 |
| President John Dramani Mahama |
This will be in spite of the noises
being made by his political opponents even in the face of worldwide acclaim
that the December polls were fair and transparent.
The
National Democratic Congress (NDC) gave him an over whelming endorsement of
99.5% of the votes cast at the Special Congress held on August 30th
in Kumasi paving the way for him to stand as the Flag-bearer of the NDC in the
upcoming elections.
John
Mahama ascended to the Office of President after the untimely demise of the
late President - His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills on the 24th of
July 2012. President Mahama had previously served as the Vice President, and on
the passing of President Mills took over the reins of Government and led the
country to bid a befitting farewell to a leader who was much loved, respected and
can be described as a Ghanaian icon.
The
Ghanaian Constitution of 1992 provides in Article 60 (6) that, "Whenever
the President dies, resigns or is removed from office, the Vice-President shall
assume office as President for the unexpired term of office of the President
with effect from the date of the death, resignation or removal of the
President".
President
Mahama therefore assumed the role of Head of State, Head of Government and
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana from the time of the passing of
the late President. He was sworn into office on the same day by the Chief
Justice, and Ghana accomplished a peaceful transition that demonstrated the
strength and robustness of the country's democratic institutions.
President
Mahama was born in Damongo, in what is now the Damongo-Daboya Constituency of
Ghana on the 29th of November 1958. His Father was the Late Emmanuel Adama
Mahama who was the first Member of Parliament for the West Gonja Constituency,
and the first Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region under President
Kwame Nkrumah. The young John Dramani Mahama attended primary school at the
Achimota School in Accra, and on completion moved to the Northern Region to
attend the Ghana Secondary School in Tamale where he studied for his Ordinary
and Advanced level GCE Certificates. Thereafter he attended the University of
Ghana, Legon where he read History, and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in
1981.
He
furthered his education by doing Post Graduate Studies in Communication also in
the University of Ghana, in the School of Communication Studies, which he
completed in 1986. He has always had a thirst for knowledge, and this made him
take advantage of the opportunity to study for a Post Graduate Diploma in
Social Psychology from the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow.
John
Mahama is an avid reader, author and historian. Over the course of his career
he has written for several newspapers and other publications, and recently
published his first book, a memoir entitled "My First Coup D'etat and
other true stories from the lost decades of Africa". He considers the
combination of the study of history, communications and social psychology as
having had a tremendous impact on shaping his views, his thoughts and his
understanding and have contributed significantly to making him the person he is
today.
Early Career
After
he completed his post graduate diploma studies in Moscow, John Mahama returned
to Ghana and in 1991 become the Information, Culture and Research Officer at
the Embassy of Japan in Accra. The President credits this period of his life
for having inculcated in him the Japanese work ethic, after seeing first hand
the efforts that they put into their work. The President had never been afraid
of hard work himself, but the experience reinforced in his mind the importance
of focus and commitment and reflects in his actions, effort and the dynamism
that he brings to bear on the Office of the President.
After
working at the Embassy of Japan for a few years, he moved on to become the
International Relations, Sponsorship, Communication and Grants Manager at the
Ghana Office of PLAN International, an International Development Charity that
has committed itself to alleviating child poverty and improving the lives of
Children all over the world.
Political Life
The
President contested to serve as a Member of Parliament for the Bole-Bamboi
Constituency in 1996, and won on the ticket of the NDC. He was re-elected to
Parliament two more times in the year 2000, and 2004 prior to becoming the
Vice-Presidential Candidate for the Party in 2008.
During
his first term of Office as an MP he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of
Communications, and subsequently appointed substantive Minister. He was the
first Chairman of the National Communications Authority and in that capacity
played a key role in shaping Ghana's telecommunication's sector after
deregulation. During the NDC Administration of 1996 -2000 he was also a member
of the economic management team, and played a key role in the publicity
committee for the re-introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT).
When
the NDC Government left office in January 2001 he served as the Minority
Spokesman for Communications in Parliament from 2001 to 2004, the Minority
Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2008, and as a Member of the Pan
African Parliament. He was also the Director of Communications of the NDC and
played a key role in giving voice to the party's positions on matters of
governance and social significance when the party was in opposition.
Family Life & Interests
President
Mahama has been married for over twenty years to Mrs. Lordina Mahama who he
describes as his anchor and support. They have eight (8) children. He is a
Christian but comes from a multi-faith family with both Christian and Moslem
brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles. When he takes a break from the work of
Government he loves to spend time in the company of his family, especially
their two youngest children Jesse and Farida.
Apart
from his love of reading and acquiring knowledge, President Mahama also has a
keen interest in Technology and Agriculture being a Farmer himself. He is
particularly interested in finding the most effective ways to improve
agricultural productivity and works to encourage more young people to see
farming as a viable business and not a subsistence activity.
This has
translated into his passion to see the Savanna Accelerated Development
Authority (which is referred to by the acronym SADA) create new opportunities
for people living in the Savanna areas of the country, which includes the three
Northern Regions, and the Northern parts of the Brong-Ahafo and Volta Regions.
Even on official assignments outside of the country, the President likes to
take advantage of opportunities to visit agricultural establishments and update
himself on current trends and developments.
He
also takes keen interest in the opportunities for simplifying and making tasks
easier with the use of information and communications technology, and considers
the ICT industry one of the sectors that can play a significant role in
economic transformation and job creation. During his tenure as Minister for
Communication the first company (ACS) that started business process outsourcing
operations was established in Ghana.
The
President is a keen football enthusiast and when he has the time loves to watch
soccer in the company of his family and friends.
President
John Dramani Mahama is a man of many talents and accomplishments, and has
committed himself to fulfilling the vision of creating a Better Ghana by focusing
on Jobs, Stability, Development, and has also committed himself to ‘WORKING FOR
YOU’.
When Money speaks louder than life
By Timothy
Bancroft-Hinchey
World Malaria Report 2012 presents
some shameful information: a lack of funding is threatening to undermine the
headway gained against Malaria which in 2010 claimed the lives of 660,000
children. This, in a world in which more and more money is being spent on
weapons and on undermining sovereign states using terrorists.
 |
| Mosquito |
And welcome ladies and gentlemen to
our wonderful world in 2012, one in which the FUKUS Axis (France, UK and US)
with their sickening demonic sycophantic allies crawling round their legs are
currently engaged in undermining Syria using their special forces (with Turks
and Qataris) in liaison with terrorists murdering civilians and security forces
alike.
And in this wonderful world in which
billions of dollars are being spent on weapons and on undermining sovereign
states, it comes as no surprise that the latest edition of the World Malaria
Report (2012) from the World Health Organization makes a shocking revelation:
"A significant slowdown in global funding of anti-malaria campaigns
threatens to roll back impressive gains made against the preventable
mosquito-borne disease over the last decade".
The report goes on to claim that
funding to prevent and control Malaria began to level off between 2012 and
2012, "a slowdown that could threaten to reverse the remarkable recent
gains in the fight against one of the world's leading infectious killers,"
states the report.
In 2010 there were 219 million cases
of Malaria reported, resulting in the death of 660,000 people, mostly children
aged under five. Ray Chambers, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for
Malaria warns of a "humanitarian crisis".
"Millions of children can be
saved in the coming years with methods that have already proven their success,
yet we will lose this chance if funds are not mobilized immediately," he
stated.
Great progress was made after the
public-private initiative backed by the UNO Global Fund to Fight Aids,
Tuberculosis and Malaria was launched in 2002, which provided over five billion
USD with generous donations from the USA, UK, World Bank and UNITAID, among
others.
The USA and UK, of course, now have
other priorities on their agenda. As we saw in Libya, using terrorists to
destabilize a Government and destroy a State because of oil and now, a
geo-political adventure leading the world closer to a devastating war in Syria.
As usual, we see where the real priorities lie.
Editorial
DAWN OF A NEW ERA
John
Dramani Mahama will be sworn into office as president of Ghana today in spite
of some noises from his political opponents.
