GHANA NEEDS A TOBACCO CONTROL LAW

(The United Nations Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the first international public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization(WHO).It aims at protecting present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. Ghana ratified the convention in 2004, but very little has actually been done to ensure that provisions in the convention are heeded to. As a member of the Media Alliance on Tobacco Control (MATCO), I access the tobacco control situation in Ghana and share some advocacy thoughts.)

Imagine you are a junior rank officer in your office minding your business; your boss summons you into his office and engages you in a long conversation relating to your performance. Now, it is not the long conversation that sucks but all through the talks he keeps releasing thick smokes of cigarette into the atmosphere, worse of it all, the office which measures about 7x7 in size has the air condition turned on high. Mind you, you are a non-smoker.

Also imagine the situation where your office colleague who is a chain smoker chooses no where else but the office to smoke his cigarette because the motivation from the “stick” makes him work hard and better. He must deliver the job right and on time and irrespective of who is around or whose life he is endangering he must get his motivation from his cigarette to deliver.

Well, the above examples are some of the sanctions and ordeals that some people have to be enduring at their work places almost on daily basis yet they cannot complain because they have to keep their job. Thousands are those who do not smoke but are forced to inhale the smoke released into the atmosphere by those around hem.
But for how long must these human right abuses against our fellow human beings continue.

The truth is that the structures are not there for an individual to pick up this fight against tobacco use in any part of the country. In fact, few people know that second hand smoking have been certified as more dangerous to our health than active smoking. The reason being that the inhaled smoke that the smoker puffs out comes with some impurities that may be hiding in the smoker and these when inhaled by the non-smoker comes with dire consequences.

Sadly enough, the number of people who smoke in Ghana keeps increasing by the day, yet effort by government to intensify awareness on this keep dwindling. This can be blamed mainly on the absence of legislation. A tobacco usage bill which was started several years ago is still at its formation stages, even though the ministry of health which is championing it keeps assuring that they are working on it.

The 31st of May every year has been set aside by the United Nations for the international celebration of World no Tobacco day. This yearly celebration is suppose to inform the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, and also to remind them of What the World Health Organization (WHO) is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic and what people around the globe can do to claim their right to health and healthy leaving and protect future generations.
Countries such as Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia have all capitalized on this annual celebration and have succeeded in banning smoking in all public places. An indication of how some countries are committed to protecting the health of their citizens. The story of how Ghana celebrates its version of this beautiful day is more of an apology. Our celebrations barely move beyond our noses.

The dangers of smoking cannot be over emphasized and all hands must come on deck to ensure that the fight is carried on to its logical conclusion so as to protect the precious lives of non-smokers and future generations.

A cursory look at the worldwide statistics on smoking is alarming enough to halt the wheels of any over speeding train. According to the WHO at least one person dies every eight seconds due to tobacco related diseases. In developed countries where smoking prevalence started 10 to 20 years earlier than developing countries nearly 60 million deaths have been attributed to smoking and lung diseases. About 13,400 people die each day and 560 people die each hour globally.

The WHO states that more than five million people die from tobacco related causes, more than HIV/AIDS, Malaria and tuberculosis combined. Additionally, over 600 studies undertaken by experts link passive smoking to ill health and conclude that passive smoking or the inhalation of tobacco smoke by non smokers increases the risk of lung cancer, heart diseases and respiratory disease.

It has also been established rather frighteningly that about 10 million lives will be lost by the year 2030 due to tobacco use. About seven million out of this figure is expected to come from developing countries including Ghana where tobacco companies are reported to have shifted their attention to due to the intensity of the war against them in the developed countries.

A study carried out recently in some hotels, restaurants, night clubs and other entertainment centers around the country revealed that there are high levels of measurement of nicotine above the acceptable international levels.

Smoking or tobacco use has very harmful effects on children and pregnant women. Studies have shown that children who are exposed to a smoking environment are more prone to developing bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, middle ear infection and glue ear. Passive smoking by pregnant women can result in babies being born with low weight. The risks of spontaneous abortion and sudden infant death syndrome, premature and stillbirths are very high.

As a signatory to the FCTC Ghana needs to show more commitment to the fight on tobacco by strengthening efforts to ensure that the necessary awareness are created to alert the citizens. Civil society organizations such as Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) and the Media Alliance on Tobacco Control (MATCO) must be lauded for their efforts so far in demanding from government of a tobacco control bill.

