BUGRI NAABU: He Refuses To Tone Down After Police Invitation

Mr. Daniel Bugri Naabu

By Eliasu Tanko

The New Patriotic Party Northern regional chairman, Daniel Bugri Naabu says he will not stop urging the party supporters to vigorously protect ballot boxes on Election Day.

Mr. Naabu repeated the call hours after he honoured police invitation to assist investigations into similar comments he made at Savelugu.

He said the party will deploy at least 40 strongmen to every polling station to guard ballot boxes on Election Day.

His comments were roundly condemned by individuals and election monitoring organizations including WANEP.

The NDC party in the region also held a press conference and called for his arrest.
The police in the region was compelled to invite him following an instruction by the Inspector General of police (IGP) for a full scale investigation.

He turned up on Saturday, days after the invitation but was granted police enquiry bail.
However, the chairman immediately from the police station moved to a rally platform at Sagnarigu and unambiguously encouraged party supporters to “chase, push down, and collect" ballot boxes from thieves on election day.

"You are all police, because you have interest in there. Therefore you must make sure you protect it yourself. Therefore the Election Day, the ballot box, open your [eyes] and look at it well. Don’t allow anybody to change boxes; don't allow anybody to manipulate the elections. Please anybody who comes to steal the box chase him, push him down and take the box and hand him over to the police.

“I’m telling you we won't sit down for somebody to cheat us. We must be awake and see to it that we protect our interest,” Bugri told the chanting crowd.
When Starr News contacted Mr. Naabu over why he repeated the comments that nearly got him behind police bars, he said “I will keep on telling people to make vigilance to protect the ballot box. I will not stop it.

"…Because that ballot box NPP has vote in there. Do we allow those votes to be taken away, and Ghanaians to vote for us [and] allow NDC to take the votes, change it and declare the vote for themselves? Master it can never work."

He said the party cannot entirely trust the police after it failed to arrest gunmen who fired gunshots at the Electoral Commission’s office in Tamale during the just ended voters’ transfer exercise.

Editorial

A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT

Every citizen has the right to go to court to seek an interpretation of the law or its enforcement.

However, this right can be grossly abused and its enjoyment can also pose grave dangers to the society under some circumstances.

For example persons who feel wronged by the Electoral Commission (EC) have every right to go to court but when they exercise that right deliberately to frustrate the EC then there is a problem.

It is also important to state that the courts also have a duty to ensure that the exercise of the right of citizens does not create chaos and mayhem in society.

The Insight urges all parties to all electoral disputes to be guided by the broad national interest in the exercise of their rights.

Ayariga’s $6m Campaign Fund Claim "Slip Of Tongue" — APC

Hassan Ayariga, APC Presidential Candidate

The claim by the disqualified flagbearer of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga that he spent a whopping $6million on his campaign was a “slip of tongue,” the party has said.

“When Dr. Hassan Ayariga said the party had spent so much, the man wanted to say in cedi but just a slip of tongue. That’s what I know as a fact. I’m the General Secretary of the party and I will tell you the facts...,” Rasak Poku, the APC’s General Secretary said.

Ayariga speaking on Starr Chat recently in the aftermath of his disqualification from contesting the presidential race by the Electoral Commission due to anomalies with his nomination forms, said he was angered with his disqualification after spending $6million on campaign activities.

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) upon hearing the claim wrote to him to demand his source of funding by close of day Wednesday October 26.
In his reaction to the EOCO invitation, Mr. Poku told Accra FM that Ayariga’s comment was nothing but a mistake.

“It’s a slip of tongue, nobody is perfect, no matter what; you can have a slip of tongue but when you have that slip of tongue, a sensible person will tell you that it was just an error, it was a mistake and this is what I intended to say and that is what I’m telling you that it wasn’t in dollars because in Ghana we don’t [spend] dollars, we [spend] cedis,” he said.

