GENDER issues, particularly those concerning women and children have become the concern of the government, many institutions and organisations as well as individuals in the country, since this category of people are among the most vulnerable in the society.
It is a result of this that the government established the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs to see to the pressing needs of women and children, and also founded special schools to ensure the education and orderly development of children.
Besides government’s efforts at ensuring the welfare of women and children in the country, many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have also been formed to complement the government’s effort to champion the cause of women and children, especially those in the deprived areas.
One of such NGOs which has been established in the Western Region to promote the development, socio-economic advancement and general welfare of women and children is the Tenongtaaba Development Organisation.
The organisation is an advocacy and charitable based NGO, whose primary purpose is to seek the protection and promotion of the human rights of women and children, and to initiate educational programmes to assist the needy in the society to develop their potentials.
Tenongtaaba, a Frafra word meaning “love your neighbour,” was set up at Tongo in the Upper East Region in 2001, and now with a branch in the Western Region is geared to assist schools in the rural areas with teaching and learning materials to enhance education delivery.
It will also raise public awareness about domestic violence and its impact on women and children as well as build the capacity of women through adult education.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Founder and Director of the organisation, Madam Faustina Talata Tee, explained that besides the promotion of education, the goals and objectives of the organisation cut across all boundaries, ages, tribes or religion.
She said the organisation was envisioned to bring the needy people to the realisation of the great dangers involved in leaving their homes and going down the cities to engage in “Kayayoo”, truck pushing and fufu pounding, among other menial jobs.
Madam Talata Tee further explained that the organisation had found it necessary to intervene to offer assistance to the needs of the poor and to embark on education programmes that would make families to place high value on education and also to realise their respective potentials.
According to her, the organisation had held a series of advocacy programmes to educate women to appreciate their fundamental human rights, the importance of education of the girl child, as well as the need to be self-empowered.
Madam Talata Tee mentioned some of the challenges facing women, especially those in the north as female genital mutilation (FGM), which she said was being done as a result of ignorance.
“Some people think that we cannot do away with it because it is our culture,” she regretted.
She said another challenge was the notion that a woman’s role was home keeping, adding that “trying to break the culture of discrimination against women in the society is also a problem.”
She was also not happy that human rights and gender programmes were not included in school curricula.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
DETERMING COMPENSATION FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MINING (PAGE 23)
WESTERN Region, particularly the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality and the Prestea-Huni Valley District, undisputedly have the highest concentration of minerals in the country.
The mining industry, as most people are aware has many problems, one is the activities of illegal gold mining in the concessions of the various companies, resulting in fierce clashes and fatalities.
Other problems are environmental degradation and the pollution of water bodies in mining communities through cyanide spillage.
The most important problem associated with the mining industry which seems to have been relegated to the background is the payment of compensation to persons whose assets have been affected by mining.
There have been instances in the Western Region where disagreements, misunderstanding and mistrust between the traditional authorities and mining communities on one side, and the mining companies on the other, as a result of inadequate payment of compensation to the beneficiaries.
Section 73 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, Act 703 (2006), states: “The owner or lawful occupier of any land subject to a mineral right is entitled to and may claim from the holder of the mineral right compensation for the disturbance of the right of the owner or occupier…”
This new mining law prescribes compensation payments for lands, crops and buildings affected by mining.
But according to mining consultants and researchers, the new law leaves the determination of actual compensation payable to negotiations between the parties involved, resulting sometimes in lengthy litigation.
The question then is how can the parties involved reach a consensus through a standardised compensation process in the mining industry and communities.
They noted that the issue of compensation had been one of the difficult subjects in the mining sector, spanning from exploration to decommissioning.
To help find a lasting solution to this nagging problem, the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund have commissioned an advocacy and research project, titled ‘Advocacy for the Establishment of Standards of Compensation in the Mining Industry’.
To help achieve this goal, the Ghana Chamber of Mines organised a day’s workshop in Tarkwa to get public and stakeholder input into the formulation of a compensation policy that will eliminate rancour and litigation in the payment of compensation by the mining industry.
