The storm

Kufour Must Come Clean

2009-02-02T10:14:42+01:00

It has been a little over a week since Ghanaians woke up and received the bombshell concerning the “mother of all” end of service package deals for ex-president Kufour. I have been shaking my head every single day, telling myself that, if Kufour is a reasonable person who indeed cares about the welfare of the millions of suffering Ghanaians, for once he would prove his skeptics wrong and organize a press conference to request for a review of the package. It is this wrong held view that has prevented me from commenting on this issue all this while. I kept telling myself that I will wait until I hear from Kufour speaking directly to the cameras to request for a review of the package. But every single passing day is turning my dream into a nightmare.

First of all, it does not matter whether the Chinery Hesse committee that was constituted by Kufour to draft his end of service benefit goofed by attempting to rip-off poor Ghanaians with the astronomical deal for the ex-president. It does not also matter whether Kojo Mpianim sneaked the report under the cover of darkness to parliament for approval. Oh yes, it does not matter whether the parliamentarians took the time to thoroughly debate on the merits and demerits of the benefits. To me and to a large extent other millions of Ghanaians, what matters most today is when Kufour would come out of his hideout, hold a national press conference, look through the cameras and inform Ghanaians that he rejects most of the items that were recommended for him.

Certain things have never ceased to amaze me. To me how some people fail to understand what the word shame means, amazes me all the time. I have thought and thought and come to the conclusion that if one person can get so much from Ghana as his end of retirement benefit, then Ghana must be extremely rich. I do not buy the “huhudious” story that was written by Daily Guide and attributed to Kufour. What Kufour needs to do is to come out and openly talk to Ghanaians. The way he is hiding behind the scenes is a clear indication that he is just bidding his time for Ghanaians to stop talking about the issue. It is also another indication that he knows everything about the report from the beginning and likes everything that was recommended for him.

I will want to take issue with just a couple of the items recommended for him. It was reported by Joy FM that the Chinery Hesse committee recommended that Kufour be given $1 million as seed money to establish a foundation. What a nice way to rip-off a country or steal in the name of helping the people. It is okay if Kufour wants to establish a foundation to help the needy in Ghana. But why should the country give him the seed money of $1 million to establish the foundation? If Kufour really wants to help the needy in Ghana, he should rather raise funds from countries and friends he make around the world while globe-trotting. Ghana, I repeat Ghana cannot afford to dole out $1 million to Kufour while most of our medical equipment at hospitals are grounding to a halt.

I have read from multiple Ghanaian writers who have stated that ex-president George Bush will get a life time secret service protection. I beg to differ. In 1994 the U.S. congress passed a law to cut the secret service protection for ex-presidents to only 10 years. Anybody who doubts what I am saying should do further research on this or check the information from this site (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20061218/ai_n16895839). If United States of all countries have even seen the need to cut down on cost on protecting its former presidents, I do not see why Kufour wants to pile on Ghana’s debt.

It is a fact that Kufour has a house in Kumasi. He also has another one in Accra. I do not care if he has more than one house in those big cities. Considering his age, why would Kufour want another house in Accra and possibly another one in Kumasi to be built for him at the expense of Ghana? Someone would say he has kids. Yes, he has kids, just like million other Ghanaians who toil day in and day out to at least eat one square meal before they go to bed. But the argument supporting this rip-off is even laughable. To make ex-presidents willing to hand over power when their term of office expires. This is one stupid argument that should never have come out of anybody’s mouth. This argument would have held a little water if Kufour was a dictator. But why would Kufour even think of not relinquishing power when he has served his two-terms in office?

By asking Ghanaians to build him two houses, Kufour is still day-dreaming about the “Ownership Society” that he blindly propagated throughout his term leading to many of his cronies to rip-off the country. I cannot believe that Kufour trumpeted the Ghana @ 50 celebrations with pomp and confidence, yet he failed to press those who were in charge of the organization to render proper accounts to the state. Such is the mark of Kufour who does not want to go away quietly but wants poor Ghana to bath him in pomp and comfort till he dies.

Kufour was to be given 6 cars including one armored car. It is good for the ex-president to be protected. There are of course some bad people all over the world so as an ex-president you need to feel secure. But if ex-president Rawlings does not have an armored vehicle why should Kufour have one? And I do not think Ghanaians are so crazy to go chasing after an ex-president that is why Kufour needs an armored vehicle so badly before he feels secure to travel around the country. There is a saying that one has to live within his or her means, but this saying does not seem to be the cardinal principle of the NPP, which is why during Kufour’s last two years in office, some organizations were allowed to spend more than seven times their budget. Is it any wonder why the Ghana @ 50 accounts have still not been reconciled since two years the event ended?

My heart simply jumped when I read that Kufour was also to be given $400,000 (4.8 billion cedis) as “pocket money”. My God, why would one person create so much attention to himself by wanting to drag a whole nation to the drain? Ghana has had many leaders, but Kufour is the only leader who traveled almost every month when he was in office. And he made sure that any time he traveled outside the country, he stayed additional days just to make extra money in terms of per diem. Ghanaians would recall that even during one-day state visits, it took Kufour four or five extra days for him to return home. I have never forgotten when Kufour left Ghana on a supposed state visit a day after hundreds of Ghanaians were trampled to death during the Accra Stadium disaster on May 9, 2001. Normally, when presidents are away on state visits and national calamities occur, they return home immediately to console the country, but Kufour who was right inside Ghana when the calamity occurred found a nice excuse to leave the country. Yet, in spite of his many travels and hundreds of thousands of per diem paid to him, he still wants Ghana to part with $400,000 to him. If this is not the extreme form of greed, then I do not know how to coin it.

Now I have this simple advice to Kufour. We know that he served Ghana for 8 years. It was his choice to serve Ghana. Nobody pushed him to do it. He wanted to offer his services to the country. But we never knew that the underlying factor was to turn round after the end of his service to demand so much from Ghana.. There was another “Kweku Ananse” story that during his 8 years as president Kufour lived in his own home. Nobody argues with him for living in his own home, but before he run for president, Kufour knew the nature of the seat of government. But because he hated Rawlings so much to the extent of not wanting to touch anything that Rawlings has touched before, that is why he decided to live in his own home.

Ghana cannot afford to spend so much on Kufour and his family. In the present state of the country coupled with the economic uncertainties throughout the world, we are waiting for Kufour to come out of his hideout and speak about the issue. This issue is never going to go away until he speaks about it. Even some prominent NPP diehards have spoken against this rip-off. I am yet to hear Akufo-Addo’s take on the issue. All what I hear is his preparations for 2012. Kufour has to prove that he is a reasonable person. If he fails to come out, then I will this time round compare him to Ferdinand Marcos, the former Philippino President who raped his country of millions of dollars before he fled into exile.

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Wereko Brobbey the most ‘sikadicious’ ‘poli-trickian’ in Ghana?

2009-02-02T10:05:47+01:00

Wereko Brobbey the most ‘sikadicious’ ‘poli-trickian’ in Ghana?

Before you proceed to read, understand that the title of this article is a question to which I seek some answer from well meaning Ghanaian?

Dr Charles Wereko-Brobbey was the presidential candidate of the United Ghana Movement (UGM) in 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fuel and Combustion Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Solar Energy Engineering, both from the University of Leeds, UK. The UGM presidential candidate also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Middlesex, Hendon, UK and is a Fellow of the Institute of Petroleum, UK. Dr. Wereko-Brobbey has practised as a Consulting Engineer for over 20 years and is a Research Fellow in Management Science at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. He also worked as the Energy and Environmental Planning Programme Chief at the Commonwealth Science Council, Commonwealth Secretariat, London. In 1988, Dr Wereko-Brobbey was appointed the Energy Policy Adviser to the PNDC and Executive Director of the National Energy Board. In 1995, he was appointed the Consulting Energy Economist to the African Development Bank's African Energy Programme. Dr Wereko-Brobbey has authored two university-level textbooks on energy and development, as well as numerous technical papers and reports on energy and environment. He became the first African to be elected to the leadership of the National Union of Students (NUS), UK, President of Leeds University Union in 1978-1979. His political carrier started with the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1993. He established the Independent Media Corporation of Ghana which set up the Radio Eye in 1994 and played an inspiring role in the Alliance For Change (AFC), a political pressure group that organised demonstrations against the introduction of VAT in 1995. Dr Wereko-Brobbey formed the UGM in 1996 after resigning from the NPP.

Consider the C.V. of Dr. Brobbey before he formed his political party and it looked good. In fact I once thought he could be a good Chief Executive of the nation considering his C.V. (that is on paper). In practice however, this man’s performance has been far below par.

After a woeful display by his party in the 2000 elections, Dr. Wereko-Brobbey was appointed CEO of the VRA on August 24, 2001. He officially assumed office in September that year but resigned on September 17, 2003.

Issues about Dr. Wireko Brobbey first came to light in 2003 when a couple of VRA workers went on demonstration against his tenure as chief executive due to what they referred to as abuse of power and misappropriation of funds.

Dr. Wereko Brobbey later took the VRA to court, claiming an amount in excess of 2.2billion old cedis, being five years end of service benefit, after working with the authority for two years (2001 to September 2003), however, he was unsuccessful with in his attempt, as the court failed to endorse all his demands, but endorsed some of the counter-claims requested by the Authority, in respect of either returning the furniture set, cutleries and vehicles in his possession, or pay an amount of over GH¢50,000, being the cost of the items.