Mr. Mahama is widely
acclaimed to have won the December 7 presidential elections which has been said
to be one of the cleanest since 1992.
For many Ghanaians the swearing in today marks the beginning
of a new era in Ghana’s history of hope and transformation.
First, the new President is best positioned to continue the effort
to give the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
an entirely new image as a party fully
committed to the democratic experiment.
Over the last 16 years or more, John Dramani Mahama has insisted
on the rule of law, transparency in public administration and social
transformation as the three pillars on which the future of his party must rest.
If he is able to stick to his agenda, the era in which
Ghanaians suffered all manner of humiliation under the jack boots of military
dictatorship will become only a historical reality.
Under the Mills-Mahama administration Ghana made great
strides in improving the people’s access to education and health.
Hundreds of schools under trees were replaced with modern
facilities, educational infrastructure was improved considerably, two new
universities were built and the health sector received a significant boost.
It is the hope of many Ghanaians that President Mahama will
continue to substantially improve their access to these social services.
More than anybody else, the new president ought to be
mindful of public expectation and do all he can to avoid disappointing the
people.
There is hope for a new era.
MESSAGE FROM A SUDANESE BROTHER – A CIVILIZED AND HIGHLY VALUED GHANAIAN ELECTION
Allow me at the outset to congratulate all the Ghanaian
brothers and sisters for the successful conduct of the 2012 Presidential and
Parliamentary General Elections. It is for the Ghanaian peoples, from all walks
of life, irrelative of religious or ethnic affinities, that I do wholeheartedly
express my appreciation and admiration for the civilized manner of conducting
the latest elections in Ghana.
On a personal reflection, it was a great surprise upon
arrival to Ghana two years ago, to learn that this country has followed the
democratic peaceful path since 1992. It was a big delight and joy to learn that
democracy has stood the test of time to almost two decades now. This indeed
testifies to the cultural and political maturity of the Ghanaian peoples and
their awareness of the essentiality of democracy and good governance in
enhancing socio-economic and other transformation elements for attaining the
required objectives of development and prosperity.
We in Sudan, have welcomed the peaceful and transparent
elections which was adequately monitored by African, European and other
regional and international observation missions. President Omer Al-Beshir has
sent a congratulatory message to his brother President John Dramani Mahama on
the victorious result to him and his party, and Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni the
Minister of Foreign Affairs has also received a similar message from his
brother Ali Ahmed Karti, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan for the
victory of H.E the President and for his own Personal victory in winning a
valuable parliamentary seat in the latest elections.
The Sudanese supporting and solidarity stances towards Ghana,
are but a manifestation of the deep-rooted relations that tie the two peoples
together in a sacred brotherly bonds for centuries ago. Ever since the long
distant journeys for the Ghanaian Muslims and other pilgrims from the
surrounding Sahel countries to the holy
lands in Saudi Arabia through Sudan, many have remained and settled in their
new country Sudan and is now considered part and parcel of the Sudanese nation.
In post-colonial Africa, the pioneer founding fathers like
kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyvere of Tanzania, Nasser of Egypt, Mahjoub and Azhary
in Sudan and others, had shaped our collective subconscience for a political
awareness of a united Africa and even more aspirations and expectations for the
non-aligned developing countries.
As for the Ghanaian latest elections, and being an impartial
observer, one should but express an astonishing remark and an observation as
regards the political and social setup in Ghana. Unlike other African and Third
world countries which are plaqued by social and security predicaments, Ghana
has apparently shown an outstanding degree of social, cultural and political maturity,
as opposed to the ethnic and social disparities that used to ignite and induce
violent social unrest associated with elections in most other African and
developing countries.
The overriding themes and banners that have overwhelmed the
public and observers during the Ghanaian election campaigns, were basically of
a political, economic and social content, devoid of any ethnic or religious
prejudices. For many that was a remarkable democratic achievement for an
African and a developing country.
Despite some fears of a possible eruption of violent, due to
the tension and fierce democratic competition between the contending political
groups, we do thank Almighty God that all the anxieties and fears had
ultimately vanished and subdued to give way to a predominant lively and
peaceful atmosphere all through the whole election process. Hence, Ghanaians,
are to be highly–valued and praised for their most civilized conduct.
Mohamed Eisa Ismail
Ambassador of Sudan to Ghana
19 – 12 – 2012
THE CPP MUST NOT RETREAT AND MUST NOT SURRENDER
Admittedly,
the last December 7th 2012 election results is the worst defeat the
Convention People’s Party (CPP) has recorded since Ghana returned to
constitutional rule in 1992.
Only
20,323 voters cast their votes for the CPP out of a total eligible voting
population of 14 million and over. The CPP even lost its only seat in
Parliament and its renowned organizational capabilities failed to assert itself
this time round.
 |
| CPP Chairperson Samia Yaba Nkrumah |
Another
damaging factor to the public image and electoral fortunes of the CPP was the
conspiratorial and highly reprehensible departure of Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom from
his topmost position as the sitting flagbearer of the CPP to form his own
political party a few weeks to the election. Dr. Nduom hurried departure,
taking along with him many so called leading members of the CPP at the
national, regional and grassroot levels was planned as sabotaging move to ruin
the electoral fortunes of the CPP.
That
the CPP was able to put its act together after Dr. Nduom’s depature and be able
to take part in the 2012 elections was in itself a remarkable organizational
achievement and a vivid testimony of the party’s unsinkable destiny and its
incredible nack for survival. In this successful recovery effort the greatest
credit must go to the party’s national chairperson, Hon Samia Yaba Nkrumah who
was highly instrumental in organizing a successful national congress soon after
Dr. Nduom and his gang of political fortune seekers had left. Dr. Nduom fled
out of the CPP without even preparing any handing over notes. Under Hon.
Nkrumah’s leadership, the CPP was able for the first time since 1992 to field
as many as 147 parliamentary candidates for the last election. It is her total
commitment to the Party’s destiny which cost Hon. Samia her Jomoro seat.
It
is rather unfortunate that the result of the 2012 election has engendered so
much controversy, recrimination and suspicion threatening the peace and
security of the nation. The CPP must have reason to believe that the Eelectoral
Commission in whom the nation vested so much confidence and resources was not
able, like Julius Ceasar’s wife to rise above suspicion is its own inventor of
evidence in support of itself. Having failed to put the results of the 2012
election beyond doubt, the Electoral Commission must forever live with guilt
that when the nation needed them most, they failed in their duty, placing as
results of the 2012 election beyond doubt, the Electoral Commission must, they
failed in their duty, placing as a result the peace and security of this nation
at considerable risk.
Furthermore,
the CPP must believe that while its ideological outlook and economic strategies
designed for the nation are politically correct the Party failed, once again,
to convince our compatriots of the genuineness of the views we hold. This
however, should not give rise to recrimination and counter accusation. It is
rather the time for deepening the Party resolve and stealing its convictions.
The Party must believe it represents an idea whose time must come. It
represents the unifying force needed today in an otherwise polarized and deeply
divided society.
The
CPP as the pioneer political party which first exercised political power in
Ghana, inherited from the departing colonial government a highly divided
society with tribes and ethnic entities fiercely guarding their unique identity
and independence. The Party must know more than any other Party the dangers
inherent in tribal politics. The fight against tribalism and ethnocentrism
required a high degree of forensic intellect, political sagacity shrewd statecraft
and high sense of political engineering to put in place the nation state called
Ghana. The CPP more than any political party in Ghana should therefore have a
vested interest in nation stability harmony and in peacefulco-existence and
advise the nation accordingly.
Nearly
fifty years after the overthrow of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the CPP has
watched in dismay the emergence of tribally fuelled politics and ethnically
formulated policies aimed apparently at projecting the interests of some tribes
above others. The nation’s public and para-statal institutions appear to be
massively corrupted and rendered inefficient, giving way to rather unorthodox
methods of employing new officers through brazen acts of nepotism, bribery and
corruption instead of recruitment on merit, competence, valid qualification,
justice and fairness. We tell more lies to each other each day than we tell the
truth, and if telling lies were an admirable art form, our nation today will be
leading the rest of the world in the production of great new Rembrants and
Picasso art forms.