It was attended by 40 participants drawn from mining companies in the region, chiefs, stakeholders as well as host communities and regulatory agencies in the mining sector.
A Consultant and Researcher of AIDEC Consultancies International Limited, consultants for the project, Mr Adu-Nyarko Andorful explained that the major objective of the study was to collate relevant data on the current socio-economic conditions, livelihood activities, capabilities and options available to households that had suffered economic displacement with the purpose of re-evaluating the options for compensation packages.
He said it was also to facilitate the review of the Minerals and Mining Law with regard to compensation with a view to minimising the impact mining operations had on incomes and livelihoods of mining communities.
Mr Andorful further explained that specific objectives of the study included identification of inputs for a national policy that set out clearly the principles, basis and standards of compensation for mining concessions and property values.
He said it also included detail negotiation procedure and dispute resolution mechanism as well as recommending policy on speculative developers on mining concessions.
According to the consultant, messages the study had for change targets, including the government and regulatory agencies, mining companies and the mining communities were the need for the government to have a national policy on compensation, involve beneficiaries to ensure ownership and buy-in, and also recognise the elements of sustainable livelihood framework, among others.
He said the study also urged the mining companies to use collaboration, continuous dialogue and negotiation as a tool, and to ensure pre-disbursement and post-disbursement training for beneficiaries of compensation as well as commitment from mining companies, traditional authorities and opinion leaders to enforce standards.
He said the study justified that if action was taken, it would avoid or minimise involuntary resettlement that tends to dislodge project affected persons, mitigate negative social and economic impact on safety, health and the environment and also provide opportunities for displaced persons to improve on or restore their livelihood.
He said it would improve the living conditions of displaced persons through the provision of adequate social infrastructure as well as maintain a balance of good relationships between mining companies and project affected communities.
According to Mr Andorful, the study concluded that project affected persons were not satisfied with the present compensation levels and standards as offered by the government and the mining companies.They urged for better compensation, especially for non-cropped areas.
He said these persons also needed better compensation levels that should include money,land and a mix of financial investments.
The mining industry, as most people are aware has many problems, one is the activities of illegal gold mining in the concessions of the various companies, resulting in fierce clashes and fatalities.
Other problems are environmental degradation and the pollution of water bodies in mining communities through cyanide spillage.
The most important problem associated with the mining industry which seems to have been relegated to the background is the payment of compensation to persons whose assets have been affected by mining.
There have been instances in the Western Region where disagreements, misunderstanding and mistrust between the traditional authorities and mining communities on one side, and the mining companies on the other, as a result of inadequate payment of compensation to the beneficiaries.
Section 73 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, Act 703 (2006), states: “The owner or lawful occupier of any land subject to a mineral right is entitled to and may claim from the holder of the mineral right compensation for the disturbance of the right of the owner or occupier…”
This new mining law prescribes compensation payments for lands, crops and buildings affected by mining.
But according to mining consultants and researchers, the new law leaves the determination of actual compensation payable to negotiations between the parties involved, resulting sometimes in lengthy litigation.
The question then is how can the parties involved reach a consensus through a standardised compensation process in the mining industry and communities.
They noted that the issue of compensation had been one of the difficult subjects in the mining sector, spanning from exploration to decommissioning.
To help find a lasting solution to this nagging problem, the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund have commissioned an advocacy and research project, titled ‘Advocacy for the Establishment of Standards of Compensation in the Mining Industry’.
To help achieve this goal, the Ghana Chamber of Mines organised a day’s workshop in Tarkwa to get public and stakeholder input into the formulation of a compensation policy that will eliminate rancour and litigation in the payment of compensation by the mining industry.
It was attended by 40 participants drawn from mining companies in the region, chiefs, stakeholders as well as host communities and regulatory agencies in the mining sector.
A Consultant and Researcher of AIDEC Consultancies International Limited, consultants for the project, Mr Adu-Nyarko Andorful explained that the major objective of the study was to collate relevant data on the current socio-economic conditions, livelihood activities, capabilities and options available to households that had suffered economic displacement with the purpose of re-evaluating the options for compensation packages.