Surprised to find out that he had to keep the furniture and even cutlery? As though the Kufuor administration did not know Dr. Wereko-Brobbey’s track record with mismanagement and financial malpractice, they decided to hand him the luxurious job of heading the Ghana@50 Secretariat and the results of that is horrible news making the rounds in Ghana today.

After parliament approved a $20million dollar for the event, the funds were still not enough that Wereko-Brobbey and the secretariat spent a whooping $78million dollars on the event. WOW! I wonder what would have happened to Ghana if his party was voted into power in 2000. How could not even manage VRA and Ghana@50 secretariat without financial controversies how much more the entire nation. That is why I always suggest that anyone who contests for the office of president must at least have been to manage a private or public office brilliantly before they will be given the high office of president.

I listened to Dr. Wereko-Brobbey been interviewed by Kwame Sefa-Kayi on Peace FM regarding the auditor general’s report and he was clearly all over the place as to how the bill came up to $78million. As to why of all the great Chief executives in Ghana, Dr. Wereko-Brobbey whose past financial management has been shrouded in controversy was the one to be chosen to manage this event I just can’t understand. Maybe some one can help me find answers to this.

The crony business in Ghana politics is killing the nation and the language of sacrifice is certainly dissipating from the dictionary of those who preached it when they so desperately begged to be voted into power. What at all gets into the head of our leaders that once they ascend the throne of power they change of a sudden, can you imagine? Hmm!

Is Dr. Wereko-Brobbey the greediest ‘sikadicious’ person in Ghana politics, who will jump at any given change to maximise his pocket? Please help me find answers to this my fellow Ghanaians. If Dr. Wereko-Brobbey happens to read this, could he also reply and help me clarify some of the concerns raised?

Let’s us learn to sacrifice a little for the nation if we can truly move Ghana forward an stop the stomach politics. We need to chase out of office all these greedy people who are in power to maximum their gain at the loss of the nation.

God bless you. Thank you.

Please send your sensible responses to dr.objective@yahoo.co.uk. Kweku Afful a.k.a Dr. Objective Slogan…together we build together we succeed. If anyone cares about Ghana, Kweku does.

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title-4253690

2008-06-01T10:26:24+02:00

A Sneak Insight Into Who Will Hold What

Inquisitive tongues lying in political jaws have relayed to THE SUN a minute percentage of just how a probable NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO ADDO government clad in NPP robes would look like.

When the slippery political tongues rolled off the names, some particularly interesting new names shot to the fore while old ones generally thought to be acquainted with certain portfolios, made significant shifts.

THE SUN can confirm that come December, should the Lord God be gracious onto Nana Addo and roll the blanket of the clouds to descend and plant his buttock on the presidential seat at the FLAGSTAFF HOUSE, a brand new name will sit atop the Finance and Economic Planning portfolio.

Former vice-President of the Bank of New York Mr. Boakye Agyarko Kyeremanten will almost certainly be entrusted with the Ministry, so that what he, together with a couple of financial and economic wizards did to uplift several Asian and Latin American countries courtesy supervising the mass growing of BANANA for hard foreign exchange cash will be replicated here. Interestingly, Agyarko Kyerematen gave up the high-profile New York banking job to contest the NPP sole presidential candidature and lost, but has since managed to stay behind to work in the deep chamber of the Nana campaign even though a lucrative Bank of Japan appointment fell at his very feet in late January.

Aside Agyarko Kyeremanten, Professor Frimpong Boateng is a capable name that may go to revolutionize the Energy sector with the BIO-DIESEL DREAM, which could help propel Ghanaian industries to a higher height touching perhaps, the nostrils of heaven in terms of efficiency.

An old major name, Nana Yaw Osafo Maafo may yet walk away with the Chief of staff portfolio, while Party son Dan Kwaku Botwe may tentatively be placed at a much solid position, probably Transport, where the Party has done a great job countrywide under President JA Kufuor.

The slimy tongues told THE SUN how Party prodigal son, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen may have his apron strings tied to the Foreign Ministry, while Nana’s life-long pal Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku may yet oversee the yet-to-be-created Oil Ministry.

THE SUN was also told how former Odododiodoo MP Niibi Ayibonte will certainly take over from Sheikh I.C. Quaye as Greater Accra Minister, while former NADMO boss George Isaac Amoo, so mistreated and vilified by his own Party, will be the new Accra Metropolitan Authority Mayor.

Medical capo-turned-security-expert Philip Kwame Afriyie Addo Kufuor will walk back to the Communications Ministry.

The casualty list has old Hackman Owusu Agyeman who just warmed his way into announcing an offertory for the NPP topping the bill alongside a bunch of 70-year-old bracket politicians foisted on Ghanaians by President J.A. Kufuor.

THE SUN still has its ears glued to the ground and will relay subsequent disclosures to the public, as soon as its rays set on something new.

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Good one There J.J keep it up

2008-05-11T11:37:38+02:00

A video recording of former President Jerry John Rawlings’s attack on the personality of Mr Richmond Aggrey, a businessman who has sued Scancom Limited, operators of MTN, over a shareholding dispute, was on Wednesday played at the Commercial Court in Accra.

In the recording, former President Rawlings accused Dr Aggrey of going round the world cheating people and had committed similar offences in Nigeria and was being sought for by that country's authorities.

This revelation came up when Dr Aggrey, who was continuing with his evidence-in-chief in the ongoing case, presented a recorded videotape of the 1999 Emancipation Day Celebrations to support his claim that Former President Rawlings was interfering in the affairs of the company.

Dr Aggrey said he had several calls from Mr Edward Salia, Minister of Communications, and members of the Lebanese community urging him to step down for the company to proceed because of his problem with the then Government.

He said even though most members of the Board of the company knew of his harassment they did not do anything to help.

He said though the company was awarded a certificate to roll out its products, all of a sudden it received letters from the National Communication Authority (NCA) for them to cede some of their frequencies to the Authority.

Dr Aggrey said because the former President's plan to get him out of the company was succeeding, members of the Board of the company decided that they must find a way to indicate that he (Dr Aggrey) was resigning in order to stop the Former President from interfering.

He said he was asked by the other shareholders to write his resignation letter with copies sent to his Lawyers and some leaked to the press to create the impression that he was leaving the company.

Asked by his Counsel, Mr Yonny Kulendi why they had to leak his resignation to the media, Dr Aggrey said this was to stop Former President Rawlings from interfering in the company, buy time as well as find respectable Ghanaians to talk to him.

Mr Felix Ntrakwah, Counsel for Investcom Consortium Holding, raised objection to the videotapes on the grounds that the Plaintiff only indicated that he was going to tender them in evidence and not to play them but the Court rejected his claim.

Dr Aggrey also said he did not want to leave the company because it was going to impair the company's ability to raise further money for its expansion.

Dr Aggrey has sued Scancom Limited, operators of Areeba Mobile Phone Service, now MTN, and Investcom Consortium Holdings S.A. of Beirut, Labanon, majority shareholders in Areeba as well as Grandview Management of Texas, United States, to claim 20 per cent share of the company.

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Hitting the Hot Spots: NetAnalyst Certification

2008-05-01T10:15:24+02:00

The PMG NetAnalyst certification is a program designed to help IT and networking professionals understand networking from the wire level on up through the application. This program started in 1995 and has more than 2,500 certified professionals currently among its ranks. This program was even profiled in the August 2001 issue of Certification Magazine in the article, “Pine Mountain Certification: Between the Cracks.” This title didn’t refer to the location or status of the certification itself, but rather it emphasized the ability of someone who completes this program to determine exactly where network behaviors, problems or issues originate by examining the kind of information that moves across the network. Because this often occurs in the gray areas between vendor platforms, services or other boundaries between products and platforms, this emphasizes the knowledge and skills necessary to track things down properly.

PMG is an acronym for the Pine Mountain Group, a once-independent training and certification organization. Today, PMG and the NetAnalyst certification program are the property of Austin, Texas-based network management software company NetQos Inc.

Bill Alderson, well-known protocol analyst, instructor and consultant — and the primary force behind NetAnalyst — is still actively involved in its architecture and delivery as a senior consultant for the company. And while the content for the NetAnalyst certification continues to be improved and updated to reflect state-of-the-art networking technologies, tools, protocols and situations, it remains essentially the same vendor-neutral network analysis certification program it always has been.

At a fundamental level, the NetAnalyst program takes the topic of network forensics as its root subject matter. Network forensics should be understood to mean the informed capture, inspection and analysis of actual network traffic and behavior to produce information to be used for a variety of purposes. These can range from network characterization and base-lining to understand what typical behavior and usage looks like, to examination of specific pathologies related to intrusion attempts, security breaches, unauthorized access or usage, and so forth.

Unlike the kind of forensics that reconstructs crimes from evidence left at the scene at some point in the past, network forensics is as useful in examining real-time network behavior as it is at reconstructing and understanding historical network behavior. Understanding what has happened (and is happening) on a network at various levels of detail helps individuals and organizations better understand how to control and manage that network today, how to optimize the network to meet business goals, and how to plan for network growth and expanded use in the future.

The NetAnalyst program consists of three levels of certification, as follows:

Level 1—Cross Technology: This credential indicates that its holders understand basic network forensics, including core theory and technologies, and know how to construct a big-picture view of a network. The term “cross technology” is an important key because truly understanding a network’s behavior and characteristics means knowing what kinds of hardware and software elements make up a network’s infrastructure, as well as what kinds of software (particularly applications) and activities best describe how it’s used and what it’s used for.
This requires individuals to use multiple tools and techniques to construct such an understanding and that they are able to move among the various vendor-specific platforms and technologies that comprise a network infrastructure as needed.