The two groups recently collaborated to put together a training workshop for their members with the aim of equipping them for a more intensive advocacy on the need for a tobacco control law. So far the fight has attained some success. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has been able to successfully ban smoking in public transport and in major hotels where non smokers can patronize. The Ministry has organized workshops with owners and managers of hospitality and entertainment centers on smoking and this has resulted in customers enjoying a smoke free environment. Some members of the public have pledged their support for the campaign too.

But clearly these are not enough to reduce tobacco use in the country to the expected level. More needs to be done and can be done to accelerate the process and this includes a law to ban outright public smoking. Ratifying the FCTC as Ghana has done is a step in the right direction but not the ultimate thing to give Ghanaian citizens total protection from the harmful effects of tobacco. Innocent lives must be saved and the time to act is now. A tobacco control law for Ghana will enable the FCTC to be activated in member countries.

For those who think too much noise is being made about tobacco, this is why it is deadly and why government must be serious with it. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, more than fifty known or suspected carcinogens and many potent irritants.

Tobacco smoke includes dangerous chemicals such as acetone as found in paint stripper, arsenic as found in ant poison, butane as found in lighter fuel, cadmium as found in car batteries, carbon monoxide as found in exhaust fumes, DDT as found in insecticide and hydrogen cyanide as found in capital punishment by gas.

Tobacco smoke whether active or passive also contains lead as found in leaded gasoline, methanol as found in rocket fuel, nicotine as found in cockroach poison, phenol as found in toilet bowl disinfectants, polonium 2010 as found in nuclear weapons, toluene as found in industrial solvent and vinyl chloride as found in plastics. These and many more others justify the “noise” on tobacco.

There is also low productivity due to ill health or sickness or death among others.
The FCTC specifies how member countries should go about tackling the tobacco menace. But VALD and MATCO are asking for more to be included in Ghana’s law.

For example on the protection from the exposure to tobacco smoke the two organizations are recommending a comprehensive ban on public smoking and a total protection for nonsmokers. They also want a total ban on minors selling and buying tobacco products, ban on the sale of tobacco products openly and together with sweets, and a ban on the sale of tobacco products close to schools.

On price measures they recommend a 100% tax increment. In Ghana a pack of cigarette cost about $2.00 while in the developing countries it is about $5.00. The idea is that if cigarettes are made expensive children will not be able to buy. A ban on the single sale of tobacco products is also being advocated.

While calling on government to cancel any partnership deal it has with the tobacco industry, VALD and MATCO say government must involve the security agencies actively in tobacco control in the country. By this it is expected that the security agencies will be well resourced for the tax.

The two organizations further added that as a support for economically viable alternatives for tobacco farmers government should improve food security in the country. It is also their wish that government will exclude the tobacco industry in any future consultation in relation to policy development. According to them “The tobacco industry is not a stakeholder in tobacco control”.

Another drastic recommendation by VALD and MATCO is in the areas of litigations and general obligations. They want the law crafted such that individual citizens can have the right and be supported to sue a tobacco industry, and the government getting the power to take the industry to court when laws are violated.

They suggest that government hold a national stakeholders forum in tobacco control to gather support for the law before it is passed and also set up a Tobacco Control Fund.

Currently, the MOH has succeeded in using directives to compel the tobacco companies to boldly display warning inscriptions on the front and back of every cigarette pack meant for Ghana. But the advocacy groups are insisting that it is not enough to write boldly on the pack but it should come with pictorials so those who cannot read and write can be at least informed by the pictures.

It is imperative that health warnings on tobacco products packaging be made compulsory and taken as a critical strategy. Health warnings should portray the serious health risks of tobacco use and ensure that the packaging tells the truth about the deadly products within.

Additionally, the texts of the message on the pact need to effectively communicate the risks involved and motivate behavioral change, such as quitting or reducing tobacco consumption.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE

The non-smoker’s health and right to a tobacco free air cannot be shortchanged. Government and the legislature must urgently give us a tobacco control law and ensure that smoking is banned in all public places. It should be made an offence for a Member Of Parliament (MP) or a government official to be seen smoking publicly. They should serve as role models for their constituents. MPs and District Chief Executives (DCEs) should also be made to carry the message of the harmful effects of tobacco to their various constituencies in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
Policies and programmes must be put in place to help curb tobacco use in public places. The all spheres of the media must pick up the fight as a corporate social responsibility and make sure that the education gets to every soul in every hamlet in the country.

