LOBBYING GALORE!

By Kwasi Adu

President John Mahama

Following the announcement of the results of the 2012 Presidential elections, and the declaration of President Mahama as duly elected, there has been frantic lobbying for political appointments from all manner of people.

Under very normal circumstances, there is one consideration that should inform the President in making appointments: THE NATIONAL INTEREST. Furthermore, there are two main categories of appointments: policy-making positions and technocratic positions. There should be no reason why an appointment to a policy-making position should be awarded to someone who does not demonstrably share the political orientation of the NDC and the President. As for the positions for technocrats, such as CEO’s and board memberships, one would think that they should be given to people who are capable and have the skills to undertake the job. These are the only basis under which the national interest could be pursued.

The lobbying is so intense that one can even touch it. All sorts of tricks are being used. In the current frenzy, some go on a back-biting spree, cutting down the reputations of suspected competitors, stabbing others in the back, etc. It is war out there.

Even people who, six months ago, openly declared that they wanted the NDC to lose and were frantically working for the defeat of the NDC are lobbying for posts. Then there are the arrogant ones who described Mills’ government, including the then Vice-President as Team B, who now want to work under the Team B Captain. Some of such people scheme with the media to announce their names as being under consideration for political appointments, and cunningly come up to deny it, adding that they would accept anything. Such transparent hypocrisy has become the order of the day in present-day Ghana.

While most of the lobbyists are NDC members, there is also a significant number that have no known affinity with the NDC. In fact, some of these lobbyists, until very recently, did not want to be associated with the NDC; neither did they want to make any statement or get involved with anything that would inure to the benefit of the NDC. Some are even privately anti-NDC and are hiding behind pressure groups to project themselves to be appointed into political positions.

For example, a gender NGO, called Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) has presented names of 65 women that the group wants President Mahama to appoint into various political positions. Whereas some of them are known NDC members or sympathizers with excellent pro-NDC credentials, others are plainly elitist women who have entered the gender industry to use it to advance themselves rather than the interests of the ordinary woman. 

They would shift to any political worldview as long as it advances themselves. Otherwise, why would WiLDAF, which has affiliated groups whose leaders think that the ideal vocation for people from the North, including President Mahama, is to be cattle herders and “watchmen” think that a government led by a potential cattle herder should include them in his government? 

It is such arrogance and condescending attitude towards the President that makes WiLDAF believe that it can dictate to the President who should be into his government. They even feel so bold as to request Parliament to reject President Mahama’s political nominees if the initial appointments do not contain enough women to constitute the 40% demanded by them.

Then there are the “fair-weather” friends, who since they left secondary school or the university, have never bothered about the President but who have now rummaged through their personal archives, pictures from school and dusted them, and are pushing for access to show the President that they have been old mates and therefore need to be appointed.

Then there are those who are now carrying themselves as people from the same region or ethnic background of the President and who have suddenly discovered that the President is their “brother”.  Again there are the others who think that they are friends and the meat is now cooked for them to chop. These people have no consideration for those who fought to organise the grassroots to enable the President to achieve victory. As far as they are concerned, they should now chop. I remember a very “close” friend of President Mills who convinced him to appoint him unto a Lands Commission. He abused the position to such an extent that he grabbed state lands and bungalows left and right for himself, and still insisted that no one could stop him because he was President Mills’ friend. In the final days of President Mills, when he came to find out what his “close friend” had done, his heart was broken. But it was too late.

President Mahama should be guided by these events and shun those who want appointments only to use the state institutions to further enrich themselves. President Mahama should remember that he is on probation for four years, and that if his appointees are not national-interest appointees, he would rue the day when the time comes for him to be assessed for confirmation for another four years. 

 

There are those political appointees who, until their appointment, would be diving in “Datsun” cars; but as soon as they are appointed would want their Ministry to buy them the latest BMW’s for official use. If a political appointee suddenly acquires the taste for a Maserati V8 car with 4,244 cc with 92.0 mm bore, 79.8 mm stroke, 11.0 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder, then you know there is something seriously wrong. It is not the national interest which is the driving force behind such a person lobbying for a post.

It is for the NDC as a party to determine who, in view of their political orientation and long-term strategy, should occupy policy-making decisions and not those who want it for the sake of wanting a post. If I were President Mahama, I would ask anybody who comes to lobby to spell out the issues of national interest considerations that make them fit for a position. In the ideal world, the President should reject anyone who comes to lobby him from outside the NDC strategy.

All said and done, there is a historical characteristic of  NDC leaders. They prefer appeasing their opponents to the neglect of those who, because they believed in their political philosophy, fought alongside them in the trenches. Perhaps at the end of the day, the lobbyists would have their way. But the President may do well to remember the tragedy of President Mills appointing friends who let him down by being grabbing government bungalows and state lands “behind his back”.  With such “friends”, does President Mahama have to look further in search of enemies?

Editorial

APPOINTMENTS

President John Dramani Mahama now has the urgent task of forming a team to do all the things he promised he people of Ghana when he went out to canvass for their votes.

This task ca not be an easy one. There are 25 million Ghanaians to select from and the job of national reconstruction is highly demanding.

 Jobs need to be created. Houses have to be built schools have to be opened. Hospital and clinics need to be provided. The people need portable water and more power needs o be generated. There is also  corruption to be fought.

In our view President Mahama has to keep his eyes on how to solve the multi-dimensional problems confronting the people of Ghana in making the appointments.

The emphasis has to be on who can join the team to solve the problems of Ghana rather than who the president loves.

It is also important that the President engages the widest possible consultations in designing the structures of his administration and filling positions.

 The recognition that the President has a serious job to do and it must reflect in his appointments.

Report Of Committee of Inquiry into Ghana Water Company

 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 CHAPTER ONE

E.T Mensah, Out-going Minister of Water Resources Works And Housing

This report is a summary of four (4) reports of committees set up by the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to investigate the causes of the ineffectiveness in the operations of the Urban Water Sub-Sector, the Amasaman Water Supply Project and the alleged Unprofessional Conduct of the Acting Managing Director of Ghana Water Company Limited, and the Head of Projects, GWCL.