The
CPP must continue to fight for political power and for the opportunity to
address some of the hydra – headed problems facing the nation today. The Party
must not give in to those who join its ranks only to exploit its great
historical image as a platform for achieving their own petty selfish ambitions.
The Party must also purge from its ranks those who join because the platform of
other leading political parties is already full. It must also close its doors
to those who see in politics the opportunity to amass quick personal wealth.
The
CPP has no World Bank and no massive captive ethic constituencies to rely upon
to regain political power in Ghana. The party nevertheless exists more in the
hearts and minds of the generality of the population. It must therefore seek to
attract into its membership citizens “who are modest dedicated, honest and
detribalized; citizen’s “who can submerge the self to the service of Ghana and
to mankind; those who abhor greed and detest vanity and corruption; and members
whose humility and integrity constitute the source of their strength and their
greatness”.
The
CPP must continue to hold its principled stand on national, international and
moral issues. It should not give up on its vision of a United Africa, the
Party’s own brain child which appears abandoned since 1966. It should fend off
and fight off political ideologies of a deceptive or of an opposite
nature. It must continue to believe in forming electoral arrangements only when
such a compromise is seen as in the best interest of Ghana. The Party should
not abandon its core values and fundamental principles; and where compromises
become necessary they must be seen and be understood as a tactical move for
self-preservation.
 |
| Dr Abu Sakara Foster |
The
CPP must have no intention what so ever to merge with or be taken over by any
political party in Ghana. The Party must have no permanent allies. The CPP has
only permanent interests. That is why it must not heed the call to stampede it
into any form of merger with the NDC or with any other political party in
Ghana. Such a call must be dismissed as bogus, fraudulent and mischevious.
Relying
overtly on loans from the World Bank, the IMF and China alone can never grow
the economy of its nation. The Party should also plan ahead to bring back the
numerous factories and productive ventures which were sold for pittance or
allowed to rot after 1966. It must also be ready to lay new plans for the rapid
expansion of the economy of the nation to meet the exploding population growth.
It must examine new ways of meeting rising social expectations and expanding
consumption pattern of our modern technological age.
The
CPP’s mission in Ghana and vision for the nation is ideologically different
from and incomparable with that of any political party in this country. That is
why it must not seek to merge with any political entity. The Party must never
give up or accept defeat. The CPP must not retreat and it must not surrender.
Usually
it gets darkest before dawn, the dawn when the average Ghanaian worker will
wake up to the realization that the solution to the problems he faces in life
lies beyond the limiting confines of his tribal ethnic and traditional origins
which over the years have often directed his voting habits and influenced his
electoral preferences. That new dawn will be the time when he will be
ideologically competent and ready to make that inevitable paradigm shift to
become the new social being which the nation requires.
The
CPP must begin making plans for that new society in which the new Ghanaian
worker shall discover his true potential and his real identity.
Kwame Wiafe
Member - Council of
Elders
Convention People’s
Party
Tel: 0208199097
INVESTING
WITH GHANA FREE ZONES BOARD
By Hajia Hanatu Abubakar-Bimi
Public Relations officer
Ghana Free Zones Board
 |
| Kwadwo Twum Boafo, CEO of Ghana Free zones Board |
According to the World Economic Forum, Africa is on the
brink of a major transformation. Over the last decade, the continent was home
to six of the world’s 10 fastest
growing economies, and the outlook for the region remains bright at
a time when the rest of the world is facing major political and economic
challenges.
Africa is
rising and African Economies are growing faster than those of almost any other
region in the world. Africa’s strong economic growth trajectory will see the
region increase the pace of growth well beyond 5% over the next two years with
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows in 2011 increasing along all major
regions of which developing countries recorded $ 684 billion, up 11%. Inflows to sub-Saharan Africa recovered to a
near historic peak of $ 37 billon, a possibility for brighter future prospects.
Ghana can
grow faster and take the rest of Africa along because the terrain is conducive.
Ghana can be the true Gateway to Africa in spite of the size of her population
and a steady rise in FDI. Ghana’s economy is being touted as one of the fastest
in the world after Qatar making her an attractive investment destination for
many investors. Ghana’s economy has undergone remarkable transformation with
its GDP growth remaining consistently strong and investment- GDP ratio above
30% since 2006. In 2010, the total FDI inflow to Ghana stood at US$ 2.5
million, making her the second most attractive destination for foreign
investment in the Western African Region.
INVESTING
WITH GHANA FREE ZONES
Ghana’s strategic location as a middle coastal belt country,
with two ports serving the landlocked countries in the sub-region, makes it an
ideal location to set up industries to supply the West African market of over
287 million people. Ghana has emerged as one of Africa’s most successful
stories in terms of attracting FDI, be it from the BRICS nations or other
countries. Ghana accounted for 3% of Africa’s total FDI between 2003 and 2010.
As the second-largest most attractive destination for FDI in ECOWAS, Ghana is
indeed on the path of becoming “Africa’s
Golden Gateway” from its erstwhile position of Africa’s Gold Coast. The
nation’s economic growth has caught the eye of the global community and is
attracting foreign investments most of which are operating as licensed Free Zones Companies within
the Tema enclave and as single factory enterprises located anywhere in Ghana
and still assessible to the Free Zones Programme.
The
Ghana Free Zones Board has chalked a lot of successes under the Chairmanship of
the Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Hanna Tetteh, Members of the Board and
the able leadership of the Executive Secretary, Mr. Kwadwo Twum Boafo. Today,
the Board has achieved significant successes including the registration of
additional 58 companies over the last three (3) years bringing the total number
of registered companies to 224. Export values of US$9.92 billion and employment
of 30,080 people was recorded as at the end of 2011.
 |
| Hanah Tetteh, Minister of Trade |
To attract investors into the Ghana Free Zones programme and
to create a viable and sustainable business environment, the Ghana Free Zones
Board offers extensive and generous incentives to potential investors
interested in developing and operating free zone enclaves and single-factory
free zones in Ghana.
The
monetary incentives offered include;
·
100% exemption from payment of
direct and indirect duties and levies on all imports for production and exports
from free zones;
·
100% exemption from payment of
income tax on profits for 10 years which will not exceed 8% thereafter;
·
Total exemption from payment of
withholding taxes from dividends arising out of free zone investments.
Other
non-monetary incentives include;
No import licensing requirements;
·
Minimal customs formalities;
·
100% ownership of shares by any
investor-national or foreign in a free zone enterprise is allowed
Ghana
is one of the only three African countries that feature in the ‘fastest growing
economies in the world’ for the entire 2000-2010 decade. Ghana had the highest
real GDP growth rate of 15% in 2011 in the African continent, the highest in Africa and the second-highest
in the world. Ghana has recently attained
the ‘lower middle- income status’ and is well projected to attain the
middle-income country status by 2020.
In terms of resource endowments, Ghana is among the 11
African nations that have at least 1 major mineral that ranks amongst the top
10 global resources giving it the status of a global resource country. A
regional centre for minerals, gold and cocoa, Ghana has recently discovered Oil
and it is being projected that over 40% of the country’s total landmass has oil
and natural gas reserves. Hence, Ghana’s economic future looks extremely bright
with projected revenues from the commercialization of Oil alone estimated at
US$3.5 billion annually by 2013. Coupled with this, a structured plan to
utilize these oil revenues by the government could further diversify the stable
economy of Ghana.
ADVANTAGES
OF INVESTING IN GHANA
·
The Pride of Africa
·
A beacon of hope for Africa
·
Good democratic credentials
·
Peaceful and stable political
environment
·
Enabling environment for
investment
·
Higher growth opportunity for investment
·
Economic progress
·
Home to vast untapped natural
resources
·
Good demographics and highly
skilled labour force
·
Hospitable people
·
World’s second fastest growing
economy in 2011. Fastest real GDP growth in
Africa in the same year
·
Africa’s second largest
producer of gold and cocoa
Key sectors for investment
include Agriculture, mining and quarrying, banking and financial services and
tourism.