Nigeria has succeeded in pushing its tobacco control law to parliament and they are currently working on it at the committee level having already passed through the public hearing, first and second reading stages. It is significant to know that the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, has gone smoke –free, Osun has passed a law against tobacco and is currently fighting big tobacco. The country hopes to get the law in force by the end of this year. Can any official boldly say so for Ghana?

THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN TOBACCO CONTROL

By the year 2030, tobacco is expected to be the leading cause of death in the whole world. About 10 million people will die annually from tobacco use and it is estimated that about 70 to 80% of those death will occur in low and middle income countries which include Ghana.

The media must be actively involved in this fight simply because tobacco causes death. The media influences opinion as society watchdogs and their views matter largely. The media must partner security agencies in the country to identify tobacco farming communities in Ghana. They must be alert about the tricks of the tobacco giants and expose them. They must actively follow government and parliament’s tobacco control activities and also follow the tobacco control movement closely.

The media can independently investigate allegations of tobacco smuggling into Ghana to determine where they are coming from and whether it is aided by any “Top Gun” or who is benefiting from the deal.

It should be the responsibility of all to ensure that we attain a meaningful reduction in tobacco deaths over the next few decades, with a substantial percentage of the 1.1 billion current smokers quitting. The estimated 70% deaths in developing countries by 2030 can be avoided if we all get involved in the fight. We must prevent new smokers.

THE IMPRESSIVE 365 DAYS OF THE MILLS ADMINISTRATION

Ghanaians were promised a better Ghana for all and the campaign apparatus of the NDC explained this to mean that under their regime there will be a massive boost in the economy and a radical change in the country’s governance system.
The NDC promised a transparent and accountable government, a strong economy for real jobs and a pledge to invest in people and expand infrastructure in the country. With their social democratic beliefs the NDC says its priority will be on job creation for the enhancement of the lives of the poor.

As per its own manifesto promises the National Democratic Congress envisaged that by the beginning of its second year in office its successes would include among others a competent and effective administration with a very lean manpower. This it expected to achieve by rationalizing some of the ministries it inherited from the previous administration.

The disability council would have been established, and membership of commissions and boards re-constituted based solely on expertise and competence. The safety of Ghanaians was assured because the promise was that the security agencies would be well resourced or equipped to deliver.

The promises also included making filth in the country a thing of the past by taking bold and comprehensive measures to deal with problems of inadequate, inappropriate and ineffective waste management system practices.

Agriculture mechanization was high on the lists of the promises of the NDC. The party said it will facilitate agricultural and industrial programmes at all levels and in all sectors of the economy to ensure that Ghana once again begin to produce enough locally to feed itself and for export. This particular promise was needed at the time because the country’s food import was accelerating.

We were further assured that the new NDC in power will review the National Health Insurance System (NHIS) to take away bureaucracy and corruption in the scheme. There was the promise of reviewing and resourcing the School Feeding Programme, Capitation grant and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).

They stated also that within a short period in office the NDC government will reform parliament to enable legislators to uphold their guaranteed rights under the country’s constitution and serve as an instrument that will demand accountability from technocrats and politicians.

Engendering governance by actively encouraging women’s participation in all levels of governance, reform and deepen decentralization and local governance were all part of NDC’s promises.

In accessing the performance of this government therefore, the measuring indicators have to be based on these promises that were made to Ghanaians compared to how they were delivered upon. Especially when the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) keeps highlighting one year after loosing power that the NDC came to power on the ticket of deceit.

The delivery on the promise of a lean and effective government is with mixed reactions. As at the time of leaving office, President Mills’ predecessor, John Agyekum Kufuor had a total of 87 ministers serving in his administration. Each of the ministers had a special assistant or a spokesperson that were being paid from government coffers. The Mills administration is operating now with about 75 ministers and 23 ministries. Though many have lauded the move as a commitment to streamlining government others say the reduction is not significant and does not reflect his lean government principles.

According to political scene watchers, there are still some people going round carrying themselves as special aids to ministers and their deputies as well as other government officials but the public is yet to receive any statement from the government to the contrary.

The Mills administration is also noted to have cut down on profligate expenditure to some extent. A cursory look at government’s spending over the last one year shows that the pumps and pageantry that was associated with the presidency previously is missing. The number of conferences and national seminars organized by government within the past year has reduced drastically.

