It emerged at a forum by CSOs to herald the UNCTAD conference that Sub-Saharan Africa in particular is experiencing a growing informalization of labour relations with dire consequences for women.
The character of employment in countries in the region is found in the informal economy where majority of women make a living, mostly in self-employment.
This has been described as one of the fallouts from economic globalization and highlights the gross global inequalities in incomes and living conditions, resulting in the exponential growth of the informal economy in many developing countries.
According to Dr. Dzodzi Tsikata, Senior Research Fellow of the Institute of Social Statistical and Economic Research (ISSER), the situation in sub-Sahara Africa today is jobless growth, the deteriorating quality of employment and labour conditions and growing number of working poor are some of the key development issues that can be blamed on economic liberalization.
“How does it come to be that some are so rich, while others are hungry and can barely find food to eat? All these have to do with the quality of work one does,” stated Dr. Tsikata.
She noted that jobs in the informal economy becomes a problem when it takes over the whole economy, since government has no way of ensuring that they are descent.
She stated this at a forum on Women and Globalization: Issues and Challenges for Advocacy Today, organised by NETRIGHT Ghana and Third World Network (TWN) alongside UNCTAD X11 in Accra.
According to her while more informal employment opportunities have been created under globalization, especially in Asia, in Sub Saharan African not many of such jobs have been created. Instead, many new entrants into the labour market happen to be retrenched workers from the formal sector.
This situation, she said is a threat to the economic and social rights of women, who dominate the informal sector.She said that in the last twenty years, sub-Sahara Africa has witnessed a rapid pace of urbanisation coupled with its attendant problems due to globalization and that very soon urban population would outstrip the rural area.
Dr. Tsikata lamented that even though several studies point to a decline in livelihoods within the informal economy, recent policy interest has focused on the expansion of the revenue base of governments and improving market access for enterprises other than on its labour relations.
“Banks are now employing through agencies in order to reduce the cost of their operation, while workers become insecure because there is no guaranteed conditions of service.”
She described this as fallout from bad policies and not an accident, explaining that because jobs are not being created, there is so much job insecurity such that people are not ready to demand their labour rights.
“Beyond specific terms and conditions of service, the atmosphere of uncertainty created by informalization disables workers from insisting on their rights and protesting labour code violations, thus leaving them open to abuses, “ she stressed.
*Dr. Tsikata said feminization can be seen in the growing incidence of practices such as outsourcing, home-based work, home work, short term contracts, contract work, piece rate work and part-time work.”
She noted that while informalization may take different forms and involve varying degrees of change, a common outcome is the downgrading of the status of certain categories of workers and the worsening of their work conditions, bringing them more in line with much criticized working conditions within the informal economy.
The most striking issue about state policies, she stated, is the lack of recognition of how liberalization policies are fuelling the expansion of the informal economy and the nature of the expansion.
“Labour relations in the informal economy continue to be a neglected area in spite of efforts by trade unions across Africa to promote decent work as defined by ILO.”
She stated the need for the state to begin to think about labour protection in the context of informalization so that people could be empowered through labour.
Monday, February 02, 2009
UNAIDS pledges more support towards HIV/ AIDS interventions in Ghana
In the last decade, the number of women living with HIV/AIDS is said to be growing faster, especially in sub-Sahara Africa with an estimated figure of 60%. In Ghana women form over 63% of people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Country Director of UNAIDS, Dr. Leopold Zekeng who disclosed this said a core responsibility of his organisation is to support civil society organisations to be more involved in the national response programme, since government alone cannot provide the necessary services to the larger population of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA).
“UNAIDS is involved in CSOs working in the area so that Ghana can scale up prevention and ensure that PLWAs have greater access to support services and also reduce stigma.”
Dr. Zekeng stated this when UNAIDS presented IT equipment to the Society for Women and Aids in Africa (SWAA) Ghana in Accra to support SWAA’s activities in the three northern regions.
The items include three desk top computers, a printer, a fax machine and a UPS to stabilize power. Dr. Zekeng described Ghana as peaceful, free and dedicated to issues concerning women, particularly those living with HIV/AIDS.
“UNAIDS is committed to help Ghana realize the goals of her national AIDS response programme as we look forward to a Ghanaian society free of HIV/AIDS “ he pledged.
He called on the media to join hands with CSOs like SWAA to effectively prevent HIV/AIDS in Ghana. SWAA Ghana is a branch of SWAA International, a Pan African Organization in 41 African countries.
It is committed to reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and children in Africa.
The President of SWAA Ghana, Madam Cecilia Lodonu-Senoo said the organization has for the past ten years engaged in advocacy on women’s reproductive health issues, awareness creation on HIV/AIDS, sensitization of the plight of orphans and vulnerable children and the empowerment of women to claim their rights and access to social services.
“SWAA does not only work with PLWAs but with women in general, especially those at the grassroots since they are often not captured.”
She said SWAA supports women living with HIV / AIDS with income generating activities in the form of training and providing seed monies.
“SWAA Ghana in collaboration with the fevers Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital established a comfort fund to assist PLWAs by providing basic medicine and related needs for women living with HIV/AIDS, “ she disclosed.
Madam Cecilia complained about the fact that resources needed by SWAA to implement programmes were not forthcoming.
According to her, many of the people – women who are in legal and stable marriages are infected with HIV/AIDS due to socio-cultural practices like polygamy.
“Majority of them lack the power to actually negotiate for safer sex. Poverty and lack of parental responsibility also lead most young girls to contract HIV/AIDS as they try to make a living” she lamented.
She said SWAA Ghana is looking forward to maximizing the resources of its members in order to improve on their socio-economic lives. A technical advisor to SWAA Ghana, Kate Adoo-Adeku , stressed that civil society needs to be empowered and motivated to help solve these issues.
The Country Director of UNAIDS, Dr. Leopold Zekeng who disclosed this said a core responsibility of his organisation is to support civil society organisations to be more involved in the national response programme, since government alone cannot provide the necessary services to the larger population of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA).
“UNAIDS is involved in CSOs working in the area so that Ghana can scale up prevention and ensure that PLWAs have greater access to support services and also reduce stigma.”
Dr. Zekeng stated this when UNAIDS presented IT equipment to the Society for Women and Aids in Africa (SWAA) Ghana in Accra to support SWAA’s activities in the three northern regions.
The items include three desk top computers, a printer, a fax machine and a UPS to stabilize power. Dr. Zekeng described Ghana as peaceful, free and dedicated to issues concerning women, particularly those living with HIV/AIDS.
“UNAIDS is committed to help Ghana realize the goals of her national AIDS response programme as we look forward to a Ghanaian society free of HIV/AIDS “ he pledged.
He called on the media to join hands with CSOs like SWAA to effectively prevent HIV/AIDS in Ghana. SWAA Ghana is a branch of SWAA International, a Pan African Organization in 41 African countries.
It is committed to reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and children in Africa.
The President of SWAA Ghana, Madam Cecilia Lodonu-Senoo said the organization has for the past ten years engaged in advocacy on women’s reproductive health issues, awareness creation on HIV/AIDS, sensitization of the plight of orphans and vulnerable children and the empowerment of women to claim their rights and access to social services.
“SWAA does not only work with PLWAs but with women in general, especially those at the grassroots since they are often not captured.”
She said SWAA supports women living with HIV / AIDS with income generating activities in the form of training and providing seed monies.
“SWAA Ghana in collaboration with the fevers Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital established a comfort fund to assist PLWAs by providing basic medicine and related needs for women living with HIV/AIDS, “ she disclosed.
Madam Cecilia complained about the fact that resources needed by SWAA to implement programmes were not forthcoming.
According to her, many of the people – women who are in legal and stable marriages are infected with HIV/AIDS due to socio-cultural practices like polygamy.
“Majority of them lack the power to actually negotiate for safer sex. Poverty and lack of parental responsibility also lead most young girls to contract HIV/AIDS as they try to make a living” she lamented.
She said SWAA Ghana is looking forward to maximizing the resources of its members in order to improve on their socio-economic lives. A technical advisor to SWAA Ghana, Kate Adoo-Adeku , stressed that civil society needs to be empowered and motivated to help solve these issues.
Women and children are the faces of conflict
In 1998, 14 of the 53 African states were embroiled in conflict, accounting for more than half of war-related deaths world-wide.
Africa has had its own disproportionate share of conflicts. Presently, the continent accounts for up to 40% of global conflicts.
Data by Amnesty International shows that 70% of the casualties in recent conflicts have been non-combatants - most of them women and children, a clear indication of the tragic gender dimension of conflicts on the continent and its great human cost.
It stated that tens of thousands of women and girls have been subjected to rape and other sexual violence since the crisis erupted in Darfur in 2003.
Women and girls in particular experience conflict and displacement in different ways from men because of the gender division of roles and responsibilities.
World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that health services for women, girls and children break down during conflict, just when they need them most. In countries where children are already vulnerable to diseases, the onset of conflict may increase death rates by 24-fold.
Population movements and breakdown of social controls caused by conflict encourage rape and prostitution as well as sexual slavery to serve combatants.
These come with unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, are the collateral physical effects of this human degradation.
A UN report states that acts of gender-based violence, particularly rape, committed during conflicts constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.
In spite of international recognition of rape and other sexual assault in conflict as crimes, governments and the international community rarely respond vigorously to investigate and punish such violence.
In fact, they typically go no further than rhetorical condemnation.
In addition, women face rampant violence and discrimination in their post-conflict lives.
Sadly, conflicts more often discourages girls from attending school because it is unsafe for them to leave home, sometimes resulting in early marriages.
The decline in schooling for females during periods of conflict has implications for a nation’s post-conflict recovery.
The World Bank says that education is the single most important factor contributing to national economic growth.
Education, or lack of it, also has implications for sustainable population growth on a global scale. Girls and women who are educated will have fewer children and those they have are more likely to survive and thrive.
Conflicts have devastated the African continent, cost millions of lives, and contributed significantly to retarding the socio-economic development of many countries.
The recent post election violence in Kenya and other countries in the region is enough cause for Ghana not to be complacent of the relative peace but work to prevent conflict.
In Ghana there is a resolve that no matter what happens it will not allow violent in change of government. Conflict in Africa, as everywhere, is caused by human action, and can be ended by human action.
“This is the reality that shames us for every conflict that we allow to persist, and emboldens us to believe that we can address and resolve every conflict that we choose to confront,” stated Former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan in a report on causes and potential cures of conflict in Africa.
Speaking at a Public Agenda workshop in Accra on the functions of the media in conflict prevention and peace building in Ghana, Mr. Emmanuel Bombande, Executive Director of West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP) challenged the media to make people aware of how to deal with conflict since it is the most important and not what comes about it.
According to the security expert, every society learns to be better out of the management of every conflict situation. “The problem is not about conflict but what you are doing to prevent conflict.”
He noted that the media which is at the centre of conflict mostly covers conflict but not peace building. He challenged the Ghanaian media to reverse this trend particularly in this election year.
“Media practitioners must tell the peace story in Ghana else nobody will do it for us.”
Mr. Bombande said different cultural environment informs how to deal with conflict and that depending on how a nation deals with conflict, it can either build or destroy relationships and all destroy the entire human being.
He described the family as only a level of relationship, since political parties are relatives by the virtue of the fact that they are Ghanaians even though they try to achieve their goals through different methods.
He deduced that when parties destroy each other in order to obtain power, it is actually self destruction because there will be nobody to monitor what they are doing, saying, “Performance is dependent on other stakeholders to succeed.”
He admitted that even though the pursuit of power is incompatible, the end goal of using that power will not be incompatible. In his opinion, if parties are made aware that losing or wining power is not doom, they will change their demeanor.
“Introducing an element of win-win is important but unfortunately in our Ghanaian system once you loose then you have to wait for four years as those who even win by the slightest margin have control over everything. These are the issues that must be raised by the media.”
He stated the need to modify rules and norms as a means to foster national cohesion and peace but not about resources.
Africa has had its own disproportionate share of conflicts. Presently, the continent accounts for up to 40% of global conflicts.
Data by Amnesty International shows that 70% of the casualties in recent conflicts have been non-combatants - most of them women and children, a clear indication of the tragic gender dimension of conflicts on the continent and its great human cost.
It stated that tens of thousands of women and girls have been subjected to rape and other sexual violence since the crisis erupted in Darfur in 2003.
Women and girls in particular experience conflict and displacement in different ways from men because of the gender division of roles and responsibilities.
World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that health services for women, girls and children break down during conflict, just when they need them most. In countries where children are already vulnerable to diseases, the onset of conflict may increase death rates by 24-fold.
Population movements and breakdown of social controls caused by conflict encourage rape and prostitution as well as sexual slavery to serve combatants.
These come with unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, are the collateral physical effects of this human degradation.
A UN report states that acts of gender-based violence, particularly rape, committed during conflicts constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.
In spite of international recognition of rape and other sexual assault in conflict as crimes, governments and the international community rarely respond vigorously to investigate and punish such violence.
In fact, they typically go no further than rhetorical condemnation.
In addition, women face rampant violence and discrimination in their post-conflict lives.
Sadly, conflicts more often discourages girls from attending school because it is unsafe for them to leave home, sometimes resulting in early marriages.
The decline in schooling for females during periods of conflict has implications for a nation’s post-conflict recovery.
The World Bank says that education is the single most important factor contributing to national economic growth.
Education, or lack of it, also has implications for sustainable population growth on a global scale. Girls and women who are educated will have fewer children and those they have are more likely to survive and thrive.
Conflicts have devastated the African continent, cost millions of lives, and contributed significantly to retarding the socio-economic development of many countries.
The recent post election violence in Kenya and other countries in the region is enough cause for Ghana not to be complacent of the relative peace but work to prevent conflict.
In Ghana there is a resolve that no matter what happens it will not allow violent in change of government. Conflict in Africa, as everywhere, is caused by human action, and can be ended by human action.
“This is the reality that shames us for every conflict that we allow to persist, and emboldens us to believe that we can address and resolve every conflict that we choose to confront,” stated Former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan in a report on causes and potential cures of conflict in Africa.
Speaking at a Public Agenda workshop in Accra on the functions of the media in conflict prevention and peace building in Ghana, Mr. Emmanuel Bombande, Executive Director of West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP) challenged the media to make people aware of how to deal with conflict since it is the most important and not what comes about it.
According to the security expert, every society learns to be better out of the management of every conflict situation. “The problem is not about conflict but what you are doing to prevent conflict.”
He noted that the media which is at the centre of conflict mostly covers conflict but not peace building. He challenged the Ghanaian media to reverse this trend particularly in this election year.
“Media practitioners must tell the peace story in Ghana else nobody will do it for us.”
Mr. Bombande said different cultural environment informs how to deal with conflict and that depending on how a nation deals with conflict, it can either build or destroy relationships and all destroy the entire human being.
He described the family as only a level of relationship, since political parties are relatives by the virtue of the fact that they are Ghanaians even though they try to achieve their goals through different methods.
He deduced that when parties destroy each other in order to obtain power, it is actually self destruction because there will be nobody to monitor what they are doing, saying, “Performance is dependent on other stakeholders to succeed.”
He admitted that even though the pursuit of power is incompatible, the end goal of using that power will not be incompatible. In his opinion, if parties are made aware that losing or wining power is not doom, they will change their demeanor.
“Introducing an element of win-win is important but unfortunately in our Ghanaian system once you loose then you have to wait for four years as those who even win by the slightest margin have control over everything. These are the issues that must be raised by the media.”
He stated the need to modify rules and norms as a means to foster national cohesion and peace but not about resources.
World Health Day garners support to deal with climate change
This year’s World Health Day activities are being celebrated under the theme, “Protecting Health from Climate Change.”
