Accra, Ghana-Professor Stephen Adei, former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) on Thursday noted that although the hotel industry contributed 10 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, little attention had been paid to its development.
“State-owned hotels like the Ambassador, Atlantic and Continental have all collapsed and Ghana is now relying on private hotels which do not meet international standards,” he said.
Prof. Adei who was speaking at the National Council meeting of the Ghana Hotels Association therefore lauded private hoteliers for their contribution in generating both local and foreign income to support the development of the country.
“I urge you to work in unity and put your resources together, establish a co-operative bank that would enable you to have access to credit facilities to grow the industry.”
Prof. Adei called for excellent management practice and training of staff to raise the face of the industry in the country and tasked government to simplify taxes on hotels.
“It is time for the government to look on the SME in the hotel industry as national assets and come out with a comprehensive incentive package,” he said.
Nana Kofi Adjei Twinin I, National President of the Association, said it was looking at human resource development and capacity building to ensure quality and efficient service delivery.
He said the industry would continue to work to meet the current service standards required by the Ghana tourist board.
“Currently the association has submitted a proposal document for strengthening and harmonizing the operations of the hotels association,” Nana Twinin said.
Mr Martin Mireku, Executive Director, Ghana Tourist Board, said the promotion of tourism could not be effective without a committed and vigorous private and public partnership, adding “there is the need for us to cooperate to achieve the excellence the industry is striving for”.
He said recent inspections carried out by the Board revealed poor kitchen hygiene, housekeeping and supervision, inadequate provision of mandatory furnishing and unskilled staff coupled with lack of professionalism.
Mr Mireku therefore urged hoteliers to keep to standards adding that the tourism industry was dynamic.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Over-liberalised trade affecting rice - GRIB
Accra, Ghana – The country’s over liberalized trade system has badly affected the rice industry and this has to be reversed, Mr Fidelis Avogo, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body (GRIB), said on Thursday.
“Although GRIB is not advocating a blanket trade blackout, it is restating that rice being a strategic crop needs some enabling conditions to strive and grow from its infant state,” he said.
Mr Avogo, speaking at GRIB’s Fourth General Assembly Meeting, said the industry was also faced with unstable market prices, adding that “more often due to the over liberalized economy, traders buy inputs from wherever and price them differently”.
He said consumption of rice had increased sharply, doubling to 14.5 kilos per capita since the 1990s.
In 2006, total rice consumption amounted to between 450,000 and 750,000 tonnes.
Mr Avogo said a survey in 2006 estimated an urban annual consumption of 38 kilos per capita while rural consumption stood at nine kilos per capita. The study also revealed that two regions, Greater Accra and Ashanti, were the largest consumers.
“Despite the existing potential for increasing national rice production as a result of abundant suitable ecologies, Ghana imports over two-thirds of its rice requirements which translate into 500 million dollars,” he said.
Mr Avogo urged government to establish a Rice Development Fund to help farmers in land development, which was capital intensive.
He lauded rice sector operators for their contribution towards food security and called on them to take advantage of technology to improve productivity.
“Rice among other cereals is attracting premium prices. This is a rare opportunity to the farmers that you must exploit to the full.”
GRIB is an umbrella organization of rice stakeholders and is aimed at identifying constraints, promoting market, price negotiations and profit sharing among stakeholders. It also proposes and lobbies for rice policies with relevant agencies and government.
Alhaji Naa Von Salifu, Zonal Coordinator, Northern Centre, mentioned policy sustainability, lack of good seeds, unreliable weather, high interest rates as some factors hampering the growth of the industry.
Mr Ralph Mends-Oduro, out-going President of GRIB, called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to show interest in the activities of the group and urged members to work in unity to advance their cause.
“Although GRIB is not advocating a blanket trade blackout, it is restating that rice being a strategic crop needs some enabling conditions to strive and grow from its infant state,” he said.
Mr Avogo, speaking at GRIB’s Fourth General Assembly Meeting, said the industry was also faced with unstable market prices, adding that “more often due to the over liberalized economy, traders buy inputs from wherever and price them differently”.