So far the President himself has travelled less outside the country and anytime he does it is only on very serious international and diplomatic matters. We have also seen a drastic reduction in the presidential convoys. In fact, the convoys of the President and his Vice has been reduced so much that security experts have warned it could be very dangerous to their safety.

One of the major early steps this administration took upon assumption of office which has been hailed nationally is the establishment of the disability council to champion the needs of the disability community. Even though the council is currently facing its own administrative challenges it has succeeded in negotiating for an increment in the disability community’s share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF). This is expected to reflect from this year.

Little has however been said about the freedom of information bill which is believed to be at cabinet level and the purported review of the whistle blower’s act.
When the NDC said in opposition that it will ensure that about 40% of its appointees are women many gender advocates hailed the idea. This according to them is because women empowerment in this country has come of age. However one year into the administration the government is yet to make this dream materialize.

One aspect that this government has received bashing from is the reconstitution of membership of boards and commissions. The NDC promised to do that within the first 100 days in office. It promises to do it solely based on expertise and competence, eschewing partisan and familial considerations.

However, governance experts have said that there are some few boards which are yet to be constituted. They have urged a quicker pace on this because they claim it is hampering the work of some aspect of the economy. The competences of some of the appointees to some boards have also been criticized by the opposition. They have described the exercise as job for party people.

The government has also received high marks for its efforts so far in resourcing the security agencies so they can perform better. Recruitment of personnel into the police service and the military was halted in the early days of this administration. The reason was to enable the authorities solve their accommodation problems and other needs.

According to the public relations outfit of the police service they are so far impressed about the government’s commitment to their welfare. The service has so far received about 70 vehicles to augment their activities. Observations by security analysts suggest that crime in all levels reduced significantly in the country last year as compared to the previous year. “At least for the first time in a very long time Ghanaians were able to celebrate Christmas in peace” the police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kwesi Ofori stated in an interview.

There have also been attempts to clear the city of filth by the appropriate arms of government. Courtesy of the decongestion exercise by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), and other Municipal and District Assemblies.

One successful story that the Mills administration will continue to highlight in its one year review is the area of agriculture. In the fulfillment of its campaign promises to the people government last year assisted over 300 young people to cultivate a total of 1,440 hectares of land in Damongo in the Northern region.

“These young people are working on a Block Farm Concept which has 1200 hectares of the land being cultivated with maize and 200 hectares with rice and the remaining 40 hectares planted with Soya beans,” deputy minister for information Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa stated in an interview, adding that “the beneficiaries did not put in any money up till this stage, as tractors to plough the land, seedlings, fertilizers and pesticides were all provided by government.”

He further noted that over 20,000 jobs would be created when the programme is finally implemented across the country. On the fishing industry, Ablakwa disclosed that two out of six patrol boats for the Ghana Navy has been secured to “protect our fishermen who suffer from heavy lights thrown at sea by big trawlers”.

On the promise of providing infrastructure and incentives for the delivery of quality education, it would be recalled that government during the cause of last year increased the capitation grant per pupil by 50 percent and provided GH¢1.3 million to support the School Feeding Programme. Government further announced during the year that it had started paying the full tuition fees of all teachers who have decided to pursue further studies through distance learning.

The government, has also announced the commencement of the process of positioning science, technology, research and development at the forefront of its activities with funds made available for the establishment of the first ever Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Park within the Tema Free Zones enclave. The 2010 budget and economic policy of government have captured this very well.

It is also worth mentioning the efforts of the Mills administration in fighting the drug menace in Ghana. The promise was to purge Ghana as a fertile ground for narcotics trade which was at the time gaining dangerous notoriety as a transit country and buoyed on by “very dangerous drug barons”.

At least it is evident that there is no perception now as it was in the past that some powerful people in government may be collaborating with drug barons. It can be observed also that in a complete departure from the past, during which very pitiable and inadequate measures were put in place, the Mills administration is not only demonstrating the required political will, but also implementing very key strategies and measures aimed at combating the very disturbing drug problems it inherited as a government.

Significant work has also been done by this government so far in streamlining the National Health Insurance Scheme. An audit was conducted into the scheme last year to purge it of corruption practices which had engulfed it since its inception. This has resulted in the interdiction of some officers of the scheme.

The government says it is determined to honor its campaign promises of making sure that by the end of its second year in office there will be only one time premium payment for the scheme. Despite stiff opposition from some health experts, Minister for health, Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor insists that the ne time premium payment for the scheme is possible and will be implemented by the end of this year.

