Public Agenda articles from November 2011

Public Agenda archives from November 2011

Lawyer Calls for Reduction of Minister's Power.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Ruth O. Okan-Adjetey A lot of powers are vested in the hands of Ministers in Ghana. This is a source of concern for a legal practitioner and expert in the oil and gas industry who says government must reduce the degree to which power...

Ozwald Boateng to Fund African Infrastructure Projects.
November 28, 2011... African visionary and international designer, Ozwald Boateng, in collaboration with Nigerian businessman, Kola Aluko, and Nigerian oil and gas company, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited, "Atlantic Energy," has agreed to establish a...

Mobile Phone - an Effective Tool for Enhancing Community Health Systems.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Mathias Aboba In the midst of the current transport and other logistical constraints facing the health sector in Ghana, effective communication has been noted as a key factor for enhancing referral and emergency medical services as...

Climate Change Brings Opportunity Alongside Challenges for Africa.
November 28, 2011... The world's biggest annual summit on Climate Change begins in the South African city of Durban today. As officials from around the world gather there, the global gaze is turning to Africa and how the continent is coming to terms with a changing...

Budget Prioritizes Access to Education Over Quality-GNECC.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Laud Nartey The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) has observed that a review of the budget by the Coalition revealed an overemphasis on interventions aimed at improving access to basic education as against improving...

YESDEC to Create More Businesses in the Volta Region.
November 28, 2011... The Youth Enterprises and Skills Development Centre (YESDEC), a private sector initiative which aims at partnering with the public sector to provide solution to the unemployment situation in the country, is to facilitate the creation of more...

Vigilance Not Biometric Is Key to Election Success - U.S. Prof.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Ama A. A. Baafi and Ruth O. Okan-Adjetey A professor at the University of Florida has said Ghana must think twice and find other ways of cleaning the voter register since that is one of the surest ways to ensure a credible election....

Advanced Research and Policy Tools Needed for Sustainable Natural Resource.
November 28, 2011... Most African countries will not achieve the expected targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 if new and advanced research and policy development tools are not explored and employed to respond to sustainable development and...

EPA Is Detrimental to Ghanaian Businesses, Ecowas Integration.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Sylvester W. Bagooro Introduction Since the beginning of the year, the Trade and Industry Minister, Hon Hannah Tetteh has continued with her push for Ghana to sign and ratify the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA) that...

IDEG, Charting the Path for Violent-Free 2012 Elections.
November 25, 2011... Byline: Ebenezer T. Hanson Ghana has become the beacon of light shining out of the envelope of darkness, engulfing a vast expanse of the African continent. This no mean achievement has become possible through the collective efforts of all...

Manufacturing, Agriculture Sector's Performance Disappointing.
November 25, 2011... Byline: Laud Nartey A senior Economist at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Dr John K. Kwakye has observed that, both manufacturing and agriculture sectors of the economy performed poorly in 2011 and that it was likely they would...

Clergyman Asks Ghanaians to Sustain Peace.
November 25, 2011... Reverend Dr Samuel Donkor, President of All Nations' University College in Koforidua, has called on Ghanaians to sustain the country's peace since conflict had never benefited any society. He cautioned the youth not to allow politicians to...

IGP Shields 'Hit and Run' Cop.
November 25, 2011... Byline: Mohammed Sulema The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye appears to be condoning criminality by allowing police personnel who perpetrate illegal acts to walk about with impunity. This comes six months after the...

Newmont Committed to Improving Lives of Communities.
November 25, 2011... Byline: Iddi Moro Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd says it is committed to improving the lot of the people and communities within which it operates. The External Relations Manager of the company (Akyem Project), Mr. Oduro-Kwarteng Marfo, said this...

Sam Woode Ltd Donates Books to Mumford Library.
November 25, 2011... Sam Woode Ltd., educational books publishers based in Dansoman, Accra, has donated a set of assorted books worth GHc3, 000.00 to the Mumford Community Library in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region. The donation took place during...

What's in the Kyoto Protocol?
November 25, 2011... Byline: Frederick Asiamah That you have heard about the Kyoto Protocol is not in doubt. That you have heard of various disagreements over how to move forward with the Kyoto Protocol is also not in doubt. What is in doubt is whether you know...

Victim of 'Hit and Run' Cop Still Crying for Justice.
November 25, 2011... The Fourth Republican Constitution expressly enjoins all citizens, regardless of their status in life, to uphold the canons of respect for fundamental rights, civil liberties and the rule of law. The Constitution also affirms equality before the...

Ignore Mining Companies' Complaints & Proceed With Reforms - NCOM Urges Govt.
November 25, 2011... The National Coalition on Mining (NCOM) commends the Government of Ghana for the new fiscal initiatives introduced in the mining sector. This commendation is in line with the Coalition's view that these steps are part of a set of actions that...