The Ministry received several complaints about the shortcomings of the Urban Water Sub-Sector that bothered on inefficient Procurement, Operational and Managerial practices in Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).

An allegation was also made against the Acting Managing Director for awarding the Amasaman Water Supply System project to one K. Adu Construction and Plumbing Works Limited without an official contract between the GWCL and K. Adu Construction and Plumbing Works Limited and also, without due approval by
the GWCL Board.

 Furthermore, an allegation was made against the Acting Managing Director and his Acting Head of Projects, Mr. Michael Botse-Baidoo for misinforming the Hon. Minister when he needed their technical support to get Parliament approve a Memo on .the Kpong Water Supply System Capacity Expansion and Rehabilitation Project.

The above necessitated the setting up of Committees to look into the issues and make recommendations to the Ministry on the measures to adopt to bring efficiency into the operations of the Urban Water Sub-Sector.

CHAPTER TWO

2.1 Ghana Water Company Limited

 Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) started as Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC). The Company was established under Act 310 with the following responsibilities:

v  Water supply and sanitation in rural as well as urban areas.

v  The conduct of research on' water and. sewerage as well as the making of engineering surveys and plans.

v  The construction and operation of water and sewerage works, The setting of standards and prices and collection of revenues.

Under Act' 564, Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) was established with the responsibility to manage Rural Water Supply Systems, Hygiene Education and provision of Sanitary Facilities.

Act 461 amended by LI 1648 converted GWSC into a State Owned Limited Liability Company known as the Ghana Water Company Limited (OWCL) with responsibility for Urban Water Supply.'

In 2006, Aqua Vitens Rands Limited (AVRL) was contracted by Government to provide operational services for the Urban Sub-sector Water Delivery. In 2009 when the contract of the Company expired, Government did not find it prudent to extend it. In place of AVRL therefore, a wholly owned Ghanaian company, Ghana Urban Water Limited (GUWL) was formed to provide the services AVRL provided.

Kweku Botwe, Ghana Water MD

2.2 Board of Directors of GWCL and GUWL

 The two (2) Companies have .a seven (7) members Board each with the responsibility for making policies. The' GWCL Board have four (4) of its members serving on the GUWL Board. This arrangement posed a challenge to-the effective operations of GUWL since it affected its independence of operation.

The GWCL Board has four sub-committees, i.e. Finance, Audit, Administration and Technical.

2.3 Relationship between the Board and the Acting Managing Director

The relationship between the Board 'and the Acting Managing Director was found not to be cordial in recent times. The friction allegedly started when the Acting Managing Director was reinstated through a fiat "from above". The Board cited three (3) major instances of non-adherence to its directive by the Acting Managing Director as some of his misbehavior towards it. As a result of the above, the Company's performance was adversely affected.

2.4 Relationship between the Acting Managing Director and Staff

An .interview with the staff (senior and junior) on the Company's performance overwhelmingly showed that the Company was on a downward trend. The staff indicated that the problem was systemic and emanated from the head. The Committee also observed that the. Management style of the Acting Managing Director created a wedge among the staff leading to despondency among them thereby affecting productivity.

2.5 Relationship between the Acting Managing Director and his Deputy

 An Acting Deputy Managing Director in the person of Mr. Godwin Dovlo was appointed on the advice of the Board.. For four (4) months that he has been in office, the Acting Managing Director declined giving him his accountability statement. He also failed to delegate his deputy to represent the Company at any major event.

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Inappropriate Award of Contracts

The Acting Managing Director awarded contracts without the knowledge and “approval of the Board. Some of these projects are:

3.1 Amasaman Water Supply Systems

The Acting Managing Director of GWCL awarded a contract to Messrs K. Adu Construction and Plumbing Works Limited to lay pipes in the Amasaman community. Later, he mandated him to develop a water system in the- community which involved distribution of water and billing consumers. The same Company printed its own receipts for the collection of the bills. 

The Company charged consumers about thrice the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission (PURC) approved rates. The meters for this operation were purchased from staff of GUWL who had collected them from the Headquarters for an official assignment. It was observed that, the Acting Managing Director did not thoroughly brief the Board on this project.

3.2 Bulk Breaking of Contracts

The Acting Managing Director in December, 2008 awarded over 88 contracts in the Central Region. The contract sum ranged from GH¢9,848.00 to GH¢9,998.80. it is obvious that the intention was to avoid reaching GH¢ 10,000.00 which is the threshold of the GWCL Board. Drawing the Acting Managing Directors attention to this, he said "Given the chance, I will break the so called law again to achieve my intended result".

3.3 Supply and Installation of Early Fire Warning Systems

The Acting Managing Director awarded a contract for supply and installation of early fire warning system to Messrs Socio Computers at the cost of GH¢1,25,169.50 He indicated in a letter to the Acting Managing Director GUWL dated the same day as the date the contract award letter was- issued. He indicated that he had got Public Procurement Authorities approval to Sole Source the supplier. This letter was however not cited by the Committee. The Board approval for, this project was however not sought.

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Remittances

Ghana Urban Water Limited remits two (2) types of: funds to Ghana Water Company Limited for their administrative expenses. These are Subsidy and Sweep. The table below shows -discrepancies in remittances from GUWL to GWCL between November 2011 and March 2012:

NO.	AMOUNT TRANSFERRED	AMOUNT	VARIANCE
	BY GUWL (GH¢)	RECORDED BY	(GH¢)
		'GWCL (GH¢)
1	300,000.00	0.00	300,000.00
2	1,219,918.00	1,200,000.00	19,918.00
3	30,000.00	0.00	30,000.00
4	524,419.00	424,419.00	100,000.00
5	524,419.QO	424,419.00	100,000.00
TOTAL	2,598,756.00	2,048,838.00	549,918.00

,

4.2 Indebtedness of GWCL And GUWL

The Committee called for details of indebtedness of the two companies from 2007 to date. GWCL failed to provide any information to the Committee on this subject. GUWL responded that as at June 2012, it owed GH¢1, 588,677.79. The Committee also found that GUWL owed Messrs Intermec GH¢8, 455,413.36. The Committee recommends that the Acting Managing Director of GWCL be compelled to provide details of the company's indebtedness to the Ministry to avoid the payment of judgment debts.'            