On good governance, many experts have given the administration high marks and have predicted a bright future ahead. President Mills himself has been described to be very calm and disciplined despite the internal and external attacks that have characterized his administration through out last year.

His appointments and delivery on the lean government promise have been widely criticized by his opponents. Within the NDC fraternity, some elements have not minced words in criticizing the pace at which things are moving. But despite all these, the president has kept his cool with continues pronouncements that the various comments are being done in good fate.

Experts also believe the Mills administration has fairly handled the various allegations of corruption against his government well.
There was an allegation of malfeasance and indiscretion against a minister of youth and sports, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak which led to his resignation from government as a minister. The President orded investigations into the matter. Even though the former minister was not found to have infringed any law, he was not allowed to return to government. At least not yet.

There was another allegation against some sitting and former government officials by Marbey and Johnson, a British construction firm. Apart from accepting the resignation of some of the ministers the President also asked the Attorney General to take up the matter. This are the steps that political analysts have lauded.
However, the former law professor's first year in office, as the President of Ghana, also saw some developments and controversies in the country's political history, most of which cannot go without mention.

Many of the issues range from perceived harassment of political opponents to alleged human rights abuse on the part of security agencies, and administrative lapses among others. It is also significant to note that the governments threats of reviewing the Vodafone deal while it was in opposition has not as yet materialized. A committee set up to investigate the deal has recommended a re-engagement of the deal. This government has announced it is considering.

First was the hullabaloo and the brouhaha after the then President-elect, Prof. Mills, named his transition team, headed by one of the country's respected politicians Paul Victor Obeng, to oversee the handing over of power from the then administration of President Kufuor to the Mills administration. The cost of the four month sitting of the transitional team which was pegged at Ghc3.6 became a typical political issue that lasted on the airwaves for month.

The seizure of private cars by some (NDC) faithful also became an issue. There were also reports of toilet seizures across the country by thugs, believed to be members of the ruling party, and while these acts were ongoing, some alleged supporters of the NDC, in pursuit of vengeance, allegedly assaulted and brutalized people believed to be sympathizers of the opposition NPP at the Konkomba market in Accra.

The unending controversy of ex-gratia to former government appointees, the invitation and detention of the former Chief of Staff Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), and the subsequent solidarity demonstration by former ministers and minority MPs are some of the few political incidences that cannot be easily forgotten.

In July last year, Ghana was put under the global media microscope when the first African American President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, paid a historic two days visit to the country.

Scandal Rocks GJA Awards?

The 13th Ghana Journalist Association {GJA} Awards which recently under the distinguished chairmanship of His Excellency Blay Amihere, Ghana’s ambassador to Cote D’Ivoir and patronized by the Vice President Alhali Aliu Mahama, with the Chief Justice Her Ladyship Justice Theodora Georgina Wood as the special guest of honour could not produce any journalist of the year.

Though about 10 journalists were awarded in 10 different categories for their meritorious services to mother Ghana, the organizers say in their view none of them excelled enough to be crowned with the envious title of journalist of the year 2008. This accession has however generated tense debate among the general public as well as practitioners of the inky fraternity casting dark clouds over the kind of journalistic standards we have in the country today.

One would be tempted to agree with the organizers when they say that any body crowned as journalist of the year represents the face of the profession in the country at a particular moment, and indeed this cannot be put any better.

However, precedents before and after the just ended event of the association suggest that all did not go well and that the outcome could have been better.
Concerns have been raised about the low publicity given to the receiving of nominations for the awards while many industry practitioners have complained that they did not even know nominations were opened. “All we heard was that the list of names shortlisted for the awards were out, so we ask, from what list did they do the short listing, what was the criteria used in the short listing?” asked an aggrieved reporter from one of the private media houses.

The organizers, GJA, have also been asked to answer or explain reasons why no body from any of the numerous private media houses doted all over the country was able to win a single award. Curious minds say they suspect foul play and opined that the whole thing is an attempt to deny somebody of a national honour. To the accusers something is not right and for which they are calling for an independent probe into the GJA awards.

Ghanaimage has it on authority that the winner of the best reporter in the print category, Mr. Innocent Appiah, of the Ghanaian Times newspaper was recommended by the awards committee because his work had impressed them, however, out of the blue came an “order from above” ordering that the gentleman should not be given the title. No explanation came with this order.

Though it was announced at the event that there were no winners for some categories such as best feature for radio and television among others it is alleged that the order that denied Appiah his title also insisted that some names be taken off the list ”And the irony of it all is that the order came at a time when it was too late to re-organize anything.” Our source lamented.