He said it was also to facilitate the review of the Minerals and Mining Law with regard to compensation with a view to minimising the impact mining operations had on incomes and livelihoods of mining communities.
Mr Andorful further explained that specific objectives of the study included identification of inputs for a national policy that set out clearly the principles, basis and standards of compensation for mining concessions and property values.
He said it also included detail negotiation procedure and dispute resolution mechanism as well as recommending policy on speculative developers on mining concessions.
According to the consultant, messages the study had for change targets, including the government and regulatory agencies, mining companies and the mining communities were the need for the government to have a national policy on compensation, involve beneficiaries to ensure ownership and buy-in, and also recognise the elements of sustainable livelihood framework, among others.
He said the study also urged the mining companies to use collaboration, continuous dialogue and negotiation as a tool, and to ensure pre-disbursement and post-disbursement training for beneficiaries of compensation as well as commitment from mining companies, traditional authorities and opinion leaders to enforce standards.
He said the study justified that if action was taken, it would avoid or minimise involuntary resettlement that tends to dislodge project affected persons, mitigate negative social and economic impact on safety, health and the environment and also provide opportunities for displaced persons to improve on or restore their livelihood.
He said it would improve the living conditions of displaced persons through the provision of adequate social infrastructure as well as maintain a balance of good relationships between mining companies and project affected communities.
According to Mr Andorful, the study concluded that project affected persons were not satisfied with the present compensation levels and standards as offered by the government and the mining companies.They urged for better compensation, especially for non-cropped areas.
He said these persons also needed better compensation levels that should include money,land and a mix of financial investments.
Monday, February 2, 2009
SEFWI YOUTH GRATEFUL TO PRESIDENT MILLS (PAGE 13)
THE Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis branch of the Sefwi Youth Association has expressed its profound gratitude to President John Evans Atta Mills for nominating the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefwi Wiawso, Paul Evans Aidoo, as the Western Regional Minister.
The association believes that the nomination is timely, because records show that since independence, successive governments, including the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, appointed the regional ministers from the Ahanta, Nzema or the Wassa ethnic groups, leaving the Sefwi area, the only major ethnic group that had not produced a substantive regional minister.
In a statement signed by the President of the Sekondi/Takoradi branch of the Sefwi Youth Association, Mr Joshua Addae, it said “the good people of Sefwi, therefore, have every reason to be excited about Mr Aidoo’s nomination to the highest office in the region”.
“It is our greatest hope that the Parliamentary Appointment Committee will give Mr Paul Evans Aidoo the nod, so that he will become the first substantive Western Regional minister appointed from the Sefwi area,” it said.
The association was very confident that if he was given the approval, Mr Aidoo would bring his vast experience as a former District Chief Executive and sitting MP to bear on the development policies in the NDC manifesto for election 2008.
“We have no doubt in our minds that Mr Aidoo will work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in him by the President if he is given the nod as the administrative head of this important region,” the statement added.
The statement indicated that past election results showed that Bia, Bibiani/Anhwiaso/ Bekwai, Juaboso, Sefwi Wiawso and Akontombra constituencies, all in the Sefwi area, had voted massively and consistently for the NDC party more than any other ethnic group in the region.
Quoting figures from the 2004 and 2008 presidential election results in the Western Region to buttress its point, the association explained that the total votes garnered by President Atta Mills in the 2004 election was 334,992, while he obtained 379,822 votes in the 2008 December 7 elections and increased the votes to 415,248 in the run-off. It stated that the total votes from the five constituencies in the Sefwi area in 2004 elections were 132,229, while the votes in the 2008 elections were 123,724 and the votes increased to 133,120 in the run-off.
“From the table above, it is obvious that the Sefwi area is a stronghold of the NDC”, it said adding, “We are, therefore, appealing to the President and his appointment committee to appoint more men and women from the Sefwi area to other key positions, because we are of a firm conviction that our people deserve more prominent positions in his administration”.
The association believes that the nomination is timely, because records show that since independence, successive governments, including the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, appointed the regional ministers from the Ahanta, Nzema or the Wassa ethnic groups, leaving the Sefwi area, the only major ethnic group that had not produced a substantive regional minister.