Remove Disparities Between Women and Men, Govt Urged.
November 25, 2011... Byline: Ama A. Amankwah Baafi ABANTU for Development and ActionAid-Ghana have called on government and all political parties to ensure that they maintain their respective commitments of promoting increased women's participation in the...

Children Draw Attention to Quality of Education Through Marching.
November 25, 2011... Byline: Ruth O. Okan-Adjetey Last Sunday, a group of children marched through the streets of James Town to draw public's attention to the challenges they face in accessing quality education. The march was organised by Yen Daakye Movement,...

Piwc Sakumono Cuts Sod for Church Building.
November 25, 2011... The Area Head of Teshie-Nungua Area of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Rigwell Ato Addison has performed a sod cutting ceremony for the construction of an ultra modern church building for the Sakumono Pentecost International Worship Centre...

Sub-Saharan Africa Risks Missing MDG On Sanitation.
November 25, 2011... A new report Off-track, off-target, released by the international charity WaterAid (http://www.wateraid.org), shows that there are more people in the world today lacking adequate sanitation services than in 1990. Unless urgent action is taken,...

Jirapa Telehealth Project Commissioned By the Rotary Club.
November 25, 2011... The Rotary Club of Accra Ring Road Central (RRC) in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) has commissioned a US$50,000 telehealth project in Jirapa District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. The Jerusalem Rotary Club, Herzog...

Oil and the 2012 Budget Statement - Reflections On the Local Economy.
November 25, 2011... Byline: Mohammed Amin Adam INTRODUCTION Budgets have become annual rituals and have defined the directions of the economy. It therefore does not evoke the level of interests it did in the past. However, the last two Budget Statements of...

Nation to Conduct Labour Market Survey.
November 25, 2011... Byline: Mohammed Suleman The Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare is expected to carry out a labour market survey to set a baseline for unemployment information for the country in the coming year. The survey which would be conducted...

AGRA Launches 'Arzarkinmu' Project for Small Holder Farmers in the North.
November 21, 2011... In a significant initiative to increase the incomes of small holder farmers in the Northern Region, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has launched a project that will provide improved access to facilities and services such as...

As I Reflect.
November 21, 2011... Byline: Ebenezer T. Hanson The curtain-raiser "In the beginning was the Word"-John 1:1a "A word is a thought expressed"-Rev. William Marrion Branham As this piece marks the beginning of this column, it is not only important but also...

2012 Budget Is Ambitious-Isodec.
November 21, 2011... Byline: Laud Nartey & Mavis Otinkorang The 2012 Budget Statement and Economic Policy has been described as ambitious with targets likely to be missed, the Institute for Fiscal Policy of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC),...

Cota Demands an End to Discrimination in Frequency Allocation.
November 21, 2011... Byline: Ruth O. Okan-Adjetey A Coalition for Transparency of the Airwaves (COTA) has been formed for the promotion of pluralism, equity and transparency in the broadcasting industry. The coalition was formed to harness efforts to sensitize...

'Better Lives for Women Is Key in Development'.
November 21, 2011... The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that 215 million women in the developing world have an unmet need for reproductive health services. As Ghana battles to meet the UN milestone of reducing maternal morbidity and mortality to...

The Conference of Parties (COP 17) Outlook.
November 21, 2011... With the approach of the seventeenth Conference of Parties(COP 17) scheduled to take place in Durban from 28 November - 9 December 2011, attention is being drawn to climate change concurrent with the date of the conclusion of the first...

Rot, Cover-Up, and Official Ineptitude Running Down.
November 21, 2011... Byline: Laud Nartey Perceptions that the attitudes and work ethics of staff of the Registrar General's Department (RGD) are a major deterrent to doing business with that outfit have been confirmed by Public Agenda's recent encounters with the...

Ghana Records Lower Human Trafficking Cases.
November 21, 2011... Byline: Laud Nartey Human Trafficking activities in Ghana today have markedly reduced compared to previous years owing largely to persistent prosecution and conviction of perpetrators, Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children's...

Imam Urges Muslims to Support Zoomlion's Efforts.
November 21, 2011... The Central Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Abubakari Yusif, has said the Islamic Religion and cleanliness were inextricably intertwined as the Holy Quran teaches Muslims to be clean and live healthy lives. He has therefore appealed to Muslims to...

Increasing Women's Representation and Participation in Decision Making Are National Issues.
November 21, 2011... Byline: Irene J. Mensah A women's rights activist and Executive Director of Ark Foundation, Mrs. Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, has called on the National House of Chiefs, Members of the Council of State and all other males in authority to add their...

A-G Must Purge Registrar General's Department.
November 21, 2011... Revenue generation by state agencies in Ghana has invariably come under the spotlight of the powers that be. And this is understandably so because of the indispensable role revenue plays in the economy. Money acts as the fuel that oils the...