He continued that “So, Dr. Hassan Ayariga as serious as he is, there is no way he will quote a foreign currency knowing very well in Ghana we don’t [spend] foreign currency but in Ghana we [spend] Cedis, so everything he said was in Cedis but because he has lived outside for a very long time, sometimes he mistakenly quotes their currencies, and because he also has businesses outside Ghana, sometimes he might mistakenly quote some of their currencies but he wanted to say Cedis.”

GAMBIA WITHDRAWS FROM INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Yahaya Jammeh, President of Gambia

Gambia has announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, accusing the Hague-based tribunal of “persecution and humiliation of people of colour, especially Africans”.

Tuesday’s announcement comes after similar decisions earlier this month by South Africa and Burundi to abandon the institution, set up to try the world’s worst crimes.

The ICC was set up in 2002 and is often accused of bias against Africa and has also struggled with a lack of cooperation, including from the US, which has signed the court’s treaty but never ratified it.

The court had been used “for the persecution of Africans and especially their leaders” while ignoring crimes committed by the West, Sheriff Bojang, Gambia’s information minister, said on state television.

He singled out the case of Tony Blair, former British prime minister, who the ICC decided not to indict over the Iraq war.

“There are many Western countries, at least 30, that have committed heinous war crimes against independent sovereign states and their citizens since the creation of the ICC and not a single Western war criminal has been indicted,” Bojang said.

The withdrawal, he said, “is warranted by the fact that the ICC, despite being called International Criminal Court, is in fact an International Caucasian Court for the persecution and humiliation of people of colour, especially Africans”.

Gambia has been trying, without success, to use the ICC to punish the EU for the deaths of thousands of African refugees and migrants trying to reach its shores.

The decision will also come as a personal blow to the court’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, a former Gambian justice minister.

Burundi had said earlier this month it would leave the court, while Namibia and Kenya have also raised the possibility.

Over the weekend, the ICC asked South Africa and Burundi to reconsider their decisions, which came as a major blow to the institution.

“I urge them to work together with other states in the fight against impunity, which often causes massive violations of human rights,” Sidiki Kaba, president of the assembly of state parties to the ICC founding treaty, said in a statement.

Alleged war crimes

South Africa’s decision followed a dispute last year when Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visited the country despite being the subject of an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes.

Kaba said he was concerned that South Africa and Burundi’s decisions would pave the way for other African states to leave the court.

The tribunal is entrusted with “prosecuting the most serious crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, namely genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression”.

Luis Moreno Ocampo, the former ICC chief prosecutor, criticised Burundi and South Africa, accusing them of giving leaders on the continent a free hand “to commit genocide”.

“Burundi is leaving the ICC to keep committing crimes against humanity and possible genocide in its territory. Burundi’s president wants free hands to attack civilians,” he said.

He said Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, had “promoted the establishment of the Court to avoid new massive crimes in Africa. Now under the [Jacob] Zuma leadership, South Africa decided to cover up the crimes and abandoned African victims. The world is going backward.

“The chaos is coming. Genocide in Burundi and a new African war are in motion.”

BOOSTING TRADE ADVANTAGES: SAVING ON IMPORTS

Ekwow Spio Garbrah, Ghana's Minister of Trade and Industry

By Dora Addy

‘There should be a policy to have a mechanism in place to decide when and how to import and export’- K.V. Thomas, Indian Politician

In operating on the business trade scene, much has been said about our import habits; not something to write home about. Presently, the country is exporting many commodities that have been deemed utterly needless, not just because we have the ability to produce such commodities for national consumption, but more, the sheer fact that many of these products were not needed at all; some even posing serious health risks.

The country has been identified with many others who would opt for meagre options in import goods. The continued practice has been questioned as to whether we are still not able to produce such goods. Although the campaign for the patronage of made-in-Ghana goods has been on-going for a very long time, the look- out for something ‘quality’ is a belief that is still much pursued by many.