In a statement signed by the President of the Sekondi/Takoradi branch of the Sefwi Youth Association, Mr Joshua Addae, it said “the good people of Sefwi, therefore, have every reason to be excited about Mr Aidoo’s nomination to the highest office in the region”.
“It is our greatest hope that the Parliamentary Appointment Committee will give Mr Paul Evans Aidoo the nod, so that he will become the first substantive Western Regional minister appointed from the Sefwi area,” it said.
The association was very confident that if he was given the approval, Mr Aidoo would bring his vast experience as a former District Chief Executive and sitting MP to bear on the development policies in the NDC manifesto for election 2008.
“We have no doubt in our minds that Mr Aidoo will work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in him by the President if he is given the nod as the administrative head of this important region,” the statement added.
The statement indicated that past election results showed that Bia, Bibiani/Anhwiaso/ Bekwai, Juaboso, Sefwi Wiawso and Akontombra constituencies, all in the Sefwi area, had voted massively and consistently for the NDC party more than any other ethnic group in the region.
Quoting figures from the 2004 and 2008 presidential election results in the Western Region to buttress its point, the association explained that the total votes garnered by President Atta Mills in the 2004 election was 334,992, while he obtained 379,822 votes in the 2008 December 7 elections and increased the votes to 415,248 in the run-off. It stated that the total votes from the five constituencies in the Sefwi area in 2004 elections were 132,229, while the votes in the 2008 elections were 123,724 and the votes increased to 133,120 in the run-off.
“From the table above, it is obvious that the Sefwi area is a stronghold of the NDC”, it said adding, “We are, therefore, appealing to the President and his appointment committee to appoint more men and women from the Sefwi area to other key positions, because we are of a firm conviction that our people deserve more prominent positions in his administration”.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT MINING ACT (PAGE 31, JAN 26)
THE Ghana National Chamber of Mines has noted that the new Minerals and Mining Law, Act 703 (2006), does not adequately address the concerns of property owners who are affected by the activities of the mining industry.
It has, therefore, embarked on a research and advocacy project to help find lasting and mutually acceptable guidelines on compensation for affected property owners.
It said when that was done, it would eliminate rancour and litigation in the payment of compensation by the mining industry.
The move came out of observations made by the chamber that sections of the new Minerals and Mining Law were not specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound (SMART).
The research project is being conducted under the “Advocacy for the Establishment of Standards of Compensation in the Mining Industry” and is being jointly funded by the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) fund.
The new Minerals and Mining Law, previously known as the mining laws, prescribes compensation payments for land, crops and buildings which are affected by mining activities.
To solicit for public and stakeholder input into the formulation of a compensation policy, the chamber has been organising a series of regional workshops on validation and sensitisation on compensation in the mining sector.
Speaking at one of such workshops at Tarkwa in the Western Region, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ms Joyce Aryee, explained that the outcome of the workshops would help create a win-win situation for members of the chamber, as well as host communities.
That, she said, would ensure that persons whose assets were taken over by the state for mining activities would not be made worse off by the take-over.
“As already indicated, the chamber is open to recommendations that will enrich its push for the creation and adoption of a mutually beneficial compensation process,” she emphasised.
Ms Aryee further explained that the mining companies would no longer be vilified because property owners would understand that land had been acquired for them to undertake projects that would benefit the whole country.
A consultant and Assistant Researcher of AIDEC Consultancies International Limited, consultants on the research project, Mr Adu-Nyarko Andorful, said the solution to the compensation problem was to find out and understand the extent of the problem through research and devise a solution and also advocate the desired change.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, Professor Daniel Mireku-Gyimah, who chaired the function, noted that the chamber was dealing with a very important issue which would go a long way to develop the country.
It has, therefore, embarked on a research and advocacy project to help find lasting and mutually acceptable guidelines on compensation for affected property owners.
It said when that was done, it would eliminate rancour and litigation in the payment of compensation by the mining industry.
The move came out of observations made by the chamber that sections of the new Minerals and Mining Law were not specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound (SMART).
The research project is being conducted under the “Advocacy for the Establishment of Standards of Compensation in the Mining Industry” and is being jointly funded by the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) fund.