CHAPTER FIVE

5. 0 Alleged Unprofessional Conduct Of The Acting Managing Director And The Acting Head of Project, GUCL

The Acting Managing Director and the Acting Head of Projects, GWCL were alleged to have given the Hon. Minister misleading information when he sought their technical advice to convince Parliament to approve of the GH (f86, 503, 082.00 loan for the Expansion and Rehabilitation, of the New Kpong Water Supply System. The two had recommended the use of HDPE pipes for the project instead of GRP pipes recommended in the Cabinet Memo which was initiated by them. The Committee which investigated this issue found the two culpable and recommends a severe disciplinary action against the Acting managing Director and - the Acting Head of Projects among other things.

CHAPTER SIX

6.0 Staff Resolutions

There has been workers agitation against the management style of the company as typified by the resolution by the' Public Utility Workers Union, Head Office Branch and the Greater Accra Divisional Union Executives of GUWL. The resolutions touched on unpaid medical bills of retired officers, unpaid overtime allowances of staff, unpaid travel and transport allowances and stalling of promotion of junior officers. The Committee calls on management to take a critical look at concerns of the staff with dispatch.

CHAPTER SEVEN

7.0 Status Of The Acting Managing Director

The Acting Managing Director, Mr. Kweku Botwe was appointed in 2007 as a Deputy Managing Director for two years. He was appointed the Acting Managing Director when the substantive Managing Director retired in 2008. In 2009, the Board attempted setting Mr. Kweku Botwe aside to appoint a' substantive’: managing director. 

This however failed when he was introduced to the Board at one of their meetings as their - new Acting Managing Director. According to Board members, their difficulties and frustrations started after this pronouncement. The onus of confirmation of the appointment of the Acting Managing Director lies on him since his Human Resource Director has blocked the release of his personal file to the Committee for verification.

CHAPTER EIGHT

8.0 Observations, 'Recommendations and Conclusion

8.1 Observations

From the interactions, interviews and investigations conducted by the several Committees, the following are some of the observations made:

1. That GWCL, once a vibrant company, is on a downward trend.
2. That the management style adopted by the leadership of the company is one that drives a wedge among the staff. This has made some of the staff despondent which affects productivity.
3. Those procurement practices of the company are not in consonance with the rules and regulations of the Public Procurement Act, Act 663. It was observed that the' company flogged provisions of this Act, perhaps in the interest of some individuals.
4. That GWCL was unable to keep their accounting books to reflect their business transactions. The discrepancies in the figures relating with their transactions with Messrs Interplast Limited, and the discrepancies in their
   books relating to remittances received from GUWL give credence to this fact. .
5. That the locus of the Acting Managing Director is not clear since there is no record available to prove that his contract as deputy managing director was renewed after 2009.    

8.2 Recommendations

The following are some of the recommendations of the Committee:

1. That in view of the weak relationship between the Acting Managing Director and Board which adversely affected the performance of the Board, the Acting Managing Director should be made to step aside.
2. That the Amasaman Water Supply System should be handed over GUWL for effective management. GUWL .should however find how much investment Mr. Kwaku Adu-Boateng has made in the project and refund same to him.
3. The Director of K. Adu Construction and Plumbing Works and the GUWL District manager at Nsawam 'should be: made to either pay the sum of the six hundred meters is GHct18, OOO.OO to GUWL or be arrested and prosecuted.
4. That the Acting managing Director should be sanctioned for not providing enough briefing on the contract to his Board of Directors.
5. Breaking of contracts into smaller bids to avoid the threshold of the Board is a breach of provisions of the Public Procurement Act, Act 663. The Acting Managing Director for carrying out this practice commits an offence. The penalty of which is a summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 1,000 units or a term imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years or both. The law must be invoked.
6. For the discrepancies involved in the remittances of subsidies and sweep from GUWL to GWCL i~ the sum of. GHct549, 918.00, the Acting Managing Director and the Acting Chief Manager, Finance should explain the whereabouts of the variance or should be surcharged for the amount.
7. On the alleged unprofessional conduct by the Acting Managing Director and the Acting Head of Projects, GWCL, the Acting Managing Director should be relieved of his position while the Ag. Chief Manager, Projects should be subjected to Administrative enquiry: and punished according to the regulations of the Company.

8.3 Conclusion

In conclusion, the Committee recommends the above for immediate adoption to save Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and its subsidiary, Ghana Urban Water Limited (GUWL) from total collapse.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA  

President John Dramani Mahama

Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament,
His Excellency the Vice President,
Her Ladyship the Chief Justice,
Your Excellencies our dear former Presidents,
Your Excellencies Visiting Heads of State and Heads of Delegations,
Hon. Members of Parliament,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Nananom,
Distinguished Guests,
My Fellow Countrymen-and-women,
Family and Friends.

Good morning.

It has been said that what is past is prologue, a mere introduction of all that is yet to come. If this is the case, then Ghana is in store for a wealth of achievement.

Ghana’s past is filled with one example after the other of courage, sacrifice and perseverance. Ghana’s past is defined by heroic men and women—pioneers, visionaries, patriots.

Indeed, we have inherited a powerful legacy, beneficiaries of a mighty history.

The names of our forefathers and foremothers are firmly etched in the world’s memory. People like Nana Yaa Asantewaa, Naa Gbewa, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. J.B. Danquah.

People like Efua Sutherland, Dr. James Kwegyir Aggrey, Dr. Esther Afua Ocloo and Dr. Ephraim Koku Amu.

These are but a few of the names of people who were fearless enough to fulfil their dreams, or to fight for the liberation of their people, or to envision change and then manifest it.

We rightfully memorialize the names of the many, many individuals whose singular contributions have elevated the profile of this nation and enriched the lives of its citizens.

We respectfully extol their virtues and hold them in high esteem. In fact, we hold them in such high esteem that we often overlook entirely the reality that these heroes, these men and women, were as human as you and I.

The majority of individuals who have had the greatest impact on this country came from humble beginnings.

They were not so different from most Ghanaians, like those assembled here or those going about the events of their day in the homes, churches, mosques, and offices across the country.