The Level 1 credential matches up with a five-day class on network theory and principles. This class covers TCP standards, performance, flow control and troubleshooting, along with IP subnetting, addressing and fragmentation.

It also includes coverage of ARP, ICMP and routing algorithms, as well as Ethernet-specific standards and characteristics, cabling and switches, VLANs, Qos and traffic-engineering topics and more. Candidates must pass a single exam to earn this credential, consisting of 60 questions in a 90-minute period.

Level 2 — Architect: This credential indicates that its holders understand how networks are organized, how they operate, and how applications and services behave when they use them. Thus, qualified individuals know how to monitor, analyze and resolve complex networking issues.
The architect label in the credential’s name reflects the holder’s deep and thorough understanding of how basic principles that govern network design, implementation and maintenance come into play when dealing with specific networking situations and behaviors.

The Level 2 credential matches up with a five-day class on network troubleshooting essentials. It begins with an in-depth analysis of the OSI network reference model and proceeds through its individual layers to describe and show how each one operates and behaves.

Topics covered include Ethernet operation and analysis, wireless 802.11b/g Ethernet networks, switched-network analysis and VLANs, IP operation and analysis, TCP throughput and latency analysis and a look at various TCP application layer protocols. Students work with a protocol analyzer to complete numerous hands-on labs and exercises as they work through the topics for this class. Candidates must pass a single exam to earn this credential, consisting of 30 questions in a 90-minute period.

Level 3 — Elite: This credential indicates that its holders can use a protocol analyzer, understand TCP/IP protocols in depth, and can dig into specific TCP/IP applications and services at the expert level to illustrate or characterize behavior, diagnose potential or actual pathologies, and to ferret out the networking factors that contribute to network performance and problems.
The Level 3 credential matches up with a five-day class on network performance forensics and includes in-depth coverage of some or all of the following topics, depending on student interests and inclinations: application layer protocols such as Voice over IP (VoIP), SMTP, FTP, DHCP/WINS/DNS and more.

Broadcast analysis, Qos validation, network design and IP multicast also can number among its topics. Students work with a protocol analyzer as their primary hands-on and lab activity in this class and spend significant time working through case studies and detailed scenarios. Candidates must pass a single exam to earn this credential, consisting of 15 questions and five short essays in a 90-minute period.

All these classes cost $2,495 to $2,995, depending on topic and location (discounts are available to organizations that send multiple attendees) and include the exam at the end of each offering. Individuals who wish to challenge the exams without taking the classes are welcome to do so at a fee of $495 (including one free retake for those who don’t pass on their first try), but they must make themselves available at the teaching location for the linked class by 10 a.m. on the final day of training to sit for its exam. Information about class schedules and locations is available through www.NetPerformance.com.

Ultimately, the real value of the NetAnalyst program is the insight into networking it can help candidates develop, as well as the profound skills and knowledge to which its senior levels (2 and 3) attest. Protocol analysis remains a nonpareil area of network specialization and continues to score well on salary and job satisfaction surveys for networking professionals.

This program represents an excellent way to acquire and demonstrate such skills and knowledge and offers interesting opportunities for networking professionals to advance further in their field.

Ed Tittel is the technology editor for Certification Magazine. He is also the director of training at NetQoS Inc. and the editor in chief of NetPerformance.com, where he oversees all technical content for that site. He can be reached at etittel@certmag.com

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NPP GHANA FOR SALE

2008-04-05T09:37:10+02:00

Afram Plains Sold to Foreign Investor

Hunger and severe poverty could hit some parts of the Afram Plains area of the Eastern Region owing to a decision by Kwahu traditional authorities to sell large tracts of farmland stretching several miles to a foreign investor.

The sale of the land to the investor, who is popularly known among inhabitants of the area as 'obroni', has halted the cultivation of lands for the planting of yam - the main crop - as well as, cassava, groundnuts, agushi, pepper, maize, and rice. Some of the farmers affected reside in communities such as Kwasikune, Nsogya Anaafoo, Burai Kofi, Kwadwo Amoah, etc.

Public Agenda was informed that the foreign investor will venture into animal husbandry and an undisclosed industrial activity with a promise to employ the youth and establish educational institutions for the communities.

Even though the farmers welcomed the setting up of schools, the creation of jobs for the youth, and the opening up of the area through road constructions, they expressed disgust that they have to discontinue farming due to the loss of the most fertile lands to this investor.

Already, many of the farmers, especially Krachis, Dagaatis and Sissalas have started migrating since their farmlands were declared "wanted" by this 'obroni'(whiteman). Others have begun investing their monies in trading through the construction of kiosks for their wives and children to sell in areas like Akwasi Fante, Maame Krobo and Ekye Amanfrom.

These are peasant farmers who pay yearly land lease fees to the traditional authorities to cultivate on average four acres of yam every season, while the females cultivate on average two acres of groundnut, pepper or agushi. They usually have two or three of their children helping them with their farming activities while the rest, if any at all, are sent to relatives back home to be educated.

One thing they are all certain about is that in only a couple of years, none of them would be living in that area because the 'obroni' does not plan to invest in cultivation of yam and other crops which have been their backbone through the years.

Their fear now is that even if they were given other lands to cultivate, they will lose their children to the 'obroni' who has reportedly recruited some of the young people already to put up his base and fell trees. So this year, most of the farmers have abandoned farm work because of uncertainty.

They are, therefore, going to rely on the last season's production for feeding. What would happen to them after that is anybody's guess.

Yam is an extremely important crop for at least 60 million people, comprising rural poor producers, processors and consumers in West Africa. It provides multiple opportunities for poverty reduction and nourishment that gives 30 billion calories of energy in the continent.

The Afram Plains is a major yam producing area for the country, coming after northern Ghana. Though specific statistics are lacking on the quantum of yam produced in the area, some of the farmers claimed they sell about 1,000 tubers of yam from a two-acre farm in a good season.

According to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) statistics, 48.7 million tonnes of yams were produced worldwide in 2005, and 97% of this was in sub-Saharan Africa. West and Central Africa accounted for about 94% of world production. Nigeria led production with 34 million tonnes followed by Côte d'Ivoire (5 million tonnes), Ghana (3.9 million), and Bénin (2.1 million tonnes), etc.

Ghana exports the largest quantity of yams (about 12,000 tonnes) annually. Average yam consumption per capita per day is highest in Bénin (364 kcal) followed by Côte d'Ivoire (342 kcal), Ghana (296 kcal), and Nigeria (258 kcal).

In 2004, experts attending a two-day workshop in Ibadan, Nigeria on yam research development in West and Central Africa called on regional leaders to invest more in yam production for local consumption and export purposes.

Teferi-Bel Amakeletetch, representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said the West and Central African countries which provide the highest yam production in the world needed to use their comparative advantage to reduce poverty, achieve food security and earn foreign exchange.

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NPP IS UNGRATEFUL

2007-11-25T10:39:18+01:00

... cocaine dealer would buy Ghana, If ...
... opinion polls were faked

A medical doctor and one of the NPP presidential hopefuls, Dr Kobina Arthur Kennedy has assured footsoldiers of the party that he would never abandon them if he is elected flagbearer and subsequently, as President of Ghana.

He said when NPP was in opposition they promised to ensure unity and compassion for all foot soldiers and Ghanaians as a whole, but after winning power the party started practising what he termed as "power for those in power".

Addressing a handful of his party people in Bolgatanga, he promised to consult party executives in the appointment of DCEs and regional ministers when voted President. They would be the ones to present the list of the people they would like to be their DCEs and regional ministers for him to approve of, he stated.

Dr Kwabena Arthur Kennedy also cautioned NPP delegates who would be voting to elect their presidential candidate to be mindful of some of the aspirants who have been going round splashing money on them because the source of the money could be a questionable one.

He regretted that people are only interested in the money being displayed by these aspirants without bothering to find out the source the money was raised from. If we do not take our time, one cocaine dealer would just take his money and buy this country and put our lives in danger,he said. He therefore advised the delegates to vote according to their conscience to elect the right leader who would be capable of leading the country.

Arthur Kennedy said opinion polls that were putting some of the aspirants ahead of others were faked. He alleged that some of the aspirants had paid money for the polls to be conducted in their favour. According to him, he was approached by one of the conductors of the polls to pay money for him to be put ahead of others but he refused.

He said if he is elected as flagbearer, he would appoint 3 chiefs of staff and deputies to ensure that things were more decentralized. In other to be acquainted with the problems of the party and the national executives, he said he would visit the party's headquarters once in a week.

The aspirant regretted that too many people were dying in Ghana as a result of dirt, especially in the cities. He observed that, it was difficult for people in Accra and Kumasi to respond to nature call as a result of inadequate toilet facilities, thereby resulting in indiscriminate excreting of human waste. These were causing cholera, malaria and typhoid. Lunatics were also going about polluting the environment.

He promised to build these facilities in the universities and other tertiary institutions as well as all filling stations throughout the country. He would also launch a nationwide hand wash campaign. He also promised to invest in the education of the poor to reduce crime in the country.

Dr Kwabena Arthur Kennedy advised all politicians to stop trading insults on one another and focus on fighting corruption saying, insults have never healed the sick, neither built a bridge nor fed a hungry child. He said he would also use technology to create jobs and bring about development.