The nation’s economic
growth has caught the eye of the global community and is attracting foreign
investments. Africa exhibits good demographics and possesses highly skilled
labour force creating the necessary environment for good investment. Though
challenges exist as to infrastructural inadequacy and political fragility,
Africa is home to vast untapped natural resources, which constitute
fundamentals for higher growth and opportunity for good investment. Invest in
Ghana, invest with Ghana Free Zones for business growth and sustainability.
Mali new prey to West imperialist
quest
By Finian Cunningham
The UN Security Council approval this week of a French-led
resolution for military intervention in Africa’s vast Sahel region signaled the
Western imperialist powers’ laying down a new incendiary marker.
 |
| President Amadou Toure |
While the intervention force being assembled is officially African-led and
manned, the Western powers are driving the initiative, something about which
there is little doubt. Under the guise of restoring Mali’s national security -
following a separatist revolt earlier this year - the real agenda is extending
Western imperialist interests in the resource-rich West Africa region.
However, this new frontier for neo-imperialist intrigue in a volatile region threatens to become another explosive quandary for the Western powers - one that may set off a conflagration involving several African nations.
Not content, it seems, with wreaking havoc in Libya in North Africa, fuelling a covert war in Syria that is destabilizing Lebanon and Iraq, cranking up the Israeli killing machine with $500 million of new weapons, announced this week in Washington, and the ratcheting up of more aggression against Iran with tougher sanctions, also unveiled this week, the NATO governments now want to embark on yet another military adventure - in Mali.
Bearing in mind that the NATO powers are still embroiled in a bloody quagmire in Afghanistan and are regularly carrying out clandestine killing operations in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia, one can safely describe the world as being under fire from Western militarism.
This week, the Western imperialists added yet more fuel to the global bonfire by bringing their plans for military intervention in Mali a definitive step closer.
Over recent months, France and the US have been upping the pace for an African-led force to go into the West African country. Now the UN has given these plans the final green light.
However, this new frontier for neo-imperialist intrigue in a volatile region threatens to become another explosive quandary for the Western powers - one that may set off a conflagration involving several African nations.
Not content, it seems, with wreaking havoc in Libya in North Africa, fuelling a covert war in Syria that is destabilizing Lebanon and Iraq, cranking up the Israeli killing machine with $500 million of new weapons, announced this week in Washington, and the ratcheting up of more aggression against Iran with tougher sanctions, also unveiled this week, the NATO governments now want to embark on yet another military adventure - in Mali.
Bearing in mind that the NATO powers are still embroiled in a bloody quagmire in Afghanistan and are regularly carrying out clandestine killing operations in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia, one can safely describe the world as being under fire from Western militarism.
This week, the Western imperialists added yet more fuel to the global bonfire by bringing their plans for military intervention in Mali a definitive step closer.
Over recent months, France and the US have been upping the pace for an African-led force to go into the West African country. Now the UN has given these plans the final green light.
 |
| UN Security Council |
A force of 3,300 troops, assembled from Nigeria, Senegal,
and Ghana, among others, is to join a Malian army of 5,000. UN diplomats are
saying that the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) will
not be deployed until well into next year, perhaps September 2013. But the
French and Americans are pushing for a sooner dispatch.
The timing of this official military intervention belies the fact that French and American Special Forces have already been sent into Mali and neighbouring Sahel countries, where they are said to be training Malian regular and irregular forces. American and French surveillance drones are also reported to be operating in the remote desert region.
This involvement of Western military in Mali exposes French President Francoise Holland’s earlier promises that there would be “no French boots on the ground” as hollow and cynical.
It also reveals the real relationship between the Western
powers and the African forces comprising AFISMA. The latter are but foot
soldiers that serve to give an “African face” to disguise underlying Western
imperialist interests.
The alleged concern for the Western powers is that Mali has become “a haven for Islamic terrorists.”
American General Carter Ham, who heads up US AFRICOM, was quoted by The New York Times earlier this month as saying, “As each day goes by, al-Qaeda and other organizations are strengthening their hold in northern Mali. There is a compelling need for the international community, led by Africans, to address that.”
When Mali’s Prime Minister Cheikh Modibo Diarra was pushed out of office two weeks ago by the Malian army, Philippe Lalliot, a French foreign ministry spokesman, said, “These developments underline the need for the rapid deployment of an African stabilisation force.”
Since then, the French have been pushing hard at the UN to get the green light for military intervention.
There is more than a suspicion that Washington and Paris are inflating the specter of “Islamic extremists” in order to give propaganda cover for what are simply their imperialist interests. Western media have carried lurid reports of the populace in northern Mali being corralled by “brutal application of Sharia law” with claims of whippings, stonings, beheadings, and amputations against people who transgress Islamic teachings.
This media depiction is reminiscent of how Afghanistan under the Taliban was reported and served to give a moral imperative to NATO invasion of that country in 2001.
Such Western reportage on what is happening in northern Mali has to be treated with skepticism given the remoteness of the region and the ulterior agenda that such reports are transparently serving.
Additionally, and this is telling, the rebel groups have opened political negotiations in recent weeks with the Malian government in Ouagadougou.
Mali’s rich, and hitherto untapped, resources of minerals, metals, ores, and uranium in particular are prizes to be seized by the Western powers. The neocolonial re-conquest of Mali would also serve to provide a projection point for the West Africa region and all its tremendous wealth in oil, gas, agriculture, fishing, and minerals.
When AFRICOM was first formed in 2007, General Carter Ham said one of its main purposes was to facilitate the unimpeded flow of resources from Africa to Western markets.
But here’s where Western best-laid plans will come severely unstuck. Northern Mali is probably one of the remotest regions on Earth. Over the centuries, invaders and Armies have disappeared in the Saharan scorching deserts trying to conquer the ancient capital of Timbuktu. It comprises an area the size of France or Texas spread over some of the most unforgiving terrain and climate that human beings can face. In that sea of desert, the population is numbered at only 1.6 million, compared with 65 and 25 million in France and Texas respectively.
Western imperialists think they are smart sending in Africans to do their dirty work in Mali. But the invasion of 3,300 black-skinned Africans into a desert against light-skinned nomadic fighters who know the terrain like the back of their hands is a recipe for military disaster.
To say that France and the US are opening up a can of worms with their Mali subterfuge is a gross understatement. They are undermining the cap on an active volcano.
Tackling the Cybercrime menace in Nigeria
By Albinus Chiedu
Studies
have shown that 75 per cent of Internet content was created in the United
States of America, 20 per cent from Europe while Asia created 5.95 per cent.
Africa’s content in the global knowledge base is only 0.5 per cent. Police
detectives in most parts of Africa can therefore only attempt to familiarise
themselves with the dynamics of the Internet. This is one of the existing
challenges in Cybercrime prevention and investigation.
In
2004, a friend who returned from Austria told me a story about a certain police
raid of a building. The building was occupied by only blacks, some of whom were
illegal residents. On this particular occasion, a carton, containing fake drugs
was found inside a shelf in one of the rooms. When the operatives sought to
know the owner of the carton, no occupant of the room admitted ownership. The
policemen simply unfolded a customised computer with an inbuilt scanner, took
the thumbprints of each occupier of the room and sought a thumbprint that would
match that of whoever must have deposited the exhibit in that shelf. With this
method, the suspect was found.
Another
story my friend told me had to do with a man who was stopped by the Austrian
police for committing a traffic offence. When one of the officers punched the
police database after inquiring the suspect’s name, the system displayed the
passport photo and name of the suspect with a bold inscription: WANTED IN
ITALY. The suspect was eventually handed over to the Italian police.
Computer-related
crime is easy to investigate where existing infrastructure is reliable.
Electricity supply is very regular in most parts of Europe and the use of the
Internet is not a luxury. This has made the job of security agencies much
easier than what obtains in Nigeria.
