AGRICULTURE: UDS To Play A Major Role

Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur at the weekend urged the University for Development Studies (UDS) to work to improve agriculture, especially in the savannah belt of Ghana.

He explained that despite Ghana’s endeavours to explore other possibilities for growth in the service and manufacturing sectors, agriculture still remains the backbone of the economy.

He acknowledged that improvement in agriculture would be vital to improve the livelihood of the people.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur gave the advice when he addressed the 15th Congregation of the Wa Campus of UDS in Wa.

He said UDS was structured and designed to ensure that the entire northern sector of Ghana would be available to the university as a laboratory.

He said Ghanaians are therefore looking forward to the occasion when UDS would share the successes of that strategy with more of the public, serving as an example of bringing the “gown to town”, he said.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said such an effort would confirm the role of UDS as a people-centred institution with a mandate to address the conditions and structural cause of poverty, particularly in the northern parts of Ghana.

“Your unique structure of serving three regions is a source of great strength. This makes UDS not only unique, but also much focused and we need to guard this character,” the Vice President said.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said research and innovation generated by projects in the universities have been important for the economic development of many countries, saying a country without a research base is opting out of the development race.

The Vice President said the desire to transform Ghana from low middle- income could only be realised through research and the training of high level manpower with the appropriate scientific and technological skills.

“We cannot develop through the sale of oil and other primary products only.  It is necessary to invest in research and innovation for added value and economic transformation,” he emphasised.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said government is committed to solve the problem of inadequate funding of research and gave the assurance that plans are far advanced in setting up the National Research Fund

He said government would continue to provide support through the provision of research grants and urged the UDS to cooperate with the agencies involved in the establishment of the Research Fund to make it a reality.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur told the graduands that Ghanaians are looking up to them to make Ghana and the world a better place.

He said while government could not offer all of them jobs, their education should be used as a tool and to develop themselves for greater opportunities.

He urged them to stay focus and consistently live up to the values of UDS to enable them to overcome the many challenges some of them would encounter.

The UDS would be graduating a total of 6,527 students from across its campuses this year with the Wa Campus accounting for 3,896 students who were awarded with postgraduate and undergraduate degrees and diplomas.

GNA

Editorial

KUDOS TO OUR FARMERS

Farmers day last Friday was celebrated all over the country with pomp and pageantry as it ought to be and we join in applauding our farmers and fishermen for the yeoman’s job in creating employment, producing food, raw materials and bringing in the bulk of the nation’s foreign exchange. Our farmers, in spite of the constraint of inadequate infrastructures, lack of credit, poor technology, poor farm technique, land problems, unfair competition etc are able to somehow surmount these problems and produce the bulk of the nation’s food requirement and raw materials. They even produce the bulk of the raw material export which foreign exchange earnings are used to finance the import of foreign agricultural products.

Ghanaian agriculture is developing with the infusion of commercial farmers especially younger educated entrepreneurs and it is up to the government  to be up and doing to  facilitate the provision of agricultural credit, such as loans and equity financing, infrastructure such as  farm roads, water, irrigation facilities, dams, agro-processing centers, seed banks, agricultural equipment plant pools and extension services. The Ministry of Agriculture has almost abandoned agricultural extension services with the notion that farmers must pay for extension services. This notion must be eschewed and government must invest big time in this service which is the transmission belt of new agricultural techniques and ideas to the farmers.

Farmer’s day is good but it cannot make up for the shortfall in agricultural production and although it is a good motivator it cannot replace the massive import of food. What is needed is an integrated agricultural revolution which is linked up with development. Let us develop agricultural financial services, let us take schools to agricultural centers, let us link libraries and health centers to agricultural production centers and let us create markets not only physical ones but to create futures market to raise  demand for our agricultural products. Let us develop the value added that is transportation, storage marketing, packaging of our agricultural produce, that is what will give real meaning to the farmers day.

I dare say Ghana has the potential to do it, the land eg. Accra plains, coastal plains and northern savannahs for cattle and animal husbandry, the Volta lake and river for fishing and aqua culture, the forest for food crops etc. what we need in addition to the human capital is the leadership and courage to face up to this neo-liberal market and importers of snails and kontomire and we will make billions from the sweat and toil of our gallant farmers. Kudos to the farmers and fishermen of Ghana.

104,457 Stockpile of Maize At Brong-Ahafo

The Brong-Ahafo Region has a stockpile of 104,457 mini (50 kilogramme) bags of maize at the Wenchi and Sunyani collection points.

Mr. Eric Opoku, the Regional Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Asunafo South, said this at the 30th Regional farmers’ day celebration at Derma in the Tano South District.

Mr. Opoku said 34,933 of the stock had been released with 69,524 left under the national food security programme meant to mop up excess foodstuff in the market during glut period for storage to improve food security in the country.