He also noted that with the right combination of technology, the three northern regions could feed the whole of Africa forever. Frustrated over the country's underdevelopment despite its rich natural resources, Dr Kennedy said, want to be President because if I have power, I can transform this country.

The medical doctor said he had a good relationship with all the aspirants and if he were made the flagbearer of the party, it would be easier to receive and work with them.

He dismissed assertions that he was too young to become President, citing Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and others who became rulers and leaders of their countries at a young and tender age.

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IS IT TRUE, MR. PRESIDENT?

2007-07-11T12:35:25+02:00

…That the First Lady had packed out and was living with her 41 year old, Accountant son

Reports reaching your authoritative Ghana Palaver indicate that all is not well in the matrimonial home of Ghana’s first lady Mrs. Theresa Kufuor.

The First Lady had parked out of the matrimonial home and was living with her 41 year-old Accountant son because, according to sources close to the President’s residence, she is not happy with the President’s amorous affairs.

Mama Theresa is back in the matrimonial home upon the advise of some well meaning Ghanaians but family sources say, she is not happy at all and that had it not being for the fact that the President has some few more months left of his term in office, the first lady would have asked for a divorce.

The source said for sometime now, Mama Theresa has been complaining about her husband’s respect for her as the mother of his children and she suspect she is not getting her husband’s respect because of the women who come in contact with him in the cause of his duties.

The news of the first lady’s temporary exit from her matrimonial home disturbed most concerned Ghanaians and set tongues waging as some think the situation would not be a good precedence for the up and coming young men and women trying to get into marriage.

The family source said this is not the first time the first lady has threatened to divorce the President, it happened before the 2001 elections when Mama Theresa sought the help of the then Catholic Bishop of Accra, Bishop Andoh to do away with her husband, but the old Catholic Father, rather advised her not to carry out her threat more especially at a time her husband had won elections, it would not speak well of her and the in-coming President.

The first lady took the advice of Bishop Andoh and went back to her husband and has since tried very hard to make the marriage work but her expectation that because of old age, the president would amend his amorous affairs, has not materialized.

According staffers working in the President’s residence, the first lady and the President have had a lot of troubles over female official staffers who accompany the President on his travels and non staffers who call on the President daily without any regard for the first lady.

Some observers said the President is behaving like his friend George W. Bush, the American President, whose wife, Auntie Laura, has also packed out of her matrimonial home.

Another said even though former American President Bill Clinton had problems with his marriage because of the Lewinsky affair, Hilary Clinton never left her husband’s side, adding that “birds of the same feathers flock together, no wonder Mama Theresa has been in and out of the matrimonial home”.

A female member of parliament had this to say when she heard what was happening to the first lady, “Nineteen years of the Rawlings’ never gave Ghanaians any anxious moment to worry about the first couple but we have a lot to worry about hearing what is happening with Kufuor household”.

Most Ghanaians, who have heard the news, seem worried and are seriously praying that the first lady, Mama Theresa at least wait till her husband is out of power before she carries out her threat of divorce.

Some concerned citizens are also worried and are seeking the intervention of the Almighty Lord to soften the heart of the President and give him the wisdom for him to be able to combine his official duties with his family matters.

Many are also looking for ways they can appeal to the President to do all in his power to make peace prevail in the matrimonial home because the young are looking up to the first couple and other older citizens to give them good examples to go by.

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title-2614564

2007-07-11T12:31:17+02:00

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As Addo-Kufuor files for Presidency

2007-07-11T12:00:54+02:00

MADAME GISELLE YAJZI RESURFACES!

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There are three questions that no Ghanaian media person has dared ask President Kufuor directly but that will be asked of Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, the President’s brother and NPP Minister of Defence, if he dares file to contest as Presidential candidate of the NPP. The questions are:

· Does President Kufuor have twin sons with Giselle Yajzi, his former Economic Adviser?

· Is the younger of the twins named Philip Kufuor?

· Is he named Philip after Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor those Christian name is Philip?

These questions are extremely relevant because Giselle Yajzi, the Iraqi-American self-confessed ex-lover of President Kufuor, has gone on record that she had a torrid one-year love affair with President Kufuor.

She has gone on record that arising out of that affair she delivered twin sons for the President.

She has gone on record that the President formally had the twins named John and Philip Kufuor after the President and his younger brother respectively.

She has gone on record that it was the President who informed her that his younger brother’s Christian name is Philip.

The reason why Dr. Addo-Kufuor will have to answer these questions is because it goes to affect his credibility. If it is true that the twins exist and one is named after him, then the question is why has he not confirmed it but allowed Giselle Yazji to get away with a lie for all this time?

If it is not true that the twins exist or that one is named after him, then the question is why has he kept quiet all this time and fuelled the intense media speculation about the issue?

Whichever way it goes, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor has questions to answer. Indeed, Giselle Yajzi mentioned him as one of the few persons who know about the existence of the twins.

The others that he mentioned included Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs Kwadwo Mpiani, Presidential confidante and official Presidential barber Gabby Nketiah alias Gabby Nicky Valdo of GANIVA Battery Centre fame, Dr. Owusu Afriyie, the NPP Minister of Health at the time the twins were allegedly born, and Farmer Marfo, the fake farmer who was produced by Kwamena Bartels as having refunded the ¢41 million illegally expended on the renovation of President Kufuor’s private residence but who turns out to be a member of the President’s household.

The Giselle Yajzi story may have died, but it threatens to resurrect with the entry of Dr. Philip Kwame Addo-Kufuor into the Presidential candidacy race of the NPP.

His charge? Abetment of moral turpitude, an impeachable offence under the Constitution!

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GHANA NEED NUCLEAR POWER?

2007-05-22T10:46:52+02:00

Committee to Prepare Cabinet Memo on Nuclear Power
Kwabenya, May 21, GNA - The Minister of Education, Science and Sports said on Monday that the government had set up a Committee to prepare a cabinet memorandum with recommendations for introducing nuclear power in the country's energy mix.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah said the move had become necessary in view of the country's current problem of inadequate supply of electricity to meet industrial and domestic purposes.

The Minister was delivering the keynote address at a three-day Training Course on the International Legal Framework Governing Nuclear safety, Security, Safeguards and Liability for Nuclear Damage organised by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) in collaboration with the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at Kwabenya, near Accra.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah noted that, for many years, the IAEA had assisted member-states at their request in developing their domestic legal arrangements for regulating the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and ionising radiation as mandated by the IAEA's statute.

"In Ghana, there has been the expansion of the uses of nuclear techniques in a variety of fields such as health and medicine, agriculture, industry and environment since the establishment of the GAEC by an Act of Parliament..".

He said among the issues to be discussed by the Committee is the legal, regulatory and legislative instruments.

"This training course is therefore not only timely but also of paramount importance in assisting us to prepare ourselves to ensure that we do not breach any international legal instrument in our quest to solve our problems, particularly by incorporating internal guidance documents of foreign law provisions into our national legislation."

Eighty-four participants comprising personnel from the National Security Council, University of Ghana, Legon, GAEC, Ghana National Fire Service, the media and students of School of Nuclear and Allied Science (SNAS) of the GAEC are attending the workshop.

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ROPAA and the Elections in Ghana 2008

2007-05-22T10:35:02+02:00

On May 2- 4, 2007, Ghana’s Electoral Commission hosted a conference in Accra to learn from the experiences of other countries in implementing overseas voting. Representatives from electoral management bodies in Mexico and Mali were in attendance. The conference was sponsored by the Stockholm based - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). The theme was not whether ROPAA should be implemented now or later but how to ensure that the majority of qualified Ghanaians Living Abroad (GLAs) exercise their constitutional franchise when the ballot box goes to them and avoid the bad experiences of other countries. I offer below the experiences of three countries in overseas voting: Mexico, Senegal and Cape Verde.

MEXICO

At the IDEA meeting in Accra, a representative from Mexico, Carlos Navarro, is reported to have cautioned Ghana to implement its new law only slowly. The Ghana law came into being after a parliamentary vote; and signed by the President on February 24, 2006 as the Representation of the People’s Amendment Act (ROPAA). It accords its citizens living abroad, who are 18years or older and of sound mind, the right to vote in Ghana’s national elections. Previous to the February 2006 amendment, only Ghanaians serving in military missions abroad, foreign service personnel and government–sponsored scholarship recipients could vote in Ghana’s elections from abroad. The new ROPAA extends this constitutional right to the bigger group of GLAs. Mr. Navarro added that it took Mexico nine years from the passage of its bill to its implementation and then the results were dismal. Let us remove the veil from the Mexican story and identify where things actually went wrong for Mexico so Ghana does not repeat them. I do not know whether Mr. Navarro was misquoted but Mexico passed its law to extend the voting franchise to its estimated 10 million living outside the country in February 2005 and the actual voting was done in July 2006. Perhaps Mr. Navarro meant to say that the issue was debated for nine years; similar to Ghana’s that was started during the NDC administration. Mexico’s historic law restricted voting by Mexicans Living Abroad (MLAs) to only Presidential elections. (Though Ghana’s law in contrast is inclusive of all national elections an initial implementation phase could concentrate on the Presidential only to minimize mishaps). It was expected that some 4 million MLAs would vote either in person at the embassies and consulates or by mail-in absentee ballots. The actual result was that the absentee ballots only yielded 57,000 according to a later study by the Pew Hispanic Center. Certainly, the first-ever attempt by Mexico to allow absentee ballots from its MLAs was anything but a success-why?