They were ordinary people who lived their lives to the fullest, made use of their God-given talents, and took pride in their activities. That was the simple call they answered, the call that placed them in extraordinary circumstances, events and experiences that led them to indelibly change the face and the very fabric of this nation.

Mention the name Tetteh Quarshie, for instance, and you will learn the story of an ordinary man, a blacksmith, the son of a farmer from Teshie. In 1870, Tetteh Quarshie travelled to Fernando Po, an island that belongs to the nation of Equatorial Guinea and is now called Bioko.

At the end of that fateful trip, Tetteh Quarshie returned home with several cocoa seeds. He planted those seeds on his property in Mampong-Akwapim to see if they would grow.

So well suited was this crop to the soil and climate that it grew abundantly. It took less than twelve years for the country to start exporting cocoa. Now, over one hundred years later, Ghana is the world’s second largest exporter of cocoa, and it is Ghana’s leading export earner.

This is the effect that the life of one ordinary citizen can have on an entire nation.

Complacency and frustration can entice us into believing that we are insignificant players stuck somehow in the background of a bigger picture, or that we are incapable of making a difference. But history itself has proven that nothing could be further from the truth.

We all, each and every one of us, have a role to play in the growth and development of our beloved mother Ghana. In our hands—yours as well as mine—rests the success or failure of Ghana’s future.

There is no denying the fact that in the past 55 years Ghana has made tremendous gains, but there is also no denying the fact that Ghana is still a young country and every young country goes through its share of instability and difficulty as it struggles to find the direction toward permanence.

Over the course of the last four years, a tremendous amount of work has been done. Nevertheless, there is a tremendous amount of work that still needs to be done.

More jobs must be created. More roads, bridges, schools and hospitals must be built. The infrastructure that we already have must be expanded, strengthened, and made better able to withstand the increased usage.

Equipment should not be the only thing that is state-of-the-art in our institutions; systems, procedures and staff must be brought up to standard; best practices must be implemented.

We need to look beyond temporary fixes to find lasting solutions for the complications we’ve experienced with power, water and sanitation.

We must continue to invest in our agricultural sector, and grow our economy so that it lifts the bulk of our most crippling financial burdens, especially among the poorest of the population.

A country’s most valuable resource is its human resource. This is why it is imperative that our citizens have access to good healthcare.

These issues and concerns are all works in progress; they are realistic goals that have been set, and that are within our capabilities to be met, and in a timely fashion.

I have taken an oath that as president of this nation, I will work hard to place us on the right path, and I will lead us over the hurdles and past the obstacles that might threaten to keep us from meeting our goals. The promises that I have made are promises that I intend to keep.

But change does not happen overnight and sometimes, despite whatever progress has been placed in motion, it will appear to be darkest before the dawn of the new day makes that progress visible. In such times I will be counting on you to maintain the faith and the trust that you have placed in me as president. I will not let you down.

Of course, every society has its share of people who would rather talk and complain about what is wrong, than devote their time and efforts to do what it takes to make things right.

At every given opportunity, they will tell us all the things we cannot achieve and all the reasons why we should not even attempt. The choice is ours to believe or not believe. We can look within ourselves and choose to see the lie of our powerlessness or we can see the unlimited horizon of our own potential.

Ghana is on the cusp of enormous transformation. We are moving forward at a rapid pace. New resources are at our disposal; new alliances are being formed. The opportunities posed by these gains could result in a self-sufficiency that was always imagined and desired, but was never a realistic occurrence in the foreseeable future, not in the way it is right now.

It is true that other countries have met adversity while trying to make the most of prospects such as the ones we have before us. But those countries are not Ghana. They do not have the benefit of our history or the example of our heroes. We have been the first before, the success story. We have blazed trails before for others to follow.

Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” I believe that with God, and in Ghana, all things are possible.

I believe this because I have seen the work and accomplishments of my predecessors, President Jerry John Rawlings, President John Agyekum Kufuor and, of course, the late President John Evans Atta Mills.

We were all witness to the way they were able to take what others said was impossible and to not only turn into something that was probable, but to realise their vision and get it done. To them I say, “Ayekoo.” I am ever grateful to have the advantage of your wisdom and the important lessons of your leadership.

I would also like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to my transition team for their time, their service and their tireless efforts. More than anything, I would like to acknowledge them for their morale and fair-mindedness, for their drive and their determination to place the good of the nation above all else.

There is a torch that is passed from one era of Ghanaians to the next. It is as fragile and as irreplaceable as any family treasure.

My fellow countrymen and women, that torch is now in our possession.

That torch is the tradition of optimism and hope that we must carry on. It is the responsibility that we have to take charge of our lives, and in so doing to determine the course of Ghana’s future.

We are now the keepers of that flame. It is only by doing and being our best that we can make Ghana its best. We must all do our part, every single day, whether it is by reducing the amount of plastic waste that is in our environment, by driving responsibly and courteously to ensure that our roads are safe, or by sharing kindness with a stranger or someone less fortunate.

Your actions do matter. You do make a difference.

As president, I will take to heart those very words that I have just extended to you. I will do and be my best. I will give my best, and I will ensure that my actions make a positive difference in the lives of Ghanaians.

I will work to ensure that our society is less polarized and weighted down by the pressures of political differences. I will work to ensure that Ghana is a place where all citizens, regardless of their religious faith, ethnicity or political affiliation, will have the opportunities available to them to reach their full potential.

Ghana should, and will, be a place where economic opportunities are available to everyone. I recognise the vital role that our private sector, especially small and indigenous businesses, play in the expansion of our workforce as well as in the growth and stability of our economy. I want to assure the business community that I will be an ally. I will extend whatever support I am able to reinforce your contributions to our development.

Let us all stand, not as separate entities but as partners. Together we will build a Ghana that will be a source of pride for all of us.

This is our country. This is our moment; Ghana’s time, once again, for greatness.

May God bless you, and may God continue to bless our homeland, Ghana.

 

Kenya bans importation of all GMO foods

By Anne Sewell

In a groundbreaking act, Public Health Minister Beth Mugo of the Kenyan government has advised that Kenya has completely banned the importation of all genetically modified (GMO) food into the country, until exhaustive tests on health effects are complete.