He said the Region continued to benefit under the various   government agricultural interventions and farmers had been assisted with improved seeds, fertilizer, agro chemicals, tractors and extension services to enable them to improve their yields.   

Mr. Opoku said  eight  agricultural  mechanization centres had been established in the Region  with 48 tractors supplied  on credit  basis under a  nationwide  programme and drive  towards the  mechanization  of agriculture .

Touching on the theme of the celebration “Eat what we grow”,   Mr. Opoku  said  besides the  health and nutritional  benefits of eating  fresh local foods, the growing  and development of the campaign would translate  into other tangible benefits like job creation , poverty reduction and consequently increase national economic growth.

Twenty-three farmers including three women were awarded in various categories of agriculture.

Nana Alex Tweneboah Kodua, aged 61 from  Mim in the  Asunafo North  Municipality  was crowned the  Regional best farmer and  was giving  corn sheller, tricycle , cutlasses, wellington boot,  insecticides , wax print and a certificate.

Tano South also adjuged 49- year-old Mr. Kwabena Twum of Derma as the District best farmer  and  was giving a  motor cycle, 43 inches led television, knapsack sprayer, a wax print, wellington boot watering can, cutlass, key bar soaps and a certificate.

GNA

Mental illness cases rise in Assin North

Georgina Asimadi

The number of reported cases of mental illness has risen in Assin North Municipality in two years, a situation blamed on the nation’s neglect of issues of psychological and mental illness for a long time.

The Assin North Mental Unit registered 68 clients for 2013 and 91 in 2014 putting the total attendance for the year as at November at 331.

Mrs Georgina Asimadi, Municipal Director of Health who made this known at a community durbar in Assin Foso expressed concern that out of the number 50 per cent of the cases are epilepsy.

Persons with mental illness suffer profound stigmatisation and ridicule making it difficult for reintegration in society or with their families after recovery, she said.

The Director stressed: “Most often these people are stigmatised, people point fingers at them and think they are liability, when they are supported, they can contribute their quota to the growth of their family, community and the nation.”

“There is a thin line between mentally ill persons and mentally healthy person in Ghana considering the stresses and battling that we go through,” she added.

But unfortunately, she said: “We have relegated psychological and mental health to the background for some time now, but the mind is the engine of the body and anything affecting it affects the whole body.”

Mrs Asimadi explained that the predisposing causes included poor nutrition, head injuries, substance and alcohol abuse, drug abuse during pregnancy, child abuse or hitting the head of the child repeatedly as well as physical illness and prolong labour.

Marital problems, unemployment could also predispose a person to mental illness or hereditary diseases that runs in families, according to health officials.

Mrs Asimadi said the Unit is fortunate to have Mental Health Society of Ghana and BasicNeeds Ghana, nongovernmental organisations who are working to deal with the situation in the Municipality.

The durbar was organised by BasicNeeds Ghana and Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG) with UKAID to raise awareness of issues around mental illness and how victims have been affected.

It forms part of a four-year project implemented by Basic Needs Ghana and MEHSOG to support government to build a national health system that effectively and efficiently respond to the mental health needs of the population.

The theme for the event was: “Inclusion of people with mental illness and epilepsy in government social intervention programmes at the local governance level to enhance recovery, participation and reintegration for national development.”

Mrs Eunice Tetteh, Programmes office at BasicNeeds Ghana said mental illness is treatable, adding that her outfit has reached out to about 47,000 mental patients with 27,000 patients treated and stabilised.

She said the recovered patients need the support of their families, friends and community members for their effective reintegration in the society.

According to health officials about 2.5 million Ghanaians are suffering from mental illness of varied degrees with 7,000 considered being serious.

Out of the 7,000 classified as severe, majority are women who have suffered broken marriages and relationships, examination failures or were challenged with abject poverty.

GNA

Government will not discriminate in development - President Mahama

President John Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday said his administration would not discriminate against any community or region in the provision of development projects.

In providing such development projects however, President Mahama said it could not be done simultaneously and urged those that have not received their share to exercise patience until it gets to them.

President Mahama said this when he marked his 56th birthday at Assin Juaben in the Central Region amidst drumming and dancing by the chiefs and people of the area.

This is the third time President Mahama is celebrating his birthday in the farming community in the Central Region, having previously marked it in 2012 and 2013 in the town.

Although his birthday falls on November 29, President Mahama celebrates with the community as at when it is convenient for him and the opinion leaders of the community.

During the 2012 electioneering campaign, President Mahama marked his birthday there and promised to subsequently celebrate it there should he win the elections and in fulfillment of his promise, he has celebrated it with the community within the last two years.

Apart from that he has also provided a small town water project and public toilets to the community and promised to provide other amenities that would make them comfortable.

