the area forward in terms of development.
Aspirant praises C/R NPP executives for settling conflict
Agona Swedru, July 1, GNA - Mr Enock Kojo Kwakye, aspiring for the New patriotic Party (NPP) for Agona West Constituency chairmanship, has commended the Central Regional executives of the party and the District Chief Executive for Agona, Mr Ben Mensah, for the amicable resolution of the conflict that rocked the constituency.
He said the conflict nearly derailed the progress of the party in the constituency and now that the members had smoked the peace pipe it would pave way for victory in 2008 elections.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Agona Swedru on Saturday, Mr Kwakye praised Mr Danquah Smith, Regional Chairman, and his executives for their sense of direction and responsibility in resolving the crisis.He stressed the need for the polling station executives to foster unity and co-operation and to promote peace in the party.Mr Kwakye called on supporters to bury their differences to ensure peace and stability in the party.
He said the conflict nearly derailed the progress of the party in the constituency and now that the members had smoked the peace pipe it would pave way for victory in 2008 elections.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Agona Swedru on Saturday, Mr Kwakye praised Mr Danquah Smith, Regional Chairman, and his executives for their sense of direction and responsibility in resolving the crisis.He stressed the need for the polling station executives to foster unity and co-operation and to promote peace in the party.Mr Kwakye called on supporters to bury their differences to ensure peace and stability in the party.
Agona West IMC chairman calls for peace and stability
Agona Swedru, July 1, GNA - Mr Adofo Dwamena, the Interim Management Committee Chairman of Agona West Constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has appealed to faction leaders and their supporters to bury their political differences to ensure peace, stability and development.
He said the time had come for them to understand each other and work as a team to enable them defeat the common political opponent in the 2008 elections. Mr Dwamena made the appeal when he addressed polling station executives at Agona Abodom, Lower and Upper Bobikuma as part of the executives' tour of the constituency.
They are on a weeklong tour to interact with the polling station executives. He told the polling station executives to forget about the past, saying the conflict has derailed progress and development of the party, but it was not too late to make amends.
"It would be a disaster and chaos if you allow misunderstanding to divide you and pave the way for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to recapture the parliamentary seat in the 2008 election".He said unity and understanding among the party supporters was the only way to stop the Agona West from falling into the hands of opposition NDC in the next elections.The Central Regional executives of the party has fixed August 8 as the new date to elect new constituency executives, Mr Danquah Smith said.
He said the time had come for them to understand each other and work as a team to enable them defeat the common political opponent in the 2008 elections. Mr Dwamena made the appeal when he addressed polling station executives at Agona Abodom, Lower and Upper Bobikuma as part of the executives' tour of the constituency.
They are on a weeklong tour to interact with the polling station executives. He told the polling station executives to forget about the past, saying the conflict has derailed progress and development of the party, but it was not too late to make amends.
"It would be a disaster and chaos if you allow misunderstanding to divide you and pave the way for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to recapture the parliamentary seat in the 2008 election".He said unity and understanding among the party supporters was the only way to stop the Agona West from falling into the hands of opposition NDC in the next elections.The Central Regional executives of the party has fixed August 8 as the new date to elect new constituency executives, Mr Danquah Smith said.
Apprentice mechanic remanded for defilement
Kumasi, July 1, GNA – Kwame Atta, 24, an apprentice mechanic has been remanded into prison custody by a Kumasi Circuit Court for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old pupil.
He pleaded not guilty and will re-appear before the court on July 16.Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Comfort Kyei-Baffour told the court, presided over by Madam Wilhemina Hammond that the complainant is a sister to the victim and lives in the vicinity with the accused at Adiembra in Kumasi.She said sometime in May this year, the accused who noticed the absence of victim's sister who had travelled took advantage of that and went to the victim's room and forcibly had sex with her after which he warned her not to tell anybody else she would die.
Chief Inspector Kyei-Baffour said the victim informed the sister on her return and a report was made to the police and a medical form was issued to her and the medical report confirmed defilement.Atta was arrested and after investigation put before court.
He pleaded not guilty and will re-appear before the court on July 16.Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Comfort Kyei-Baffour told the court, presided over by Madam Wilhemina Hammond that the complainant is a sister to the victim and lives in the vicinity with the accused at Adiembra in Kumasi.She said sometime in May this year, the accused who noticed the absence of victim's sister who had travelled took advantage of that and went to the victim's room and forcibly had sex with her after which he warned her not to tell anybody else she would die.
Chief Inspector Kyei-Baffour said the victim informed the sister on her return and a report was made to the police and a medical form was issued to her and the medical report confirmed defilement.Atta was arrested and after investigation put before court.
Taxi Driver murdered and car taken away
Ajumako (C/R) July 1, GNA-Kwame Ato, a 25-year old Taxi driver from Baafikrom near Mankessim in the Central Region was on Saturday found murdered in the bush near Ajumako Kromaim and his car taken away.A source at Ajumako Police told the Ghana News Agency that at about 1700 hours on Friday three unidentified person hired Kwame's Tico taxi cab with registration Number GW 4537 X from Mankessim to Ajumako.
He said on Saturday morning Kwame's body was found with some knife wounds in a bush on the Ajumako Kromain road and his taxi cab taken away by his assailants.The body has been deposited at the Central Regional hospital at Cape Coast for autopsy while police investigation continues.
He said on Saturday morning Kwame's body was found with some knife wounds in a bush on the Ajumako Kromain road and his taxi cab taken away by his assailants.The body has been deposited at the Central Regional hospital at Cape Coast for autopsy while police investigation continues.