Even though the president of the association, Mr. Ransford Tetteh announced during the 15th anniversary celebration of the Parliamentary press corps that the association had decided to include parliamentary reporting category in this year’s event to encourage parliamentary democracy in Ghana it was evident that no such category was announced during the. Members of the corps in an interview with ghanaimage expressed their disappointment at the GJA saying “We had sacrificed ourselves with the expectation that for once one of us will be walking home with a plaque but as you can see our hopes never materialized”

They hoped that the GJA is not being manipulated by any political authority to its advantage especially in this election year because such a scandal will spell doom for Ghana’s fragile democracy.
So who is influencing the GJA awards? Is it a political or social influence that denied Appiah and others their awards? Or is it simply a show of super power by some power drunk group of individuals. Posterity stands the judge…………….

Meanwhile a group calling itself the Progressive Journalists Union {ProJUG} has also expressed its disappointment at the GJA’s inability to produce an overall journalist for this year.

The union is of the view that Ghana abounds with a lot of quality journalists and that it is time the GJA as an umbrella body do more to encourage the practitioners to perform better. The President of ProJUG, Mr. Baafuor Kwadwo Asare, said his group is organizing an alternative award system to honour hard working journalists in the country. “Our awards will be called All Journalists Awards and it will not be discriminatory, we shall be open, free and fair.” He stated

VALCO To Go Despite Public Outcry

In the wake of the recent fiasco that engulfed the sale of the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), by government to some international consortium, there are indications factually pointing out that government is determined to let the national aluminium smelter go no matter what.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Dr Charles Mensah, has therefore indicated that more foreign companies have expressed interest in VALCO’s stake, and are currently processing relevant documents to acquire it.

Though both VALCO management and government officials have kept tight lips on who and from where is making what offer, ghanaimage’s investigations have revealed that it is government’s own desperation that’s leading it to let 70% of the company go so it can get some funding to supplement some budget deficits.

We further gathered that government is making frantic efforts to cover the recent embarrassment the deal brought on the international image of VALCO and Ghana as a whole.

As part of the damage control mechanism government has commenced intensive Media publicity using some influential “senior journalists” and media outlets in the country to propagate the message that “the embattled national aluminium smelter was still attractive to investors and that government is currently in serious discussion with some of the investors who have expressed interest in the company.” The said media practitioners are being rewarded handsomely for this service, we can say on authority.

Last week Companhi Vale do Rio Doce (Vale), the Brazilian iron ore giant and Norway’s Norsk Hydro, both pulled out of an initial agreement to purchase 70% of the aluminium smelter at an estimated US$ 175.5m.

Both companies are partners in the International Aluminium Partners (IAP), a consortium that was claimed to have approached the government of Ghana to buy off the 70 per cent stake in VALCO.
Government’s reason for selling off major stakes in the aluminium smelter stems from the fact that it proposed an integrated aluminium industry for the country’s vast bauxite reserves. An integrated aluminium industry has a direct positive

Used Car Dealers Bite Government

The Used Car Dealers Association of Ghana has expressed dissatisfaction about the way government is treating their members who are on the Tetteh-Quarshie to Mallam junction road, also known as the George Bush Motorway.

According to the aggrieved members of the association even though they contribute over US $700 000 to the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) government’s recent actions are threatening their livelihood, which is likely to cause them their daily bread and these they will not allow.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the general secretary of the association, Nana Bugyei stated that following the announcement of the commencement of work on the re-construction of the George Bush motor-way into a three way lane with two interchanges there was the understanding between them and government that they be re-located to a suitable location.

The said construction is being undertaken with funds from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) which is being managed by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA).

However, the used car dealers say they have not seen any sign of government’s commitment towards honoring this promise “and we are increasingly worried”. They further accused the government of sidelining them for a rival association, The Greater Accra Used Car Dealers Association, which has a lesser number of membership compared to theirs which is national in nature.

They claimed the rival association has been offered a land on the spintex road for relocation but they have not been offered any and with the commencement of the motorway expansion project, they fear for the immediate future of their business.

The association insists that government must re-locate them and that they are not ready to accept any compensation because no amount of compensation will work for them. Citing the Accra street hawkers as an example they call on government to give them a comfortable place which can serve as a general pool for used cars.

“We won’t mine even if we are asked to take the Achimota forest and develop it for this purpose” stated Nana Bugyei.