This year's programme was also attended by Mr Prosper Douglas Bani, Chief of Staff, Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, Central Regional Minister, Central Regional and Assin North party executives.

President Mahama promised to provide a health facility to the people of Assin Juaben to cater for the growing population of the area and urged them to play their roles responsibly by contributing their quota towards the achievement of the project.

He said he was also working with the GETFund to provide a classroom block for the community to accommodate the growing school children in Assin Juaben and neighboring communities.

President Mahama said it was not out of place for the community to request for health and educational facilities, as they were the bedrock of strength and knowledge and promised to do everything under his jurisdiction to provide the facilities.

Nana Asiedu Nyama II, Juabenhene repeated his appeal to President Mahama to establish a health centre and school blocks from kindergarten level to Junior High School levels.

GNA

Hungry for Land: Small Farmers Feed the World – with less than a Quarter of all Farmland

By Grain

Governments and international agencies frequently boast that small farmers control the largest share of the world’s agricultural land. When the director general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization inaugurated 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming, he sang the praises of family farmers but didn’t once mention the need for land reform. Instead, he announced that family farms already manage most of the world’s farmland – a whopping 70%, according to his team.

But a new review of the data carried out by GRAIN reveals that the opposite is true. Small farms, which produce most of the world’s food, are currently squeezed onto less than a quarter of the world’s farmland – or less than one fifth if you leave out China and India.

“We are fast losing farms and farmers through the concentration of land into the hands of the rich and powerful,” said Henk Hobbelink, coordinator of GRAIN.

“The overwhelming majority of farming families today have less than two hectares to cultivate and that share is shrinking. If we do nothing to reverse this trend, the world will lose its capacity to feed itself.”

Marina Dos Santos of the Coordination of the Brazilian Landless Movement (MST), and of La Via Campesina, states:

“Today, the peasantry is criminalised, taken to court and even made to disappear when it comes to the struggle for land. Currently, there are an alarming numbers of deaths that go unpunished. States have created legal concepts such as terrorism and sabotage to intimidate our struggle. Every day we are exposed to systematic expulsion from our land. This affects not only peasants fighting to stay on the land, but also many other small farmers and indigenous peoples who are the target of greedy foreign interests. We want the land in order to live and to produce, as these are our basic rights against land grabbing corporations who seek only speculation and profit.”

“People need to understand that if the current processes of land concentration continue, then no matter how hard-working, efficient and productive they are, small farmers will simply not be able to carry on,” said GRAIN’s Camila Montecinos. “The concentration of fertile agricultural land in fewer and fewer hands is directly related to the increasing number of people going hungry every day.”

GRAIN’s report also provides new data that show that small farmers still provide most of the world’s food, and that they are often much more productive than large corporate farms. If all of Kenya’s farms matched the output of its small farms, the nation’s agricultural productivity would double. In Central America, it would nearly triple. Women are the major food producers, but their role remains unrecorded and marginalised.

The international agencies keep on reminding us that we need to produce more food to feed the growing population. But how much more food could be produced almost immediately if small farmers had access to more land and could work in a supportive policy environment, rather than under the siege conditions they are facing today?

“The vast majority of farms in Zimbabwe belong to small holders and their average farm size has increased as a result of the Fast Track Land Reform Programme. Small farmers in the country now produce over 90% of diverse agricultural food crops, while they only provided 60-70% of the national food before land redistribution. More women own land in their own right, which is key to food sovereignty everywhere,” said Elizabeth Mpofu, General Coordinator of La Via Campesina.

We need to urgently put land back in the hands of small farmers and make the struggle for genuine and comprehensive agrarian reform central to the fight for better food systems. Something peasant organisations and landless people’s movements have long been fighting for.

Contacts:

Mr Henk Hobbelink, Spain (EN, ES, NL):
henk@grain.org

Ms Camila Montecinos, Chile (EN, ES):
camila@grain.org

Ms Elizabeth Mpofu, Zimbabwe (EN):

nkbnyoni@yahoo.co.uk

GRAIN’s new report, Hungry for land: small farmers feed the world with less than a quarter of all farmland provides an indepth review of the data on farm structures and food production worldwide and comes to the following 6 central conclusions:

1. The vast majority of farms in the world today are small and getting smaller
   Due to a myriad of forces, average farm sizes have shrunk dramatically over the past decades, particularly in Asia and Africa.

1. Small farms are currently squeezed onto less than a quarter of the world’s farmland
   Despite what the UN and others report, small farms occupy less than 25% of the world’s farmland today – just 17%, if we exclude India and China.

1. We’re fast losing farms and farmers in many places, while big farms are getting bigger
   One major reason why small farms are disappearing is the rapid growth of monoculture plantations. In the last 50 years, 140 million hectares – well more than all the farmland in China – have been taken over for soybean, oil palm, rapeseed and sugar cane alone.