Not overlooking the importance of how one must always go with quality, individuals must also consider the vastness of our resources, and the need to embrace what we can produce; instilling a strong ethic of national pride and preserving a culture of national self-belief that would lead to the future growth of the local manufacturing economy.

Examining closely how this has come to be, let us also consider how many countries have had to abandon the importation of goods deemed only harmful to their national economy.

We must learn from Nigeria, for example, has done away with the importation of rice, and now looks to its farmers to produce the staple. Let us consider how much they will save on imports, and the total good this would have on the agricultural sector.

While the wishful bidding of most individuals is fulfilled through unnecessary importation of some products, the country suffers much on such demands. The import of toothpick for example is a risible idea, and many other products follow the list.

These products are not only placing unwanted burden, individual lives are also affected and huge resources- both human and natural, remain untapped.

Currently, there are remains very huge stocks of available resources, which have not even been considered to serve the national good when wisely identified as useful to serve the needs of many.

Today, many nations have intelligently transitioned to developed economies owing to the ability to fall on their own resources while creating jobs for many through these ventures. From building simple electronic devices, right up to upscale finds, industrialized countries know of a secret and are practicing a much needed philosophy of independence.

It is observed that, the resort to one’s own resources for industry has been the blessing of many developed nations. The strong attachment and practice to the beliefs of producing locally, the adoption of such measures to support local industry, and the general belief of the manpower available through the locals are the very tenets that provide for the foundations of a thriving economy.

The usefulness of the adoption of such policies to support the local industry, does not in any way undermine the general outlook of the value placed on commodities; the country’s ability to determine that its people receive only quality goods and products.

Such unfounded belief can only center on a group on base reasoning culminating from the upsurge in global needs and demands.

GLOBALIZATION AND NEEDED INVESTMENTS

The extreme need to connect with the rest of the world on trade level cannot be ignored. Our trade partnerships with other developed countries have been forged on good grounds, but the quality and necessity of such good should be well examined.

 The need to catch up with the rest of the world produces a multi-ripple effect that lets on the need to fall on other goods and services which may not be necessarily useful.

Commonly in Ghana, the trade in certain used products on the markets has become very frightening. Inarguably, some of these needs have been created by our inability to produce them. The logistics to commence and keep industries running can be difficult, yet some effort can be made.

To stand tall on the local manufacturing industry, there is the need to seriously put some endeavors into our investments on production, and this to a large extent would require the development and training of human capacities to meet the expected standards both locally and globally.

Across all levels of human life, some investments must be made grow and support industries that will serve the needed trade purposes. Strong policies must be developed and followed-through to support good trade investments.

The forging of such partnerships for national development is one of the creative tools for government. Development is reached at its peak and usually at a faster level. Asking the question of whether there are any good benefits to reap from, the answer is yes.

But the need to also develop our value to invest into our own should be a continued effort. Considering that some of these investors already bring foreign personnel to handle some of these industries, the employment challenge still remains unresolved.

Not strengthening local investment capacities across all sectors has also brought in much unwanted challenges through government loans that have brought in much debt.

MAKING IT QUALITY

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), established in 1969, under Act 396, is the National Export Trade Support Institution of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), responsible for the facilitation, development and promotion of Ghanaians exports.

The GEPA is to ensure that Ghana’s export trade contributes to accelerated economic growth through strategic aggressive marketing of made-in-Ghana products in the competitive global economy.

The country deserves a good spot on the export scene in order to boost the advantages that lie within the export sector.

Considering this, it calls for the working of all parts to bring this to a realization; bringing much quality in what we do would attract major economic benefits through export.

In this case, there is the need to carefully put the quality tag all products; from edibles to non-edibles. A careful investment into all products from production to packaging is clearly needed to attain the accepted standards for overseas.

HEALTH HAZARDS

According to 2013 figures from the United Nations Comtrade Database, Ghana spent $65 million dollars on importing used clothing from the UK. Used clothing comes as one of the most sough-after merchandizes on the imports radar in the country. All year, goods from Europe, the United States, and other developed economies are imported into the country.