He said consumption of rice had increased sharply, doubling to 14.5 kilos per capita since the 1990s.
In 2006, total rice consumption amounted to between 450,000 and 750,000 tonnes.
Mr Avogo said a survey in 2006 estimated an urban annual consumption of 38 kilos per capita while rural consumption stood at nine kilos per capita. The study also revealed that two regions, Greater Accra and Ashanti, were the largest consumers.
“Despite the existing potential for increasing national rice production as a result of abundant suitable ecologies, Ghana imports over two-thirds of its rice requirements which translate into 500 million dollars,” he said.
Mr Avogo urged government to establish a Rice Development Fund to help farmers in land development, which was capital intensive.
He lauded rice sector operators for their contribution towards food security and called on them to take advantage of technology to improve productivity.
“Rice among other cereals is attracting premium prices. This is a rare opportunity to the farmers that you must exploit to the full.”
GRIB is an umbrella organization of rice stakeholders and is aimed at identifying constraints, promoting market, price negotiations and profit sharing among stakeholders. It also proposes and lobbies for rice policies with relevant agencies and government.
Alhaji Naa Von Salifu, Zonal Coordinator, Northern Centre, mentioned policy sustainability, lack of good seeds, unreliable weather, high interest rates as some factors hampering the growth of the industry.
Mr Ralph Mends-Oduro, out-going President of GRIB, called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to show interest in the activities of the group and urged members to work in unity to advance their cause.
UG goes on-line with application forms
Accra, Ghana - Applicants seeking admission into the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, are expected to register on-line henceforth.Prof. Elorm Dovlo, Vice Dean, Faculty of Arts, UG, who announced this on Tuesday, said all programmes with the exception of the Diploma to Degree, Executive MBA, Post-degree Law and foreign applicants were, however, expected to purchase forms from the Registry. Speaking at a forum to educate the public and prospective applicants on programmes and subjects choices, admission requirements and processes, Prof. Dovlo said the forum was to straighten public perception of UG's admissions.He noted that, the university had seven subject areas with definite requirements with three campuses and 10 centres across the country to run its programmes on modular, full-time and distance basis.Prof. Dovlo urged prospective applicants to be circumspect in their choice of programmes and subjects to make the work of the admission board easy. "Each major programme has a different mode of calculating results with regard to subjects," he said.Prof. Dovlo advised applicants to pay attention to details and fill in the right information. "Now that we are going on-line, do not fill in wrong grades to persuade authorities, you will definitely be punished." He said, though the university operated within a cut-off point, affirmative action had, however, been taken to increase female enrolment while concessions are given to less endowed schools.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Institutionalize ATI
Accra, Ghana-A two-day workshop on Access To Information (ATI) on Monday opened in Accra with a call on the West African Sub-region to institutionalize legislations enacted on ATI to make it more effective and efficient.
The workshop, which brought together 20 participants: Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Gambia and Liberia was organised by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) in collaboration with ActionAid International on the theme: 'Promoting the Peoples' Access to Information: The West African Experience'.
Nana Oye Lithur, said the workshop would identify ways of strengthen information flow to engender a culture of openness in West Africa and enhance capabilities to utilize existing information.
She said it also sought to share the findings of a legislative Audit conducted in Ghana to provide an opportunity for participants to examine the nature and effectiveness of the mechanisms for information access in Ghana.
Nana Lithur said though the right to information encouraged participatory democracy, Africa had not made any impressive strides in that regard, "With a record of only five states; Angola, South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe having freedom on Information laws, progressive efforts must be made to enact more of these laws on the continent".
Mr Venkatesh Nayak, CHRI noted that none of the countries represented had overriding access to information legislation; nevertheless many laws passed by parliaments in these countries contain information disclosure provisions.
He said the findings of the legislative audit from Ghana would encourage members to recognize the usefulness of these provisions and test their efficacy as well as conducting similar research in their respective countries.