1. Small farmers continue to be the major food producers in the world
   By definition, peasant agriculture prioritises food production for local and national markets as well as for farmers’ own families – not commodities or export crops. GRAIN compiled staggering statistics that show how, even with so little land, small farms produce the bulk of many countries’ food supply.

1. Small farms are technically more productive than big farms
   Industrial farms have enormous power, clout and resources, but small farms almost everywhere outperform big farms in terms of productivity. If all of Kenya’s farms matched the output of its small farms, the nation’s agricultural productivity would double. In Central America, it would nearly triple. If Russia’s big farms were as productive as its small ones, output would increase by a factor of six.

1. The majority of small farmers are women, yet their contributions are unrecognised and marginalised
   Women’s immense contribution to farming and food production is not captured in official statistics and they are discriminated against when it comes to controlling land in most countries.

The report is accompanied by illustrative maps and a fully-referenced dataset. Available for download at: http://www.grain.org/e/4929
More on the farmers’ struggle for land: “Land is life! La Via Campesina and the Struggle for Land” at: http://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/EN-notebook5.pdf

Centuries of Colonialism, Slavery and Apartheid Have Left a Legacy of Institutional Racism

Assata Shakur

By William Gumede

In this edited version of a new introduction to Assata Shakur’s autobiography, Prof Gumede points out that centuries of colonialism, slavery and apartheid have left a legacy of institutional racism, whereby dark skins are often instinctively prejudiced in societies across the globe. Racism is also endemic in global relations between nations.

Official racism may been long abolished in South Africa and the US since anti-race activists such as Assata Shakur in the 1970s US, and anti-apartheid activists in South Africa launched their resistance, yet it’s terrible legacy persists for long thereafter.

The challenge for both SA and the US is how to overcome the legacy of both individual and institutional racism long after official racism had been scrapped from the statue books.

Centuries of colonialism, slavery and apartheid have left a legacy of institutional racism, whereby dark skins are often instinctively prejudiced in societies across the globe [1]. Racism is also endemic in global relations between nations: nations seen as ‘white’ are invariably higher in the pecking order than black ones.

‘White privilege’, the special benefits, which Peggy McIntosh describes as an “invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks”[2], which accrues benefits to a person purely on their ‘whiteness’, is a fact of life in country and international institutions across the globe.

It could be as small as a shop assistant giving special attention to a white shopper and ignoring a black one. Or the stigmatisation of black women, who are not “passive, servile, non-threatening, and invisible”, by talking out loudly against injustices, as “Angry Black Women” [3]. Assata Shakur would have been labelled as an “Angry Black Woman”.

‘White privilege’ also means growing up with the implacable assumption that one’s view of the world, social understanding and ways of looking is the ‘normal’ – which is also replicated in companies, international culture – whether in films or thought, quality universities and global media. Those of colour have to adapt to ‘whiteness’, or play by ‘whiteness’ rules.

In both the US and South Africa racism has infused the DNA of almost every institution in society and racist practices have often become so part and parcel of habits and routine, and social and professional interaction that it is often not even recognized as such.

In South Africa incidents of government corruption are sometimes often broadly viewed by some white South Africans as a general failure of all blacks, rather than seen in their specific contexts, of a corrupt individual, whatever the colour, politics or class.

Racism has a terrifying impact on individuals. The US-based Institute for Peace Justice described some aspects of racism as a “rejection or neglect as well as attack — a denial of needs, a reduction of persons to the status of objects to be broken, manipulated, or ignored. The violence of bombs can cripple bodies; the violence of miseducation can cripple minds. The violence of unemployment can murder self-esteem and hope. The violence of a chronic insecurity can disfigure personalities as well as persons”.

Johan Galtung points that victims of racism are often “depicted as being poor ‘by choice,’ as a result of their own actions and faults.

Part of the SA 1994 democratic project and the US post-segregation project was to undo the racism which is embedded in institutions and social life, and build human rights’ based societies.

Institutionalised racism and apartheid have left both black South Africans and African Americans, with massive ‘existential insecurity’. Their cultures were under attack, they were physically dislocated, they were deprived materially, they were deprived from equitable access to public goods such as education and healthcare. Chronic insecurity caused by humiliation scars the individual sense of self. Interpersonal relationships were broken, whether through migrant labour or because of harmed sense of self.

Slavery, colonialism and apartheid have caused ‘dislocation’ of “familiar and trusted social benchmarks”– whether cultural, individual or social. This leaves a void within many individuals. The challenge for both the US and SA is how to help broken individuals fill that void.

Frantz Fanon [4] points out how institutional racism scars the black “psyche”: causing inferiority complexes, low self-esteem, aggression, anxiety, depression, and often “a defensive romanticisation of indigenous culture”, whether emphasising fundamentalist Zulu-ness or Africanness, or nostalgic African communal development ideologies.