The aim is to put one of the biggest challenges – climate change- at the centre of global health dialogue. Climate change is referred to as the long-term fluctuation in precipitation, temperature, wind and all other aspects of the earth’s climate.
The climate is often considered a major determinant of health. Changes in the climate globally is said to be posing a greater threat to gains made in public health, therefore the need to protect peoples health from the changes that they have begun to experience.
A recent study by the WHO estimated that climate change directly or indirectly contributes to about 77 000 deaths annually in Asia and the Pacific — about half of the world total attributed to climate change.
Among the potential effects of global warming are the appearance of mosquitoes where they were previously absent, with the accompanying threat of malaria and dengue fever.
Since global climate change began to emerge as a major issue in the late 1980s, WHO has guided and coordinated the research agenda on this issue, and contributed to major assessments, such as those of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Increasing air temperature, heat waves, sea level rise, drought and storms are some of the climatic happenings in Ghana and have effects on water resources, agriculture, health, desertification and coastal zone settlements.
Climate change on Ghana’s water resources will reduce freshwater flows between 15-20% for the year 2020 and 30-40% for year 2050 in all the basins. About two years ago, the nation experienced energy crisis due to below average inflows into the Volta Reservoir.
To developing countries like Ghana, the choice of this theme is more appropriate considering the fact that Ghana is currently experiencing the effects of global warming and its attendant unpredictable hazards to health.
Ghana last year had a bruise of it with flooding in some parts of the country. The health infrastructure was destroyed in some places and resources stretched to breaking point.
Sadly, the Ghana Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains this year with the possibility of flooding in some parts of the country.
Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (RTD) is worried that the gains that Ghana’s health sector has made could all be erased if Ghana start facing the full effects of climate change. “The irony is that these are almost certainly our own making. It looks as if the human race is in a self destruct mode. Several years of human activities such as tree felling, burning of fossil fuels, emissions from industries and transport have distorted the balance in the vital indicators of the atmosphere resulting in changes in temperature, rainfall and atmospheric pressure among others,” he stated.
Speaking at the launch of World Health Day and 60th anniversary of the founding of the WHO, he explained that these distortions have resulted in changes in the quality of the air we breathe, the quantity and quality of water available to the world’s population and the ability of the land to support human life.
Major Quashigah noted that checking climate change is beyond the scope of one agency and called on all organisations to collaborate to develop strategies for combating the major threat to global public health security.
“Without urgent and immediate action through changes in lifestyle and attitude, the effects on the global climate system could be irreversible, causing more frequent and more intense heat waves, rainstorms, tropical cyclones and surges in sea level. This can result in high loss of human, animal and plant life on health,” he emphasized.
The health minister challenged Ghanaians to endeavour to plant and nurture a tree at least in their life time as their contribution to reversing their own carbon foot print.
WHO Representative, Dr. Joaquim Saweka hoped that the message of the World Health Day 2008 will spur increased collaboration to ensure that the global community will be better prepared to cope with climate-related health challenges worldwide, in regions, countries and communities.
“Some of these actions could be the strengthening of surveillance and control of infectious diseases, ensuring safer use of diminishing water supplies and coordinating health action in emergencies,” he stated.
He commended the government of Ghana and its established ministries and agencies for already taking proactive actions in some of these areas, which have become best practices for other countries in Africa.
Dr. Saweka reiterated WHO’s support to provide technical and financial support to foster linkages between climate change, health and other development areas.
The aim is to put one of the biggest challenges – climate change- at the centre of global health dialogue. Climate change is referred to as the long-term fluctuation in precipitation, temperature, wind and all other aspects of the earth’s climate.
The climate is often considered a major determinant of health. Changes in the climate globally is said to be posing a greater threat to gains made in public health, therefore the need to protect peoples health from the changes that they have begun to experience.
A recent study by the WHO estimated that climate change directly or indirectly contributes to about 77 000 deaths annually in Asia and the Pacific — about half of the world total attributed to climate change.
Among the potential effects of global warming are the appearance of mosquitoes where they were previously absent, with the accompanying threat of malaria and dengue fever.
Since global climate change began to emerge as a major issue in the late 1980s, WHO has guided and coordinated the research agenda on this issue, and contributed to major assessments, such as those of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Increasing air temperature, heat waves, sea level rise, drought and storms are some of the climatic happenings in Ghana and have effects on water resources, agriculture, health, desertification and coastal zone settlements.
Climate change on Ghana’s water resources will reduce freshwater flows between 15-20% for the year 2020 and 30-40% for year 2050 in all the basins. About two years ago, the nation experienced energy crisis due to below average inflows into the Volta Reservoir.
To developing countries like Ghana, the choice of this theme is more appropriate considering the fact that Ghana is currently experiencing the effects of global warming and its attendant unpredictable hazards to health.
Ghana last year had a bruise of it with flooding in some parts of the country. The health infrastructure was destroyed in some places and resources stretched to breaking point.
Sadly, the Ghana Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains this year with the possibility of flooding in some parts of the country.
Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (RTD) is worried that the gains that Ghana’s health sector has made could all be erased if Ghana start facing the full effects of climate change. “The irony is that these are almost certainly our own making. It looks as if the human race is in a self destruct mode. Several years of human activities such as tree felling, burning of fossil fuels, emissions from industries and transport have distorted the balance in the vital indicators of the atmosphere resulting in changes in temperature, rainfall and atmospheric pressure among others,” he stated.
Speaking at the launch of World Health Day and 60th anniversary of the founding of the WHO, he explained that these distortions have resulted in changes in the quality of the air we breathe, the quantity and quality of water available to the world’s population and the ability of the land to support human life.
Major Quashigah noted that checking climate change is beyond the scope of one agency and called on all organisations to collaborate to develop strategies for combating the major threat to global public health security.
“Without urgent and immediate action through changes in lifestyle and attitude, the effects on the global climate system could be irreversible, causing more frequent and more intense heat waves, rainstorms, tropical cyclones and surges in sea level. This can result in high loss of human, animal and plant life on health,” he emphasized.
The health minister challenged Ghanaians to endeavour to plant and nurture a tree at least in their life time as their contribution to reversing their own carbon foot print.
WHO Representative, Dr. Joaquim Saweka hoped that the message of the World Health Day 2008 will spur increased collaboration to ensure that the global community will be better prepared to cope with climate-related health challenges worldwide, in regions, countries and communities.
“Some of these actions could be the strengthening of surveillance and control of infectious diseases, ensuring safer use of diminishing water supplies and coordinating health action in emergencies,” he stated.
He commended the government of Ghana and its established ministries and agencies for already taking proactive actions in some of these areas, which have become best practices for other countries in Africa.
Dr. Saweka reiterated WHO’s support to provide technical and financial support to foster linkages between climate change, health and other development areas.
MTN Ghana Foundation launches project to save pregnant women and babies
MTN is providing $600, 000 towards the refurbishment of the second floor of the labour and theatre wards of the Maternity Block of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra to facilitate improved health care for pregnant women and babies.
The project is being implemented in partnership with the Women’s Caucus in Parliament and the Ministry of Health. Minster of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (RTD), announced that his ministry is working towards the setting up of comprehensive abortion services in line with the laws of Ghana.
He regretted that Ghana’s coverage of maternal and neonatal interventions is still relatively low and maternal mortality continues to be high, largely as a result of the high proportion of deliveries that are performed by unskilled attendants in ill-equipped facilities.
“Our current five year programme of work therefore seeks to scale up maternal deliveries conducted by skilled attendants by improving access to basic, comprehensive, essential and intensive obstetric care in all health facilities.”
Major Quashigah was speaking during the launch of the first MTN Ghana Foundation Flagship Health Project. The MTN Ghana Foundation was launched in November 2007 in Accra, Tamale and Sunyani.
It is consistent with MTN Group’s global policy to establish foundations across all 21 of its operating units to spearhead its corporate social responsibility.
According to the health minister, the magnitude and persistently high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality in Ghana and Africa generally, and the fact that it is an indicator of development, raises several fundamental issues which policy makers need to confront.
He said maternal death audits are also being strengthened and systems far advanced to conduct confidential enquiries into maternal deaths.
“In fact the issues of women and child birth should take centre stage in every economic policy development in this country, if we come to understand that women carry the human capital of a nation for nine months, deliver and nurture them for wealth creation,” he emphasized.
He hoped that the refurbishment will not be just superficial but will involve the provision of structures that will allow for good service delivery and the protection of dignity of mothers who use them.
Major Quashigah urged the contactor to dialogue with managers and specialists in charge to know their challenges and provide for them.
Thanks to MTN Ghana Foundation initiative, husbands and partners would soon have the opportunity to witness the delivery process by their wives at their own convenience at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital.
Following the refurbishment of the second floor, labour and theatre wards of the Maternity block of the hospital, individual cubicles will be created to enhance privacy during delivery.
The Acting Chief Administrator of the hospital, Dr. B.D.R. T. Annan disclosed this at the launching ceremony.
According to Dr. Annan, the project which MTN Ghana has taken up had been on the hospital’s drawing board since 2003, after the rehabilitation of the first floor of the labour and theatre wards, but could not be executed due to lack of funds.
“The offer by MTN foundation to adopt and rehabilitate the labour and theatre wards is therefore a welcome gesture to the hospital board, management and staff as well as patients of the hospital,” he said.
He noted that upon the completion of the project, more theatre space will be created for the speedy performance of surgeries. T
his, he said, will tremendously reduce the waiting time of patients before they are attended to and also increase the number of surgeries (12) that are performed daily. Prof. Franklyn Manu, Board Chairman of MTN Ghana Foundation observed that both national and international health institutions have identified our maternal health mortality statistics as a key area of focus for development.
He said Promoting a better future for Ghanaian women and babies is vital to national development and was happy that the resources MTN is making available through the foundation, can be put to such good use.
Prof. Manu stated that it is not enough for corporate entities to pay their taxes to government because there is a clear recognition that corporate bodies too are citizens who must express a sensitivity to the well being of the society.
“They too must find ways to contribute to social development in whatever context they are pursuing their business objectives,” he urged.
He noted that by the initiative, MTN is showing its readiness to partner with other stakeholders including other corporate to render support to national development efforts.
MTN says it selected the maternity block because of its importance as the national referral point for the provision of critical and specialized maternal health care.
Ms. Mawuena Dumor, Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, explained that wherever MTN operates, it feels a responsibility to make contributions to the welfare of the people among whom it is privileged to run its business.
“The success of MTN as an African multinational enables us to offer the highest levels of technology to Ghanaians as we invite them to participate in the new experience of telecommunications unique to this socio-cultural environment yet benchmarked at a world class level.”
Ms Dumor stressed that MTN places a premium on social investments as core aspect of its business with emphasis on social matters of national importance.
Professor Akua Kuenyehia, Patron of MTN Ghana Foundation and Vice President, International Criminal Court of Justice, The Hague performed the official launch of the project.
She noted that the health needs of populations worldwide poses a great challenge that cannot be addressed by governments alone but through interventions by multinationals like MTN.
She urged corporate organisations to collaborate to maximize resources for corporate social responsibility. T
he women caucus in parliament was represented at the launching ceremony.
In a solidarity message, it Chairperson, Mrs. Eugenia Kusi said the caucus does not only work to ensure that the interests of women are represented in laws that are passed but also to highlight and draw attention to issues affecting women.
She recalled that a seminar organised by members in 2006 prompted them to come to the aid of the ward which was the only one functioning then.
“We have been mobilizing funds and we are by this launching today telling other corporate organisations we have written to respond to our letters.”
She assured Ghanaian women that the Women’s Caucus of Parliament is concerned about their welfare and would not rest until their lot is improved
The project is being implemented in partnership with the Women’s Caucus in Parliament and the Ministry of Health. Minster of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (RTD), announced that his ministry is working towards the setting up of comprehensive abortion services in line with the laws of Ghana.
He regretted that Ghana’s coverage of maternal and neonatal interventions is still relatively low and maternal mortality continues to be high, largely as a result of the high proportion of deliveries that are performed by unskilled attendants in ill-equipped facilities.
“Our current five year programme of work therefore seeks to scale up maternal deliveries conducted by skilled attendants by improving access to basic, comprehensive, essential and intensive obstetric care in all health facilities.”
Major Quashigah was speaking during the launch of the first MTN Ghana Foundation Flagship Health Project. The MTN Ghana Foundation was launched in November 2007 in Accra, Tamale and Sunyani.
It is consistent with MTN Group’s global policy to establish foundations across all 21 of its operating units to spearhead its corporate social responsibility.
According to the health minister, the magnitude and persistently high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality in Ghana and Africa generally, and the fact that it is an indicator of development, raises several fundamental issues which policy makers need to confront.
He said maternal death audits are also being strengthened and systems far advanced to conduct confidential enquiries into maternal deaths.
“In fact the issues of women and child birth should take centre stage in every economic policy development in this country, if we come to understand that women carry the human capital of a nation for nine months, deliver and nurture them for wealth creation,” he emphasized.
He hoped that the refurbishment will not be just superficial but will involve the provision of structures that will allow for good service delivery and the protection of dignity of mothers who use them.
Major Quashigah urged the contactor to dialogue with managers and specialists in charge to know their challenges and provide for them.
Thanks to MTN Ghana Foundation initiative, husbands and partners would soon have the opportunity to witness the delivery process by their wives at their own convenience at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital.
Following the refurbishment of the second floor, labour and theatre wards of the Maternity block of the hospital, individual cubicles will be created to enhance privacy during delivery.
The Acting Chief Administrator of the hospital, Dr. B.D.R. T. Annan disclosed this at the launching ceremony.
According to Dr. Annan, the project which MTN Ghana has taken up had been on the hospital’s drawing board since 2003, after the rehabilitation of the first floor of the labour and theatre wards, but could not be executed due to lack of funds.
“The offer by MTN foundation to adopt and rehabilitate the labour and theatre wards is therefore a welcome gesture to the hospital board, management and staff as well as patients of the hospital,” he said.
He noted that upon the completion of the project, more theatre space will be created for the speedy performance of surgeries. T
his, he said, will tremendously reduce the waiting time of patients before they are attended to and also increase the number of surgeries (12) that are performed daily. Prof. Franklyn Manu, Board Chairman of MTN Ghana Foundation observed that both national and international health institutions have identified our maternal health mortality statistics as a key area of focus for development.
He said Promoting a better future for Ghanaian women and babies is vital to national development and was happy that the resources MTN is making available through the foundation, can be put to such good use.
Prof. Manu stated that it is not enough for corporate entities to pay their taxes to government because there is a clear recognition that corporate bodies too are citizens who must express a sensitivity to the well being of the society.
“They too must find ways to contribute to social development in whatever context they are pursuing their business objectives,” he urged.
He noted that by the initiative, MTN is showing its readiness to partner with other stakeholders including other corporate to render support to national development efforts.
MTN says it selected the maternity block because of its importance as the national referral point for the provision of critical and specialized maternal health care.
Ms. Mawuena Dumor, Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, explained that wherever MTN operates, it feels a responsibility to make contributions to the welfare of the people among whom it is privileged to run its business.
“The success of MTN as an African multinational enables us to offer the highest levels of technology to Ghanaians as we invite them to participate in the new experience of telecommunications unique to this socio-cultural environment yet benchmarked at a world class level.”
Ms Dumor stressed that MTN places a premium on social investments as core aspect of its business with emphasis on social matters of national importance.
Professor Akua Kuenyehia, Patron of MTN Ghana Foundation and Vice President, International Criminal Court of Justice, The Hague performed the official launch of the project.
She noted that the health needs of populations worldwide poses a great challenge that cannot be addressed by governments alone but through interventions by multinationals like MTN.