Mr Hussaini Abdu, ActionAid International, Nigeria who gave his country's experience and the role of ActionAid said though some countries like Zimbabwe and Uganda had enacted such laws, it was not operational. "Some countries have passed these laws just to satisfy the conditions of accessing loans and grants facility from international donors", he added
The workshop, which brought together 20 participants: Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Gambia and Liberia was organised by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) in collaboration with ActionAid International on the theme: 'Promoting the Peoples' Access to Information: The West African Experience'.
Nana Oye Lithur, said the workshop would identify ways of strengthen information flow to engender a culture of openness in West Africa and enhance capabilities to utilize existing information.
She said it also sought to share the findings of a legislative Audit conducted in Ghana to provide an opportunity for participants to examine the nature and effectiveness of the mechanisms for information access in Ghana.
Nana Lithur said though the right to information encouraged participatory democracy, Africa had not made any impressive strides in that regard, "With a record of only five states; Angola, South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe having freedom on Information laws, progressive efforts must be made to enact more of these laws on the continent".
Mr Venkatesh Nayak, CHRI noted that none of the countries represented had overriding access to information legislation; nevertheless many laws passed by parliaments in these countries contain information disclosure provisions.
He said the findings of the legislative audit from Ghana would encourage members to recognize the usefulness of these provisions and test their efficacy as well as conducting similar research in their respective countries.
Mr Hussaini Abdu, ActionAid International, Nigeria who gave his country's experience and the role of ActionAid said though some countries like Zimbabwe and Uganda had enacted such laws, it was not operational. "Some countries have passed these laws just to satisfy the conditions of accessing loans and grants facility from international donors", he added
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Mills sworn-in
Accra, Ghana- Ghanaians from all walks of life converged at the Independence Square to witness the swearing-in of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the third President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
The whole Square was filled with people adorning NDC t-shirts and other party paraphernalia while others were displaying their skills at riding motorbikes.
The whole Independence Square was draped in the national colours of red, gold and green. A set of huge Fontomfrom drums was mounted at the Square. Also, the seats of the President and Vice-President were set and ready for the ceremony.
Security was very tight with security personnel doing their job including directing people to their designated seats.
Traditional rulers, Queens, Queen Mothers and religious leaders from all over the country were present to witness the ceremony.
The whole Square was filled with people adorning NDC t-shirts and other party paraphernalia while others were displaying their skills at riding motorbikes.
The whole Independence Square was draped in the national colours of red, gold and green. A set of huge Fontomfrom drums was mounted at the Square. Also, the seats of the President and Vice-President were set and ready for the ceremony.
Security was very tight with security personnel doing their job including directing people to their designated seats.
Traditional rulers, Queens, Queen Mothers and religious leaders from all over the country were present to witness the ceremony.
Parliament makes hstory-woman Speaker chosen
Accra, Ghana– Mrs. Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, retired Supreme Court judge, made history when she was elected as the first woman to the high office of the Speaker of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
She becomes the third in the leadership hierarchy in the country after the President and Vice President.
Mrs Justice Bamford-Addo was elected unopposed as Speaker in sharp contrast to what her predecessor, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, went through.
The immediate past Speaker was elected Speaker of Fourth Parliament after a gruelling balloting following opposition from the late Peter Ala Adjetey, a former Speaker, who was nominated by the opposition.
Mr Alban Bagbin, Member-Elect of the Fifth Parliament from the Majority NDC side, who moved a motion for the election of the Justice Bamford-Addo had an easy task, as Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Member-Elect from the NPP Minority side quickly, endorsed her nomination.
The former Supreme Court Judge was born on March 26, 1937 and attended the Holy Child Secondary School in Cape Coast.
She trained as a lawyer in the United Kingdom and practiced briefly in London and relocated to Ghana.
She joined the Attorney-General’s Department in Ghana as a State Attorney in 1963 and rose to become the Director of Public Prosecution in 1986.
Between 1991 and 2004 she served as Supreme Court Judge.