In our globalised world individual self-esteem, identity and value are increasingly measured in how much an individual possess in material possessions. Since a big part of the legacy of institutional racism is that blacks in both countries are invariably mostly poorer off, reinforces ‘existential insecurity’, among the poor blacks.

To overcome such scarring to the black psyche, governments need to govern in a more socially conscious way, with a greater sense of public duty, empathy, and solidarity with society’s black vulnerable and disadvantaged.

Some blacks would overcompensate for white racist attitudes towards blacks: over-asserting their ‘blackness’, always seeing the world only between black and white, and nothing in-between, as if reality is not sometimes a mosaic of different colours.

Many white South Africans and Americans appear to be ignorant of the continuing legacy of “white privilege”. Some argue poor blacks are in their predicament because of their own doing. Others say affirmative action is now privileging blacks. Yet others again fundamentalistically call for merit appointments to in effect continue ‘white privilege’.

If white, to just glibly dismiss the continuing legacy of racism and apartheid policies – the education, jobs and property bar, and long sustained attack on black self-image is deeply offensive. To argue that achievement is only a white preserve – if blacks do well, it must be somehow to do with their ‘political connectivity’ is outrageous. White instances of incompetence should not be ignored.

Some white South Africans and Americans have argued for “colour-blindness” [5], arguing race does not matter. Yet, as the African-American psychologist, Monnica Williams argues, “colour-blindness” has helped make race into a taboo topic that polite people cannot openly discuss. And if you can’t talk about it, you can’t understand it; much less fix the racial problems that plague our society.”

Without an open, honest and sober conversation on race in the SA and the US, we cannot understand the extent of the continuing legacy of apartheid and racial segregation, and over the policies to be pursued to rectify it.

One danger is that institutional racism at country and global levels may plunge black people into perpetual victimhood, never taking accountability for their own individual and country failures, forever blaming racism, apartheid and colonialism, and therefore not being able to actively take control of their own individual and country destinies.

Furthermore, the temptation is often to hide behind racial solidarity to support often very undemocratic practices, by our black leaders or organisations, merely because they are black and antiracists. Appeals to black (or white) ‘authenticity’ often demands closing ranks behind very dubious and corruption, personalities, sometimes undemocratic politics and (black) government neglect of its (black) citizens.

In South Africa, many black and white judges and magistrates still astonishingly blame the victims of rapes for being responsible for being raped. Surely, in such these cases, a black magistrate and judge cannot be supported merely on the basis of his or her blackness.

The American scholar of race, Cornel West, rightly argues we must “replace racial reasoning with moral reasoning, to understand the black-freedom struggle not as an affair of skin pigmentation and racial phenotype but rather as a matter of ethical principles and wise politics” .

What we should not do is in our bid to debunk outrageous racial generalizations defend individual incompetence, wrong-doing and even corruption, just because of the person is black or white.

Assata Shakur left the Black Panther Party, because its leader Huey Newton, used the fight against racism to create leadership centred on himself, calling himself “Supreme Commander”, and “Supreme Servant”, and the organisation discouraged internal criticism.

Black liberation movements turned governments should not, after decrying discrimination by former colonial and apartheid governments, practice discrimination by appointing ethnic, regional and family and friends, to positions in their governments, rather than appointing the best talents.

Poor governance, corruption and lack of accountability, by South African or African country governments, only reinforce deeply held racial stereotypes of black – therefor better governance is crucially in slaying the racism dragon.

Prof William Gumede is chairperson, Democracy Works Foundation. He is author of Restless Nation: Making Sense of Troubled Times, Tafelberg 

Notes

[1] Macpherson, W. (1999), The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, Report of an Inquiry by Sir William
[2] Macpherson of Cluny, Cm4262–1, London: Home Office; Waddington, P. A. J., Stenson, K. and Don, D. (2004), ‘In proportion: race, and police stop and search’, British Journal of Criminology, 44: 6, 889–914; Sveinsson, K. (2008), A Tale of Two Englands: ‘Race’ and Violent Crime in the Media, London: The Runnymede Trust.
[3] McIntosh, P. 1988. White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. Wellesley College Center for Research on Women, Wellesley, MA
[4] Fanon, F. (1967). Black Faces, White Masks. New York: Grove Publishers; Rajab, D. (2012). Zuma out of touch with reality in South Africa. The Mercury, Durban, January 10
[5] Tarca, K. (2005). Colorblind in Control: The Risks of Resisting Difference Amid Demographic Change. Educational Studies, 38(2), 99-120.
[6] West, C. (1994). Race Matters. New York: Vintage 

When will these boring "Concert Party" shows ever end?