According to reports from Ghana Shippers Authority, the country imported 31,400 metric tonnes of used electrical products, representing a 74.6% increase, compared to the 2009 figure of 17,987 metric tonnes.

Certainly, there are huge risks involved in using second-hand clothing if they are not well cleaned before exported to Africa.

It is estimated that some 280,585 cars were imported into the country from 2003-2007. This brings the figure to 70,146 the number of cars imported annually from Europe, USA, and Asian countries. Consider also how developed countries have shipped cars into the country, which have necessarily not gone through, and passed the right safety tests.

While some food products have trended on the markets, it is also a question to ask about the health hazards of consuming such products. Turkey tails, entrails and unwholesome body parts of farm animals,

SAVING THE AGRICULTURAL REPUTATION

The backbone of this nation is agriculture, but this sector also suffers badly from the imports being made. While the primary concern is to preserve this sector that serves the incomes of many across the country, there is a growing concern over the imports of such agricultural products which are also produced here.

Creating a stunted progress for many in the agriculture sector, there are many farmers losing out in a very big way.

Many farmers these days are discouraged by low patronage of their products. Poultry farmers bellow wildly at the huge poultry imports being made onto the markets, as a whooping majority of Ghanaians have stood strong on the scales of the bad import trade practices.

Now, the outlook on some of these agricultural products from abroad tells a lot on the preparedness to move the country from its state of dependency. It is sad because although this sector supports the economy largely, it is still crippling under the pressures of low patronage from the locals.

To add to the burden, let us also consider how many of our local farmers have to endure hardships in the attempt to export products overseas. In an attempt to grow fiscal value, farmers who attempt to export their products have often been faced with stringent export standards, and so have given up all hope of ever trading in export.

Currently, the president, John Dramani Mahama, said at the United Nations, during his speech, as an account of Ghana’s democratic and economic strides to its peers, that, the country did not need sympathy, or Overseas Development Assistance, but rather, fairness in world trade.

It’s very true indeed. Farmers especially, need to be accorded fairness in export. Rejecting and placing strict yardsticks on our local agricultural produce is not only discouraging, but places unnecessary demands on other goods from overseas, that tell badly on our consumption practices while deflating any good reasoning that we are self-supportive.

JOB CREATION

While the economy is tapped to produce goods locally on a large scale, many of the employment gaps will be filled.

All over the business sectors in the country, there are still many opportunities to engage the locals in business.

Elsewhere in the world, the local industries are applauded for the high employment rates, accorded to locals. There is no better way to employ locals than to set the local wheels of industry running.

High importation trends can be worrying because the majority is in need of jobs.

Government must rather see how it can creatively put up industries to supply some of these products needed, while boosting already existing industries.

REDUCING COSTS

A lot of cost is saved when plans are made to grow the local manufacturing sector. While farmers are losing out big time, the local textile and clothing industry is bearing its own load.

Local producers must be strongly supported while receiving boost from government to thrive in business.

The demand on foreign products is a direct effect on the low patronage of local products here in Ghana. Although we cannot completely cancel some of the imported products, we should begin to appreciate what we have and also look to ways of starting production of what needed things that are not available.

LEGALITIES ON IMPORTATION

The Basel Convention, which came into force in 1992, bans the export of hazardous waste including e-waste from developed countries to developing countries for ‘final disposal, recovery or recycling’.

By law, cars that are older than ten years are said to be over-aged. Stolen vehicles are returned by the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) when foreign owners of such vehicles are ready to pay for shipment costs.

It is our decision what to import into our country. As many countries are looking to be dependent on themselves by creating a functioning local manufacturing sector that provides the much needed resources for its people, Ghana should also learn to do same.

Let’s also observe that as they slowly wean themselves of foreign dependency, their economies are affected positively.

Largely this country can produce much of what we import. We need channel a lot of investments towards the cause of setting up local manufacturing industries.

We will earn much-deserved respect. We can get there.