Beth Mugo, Kenya Public Health Minister

Stressing that the decision was taken from genuine concern for Kenyans' health, the move by the Public Health Minister follows a directive by the ministry for GMOs to be banned, until the necessary information about their impact on health can be verified.

Around two weeks ago, Mugo was tasked by the cabinet to provide scientific proof of the safety of GMOs. Studies are continuing, and, speaking at a press briefing at Afya House, the Minister stated that the ban of importation of GMOs will remain until all studies are complete.

Government agencies have been instructed to immediately comply with this directive to enforce the ban. An extract from the Minister's speech in the video above reads: ‘I am calling upon all stakeholders and government regulators involved in importation of GMO foods to take note of this directive that no importation of GMO foods will be allowed into the country until further advice by the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation.’

Mugo stressed that the protection of the consumer and assurance to the public on the safety of food is extremely important when making decisions on importation, distribution and consumption. She further advised that some countries have already banned the importation of GMOs.

Kenya President Mwai Kibaki

In a recent statement, the Cabinet said that there is insufficient information on the dangers of such foods and ordered that the ban stay in force until such confirmed knowledge and data is available. Not everyone in Kenya is in agreement, however.

According to Dr Silas Obukosia, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Africa Harvest , the move was misinformed and likely to deny Kenya the opportunity to increase food production through modern technology.

He said that this may affect efforts by universities to enhance their biotechnology programs if the decision by the minister is not annulled. “Mugo’s ban on the importation and trade of GMOs due lack of evidence regarding their safety is puzzling,” he said. “This is because major investments such as the approval of the National Biotechnology Development Policy by the Cabinet in 2006, and the enactment of the Biosafety Act in 2009, and gazettment [sic] of three different biosafety regulations in 2011 have been made to address the issue of safety,” he said.

 “A lot of money has been pumped in by universities in creating masters and PhD programmes in biotechnology which need to be supported by friendly laws.” 

Currently Kenya has crops such as maize, cotton, cassava, sweet potato, and sorghum in confined field trials Despite Obukosia's theories on the subject, a French study released in September linked consumption of GM maize to development of cancer in rats.

While the reliability of the study has been the subject of much debate, the Soil Association’s head of policy Peter Melchett said the team used the same methods regulators require in their licensing processes.

Shortly after this study, Russia suspended imports of GMOs and France decided to investigate further the effects of GMOs on human health.

Jewish Mafia tied to death of America

By Mike Stathis

The United States has endured many challenges since having reached its economic peak several decades ago. The wealth generated during the 1940s and 1950s carried the nation through several economic downturns. By the 1970s, much of this excess wealth had been depleted.

A homeless US citizen

As America’s economic decline was becoming more apparent, the nation’s ruling class convinced Washington officials to introduce a series of levers designed to reduce or even reverse the decline. I have discussed each of these levers in previous articles.

The first lever introduced was the petrodollar in the early 1970s. The next was free trade. This economic pillar of globalization was advocated in the 1980s, but was not pushed through Congress until the early 1990s. Since then, it has spread throughout much of the world.

The final lever was the creation of numerous asset bubbles by the Federal Reserve Bank and Wall Street, both run by the Jewish Mafia. The Fed’s ability to create these bubbles is based largely on the financial attributes of the petrodollar.

Irrespective of these gimmicks, the United States currently finds itself in a depression. This depression is in many ways more severe and will be more difficult to escape than that seen during the 1930s. I have written several articles in support of these claims.

While things might begin to look better in a few years, the United States is likely to proceed through its socioeconomic decline until the American Empire has been dissolved. Certainly there will be many additional attempts to resurrect this empire. More wars will be fought, more oil will be taken from abroad, and more asset bubbles will be created. But these tricks will only delay, not prevent the continued decline of the United States. The winding down process is likely to take several decades. In exchange for these delays, the total damage will be more severe.

America’s Second Great Depression was triggered by massive Wall Street fraud involving trillions of dollars of grossly overvalued real estate securities. Many of these securities were not worth the paper they were printed on, but were marketed to institutional investors as “safe investments.” When the house of cards collapsed, an unprecedented financial crisis engulfed the entire world. These predictions were detailed in America’s Financial Apocalypse, two years before the financial crisis.

Hundreds of millions of people from around the world suffered the greatest financial loss of their lives as a result of the widespread fraud perpetrated by the Jewish Mafia. Tens of millions of jobs and homes were lost, while trillions of dollars were stolen from pensions, IRAs and other retirement accounts. Now we see entire nations in Europe being raped by the Jewish Mafia.

There were no bailouts for the victims of this heist, but the banks were bailed out. The bankers, mortgage brokers and everyone else behind the scam retained the profits extracted as a result of fraud. Incompetent pension fund managers using other peoples’ money bought these toxic assets. They had a legally-binding fiduciary responsibility to act with prudence but failed to do so. Yet, they kept their jobs after making these irresponsible and poorly thought-out investments.

And still, not a single one of the thousands of criminals responsible for this colossal charade is in prison. This highlights the sheer power of the Jewish Mafia. Perhaps even worse is that the scams continue to this day. Unfortunately, the Jewish Mafia will continue to defraud Main Street indefinitely because nothing has been done to prevent securities fraud. In fact, the moral hazard has been strengthened due to the absence of criminal prosecution.

Rather than serving as the root cause of America’s Second Great Depression, the financial crisis merely revealed the true face of an economy that had been in gradual decline for many years. As detailed in America’s Financial Apocalypse, America’s three decade-long period of declining living standards has been masked by three principle forces; the shift from one- to two-income households; rapid growth of consumer credit; and the influx of illegal aliens. But these economic crutches have resulted in devastating societal consequences.

Let’s have a brief look at America’s Golden Era, and then contrast it with what we see in the United States today.

America’s Golden Era

During the early part of the 20th century the United States was challenging the United Kingdom for the title of the leading economic superpower. The US was able to ascend to this position rather quickly due to its vast supply of untapped natural resources and budding entrepreneurial spirit that emerged from this relatively new nation.

By the 1940s, the United States had established itself as the preeminent superpower. The nation exited the war with the world’s most dominant military. And it proved to the world that it was the leader in innovation and manufacturing.