Awutus renewed their call for separate district assembly
Awutu Beraku, C/R, July 1, GNA - The chiefs and people of Awutu Traditional Area on Sunday renewed their appeal to President John Agyekum Kufuor to create a new district for Awutu.
They said the creation of the new district assembly would help to improve the living standards of the people.Nana Ekow Odetey, Mbrantehene of Awutu Beraku and Mr Stanley Quaye, President of Awutu Emasa Youth Association, said this when Mr Solomon Quarshie Abbam-Quaye, the District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, joined them to undertake a clean up exercise on Sunday at Awutu Beraku.
They said the population of Awutu Beraku, Bawjiase and Kasoa qualify them for a separate district."The district is too large to be administered by one district assembly and the resources from the central government cannot reach every corner of the district however fairly distributed by the authorities."
Mr Quaye appealed to the district assembly to help extend electricity and water to new developed areas of Awutu Beraku. He said the association, with own its meagre resources, built five pit latrines in the town and appealed to the DCE to help supply them iron sheets to roof them.Mr Abbam-Quaye said the administrators of the district agreed to the creation of the new district but it was the prerogative of the President todecide on the matter.He said the government was doing everything possible to improve infrastructure in the district and that the time had for the people to learn to initiate development projects instead of relying on the government all the time.
They said the creation of the new district assembly would help to improve the living standards of the people.Nana Ekow Odetey, Mbrantehene of Awutu Beraku and Mr Stanley Quaye, President of Awutu Emasa Youth Association, said this when Mr Solomon Quarshie Abbam-Quaye, the District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, joined them to undertake a clean up exercise on Sunday at Awutu Beraku.
They said the population of Awutu Beraku, Bawjiase and Kasoa qualify them for a separate district."The district is too large to be administered by one district assembly and the resources from the central government cannot reach every corner of the district however fairly distributed by the authorities."
Mr Quaye appealed to the district assembly to help extend electricity and water to new developed areas of Awutu Beraku. He said the association, with own its meagre resources, built five pit latrines in the town and appealed to the DCE to help supply them iron sheets to roof them.Mr Abbam-Quaye said the administrators of the district agreed to the creation of the new district but it was the prerogative of the President todecide on the matter.He said the government was doing everything possible to improve infrastructure in the district and that the time had for the people to learn to initiate development projects instead of relying on the government all the time.
All set for the opening of the African Union Summit
Accra, July 1, GNA – All is set for the opening of the 9th Ordinary Session of the African Union in Accra, Ghana.
A number of African Heads of State and Government are in Accra for the Summit
They include President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria; Prime Minister P. Mosisili of Lesotho and Dr Isatou Njie, Vice President of The Gambia; President Francois Bozize of Central African Republic; President Abdolaye Wade of Senegal; President Pedro Pireriz of Cape Verde; President Levi Mwanawasa of Zambia and Deputy Prime Minister Pee Pee Jaun Ahmed of Mauritius.
The late Saturday afternoon arrivals in Accra included President Ravaloma Nana of Madagascar and President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso.
Those who had arrived earlier in the day were President Umar Yar-Adua of Nigeria; President Faure Nyasingbe of Togo and President Sidi Mohammed Ould Cheikh Abdullahi of Mauritania.
The others were President Sassou Ngueso of Congo Brazzaville; President Yayi Boni of Benin; President Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea; Prime Minister Absalom Dlamini of Swaziland; President Iddris Debbie of Chad and President Mohammed Abdelaziz of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
The rest were President Ahmed Mohammed Sambi of Comoros Island; President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi; President Moi Kabaki of Kenya; President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and President Omar Bongo of Gabon.
The Leaders took the national salute and inspected a guard of honour mounted by four officers and 96 men drawn from the First Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Army under the Command of Captain Jacob Sedzro, with the Central Army Band on parade.
Fifty-two African Heads of State and Government are expected in Ghana to participate in the Session from July 1 to July 3 2007.
The Summit would be discussing the creation of a union government for Africa.
A number of African Heads of State and Government are in Accra for the Summit
They include President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria; Prime Minister P. Mosisili of Lesotho and Dr Isatou Njie, Vice President of The Gambia; President Francois Bozize of Central African Republic; President Abdolaye Wade of Senegal; President Pedro Pireriz of Cape Verde; President Levi Mwanawasa of Zambia and Deputy Prime Minister Pee Pee Jaun Ahmed of Mauritius.
The late Saturday afternoon arrivals in Accra included President Ravaloma Nana of Madagascar and President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso.
Those who had arrived earlier in the day were President Umar Yar-Adua of Nigeria; President Faure Nyasingbe of Togo and President Sidi Mohammed Ould Cheikh Abdullahi of Mauritania.
The others were President Sassou Ngueso of Congo Brazzaville; President Yayi Boni of Benin; President Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea; Prime Minister Absalom Dlamini of Swaziland; President Iddris Debbie of Chad and President Mohammed Abdelaziz of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
The rest were President Ahmed Mohammed Sambi of Comoros Island; President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi; President Moi Kabaki of Kenya; President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and President Omar Bongo of Gabon.
The Leaders took the national salute and inspected a guard of honour mounted by four officers and 96 men drawn from the First Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Army under the Command of Captain Jacob Sedzro, with the Central Army Band on parade.
Fifty-two African Heads of State and Government are expected in Ghana to participate in the Session from July 1 to July 3 2007.
The Summit would be discussing the creation of a union government for Africa.
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