Parliament Flouts Laws?

Ghana’s legislature which has been powered by the constitution of the land to make laws for the entire citizenry has been caught flouting its own rules and regulations. An act which has been widely criticized by eye witnesses who realized its voluminous implications for generations to come.

They are therefore asking whether there is any good in voting for a group of people who are suppose to make laws for us to keep yet can’t keep their own internal bylaws.

The said act of disobedience of the law by our parliamentarians was championed by the first deputy speaker of the house, Hon. Freddy Blay who ought to have known better.

On Monday when the house met to deliberate on the day’s business, attendance was so poor that one of their own, Hon. Francis Agbotse had to draw the deputy speaker’s attention to the issue of quorum, for which reason he thinks that the sitting should be postponed.

In fact, section 48(1) and {2} of the house’ standing orders clearly states that if at the time of the commencement of official business of the house attendance is less than one third of the entire population of the house excluding the one presiding, and if a member draws the speaker’s attention to this, the speaker shall postpone sitting for 10 minutes and if after 10 minutes the house still does not form a quorum, the one presiding should adjourn sitting for the day.

However, this was not the case. Despite the fact that Hon. Agbotse drew the deputy speaker’s attention to the fact that only 12 out of the 230 member house was present in the house as at the time of its commencement, Hon. Blay, shunned him and allowed the sitting to go on .

Even though it was realized that most of the MPs dumped their responsibilities in the house to go and witness the commissioning of an uncompleted presidential palace for President JAK, the issue here is not about where the members were or why they were absent; it is about the gross disrespect for the law as displayed by a high profile personality as the First Deputy speaker of parliament who is known to be a responsible lawyer.

Okro Mouth insists that Freddy Blay has disrespected the people of Ghana and so must be made to apologize.

Do I have the support of someone here, say yeah…yeah!

Minority Fumes Over Proposed VALCO Sale

The minority group in parliament is threatening another showdown in the house following government’s intention to sell part of its shares in Volta Aluminium Company Limited {VALCO}.

Similar to that of last year during the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone plc of the United Kingdom the minority says it is ready to battle government to the core over the deal. Government has initiated moves to offload 70% of its wholly owned stakes in the VALCO to a foreign consortium; International Aluminium Partners (IAP) , barely a year after it bought over 100 per cent of company from aluminium giant Alcoa.

The proposed sale of VALCO’s 70 percent stakes has been valued at US$175.5m. Instructively, Parliament would have to approve the transaction before it becomes valid.Last week, the agreement was laid before Parliament by the Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiative, Papa Owusu Ankomah.

However, even before the committee report could be presented to the House, the minority group is kicking against the motion, citing the need for proper assessment to establish whether there was a need to sell or not to sell the proposed stakes in the national aluminium smelter.

“The minority after a careful study of the agreement and transactions wishes to call on the government to suspend the transaction to allow for a proper determination and valuation of the financial worth of VALCO by an independent valuer,” stated Haruna Iddrisu, the group spokesperson on communications.

Critics of the sale have expressed concerns about the provisions embodied in the agreement saying they were inimical to the economic interest of the country and general future of the aluminium industry in Ghana.Sections of the agreement demands VALCO to enter into a binding and irrevocable power purchase agreement or electricity supply agreement with the VRA.

According to the agreement, an initial payment of $25m shall be made to the consortium within fifteen days from the execution of the agreement and the balance, upon approval of the agreement by parliament.“The indecent haste with which the government wants to push this very important transaction in the last days of this parliament and the administration is mindboggling,” States the opposition parliamentarians.

This controversial move by government comes in the wake of the recent buy-over of the smelter from its former stakeholders in what it described as a repurchase of a national strategic asset.Government recently bought over ALCOA’s 10% stake in the now dormant 200,000 tone capacity VALCO smelter for $2 million.

Inspite of the relatively stable power supply in the country now, ALCOA willingly offloaded its shares.Government’s purchase of ALCOA’s remaining 10% shares in VALCO means a total buy-out of ALCOA from VALCO because government had initiatially repossessed 90% of the smelter from the American company.Meanwhile, government has proposed an integrated aluminium industry which the country’s bauxite will be mined, refined and processed to near-end products in the country.

The integrated aluminium industry would also link to the railway system in the country which depends largely on the transportation of bauxite for its revenues.

Da Sylva 2

This picture was taken when she wasa just 3 months old. As can be seen, she is already aspiring to greater heights.