The post-war period was very prosperous for the United States. By the 1950s, it was difficult to find goods that were not “Made in the USA.” Everyone from around the world lined up for American-made products. They were the best in quality, design and durability. Of course the United States did not face much competition at the time since most of the world remained in shambles from World War II. Nevertheless, this period of tremendous economic growth enabled America to pay off its enormous wartime debt and amass a huge level of wealth.

America’s dominant manufacturing sector gave rise to job security and generous benefits because it produced goods demanded by the world. This led to large annual trade surpluses which added to the nation’s wealth. This made Americans strong consumers.

During America’s Golden Era consumers were not owned by banks. They did not rely on credit cards. In fact, credit cards were quite rare at the time. Americans typically bought only what they could pay for in cash. This was possible because the majority of jobs paid living wages. Other times they used layaway plans. These installment plans had no interest payments and kept consumers out of debt.

There was no need for financial trickery and credit bubbles during America’s Golden Era. America’s export trade was very strong and good jobs were plentiful. This was a time when the United States was also the world’s largest creditor and the world’s largest exporter of crude oil. It was a nation whereby production exceeded consumption.

During the Golden Era, Americans could actually afford medical care. There were no medical bankruptcies because the nation’s medical-industrial complex was in its infancy and had not yet formed strong partnerships up with Wall Street.

The societal elements during America’s Golden Era were also on more solid ground. The family unit was strong. Americans had a sense of who they were and where they came from. The United States permitted immigration but made sure to emphasize and preserve the cultural, racial and ethnic origins of the country. By no means was America perfect during its Golden Era. There were racial, gender and economic inequalities. And the Banking Cartel was working with the corporate infrastructure to seize complete control over the nation. But overall, it was a great time to live in America.

Modern America

There have been numerous radical changes in the United States since having reached the end of its Golden Era. By the late-1960s, several changes had already taken place that would determine much of the nation’s forward trajectory.

Today, multiculturalism, feminism, gay and lesbianism, affirmative action and political correctness have overwhelmed America. The result of this war on US society has been socioeconomic decay, gender confusion and the breakdown of the family unit. The Jewish Mafia’s media-entertainment complex has been the primary weapon utilized in this socioeconomic war against America.

The masses have been coerced by various means to accept dangerous ideals which threaten the nation. For decades, the Jewish Mafia has been reengineering the nation’s institutional infrastructure in order to wage a political and economic war exclusively against Americans of White, Christian, European ancestry. Black pride, Mexican pride and Asian pride are emphasized and encouraged in the school system. In contrast, White Americans are discouraged from developing a sense of pride and self-worth. Under the rule of the Jewish Mafia, America’s educational establishment is now teaching students that race does not exist.

The truth is being stifled through a variety of mechanisms such as defamation, hate speech and public intimidation. Children are indoctrinated with various ideals from within the political correctness agenda, from pre-school through college. Thereafter, this brainwashing continues throughout their lives in both the public and private sector. These ideals and behaviors are being introduced and reinforced by the Jewish-run media-entertainment complex on a daily basis.

The United States has exhibited numerous hallmark signs of a nation in crisis for many years. But Washington refuses to acknowledge the crisis because Americans would eventually come to realize the source of the problems.

American females are having a more difficult time finding husbands because they have been told that they should focus on preparing for and establishing a career before forming a family. As a result, many females who spent their early years focusing on their career are finding it difficult to find a suitable partner for marriage.

Married couples no longer remain married in America. The previous legal hurdles required to obtain a divorce have been removed. And divorce has been made socially acceptable. As a result, the nation’s divorce rate is very troubling and embarrassing. Again, this has been the work of the Jewish Mafia through its support of feminism and the reengineering of gender roles. And they have used their control over the nation’s educational system and media to anchor destructive ideas into the minds of females young and old.

The spread of trash TV, hip-hop and rap “music” has glamourized immorality, filthy and disrespectful behaviors, pornography, low self-esteem and violence. As a result of this propaganda tsunami, teenage girls think it’s “cool” to be known as “whores” and “sluts.” They take nude pictures and post them online. They film themselves having sex and upload the videos onto the Internet.

These behaviors are being reinforced by the Jewish Mafia’s media-entertainment complex on a daily basis. Sadly, American parents are not demanding an end to this media filth and corruption of their children. Instead, they too are soaking up the same filth. As a result, America has relinquished its moral, ethnic and cultural foundations at the hands of the Jewish Mafia.

The level of violence and inhumanity in America continues to reach new heights. New born babies are left in garbage dumps, parents are murdering their infants, teens are killing teens, as well as their parents. Metal detectors are found in most inner city public schools serving as a daily reminder of America’s degeneracy.

The economic decay of the nation mirrors its societal decay. Today, the United States is the world’s largest debtor and the world’s largest importer of oil. It’s also the world’s largest exporter of jobs. Other countries stop at nothing to achieve domestic job growth. But in the United States, corporate profits dictate economic and trade policy. This is precisely what one would expect from a nation governed by corporate fascism.

As a result of the uncompromising quest for optimal corporate profits, job security is a relic from past generations. Today, corporate America continuously seeks out nations offering the best pool of slave labor acting under the auspices of so-called free trade.

Meanwhile, in the name of “capitalism,” buyout firms search for the next corporate takeover so they can gut employee pensions and slash wages in order to make huge profits selling off a “leaner, more efficiently-run” business. This is just one of many methods of extortion taught in American business schools.

Largely as the result of neoliberalism, the America of today is in stark contrast to what was once viewed as the envy of the world. Free trade, open markets and deregulation were marketed to the people as a means by which to achieve better jobs and higher living standards. This was yet another lie created to enhance the corporate state. In reality, the private sector has been enriched at the expense of workers and tax payers. In the past decade alone, millions of American jobs have been sent overseas in the name of corporate profits.

Today, much of what is made comes from Asia, from personal computers and furniture, to tennis shoes and building materials. While living standards in Southeast Asia and Latin America continue to rise each day, living standards of the working- and middle-class in the United States continue to fall. At the same time, the living standards of America’s wealthiest 5% continue to rise.