She urged corporate organisations to collaborate to maximize resources for corporate social responsibility. T
he women caucus in parliament was represented at the launching ceremony.
In a solidarity message, it Chairperson, Mrs. Eugenia Kusi said the caucus does not only work to ensure that the interests of women are represented in laws that are passed but also to highlight and draw attention to issues affecting women.
She recalled that a seminar organised by members in 2006 prompted them to come to the aid of the ward which was the only one functioning then.
“We have been mobilizing funds and we are by this launching today telling other corporate organisations we have written to respond to our letters.”
She assured Ghanaian women that the Women’s Caucus of Parliament is concerned about their welfare and would not rest until their lot is improved
Funds to promote women’s rights dry up
Reports suggest that women’s rights groups and organisations are facing challenges in finding resources for their work, which is central to development.
Traditional sources of funding for this aspect of development is said to be decreasing over the years.
A multi-year action-research initiative in 2005 by the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) dubbed, “Where is the Money for Women’s Rights?”, to gain a better understanding of funding trends for women’s rights work and how best to expand the resource base, shows that the challenges of the current funding landscape are many.
This includes the support for women’s rights organizations. AWID emphasizes that without strong, vital and effective women’s organizations and networks all over the world, existing women’s rights achievements could be lost.
AWID is an international membership organization connecting, informing and mobilizing people and organizations committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights.
Its goal is to cause policy, institutional and individual change that will improve the lives of women and girls everywhere.
It has called for an urgent need to increase the amount, quality and access of resources for women’s organizations worldwide, and to transform the way in which women’s organizations and movements relate with the issue of resources, from a logic of scarcity, to see funding and resource mobilization as a critical aspect of their political agendas and key for building strong feminist movements.
The research confirms the general feeling of women’s rights groups and organisations on the field in Ghana.
They keep asking about how and where to raise funds. There seem to be few interested funders, with too little money to support existing women’s rights organizations and initiatives, or is it that donors simply don’t understand the urgency and importance of their work?
As a first step to revive financing trends by bilateral donors and development partners, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), a grant making organisation set up to provide grants to women’s organisations across the continent, with its regional secretariat in Accra, held a days forum to engage the partners at the national level to find ways to address the issue.
Speaking at the forum, the Executive Director of AWDF, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi said it was necessary to engage their partners to remind them of her organization’s collaboration with women’s groups in Ghana, since it spends a lot of time mobilizing resources at the international level.
According to her, AWDF has since 2001 when it began operations done a lot to support African women structured along three areas.
“These include specific thematic areas, capacity building of the organisations that we support and movement building at national and regional level,” she stated.
She disclosed that the AWDF has through grants of $7.8 million supported 575 women organisations in forty African countries.
“Through AWDF’s support African women in various countries including Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, have been able to set up support centres for survivors of gender-based violence, a vocational training centre or ex-Trokosis in Ghana, support for groups of women living with HIV/AIDs and advocacy for disabled women’s rights.”
She added that the success of AWDF is equally the success of the work of its partners in helping poor marginalized women. Some grantees attributed their successes to the support by AWDF.
Dr. Rose Mensah Kutin, of NETRIGHT and Abantu for Development noted that there was a gap in resources to promote the work of gender equality on the development agenda.
She said women’s rights advocates have often turned to other partners for funds since the national budget itself does not make allocation for issues on women’s rights and even when it does through the women ministry it is minimal.
As a result, she said efforts towards mainstream gender considerations has resulted in out stream except the social service sectors which are least funded by development partners.
Ms Joana Foster founder of AWDF appealed to the development partners to look at the long term achievements of women’s rights programmes and not in the short term, since socialization which is an underlying factor to women’s rights especially in Africa, changes gradually.
Traditional sources of funding for this aspect of development is said to be decreasing over the years.
A multi-year action-research initiative in 2005 by the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) dubbed, “Where is the Money for Women’s Rights?”, to gain a better understanding of funding trends for women’s rights work and how best to expand the resource base, shows that the challenges of the current funding landscape are many.
This includes the support for women’s rights organizations. AWID emphasizes that without strong, vital and effective women’s organizations and networks all over the world, existing women’s rights achievements could be lost.
AWID is an international membership organization connecting, informing and mobilizing people and organizations committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights.
Its goal is to cause policy, institutional and individual change that will improve the lives of women and girls everywhere.
It has called for an urgent need to increase the amount, quality and access of resources for women’s organizations worldwide, and to transform the way in which women’s organizations and movements relate with the issue of resources, from a logic of scarcity, to see funding and resource mobilization as a critical aspect of their political agendas and key for building strong feminist movements.
The research confirms the general feeling of women’s rights groups and organisations on the field in Ghana.
They keep asking about how and where to raise funds. There seem to be few interested funders, with too little money to support existing women’s rights organizations and initiatives, or is it that donors simply don’t understand the urgency and importance of their work?
As a first step to revive financing trends by bilateral donors and development partners, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), a grant making organisation set up to provide grants to women’s organisations across the continent, with its regional secretariat in Accra, held a days forum to engage the partners at the national level to find ways to address the issue.
Speaking at the forum, the Executive Director of AWDF, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi said it was necessary to engage their partners to remind them of her organization’s collaboration with women’s groups in Ghana, since it spends a lot of time mobilizing resources at the international level.
According to her, AWDF has since 2001 when it began operations done a lot to support African women structured along three areas.
“These include specific thematic areas, capacity building of the organisations that we support and movement building at national and regional level,” she stated.
She disclosed that the AWDF has through grants of $7.8 million supported 575 women organisations in forty African countries.
“Through AWDF’s support African women in various countries including Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, have been able to set up support centres for survivors of gender-based violence, a vocational training centre or ex-Trokosis in Ghana, support for groups of women living with HIV/AIDs and advocacy for disabled women’s rights.”
She added that the success of AWDF is equally the success of the work of its partners in helping poor marginalized women. Some grantees attributed their successes to the support by AWDF.
Dr. Rose Mensah Kutin, of NETRIGHT and Abantu for Development noted that there was a gap in resources to promote the work of gender equality on the development agenda.
She said women’s rights advocates have often turned to other partners for funds since the national budget itself does not make allocation for issues on women’s rights and even when it does through the women ministry it is minimal.
As a result, she said efforts towards mainstream gender considerations has resulted in out stream except the social service sectors which are least funded by development partners.
Ms Joana Foster founder of AWDF appealed to the development partners to look at the long term achievements of women’s rights programmes and not in the short term, since socialization which is an underlying factor to women’s rights especially in Africa, changes gradually.
FDB warns Ghanaians of unwholesome drugs
The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) will together with the pharmacy council launch a nationwide intensive programme to ensure that unregistered products are not distributed through official channels.
The board is worried that Ghana is experiencing the influx of such products, particularly those perceived to be sex enhancing drugs which are mostly of Chinese origin.
It has vowed to halt attempts by some gangsters to launch into Ghana’s growing economy through selling of unwholesome products.
As part of its regulatory activities, the board held a press briefing in Accra to expose some of these unregistered drugs and to caution the general public that the following have not been approved and they are dangerous to use.
They include America Viagra, USA Wolf brother, USA Lan Gee, American superman and USA Viagra 100%. Others are Super overlord, Power 007 USA, USA Vager 777, Powerful and Herbal Viagra, and Sexy Goddess.
The Deputy Executive Director of FDB, Rev. J.Y. Mantey said the board has not registered the above products which are deceptively packaged to show that they contain pure active ingredients.
“Inferior grades and unwholesome ingredients are being used to produce these drugs which could have severe effects on the users. We cannot afford to make Ghana a refuse dump for all kinds of unwholesome products,” he said.
He said the board does not expect any licensed chemical shop to have any of these products. However, he said the action by FDB is not to cast a slur on all products designed to enhance sexual performance but to caution that majority of them are unwholesome.
He warned that those whose interest is mainly to make money at the expense of quality health care in the country will not have their way.
“Let me sound a strong warning that the days when people smuggle in such unregistered products as part of their personal belongings at the various entry points is over. People should not be surprised if they arrive at the entry points and their luggage are searched thoroughly,” Rev. Mantey emphasized.
He questioned the extent at which Ghanaians patronize products with inscriptions solely in Chinese and claiming to be coming from America.
According to him, such drugs do not exist anywhere in the United States of America. He said, there are legally recognized channels for the distribution of drugs and that Ghanaians must honour these legal provisions and buy from licensed chemical shops.
He disclosed that Ghana has one of the safest drug market, therefore all and sundry must work to maintain standards since the regulatory authority cannot do it alone.
Rev. Mantey appealed to Ghanaians to exercise their civic responsibility to complement the fight against inferior products as is being done by those in western countries.
According to him, the FDB and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), which is responsible for agency work at the border pots have renewed their commitments to ensure that unregistered products do not find their way into the country, in order to lift public health.
Mr. Yaw Kwarteng, Head of Import and Export Control Department at FDB said importers should note that they do not have the right to bring in just anything to make money.
“All importers must consult the board and register all products they intend to import.” According to him, the FDB is also hooked to the GCNET system currently being used by CEPS and that this collaboration has been effective in exposing unwholesome products, which formerly were easily concealed.
The board is worried that Ghana is experiencing the influx of such products, particularly those perceived to be sex enhancing drugs which are mostly of Chinese origin.
It has vowed to halt attempts by some gangsters to launch into Ghana’s growing economy through selling of unwholesome products.
As part of its regulatory activities, the board held a press briefing in Accra to expose some of these unregistered drugs and to caution the general public that the following have not been approved and they are dangerous to use.
They include America Viagra, USA Wolf brother, USA Lan Gee, American superman and USA Viagra 100%. Others are Super overlord, Power 007 USA, USA Vager 777, Powerful and Herbal Viagra, and Sexy Goddess.
The Deputy Executive Director of FDB, Rev. J.Y. Mantey said the board has not registered the above products which are deceptively packaged to show that they contain pure active ingredients.
“Inferior grades and unwholesome ingredients are being used to produce these drugs which could have severe effects on the users. We cannot afford to make Ghana a refuse dump for all kinds of unwholesome products,” he said.
He said the board does not expect any licensed chemical shop to have any of these products. However, he said the action by FDB is not to cast a slur on all products designed to enhance sexual performance but to caution that majority of them are unwholesome.
He warned that those whose interest is mainly to make money at the expense of quality health care in the country will not have their way.
“Let me sound a strong warning that the days when people smuggle in such unregistered products as part of their personal belongings at the various entry points is over. People should not be surprised if they arrive at the entry points and their luggage are searched thoroughly,” Rev. Mantey emphasized.
He questioned the extent at which Ghanaians patronize products with inscriptions solely in Chinese and claiming to be coming from America.
According to him, such drugs do not exist anywhere in the United States of America. He said, there are legally recognized channels for the distribution of drugs and that Ghanaians must honour these legal provisions and buy from licensed chemical shops.
He disclosed that Ghana has one of the safest drug market, therefore all and sundry must work to maintain standards since the regulatory authority cannot do it alone.
Rev. Mantey appealed to Ghanaians to exercise their civic responsibility to complement the fight against inferior products as is being done by those in western countries.
According to him, the FDB and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), which is responsible for agency work at the border pots have renewed their commitments to ensure that unregistered products do not find their way into the country, in order to lift public health.
Mr. Yaw Kwarteng, Head of Import and Export Control Department at FDB said importers should note that they do not have the right to bring in just anything to make money.
“All importers must consult the board and register all products they intend to import.” According to him, the FDB is also hooked to the GCNET system currently being used by CEPS and that this collaboration has been effective in exposing unwholesome products, which formerly were easily concealed.
EU not alarmed about China in Africa
The European Union does not feel threatened by China’s economic presence in Africa, contrary to common perception, says an expert.
The EU’s basic concern is that Africa is able to benefit from the new economic interest.
Jonathan Holslag, EU expert on Contemporary China Studies when contacted for comments said the EU does not see China as a threat, although there are certain individual approaches to the issue.
“We do not see China as a threat. We have different perception to help African countries to reap economic profits.”
He explained that there are a lot of observers who feel that China is not in Africa to promote human rights and good governance.
He said the EU is concerned about how to convince China to invest more in transparency, good governance, human rights and economic management.
“This is the only way Africa can ensure that the new opportunities are translated into growth and sound welfare for its people.”
He continued, “Transparency and good governance are the most important issues in which EU and China should act extensively and more concrete plan of action.”
The European Union continues to be Africa’s biggest trading partner.
However, China’s growing demand for resources has caused international media reports suggesting that China and EU are competing for raw materials in Africa.
But Holslag discredited such assessments. He said that the EU is not so much concerned about China, arguing that economic competition between China and EU is limited basically to the energy sector.
He stressed that even in the mining branch like digging up iron, copper and cobalt and sulfur, China is not that much competition for EU companies.
According to him, China’s main competitors are other emerging markets such as India, Brazil and Russia.
“I don’t believe there is a fundamental economic competition between EU and China. Certainly, there is a kind of friction in relation to political standards.”
On how the EU should approach Africa in light of EPAs, he said it should be done with a different voice, especially, the interest of individuals on issues of agricultural barriers and subsidies to carry out straightforward negotiations.
Holslag said the first element for the EU is to be able to address the fundamental hindrances of a mature relationship with Africa that pertains basically to trade barriers and quality standards.
“It is legitimate to help African countries to overcome them and also the difficulties they experience in entering the European markets.
He added, “It is vital to become aware that we can’t play global game without investments in Africa. We should work harder to re-realize a strategic partnership with Africa.”
He cited South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria as countries that tend to export much more processed food to the EU than China.
“We need to do a lot more to make use of this complementarity. The only way we can avoid downward spiral competition with China, is that we accentuate that we develop a division of labour complementarity and ensure that the trade flows between China and EU is fair.
“It is an important factor for Africa as well to take advantage of this complementarity to make sure that growth rates in the quality and primary sector remain high.”
The EU may not be alarmed but certainly alert.
A latest report adopted by the European Parliament Development Committee on the effects of China’s growing presence in Africa, expected to be approved by the plenary vote in April points a finger at investments made by China with no strings attached in African countries ruled by oppressive regimes.
Members of European Parliament, (MEPs) say this policy helps perpetuate human rights violations.
It also highlights Beijing’s role in the spread of arms and the conditions under which natural resources are being exploited.
The report states that China should increase transparency of its national arms export control regime, namely by ensuring complete reporting on exports to the UN Registrar on Conventional Arms Exports.
“Unlike the EU, which ties its investments to respect for human rights and good governance, China makes most of its investments without laying down any particular conditions. Such investment in countries suffering from bad governance by oppressive regimes helps perpetuate human rights abuses,” say MEPs.
The report also calls on the EU to actively promote transparency regarding revenue generated by natural resources.
The Development Committee stresses that the European Parliament is willing to engage with Chinese National People’s Congress, the Pan-African Parliament and African national parliaments in a dialogue aimed at fostering sustainable development and enhancing their scrutinizing capabilities.
The EU’s basic concern is that Africa is able to benefit from the new economic interest.
Jonathan Holslag, EU expert on Contemporary China Studies when contacted for comments said the EU does not see China as a threat, although there are certain individual approaches to the issue.
“We do not see China as a threat. We have different perception to help African countries to reap economic profits.”
He explained that there are a lot of observers who feel that China is not in Africa to promote human rights and good governance.
He said the EU is concerned about how to convince China to invest more in transparency, good governance, human rights and economic management.
“This is the only way Africa can ensure that the new opportunities are translated into growth and sound welfare for its people.”
He continued, “Transparency and good governance are the most important issues in which EU and China should act extensively and more concrete plan of action.”
The European Union continues to be Africa’s biggest trading partner.
However, China’s growing demand for resources has caused international media reports suggesting that China and EU are competing for raw materials in Africa.