The new Minerals and Mining Law, previously known as the mining laws, prescribes compensation payments for land, crops and buildings which are affected by mining activities.
To solicit for public and stakeholder input into the formulation of a compensation policy, the chamber has been organising a series of regional workshops on validation and sensitisation on compensation in the mining sector.
Speaking at one of such workshops at Tarkwa in the Western Region, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ms Joyce Aryee, explained that the outcome of the workshops would help create a win-win situation for members of the chamber, as well as host communities.
That, she said, would ensure that persons whose assets were taken over by the state for mining activities would not be made worse off by the take-over.
“As already indicated, the chamber is open to recommendations that will enrich its push for the creation and adoption of a mutually beneficial compensation process,” she emphasised.
Ms Aryee further explained that the mining companies would no longer be vilified because property owners would understand that land had been acquired for them to undertake projects that would benefit the whole country.
A consultant and Assistant Researcher of AIDEC Consultancies International Limited, consultants on the research project, Mr Adu-Nyarko Andorful, said the solution to the compensation problem was to find out and understand the extent of the problem through research and devise a solution and also advocate the desired change.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, Professor Daniel Mireku-Gyimah, who chaired the function, noted that the chamber was dealing with a very important issue which would go a long way to develop the country.
NPP WILL SURVIVE IN OPPOSITION — AKUFO-ADDO (PAGE 17, JAN 21)
THE presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2008 elections, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has expressed confidence that the NPP will survive its period in opposition and will surely come back to power in 2012.
He, therefore, appealed to members and supporters of the party not to wash their dirty linen in public and stop the blame game to secure absolute cohesion within the party.
Nana Addo-Dankwa was addressing a mammoth rally at the Jubilee Park in Takoradi to thank the people in the Western Region for the support they gave to the party during the 2008 general election.
The unperturbed teeming supporters of the party who thronged the Jubilee Park, clad in NPP T-shirts and other paraphernalia, joyfully danced to the popular tunes of the party’s campaign songs.
He had earlier interacted with the Western Regional press corps at the Takoradi Beach Hotel for him to clarify some issues pertaining to the elections.
He said the 2008 elections results were the slimmest in the political history of the country, saying: “it is important to remember that the party is not the creation of yesterday, but has existed for about 60 years and survived many trying moments”.
Nana Akufo-Addo stressed the need for soul-searching to find out what went wrong for the party to lose the elections, and that the party was collating information from all the regions to enable it to investigate what actually went wrong, adding, “We are finding out exactly what went wrong”.
He urged NPP supporters not to shudder, but to continue to stand firm, stressing, “The unity of the party is absolutely vital for its survival”.
Nana Akufo-Addo stressed that the NPP had contributed immensely to ensure peace in the country during and after the elections.
He urged people in the Western Region to continue to support the party.
The National Chairman of the party, Mr Peter Mac Manu, on behalf of the party, expressed his deepest appreciation to the people in the region for their support.
He said the party was still strong, firm and authentic, stressing that members of the party should stand firm with the assurance that the party would come back to power in 2012.
A leading member of the NPP, Mr YawOsafo- Maafo, explained that in the presidential run-off, Nana Akufo-Addo got 49.77 per cent of the total votes cast and that when the figure was corrected to the nearest decimal, it would give him 50 per cent, while Prof. E.A. Mills secured 50.23 per cent.
This, he further explained, meant that the whole country had been divided into two equal halves, with each half in the camp of Nana Akufo-Addo and Prof. Atta Mills.
Mr Osafo Maafo said Nana Akufo-Addo accepted defeat in order not to plunge the country into a chaotic situation.
Mr Jake Obetsebey Lamptey called for unity among members of the party, and that they should stop blaming one another for the defeat of the party in the elections.
“We have to work hard to win the 2012 elections. Start the hard work now,” he entreated the supporters.
The NPP Member of Parliament for Okere, Mr Daniel Kwaku Botwe, called on members of the party to remain united.
He hinted that the party’s campaign for the 2012 general election had started and all members of the party must get involved.