CURRICULUM VITAE {CV}

CURRICULUM VITAE

NAME: Jeorge Wilson Komla Kingson
DATE OF BIRTH 8th May, 1979
PLACE OF BIRTH: Accra
MARITAL STATUS: Married (with a child)
PRESENT CONTACT: P.O. Box AT 2329, Achimota, Accra
Tel: 0244-822-034 and 0277-524-166
E-mail: jokingsghana@yahoo.com
Blog: www.kyoobi.blogspot.com

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
a) Certificate in Acting skills and Production Management
b) Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) – Certificate
c) Media in Partnership for Development. (a media Training Institute)
d) City & Guilds (London)
e) S.S.S.C.E.

WORK EXPERIENCE
a) Business week Africa Newspaper - Parliamentary reporter/Political Editor
b) Ghanaimage.com - Political Editor
c) Theghanaianjournal.com - Sub-Editor
d) Prime People Magazine - Deputy Editor
e) National Showbiz Newspaper - Deputy Editor
f) Celebrity Newspaper - Columnist (Theatre)
g) People & Places (P&P) - Contributor
h) The Pioneer Newspapers (Kumasi) - Regional Correspondent
i) Romio Films Consult - Script Co-ordinator
j) National Theatre of Ghana - Youth Programmes Coordinator

MAJOR DUTIES
a) Scouting for news and interviewing Celebrities
b) Covering events and taking pictures for publication
c) Planning pages of the Newspaper
d) Seeing to the final production of the Paper
e) Seeing to the nationwide circulation of the Paper
f) Writing scripts and directing same for stage performance
g) Overseeing activities of the youth
h) Rehearsing artists for performance
i) Supervising travel arrangements of artistes to and from performance venues
j) Carrying out research and feasibility studies of impending performances

OTHER SKILLS AND CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
a) Possess Excellent Leadership Qualities
b) Artistic Director/founding President – Universal Theatre Club
c) Best Artistic Director – Afroculture Talent Show – 2003
d) Writing of Films and Documentary Scripts for Stage and Television (Ref. Romio Films Consult)
e) Youth Leadership Training and Internet skills
f) Member – Journalists for Human Rights (JHR)
g) Member - Ghana Actors Guild (GAG)
h) Founding Member - Progressive Journalists Union of Ghana (Pro-JUG)
i) Member – Parliamentary Press Corps
j) Member – Standing Committee of Ghana Union of Theatre Societies(GUTS)
k) Board Member – Every Week Theatre Board (EWET)
l) Member – Journalists for Business Advocate (JBA)
m) Member – Network of Journalists for the promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disability in Africa

TRAINING WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS ATTENDED
a) A one day Experiential Training Workshop on Disability Awareness, Accra- October, 2008.
b) A two day follow-up workshop on Business Advocacy for SMEs, Kumasi-September 2008.
c) A three day Training Workshop on Parliamentary reporting , Sogakope- July, 2008
d) A three day Media Training Workshop in Business Advocacy, Koforidua- June, 2008
e) A three day Consultation Workshop for Political parties on Ghana’s Long Term Development Plan, Ho- June, 2008
f) A four week Human Rights and Journalism Workshop, Accra- May, 2008
g) A three day Training Workshop on the Lands Administration Project, Koforidua- March, 2008
h) A three day Training Workshop on the District Assemblies Common Fund, Tamale- February, 2008
i) Intensive short Course in Script writing for Film and Television, GIJ- July, 2005
j) First Miracle Rock Foundation International Conference on HIV/AIDS in Africa, Accra- October, 2003
k) Second Annual National Youth Summit – University of Ghana, Legon- August, 2001

HOBBIES
a) Writing and Reading
b) Artistic Directing (Theatre)
c) Acting

REFEREES
1) Tonywhite Meribe (2) Seth Amoah Addi
Managing Editor Editor-in-Chief
Businessweek Africa Evening Tribune Newspaper
Tel: 0244-677-555 Tel: 0277-457-253/020-839-6727

CONTACT ME

I CAN BE CONTACTED ON:

Post Box AT2329
Achimota-Accra
Ghana -West Africa

E-mail: jokingsghana@yahoo.com
jokingsghana@gmail.com

Tel: 233 24 822 034
233 277 524 166

see him

see him o, idey funny me self. and what does he mean by dis style, idiot, dont mind him. anyway, his name is Clement.

DA SYLVA

the young shall grow