But Holslag discredited such assessments. He said that the EU is not so much concerned about China, arguing that economic competition between China and EU is limited basically to the energy sector.
He stressed that even in the mining branch like digging up iron, copper and cobalt and sulfur, China is not that much competition for EU companies.
According to him, China’s main competitors are other emerging markets such as India, Brazil and Russia.
“I don’t believe there is a fundamental economic competition between EU and China. Certainly, there is a kind of friction in relation to political standards.”
On how the EU should approach Africa in light of EPAs, he said it should be done with a different voice, especially, the interest of individuals on issues of agricultural barriers and subsidies to carry out straightforward negotiations.
Holslag said the first element for the EU is to be able to address the fundamental hindrances of a mature relationship with Africa that pertains basically to trade barriers and quality standards.
“It is legitimate to help African countries to overcome them and also the difficulties they experience in entering the European markets.
He added, “It is vital to become aware that we can’t play global game without investments in Africa. We should work harder to re-realize a strategic partnership with Africa.”
He cited South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria as countries that tend to export much more processed food to the EU than China.
“We need to do a lot more to make use of this complementarity. The only way we can avoid downward spiral competition with China, is that we accentuate that we develop a division of labour complementarity and ensure that the trade flows between China and EU is fair.
“It is an important factor for Africa as well to take advantage of this complementarity to make sure that growth rates in the quality and primary sector remain high.”
The EU may not be alarmed but certainly alert.
A latest report adopted by the European Parliament Development Committee on the effects of China’s growing presence in Africa, expected to be approved by the plenary vote in April points a finger at investments made by China with no strings attached in African countries ruled by oppressive regimes.
Members of European Parliament, (MEPs) say this policy helps perpetuate human rights violations.
It also highlights Beijing’s role in the spread of arms and the conditions under which natural resources are being exploited.
The report states that China should increase transparency of its national arms export control regime, namely by ensuring complete reporting on exports to the UN Registrar on Conventional Arms Exports.
“Unlike the EU, which ties its investments to respect for human rights and good governance, China makes most of its investments without laying down any particular conditions. Such investment in countries suffering from bad governance by oppressive regimes helps perpetuate human rights abuses,” say MEPs.
The report also calls on the EU to actively promote transparency regarding revenue generated by natural resources.
The Development Committee stresses that the European Parliament is willing to engage with Chinese National People’s Congress, the Pan-African Parliament and African national parliaments in a dialogue aimed at fostering sustainable development and enhancing their scrutinizing capabilities.
Journalists school on economic and financial reporting
A two month training programme on economic and financial reporting has begun in Berlin-Germany.
Fifteen journalists from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, China, India, Indonesia and Philippines are participating in the programme which will run from January to March 17 2008.
Course content include business news writing, essential statistics, reporting companies and markets, consumer information and global economic issues among others.
The International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of InWEnt, Capacity Building International, Germany is organising the training course.
The goal is to enable journalists to fulfill their role properly and to improve the quality of economic and financial reporting in their media organisations.
Welcoming participants, the Head of the IIJ, Astrid Kohl noted that only well trained journalists can fulfill the role as critical watchdogs helping to create transparency and to hold government and business accountable.
She explained that democracy, good governance and an active civil society are preconditions for development and prosperity.
This basic philosophy fits seamlessly into the media development concept of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development, which is the main stakeholder of InWent.” she said.
She said participants for the training programme are brought from diverse regions and countries to build their capacity, network and share ideas and experiences. She urged the participants to take the opportunity to learn so as to improve their capacity and sharpen their writing skills.
Senior Project Manager Hans-jurgen Boesel noted that globalisation has made countries and people more interdependent worldwide as goods and services, capital, labour and information move increasingly rapidly and freely around the world.
He said it is only when people are informed about opportunities that they can make informed choices in and for society.
This, he said, places a responsibility on journalists, particularly economic and financial journalists to understand/comprehend events and explain them to the people. “Well trained journalists are a precondition for a functioning mass media. They can only fulfill their role when they thoroughly understand the complex array of globalization.”
The IIJ founded in 1962 has been engaged in professional media training since 1963 to give young journalists from developing and transition countries the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in newspaper business and since recently in online journalism.
Some participants are hopeful that after the completion of the course, they will better understand the factors that determine the national and international economy and have improved their skills in writing comprehensible and fact based articles on economic, financial and business issues.
Fifteen journalists from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, China, India, Indonesia and Philippines are participating in the programme which will run from January to March 17 2008.
Course content include business news writing, essential statistics, reporting companies and markets, consumer information and global economic issues among others.
The International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of InWEnt, Capacity Building International, Germany is organising the training course.
The goal is to enable journalists to fulfill their role properly and to improve the quality of economic and financial reporting in their media organisations.
Welcoming participants, the Head of the IIJ, Astrid Kohl noted that only well trained journalists can fulfill the role as critical watchdogs helping to create transparency and to hold government and business accountable.
She explained that democracy, good governance and an active civil society are preconditions for development and prosperity.
This basic philosophy fits seamlessly into the media development concept of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development, which is the main stakeholder of InWent.” she said.
She said participants for the training programme are brought from diverse regions and countries to build their capacity, network and share ideas and experiences. She urged the participants to take the opportunity to learn so as to improve their capacity and sharpen their writing skills.
Senior Project Manager Hans-jurgen Boesel noted that globalisation has made countries and people more interdependent worldwide as goods and services, capital, labour and information move increasingly rapidly and freely around the world.
He said it is only when people are informed about opportunities that they can make informed choices in and for society.
This, he said, places a responsibility on journalists, particularly economic and financial journalists to understand/comprehend events and explain them to the people. “Well trained journalists are a precondition for a functioning mass media. They can only fulfill their role when they thoroughly understand the complex array of globalization.”
The IIJ founded in 1962 has been engaged in professional media training since 1963 to give young journalists from developing and transition countries the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in newspaper business and since recently in online journalism.
Some participants are hopeful that after the completion of the course, they will better understand the factors that determine the national and international economy and have improved their skills in writing comprehensible and fact based articles on economic, financial and business issues.
A.M.A records high divorce cases and low marriage registrations
Data available at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly on customary marriage indicates that a total of 618 marriages were dissolved last year out of 1,511 marriages registered.
In January 2007 46, out of the 136 registered marriages were dissolved. The month of February saw 49 dissolutions out of 122 registered.
The Registrar of Marriages at the AMA, Mr. Emmanuel A. Tettey, attributed the low registration of marriages to a clause in the Customary Marriage and Divorce (Registration) Law 1985.
It states, 2. (1) “Where a marriage has been contracted under customary law, either party to the marriage or both parties shall apply in writing to the Registrar of Marriages (referred to in this law as “the registrar”) of the district in which the marriage was contracted for the registration of the marriage in the register of marriages in this law referred to as the “register”.
He explained that consequently partners who get married outside the region where they reside are not able to register at the A.M.A.
“It should be possible to register anywhere to encourage people to register their marriages,” he said. On the other hand, he said the clause helps to conduct thorough investigations before marriages are registered.
According to Mr. Tettey interference by in-laws and other family members continue to be a factor to the dissolution of marriages. He said counseling of all people involved in marriages should be intensified.
He stressed the need for partners wishing to come together in marriage to get to know each other thoroughly.
“People must learn to walk into marriage and not jump into it. In the past, people used to conduct comprehensive investigations about their supposed spouses / partners before they come together. The youth of today must follow such example.”
He said that when couples file for dissolution, they are granted some amount of room to think through their intended action.
“Even when people file for dissolution at the court it takes two years before the court grants a hearing to the issue. “ The registrar continued, “The idea is to give people time to think it over.”
He cautioned that there is no need for individuals to hesitate in marriage.
Rather, he said what is needed is sustainability. “We must come to the realization that no human being is perfect. Both must learn to say sorry for their offences in order not to prolong issues.”
Family interference, particularly parental one is said to be the major cause of divorce in Ghana. Due to the Ghanaian culture of extended family system, family members still hold a key position in an otherwise exclusive union between two people, (male and female) who are of age.
Unlike the European system where two people could meet and marry without the consent of their families, it is and would be an indignity for one to do that in Ghana.
Even though there is an acceptable age for one to marry and begin life with his or her partner, family members continue to play a role in the affairs of the couple. Public Agenda published the findings of a research on divorce in its Friday January 12, 2007 edition.
The report indicated that if marriages lasted more than ten years they were likely to survive. It stated the commonest time to separate was soon after seven years.
The research carried out by Tickbox.net also looked at the impact of divorce on 350 children. It found that only 13 per cent wanted their parents to get back together and only 13 per cent objected to them taking a new partner.
Children of divorced were also more likely to have doubts when they themselves married.
In January 2007 46, out of the 136 registered marriages were dissolved. The month of February saw 49 dissolutions out of 122 registered.
The Registrar of Marriages at the AMA, Mr. Emmanuel A. Tettey, attributed the low registration of marriages to a clause in the Customary Marriage and Divorce (Registration) Law 1985.
It states, 2. (1) “Where a marriage has been contracted under customary law, either party to the marriage or both parties shall apply in writing to the Registrar of Marriages (referred to in this law as “the registrar”) of the district in which the marriage was contracted for the registration of the marriage in the register of marriages in this law referred to as the “register”.
He explained that consequently partners who get married outside the region where they reside are not able to register at the A.M.A.
“It should be possible to register anywhere to encourage people to register their marriages,” he said. On the other hand, he said the clause helps to conduct thorough investigations before marriages are registered.
According to Mr. Tettey interference by in-laws and other family members continue to be a factor to the dissolution of marriages. He said counseling of all people involved in marriages should be intensified.
He stressed the need for partners wishing to come together in marriage to get to know each other thoroughly.
“People must learn to walk into marriage and not jump into it. In the past, people used to conduct comprehensive investigations about their supposed spouses / partners before they come together. The youth of today must follow such example.”
He said that when couples file for dissolution, they are granted some amount of room to think through their intended action.
“Even when people file for dissolution at the court it takes two years before the court grants a hearing to the issue. “ The registrar continued, “The idea is to give people time to think it over.”
He cautioned that there is no need for individuals to hesitate in marriage.
Rather, he said what is needed is sustainability. “We must come to the realization that no human being is perfect. Both must learn to say sorry for their offences in order not to prolong issues.”
Family interference, particularly parental one is said to be the major cause of divorce in Ghana. Due to the Ghanaian culture of extended family system, family members still hold a key position in an otherwise exclusive union between two people, (male and female) who are of age.
Unlike the European system where two people could meet and marry without the consent of their families, it is and would be an indignity for one to do that in Ghana.
Even though there is an acceptable age for one to marry and begin life with his or her partner, family members continue to play a role in the affairs of the couple. Public Agenda published the findings of a research on divorce in its Friday January 12, 2007 edition.
The report indicated that if marriages lasted more than ten years they were likely to survive. It stated the commonest time to separate was soon after seven years.
The research carried out by Tickbox.net also looked at the impact of divorce on 350 children. It found that only 13 per cent wanted their parents to get back together and only 13 per cent objected to them taking a new partner.
Children of divorced were also more likely to have doubts when they themselves married.
NPP’S ALL MALE CONTEST
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will tomorrow hold an all-male congress to elect a presidential candidate for the 2008 presidential elections.
The congress without a single female contestant will conclude a series of congresses by the dominant political parties in which female representation for presidential candidacy was nil.
A year ago, the NDC elected Prof. John Evans Atta Mills as flag bearer. Two weeks ago, the PNC also elected Dr. Edward Mahama again as flag bearer and just this week the CPP elected Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom as flag bearer to complete men’s continuous dominance in the race to become president.
Various commentators think that money is a barrier to women aspiring to become presidents. That perhaps, explains why the Nigerian government enacted a law to compel political parties to waive nomination and filing fees for women wanting to contest for the presidency.
A Gender Consultant, Mrs. Rosaline Baatuolkuu-Obeng Ofori, believes women being relegated to the background in decision making can be avoided if the playing field is made even.
In an interview she blamed the political parties for the absence of women in the contest for the topmost position.
She said society is equally to blame for paying lip service to the empowerment of women in Ghana.
“Why should they have women’s wing and male wing? If parties are made general and they can assure that women can be president, then it means that within the leadership, you also can say that women are not playing a dominant role so they can also be made either vice presidents or can be elected as candidates.”
She was certain that none of the men who are standing as presidential candidates are doing so on a singular wish.
She said they have all been encouraged in one way or the other, by other men and wondered why women are not being encouraged.
According to her, Ghana has too many capable female presidents than most of the men contesting as presidential candidates.
“Without offending any man, there are many more Ghanaian women who are more capable as leaders in terms of decision making, strategic planning and programme development and have interest of their country than most of them who are posing as candidates.”
“It is a men’s world and we have to agree. I am not happy, not because women haven’t come out but the obstacles are too many for us to go and embarrass ourselves. It is not because the women are not there. Even if you go in willingly, they will make sure they shovel you out.”
Asked if women’s groups in Ghana are hoping for any female running mates, she replied, “Sometimes I feel offended by those positions. Society thinks that women can only play second fiddle to a man when we can actually be better than those men.”
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso Madam Josephine Hilda Addoh said the absence of women presidential aspirants has nothing to do with competence.
She said the issue mainly is about resources.
“In my view so many women might be nurturing the idea but have no funds.”
The MP dismissed assertions that Ghana is not ready for a female president.“Ghana must be ready for a woman in all spheres of life. We take the lead and people follow.”
For her, it will be lovely to have a female running mate. Even though some women can now be found in top political and other public positions, it was expected that the 2008 elections would present the best opportunity for all political parties to elect women as presidential or vice presidential candidates.
In a previous interview with this paper, some MPs including Mrs. Akua Sena Dansua, MP for North Dayi urged Ghanaian women to ignore all parties which fail to accord women their rightful places and that the era of “all take and no give” must end.
“Any party in Ghana which does not field a woman at least as a running mate for the 2008 elections should not be supported by women across board,” Miss Dansua stated.
Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, MP for Weija and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, thinks Ghana is moving towards the direction when one day a female president will emerge.
“I think it is possible, but we have a lot of work to do socio-culturally,” she admits.According to her, lack of money and the notion that the woman’s place is the kitchen; the responsibility of raising children, and the belief that men should lead while women follow are some of the socio-cultural barriers that have to be dealt with.
The MP for Builsa North, Mrs. Agnes A. Chigabatia, believes there are a lot of Johnson-Sirleafs out there, and that she is one.
“I will stand as a presidential candidate in 2012,” she declared.
“Ghanaian women lack boldness. In both the NPP and NDC camps women are sleeping and dreaming, believing that God will speak to them from heaven that they must move on. Politics is opportunity when it comes your way you seize it,” she stated.
The MP for Okaikoi North, Mrs. Elizabeth Sackey, shared the views of her colleagues and asks, “If the time is not ripe for a woman to be president then when?” She believed that some women might be nurturing presidential ambitions but as usual they might be keeping their cards to their chest.
“Females take time before they move; they are always on the quiet but when they move they achieve their targets excellently. Women don’t jump into issues; they analyze the pros and cons before taking a step.”
It is said that Ghana lags behind countries like Uganda, South Africa and Botswana where the numerical strength of women have increased over the years.
The late Madam Hawa Yakubu, former first National Vice Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, who was highly tipped to contest the presidential candidacy of the party later expressed no interest in contesting.
The congress without a single female contestant will conclude a series of congresses by the dominant political parties in which female representation for presidential candidacy was nil.
A year ago, the NDC elected Prof. John Evans Atta Mills as flag bearer. Two weeks ago, the PNC also elected Dr. Edward Mahama again as flag bearer and just this week the CPP elected Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom as flag bearer to complete men’s continuous dominance in the race to become president.