He, therefore, appealed to members and supporters of the party not to wash their dirty linen in public and stop the blame game to secure absolute cohesion within the party.
Nana Addo-Dankwa was addressing a mammoth rally at the Jubilee Park in Takoradi to thank the people in the Western Region for the support they gave to the party during the 2008 general election.
The unperturbed teeming supporters of the party who thronged the Jubilee Park, clad in NPP T-shirts and other paraphernalia, joyfully danced to the popular tunes of the party’s campaign songs.
He had earlier interacted with the Western Regional press corps at the Takoradi Beach Hotel for him to clarify some issues pertaining to the elections.
He said the 2008 elections results were the slimmest in the political history of the country, saying: “it is important to remember that the party is not the creation of yesterday, but has existed for about 60 years and survived many trying moments”.
Nana Akufo-Addo stressed the need for soul-searching to find out what went wrong for the party to lose the elections, and that the party was collating information from all the regions to enable it to investigate what actually went wrong, adding, “We are finding out exactly what went wrong”.
He urged NPP supporters not to shudder, but to continue to stand firm, stressing, “The unity of the party is absolutely vital for its survival”.
Nana Akufo-Addo stressed that the NPP had contributed immensely to ensure peace in the country during and after the elections.
He urged people in the Western Region to continue to support the party.
The National Chairman of the party, Mr Peter Mac Manu, on behalf of the party, expressed his deepest appreciation to the people in the region for their support.
He said the party was still strong, firm and authentic, stressing that members of the party should stand firm with the assurance that the party would come back to power in 2012.
A leading member of the NPP, Mr YawOsafo- Maafo, explained that in the presidential run-off, Nana Akufo-Addo got 49.77 per cent of the total votes cast and that when the figure was corrected to the nearest decimal, it would give him 50 per cent, while Prof. E.A. Mills secured 50.23 per cent.
This, he further explained, meant that the whole country had been divided into two equal halves, with each half in the camp of Nana Akufo-Addo and Prof. Atta Mills.
Mr Osafo Maafo said Nana Akufo-Addo accepted defeat in order not to plunge the country into a chaotic situation.
Mr Jake Obetsebey Lamptey called for unity among members of the party, and that they should stop blaming one another for the defeat of the party in the elections.
“We have to work hard to win the 2012 elections. Start the hard work now,” he entreated the supporters.
The NPP Member of Parliament for Okere, Mr Daniel Kwaku Botwe, called on members of the party to remain united.
He hinted that the party’s campaign for the 2012 general election had started and all members of the party must get involved.
CHIEF IMAM CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT (PAGE 34, JAN 20)
The National Chief Imam and the Muslim community in Ghana have congratulated President John Evans Atta Mills on his successful election and inauguration as the Third President of the Fourth Republic.
“The Chief Imam believes that his hard-won victory is an expression of the confidence Ghanaians have in his ability to lead the nation through the path of growth and economic development for a better future,” he said.
A statement from the Chief Imam’s Office said Ghanaians and Muslims in general were gratified that despite the confrontational and acrimonious nature of the electioneering, “Allah in his infinite wisdom and mercy helped avert the catastrophic events that followed similar elections in the neighbouring African countries”.
The statement also commended religious leaders, civil society organisations and foreign observers for constantly reminding Ghanaians of their civic obligation to ensure orderly elections.
It urged religious leaders to join hands, pray for the nation, the new political administration and peaceful coexistence of all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political and ethnic leanings.
The statement called on all Muslims in the country to offer special prayers on January 16, 2009 for the new administration and the entire nation.
In a related development the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council has congratulated President John Evans Attah-Mills, his Vice, Mr John Dramani Mahama, as well as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for their success in the recent national elections.
A congratulatory message signed by the Omanhene, Osagyefo Kwamina Enimil V1, said members of the council would continue to pray to God to grant them the needed wisdom, courage and the sense of justice to steer the affairs of the country.
“It is also our hope that your government will endeavour to fulfil all the achievable promises to make Ghana a better country....While assuring you of our co-operation and support, we do believe that your tenure of office would see greater changes in the institution of chieftaincy”.
The council also congratulated the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his performance during the elections.