In the Pew study they found that about half of the Mexicans interviewed said that they did not receive enough information to know how to register for the absentee vote or that the procedures were too difficult and complicated. Only 7% of those polled correctly stated the deadline for voting; that they could vote by registered mail; and knew the credentials required to register. The lesson that should be learned from the Mexican experience is that early voter education is a MUST. Clarity of communication of the requirements for eligibility is PARAMOUNT and simplicity of instructions is VALUABLE. Mr. Carlos Navarro told his audience in Ghana that Mexico with greater resources than Ghana could not succeed. What he failed to add is that the Mexican Federal Election Institute budgeted some $140 million to implement its first overseas voting but received only $17.5 million (12.5%) - The lesson is that you get what you pay for and don’t be too proud to ask others for help. I don’t think Ghana has a problem in this department since over 40% of its elections’ costs are currently underwritten by international bodies. A persistent refrain of opponents of Ghana’s ROPAA is that the ruling government will use it to steal elections. Of course whichever party is out of power will accuse the other of such ill-will - such is the nature of politics so let us move beyond that. The 2006 Mexican election was the closest in its history; 35.9% (15 million) voted for the winning candidate versus 35.3% (14.8 million) for the closest second. In the predictable ensuing protests no one ascribed blame to malfeasance in the administration of the overseas votes.

SENEGAL

Senegal has had two elections in which Senegalese Living Abroad (SLAs) have voted- first in 2001 and then most recently in 2007. There are an estimated 60,000 Senegalese living in the United States but only 4,755 registered to vote for the 2007 election. SLAs have been limited in these initial overseas elections to Presidential only with plans to include them in legislative elections as the system matures. According to the Columbia Journalist, voters for the 2007 Presidential elections complained of the delay in receiving their new electronic voter identification cards. All Senegalese voters, both at home and abroad, had to apply for the card, which includes their picture and digitized information (similar to Ghana’s National ID card exercise).The cards destined for the U.S never arrived in time for the election, and duplicates were made, delaying the process. Several Bronx, New York, voters arrived on the election day with their receipt to prove they had registered, and picked up their card in the polling station right before voting.

Despite the problems, voters were not deterred. People made their way to exercise their right to vote, and to maintain their deep-seated connection to life back home. "Politics represents a person's priorities in life, if you don't participate, they will make the decisions without you." said Youssouphe Ba. "It is my duty as a citizen to vote," said Mariama Massaly, a first-time voter. "If I did not vote and something bad was to happen, I would feel responsible that my vote could have made the difference." Once again the lesson is clear- early preparation; communication of expectations and well-managed logistics are imperative for success and participation. Yes, the desire to participate is there and translates into numbers with clear and advance communication.

CAPE VERDE

On the African continent Cape Verde has the longest history of participation in its elections by Capeverdians Living Abroad (CVLAs), going back at least sixteen years. Cape Verde has progressed beyond Presidential-only elections for CVLAs to include them in the National Assembly Elections. In the 2001 Presidential Elections 32.7% of the registered CVLAs voted compared to 59% of the total votes; and in 2006, the percentage of registered CVLAs who voted was 22% compared to 53% of the total voters. In the 2006 elections, CVLAs living in Africa recorded the highest number of participation (43%), followed by those in the USA (24%); and 16% in Europe. It is no accident that well over 25% of Cape Verde’s Gross Domestic Product of $3billion comes from the remittances of its CVLAs. The 2007 Cape Verde Presidential election was the closest in its history with the winner, Pedro Pires, getting 86,583 (50.98%) of the votes against his opponent, Carlos Veiga getting 83,241 (49.02%). The results were accepted and no one indicted the CVLAs’ votes as fraudulent.

Lessons from the Cape Verde experience are encouraging. Certainly most voting overseas do not yield huge turnouts in the beginning (which belies all the fears and calls to wait beyond 2008 for Ghana). However when overseas voting is implemented consistently and with clear and early communication of all requirements and logistics, it fosters improved participation; citizenry is inclusive and this eventually translates into economic gains for the country far outweighing the financial cost of conducting the overseas elections.

So forward march, Ghana and 2008 is just the time to implement ROPAA but don’t wait until November 2008! We must expect to learn and improve as we go along and no learning will occur if the activity is forever postponed. No one makes light of the energy crisis currently facing Ghana. That is one of several developmental issues the country must deal with and when this is overcome something else will crop up- such is life. Could one method of solving our myriad and continual flow of problems be a more active and organized engagement with GLAs in ways that encompass money, skills, ideas and even taxes through treaties with their countries of domicile? Don’t read me wrong- I am not making the payment of taxes a criterion to vote since that is not part of Ghana’s constitutional requirements to register. I am speaking about going beyond the first toll gate and let the goodness and mercies of GLAs follow always into our country- register them and draw them in via the voting exercise.

By the way, it may be fun for an opposition party to walk out on meetings and parliamentary votes on issues not to their liking such as ROPAA but it is interesting that Ghana’s current Constitution of 1992 was approved by a parliament that did not include the current ruling group yet they respect it as the law of the land and are working with it. Why then, can’t we come together to make the same constitution work for all? The law has been passed. The democratic process sweeping Africa and the growing globalization cannot be stopped. Candles must be lit rather than curse the darkness (no pun). All the major political parties will do well to come out of their shells and develop strategies for voter education of GLAs. This will mean cooperating with the Electoral Commission and not shunning or boycotting their invitations. That will only hurt one’s cause as advantage is yielded to the opponent simply based on unfounded and unscientific fear. GLAs should on their part flock to Ghana Missions to file for their dual citizenship papers and get themselves ready to be part of history. Change is not easy but embracing it has boldness and opportunity embedded in it. May Ghana be the first country to score the highest percentage of first time overseas voter participation in the world’s history come December 2008. The record is there to be claimed but we must all cheer the same team just as we did for the Black Stars at the 2006 World Cup. We may wear different political colors but there is only one team- Ghana- and one goal- progress that includes all at all times.

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How can the West help Africa? A global Q&A

2007-05-19T16:07:11+02:00

How can the West help Africa? A global Q&A
Saturday, 10 cities around the world will host some of pop music's biggest names as part of the "Live 8" concert series ( www.live8live.com). Organizer Bob Geldof hopes large turnouts will pressure the Group of Eight (G-8) industrialized nations, meeting in Scotland next week, to help put "an end to poverty" in Africa. He also hopes the rock shows will boost awareness about Africa's plight - and how the wealthy world can help.

The Monitor decided to find out what some Western concertgoers really know about Africa, and where there is - and isn't - common ground with Africans.

Our correspondents spoke with eight ticket-holders for concerts in Philadelphia, London, and Rome. They also interviewed eight people in Senegal and Nigeria, two indebted African nations.

As it turns out, the two groups have different priorities. Nearly every Westerner mentioned HIV/AIDS as a top African problem. Only one African did. Every African cited poverty as a major worry. And most wanted investment - not aid.

We also asked some lighter questions. Could the Westerners name even one African leader? (Only half could.) Did the Africans know what U2 is? (Most didn't).

The Africans universally agreed that their continent is culturally richer than many Westerners can imagine, but that their leaders are fundamentally corrupt. That's why this group all advocated that "strings" be tied to aid to prevent it from going astray.

What Africans, Westerners know about each other

George David Malik, a bartender from Dakar, Senegal.

What is the biggest problem facing Africa? Poverty. In Senegal, the capital [Dakar] looks nice, but in small towns people sometimes have only one meal per day. Prostitution is growing in Dakar because people need money. Girls who are 14 or 15 years old leave school and go to nightclubs to meet men and get money to support their families. Then come health problems, and there are no services for them. Finding work is difficult.

Will debt relief, one of the G-8 proposals, help Africa? Because of the debt, the population pays the price. The cost of sugar and food increases because the state cannot pay [interest on loans from rich nations]. Each time the regime changes, the new one has to pay the old one's debt, but really it's the people who pay.

What should people know about Africa that they probably don't? Family comes first.... We respect our parents and do what they tell us to. Also, we are not like Europeans - you have one or two children. Me, I am one of six children - three boys and three girls. I live at home with all of them.

Name the heads of state for the following countries (where the five main Live 8 concerts are being held):

United States: George Bush

Britain: The guy there, Bush's friend. Is it Tony Blair?

Italy: They have a queen, don't they? No, I only know the pope.

Germany: No idea.

France: Wait, why can't I remember? Wait a sec. No, I forget.

Ousmane Kane

Ousmane Kane of Saint Louis, Senegal, a student at the University of Dakar.

What is Africa's biggest problem? Civil wars. People are fighting over money and wealth - or to become a president so they can get rich.

Do you think the G-8's plans will help? To help us, they should not give money. That will only make us less happy. The people who need it most don't get it. Only the big politicians get to keep it for themselves.

Charles Okolie, a student at the University of Lagos, in Nigeria.

Charles Okolie

On what should Africa's leaders spend money they save from debt relief? Education.

What do you think they'll spend it on? They'll embezzle the money - take it to the US and open an account for their families.

How can the West best help Africa? Invest in us, especially in us students. [And] encourage us by ... awarding scholarships.

Mustzapha Diop of Kaola, Senegal, a student at the University of Dakar.

Which helps more, trade or aid? Even if we are given billions of dollars, it's like all the other billions of dollars that disappeared. The West must invest in Africa and help us develop our agriculture sector and our factories. Look at India. It is poor, overpopulated, and underdeveloped, but it produces enough to support itself.

Genevieve Faye of Joal, Senegal, who is studying human rights at the University of Dakar.