Various commentators think that money is a barrier to women aspiring to become presidents. That perhaps, explains why the Nigerian government enacted a law to compel political parties to waive nomination and filing fees for women wanting to contest for the presidency.
A Gender Consultant, Mrs. Rosaline Baatuolkuu-Obeng Ofori, believes women being relegated to the background in decision making can be avoided if the playing field is made even.
In an interview she blamed the political parties for the absence of women in the contest for the topmost position.
She said society is equally to blame for paying lip service to the empowerment of women in Ghana.
“Why should they have women’s wing and male wing? If parties are made general and they can assure that women can be president, then it means that within the leadership, you also can say that women are not playing a dominant role so they can also be made either vice presidents or can be elected as candidates.”
She was certain that none of the men who are standing as presidential candidates are doing so on a singular wish.
She said they have all been encouraged in one way or the other, by other men and wondered why women are not being encouraged.
According to her, Ghana has too many capable female presidents than most of the men contesting as presidential candidates.
“Without offending any man, there are many more Ghanaian women who are more capable as leaders in terms of decision making, strategic planning and programme development and have interest of their country than most of them who are posing as candidates.”
“It is a men’s world and we have to agree. I am not happy, not because women haven’t come out but the obstacles are too many for us to go and embarrass ourselves. It is not because the women are not there. Even if you go in willingly, they will make sure they shovel you out.”
Asked if women’s groups in Ghana are hoping for any female running mates, she replied, “Sometimes I feel offended by those positions. Society thinks that women can only play second fiddle to a man when we can actually be better than those men.”
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso Madam Josephine Hilda Addoh said the absence of women presidential aspirants has nothing to do with competence.
She said the issue mainly is about resources.
“In my view so many women might be nurturing the idea but have no funds.”
The MP dismissed assertions that Ghana is not ready for a female president.“Ghana must be ready for a woman in all spheres of life. We take the lead and people follow.”
For her, it will be lovely to have a female running mate. Even though some women can now be found in top political and other public positions, it was expected that the 2008 elections would present the best opportunity for all political parties to elect women as presidential or vice presidential candidates.
In a previous interview with this paper, some MPs including Mrs. Akua Sena Dansua, MP for North Dayi urged Ghanaian women to ignore all parties which fail to accord women their rightful places and that the era of “all take and no give” must end.
“Any party in Ghana which does not field a woman at least as a running mate for the 2008 elections should not be supported by women across board,” Miss Dansua stated.
Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, MP for Weija and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, thinks Ghana is moving towards the direction when one day a female president will emerge.
“I think it is possible, but we have a lot of work to do socio-culturally,” she admits.According to her, lack of money and the notion that the woman’s place is the kitchen; the responsibility of raising children, and the belief that men should lead while women follow are some of the socio-cultural barriers that have to be dealt with.
The MP for Builsa North, Mrs. Agnes A. Chigabatia, believes there are a lot of Johnson-Sirleafs out there, and that she is one.
“I will stand as a presidential candidate in 2012,” she declared.
“Ghanaian women lack boldness. In both the NPP and NDC camps women are sleeping and dreaming, believing that God will speak to them from heaven that they must move on. Politics is opportunity when it comes your way you seize it,” she stated.
The MP for Okaikoi North, Mrs. Elizabeth Sackey, shared the views of her colleagues and asks, “If the time is not ripe for a woman to be president then when?” She believed that some women might be nurturing presidential ambitions but as usual they might be keeping their cards to their chest.
“Females take time before they move; they are always on the quiet but when they move they achieve their targets excellently. Women don’t jump into issues; they analyze the pros and cons before taking a step.”
It is said that Ghana lags behind countries like Uganda, South Africa and Botswana where the numerical strength of women have increased over the years.
The late Madam Hawa Yakubu, former first National Vice Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, who was highly tipped to contest the presidential candidacy of the party later expressed no interest in contesting.
Ghana gets $51 million for malaria control
In Ghana, malaria accounts for more than 44 percent of visits to health facilities. UNICEF estimates that 20 thousand Ghanaian children under the age of five die each year of malaria.
The disease is said to be one of the major causes of poverty and mortality in the country. Under the United States of America’s President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), with a goal to reduce malaria deaths by half among the most risky groups: pregnant women and children under five, Ghana has been chosen as a new focus country.
A total of $1.2 billion has been allotted for the five-year initiative in 15 of the highest-burden countries in Africa.
In Ghana, PMI will operate for three years from 2008 through 2010 and will provide $17 million worth of support for malaria control efforts each year.
According to USAID’s Ghana Director, Mr. Robert Hellyer, although the PMI targets are ambitious they are attainable. “After three years of implementation, we anticipate that 85 percent of Ghana’s young children, pregnant mothers and households will benefit from these life-saving measures.”
Mr. Hellyer was speaking at the start of a PMI Malaria Walk to pave the way for the official launch of the PMI at a durbar to be held in Agona Abodom in the Central region. He described malaria as an ever present threat in the lives of many Ghanaians.
He was however optimistic that children and mothers can be protected from malaria and its deadly complications such as anemia, low birth weight and brain damage.
“We can teach families to treat malaria quickly and effectively at home, before a child falls very sick. We can keep adults out of the hospital and at work. We have the tools to drive malaria away,” he stressed.
As part of the programme professional walkers and a traveling malaria road show departed the office of the National Malaria Control Programme, (NMCP) in Accra on Monday December 10, 2007 to embark on a three-day malaria awareness walk and road show that ended at the durbar in Agona Abodom.
There were stopovers at Bujumbura, Winneba and Agona Swedru.
The road show employed music, drama, malaria talks and distribution of fact sheets, Insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN) and other educative materials to heighten interest in malaria control.
The Programme Manager of the Malaria Control Programme, Dr. Constance Bart-Plange explained that the PMI is not going to do anything different but help Ghana to rapidly scale up four proven and effective malaria control methods.
“ITN will be distributed with PMI support throughout Ghana. Indoor residual spraying campaigns will be conducted in targeted districts through spraying of 100,000 households, building on the experience of AngloGold Ashanti.”
Dr. Bart-Plange believes that it is time for Ghanaians to stop creating breeding places. “If others are coming in to help us, we must help ourselves. It is time to also take the bull by the horn and move from malaria control to elimination.”
The disease is said to be one of the major causes of poverty and mortality in the country. Under the United States of America’s President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), with a goal to reduce malaria deaths by half among the most risky groups: pregnant women and children under five, Ghana has been chosen as a new focus country.
A total of $1.2 billion has been allotted for the five-year initiative in 15 of the highest-burden countries in Africa.
In Ghana, PMI will operate for three years from 2008 through 2010 and will provide $17 million worth of support for malaria control efforts each year.
According to USAID’s Ghana Director, Mr. Robert Hellyer, although the PMI targets are ambitious they are attainable. “After three years of implementation, we anticipate that 85 percent of Ghana’s young children, pregnant mothers and households will benefit from these life-saving measures.”
Mr. Hellyer was speaking at the start of a PMI Malaria Walk to pave the way for the official launch of the PMI at a durbar to be held in Agona Abodom in the Central region. He described malaria as an ever present threat in the lives of many Ghanaians.
He was however optimistic that children and mothers can be protected from malaria and its deadly complications such as anemia, low birth weight and brain damage.
“We can teach families to treat malaria quickly and effectively at home, before a child falls very sick. We can keep adults out of the hospital and at work. We have the tools to drive malaria away,” he stressed.
As part of the programme professional walkers and a traveling malaria road show departed the office of the National Malaria Control Programme, (NMCP) in Accra on Monday December 10, 2007 to embark on a three-day malaria awareness walk and road show that ended at the durbar in Agona Abodom.
There were stopovers at Bujumbura, Winneba and Agona Swedru.
The road show employed music, drama, malaria talks and distribution of fact sheets, Insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN) and other educative materials to heighten interest in malaria control.
The Programme Manager of the Malaria Control Programme, Dr. Constance Bart-Plange explained that the PMI is not going to do anything different but help Ghana to rapidly scale up four proven and effective malaria control methods.
“ITN will be distributed with PMI support throughout Ghana. Indoor residual spraying campaigns will be conducted in targeted districts through spraying of 100,000 households, building on the experience of AngloGold Ashanti.”
Dr. Bart-Plange believes that it is time for Ghanaians to stop creating breeding places. “If others are coming in to help us, we must help ourselves. It is time to also take the bull by the horn and move from malaria control to elimination.”
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS
Ghana Bans Transit of Foreign Cocoa Beans
Ghana has banned the overland transit of cocoa and cocoa waste from neighbouring states across its territory to stop it being used as a cover for smuggling Ghanaian beans out of the country, states Reuters report.
Mr. Stephen Ntim, the Deputy Chief Executive of industry regulator, Cocobod, said some foreign cocoa merchants who obtained customs permit to transport cocoa from Cote d’ Ivoire through Ghana to Togo were found to have been smuggling beans produced in Ghana’s high-yielding Western cocoa region.
“We did our search and found that these people were operating along the borders in the Brong Ahafo Region and part of the Western Region,” he said.
Mr. Ntim said significant volumes of Ghana’s cocoa had been trafficked out through what he called, “cunning way of smuggling”.
However, he declined to give an estimate of the amount involved.He said although Ghana paid high farm-gate prices than its neighbours, including the world’s leading cocoa grower, Cote d’ Ivoire, merchants in those countries often preferred to have Ghanaian cocoa to mix with their stock and to improve its value.
Ghana’s cocoa is ranked among the world’s best in terms of quality and enjoys a high premium. Ghana now pays a farm-gate price of GH¢ 950 per tonne of cocoa, higher than the equivalent farm-gate prices in neighbouring countries.
Bank of Ghana issues 3 and 5-year bonds
The Bank of Ghana’s three and five-year bonds started selling on December 12, 2007. The Central Bank intends to raise some $30 million with the issue of the three-year bond while the five-year bond will raise about $50 million.
Investors had up to 12 noon Wednesday to buy the bonds. Foreign currency dealers believe this bond will strengthen the cedi against the foreign currencies.
This is because they expect many foreign investors to come in with their currency to buy the bonds.
Ghana to adopt new accounting standards
Ghana is to adopt the new accounting-reporting standard, International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), to bring its public sector accounting practices in line with international standards.
This has become imperative, especially following revelations of alleged embezzlement at the public accounts committee sittings and Ghana’s fast integration into the international financial system.
IPSAS represents a set of high quality international accounting standards designed to meet the specific requirements of public sector institutions, which is also important in view of the country’s fast integration into the international system.
It is expected to make public sector accounting more transparent, reliable and trust worthy.
The United Nations (UN) system, for example, has declared 2010 for all governments, agencies, departments and non-governmental organizations that deal with it to be IPSAS compliant.
This means that Ghana government has to take immediate steps to adopt IPSAS, which prescribes the preparation of accounts based on “accruals basis” and not on cash basis, as is the case with Ghana’s public sector.
ProCredit supports farmers
ProCredit, a Savings and Loans Company, is giving Agricultural loan (Agro-Loan) to farmers to help them develop their agricultural and fisheries businesses.
About $450,000 have been set aside to support the farmers in their agricultural and processing activities, such as crop development, livestock breeding and fish farming or marine fishery.
Both small and large-scale farmers are qualified for the loan and must meet requirements such as the proof of ownership of a business, experience for at least three production cycles and ownership of a voter’s ID, a passport or driver’s license.
Ms. Edwige Takassi, Managing Director of ProCredit, said the support was necessitated by the lack of credit facilities for farmers and the decreasing economic margin for crops such as maize, millet, sorghum and cassava.
She said ProCredit, as a development-oriented institution, was willing to promote the development of agricultural activities as part of its commitment to support the national economic development.
Nsoatreman Bank Introduces New Education Product
The Nsoatreman Rural Bank in the Brong Ahafo Region has launched a new product dubbed:
“Adesua Ahoboa”, which literally means, “Preparation Towards the Child’s Education”.
The product is aimed at helping parents and guardians to save the little money that they might consider as insignificant, and spend it on the education of their children and wards.
A prospective client only needs as little as GH¢1 to open the savings account with the bank to benefit from the product, which has a high yielding interest rate.
Launching the product at Jinjini, a farming community in the Berekum District in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr. Philip Appiah-Mensah, General Manager of the bank, said the decision to come out with such a product, was to help minimize the burden and frustration parents had to go through to raise money to pay the admission fees of their wards after they had gained entry into senior high schools (SHS).
Ghana has banned the overland transit of cocoa and cocoa waste from neighbouring states across its territory to stop it being used as a cover for smuggling Ghanaian beans out of the country, states Reuters report.
Mr. Stephen Ntim, the Deputy Chief Executive of industry regulator, Cocobod, said some foreign cocoa merchants who obtained customs permit to transport cocoa from Cote d’ Ivoire through Ghana to Togo were found to have been smuggling beans produced in Ghana’s high-yielding Western cocoa region.
“We did our search and found that these people were operating along the borders in the Brong Ahafo Region and part of the Western Region,” he said.
Mr. Ntim said significant volumes of Ghana’s cocoa had been trafficked out through what he called, “cunning way of smuggling”.
However, he declined to give an estimate of the amount involved.He said although Ghana paid high farm-gate prices than its neighbours, including the world’s leading cocoa grower, Cote d’ Ivoire, merchants in those countries often preferred to have Ghanaian cocoa to mix with their stock and to improve its value.
Ghana’s cocoa is ranked among the world’s best in terms of quality and enjoys a high premium. Ghana now pays a farm-gate price of GH¢ 950 per tonne of cocoa, higher than the equivalent farm-gate prices in neighbouring countries.
Bank of Ghana issues 3 and 5-year bonds
The Bank of Ghana’s three and five-year bonds started selling on December 12, 2007. The Central Bank intends to raise some $30 million with the issue of the three-year bond while the five-year bond will raise about $50 million.
Investors had up to 12 noon Wednesday to buy the bonds. Foreign currency dealers believe this bond will strengthen the cedi against the foreign currencies.
This is because they expect many foreign investors to come in with their currency to buy the bonds.
Ghana to adopt new accounting standards
Ghana is to adopt the new accounting-reporting standard, International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), to bring its public sector accounting practices in line with international standards.
This has become imperative, especially following revelations of alleged embezzlement at the public accounts committee sittings and Ghana’s fast integration into the international financial system.
IPSAS represents a set of high quality international accounting standards designed to meet the specific requirements of public sector institutions, which is also important in view of the country’s fast integration into the international system.
It is expected to make public sector accounting more transparent, reliable and trust worthy.
The United Nations (UN) system, for example, has declared 2010 for all governments, agencies, departments and non-governmental organizations that deal with it to be IPSAS compliant.
This means that Ghana government has to take immediate steps to adopt IPSAS, which prescribes the preparation of accounts based on “accruals basis” and not on cash basis, as is the case with Ghana’s public sector.
ProCredit supports farmers
ProCredit, a Savings and Loans Company, is giving Agricultural loan (Agro-Loan) to farmers to help them develop their agricultural and fisheries businesses.
About $450,000 have been set aside to support the farmers in their agricultural and processing activities, such as crop development, livestock breeding and fish farming or marine fishery.
Both small and large-scale farmers are qualified for the loan and must meet requirements such as the proof of ownership of a business, experience for at least three production cycles and ownership of a voter’s ID, a passport or driver’s license.
Ms. Edwige Takassi, Managing Director of ProCredit, said the support was necessitated by the lack of credit facilities for farmers and the decreasing economic margin for crops such as maize, millet, sorghum and cassava.
She said ProCredit, as a development-oriented institution, was willing to promote the development of agricultural activities as part of its commitment to support the national economic development.