Prof. Gyimah Boadi, CDD

By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

There is much to laugh over whenever any screaming headline of this sort appears in the news media: "Opposition parties trusted more than Mahama—survey".

More than necessary times, I have made it clear that those leading the futile anti-Mahama campaign and allowing their narrow political interests to cloud their sense of decency and appropriateness easily betray such wayward interests and come across as pitiable.

I know how the NPP is busily orchestrating moves to persistently undermine President Mahama and mobilize public opinion to create the impression that Ghana has no future under his tenure in office. More wearily, they are by the day unleashing bouts of scare-mongering in the vain hope that it will help them demoralize the citizens for them to become so disaffected as not to want to renew President Mahama's tenure at Election 2016.

In doing so, they have either resorted to cooking up figures about the economy or using their so-called "economics guru" (Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia) to bandy figures about as if he knows better than those in whose hands the actual management of the economy has been all these years. Bawumia's current politicking with the Eurobond, which has been aptly described by the government as "delusional" is the latest in the series of the self-deceptive rogue/book politics by the NPP camp.

Hardly have we sat down to exhaust all that flat joke from the NPP's stables than its appendage, disguised as a civil society group called the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), has come out with another self-beguiling desktop survey to create the impression that President Mahama is no more in reckoning. Just read the lead of the news report carried by Myjoyonline to see things clearly:

"More Ghanaians trust opposition political parties than they trust President John Mahama, according to the latest Afro Barometer survey published today by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD).

Whereas 45 per cent of Ghanaians say they trust opposition political parties, only 40 per cent said they trust President Mahama.

In fact, the President’s trust rating has dropped significantly since he was elected in 2012 by as much as 16 per cent.

According to the survey, 56% of Ghanaians trust the Ghana Armed Forces far more than the President”.

This kind of self-surveying exercise in futility is worse than ridiculous. You can see from the wide field covered by this so-called survey that it isn't anything scientific to bother one's head over except as to view it as the latest in the series of the NPP’s stage-managing acts for dramatic effects only. It is just the product of fevered imagination of some people who are chafing in opposition and cannot accept their sorry fate as failed politicians. It is no more funny!!

On what basis will those people trust the opposition? That they are doing what President Mahama and his government cannot do to solve Ghana’s problems? Or that they could have been better administrators? Why are they, then, in opposition and not power? Or that they will be put in power at Election 2016 because they are trusted to perform better? Someone is setting  out to outdo the legendary magician, al-Houdini.

What even makes me pooh-pooh this bogus survey is the part that concerns the Ghana Armed Forces. If that percentage of Ghanaians trust the Armed Forces more than they do the President, what impression do those behind this farce of a survey seek to create? That those Ghanaians wish the military rather were in power or that they are yearning for a military intervention in national politics? That the government should be overthrown for the military to rule Ghana?

Do you see, folks, how easily these shameless failed politicians easily betray themselves through such underhand efforts? Not long ago, they (and I mean those failed NPP rogue politicians) were instigating the military to overthrow the government. No one heeded them.

Having realized their bare-faced mischief but not willing to refine their politics, they have now moved into an overdrive to display and confirm their notoriety.

Let Ghanaians trust the opposition more than they do the incumbent President; and by such wishful thinking, PRONTO!! William Nana Addo-Danquah (Dankwa) Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the Asante-Akyem political cabal called the NPP will be in power!!

How desperate can't these people be? And desperate people are known for doing "desperate things". Why are they forcing "the there to be there" when that "there" is not "there" at all for them?

Election 2016 will come and go, and we shall all see whose blood pressure will go skyrocketing again!!

Putin: Russia will never follow instructions from the West 

President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered the annual address to the Federal Assembly in the St. George's Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace on Thursday, December 4th.

In the beginning of the speech, President Putin thanked citizens of the Russian Federation for showing their resilience in the face of tribulations that Russia had to experience this year. Putin called the Russians a "mature nation." "Russia has proved that it was capable of protecting its compatriots, defending truth with honor and justice." "Our country has done it thanks to you, citizens of Russia," Putin said in the beginning of the Address to the Federal Assembly. 

Afterwards, he proceeded to the topic of Crimea's reunification with Russia. Putin called the reunification of the Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia a historic event and stated that Russia believed in itself. "Russia believes in itself, in the fact that it can do a lot and that it will achieve everything," Putin said, Interfax reports. Putin also said that for Russia, the Crimea remains of great civilizational and sacred value. The president assured that the Russians would treat the Crimea this way now and forever. 

Putin said that Russia's position on the sovereignty of former Soviet republics, including Ukraine, had not changed. "It is well known that not only has Russia supported Ukraine and other fraternal republics of the former USSR in their quest for sovereignty, but Russia has also contributed significantly to this process at the turn of the 1990s," the president said.