The
most prevalent form of Cybercrime in Nigeria is the use of the Internet to
defraud residents within and outside the country. This is a big challenge to
e-Commerce as transactions are now carried out with a high level of fearful
caution. This developed scepticism is unfavourable to business, coming on the
heels of recent transition to a cash-less economy. Strategies for
combating crime and money laundering within a cash-less economy
constitutes a major additional task created for the police by the system.
 |
| Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan |
Again,
the current legal regime is inadequate to regulate e-Commerce in Nigeria and
there is no sufficient legislation to prosecute offenders. In Section 84 (1) of
the Constitution, the Evidence Act appears to support the admissibility of
computer-generated evidence in court. However, there are too many conditions
attached to the section which have made it impossible to strictly enforce it.
For instance, it provides that there has to be proper foundation as to the
working condition of the computer used in producing the piece of evidence. It
equally requests that a certificate must be issued by the person who has the
technological know-how about operations of the computer. Of course, it will be
difficult for you to know the state of your bank’s computer in a case where
your bank is to be a defendant. What the Section implies is that if you are
suing your bank, your bank has to certify that the computer used in producing
the document (e.g. statement of account) was in excellent condition as of the
time it was produced. So, you, as the plaintiff, have to go to the defendant
(the bank) to certify the evidence you are presenting in court against the
bank. This is ridiculous.
An
additional challenge before the Nigeria Police in Cybercrime investigation is
that the evolution of technology is consistent and at the introduction of every
new method, the criminals devote energy and resources to detecting the
shortcomings of such inventions. Those involved in Cybercrime are well
organised and very vast on the matters of technology. They are well ahead of
some security investigation agencies in Nigeria.
To
reduce the rate of cybercrime in Nigeria therefore, adequate training and
retraining of those who man the forensic department of the various security
agencies are necessary. In the recruitment process of the police, those who are
knowledgeable in the affairs of computer technology should be enlisted
adequately.
Since
Nigeria has adopted a cash-less regime, regulatory agencies and lawmakers
should equally as a matter of urgency, collaborate to pass a Cybercrime law in
order to protect consumers in the cash-less scheme. Financial institutions in
the country should for security reasons, develop fraud detective departments.
Although
crimes such as stealing-by-trick have been accommodated in the Criminal Code,
there is a need to develop a comprehensive internet legislation to regulate
electronic financial transactions and prevent electronic crimes. The Evidence
Act as it relates to computer-generated evidence should be amended.
As
long as there is an absence of a centralised electronic databank containing
specific information on each individual resident and visitor to Nigeria,
exposure of criminal intentions before they are executed and the effective
investigation of crimes committed would continue to pose a heavy challenge to
security agencies. There is therefore the need for a national database collated
from the various Federal Government agencies. There is already enough data from
the Federal Road Safety Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission,
National Population Commission, SIM card registration data, bank accounts and
voter registration data. It is unfortunate that the National Identity card
process has not been as successful as expected due to several issues, including
residence of the data. Nevertheless, an integration of the various data to
develop a national database is critical to security and could help to ease the
job of cybercrime investigation.
Parents
have a duty to monitor closely and possibly manage their children’s use of the
internet in order to minimise cybercrime cases. Every day at a cybercafé,
someone is sending some mail to a Prime Minister, President or top government
official, requesting payment for some business transaction or contract that
never was and never would be. If you love your country, don’t hesitate to call
the cops when next you observe such an attempt to commit crime. The
responsibility of reducing the rate of cybercrimes in Nigeria is that of every
stakeholder.
NPP On Trial: Is The NPP Undeterred By the PVT?
By
Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro.
Why Is The NPP Undeterred By the PVT as they proceed to
court? The NPP flag-bearer has been making rounds explaining to various groups
why he and his party would be heading for the courts, without even once
accounting for the discrepancies between his claims and those indicated by the
PVT. The Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) deters fraud. It detects fraud. So, why
would the NPP think that it would not detect those who have no case in crying
foul? The PVT is, as it were, a sort of lie detector. And the NPP seems to be
failing the test!
 |
| NPP Chair Jake Obetsebi Lamptey |
The credibility of the NPP is at stake, as they head for the
Supreme Court with what they call “incontrovertible evidence” that reveal “a
systematic fraud on the part of the Electoral Commission” in the just ended
elections in favour of the incumbent, President John Mahama. Obviously, the
overwhelming opinion of Ghanaians outside the NDC, gives the victory to the
NDC, including some leading members of the NPP itself. Whilst a statement like
this may be rightfully attacked as being subjective, one can not say the same
thing about the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) that CODEO conducted.
The NPP surely underestimate the impact of scientific data
has on their “evidence”, otherwise, they would be embarrassed being overheard
by third parties of complaining even in private! The PVT was essentially
designed to handle exactly the sort of scenario following an election:
There are many countries that conduct democratic elections.
Those who control state institutions and resources or organized means of
bribery and intimidation, however, too frequently try to manipulate election
processes by: denying opponents the right to stand for office; blocking them
from organizing themselves to campaign for votes; restricting their access to
mass communications media; preventing the electorate from gaining the knowledge
needed to make an informed political choice; intimidating the electorate from
making a free political choice; and gerrymandering election districts to deny
equal suffrage.
When these tactics appear insufficient to ensure victory, such
perpetrators of fraud often seek to manipulate election day processes by:
blocking access to polling stations; denying qualified electors the right to
cast ballots; arranging for illegal voting in their favor; stuffing ballot
boxes; manipulating vote counts; rigging vote tabulations; announcing fraudulent
results; and blocking proper legal redress. Violence and political retribution
also sometimes follow elections, and rightful winners are sometimes prevented
from assuming their elected office. Such developments deny government its
democratic mandate and set the stage for political instability.
Political parties and candidates therefore must develop
skills to monitor the large variety of processes and institutions surrounding
elections, and they must learn to mobilize public support and use
complain [1]
On December 10, CODEO announced the results of their PVT
analysis:
“CODEO can confidently confirm that the results of its PVT
are consistent with the official presidential results announced by the
Electoral Commission.
The PVT data’s rank order of the presidential candidates
in terms of their share of the votes is similar to the official EC results. It
should be noted, however, that because the PVT data is based on a sample of
polling stations, the PVT results may not necessarily perfectly match the
official results; but it should fall within a range of values statistically
estimated from the PVT data. A concern would have been raised if any of the
official results were to fall significantly outside the PVT estimated range.
Clearly, this is generally not the case for the official results of the 2012
presidential polls.
This gives CODEO the confidence that the results of the 2012
presidential polls declared by the Electoral Commission are generally an
accurate reflection of how Ghanaians voted in the December, 7 polls.
Accordingly, CODEO advises the presidential election contestants and their
supporters as well as the general public to place confidence in the
Electoral Commission’s official presidential election results. [2]
What is a PVT?
“A PVT involves deploying trained nonpartisan monitors to a
statistical sample of often thousands of polling stations who rapidly report
their findings. The monitors report on their direct observations of targeted
aspects of the voting, counting and tabulation processes, including vote counts
at their assigned locations. They evaluate qualitative aspects of election day
processes that are essential to assessing electoral integrity and developing
statistical projections of what honest results should be within narrow margins
of error.
Monitors record the information on standardized forms and communicate
their findings to a central point. The quality of the data is evaluated and the
findings are analyzed to produce accurate and timely characterizations of the
election day processes, including the integrity of the official election
results. The findings are then reported to the public along with
recommendations concerning the election process.” [3]
The good news is that the 2012 electoral process was
accompanied by this form of parallel auditing by sample process undertaken by
CODEO. According to CODEO, “The PVT exercise was conducted to help to
scientifically and independently verify the accuracy of the official result of
the presidential election declared by the Electoral Commission. The exercise
was also intended to help confirm that the official results of the presidential
polls truly reflect the will of the Ghanaian people.” [4]
I am glad that others have tried to point this out and to
solicit a reasoned response from the NPP, as to how come the Parallel Vote
Tabulation (PVT) that CODEO conducted as part of its overall effort to observe
the 2012 elections, came out to confirm the results announced by the Electoral
Commission? A hurdle the NPP needs to jump in terms of making any scientific
sense is to challenge the CODEO analysis:
“The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO)
conducted Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) as part of its overall effort to
observe the 2012 elections, as it had done in the 2008 polls. The PVT exercise was
conducted to help scientifically and independently verify the accuracy of the
official result of the presidential election declared by the
Electoral Commission. The exercise was also intended to help confirm that
the official results of the presidential polls truly reflect the will of
the Ghanaian people. As at 9:00pm on Saturday December 08, 2012, CODEO was
in a position to verify the official results upon announcement by the
Electoral Commission.