Nsoatreman Bank Introduces New Education Product
The Nsoatreman Rural Bank in the Brong Ahafo Region has launched a new product dubbed:
“Adesua Ahoboa”, which literally means, “Preparation Towards the Child’s Education”.
The product is aimed at helping parents and guardians to save the little money that they might consider as insignificant, and spend it on the education of their children and wards.
A prospective client only needs as little as GH¢1 to open the savings account with the bank to benefit from the product, which has a high yielding interest rate.
Launching the product at Jinjini, a farming community in the Berekum District in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr. Philip Appiah-Mensah, General Manager of the bank, said the decision to come out with such a product, was to help minimize the burden and frustration parents had to go through to raise money to pay the admission fees of their wards after they had gained entry into senior high schools (SHS).
Churches called to join campaign against HIV
African churches have been called upon to accept their responsibilities in the campaign against HIV/AIDS, which continues to rampage the continent and the world at large.
According to the Programme Manager of Christian Council of Ghana, Madam Joyce Stiner much as change in the morality of the individual is crucial, the social institutions that people dwell in must also change.
She condemned the Catholic Church for failing to promote the cause of HIV/AIDS in Africa by disassociating itself from public debate and advocacy on appropriate use of condom for HIV prevention.
Madam Stiner was speaking at a workshop in Accra to enhance the capacity of the media to join in the anti stigma fight against HIV.
It was organised by the World Association for Christian Communication, (WACC) Africa Region in collaboration with the Christian Council of Ghana.
She said, “We should not leave the Catholic churches behind for us to fight the disease alone but rather involve them to help push the agenda forward”.She noted that some African countries are now faced with the challenge of what to do in public debate about the disease.
“Negative attitudes towards sex education provided by schools and other institutions have been legion and sadly promoted by many church leaders,” she noted.
She admits that abstinence and faithfulness are no doubt effective moral values which must continue to be encouraged, “but when people are confronted with hunger, they may choose to get involved in sex work to raise money for food.”
Dr. Bernard Dornoo of the National AIDS / STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) Control Programme, (NACP) said Ghana has a generalized epidemic of 1% regional prevalent rate for all. He said over 1% prevalence among pregnant women is consistent.
He said HIV/AIDS outlook in Ghana for 2007 shows that 69, 599 people in Ghana will be in need of Antiretroviral Treatment (ARV) and total HIV/AIDS population is estimated at 312,030 and the national prevalence at 2.24%. Also he said there are 26,401 adult new infections and 4,378 annual HIV at birth.
He disclosed that more women than men stand the risk of infection because they are susceptible and have low economic power.
Dr. Dornoo cited interventions to reduce HIV transmission, delivery package of care and support for persons living with the AIDS, (PLWA) and provision of essential technical support to all ministries, departments and agencies and the private sector in the implementation of the programmes as part of the strategic plan for the health sector in Ghana.
“New infections would be reduced through behaviourial change, communication, counseling and testing, promotion of blood safety, prevention of mother to child transmission and condom promotion and distribution.”
He said by the end of this year, antiretroviral drugs will be accessible in 50% of all districts in the country and universal access by December 2010.
“I commend the various Catholic hospitals in the country for their dedicated support to home base care and antiretroviral therapy for PLWA.
In fact, they are doing well in this area.” James Aryeetey of the Legal and Ethics Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission, (GAC) noted that what is needed to reduce infection in Ghana is to sustain awareness, identify groups that drive that epidemic, scale up intervention where impact is higher and encourage behaviourial change.
According to the Programme Manager of Christian Council of Ghana, Madam Joyce Stiner much as change in the morality of the individual is crucial, the social institutions that people dwell in must also change.
She condemned the Catholic Church for failing to promote the cause of HIV/AIDS in Africa by disassociating itself from public debate and advocacy on appropriate use of condom for HIV prevention.
Madam Stiner was speaking at a workshop in Accra to enhance the capacity of the media to join in the anti stigma fight against HIV.
It was organised by the World Association for Christian Communication, (WACC) Africa Region in collaboration with the Christian Council of Ghana.
She said, “We should not leave the Catholic churches behind for us to fight the disease alone but rather involve them to help push the agenda forward”.She noted that some African countries are now faced with the challenge of what to do in public debate about the disease.
“Negative attitudes towards sex education provided by schools and other institutions have been legion and sadly promoted by many church leaders,” she noted.
She admits that abstinence and faithfulness are no doubt effective moral values which must continue to be encouraged, “but when people are confronted with hunger, they may choose to get involved in sex work to raise money for food.”
Dr. Bernard Dornoo of the National AIDS / STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) Control Programme, (NACP) said Ghana has a generalized epidemic of 1% regional prevalent rate for all. He said over 1% prevalence among pregnant women is consistent.
He said HIV/AIDS outlook in Ghana for 2007 shows that 69, 599 people in Ghana will be in need of Antiretroviral Treatment (ARV) and total HIV/AIDS population is estimated at 312,030 and the national prevalence at 2.24%. Also he said there are 26,401 adult new infections and 4,378 annual HIV at birth.
He disclosed that more women than men stand the risk of infection because they are susceptible and have low economic power.
Dr. Dornoo cited interventions to reduce HIV transmission, delivery package of care and support for persons living with the AIDS, (PLWA) and provision of essential technical support to all ministries, departments and agencies and the private sector in the implementation of the programmes as part of the strategic plan for the health sector in Ghana.
“New infections would be reduced through behaviourial change, communication, counseling and testing, promotion of blood safety, prevention of mother to child transmission and condom promotion and distribution.”
He said by the end of this year, antiretroviral drugs will be accessible in 50% of all districts in the country and universal access by December 2010.
“I commend the various Catholic hospitals in the country for their dedicated support to home base care and antiretroviral therapy for PLWA.
In fact, they are doing well in this area.” James Aryeetey of the Legal and Ethics Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission, (GAC) noted that what is needed to reduce infection in Ghana is to sustain awareness, identify groups that drive that epidemic, scale up intervention where impact is higher and encourage behaviourial change.
Stop EPAs campaign seek concerns of women
The concerns and interests of African women seem to have been muted in the ongoing civil society campaigns and advocacy on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
In Accra, a three-day meeting was held to bring to the fore the “Voices and Concerns of Women in the Stop EPAs Campaign.”
It was organised by the Third World Network – Africa, (TWN). The EU says (EPAs) are meant to be comprehensive free trade agreements aimed at development and regional integration.
However, the EPAs have not gone down well with some ACP countries including Ghana. Civil society organizations and some economic analysts have reckoned that it has been difficult to estimate the costs and benefits of EPAs for developing countries.
They are afraid that the economy will lose more than gain, since unbriddled trade liberalization requires substantial adjustments to existing economic structures.
Kathleen A. Boohene, Gender Programme Officer, TWN-Africa noted that the position of women deserve special attention because trade policy is not gender neutral, while their purported benefits evade women.
In her opinion, it is not enough to assume that women will benefit from opportunities engendered by trade liberalization.
“With respect to EPAs negotiations, poor women’s voices are not heard in decision-making processes and negotiating structures that are largely male-dominated and closed to public debate. There has to be a conscious decision by government to mediate and influence the outcome of the market mechanism to ensure who benefits from trade and how the overall benefits of trade are shared equitably to all sections of the population.”
The European Union, (EU) and the African Caribbean and Pacific Group, (ACP) adopted the Cotonou Agreement, which is a framework of trade, aid and political cooperation treaty in 2000.
This replaced the previous Lome Convention with the objective of facilitating the economic and political integration of the ACP countries into a liberalized world market over the next twenty years.
Under the Cotonou Agreement, the parties agreed to negotiate a separate set of individual bilateral treaties between the EU and ACP countries. Those individual arrangements dubbed, “Economic Partnership Agreements,” (EPAs) are meant to be comprehensive free trade agreements aimed at development and regional integration.
In September 2002, negotiations on the EPAs began and were supposed to be completed by December 31, 2007.
By then, a World Trade Organisation, (WTO) waiver on the non-compatibility of the EU’s preferential trade relations with ACP countries would expire.
Trade relations between the EU and ACP have up to now been based on non-reciprocity. With the EPAs, the EU is demanding full trade liberalization and duty free access into ACP countries’ markets for European goods and services.
In effect, ACP countries will be expected to allow European goods and services unregulated access to their markets by reducing and eventually completely remove tariffs on a large number of goods and services. CSOs and analysts argue that will not augur well for ACP countries.
According to Mr. Tetteh Hormeku of TWN, EPAs will affect individuals, families and communities through their impact on agricultural production, prices, employment, capital flows and social services among others.
These changes, he said would have different consequences for women and men on account of existing and systemic gender inequities. “Women form the majority in Small Scale Entrepreneurship but usually lack access to credits. Therefore the costs of liberalization for them will be exacerbated.”
He said that the current EPA structure is not compatible to fulfill the WTO requirement. Civil society and business groups have studied the implications and come out with vigorous campaigns to stop the signing of the EPAs.
As of mid October 2007, the process was in disarray. West Africa has said it would not be able to sign by the December 2007 deadline.
In Accra, a three-day meeting was held to bring to the fore the “Voices and Concerns of Women in the Stop EPAs Campaign.”
It was organised by the Third World Network – Africa, (TWN). The EU says (EPAs) are meant to be comprehensive free trade agreements aimed at development and regional integration.
However, the EPAs have not gone down well with some ACP countries including Ghana. Civil society organizations and some economic analysts have reckoned that it has been difficult to estimate the costs and benefits of EPAs for developing countries.
They are afraid that the economy will lose more than gain, since unbriddled trade liberalization requires substantial adjustments to existing economic structures.
Kathleen A. Boohene, Gender Programme Officer, TWN-Africa noted that the position of women deserve special attention because trade policy is not gender neutral, while their purported benefits evade women.
In her opinion, it is not enough to assume that women will benefit from opportunities engendered by trade liberalization.
“With respect to EPAs negotiations, poor women’s voices are not heard in decision-making processes and negotiating structures that are largely male-dominated and closed to public debate. There has to be a conscious decision by government to mediate and influence the outcome of the market mechanism to ensure who benefits from trade and how the overall benefits of trade are shared equitably to all sections of the population.”
The European Union, (EU) and the African Caribbean and Pacific Group, (ACP) adopted the Cotonou Agreement, which is a framework of trade, aid and political cooperation treaty in 2000.
This replaced the previous Lome Convention with the objective of facilitating the economic and political integration of the ACP countries into a liberalized world market over the next twenty years.
Under the Cotonou Agreement, the parties agreed to negotiate a separate set of individual bilateral treaties between the EU and ACP countries. Those individual arrangements dubbed, “Economic Partnership Agreements,” (EPAs) are meant to be comprehensive free trade agreements aimed at development and regional integration.
In September 2002, negotiations on the EPAs began and were supposed to be completed by December 31, 2007.
By then, a World Trade Organisation, (WTO) waiver on the non-compatibility of the EU’s preferential trade relations with ACP countries would expire.
Trade relations between the EU and ACP have up to now been based on non-reciprocity. With the EPAs, the EU is demanding full trade liberalization and duty free access into ACP countries’ markets for European goods and services.
In effect, ACP countries will be expected to allow European goods and services unregulated access to their markets by reducing and eventually completely remove tariffs on a large number of goods and services. CSOs and analysts argue that will not augur well for ACP countries.
According to Mr. Tetteh Hormeku of TWN, EPAs will affect individuals, families and communities through their impact on agricultural production, prices, employment, capital flows and social services among others.
These changes, he said would have different consequences for women and men on account of existing and systemic gender inequities. “Women form the majority in Small Scale Entrepreneurship but usually lack access to credits. Therefore the costs of liberalization for them will be exacerbated.”
He said that the current EPA structure is not compatible to fulfill the WTO requirement. Civil society and business groups have studied the implications and come out with vigorous campaigns to stop the signing of the EPAs.
As of mid October 2007, the process was in disarray. West Africa has said it would not be able to sign by the December 2007 deadline.
Dress making not for school dropouts
Gone are the days when vocations such as dressmaking were a preserve for school dropouts or for those considered not intelligent.
Now people who are into ‘mainline’ professions such as journalism make efforts to acquire some vocational skills to supplement their income, particularly dressmaking.
Along the lines some even drop their ‘mainline’ careers to go into full time vocations. Governments increasingly view skills development as an important factor towards enhancing productivity, stimulate economic competitiveness and take people out of poverty.
Majority of Ghanaian women and even men who are into fashion designing and dressmaking have become icons, boosting the image of such vocations hitherto looked down upon.
Fashion designing was taken a step higher last year with the launch of Fashion in Africa (FIA) project, aimed at setting the stage for more African countries to join in the quest to promote African fashion and culture collectively to the rest of the continent and the globe.
The FIA project envisages an increase fashion-related business opportunities and to open doors for all stakeholders in the fashion industry.
It will also create opportunities for other African countries to trade with each other, to the benefit of Africa as a whole, thus supporting the NEPAD initiative.
In Ghana now, Fashion Designer Eunice Ayiku-Nartey is behind the contemporary women’s and men’s clothing label EM, by EUNIMAKS’ Dress Designers and Interior Decorations in Accra.
She told Public Agenda in an interview, “Dressmaking is for those who have the flair, are talented and really want to achieve their aim. It is never for drop outs.”
Eunice says with the help of her mother, who was an excellent seamstress; she realized her natural talent after her search for her true identity in 1991.
She attended Accra High School and proceeded to study embroidery at the Singer Sewing Machine Centre at Abossey Okai, now known as Kalbs Sewing Centre.
She did a further course in fashion designing at Blake College in London, United Kingdom. While there, she had her internship at the Army and Navy stores at Guildford.
When she returned to Ghana, she felt the best option was to continue with her interest in sewing and so she took several courses on entrepreneurship and then established EUNIMAKS at Adabraka, which has become the fashion home.
A member of the Association of Ghana Industries, (AGI) EUNIMAKS has since grown from local to international class and still growing.
Items produced daily range from traditional wear to shirts, bags, skirts, dresses, blouses, trousers and headgear.
She has participated in a lot of fashion shows and exhibitions, locally and internationally with a special reference to a 1993 Kaba Show sponsored by UAC where she emerged the second runner up.
Her designs ranges are for the trendy young, Afro centric clothes for both sexes and the conservative for older people. Eunice is a stanch Presbyterian and hails from Ada.
“I have never regretted venturing into fashion designing / dressmaking because through it I meet different kinds of people and it keeps me going and financially profitable.”
As with any business, she says the fashion designing industry is seasonal and one needs to create a lot to explore opportunities that come.
For her, creativity is not a big deal. “As I relax in the evening, the idea comes so I sketch and do the cutting early morning.”
Even though she faces a major challenge to source loans for the expansion of her vocation, she is glad that her clothes are being won outside Ghana, like the United States of America and United Kingdom. She disclosed that she has so far trained over 50 people who are on their own now.
As a social responsibility, EUNIMAKS sometimes offers free training to needy but talented people.
“I am happy I chose this profession. I am also motivated by the fact that sewing can be done anywhere, even in one’s bedroom. Even when I am sick at home I am able to sew.” She is proud that EUNIMAKS has over the years built a satisfied clientele and is sure of its steps into the future.
Now people who are into ‘mainline’ professions such as journalism make efforts to acquire some vocational skills to supplement their income, particularly dressmaking.
Along the lines some even drop their ‘mainline’ careers to go into full time vocations. Governments increasingly view skills development as an important factor towards enhancing productivity, stimulate economic competitiveness and take people out of poverty.
Majority of Ghanaian women and even men who are into fashion designing and dressmaking have become icons, boosting the image of such vocations hitherto looked down upon.