She also served on various boards including the Legal Aid Board and the Judicial Council. In 1992, she served as a Deputy Speaker of the Consultative Assembly and retired from public service in October 2004, having served as a practicing lawyer for 43 years and as a judge of the Supreme Court for 13 years
She becomes the third in the leadership hierarchy in the country after the President and Vice President.
Mrs Justice Bamford-Addo was elected unopposed as Speaker in sharp contrast to what her predecessor, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, went through.
The immediate past Speaker was elected Speaker of Fourth Parliament after a gruelling balloting following opposition from the late Peter Ala Adjetey, a former Speaker, who was nominated by the opposition.
Mr Alban Bagbin, Member-Elect of the Fifth Parliament from the Majority NDC side, who moved a motion for the election of the Justice Bamford-Addo had an easy task, as Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Member-Elect from the NPP Minority side quickly, endorsed her nomination.
The former Supreme Court Judge was born on March 26, 1937 and attended the Holy Child Secondary School in Cape Coast.
She trained as a lawyer in the United Kingdom and practiced briefly in London and relocated to Ghana.
She joined the Attorney-General’s Department in Ghana as a State Attorney in 1963 and rose to become the Director of Public Prosecution in 1986.
Between 1991 and 2004 she served as Supreme Court Judge.
She also served on various boards including the Legal Aid Board and the Judicial Council. In 1992, she served as a Deputy Speaker of the Consultative Assembly and retired from public service in October 2004, having served as a practicing lawyer for 43 years and as a judge of the Supreme Court for 13 years
Parliaments convene on a note of agreement from both sides
Accra, Ghana - Consensus building marked the opening of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic in Accra as both sides of the House agreed unopposed to the nomination of Mrs. Justice Joyce Adelaine Bamford-Addo, a former justice of the Supreme Court, as the new Speaker of the House.
Shouts of “agbe naa, agbe naa” (It is accomplished, it is accomplished) rang out in the Chamber after the soft-spoken Speaker, administered the oaths of allegiance and Member of Parliament to the 228 elected representatives of the Ghanaian citizenry. Two seats are yet to be filled.
Sheikh Ibrahim Codjoe Quaye, New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Ayawaso Central, as well as other big wigs now the minority, exchanged pleasantries, including hugs, with members from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), now the majority side.
Mrs. Justice Bamford-Addo, 71 , who was inadvertently referred to as “Mr” because of the provision in the Standing Order, commended the Members of the House on their election or re-election into the House, but gavelled down the excitement to call the House to order as Members ensured their names were in the attendance register.
The House accepted the nomination of Mr Doe Adjaho, MP for Avenor Ave (NDC), as First Deputy Speaker and Prof Mike Ocquaye, MP for Dome Kwabenya (NPP) as Second Deputy Speaker.
Mr Osei-Kyei Mensa Bonsu, Minority Leader said Mr Adjaho, a lawyer, was a knowledgeable Member of the House and had proved to be one of the best materials.
Prof Ocquaye’s nomination was put forward by Mr Kwame Osei- Prempeh, (NPP-Nsuta Kwamang Besposo) and seconded by Ms Akua Sena Dansua (NDC-North Dayi). Prof Ocqaye is a lawyer, former head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, a reverend minister and also former Ghana High Commissioner in New Delhi. He was also Minister of Energy and Communications
Shouts of “agbe naa, agbe naa” (It is accomplished, it is accomplished) rang out in the Chamber after the soft-spoken Speaker, administered the oaths of allegiance and Member of Parliament to the 228 elected representatives of the Ghanaian citizenry. Two seats are yet to be filled.
Sheikh Ibrahim Codjoe Quaye, New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Ayawaso Central, as well as other big wigs now the minority, exchanged pleasantries, including hugs, with members from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), now the majority side.
Mrs. Justice Bamford-Addo, 71 , who was inadvertently referred to as “Mr” because of the provision in the Standing Order, commended the Members of the House on their election or re-election into the House, but gavelled down the excitement to call the House to order as Members ensured their names were in the attendance register.
The House accepted the nomination of Mr Doe Adjaho, MP for Avenor Ave (NDC), as First Deputy Speaker and Prof Mike Ocquaye, MP for Dome Kwabenya (NPP) as Second Deputy Speaker.