Based on the findings of the PVT, CODEO can confidently
assure all political contestants and the public that the official results
announced by the Election Commission accurately reflect the ballots cast by
voters at all the Electoral Commission designated polling stations over the two
days of voting. ” [5]
 |
| Former President Kufuor |
CODEO explains the methodology used and what they mean by
PVT:
The PVT is an advanced and scientific election observation
technique that enables election observers stationed at polling stations to
record and transmit, in real-time, information about the conduct of the
opening of the polls, voting and official vote count processes to a
central election observation point using text messaging.
This technique
has been used successfully around the world, including Ghana in 2008, to
promote electoral integrity and help defend the rights of citizens to vote and
to protect such rights when exercised. The first PVT was conducted in the
Philippines in 1986.
In Africa, the PVT methodology has been
successfully used in Madagascar, Malawi, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Zambia and
Zimbabwe. Unlike an exit poll, PVT Observers do not ask voters about the
choices they made at the polls to predict the outcome of an election.
Rather, PVT Observers simply record the official vote count or figures
announced by election officials at polling stations and rapidly transmit
this information to an observation center via coded text message to
estimate election results. In other words, CODEO PVT data is collected
directly from polling stations as oppose to media houses which report results
from collation centers. [6
CODEO wrote on its Facebook page:
Please note that PVT data is based on a sample of polling
stations, so the PVT results may not necessarily perfectly match the official
results; but it should fall within a range of values statistically estimated
from the PVT data.
A concern would have been raised if any of the official
results were to fall significantly outside the PVT estimated range. Clearly,
this is generally not the case for the official results of the 2012
presidential polls. To hear more on how we actually conduct PVT, listen here https://soundcloud.com/codeoelections/codeo-info-audio-english-1 [7]
FINDINGS FROM PVT:
The findings presented in this statement are based on
information received from 1,492 PVT Observers located in all the 275
constituencies by 9:00pm on Saturday 08 December 2012.
All PVT data was thoroughly checked for accuracy and
internal consistency. A total of 635,014 Ghanaians cast their ballots at
the 1,492 sampled PVT polling stations. Each of the eight Presidential
Candidates received the following percentage of the valid vote cast
as compared to the PVT estimates:
Table 3: PVT Estimates and Official Results of the December 7,
2012 Presidential Election
Table
3: PVT Estimates and Official Results of the December 7, 2012
Presidential Election
3: PVT Estimates and Official Results of the December 7, 2012
Presidential Election
· The PVT estimate of a voter
turnout of 78.68%, with a margin of error 0.58%, is close to the official
figure of 79.43%.
· The PVT estimate of rejected
ballots is 1.65%, with a margin of error of 0.09%, is also quite close to
the Electoral Commission’s figure of 2.2%. [8]
The announcement by CODEO as an independent observer, in
addition to the results by the MultiMedia group attests to the strength of our
democracy and the weakness of the NPP case. They can never make their case
without a rebuttal of the confirmations by independent observers. Remember that
PVT Observers record the official vote count or figures announced by election officials.
The results are collected directly from polling stations where its declared in
front of the public as opposed to media houses which report results from
collation centres
The NPP remains woefully isolated in its claims of having
been cheated. Considering the solid reputation of Ghana’s Electoral
Commissioner and his Commission, backed by an independent scientific
confirmation of the results being accurate, the NPP obviously faces serious
obstacles to its own credibility, if they choose to go to court, instead of
licking their wounds. What makes their task even tedious is not the fact that
public opinion weighs strongly against them, but the science on the ground also
confirms the veracity or accuracy of the figures released by the Electoral
Commissioner.
Interestingly, Ghanaians were glued to the radio, MultiTV,
Joyonline, Twitter, Facebook, Telephones, and all manner of ways to follow
minute-by-minute the unfolding drama of who was going to emerge as the next
President. The Election Centre established by the MultiMedia team of
independent reporters as election observers, called the elections for President
John Mahama. The Electoral Commission’s announcement which followed was more or
less a confirmation of anyone who has been following the evolution of the
results as they came in, from polling stations to constituency to the national.
The verdict of other international observers is no
different, and it goes without saying, that there is not a single international
observer who holds the contrary view that the elections were free, fair,
peaceful, transparent, with a high participation and generally reflected the
will of the people of Ghana. Every country that matters to Ghana not only
congratulated the President-Elect, but also congratulated Ghanaians for a very
successful election.
This is what the NPP is up against. Their chances of glory
recedes and becomes even dimmer than it was before the elections!
Forward Ever! Backward Never!
For Life, the Environment, and Social Justice!
Nana Akyea Mensah, Ghana Steering Committee,
P-AI, Social Media Campaigns | December 11, 2012
Pan-Africanist International – a grammar of Pan-Africanism and its
manners of articulation!
REFERENCES:
[1]The Quick Count and Election
Observation | GNDEM, http://www.gndem.org/ndimanual_quickcount_eng,
ndimanual_quickcount_intro&chp1_en.pdf
[2] CODEO’S Statement On The Official 2012 Presidential Results, 10
December 2012 ,http://www.codeoghana.org/images/CODEO%20PVT%20Statement%20(FINAL-FINAL-Final%20)-2012.-1.pdf
[3] NDI Organizes Parallel Vote Tabulation Academy | NDI http://www.ndi.org/NDI_Organizes_Parallel_Vote_Tabulation_Academy
[4] CODEO, op. cit.http://www.codeoghana.org/images/CODEO%20PVT%20Statement%20(FINAL-FINAL-Final%20)-2012.-1.pdf
[5] ibidem
Fairytales about blacks to
be banned in Europe
By Igor
Bukker
Recently, high-ranking EU officials
provided the answer to the question about the gap between fiction and real
life. It was discovered that children's stories have a negative impact on the
brain of the European kids when they use the word "negro." This is
not a curse word, but the kids are not supposed to know it.
Many generations of Germans have
been apologizing for the tortured Jews in the concentration camps, while the
Russian must repent for the crimes of the Stalin era. Only the Turks are not
willing to recognize the Armenian genocide, and their politically correct
counterparts - the importation of Africans instead of native Indian population.
Instead of admitting guilt of their trafficking ancestors, they thought of an
innovation. They offered that politicians omit the word "negro" from
their speech. Instead, they call them African Americans. It sounds good, and no
one is offended.
It is understandable when researcher
Miklukho-Maclay is called a "white Papuan". Schwarzenegger's last
name is pure tautology - "black nigger". What color, may I ask, is a
black person - grayish- brownish- crimsonish? During the Russian civil war the
Russians were divided into the "white" and "red". There
were also "green." In Russia, homosexuals were called
"blue" at some point. There are other "colored". But this
was before. From now on, we are all white. Any physicist would tell you that
the white color is made up of the spectrum. Why did colors disappear from our
lives?
German Federal Minister for Family
Affairs Kristina Schröder admitted that she did not read her eighteen months
old daughter tales considered the world classics. She cannot bring herself to
say, for example, that the father of the red-haired Pippi Longstocking was the
"King of Negroes" and Jim Button, aka Jim Knopf, a
"nigger." If her child was a little older, the mother would have
explained her that the word "negro" is offensive to the ear of black
residents of planet Earth. In an interview with German newspaper Zeit
the first woman minister expressed his personal views about children's
education in general and her 18-month-old daughter Lotte in particular.