Fashion designing was taken a step higher last year with the launch of Fashion in Africa (FIA) project, aimed at setting the stage for more African countries to join in the quest to promote African fashion and culture collectively to the rest of the continent and the globe.
The FIA project envisages an increase fashion-related business opportunities and to open doors for all stakeholders in the fashion industry.
It will also create opportunities for other African countries to trade with each other, to the benefit of Africa as a whole, thus supporting the NEPAD initiative.
In Ghana now, Fashion Designer Eunice Ayiku-Nartey is behind the contemporary women’s and men’s clothing label EM, by EUNIMAKS’ Dress Designers and Interior Decorations in Accra.
She told Public Agenda in an interview, “Dressmaking is for those who have the flair, are talented and really want to achieve their aim. It is never for drop outs.”
Eunice says with the help of her mother, who was an excellent seamstress; she realized her natural talent after her search for her true identity in 1991.
She attended Accra High School and proceeded to study embroidery at the Singer Sewing Machine Centre at Abossey Okai, now known as Kalbs Sewing Centre.
She did a further course in fashion designing at Blake College in London, United Kingdom. While there, she had her internship at the Army and Navy stores at Guildford.
When she returned to Ghana, she felt the best option was to continue with her interest in sewing and so she took several courses on entrepreneurship and then established EUNIMAKS at Adabraka, which has become the fashion home.
A member of the Association of Ghana Industries, (AGI) EUNIMAKS has since grown from local to international class and still growing.
Items produced daily range from traditional wear to shirts, bags, skirts, dresses, blouses, trousers and headgear.
She has participated in a lot of fashion shows and exhibitions, locally and internationally with a special reference to a 1993 Kaba Show sponsored by UAC where she emerged the second runner up.
Her designs ranges are for the trendy young, Afro centric clothes for both sexes and the conservative for older people. Eunice is a stanch Presbyterian and hails from Ada.
“I have never regretted venturing into fashion designing / dressmaking because through it I meet different kinds of people and it keeps me going and financially profitable.”
As with any business, she says the fashion designing industry is seasonal and one needs to create a lot to explore opportunities that come.
For her, creativity is not a big deal. “As I relax in the evening, the idea comes so I sketch and do the cutting early morning.”
Even though she faces a major challenge to source loans for the expansion of her vocation, she is glad that her clothes are being won outside Ghana, like the United States of America and United Kingdom. She disclosed that she has so far trained over 50 people who are on their own now.
As a social responsibility, EUNIMAKS sometimes offers free training to needy but talented people.
“I am happy I chose this profession. I am also motivated by the fact that sewing can be done anywhere, even in one’s bedroom. Even when I am sick at home I am able to sew.” She is proud that EUNIMAKS has over the years built a satisfied clientele and is sure of its steps into the future.
Ghanaian teenagers lack in-depth knowledge about contraceptives
A report on adolescents’ sexual reproductive health in Ghana has revealed that they do not use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy or Sexually Transmitted Infections, (STIs) because of lack of knowledge.
Ironically, there have been mass media education and school based programmes on sexual and reproductive health in Ghana for over two decades.
The depth of their knowledge is said to be inadequate even as majority of them are afraid to get pregnant.
Among adolescents aged 15-19, only 28% of females and 21% of males had detailed knowledge about pregnancy prevention; awareness of a woman’s fertile period, ability to reject several popular misconceptions about pregnancy and familiarity with at least one modern method of contraception.
Among 12-14 years olds, only 12% of females and 6% of males had this level of knowledge. The report said adolescents in general expressed little confidence that they could properly use the male condom which is the most common method of protection in this age group.
Between 15-19 year olds, only 29% of males said they were ‘very confident’ that they knew how to use a condom correctly, while just 31% females said they were very confident that they could get a male partner to use a condom.
Almost half of 15-19 year olds 46% of males and 48% of females admitted that they were not at all confident about using a male condom.
A 2004 research revealed that although about two-thirds of 15-19-year-olds (female and male) approve of family planning, most sexually active teenagers in Ghana do not use contraceptives. Among sexually active adolescents in this age-group, 80% of females and 63% of males do not use any modern method.
The report entitled, “Protecting the Next Generation in Ghana: New Evidence on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs”, presents findings from a new body of research on adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Ghana.
It is part of a larger project, designed to contribute to the global fight against the growing HIV/AIDs epidemic among adolescents and conducted in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Uganda, entitled “Protecting the Next Generation: Understanding HIV Risk among Youth.”
Other findings emphasize that adolescents have received little information about using contraceptives and so have misconceptions about them. 31% of both males and females did not know that condoms should be used only once.
29% of females and 39% of males in this age group believed that using a condom was a sign that one did not trust one’s partner.
In the 2004 National Survey of Adolescents, over 90% of respondents reported that they had heard of at least one modern contraceptive method.
The best known methods were the male condom; familiar to 88% of females and 91% males, the female condom: 70% of females and 73% of males, the injectable: 57% of females and 56% of males and the pill: 53% of both females and males.
According to the report, adolescents have fair knowledge about HIV/AIDS and other STIs. This influences their decision about the use of contraceptive, particularly the condom.
The report cautions that when STIs are left untreated, they can have significant negative consequences, including infertility and increased susceptibility to HIV. T
he World Health Organisation, (WHO) in a review of prevention interventions for young people in developing countries concluded that there was strong evidence to recommend curriculum-based interventions led by adults.
Family life education was introduced in Ghana on a pilot basis during the 1970s and implemented nationwide in 1987 at the basic and secondary school levels as part of the new educational system’s social studies curriculum.
The report gives evidence that adolescents want sexual and reproductive education to be available in school. In the 2004 National Survey of adolescents, 91% females and 89% of males aged 12-19 who had ever attended school agreed to the importance of family life education to be taught in schools. About two thirds thought such education does not encourage adolescents to have sex.
However, there seem to be a gap between national sex education policies and their implementation. “Protecting the Next Generation in Ghana” report recommends comprehensive and accurate information about sexual and reproductive health issues to increase adolescents’ knowledge and counter their misconceptions.
This will help adolescents safeguard and improve their health. According to the report although knowledge does not guarantee that adolescents will change their sexual behaviour, it can empower them to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and may increase the odds that they will choose to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and HIV/AIDs.
If possible, it suggests that interventions should expand access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, including material on puberty, pregnancy, contraception and abstinence.
However, it is important to ensure that adolescents who are not in school also have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education.
Ironically, there have been mass media education and school based programmes on sexual and reproductive health in Ghana for over two decades.
The depth of their knowledge is said to be inadequate even as majority of them are afraid to get pregnant.
Among adolescents aged 15-19, only 28% of females and 21% of males had detailed knowledge about pregnancy prevention; awareness of a woman’s fertile period, ability to reject several popular misconceptions about pregnancy and familiarity with at least one modern method of contraception.
Among 12-14 years olds, only 12% of females and 6% of males had this level of knowledge. The report said adolescents in general expressed little confidence that they could properly use the male condom which is the most common method of protection in this age group.
Between 15-19 year olds, only 29% of males said they were ‘very confident’ that they knew how to use a condom correctly, while just 31% females said they were very confident that they could get a male partner to use a condom.
Almost half of 15-19 year olds 46% of males and 48% of females admitted that they were not at all confident about using a male condom.
A 2004 research revealed that although about two-thirds of 15-19-year-olds (female and male) approve of family planning, most sexually active teenagers in Ghana do not use contraceptives. Among sexually active adolescents in this age-group, 80% of females and 63% of males do not use any modern method.
The report entitled, “Protecting the Next Generation in Ghana: New Evidence on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs”, presents findings from a new body of research on adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Ghana.
It is part of a larger project, designed to contribute to the global fight against the growing HIV/AIDs epidemic among adolescents and conducted in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Uganda, entitled “Protecting the Next Generation: Understanding HIV Risk among Youth.”
Other findings emphasize that adolescents have received little information about using contraceptives and so have misconceptions about them. 31% of both males and females did not know that condoms should be used only once.
29% of females and 39% of males in this age group believed that using a condom was a sign that one did not trust one’s partner.
In the 2004 National Survey of Adolescents, over 90% of respondents reported that they had heard of at least one modern contraceptive method.
The best known methods were the male condom; familiar to 88% of females and 91% males, the female condom: 70% of females and 73% of males, the injectable: 57% of females and 56% of males and the pill: 53% of both females and males.
According to the report, adolescents have fair knowledge about HIV/AIDS and other STIs. This influences their decision about the use of contraceptive, particularly the condom.
The report cautions that when STIs are left untreated, they can have significant negative consequences, including infertility and increased susceptibility to HIV. T
he World Health Organisation, (WHO) in a review of prevention interventions for young people in developing countries concluded that there was strong evidence to recommend curriculum-based interventions led by adults.
Family life education was introduced in Ghana on a pilot basis during the 1970s and implemented nationwide in 1987 at the basic and secondary school levels as part of the new educational system’s social studies curriculum.
The report gives evidence that adolescents want sexual and reproductive education to be available in school. In the 2004 National Survey of adolescents, 91% females and 89% of males aged 12-19 who had ever attended school agreed to the importance of family life education to be taught in schools. About two thirds thought such education does not encourage adolescents to have sex.
However, there seem to be a gap between national sex education policies and their implementation. “Protecting the Next Generation in Ghana” report recommends comprehensive and accurate information about sexual and reproductive health issues to increase adolescents’ knowledge and counter their misconceptions.
This will help adolescents safeguard and improve their health. According to the report although knowledge does not guarantee that adolescents will change their sexual behaviour, it can empower them to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and may increase the odds that they will choose to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and HIV/AIDs.
If possible, it suggests that interventions should expand access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, including material on puberty, pregnancy, contraception and abstinence.
However, it is important to ensure that adolescents who are not in school also have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education.
Traders vote with their feet
Members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association, (GUTA) have carried their protest against the infiltration of non-Ghanaians in the retail business to the streets.
On Wednesday the members of GUTA converged at the central business district of Accra to register their displeasure over what they perceive to be an invasion of the retail sector by foreign nationals in the full glare of the government.
As a result of the strike, shops were not opened for business, leaving the busy business district of Accra central quiet.
GUTA members are not happy about the fact that retailing of all kinds of goods such as hard wares, electrical, clothes, shoes, construction materials and so on are in the hands of foreigners.
GUTA’s anger is not only directed at the so-called Chinese investors who are now into everything, including selling toilet roll, but also at Nigerians, Indians and Lebanese nationals.
The aggrieved traders sent a clear message that retail trade is not for foreigners and charged the government and institutions responsible for regulating trade to institute proactive measures to save the retail sector; which is vital to the growth of the economy from foreign hands.
“We are not afraid of competition. But worldwide sectors like the retail sector are solely for nationals and not foreigners. We need to protest against policies that are hurting businesses,” stated the Acting President of GUTA, George Kwaku Ofori.
GUTA, the umbrella body of 13 traders’ associations has had cause to vehemently protest against the invasion of the retail sector by foreigners, contrary to the provisions of the Investment laws of Ghana, while state institutions that are to protect them look on helplessly.
It has called for ‘a clear definition of an investor with regard to retail trade in Ghana and argues that the influx of shoddy foreign goods into the market has compelled Ghanaians to resort to the importation of similar products to the detriment of local manufacturing.
Addressing GUTA members at the opera square, Mr. Ofori recalled that trading in Ghana some years back was lucrative, but regretted that things have changed and worsened in recent times because foreigners have taken over.
The association argued that foreign direct investment does not refer to such ‘cheap’ investment as retailing but involves the transfer of skills and technology through sectors such as manufacturing.
Ms Patience Prempeh of Kantamanto Hardware Dealers decried, “If Foreign Direct Investment is what these foreigners are doing now, then Ghanaians have that capacity to invest.”
She continued, “These so- called foreign investors do not contribute in any way to the Ghanaian economy. They only make their money, change into their foreign currency and repatriate them. They do not even save with the banks.”
In the opinion of the spare parts dealers, the numerous accidents being witnessed in Ghana of late is due to the inferior products from China. Their spokesperson, Mr. Asamoah Amoah, (a.k.a. Asemosa) said investment that come in should be beneficial to the economy and the natives but not deprive the people of their livelihoods.
When GUTA began its agitation, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) had only managed to close down eight firms as at August 21, 2007 for violating the investment laws of the country.
At that time, Mrs. Lily Turkson of the “One Stop Shop” office of the GIPC told Public Agenda that the exercise by GIPC is just to give meaning to the provisions of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 1994 regarding “Enterprise eligible for foreign participation and minimum foreign capital requirement.”Section 19(3) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 1994 provides that “Notwithstanding Subsection (1) of this section, in the case of a trading enterprise involving only the purchasing and selling of goods which is either wholly or partly owned by a non-Ghanaian, there shall be an Investment of Foreign Capital, (IFC) or its equivalent in goods worth at least US $300,000.00 by way of equity capital and the enterprise shall employ at least 10 Ghanaians.”
Now, GUTA says the IFC is too low and should be reviewed from $1 million to $1.5 million. According to the traders, where the law requires that the enterprise employs at least 10 Ghanaians, the foreigners rather bring into the country one or two of their relatives and engage one or two Ghanaians as casual workers, who they discard at will.
These so-called investors, according to GUTA, often underpay as well as ill-treat the Ghanaian workers.GUTA at one time petitioned Parliament “to, as a matter of urgency, amend the business law (investment code) of the country in order to curb the alarming rate at which foreigners invade the retail sector of our economy, which is supposed to be the preserve of the Ghanaian, especially those in the informal sector.”
The petition, titled: ‘Petition by the Ghana Union Of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) on the influx of foreigners into the retail sector of our economy,’ points out that the sector ‘provides employment to the bulk of the unemployed Ghanaian youth, especially those with little or no skill, thereby reducing unemployment and poverty rates in the country.’
The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Mr. Abraham Koomson in solidarity with the traders cautioned that if no action was taken, fields such as barbering and driving would soon be invaded by these foreigners.
He said it is the right of these traders to ensure that their business is not threatened and urged them to sustain their action. Meanwhile, GUTA has warned politicians not to politicize their plight. Its Acting President, George Ofori stressed that the association is not part of any political part but a recognized mouthpiece of traders in the country.
“Politicians must stay away and not infiltrate our ranks else we will fight back.”
On Wednesday the members of GUTA converged at the central business district of Accra to register their displeasure over what they perceive to be an invasion of the retail sector by foreign nationals in the full glare of the government.
As a result of the strike, shops were not opened for business, leaving the busy business district of Accra central quiet.
GUTA members are not happy about the fact that retailing of all kinds of goods such as hard wares, electrical, clothes, shoes, construction materials and so on are in the hands of foreigners.
GUTA’s anger is not only directed at the so-called Chinese investors who are now into everything, including selling toilet roll, but also at Nigerians, Indians and Lebanese nationals.
The aggrieved traders sent a clear message that retail trade is not for foreigners and charged the government and institutions responsible for regulating trade to institute proactive measures to save the retail sector; which is vital to the growth of the economy from foreign hands.
“We are not afraid of competition. But worldwide sectors like the retail sector are solely for nationals and not foreigners. We need to protest against policies that are hurting businesses,” stated the Acting President of GUTA, George Kwaku Ofori.
GUTA, the umbrella body of 13 traders’ associations has had cause to vehemently protest against the invasion of the retail sector by foreigners, contrary to the provisions of the Investment laws of Ghana, while state institutions that are to protect them look on helplessly.
It has called for ‘a clear definition of an investor with regard to retail trade in Ghana and argues that the influx of shoddy foreign goods into the market has compelled Ghanaians to resort to the importation of similar products to the detriment of local manufacturing.
Addressing GUTA members at the opera square, Mr. Ofori recalled that trading in Ghana some years back was lucrative, but regretted that things have changed and worsened in recent times because foreigners have taken over.