"Every nation has an inalienable right to their own path of development. Russia will always treat this with respect, and this applies to Ukraine too," Putin said. However, the talks about human rights, to cover up the bloody revolution in Ukraine, are nothing but hypocrisy. Putin urged not to conduct political chatter and give empty promises, but to assist the Ukrainian economy. Russia has already credited the Ukrainian economy at 32,5-33,5 billion dollars, Putin reminded.

In his address to the Federal Assembly, Putin accused the United States of putting direct pressure on Russia's neighbors. According to him, Moscow was completely ignored in the discussion of Ukraine's association with the EU. "It is no coincidence that I mention our American friends, as they either directly or from behind the scenes always affect our relations with our neighbors. One does not even know at times, who it is better to talk to - the governments of certain countries or their American patrons and sponsors." Putin stressed out that "in the case of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU, there was no dialogue conducted at all." "We were told that it was none of our business. Putting it in plain language, we were told where to go," said Putin.

Russia will not blindly follow instructions from the West as far as the Ukrainian crisis is concerned, Putin said. "What is this whole tragedy in Ukraine for? Wasn't it possible to settle all the issues, even controversial ones, in the course of a dialogue, within legal framework and legitimate processes? Yet, they are doing their best now to convince us that it was competent and balanced policy, which we need to obey mindlessly and blindly. This will not happen," said Putin.

Putin about sanctions 

Speaking about the topic of Western sanctions against Russia, Putin said that the sanctions caused damage "to everyone, including those who imposed them." Talking to Russia from a position of strength is pointless, Putin said. The Russian president assured that despite pressure, Russia would never go the way of self-isolation, nor would it look for enemies.

"This is not just a nervous reaction of the United States or its allies to our position in relation to the events and the coup d'etat in Ukraine; this is not even a reaction to the so-called Crimean spring," Putin said.

If there had been no crisis in Ukraine, if Russia had not reunited with the Crimea, the West would have found other reasons for the isolation of Russia, the Russian president believes. The Russian Federation will be defending diversity of the world - it will be defending truth not to let others distort its image in the world, Putin said.

"We will never take the path of self-isolation, xenophobia, suspicion and search for enemies. This is a sign of weakness, but we are strong and united," said the president.

"If, for European countries, national pride is a long-forgotten concept and if sovereignty is too much of a luxury for them, then for Russia, real state sovereignty is a mandatory condition of its existence. We can either be sovereign, or we can get lost in the world," Putin stated. 

About Russia's attitude to new arms race 

Russia will not get involved in an arms race, but it will find non-standard solutions to ensure its defensive capability, Putin said. "We do not intend to get involved in a costly arms race, but we will ensure and guarantee the defense of our country in a new environment," Vladimir Putin said. "There are no doubts about it, it will be done. Russia has both opportunities and innovative solutions for that," he said. 

Vladimir Putin warned, however, that "no one will succeed in achieving military superiority over Russia." "Our army is modern and combat-ready. As they say, it is polite, but formidable. We will have enough strength, will and courage to defend our freedom," the Russian president said.

According to Vladimir Putin, USA's efforts in the creation of the missile defense system is a threat to Russia's security. "Since 2002, after the USA's unilateral withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, which was an absolute cornerstone of international security and strategic balance of power and stability, the United States continues the persistent work to create a global missile defense system, including in Europe," said Putin.

"This is not only a threat to Russia's security, but also a threat to the whole world  just because of a possible violation of the strategic balance of forces. I think that it's harmful for the USA itself, because it creates a dangerous illusion of invulnerability, strengthens the pursuit of one-sided and, as we can see, unthoughtful decisions and additional risks."

About Russia's future relations with Europe and the USA

According to the Russian president, even in light of current circumstances, Russia is not going to curtail relations with Europe and America. Russia will be open to the world, to foreign investment and joint projects. 

"We, under no circumstances, are going to curtail our relationships with Europe and America, but we will restore and expand our traditional ties with the South American continent, we will continue cooperation with Africa, with the Middle East," said Putin.

Russia will be expanding its presence in the regions, where integration processes are gaining momentum now, "where they do not mix politics and economy, but, vice versa, where they remove barriers for trade, technology exchange and investment for the free movement of people," Putin said.

In particular, Putin pointed to the rapid development of the Asia-Pacific region. The Russian Federation has been strengthening cooperation with China lately. "Russia as a Pacific power will take full advantage of this huge potential. The leaders and engines of global economic development are well known. Many of them are our true friends or strategic partners," said the Russian president.

Putin also said that January 1, 2015 will be the day when the Eurasian Economic Union starts working at full swing. According to the Russian president, basic principles of association are equality, pragmatism and mutual respect, preservation of national identity and national sovereignty of all member countries. "I am convinced that close cooperation will be a powerful source of development for all members of the Eurasian Union," said the president.