Reconsider the Removal of LPG Subsidy-Stakeholders.
November 21, 2011... Byline: Mohammed Suleman Stakeholders of the energy sector have emphasized the need for policy makers to reconsider the proposal to remove subsidy on Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a measure to deter its use in vehicles. They argued that...

Economic Growth Should Reflect in the Well-Being of Citizens.
November 17, 2011... Last Wednesday, Ghanaians once again went through the annual ritual of listening to the presentation of Government's Budget Statement and Economic Policy. As expected, views from sections of the society on the content of the budget are varied,...

Country Ranks 135 Out of 187 Countries - 2011 Human Development Report.(Report)
November 17, 2011... Ghana ranks 135 in this year's Human Development Index of 187 countries. Norway, Australia, Netherlands, United States, New Zealand and Canada lead the world while the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Burundi, Mozambique, Chad and Liberia...

Safeguard Measures in the Redd Readiness Process.
November 17, 2011... Byline: Mary Ama Kudom-Agyemang A National Consultation and Participatory Working Group has been constituted to incorporate the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) into Ghana's Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and...

Global Diabetic Menace - We Are All At Risk.
November 17, 2011... Byline: Nana Poku It looks as if all Ghanaians are susceptible to contracting the dreaded diabetes disease, according to various speakers at a day's seminar to celebrate World Diabetes Day at the Civil Servants Asociation auditorium. ...

Duffuor Kick-Starts 2012 Camp.
November 17, 2011... Byline: Irene J. Mensah Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor on Wednesday kick-started the National Democratic Congress (NDC) political campaign when he presented the 2012 Budget Statement in Parliament. He...

Nation Against 'Killing' of Kyoto.
November 17, 2011... Byline: Frederick Asiamah Precisely ten days from now in the South African coastal city of Durban, politicians, negotiators, legal luminaries, scientists, academics, researchers, students and journalists from diverse socio-cultural...

Ghana Ensures Parity in Education Opportunities for Females and Males.(Conference notes)
November 17, 2011... Byline: Seidu Kpebu Ghana's Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Mrs Elizabeth Nicol has said that Ghana has gone far in ensuring parity in education opportunities for females and males. She said this when addressing...

Nation Outclasses Nigeria in Swimming Contest.
November 17, 2011... Byline: Nana Poku Dolphins, a Ghanaian swimming club based at the Tesano Sports Club House, outpaced the Ikoyi Club of Nigeria in a swimming contest at the last weekend. The swimming contest which has become an annual affair between the...

A Voice of Reason in the Midst of Chaos and Wailing (Part I).
November 14, 2011... Byline: David Klutse The losses due to perennial flooding up and down the country are tremendous in terms of life, land, agricultural production, housing, infrastructure and outbreak of diseases. Flood causes not only enormous physical damage...

On Middle Income Status.
November 14, 2011... Byline: Irene J. Mensah The government has been urged to begin discussions with the World Bank management on the graduation process from a low income country status to that of middle income. According to experts, the country has to seek...

The Problem of High Interest Rates - Don't Control but Please Regulate.
November 14, 2011... Byline: Dr. J.K. Kwakye The high level of interest rates in Ghana continues to be a source of concern. Even though some measure of macro-economic stability has been achieved, interest rates have shown exceptional downward rigidity....

Agra Pilots Market Access, Post-Harvest Services to Empower BA Farmers.
November 14, 2011... The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched a pilot project, called Development of Market Access and Post-Harvest Services for Small Holder Farmers (D-MAPS) at Aworowa in the Techiman District of the Brong-Ahafo Region....

Political Analyst Advocates Lead Roles for More Women in Peacekeeping.
November 14, 2011... Byline: Mavis Otinkorang Co-Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science, Dr. Marsha Henry has recommended that more women should be allowed to participate in peacekeeping because of their multiple roles at a given time....

CADFund Inaugurates West African Office in Nation.
November 14, 2011... Byline: Mohammed Suleman The China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund) on Friday launched its West African office in Accra with the intent to step up Chinese investment in Africa and to facilitate China-Africa Economic cooperation. The...

Government Resolved to Reduce Unemployment Rate.
November 14, 2011... Byline: Laud Nartey Vice President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated government's commitment to reducing the high rate of unemployment in the country. He said the extent of government's concern about the unemployment phenomenon was...

Inflation Details Justify TUC's Demand for 20 Percent Salary Increase.
November 14, 2011... Byline: Laud Nartey The details of the new inflation figure as explained by Dr. Grace Bediako, Government Statistician, without doubt justifies the Ghana Trades Union Congress' demand for government to implement the 20 percent salary increase...

Police Deliberate Lessons On Deployment to UNAMID.
November 14, 2011... The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre organized a workshop in collaboration with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra recenlty, Ghana to discuss the lessons learned by police contributors to the African Union /...