Mr Osei-Kyei Mensa Bonsu, Minority Leader said Mr Adjaho, a lawyer, was a knowledgeable Member of the House and had proved to be one of the best materials.
Prof Ocquaye’s nomination was put forward by Mr Kwame Osei- Prempeh, (NPP-Nsuta Kwamang Besposo) and seconded by Ms Akua Sena Dansua (NDC-North Dayi). Prof Ocqaye is a lawyer, former head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, a reverend minister and also former Ghana High Commissioner in New Delhi. He was also Minister of Energy and Communications
The Legislature-It evolution
Accra, Ghana - Ghana achieved independence on March 6, 1957. The political struggles that preceded this historic event date back over a hundred years ago.
The early period of nationalist struggle for political independence created political awareness and desire to assert the right of self-determination both for the individual and the State.
As far back as 1850, Ghana, then the Gold Coast, was given its own Legislative Council to advise the colonial Governor in enacting legislation mainly in the form of Ordinances "for peace, order and good government of the subject."
The Legislative Council was purely advisory as the Governor exercised all legislative and executive powers.
In 1916 the Legislative Council was reconstituted to include nine nominated unofficial members, six of whom were Africans.
The first Legislative Council elections ever to be held took place in 1925 under the Guggisberg Constitution. Under this arrangement the Governor still retained complete control of legislation.
Under the 1946 Burns Constitution that replaced the Guggisberg Constitution, the representatives of the people formed the majority in the Legislative Council.
The Governor ceased to be ex-officio President of the Legislative Council, paving the way for an unofficial member to be appointed President.
This system continued until 1951 when the legislature elected its first Speaker under the 1950 Constitution.
In 1951 the first large-scale elections to the Legislative Assembly took place when 75 members were elected.
There were three nominated ex-officio members and six special members representing commercial mining interests.
The 1955 transitional Constitution provided for an Assembly of a Speaker and 104 Members elected on party lines on the basis of universal adult suffrage.
In 1957 when Ghana achieved full political independence, the Constitution was fashioned after the Westminster model.
In June 1960, 10 women were elected by the National Assembly to fill specially created seats. This was done to expose women to parliamentary life.
This system of election was not intended to be permanent. The Act made no provision in filling a vacancy caused by death, resignation or expulsion of a woman member. On July 1, 1960, Ghana became a sovereign unitary Republic.
In February 1964 Ghana adopted a one-party system of Government. The first National Assembly of the Republic was dissolved in 1965 and a General Election which comprised 198 members, all of the Convention People's Party (CPP), were elected unopposed.
The 1964 Constitutional Amendments among other things increased the powers and prerogatives of the President.
In February 1966, the First Republican Government was overthrown by a military coup, which installed a military government that remained in power up to September 1969. On its own volition, the military administration handed over power to another constitutionally elected government, and thereby restored parliamentary rule once again.
After 22 months in office, the Second parliamentary democracy also succumbed to another military rule between 1972.
In September 1979 the military government was compelled to usher in the Third Republican Parliamentary system.
Parliamentary democracy was once thrown into cold storage as a result of yet another military intervention in December 1981. However, the country returned to constitutional rule again on January 7, 1993, with 200 members.
Constitutional rule has survived a third term.
The Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic has 230 members.
The early period of nationalist struggle for political independence created political awareness and desire to assert the right of self-determination both for the individual and the State.
As far back as 1850, Ghana, then the Gold Coast, was given its own Legislative Council to advise the colonial Governor in enacting legislation mainly in the form of Ordinances "for peace, order and good government of the subject."
The Legislative Council was purely advisory as the Governor exercised all legislative and executive powers.
In 1916 the Legislative Council was reconstituted to include nine nominated unofficial members, six of whom were Africans.
The first Legislative Council elections ever to be held took place in 1925 under the Guggisberg Constitution. Under this arrangement the Governor still retained complete control of legislation.
Under the 1946 Burns Constitution that replaced the Guggisberg Constitution, the representatives of the people formed the majority in the Legislative Council.