Poor Lotta will have to stick to the
meager reading diet prescribed by her crazy mother. Frau Schroeder denies the
works of Astrid Lindgren and the treasury of native German (European, rather)
culture. Grimm's fairy tales often seem "sexist" to her due to their
lack of "positive female characters." Then mother Schroeder expressed
concerns regarding God's gender. Instead of the definite masculine article,
before the name of God (der liebe Gott) she suggested using the neuter article:
Das liebe Gott. Simply put, God is not male, but something in between, not a
man or woman but IT. Interestingly, the German "girl" - Mädchen - has
neuter article.
Schroeder should go to hell with her
hang-ups about Santa Claus's gender. Russia' home-grown Father Frost is not
only a grandfather, he also has a wench (Snow Maiden). Their Christmas Santa is
a loner. Well, maybe he has a couple of deer as friends. Oh wait, Germany has a
ban on bestiality. Gay parades are, however, welcomed.
The Minister for Family Affairs is
so fond of her child that she is not even ready to lie to her about a
nonexistent Christmas Santa. The Minister speaks the truth, explaining her
child that Santa Claus does not exist, and instead of Christmas fables is
stuffing her immature brain with Darwin's evolution theory. The enlightened
mother replaces baby Jesus in the child's mind with an ugly ape. This theory of
human development, according to the Minister, is more in line with reality than
the traditional Christian legend. Officials, not the scientists, always know
the truth.
There
is much talk about European politicians making concessions to their
constituencies, consisting almost entirely of immigrants from the Maghreb and
Asia. The current president of France went even further, promising "bright
future" not to biblical "harlots" but sexual minorities, as if
they represent the majority. Western Europeans are losing ground not only in
the economy but, most importantly, in culture. One European country recently
decided to abandon the Christmas tree, and earlier rejected the organ music. At
the same time they keep accusing Muslims of terrorism. The West wants to sit on
two chairs at once and then acts surprised when something goes wrong.By Ivette Fernández Sosa
THE Cuban economy should close out the year with growth of 3.1% in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), considered favorable given the adverse international economic situation and restrictions imposed by the U.S. blockade, according to Adel Yzquierdo, Economy and Planning Minister and Council of Ministers Vice President, in his report to the National Assembly of People’s Power, providing a balance sheet on the country’s economic performance in 2012.
 |
| Former President Fidel Castro |
Among the reasons for this shortfall, the Minister identified problems related to the lack of a comprehensive approach in the investment process, the absence of supervision, low productivity, poor management of imports, limited personnel and delays in the granting of credits, which led to the paralysis of resources which could have been used for other purposes. Contractual obstacles, incorrect technical preparation of projects and overestimation of works as a result of deficient planning also played a role in the failure to complete planned investments.
Projected goals for several sectors were not met but most areas of economic activity did show favorable progress in comparison to last year. Examples of this pattern include the sugar industry and retail sales of construction materials, agricultural supplies and toiletries.
Other shortfalls were reported in the production of fresh milk, eggs, beans and corn; in tourism; nickel mining and processing; and passenger transportation.
Nevertheless Yzquierdo stated that, in comparison to 2011, the majority of sectors showed growth and expenses for social services were maintained at a level similar to that of last year.
Other data indicates that labor productivity grew by 2.1%. Non-state economic activity increased by 23%, while the state sector declined 5.7%. Electrical consumption in the residential sector was higher than projected, and greater than in 2011, partially as a result of increasing home-based self-employment.
Yzquierdo reported that the 2013 Economic Plan projects a 3.7% increase in the GDP, which is considered acceptable in the present economic situation.
Moreover, significant growth in important areas is expected in 2013, as compared to 2012. Manufacturing and agricultural production should grow by 4%, while a 20% increase is projected for the sugar industry.
Other sectors which must reach greater levels of production next year include construction (with a 20.8% increase projected) and transportation of freight (13%), as well as passengers (10%). Productivity should also increase, as well as the number of workers involved in non-state economic activity. Social services will be maintained within the parameters established in 2012.
Yzquierdo emphasized the need to increase domestic food production and to develop alternatives for animal feed. He explained that the cost of necessary food items has been projected at almost two billion dollars, which implies an expenditure of $300 million more than this year.
Even with contracts signed well in advance, the purchase of items such as soybeans, wheat, corn, and soy flour will require $225 million more next year, given price increases.
Another increase due to greater imports of chick peas and corn will imply an additional expense of 29 million dollars.
Yzquierdo reported that more than $7.7 billion has been projected for investment, the greatest portion of which will be in productive facilities. Priority attention will also be given much needed building maintenance, he said.
Communications expenses reflect the elimination of services previously provided free of charge and moneys have been set aside for those budgeted entities which require support.
According to the Minister, the 2013 plan was conceived on the basis of a more integral approach in terms of monetary and financial equilibrium; purchases abroad were further consolidated; and the strengthening of the country’s wholesale market was projected.
Looking for an ethical media policy
By Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
OXFAM
has complained that the negative image of Africa painted in the British media
is damaging campaigns to combat hunger in this continent and here we have it in
a nutshell: create an identity called "them" to justify the
"us" and lo and behold lots of dark and dangerous places pop up so
that fear can be manipulated but don't worry, we'll make sure you're safe.
"The
relentless focus on ongoing problems at the expense of a more nuanced portrait
of the continent, is obscuring the progress that is being made towards a more
secure and prosperous future," states Oxfam, quoting opinion polls which
predictably reflect a negative image of Africa among those questioned. This is
hardly surprising because it serves the interests of the Establishment to have
dark and dangerous places which create "wow!" and "ah!"
stories.
 |
| Syrian Rebels |
A
"wow!" story creates impact and so it is often placed on the
left-hand side of a web page or newspaper because it will register with the
right side of the brain, which registers emotion. Therefore the type of
"story" presented as a "wow!" does not need to be a story
at all. Suffice it to present a headline, such as "Libya dictator bombs
own people" complete with a pic of some rubble, somewhere.
The
message is transmitted, the lie is broadcast, mission accomplished. It does not
matter whether the information was totally false (how many media outlets showed
Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi travelling around the "bombed" areas with
SKY News asking them where the bombs that they themselves had repoted were?). A
classic example was the connection of 9/11 to Saddam Hussein: a year after the
illegal invasion of Iraq, an educated British citizen, after receiving tens of
thousands of pounds of private education, told me, face to face: "Yes well
he deserved it didn't he? I mean after 9/11". The message, in this case to
a female lawyer, was registered.
On the
right-hand side of the page you will see in-depth analyses from
"experts", often from NATO*, columns of pseudo-sophisticated drivel,
verbose verborrhoea, pig-faced blatant lies, connecting with the left,
analytical side of the brain and again, it matters not the content, but rather
what is communicated. On this side you will find interviews with "Libyan
experts", very often criminals from the margins of society huddled
together in some London hotel basement before being told that they are to be
installed as the next government of the country, on condition that... For
"Libyan", read "Syrian"
But it
really is not about African countries or Libya or, needless to say, Syria, now
is it? It is also about Russia. One could ask since when does a cabal of
criminals and co-legionaries in crime get to label those who follow
international law, deriding them and creating negative images, the same as they
do with Africa? And we are not only speaking about the British media, we are
speaking also about the media controlled by the United Nations Organization,
which recently spoke about the Global Fund, praising particularly the USA and
UK (where was the other member of the FUKUS Axis France?) without mentioning
quite how much the Russian Federation has contributed to this Fund.
The
Russian Federation has pledged and contributed fully, over two hundred and
fifty million dollars (more precisely 256, 999, 996 USD) to the Global Fund to
fight AIDS, TB and Malaria but where has this sum appeared in media reports,
including a synopsis provided by the UNO itself?
Nowhere.
It is
time the media started leading the way, informing people as to what is in fact
going on, not suppressing one side and highlighting another, pandering to the
whims of those who control it and pull its strings. If the controlled and
bought media cannot do this, then the alternative media will and sooner or
later, sponsors will start to realize that there is no point in flogging a dead
horse.