What should people know about Africa that they probably don't? Our warmth, and that our family is the most important thing. That is our wealth - always helping each other out.

Christina Leto, a lawyer from New York who's working in London and will be attending the concert there.

Christina Leto

Why are you going to Live 8? To be honest, because it'll be a lot of fun to see all those bands.

What impact will this concert have on Africa? In the long run, not much. Initially people will think about Africa's problems, but then, like everything else, people forget.

Dave Slimings, a graphic designer from Brighton, England.

What should wealthy nations do to help Africa? Countries like [England] and America have a big voice in the world, and it's down to [us] to bring these problems out in the open. Especially America, with its huge food mountains can help. The question is what do we give them - financial aid, food, or clothes?

Has hearing about Live 8 raised your awareness about Africa? The downside of this concert is that Live Aid [the 1985 concerts to help Ethiopia famine victims] was organized to raise money, and this is just raising awareness. I think it should have been treated in the same way as Live Aid. We could have exceeded the money from Live Aid.

Name the current leader of any African country: Pass.

What is the G-8? The G-8 is all the world's leaders, where they all get together and have a cup of tea and decide things.

Francesco Colangelo

Francesco Colangelo, film director in Rome.

Name the current leader of any African country. I can't. I lack the knowledge. But I am also a victim of a lack of information. Africa is talked about only as a marginal place. A place that does not matter. It is not important in dominant culture. Its leaders do not often make the news here.

Luana Salvatore, editor of a Duran Duran fanzine from Foggia in southern Italy.

Why are you going to the concert? We really appreciate what Bob Geldof is doing and we want to support him. But also I wouldn't miss the chance to see Duran Duran.

How has your awareness been raised by hearing about this concert? I was shocked by a documentary I saw on Sky TV here in Italy about the original Live Aid project.... There was a woman Bob Geldof helped back then, and she is really better now. It gives you hope. It makes you think it's possible to do something to improve people's lives.... Organizing a new concert now makes people think about it again, people who perhaps had forgotten.

Claire Teschendorf, a PR assistant from Australia, who's living in London.

Claire Teschendorf

Why should the West help Africa? Because they have, in a lot of situations, gone in and tried to conquer them and settle there. And they left the place in a worse state than they found [it].

Should the West attach strings to aid? It's quite rude to be telling other countries how to spend money. But maybe something where, like Australia with its tsunami appeal for Indonesia, they had interest-free bonds and loans [and] there was a board in place to see how money would be spent.

Kevin McGeehan of West Chester, Penn.

Why should the West help Africa? The ease of travel around the world means that [Africa's] problems will end up in the West.

Gianluca Nicastro, TV producer from Rome.

Why should the West help Africa? It's a moral duty. People who are fine should help people who are dying. Not to mention our colonial history. It is almost our duty to help because of the past.

How has your awareness been raised by this concert? It makes me think there is hope in the world. There are people - perhaps braver than me - who are able to do something. It makes you think about these problems. And talk about them.

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The Foreign Policies of the European Union's Mediterranean States and Applicant Countries in the 1990s

2007-05-19T15:51:20+02:00

The Foreign Policies of the European Union's Mediterranean States and Applicant Countries in the 1990s
The contributors to this book analyze the Mediterranean policies of the southern European Union states and of the applicant countries on the Mediterranean littoral. There is a strong need for such an analysis, as significant questions confront the countries of the region. Do the governments of these countries have a common thread in their Mediterranean policies, a thread that might promise greater cooperation in tackling the region's many problems? Are there states that could prove to be the leaders in developing policies as acceptable in North Africa and Turkey as they would be in France or Italy? Are there reasonably common analyses of difficult political problems, such as the implications for the EU of the development of Islamist parties in the Mediterranean area?

The contributors discuss these questions, and others, in a volume with chapters of differing quality. In an introduction, the distinguished editors set the stage for the discussion with clarity and precision. They describe the problem of formulating a strategy that will allow the Christian, democratic, wealthy EU countries to work together with the largely Muslim, authoritarian, impoverished applicant states to the east and south. They wisely puncture the view that only states having a Judeo-Christian heritage are capable of developing functioning democracies. The editors champion the future development of an EU common foreign and security policy that will oppose protectionism, encourage investment in the South, and shed paternalistic notions while mediating conflicts. This promising beginning is followed by an uneven road.

Laurent Meyrede's chapter on France is a paean to French policy making. He hails the realism of several French governments (through 1996) that extolled human rights and democracy but in practice paid closer attention to ensuring stability in North Africa through aid and investment. While this is a defensible position, Mayrede also describes the close and often closed network that has existed among French officials and their North African counterparts. He approves of these often highly personal connections that, in his view, make French policy work. This is an odd statement, given that the chapter begins with a quotation from Braudel. One would expect the analysis that follows to deemphasize the importance of individual policy makers and underscore instead the long-term issues of the region that demand a coordinated commitment of many years that rises above personalities and politics. To many observers, it is the mentality of the chasse gardée that has entangled France in a network of often corrupt officials in Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, these networks have led to trouble for Paris when regimes have changed and new leaders have called for reform and an end to business [End Page 143] as usual. Meyrede does not address the danger of such a development should certain North African governments give way to less traditional, more reform-minded leadership. Instead, his analysis sometimes reads as if it were a press release: "The [French] Mediterranean policy can be summed up as having as its main characteristics a clear purpose, a reaffirmed European spirit, a strong French dynamic and a substantial content." He believes that this policy will shape other EU states' policies as well.

In sharp contrast is Roberto Aliboni's chapter on Italy's Mediterranean policy. It is refreshingly straightforward in political assessment, spare but informative in characterization of the central tenets of Rome's thinking, and devoid of claims that Italy alone can carry the European beacon in the Mediterranean. Aliboni notes that Italy has compensated for its diminishing aid budget and uncertain domestic political course by working to shape a multilateral consensus for building political and economic stability in North Africa. He notes interesting examples of Italian cooperation with Egypt. Missing in the analysis but important as a factor is the high regard found in Cairo for Italian civil servants in Rome as well as in a range of multilateral institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund or World Bank. Many North Africans trust Italy because they view Italian society as tolerant and broad-minded, qualities that have positive residual effects in government-to-government relations.

Another fine chapter is that of P. C. Ioakimidis on Greece. In sometimes hard-hitting analysis, Ioakimidis lays bare a central problem of Greek policy making: "The absence of effective, legitimized institutional structures . . . for making policy leads to the dominance of personalities in the process of making foreign policy." The unspecified reference to the talented but often flamboyant and unpredictable politicians of the Karamanlis-Mitsotakis-Papandreou era is unmistakable. The role of larger-than-life politicians, driving without the brakes because of the virtual absence of a capable and trusted bureaucracy to check them, has plagued Greece for decades. Ioakimidis notes that an often virulent press provokes public opinion, which on occasion has led to irresponsible decision making by the country's leaders and in turn to isolation in the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. "Foreign policy objectives," he concludes, "are set with the electorate in mind rather than the national interest." As with the other authors', Ioakimidis's analysis ends with 1996. It may well be that the technocratic but highly professional Costas Simitis is providing a break with the tradition described here and that Greece may look forward at least to the prospect of more responsible leadership.

One other chapter is particularly worthy of note. Kemal Kirisçi provides a fine analysis of Turkey's role in Central Asia and the Mediterranean. He notes that Turkey's Mediterranean policy is secondary to its policies toward Western and Central Asia, the Black Sea, and the Balkans, a perspective inadequately understood in Brussels. Turkish officials have a complex interplay of issues to consider in formulating foreign policy. [End Page 144] This very complexity of issues is all the greater reason for the EU to seek more vigorously an improved relationship with Ankara.

Other contributions to this volume are not as interesting. Some chapters, such as those on Europe and the Middle East peace process and on Portugal, are competent and informative but do not break new ground. Others, such as the lengthy chapter on tiny Malta (the longest in the book), would have benefited from editing that would have kept the author on the main path.

Inconsistency of approach is perhaps unavoidable in analyzing such a diversity of countries. But the differences in approach encountered in this book require the reader to adjust at virtually each new chapter. Some chapters are lean and analytical, obviously intended for policy makers. Others, in contrast, are written in an ungainly academic-speak, to be lapped up only by bleary-eyed political science graduate students who crave a dose of jargon on behavioristic models of the modern state before they turn in for the night.

Finally, the volume suffers to some degree because most of the contributors examine the specific policies of particular governments in the years 1990 to 1996 rather than address themes or long-term developments that will be of as much interest to a reader in 2009 as in 1999. The shelf life of the book, consequently, will be limited for those who are looking for guidance in future policy making.

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Freedom of Information law could be expensive, If - JAK

2007-05-19T15:28:15+02:00

Freedom of Information law could be expensive, If - JAK

COME ON AGAIN PRESIDENT KUFUOR,WHAT ABOUT RAOPA ?

Accra, May 16, GNA - The Freedom of Information Law could prove to be very expensive, if not well-managed, President John Agyekum Kufuor, cautioned in Accra on Wednesday.

He said the Government would therefore ensure that adequate ground work had been done before its passage.

The Attorney-General, he said, was working out the time-table, the Government needed, to be ready with the law. President Kufuor was interacting with delegates to the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights at the Castle, Osu.

Made up of Human Rights Commissioners of African Union (AU) and representatives of Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations, they are in Accra to deliberate on human rights issues confronting the Continent.