“It is our wish to sincerely thank all Ghanaians for showing political maturity, and making good use of their franchise,” it said.
Relatedly, the Greater Accra Markets Association has also commended President Atta Mills and his Vice, Mr Mahama, for their election and subsequent successful swearing-in as the fourth President and Vice in the Fourth Republic.
It said it was the pride and honour of all Ghanaians, especially traders in Greater Accra that the country had been able to go through another successful election and smooth change of government without a hitch.
A statement signed by Madam Mercy A. Needjan, the Secretary of the association, said it was ready to assist the Mills Administration.
“The Chief Imam believes that his hard-won victory is an expression of the confidence Ghanaians have in his ability to lead the nation through the path of growth and economic development for a better future,” he said.
A statement from the Chief Imam’s Office said Ghanaians and Muslims in general were gratified that despite the confrontational and acrimonious nature of the electioneering, “Allah in his infinite wisdom and mercy helped avert the catastrophic events that followed similar elections in the neighbouring African countries”.
The statement also commended religious leaders, civil society organisations and foreign observers for constantly reminding Ghanaians of their civic obligation to ensure orderly elections.
It urged religious leaders to join hands, pray for the nation, the new political administration and peaceful coexistence of all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political and ethnic leanings.
The statement called on all Muslims in the country to offer special prayers on January 16, 2009 for the new administration and the entire nation.
In a related development the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council has congratulated President John Evans Attah-Mills, his Vice, Mr John Dramani Mahama, as well as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for their success in the recent national elections.
A congratulatory message signed by the Omanhene, Osagyefo Kwamina Enimil V1, said members of the council would continue to pray to God to grant them the needed wisdom, courage and the sense of justice to steer the affairs of the country.
“It is also our hope that your government will endeavour to fulfil all the achievable promises to make Ghana a better country....While assuring you of our co-operation and support, we do believe that your tenure of office would see greater changes in the institution of chieftaincy”.
The council also congratulated the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his performance during the elections.
“It is our wish to sincerely thank all Ghanaians for showing political maturity, and making good use of their franchise,” it said.
Relatedly, the Greater Accra Markets Association has also commended President Atta Mills and his Vice, Mr Mahama, for their election and subsequent successful swearing-in as the fourth President and Vice in the Fourth Republic.
It said it was the pride and honour of all Ghanaians, especially traders in Greater Accra that the country had been able to go through another successful election and smooth change of government without a hitch.
A statement signed by Madam Mercy A. Needjan, the Secretary of the association, said it was ready to assist the Mills Administration.
CONSTRUCTION OF LANDING BEACHES TO DELAY (BACK PAGE)
THE construction of new landing beaches and cold store complexes in some fishing communities in the Western Region are likely to suffer setbacks, according to officials at the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council.
The projects are two fish landing beaches to be located at Axim and Dixcove and three cold store complexes at Shama, New Takoradi and Half Assini, for which the former Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah, cut the sod last November.
The facilities are intended to boost fishing activities in the beneficiary communities, but after the sod-cutting ceremony for the start of the projects, nothing has been done at the project sites.
Investigations by the Daily Graphic indicate that the execution of the projects will delay with the change in administration, since a new Minister of Fisheries is yet to be appointed.
Moreover, the projects are likely to be reviewed.
A source close to the projects who pleaded anonymity, said the designs on some of the projects had been completed.
According to the source, officials of the ministry would meet later this month when the plans for the projects would be discussed.
The projects are two fish landing beaches to be located at Axim and Dixcove and three cold store complexes at Shama, New Takoradi and Half Assini, for which the former Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah, cut the sod last November.
The facilities are intended to boost fishing activities in the beneficiary communities, but after the sod-cutting ceremony for the start of the projects, nothing has been done at the project sites.
Investigations by the Daily Graphic indicate that the execution of the projects will delay with the change in administration, since a new Minister of Fisheries is yet to be appointed.
Moreover, the projects are likely to be reviewed.
A source close to the projects who pleaded anonymity, said the designs on some of the projects had been completed.
According to the source, officials of the ministry would meet later this month when the plans for the projects would be discussed.
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