The Governor ceased to be ex-officio President of the Legislative Council, paving the way for an unofficial member to be appointed President.
This system continued until 1951 when the legislature elected its first Speaker under the 1950 Constitution.
In 1951 the first large-scale elections to the Legislative Assembly took place when 75 members were elected.
There were three nominated ex-officio members and six special members representing commercial mining interests.
The 1955 transitional Constitution provided for an Assembly of a Speaker and 104 Members elected on party lines on the basis of universal adult suffrage.
In 1957 when Ghana achieved full political independence, the Constitution was fashioned after the Westminster model.
In June 1960, 10 women were elected by the National Assembly to fill specially created seats. This was done to expose women to parliamentary life.
This system of election was not intended to be permanent. The Act made no provision in filling a vacancy caused by death, resignation or expulsion of a woman member. On July 1, 1960, Ghana became a sovereign unitary Republic.
In February 1964 Ghana adopted a one-party system of Government. The first National Assembly of the Republic was dissolved in 1965 and a General Election which comprised 198 members, all of the Convention People's Party (CPP), were elected unopposed.
The 1964 Constitutional Amendments among other things increased the powers and prerogatives of the President.
In February 1966, the First Republican Government was overthrown by a military coup, which installed a military government that remained in power up to September 1969. On its own volition, the military administration handed over power to another constitutionally elected government, and thereby restored parliamentary rule once again.
After 22 months in office, the Second parliamentary democracy also succumbed to another military rule between 1972.
In September 1979 the military government was compelled to usher in the Third Republican Parliamentary system.
Parliamentary democracy was once thrown into cold storage as a result of yet another military intervention in December 1981. However, the country returned to constitutional rule again on January 7, 1993, with 200 members.
Constitutional rule has survived a third term.
The Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic has 230 members.
Chiefs congratulates Mills
Accra, Ghana – The National House of Chiefs has congratulated President-elect John Evans Atta Mills and said as custodians of the country’s culture and tradition, “we see your successes as a monumental event symbolising the very essence of our unity and togetherness”.
A statement by Wulugu Naba-Naa Prof. John Nabila, President of the House, said the president-elect’s personal attributes as “peace maker” and his decades of professional experience as a “teacher”, combine to assure the chiefs that under his presidency, the peace being enjoyed would be deepened and “we will continue to learn new lessons and teach others about human dignity and sustainable development”.
“We know that you will; deploy your personal commitments and professional attributes to unite the country after a highly competitive and sometimes divisive election campaign.”
The House of Chiefs also congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo, losing candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for accepting the results and out-going President John Agyekum Kufuor for his preparedness to facilitate a smooth transition to the next government.
The House of Chiefs urged all Ghanaians to desist from all the rivalry and acrimony which characterised the elections, saying “Let us resolve to work together as we continue to build our nation in unity, peace and stability through dialogue and reconciliation.”
It said the House was in the process of preparing its strategic plan to elaborate its vision for effective and cooperative governance that would consolidate democracy and ancestral heritage.
A statement by Wulugu Naba-Naa Prof. John Nabila, President of the House, said the president-elect’s personal attributes as “peace maker” and his decades of professional experience as a “teacher”, combine to assure the chiefs that under his presidency, the peace being enjoyed would be deepened and “we will continue to learn new lessons and teach others about human dignity and sustainable development”.
“We know that you will; deploy your personal commitments and professional attributes to unite the country after a highly competitive and sometimes divisive election campaign.”
The House of Chiefs also congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo, losing candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for accepting the results and out-going President John Agyekum Kufuor for his preparedness to facilitate a smooth transition to the next government.
The House of Chiefs urged all Ghanaians to desist from all the rivalry and acrimony which characterised the elections, saying “Let us resolve to work together as we continue to build our nation in unity, peace and stability through dialogue and reconciliation.”
It said the House was in the process of preparing its strategic plan to elaborate its vision for effective and cooperative governance that would consolidate democracy and ancestral heritage.
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