President Kufuor spoke of the Government's determination to put in place the necessary institutions and laws to protect the rights of the people, citing the landmark Domestic Violence Law and the repeal of the offensive Criminal Libel Law.

Without respect for human rights, governance cannot be said to be good and this could hamper investment inflows, he added. President Kufuor, who is the Chairman of the AU, said liberated Africa must therefore uphold people's rights, which "is the basis of democracy."

He counselled that with the opening up of the world, it was important for the Commission to help deepen the awareness of African societies to the dangers that could arise out of the pursuit of sectional rights.

He noted that, the violation of the rights of minority groups, had been the major cause of most of the friction and conflicts on the Continent and said such pitfalls must be avoided.

Mrs Salamatta Sawadogo, Chairperson of the Commission and leader of the delegation, praised President Kufuor for his keen interest in the work of the Commission and said; "We know we can depend on your support to implement the mandate given to us."

She said the decision to hold the Session in Accra was taken to share with Ghana the joy of the 50 years of political independence.

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Connect Two Home Computers for File and internet Sharing

2007-05-16T12:08:26+02:00

Methods for networking two computers
The simplest kind of home network contains exactly two computers. You can use this kind of network to share files, a printer or another peripheral device, and even an Internet connection. To connect two computers for sharing network resources, consider the options described below:
Connecting Two Computers Directly With Cable
The traditional method to network two computers involves making a cabled connection. Joining a single cable between the two systems provides a reliable, dedicated network link. Several alternatives exist for networking two computers in this manner:

* Ethernet crossover cable
* Null modem serial cable or parallel peripheral cable
* Special-purpose USB cables

Ethernet - Of the above choices, the Ethernet method is preferred.It supports a reliable high-speed connection with minimal configuration required. Additionally, Ethernet technology offers the most general-purpose solution, allowing networks with more than two computers to be built fairly easily later. If only one computer possesses an Ethernet adapter but the other has USB, an Ethernet crossover cable can still be used by first plugging a USB-to-Ethernet converter unit into the USB port.

See also: Ethernet crossover cables
Definition: A crossover cable directly connects two network devices of the same type to each other over Ethernet. Ethernet crossover cables are commonly used when temporarily networking two devices in situations where a network router, switch or hub is not present.

Compared to standard Ethernet cables, the internal wiring of Ethernet crossover cables reverses the transmit and receive signals. The reversed color-coded wires can be seen through the RJ-45 connectors at each end of the cable:

Standard cables have an idential sequence of colored wires on each end
Crossover cables have the 1st and 3rd wires (counting from left to right) crossed, and the 2nd and 6th wires crossed

An Ethernet crossover cable will also feature the name "crossover" stamped on its packaging and wire casing.

Ethernet crossover cables should only be used for direct network connections. In particular, attempting to connect a computer to a hub with a crossover cable will prevent that network link from functioning. Home broadband routers have become an exception to this rule: modern consumer routers contain logic to automatically detect crossover cables and allow them to function with other types of Ethernet devices. Also Known As: crossed cable

Serial and parallel - This cabling, called Direct Cable Connection (DCC) when using Microsoft Windows, offers lower performance but will also work. You may prefer this option if you have such cables readily available and network speed is not a concern. Serial and parallel cables are never used to network more than two computers.

USB - Ordinary USB cables must not be used to connect two computers directly to each other. Attempting to do so can electrically damage the computers. However, special USB cables designed for direct connection exist; these can be used safely. You may prefer this option if your computers lack functional Ethernet network adapters.

To make dedicated connections with Ethernet, USB, serial or parallel cables requires

each computer has a functioning network interface with an external jack for the cable, and
the network settings on each computer are appropriately configured

One phone line or power cord cannot be used to directly connect two computers to each other for networking.

Next > Connecting Two Computers through Central Device.Tomorrow edition

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Cure for HIV/AIDS Found!

2007-05-14T14:54:53+02:00

Kumasi, May 13, GNA - HIV/AIDS victims can heave a huge sigh of relief since there is now a potent herbal medicine which is reported to be capable of totally curing HIV/AIDS.

"Koankro", the herbal mixture prepared by Mr Kamara Agyapong, Director of Peace Herbal Clinic at Ejisu in Ashanti, has been confirmed by the Clinical Analysis Laboratory of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), as capable and potent in curing HIV/AIDS.

This follows the successful trial tests conducted on two HIV/AIDS positive patients who were put on the herbal preparations by Mr Agyapong two years ago. The tests have confirmed that the two patients are now HIV negative.

The test results which were made available to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi indicated that, the two patients have been tested negative of both HIV 1 and 2 viruses.

The results, which were released on May 4, this year, show that, the two male patients, aged 39 and 34 now have no HIV virus in their blood cells.

Their negative status has also been confirmed by further test results from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) laboratory and Medilab, a private medical laboratory in Kumasi.

A team of researchers from the Biochemistry Department of KNUST had been conducting a series of investigations into the efficacy and potency of the "Koankro" herbal mixture for some years now.

They had already confirmed the efficacy of the preparation in the management of HIV/AIDS. The team initially confirmed that after three weeks treatment with "Koankro", there was significant improvement in the haemoglobin content, while the blood counts and weight of victims improved.

That made Mr Agyapong to undertake further research to come out with additional 16 preparations, which are administered to the patients at different stages of treatment.

Speaking to the GNA on the test results, Mr Agyapong indicated that there were currently about 20 patients who were at various stages of treatment, adding that, the breakthrough in the test results had provided further impetus to the herbal preparations for the treatment of the disease.

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Cure for HIV/AIDS Found!

2007-05-14T14:54:16+02:00

Kumasi, May 13, GNA - HIV/AIDS victims can heave a huge sigh of relief since there is now a potent herbal medicine which is reported to be capable of totally curing HIV/AIDS.

The test results which were made available to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi indicated that, the two patients have been tested negative of both HIV 1 and 2 viruses.

The results, which were released on May 4, this year, show that, the two male patients, aged 39 and 34 now have no HIV virus in their blood cells.

Their negative status has also been confirmed by further test results from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) laboratory and Medilab, a private medical laboratory in Kumasi.

A team of researchers from the Biochemistry Department of KNUST had been conducting a series of investigations into the efficacy and potency of the "Koankro" herbal mixture for some years now.

That made Mr Agyapong to undertake further research to come out with additional 16 preparations, which are administered to the patients at different stages of treatment.

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North America NDC Chairman Speaks On ROPAL

2007-05-12T11:06:02+02:00

The North America Chairman of NDC, Mr. Cobby Boahene has undertaken a whirlwind tour of Georgia-Atlanta, where he met with NDC representatives from Atlanta, Alabama, North and South Carolina. He held close door meetings with these representatives in the company of Mr. Tony Amuzu, the Atlanta NDC Chairman. Details of their discussion was not disclosed but a report indicates NDC, under Mr. Boahene, is aggressively setting up branches in the Southern Sector of the USA to be followed by Vancouver in Canada and other areas across North America, including Ottawa, Boston, New Mexico, Connecticut, Texas and Las Vegas.

Whilst in Atlanta, Mr. Cobby Boahene was invited as a featured speaker at the 15th Celebration of the Homowo Festival by the Gadangme Association of Atlanta on Saturday, September 30th 2006. In his speech he cautioned Ghanaians in the Diaspora to be vigilant and not be taken unawares by any last minute implementation of ROPAL. He stressed that Ghanaians in the Diaspora should demand transparency whenever ROPAL is implemented for all Ghanaians living everywhere in the world to be allowed to exercise their franchise equitably, not only in areas thought to have more people of particular background likely to favor particular political parties. Mr. Boahene emphasized that Ghanaians should be vocal about unjust Laws and they should be bold to ask questions to bring about awareness for the betterment of mother Ghana. The audience was held spell-bound and stayed very attentive during Mr. Boaheneʼs speech, as he stressed the fact that Ghana is yet to develop institutions and proper procedures necessary for smooth implementation of a scheme as complex as ROPAL.The NACC-NDC Chairmanʼs down to earth speech was well received by the Gadangme people and other invited guests at the function.

The NACC-NDC Chairman has since returned to his Chicago base making plans for trips to Washington DC and Maryland prior to the next NACC-NDC meeting scheduled to be hosted by Atlanta NDC headed by Mr. Tony Amuzu on December 2, 2006.

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ADDO-KUFUOR CLEARED

2007-05-11T09:10:31+02:00

A forensic audit on the controversial supply of helicopters to the Ghana Armed Forces by Messrs Wellfind Ltd of the United Kingdom has cleared Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, the Minister of Defence of any malfeasance.

The 9th January 2007 report signed by Kwadwo Akowuah, Deputy Auditor General for the Auditor General, stated that evidence gathered during the audit showed that the procedure adopted in the selection of Messrs Wellfind was transparent and competitive “and conformed with practices in the aviation industry.”

The forensic audit was specifically conducted into the utilization of an amount of US$19,695,600 out of an approved loan of US$55 million for the Ghana Armed Forces.

The auditors found out that Wellfind Ltd was the bona fide and accredited agent of Kazan Helicopters and that “the allocation of US$19.6 million was utilized for the purchase of four transport helicopters and spare parts valued at US$14.6 million and training of Air Force personnel at the cost of US$5.0 million as required by the provisions of the agreement.

We therefore affirm that the allocation of US$19.6 million was utilized for the exact purposes it was meant for.”

The Ministry of Defence, the audit established, could repay only US$21.2 million out of the total loan of US$55 million it contracted at the end of the loan repayment period on January 28, 2006.