While
the entire package around the media is staged and managed to protect those who
toe the line of the Establishment, these days the Internet provides plenty of
opportunities for the word to get out. When sponsors start to realize that
these alternative venues garner more traffic than the media Establishment, then
the obvious choice is to finance the alternative media in a new approach to
tell the truth rather than spreading corporate lies. Ethics before Economics.
For
the record, I have been offered tidbits about the private lives of many public
figures which could have made me rich, on several occasions. Did I use the
material? No, and thankfully I can look myself in the mirror, morningwise, with
a smile, a wink and a spring in my step. And I still have enough money to pay
my bills.
NPP's Much [Akufo]
Ado About Nothing!
By Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro.
I was shaking my head in complete bewilderment after
watching the press conference held by the NPP on the filing of the , a petition
“at the Registry of the Supreme Court, challenging the validity of the result
of the presidential election as declared by the Electoral Commission, through
its Chairman, on December 9th, 2012. ”
 |
| Defeated NPP Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo Addo |
There were issues such as whether or not the Supreme Court
can replace the role of the Electoral Commissioner and declare a different
result as being sought by the NPP, or at best would ask for a run-off, or at
best reject the NPP request for want of evidence. The issue of the want of
evidence was so blatant during the presentation of the Vice-Presidential
candidate in the last election, Mahamudu
Bawumia that made me heave a huge sigh of relief, after hearing him.
I was wondering whether commenting on their press conference
would be tantamount to a contempt of court, because in the case, the NPP is
itself in contempt for addressing the press and not the courts. This comment is
therefore not a comment on the case before the courts, but on the presentation
of that case by the NPP to the public.
We need to publicly digest what we are being told at press
conferences, otherwise, there is something wrong with our democracy!
Miraculously, just as I was about to compose my thoughts, I got a mail from a
comrade that shared the thoughts of Professor J. Atsu Amegashie on this matter.
It was so good and even better put than I could possibly have done in the long
run, as I surely would not have gone that far in my analysis!
It is worth sharing the entire piece unedited:
Folks,
The NPP has presented its case. I agree that there were
irregularities in the 2012 presidential elections. I don't think that, based on
the evidence presented by Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, one can conclude that:
“Adjusting the EC announced results to take account of these
illegally counted votes will mean that Nana Akufo-Addo should have been
declared president. This is the heart of our case to the Supreme Court.”
Perhaps, the NPP has more.
Some specific comments:
1.“The EC reported total registered voters for the parliamentary
election as 14,031,642 and 14,158,890 for the presidential election, a
difference of 127,248.”
A good point, NPP. Over to you, EC.
2.“The irregularities led to 1,340,018 votes being wrongly
counted as part of the result of the 2012 presidential election. These votes
were largely to the benefit of the NDC presidential candidate.”
The operative word is “largely”. It means “great extent; on
the whole; mostly.” This suggests that Nana Addo was a beneficiary of electoral
fraud, even if not most of the fraud?
 |
| NPP Party Chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey |
3. The 1,340,018 illegal votes above were obtained by
summing votes in the following categories:
(a) OVER VOTE DUE TO TOTAL VOTE EXCEEDING BALLOT PAPERS
ISSUED TO VOTERS
(b) VOTING WITHOUT BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION
(c) SAME SERIAL NUMBERS FOR DIFFERENT POLLING STATIONS
(d) MISSING PRESIDING OFFICER'S SIGNATURE ON REDSHEET
(e)WORDS AND FIGURES DO NOT MATCH
4. Since a person’s vote is not publicly known, there is no
way of knowing that those who voted without biometric verification voted for
John Mahama nor does the total votes cast exceeding the ballot papers issued
establish this fact. In fact, none of the claims in the categories above is
proof that John Mahama was the beneficiary of the alleged illegal votes. These
are allegations about the total number of illegal votes not the distribution of
these votes. So how was the NPP able to establish that “The irregularities led
to 1,340,018 votes being wrongly counted as part of the result of the 2012
presidential election. These votes were largely to the benefit of the NDC
presidential candidate.”?
(5) The pink sheet with serial number 0017717 (i.e., Temp
Booth Sangbam pooling station) is an example of the NPP’s evidence of “OVER
VOTE DUE TO TOTAL VOTE EXCEEDING BALLOT PAPERS ISSUED TO VOTERS”. The NPP claims
there were 620,443 votes in this category.
But note the following on that sheet:
What is the number of ballots issued to voters on the
polling station register? = 277 (C1)
Total Votes in ballot box = 291
Based on this, the NPP concluded that there was electoral
malpractice at this polling station since 291 > 277. But a careful look at
the sheet reveals that the 291 figure was obtained by summing the total valid
votes (277) and total rejected votes (14). See the last three rows. In fact,
the response to the question “what is the number of ballots issued to this
polling station” (A1) is 375 > 291. This need not be the same as the number
of ballots issued to voters on the polling station register (C1). At C4, the
total number of SPOILT ballots is 14. I think the form was filled by an officer
who was not well trained or simply misunderstood the question. S/he should have
entered a numbered which was, at least, equal to the 291 in response to the
question: What is the number of ballots issued to voters on the polling station
register? (C1). Am I missing something? In any case, one can understand how the
figure 291 was computed.
Note that the sum of the votes for all the presidential
candidates, 277, is equal to the recorded number of valid votes, 277. So
electoral irregularity, if any, does not necessarily imply electoral fraud.
Some of the EC’s officials may have been incompetent. I believe that some of
them were corrupt. But I am not sure, based on the evidence presented by Dr.
Bawumia, that the NPP has proven that Nana Addo won the election. I suspect
that NPP has more?
(6) On the issue of “SAME SERIAL NUMBERS FOR DIFFERENT
POLLING STATIONS”, I think the EC should do a better job next time. But I won’t
read too much into it if (a) the names of the polling stations are different,
(b) these polling stations indeed exist, and (c) the NPP officials at these
polling stations were satisfied with the information recorded on the pink
sheets for these polling stations.
The NPP did not state that the three conditions above were
violated.
(7) On “Words and figures mismatch”, what is important is to
establish which of these pieces of information (words or figures) reflected the
will of the people and which one was recorded for the various candidates. The
variance between figures and words is not proof of electoral fraud in favor of
any candidate.
(8) According to Bawumia “Some 24,000 Pink Sheets have been
analyzed so far”
The NPP must present evidence from all 26,002 polling
stations. Making claims based on 24,000 stations is only valid if (a)
oneassumes that John Mahama was also the net beneficiary of fraud in the
other 2002 polling stations, and/or (b) the total number of votes cast or the
registered number of voters in the 2002 polling will not change the NPP’s conclusion
even if all the votes were in Mahama’s favor.
Of course, point (a) is not defensible in a court of law.
Point (b) has not been proven.
(9) The NPP did not mention a single constituency in which
the total number of votes obtained by Mahama as published by the EC (the pdf
document) exceeded the corresponding number obtained based on its independent
collation of the figures. No claims of inflated votes for Mahama in the
following constituencies: Ledzokuku, Savelugu,Tamale South, Lower Manya Krobo,
Techiman North, Yilo, Kintampo South, etc and many other claims made on Dec 9,
2012.
To conclude the NPP appears to have established a pattern of
electoral incompetence, acts of negligence, and irregularities. It does not
necessarily follow that these acts of omission or negligence are tantamount to
electoral fraud and, in particular, electoral fraud in favor of John Mahama.
Surely, the Supreme Court will require more than this.
Let’s wait for proceedings in the Supreme Court of our dear
nation.
In the service of Ghana.
Ignore typos.
Atsu
They seem to be claiming one thing whilst their so-called
“evidence” appears to be looking in a different direction. There is nothing
that the NPP presented that even remotely pretended to support their wild
claims that Nana Akufo-Addo was the winner! It is much [Akufo?] ado about
nothing!
Forward Ever! Backward Never!
For Life, the Environment, and Social Justice!
Nana Akyea Mensah,
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