About Russia's development in the future

Speaking about the development of Russia in the future, Putin stated that one must escape from the trap of zero growth and reach the growth of economy higher than the average.

The Russian president also said that prosperity and well-being of Russia depended on its citizens. According to the president, one needs to get rid of indiscipline and irresponsibility, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"We must understand that our development depends primarily on us. We will succeed if we earn well-being and prosperity ourselves, without relying on good luck or external environment, if we cope with the lack of organization and irresponsibility, if we cope with the habit of "digging into papers," Putin said. 

"I want us all to understand that in the current environment, this is not just a brake on the development of Russia, but also a direct threat to its security," said the Russian president. "Ahead of us, we have difficult, stressful times, and much depends on each of us and our actions," he added.

About basic principles of Russian authorities

Vladimir Putin formulated basic principles of the Russian authorities: "Healthy family and healthy nation, traditional values inherited from our ancestors, combined with forward-looking and stability as a condition of development and progress, respect for other peoples and nations while guaranteeing the security of Russia and defending its legitimate interests - these are our priorities," Vladimir Putin said.  

About the plummeting Russian ruble 

Vladimir Putin commented on the speedily devaluation of the Russian ruble. "Today, we face decreasing foreign currency earnings and, as a consequence, the weakening of the national currency - the ruble. You know that the Bank of Russia proceeded to the "floating" exchange rate, but it does not mean that the Bank of Russia removed itself from showing influence on the exchange rate. It does not mean that the ruble exchange rate may easily become an object of financial speculation," said the Russian president.

"I ask the Bank of Russia and the government to carry out tough, coordinated action to discourage so-called speculators from playing on the fluctuations of the Russian currency," he said.

"The authorities know who these speculators are and they have tools of showing influence on them. It is now time to take advantage of these tools," Putin stated.

About small business 

"One must remove restrictions from business to the uttermost and relieve business from obsessive supervision and control," said Putin.

"Next year, a special register will open. It will contain information on what body and for what purpose initiated an inspection and which results were obtained. This will cut unmotivated visits of inspectors. I should add that this problem is relevant not urgent only for businesses, but also for budget, local institutions and social NGOs," said the Russian president, adding that it was necessary to abandon the principle of total, infinite control. 

"As for small business, I propose to establish "supervisory holidays" for it. If a company has earned a solid reputation and has not had significant complaints during three years of work, then during the following three years such a company shall be exempt from routine inspections of state and municipal control," said Putin.

About state-run companies 

According to the Russian president, the budgets of state-run companies must be put in order. There will be settlement centers established in such companies to ensure "transparency and optimization of cash flows, as well as their effective management." 

"Head companies should also clearly see, how the funds are used in their affiliated structures," said Putin.

"I'd like to note that remuneration for management of state companies should be directly related to achieved results and economic realities," said the president.

About demography and health care system

Vladimir Putin said that in the past two years, Russia has seen a natural increase of the population. "In the early 2000s, UN experts predicted a demographic decline in Russia. According to UN forecasts, the population of our country was to reduce to 136 million people by the end of 2013. As of 1 January 2014, the population of Russia amounted to almost 144 million people, which was 8 million more than the UN forecast," Vladimir Putin said.

"In 2013 and 2014, Russia has seen the natural growth of the population. It is expected that by the end of 2014, taking into account the Crimea and Sevastopol, Russia's population will exceed 146 million people," said the Russian president. 

In Putin's view, population programs have proven effective. They will apply to residents of the Crimean peninsula. "Families of residents of the Crimea and Sevastopol, beginning from 2007, that had a second or subsequent child, will receive the maternity capital fully," Putin said.

"This year, in the global ranking of healthcare, Russia was for the first time recognized a safe country. This is a state where average life expectancy exceeds 70 years. At the moment, this indicator in Russia exceeded 71 years. I believe that we have every reason to increase average life expectancy to 74 years in the near future," said Putin.

"With regard to the health care system, during the next year, one should finish the  transition to insurance principles, set all mechanisms in order to avoid failures. We have long talked about it, we've been doing that, but in reality, medical insurance does not work. It is important the work of health insurance principles be understandable to both citizens and medical personnel," said the president.

"Despite all technical innovations in medicine, personal qualities of a doctor have always been most valuable. It goes about attention to people, nobility and execution of professional and moral duty. Our health care system lives owing to such professionals. And we must create all conditions for their decent work," concluded Putin.

In the Grand Kremlin Palace, about 1,100 people gathered to listen to Putin's Address to the Federal Assembly: members of the Federation Council and the Cabinet of Ministers, State Duma deputies, heads of Constitutional and Supreme Courts, governors, speakers of regional legislatures, heads of traditional religions, public figures, heads of major media outlets. 

Pravda.Ru