The auditors have recommended that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning enforce the terms of the loan agreement by ensuring that all revenue accruing from the peacekeeping of the Armed Forces were regularly paid into the escrow account.

They pointed out that a review of the acceptance board report dated 18 May 2005, coupled with a physical inspection, confirmed that “the Air Force on 16 December 2004, received into service, four Mi-17 V5 transport helicopters supplied by Kazan Helicopters on behalf of Wellfind Ltd in good working conditions.”

Spare parts and tools ordered, it was discovered also, were supplied in good condition but “there were short delivered items at US$657.70 which were exchanged for Mi-17 Helicopters Class C items worth US$1,527.95 through a Certificate of Acceptance dated 30 December 2005, signed between the Ghana Air Force and the Russian Warranty Team.”

It was verified that indeed, 27 officers and men of the Ghana Air Forces made up of 8 pilots, 15 ground engineers and 4 flight engineers undertook various courses in the uses, management and maintenance of the Mi-17 transport helicopters between April and November 2004 in accordance with the contract agreement.

The report stated that “available evidence affirmed that no payments were made to Wellfind Ltd prior to the lifting of the suspension of its contract with MOD in January 2004.”

The audit report concluded that no monies were paid to Messrs Wellfind Ltd during the period the contract was suspended by MOD.

The transaction, according to the audit report, was preceded by a Ghana Air Force needs analysis, using the competitive matrix to identify the specific type of helicopters required for optimum operations at the least cost.

Continuing, the report stated that available correspondence on file indicated that after the needs analysis, a fact-finding team headed by the Chief of Air Staff was dispatched by MOD to the Kazan Helicopters Plant in Moscow in October 2002.

The team, according to the report, was tasked to discuss issues related to the purchase of the helicopters, adding that the visit was at the invitation of Rosoboroexport of Russia.

On the return of the team and based on its report, “the Minister of Defence held a meeting with the Chief of Air Staff and some management staff on 25 March 2003 to explore ways and means for the transparent accountable usage of the loan of US$55 million approved for MOD.”

It was after searches, analysis of quotations received and due diligence that the arrangements for the supply of the four helicopters were finalized in a letter dated 21 January 2004, written by Kazan Helicopters.

The purchase of these helicopters, which came to fill a worrying void in the Ghana Armed Forces, prompted a heated furore among opposition elements and a section of the media.

The Ghana Air Force, in a rare reaction, convened a press conference to explain the circumstances that led to the purchase and the due diligence followed before the transaction.

It was announced thereafter that a forensic audit would be instituted into the transaction to find out whether among other things, there was any malfeasance in the deal.

The Russian helicopters are multi-purpose aircraft which can perform both fighting and transport role in a modern armed forces.

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ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING

2007-05-10T20:49:04+02:00

About globalwarming

The Sun sends energy in the form of radiation to the Earth. The Earth reflects approximately 30% of the incident solar flux. The remaining 70% is absorbed, allowing the land, atmosphere and oceans to warm up to a livable temperature.

Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and deforestation has caused the concentrations of heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" to increase significantly in our atmosphere. This causes less heat to reflect and more to be absorbed.

According to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) there will be a global temperature increase of 1.4 - 5.8°C from 1990-2100. The increase in temperature will cause a rise in sea levels, extreme storms and diseases such as Malaria, Dengue Fever, Encephalitis and Hantavirus. It is predicted that we will lose nearly a quarter of the Earth’s animal and plant species by 2050.

It is time to make a change. This group is a place for us all to discuss the latest news, possible ways for change, and anything related to climate change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiO0lPgxdBg

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Mob Rule {Justice}

2007-05-10T15:05:55+02:00

Vigilante groups are gradually emerging in some neigbourhoods within the Accra metropolis apparently in response to increasing reports of crime in such areas.

Over the past four weeks some residents of parts of North Kaneshie, Adabraka and Lartebiokorshie have been living in a state of fear because of frequent reports of robbery attacks, carjacking and mobile phone snatching, by machete or gun-wielding gangs of young men driving in taxi cabs or on motor bikes.

There seems to be no other options available to the youth in those areas, than to constitute themselves into vigilante groups to deal with such criminals the way they deem fit.

In the early hours of yesterday, a man believed to be in his mid twenties, was lynched by a mob for allegedly attempting to snatch a mobile phone from a woman around the Piccadilly factory area, near Dan�s Bar at North Kaneshie.

A source close to the group told the Times that at about 11pm on Monday, a gang of about four machete-wielding young men accosted the young women and demanded that she hands over her mobile phone to them.

According to the source, the woman took to her heels and was chased by the gang until she luckily ran into the vigilante group who were patrolling the vicinity.

The source said the other three members of the gang managed to escape but luck run out for the fourth who was lynched and dragged to a spot in front of a fuel filling station at North Kaneshie.

As at press time yesterday when the Times was leaving the scene the body was still lying there covered with a pack of card board.

The cement blocks and lorry tyres were beside it.

The Kaneshie Divisional Crime Officer, Joseph Kwame Amoah, told the Times that the police were informed yesterday morning that the body of a man aged about 30 was lying in front of a fuel filling station at North Kaneshie.

Mr. Amoah said nobody in the area was prepared to talk, but the police suspect that he might have been killed elsewhere and brought to the spot.

Mr. Amoah said though no arrests have been made, investigations are still continuing.

Times learnt that the formation of the vigilante group in the area was prompted by an attack on a man, three weeks ago by a gang of robbers.

The man, who was said to be preparing for Muslim prayers at around 4.30am, was attacked by the gang in front of his house and was inflicted with cutlass wounds.

Similar attacks at Adabraka and Lartebiokorshie have also tripped reprisals by some youth groups in these areas against suspected armed robbers.

About three weeks ago, a mob lynched a suspected armed robber at Adabraka, leading to a subsequent invasion of the area by a group claiming to be related to the deceased and promising revenge.

Last week some residents of Lartebiokorshie also lynched two suspected robbers after a series of robberies in the area.

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Ex-First Lady Back In Court

2007-05-08T13:08:36+02:00

The trial of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, the former First Lady and five others is set to resume on Tuesday morning at an Accra Fast-Track High Court presided over by Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.

Nana Konadu and the others are standing trial on 30 charges, including conspiracy to commit crime and causing financial loss to the state for their alleged role in the divestiture of GIHOC Nsawam Cannery to Caridem Development Company, a company owned by the 31st December Women’s Movement.

The divestiture to 31st DWM of which Nana Konadu is the president was said to be fraudulent, leading to financial loss to the state because the normal divestiture procedure of state-owned companies were not followed and signatures in the deal were allegedly forged.

At the last hearing, the case had to be adjourned due to power outage at the Fast Track High Court which cannot function without electricity.

Konadu and her alleged accomplices Emmanuel Agbodo, former Executive Secretary of the Divestiture Implementation Committee, Kwame Peprah, former Chairman of the DIC, Hanny Sherry Ayittey, Managing Director of Caridem and Thomas Benson Owusu, an accountant have pleaded not guilty to all counts.

They have vowed to appeal against a ruling by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie who threw out their application for a stay of proceedings, pending the outcome of a civil case by the former First Lady against the DIC and the Attorney General.

Please and Please again Ghanaian open your eyes,this government can not provide electricity and common water to his people but yet he can go on to persecute his opponent just because of politics.

Persident JAK should think of well being of Ghanaians stop chancing oppositions.No water,no electricity,no jobs all the professionals are living the country I said2yk have to live the country country because as computer networking engineer no job available for me and no opportunity.

Mr president please and please again think about your people and stop the politics of impunity think of tomorrow and not today and stop massing riches for yourself and your people you will one day become ex-president.

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First female chief justice in Ghana

2007-05-05T11:17:00+02:00

President John Agyekum Kufuor better know as JAK or hotel de wawa wawa,in consultation with the Council of State has nominated Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood for appointment as the new Chief Justice of Ghana. A press release signed by Mr Andrew Awuni, the Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson, said her name has consequently been submitted to Parliament for vetting and approval. If approved, she would become the first female Chief Justice in the country.

Mrs Justice Georgina Wood is presently a Supreme Court Judge having been appointed to that position since November 2002. She is the Chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Georgina Wood, who was born on June 8, 1947 attended Bishop's Girls and Methodist Schools.

She had her LLB (Hons) from the University of Ghana, Legon in 1970 after completing Wesley Girl's High School, Cape Coast in 1966. She took a six-month Post-Graduate Officers Training Course at the Ghana Police College.

She joined the Judicial Service as a District Magistrate Grade ll and was later promoted to Grade l. She was promoted to the Court of Appeal as the presiding judge in 1991.

Mrs Justice Wood last year chaired the Georgina Wood Committee that conducted enquiry into the disappearance of 77 packets of cocaine from the MV Benjamin vessel on April 26, 2006, as well as the 588kg cocaine seized from some Venezuelans at Mempeasem, East Legon.

I said2yk, I am worried about the situation because Mrs Georgina Wood dose not have the carriage boldness and sincere enough be chief justice.I want Mrs Georgina to tell me Who brought in the 77 packets of cocaine in to Ghana and why she fail to call the Ashantihene to testifier to the committee up till now their is some journalist who have been threated to be kill if they step foot in Kumasi because of this issue what did you said about that.

The bottom line is that please you are not good enough to be Ghana's chief justice the government just want to put you there to manipulate the coming 2008 election so Ghanaians please and please again open your eye well thanks a lot bye for now.

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