Tullow's New Oil Project Up for Citizens' Scrutiny.
November 14, 2011... Byline: Frederick Asiamah There is indication that citizen groups working in the oil and gas sector of Ghana will have new opportunities to participate in the entire process of determining the potential impacts of oil production from Tullow's...

Affirmative Action Is Panacea for Increasing Women Numbers in Decision-Making.
November 14, 2011... Byline: Ama A. Amankwah Baafi It has been established that without mandatory Affirmative Action, expected changes that can lead to an increase in women's representation in national politics will not occur. Ghana may also miss out on...

Industry On a Mission to Change Perceptions About Mining.
November 14, 2011... Mining companies these days appear geared up to demonstrate that, contrary to the dominant view of the industry, they are positively impacting the economy and the lives of the people. And so, Newmont releases the report of a study on the...

Welcome News From EPA, But.
November 14, 2011... It is quite refreshing to hear that, the Environmental Protection Agency at long last has admitted that the Environmental Impact Assessment processes outlined in the current EPA guidelines serves no useful purpose. Indeed, it is simply cosmetic,...

Okyehene Tells Politicians to Stop Amassing Wealth.
November 4, 2011... Byline: Nana Poku Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin II, the Okyehene of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area has expressed his disgust at incidence of exploitation of the people by politicians for their personal aggrandizement. He also advised them...

Road Safety Week - Call to Reverse Scary Accident Data.
November 4, 2011... Six deaths daily 1,800 deaths annually 60 % of victims aged between 15 and 55 Nation loses $419 million yearly 23% of accident victims are public service buses occupants 42% are pedestrians who get knocked down 70% of accidents...

Norway First, DR Congo Last in 2011 Human Development Index.
November 4, 2011... Norway, Australia and the Netherlands lead the world in the 2011 Human Development Index (HDI), while the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Burundi are at the bottom of the Human Development Report's annual rankings of national achievement...

GNAPS Inaugurates Adentan Municipality Branch.
November 4, 2011... Byline: Prosper Ashiagbor To advance the cause of private schools in the country's educational development, the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has inauguarated its Adentan Municipality branch. The event was under the...

Occupy the Hood Challenges Young of African Descent.
November 4, 2011... Byline: Phillip Jackson The Occupy Wall Street Movement has captured the imagination of the world. We now have Occupy Tokyo, Occupy Berlin, Occupy Mexico, Occupy Australia, Occupy Brazil, Occupy Denmark, Occupy Asia and even Occupy...

1000 Community Representatives Visit Local Police Stations.
November 4, 2011... This week saw over 1000 citizens of eight African countries visiting their local police stations to assess the quality of policing service. The programme was under the annual Police Station Visitors Week (PSVW) organised by the Altus Global...

In Mining Towns -Death Stares Kids With Zinc Deficiency.
November 4, 2011... Byline: Frederick Asiamah Samuel Obiri, leader of the team of researchers that put out the controversial 'mining cancer' report, is warning that children in two mining districts of the Western Region are ultimately at risk of dying from zinc...

Avoiding the 'Dutch Disease' is Non-Negotiable.
November 4, 2011... The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has added its voice to the numerous concerns about Ghana's oil production and the temptation to neglect other sectors of the economy at the country's peril. While recognizing the fact that the oil...

Environmental Trends Threaten Global Progress for the Poor -- 2011 Report.(Report)
November 4, 2011... Health, income advancement in developing countries jeopardized by inaction on climate change, habitat destruction, Report shows Wealth and gender disparities linked to environmental hazards Development progress in the world's poorest...

Pay Equal Attention to Non-Oil Sector to Create Jobs - IEA.
November 4, 2011... Byline: Ama A. Amankwah Baafi Some Economic analysts have advocated the prioritization of policy to spread growth to other sectors of the economy other than oil. They contend that while oil-related activities could generate jobs, oil...

Airtel's Touching Lives (II) - Raising the Bar in CSR.
November 4, 2011... Byline: Ebenezer Hanson Airtel Ghana, the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Telecoms Company for 2010, is expanding the frontiers of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Ghana through its Touch Lives Project. Last Tuesday, the...

Tax Coalition Pressurizes Sarkozy, G20.
November 4, 2011... The Ghana Tax Justice Coalition and members of the global campaign for the End Tax Haven Secrecy Campaign have urged French President Nicolas Sarkozy to use the meeting of G20 countries in Cannes, France which started yesterday November 3rd to...

Zoil Foils Fire Outbreak On Volta Lake.
November 4, 2011... But for the timely intervention of lifeguards working with Zoil Services Ltd, another major disaster could have occurred on the Volta Lake when one of the outboard motors on a boat carrying passengers caught fire. The incident occurred on...