The costs of medical care in the United States are astronomical. And if you are unable to pay your bill, you could end up in jail. Even veterinarians now charge enormous fees for routine services.

With the nation’s healthcare system now under siege by Wall Street, one million Americans file for medical bankruptcy every year. Perhaps even more striking is that most of those who filed for medical bankruptcy had full health insurance. This fact alone demonstrates the inadequacy of America’s medical insurance system, which resembles an overpriced pre-paid medical plan. In contrast, illegal aliens are provided with free medical services funded by US tax payers, many of which who cannot afford medical insurance.

The Wall Street business model has adversely impacted every aspect of medical care in the United States. America now has the most inefficient healthcare system in the world. It also leads the world in medical errors and fatalities due to negligence.

For more than three decades America has been a nation of excessive consumption that relies on credit. In order to maintain their living standards, most Americans have blindly accepted the gimmicks designed by the nation’s criminal banking system. With the assistance of the media-entertainment complex, Americans have been transformed into impulsive consumers. Many end up as hoarders of junk. And they struggle with a mountain of debt for much of their lives.

The dumbing down of the American public has taken place primarily to fuel the profits of corporate America. But it has also occurred as a way to keep the population controlled and distracted, so the criminal activities and exploitation at the hands of officials and their corporate partners continues unabated.

The nation’s most dominant corporations from every key sector have formed illegal partnerships with Washington. These corporate giants do the bidding for Washington cronies in exchange for tax breaks and industry subsidies so that wealthy shareholders are rewarded handsomely. This revolving door is filled with bribes, fraud and countless other criminal activities.

- Telecommunications: AT&T and Verizon (government spying);

- Oil Exploration & Production: Exxon-Mobil and Chevron (feeding business and war engines, environmental destruction and massive fraud);

- Oil Services: Schlumberger, Halliburton and Baker Hughes (military-industrial complex, environmental destruction and massive fraud);

- Information Technology: Microsoft and IBM (government spying);

- Digital Media: Apple, Google, Facebook and Yahoo (government spying and manipulation of the public);

- Traditional Media: Time-Warner, News Corp., Comcast and New York Times (manipulation of the public, social reengineering and massive fraud);

- Pharmaceuticals: Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer and Eli Lilly (mind control and massive fraud);

- Defense: Lockheed-Martin, Boeing and General Dynamics (military-industrial complex and massive fraud);

- Food & Beverages: McDonalds, Yum Brands, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Monsanto (control and manipulation of the global food supply);

- Banking: JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs (control of commerce, money laundering and massive fraud);

Role of the Education System

America’s educational system has served an important role in brainwashing the population through media censorship and revisionist history. As it stands today, the nation’s K-12 educational system has reached the point of diminishing returns. Instead of preparing the youth for the New Economy, the educational system serves as their first point of indoctrination.

Children learn one way or another that they must do as they are told but never raise questions. If they question the official version of history, their parents are told their children have a mental or personality disorder, and they are sent to psychiatrists. If these children seem rebellious or are unwilling to accept the mandates of political correctness, they are medicated with amphetamines and other toxic “medications,” such as Lithium, Zyprexa or Prozac, which over time transforms them into virtual zombies.

The nation’s massive public education system also provides a source of jobs for administrators and other bureaucrats who keep the system in chaos. Many of these individuals are incompetent, and would have a difficult time finding a job in the private sector. I call these welfare jobs because they are funded by tax payers, and most are not needed. Finally, most of the recipients of these jobs are effectively unemployable outside of the public sector.

You don’t need a quality educational system when you can hire workers in China and India for 80% less than what you would pay to get the same work done in the United States. In fact, when you are running a fascist regime it is to your disadvantage to educate the population because a nation of educated citizens is more difficult to control.

The real purpose of the US educational system is to keep the population dumbed down, deluded and docile. This makes it much easier for the masses to accept mandates set forth by the establishment, such as political correctness, affirmative action, feminism, homosexuality and other themes intended to weaken gender identity, individuality, the family unit and the entire society.

A dumbed down population can also be fooled into thinking they have a real democracy, individual freedoms and liberties. If they believe these illusions to be reality, they will never attempt to tear down their fascist government.

Even when the people feel their freedoms and liberties are being threatened, the establishment always has hero that it sends to “rescue” the people so that they will continue to support the fascist political regime instead of tearing it down. Ron Paul serves as an excellent example of this controlled opposition scheme.

Preparing for Free Trade

Once America’s shadow government sensed the commencement of the nation’s decline, they ramped up plans to introduce neoliberal economics to the people. This philosophy was largely compatible with the economic pillar of globalization, so it gained widespread support from officials in the Zionist-controlled Western world. In the first stage, the concept of free trade was pitched to the American people with the promise of more jobs and higher living standards.

The early architects of free trade introduced several welfare programs in order to smooth out the transition. For instance, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” significantly expanded upon the nation’s welfare state with the launch of Medicare, Medicaid, expansion of Social Security, the food stamp program, formation of Freddie Mac and other housing subsidies, community action funds, educational and related funding such as Head Start, and several other programs.

Johnson’s Great Society was a contemporary version of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal. Each served as a Trojan horse to the American people. But the Great Society was more focused on selling the idea of expanding the nation’s welfare state as a perceived means to combat poverty and racial injustice.

By and large, the welfare programs introduced by Johnson would serve two main objectives. First, they would add enormous government subsidies to corporations, thereby strengthening the rise of fascism within America. Second, tens of millions of Americans who might otherwise stand up and revolt against fascist elements of the US government would be pacified by these handouts. While FDR’s New Deal had the same objectives, Johnson’s welfare program was executed on a more grandiose scale.

Consequences of Free Trade

Shortly after America’s welfare state had been fortified, the corporate state was strengthened further. Free trade was marketed to American voters in the late 1980s under Reagan and pushed into law under Clinton. Although it promised better living standards, free trade has largely been responsible for the widening wealth and income gap between America’s wealthy and working class. The real winner of free trade has been corporate giants and their wealthy shareholders.

Free trade has been a complete economic disaster. It has cost Americans millions of good jobs. It has led to the disposition of a substantial amount of critically important US assets and intellectual property. It has lowered the competitive stance of the US economy. It has diminished the scientific research capabilities of the US. It has wasted enormous amounts of human capital. It has led to misappropriation of tax payer funds. It has lowered the quality of manufactured goods which increases the average lifetime cost of durable goods per consumer.

Finally and perhaps most important of all, free trade has stripped away the political and economic autonomy of the United States. But it has achieved its real objective; delivering excessive profits to shareholders.

Prior to the introduction of free trade, engineers and scientists were highly valued professionals. Today the US economy is pushing these professionals out of their traditional roles as creators and innovators of new products and novel ideas. With few alternatives, many scientists have defected for lucrative careers on Wall Street. There, they help investment firms and hedge funds scalp assets from investors. This represents a tremendous loss of human productivity and adds to the criminality of the nation’s financial system.

America’s modern day mafia recruits Ph.Ds in physics, chemistry, engineering and math. Instead of guns and bullets, they are armed with complex algorithms and computer programs specifically designed to extort money from stock, bond, foreign currency and commodity markets, robbing the retirement and wealth of millions of people.

The Statue of Liberty

This massive fraud occurs on a daily basis, yet goes largely undetected. On the rare occasion when securities fraud is detected, a low-level scapegoat most often takes the blame. Meanwhile, the real criminals get away and the entire criminal operation is permitted to continue.

America’s New Industries

Prior to free trade, the fruits of the nation’s productivity were being more evenly distributed to workers, executives and shareholders. As a result, the United States offered an ample supply of good, secure jobs with generous employee benefits. These jobs were funded by strong export trade, which also fueled domestic demand. Today, the vast majority of wealth gained from the nation’s productivity is funneled to corporate executives and shareholders.

Numerous changes in economic policy over the past several decades have done much to transform the nation into a two-class society. In exchange for its former manufacturing base, the United States is now home to an army of valets, who will park your car when you go to a restaurant, mall or hospital; fitness trainers who will help you lose weight or stay in shape; massage therapists who have added to the nation’s healthcare bubble; landscapers, who will tend to your lawn; personal chefs, nannies, maids and pet sitters/handlers.

These occupations don’t offer job security. And they certainly don’t provide employee benefits. But these are among the more legitimate careers in the United States. Many of these occupations are also found in third world nations. Such economies are focused on domestic labor for criminals, otherwise known as the “wealthy elite.” The vast majority of these individuals obtained their wealth through bribery, theft and extortion.

The “land of opportunity” is also home to a countless number of life coaches, money gurus, investment gurus, relationship gurus, real estate gurus, and dozens of other designations used by con men and women who target the large and growing population of desperate Americans.

I suppose the definition of “opportunity” depends on one’s frame of reference and moral compass, or lack thereof. Regardless, these charlatans could not achieve such a high level of penetration into millions of households without the assistance of the media-entertainment complex.

Finally, the labor dedicated to these occupations does nothing to generate foreign demand. With fewer exports and more imports, the United States continues to record large trade deficits. In reality, America’s trade deficit has become a permanent feature of the US economy due to profound changes made to its economic infrastructure. Consequently, it is a well-known fact that prolonged trade deficits almost always reflect job exportation and/or the replacement of high quality jobs to jobs of lower quality.

Looking into the Future

As corporate America moves forward with record profits, the majority of Americans will continue to be left out of this economic feast. But things are only going to get worse. Now that US consumers have been tapped out and will never again provide the purchasing power required to maintain robust earnings growth, corporate America is planning its next phase of economic treason.

With more than 1.3 billion consumers boasting the highest savings rate in the world, China represents the next gravy train for corporate America. Within the next decade, Chinese consumers will fuel corporate America’s earnings growth. We are already seeing this transition take place. Moving forward, corporate America will dedicate much more effort and money to target Chinese consumers. And this will by necessity lead to a greater exportation of US jobs. These changes will adversely impact America’s already weakened economy.

As we review the events from the past few years, it is clear that Washington had numerous opportunities to respond to the challenges facing the nation. Instead of providing real solutions, America’s elected officials have once again failed on the most important issues; Wall Street reform, healthcare reform, trade policy and foreign policy. They have not even called for the heads of the Wall Street criminals who destroyed the global economy, perhaps because they themselves are just as guilty.

During this period of historic loss and human suffering, corporate America and the banks have managed to do quite well. Hopefully by now everyone understands that America’s “highly trusted” officials have been bought off by the banks and corporations. As a consequence, those who are waiting, hoping and praying for things to change will be sadly disappointed, again.

As I have discussed in the past, most Americans will be fooled into thinking that the economy has recovered once a new bubble has been created by the Jewish Banking Cartel. But this will represent just another gimmick. Although most Americans have been led to believe that the current economic downdraft is only a temporary phase of the economic cycle, I can guarantee there will be no real recovery so long as America’s fascist regime remains in power. This has obvious implications.

There is but one solution. The root cause of this cancer must be extracted. This would be the Jewish Mafia. The objectives of the Jewish Mafia include both Zionist and non-Zionist elements. Their main goal is to extract all wealth from every nation and seize complete control of the entire world. Until Americans come to acknowledge the role of the Jewish Mafia in the subversion of their nation, they will remain enslaved indefinitely. The same applies to Canada, Australia and all of Europe.

As corporate America continues to focus more overseas, there will be little left for most Americans. In coming years, an increasingly higher percentage of the US population will rely on welfare. They will never have the opportunity to contribute to society. They will become the biggest casualties of America’s crony capitalism and corporate fascism.

Millions of others will work as cashiers and burger flippers, while drawing government assistance to supplement their slave wages. Most of the remaining Americans will serve the wealthy as maids, valets, fitness trainers, pet sitters and nannies.

They are not likely to get much of a retirement plan or healthcare benefits. They will struggle to make ends meet. They will work until they are no longer able. If they are lucky, they will die flat broke. Others will die in debt, with nothing to leave to their heirs.

So long as America’s fascist regime remains in power, the best opportunity for upward mobility in the United States will come from white collar crime. Others will keep playing the lotto, heading to casinos, and gambling in the stock market as they desperately search for a way out of the misery created by free trade and the Jewish Mafia.

God help America.