The association argued that foreign direct investment does not refer to such ‘cheap’ investment as retailing but involves the transfer of skills and technology through sectors such as manufacturing.
Ms Patience Prempeh of Kantamanto Hardware Dealers decried, “If Foreign Direct Investment is what these foreigners are doing now, then Ghanaians have that capacity to invest.”
She continued, “These so- called foreign investors do not contribute in any way to the Ghanaian economy. They only make their money, change into their foreign currency and repatriate them. They do not even save with the banks.”
In the opinion of the spare parts dealers, the numerous accidents being witnessed in Ghana of late is due to the inferior products from China. Their spokesperson, Mr. Asamoah Amoah, (a.k.a. Asemosa) said investment that come in should be beneficial to the economy and the natives but not deprive the people of their livelihoods.
When GUTA began its agitation, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) had only managed to close down eight firms as at August 21, 2007 for violating the investment laws of the country.
At that time, Mrs. Lily Turkson of the “One Stop Shop” office of the GIPC told Public Agenda that the exercise by GIPC is just to give meaning to the provisions of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 1994 regarding “Enterprise eligible for foreign participation and minimum foreign capital requirement.”Section 19(3) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 1994 provides that “Notwithstanding Subsection (1) of this section, in the case of a trading enterprise involving only the purchasing and selling of goods which is either wholly or partly owned by a non-Ghanaian, there shall be an Investment of Foreign Capital, (IFC) or its equivalent in goods worth at least US $300,000.00 by way of equity capital and the enterprise shall employ at least 10 Ghanaians.”
Now, GUTA says the IFC is too low and should be reviewed from $1 million to $1.5 million. According to the traders, where the law requires that the enterprise employs at least 10 Ghanaians, the foreigners rather bring into the country one or two of their relatives and engage one or two Ghanaians as casual workers, who they discard at will.
These so-called investors, according to GUTA, often underpay as well as ill-treat the Ghanaian workers.GUTA at one time petitioned Parliament “to, as a matter of urgency, amend the business law (investment code) of the country in order to curb the alarming rate at which foreigners invade the retail sector of our economy, which is supposed to be the preserve of the Ghanaian, especially those in the informal sector.”
The petition, titled: ‘Petition by the Ghana Union Of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) on the influx of foreigners into the retail sector of our economy,’ points out that the sector ‘provides employment to the bulk of the unemployed Ghanaian youth, especially those with little or no skill, thereby reducing unemployment and poverty rates in the country.’
The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Mr. Abraham Koomson in solidarity with the traders cautioned that if no action was taken, fields such as barbering and driving would soon be invaded by these foreigners.
He said it is the right of these traders to ensure that their business is not threatened and urged them to sustain their action. Meanwhile, GUTA has warned politicians not to politicize their plight. Its Acting President, George Ofori stressed that the association is not part of any political part but a recognized mouthpiece of traders in the country.
“Politicians must stay away and not infiltrate our ranks else we will fight back.”
Chief Supt Jessie Borquaye recounts her time as head of DOVVSU
There is often a crowd of people at the offices of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service in Accra.
Majority of the complainants who sit in long queues are women, even though more men now put shyness aside and come up with cases of their wives bashing them.
The complainants have different facial expressions of disappointment and patiently wait to have their turn to tell their stories. Others visit the unit with fractures and injuries of various kinds.
Chief Superintendent Jessie Borquaye is the Accra Regional coordinator of DOVVSU. The 59 year-old Chief Supt. was born at Adoagyiri at Nsawam in the Eastern Region to the late Nii Ahele Nunoo 11, Abola Mantse in Accra who is also a former Commissioner of Police and Madam Marian Okaitei.
She had primary education at Royal Primary School in Accra, St. Monica’s Middle School in Ashanti Mampong and St. John Grammar in Accra. She joined the Ghana Police Service in 1966 through her father’s influence and assumed office as Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU in 2006.
Chief Supt. Borquaye told me, “I passed out as a constable class two and rose through the ranks to become a senior officer in 1992.” As Regional Coordinator, Chief Supt. Jessie Borquaye is responsible for general administration of the unit, in addition to mediation, interrogation and counseling.
She recalled although there were challenges at the unit when she assumed office, there have been successes in a spirit of unity.
These include the opening of DOVVSU units /desks in some districts such as Madina, while plans are underway to open desks at La, Amasaman and Tesano.
“By the grace of God, under my leadership the various DOVVSU desks in Accra have been restructured. More personnel have been posted to beef up strength in order to ease the pressure at the regional office,” she stated.
The most recent improvement is the ‘child helpline’ instituted through the assistance of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. According to her, people from countrywide call to lodge complaints after which referrals are made to the appropriate quarters such as Social Welfare and Legal Aid Board.
Additionally, she said the public educational campaigns are being carried out through the media, at the market places, schools and churches to sensitize the public on domestic violence and what constitutes a crime. Like any institution, Chief Supt.
Borquaye said DOVVSU faces certain challenges with reference to late reporting of cases when a lot of evidence has been tempered with since it does not facilitate investigations.
“Majority of the public still think that domestic violence cases are family matters that can be settled at home. Also people try to influence cases by bringing in prominent persons. This is where I stand firm.”
She said during her tenure, she has observed that parents are not being responsible; leaving their children in the care of potential perpetrators. She called for a sound family system in Ghana which is a vital instrument for national growth and development.
“All citizens should be on board to fight domestic violence”, she appealed. Chief Superintendent Borquaye urged the men to continue to make judicious use of the unit by reporting cases as soon as possible.
Chief Supt. Jessie Borquaye is a staunch Christian, precisely Anglican. She is married with two children and reads books and listens to music during her leisure time.
As she retires from the Ghana Police Service next year, she advised the remaining officers, especially the women to be firm and work efficiently for the good of the country.
“I urge them to be abreast with the laws of the land, particularly the Domestic Violence Law which borders on their area of operation, so that peace can be guaranteed.”
Majority of the complainants who sit in long queues are women, even though more men now put shyness aside and come up with cases of their wives bashing them.
The complainants have different facial expressions of disappointment and patiently wait to have their turn to tell their stories. Others visit the unit with fractures and injuries of various kinds.
Chief Superintendent Jessie Borquaye is the Accra Regional coordinator of DOVVSU. The 59 year-old Chief Supt. was born at Adoagyiri at Nsawam in the Eastern Region to the late Nii Ahele Nunoo 11, Abola Mantse in Accra who is also a former Commissioner of Police and Madam Marian Okaitei.
She had primary education at Royal Primary School in Accra, St. Monica’s Middle School in Ashanti Mampong and St. John Grammar in Accra. She joined the Ghana Police Service in 1966 through her father’s influence and assumed office as Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU in 2006.
Chief Supt. Borquaye told me, “I passed out as a constable class two and rose through the ranks to become a senior officer in 1992.” As Regional Coordinator, Chief Supt. Jessie Borquaye is responsible for general administration of the unit, in addition to mediation, interrogation and counseling.
She recalled although there were challenges at the unit when she assumed office, there have been successes in a spirit of unity.
These include the opening of DOVVSU units /desks in some districts such as Madina, while plans are underway to open desks at La, Amasaman and Tesano.
“By the grace of God, under my leadership the various DOVVSU desks in Accra have been restructured. More personnel have been posted to beef up strength in order to ease the pressure at the regional office,” she stated.
The most recent improvement is the ‘child helpline’ instituted through the assistance of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. According to her, people from countrywide call to lodge complaints after which referrals are made to the appropriate quarters such as Social Welfare and Legal Aid Board.
Additionally, she said the public educational campaigns are being carried out through the media, at the market places, schools and churches to sensitize the public on domestic violence and what constitutes a crime. Like any institution, Chief Supt.
Borquaye said DOVVSU faces certain challenges with reference to late reporting of cases when a lot of evidence has been tempered with since it does not facilitate investigations.
“Majority of the public still think that domestic violence cases are family matters that can be settled at home. Also people try to influence cases by bringing in prominent persons. This is where I stand firm.”
She said during her tenure, she has observed that parents are not being responsible; leaving their children in the care of potential perpetrators. She called for a sound family system in Ghana which is a vital instrument for national growth and development.
“All citizens should be on board to fight domestic violence”, she appealed. Chief Superintendent Borquaye urged the men to continue to make judicious use of the unit by reporting cases as soon as possible.
Chief Supt. Jessie Borquaye is a staunch Christian, precisely Anglican. She is married with two children and reads books and listens to music during her leisure time.
As she retires from the Ghana Police Service next year, she advised the remaining officers, especially the women to be firm and work efficiently for the good of the country.
“I urge them to be abreast with the laws of the land, particularly the Domestic Violence Law which borders on their area of operation, so that peace can be guaranteed.”
The miraculous recovery of a hole-in- heart girl
Five- year old Grace Tetteh who was confirmed by the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCC) to have been born with a hole-in-heart, popularly called Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), has been miraculously healed.
A year ago, when her parents made an appeal to the general public and philanthropists through Public Agenda to support their daughter financially undergo an open-heart operation to close a hole in her heart, she was told her condition was affecting her health.
But after soliciting for funds and presenting it to the NCC for the surgery to be performed, the hole can no longer be found.
Miraculously, the girl is not on any medication even though she has been visiting the Cardio Centre for a year now. Speaking to Public Agenda, Mr. Joseph Tetteh, father of Grace said, “We went to the hospital just last week and were asked to report in six months time after we had earlier been told to go and report in six month’s time.
In all she has been under examination for one year now and the doctors say they can’t find anything”, an elated Tetteh told Public Agenda. Grace Serwah Agyemang, the girl’s grandmother who is a petty trader at Teshie in Accra, last year told this newspaper that her daughter had to drop from school due to the worsening heart condition, which was detected in December 2005 after several visits to the hospital.
In May last year when Public Agenda published the appeal, a letter from the National Cardiothoracic Centre and signed by Dr. M. Tamatey, for Dr. L Sereboe confirmed that the girl was born with a hole-in-heart, popularly called Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), which is affecting her health and would require an open-heart operation to close the hole.
A year ago, when her parents made an appeal to the general public and philanthropists through Public Agenda to support their daughter financially undergo an open-heart operation to close a hole in her heart, she was told her condition was affecting her health.
But after soliciting for funds and presenting it to the NCC for the surgery to be performed, the hole can no longer be found.
Miraculously, the girl is not on any medication even though she has been visiting the Cardio Centre for a year now. Speaking to Public Agenda, Mr. Joseph Tetteh, father of Grace said, “We went to the hospital just last week and were asked to report in six months time after we had earlier been told to go and report in six month’s time.
In all she has been under examination for one year now and the doctors say they can’t find anything”, an elated Tetteh told Public Agenda. Grace Serwah Agyemang, the girl’s grandmother who is a petty trader at Teshie in Accra, last year told this newspaper that her daughter had to drop from school due to the worsening heart condition, which was detected in December 2005 after several visits to the hospital.
In May last year when Public Agenda published the appeal, a letter from the National Cardiothoracic Centre and signed by Dr. M. Tamatey, for Dr. L Sereboe confirmed that the girl was born with a hole-in-heart, popularly called Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), which is affecting her health and would require an open-heart operation to close the hole.
New reports say Ghanaian females have sex earlier
The 1989 UNICEF/UNFPA/WHO joint Statement and Strategy for Action on “The Reproductive Health of Adolescents” defines adolescents as people between the ages of 10-19. It terms the periods between 10-14 years as early adolescence and late adolescence from 15-19 years. Adolescents aged 10-19 form more than one-fifth of Ghana’s population, slightly more than half of adolescents aged 12-19 live in rural areas and almost half attended secondary school.
A report entitled, “Protecting the Next Generation in Ghana: New Evidence on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs”, shows that 29% of 15-19 year-old females and 15% of such males have had sex. One in four young women and one in five young men have been touched, kissed, grabbed or fondled in an unwanted sexual way.
Encouragingly 92% of 12-year old adolescents have never had sex, never had a boyfriend or girlfriend and never experienced kissing or fondling. However, nearly two-thirds or more have heard of each of these activities.
The report presents findings from a new body of research on adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Ghana and is part of a larger project, conducted in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Uganda, entitled “Protecting the Next Generation: Understanding HIV Risk among Youth.”
The project was designed to contribute to the global fight against the growing HIV/AIDs epidemic among adolescents by documenting and analyzing young people’s sexual and reproductive health needs; communicating the new research findings to a broad audience to raise awareness; and stimulating the development of improved youth-serving policies and programmes.
The report attributes the higher levels of sexual activity among female adolescents at every age to the fact that factors that influence adolescent sexual behaviour may be different for male and males. According to the report, the most common reason that adolescents aged 12-19 gave for having their first sexual experience was that they had ‘felt like it.’
Seventy-one percent of males and 45% of females gave this reason. It emphasize that the number of sexual partners that an individual has had and the type of relationship that he or she has had with those partners have important implications for reproductive health.
The report identifies coercive sex as not only undesirable but inherently risky, since contraceptive use is usually not an option for the coerced person.
In the 2004 National Survey of Adolescents, (NSA) females reported higher levels of unwanted sexual attention and coercive sex than males. One in four young women aged 12-19 and one in five young men have been touched, kissed, grabbed or fondled in an unwanted sexual way.
Females who had been coerced into sex reported that the perpetrators were most often acquaintances, whereas males who had been coerced most often cited girlfriends as the perpetrators.
The report revealed that although the majority of adolescents in Ghana agree that abstinence is important, only few have sexual behaviours that conform to this ideal.
The 2004 NSA shows that over 90% of both females and males and more than 80% of those who had ever had sex support the idea that adolescents should remain virgins until marriage.
Yet, only 15% of females and 5% of males who had ever had sex reported that their first sexual experience had been with a spouse or live-in partner.
The motivation for those who had never had sex was to avoid pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infection, (STIs), including HIV rather than to preserve their virginity until marriage. The report established that in spite of the life-threatening consequences of unprotecte
d sex, contraceptive use among adolescents is not as high as it could be. The most commonly used method among 15-19 year olds who had ever had sex was the male condom, used by 53% of males, 40% of females not in union and 16% of females in union. Other commonly used methods were the pill: 14% of females in union and 9% of those not in union.
The report suggests that the male condom requires special attention from programme planners and educators since it is the most available and widely used method of contraception among adolescents.
Survey results show that adolescents, particularly females, who discuss contraceptives with their partners, tend to use them. Indicating that when communication skills of adolescents, as part of a reproductive health programme are improved, it may help to promote contraceptive use and safeguard the health of young people.
The report says majority of females, regardless of their marital status express the desire to delay childbearing.
“This is important because the risks of pregnancy and childbirth are greater for young adolescents than for older adolescents and adults. Adolescent’s physiologic immaturity, in some cases compounded by poor nutrition puts them at elevated risk for complications during labour and delivery,” the report elaborates.
Despite these desires, adolescent pregnancy is common and varies by economic status. 48% of females aged 15-19 who had ever had sex and lived in rural areas had been pregnant, compared with one-third (35%) of those in urban areas.
The report said in in-depth interviews, adolescents recognised that formal education offers the key to a better life. They felt that through formal education they could achieve higher status in society and get better jobs.
It is quite obvious that neglecting the reproductive health needs of adolescents and the youth who form a significant proportion of the population of sub-Saharan Africa will have long-term adverse effects on the capabilities of our next generation, in particular the women
A report entitled, “Protecting the Next Generation in Ghana: New Evidence on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs”, shows that 29% of 15-19 year-old females and 15% of such males have had sex. One in four young women and one in five young men have been touched, kissed, grabbed or fondled in an unwanted sexual way.
Encouragingly 92% of 12-year old adolescents have never had sex, never had a boyfriend or girlfriend and never experienced kissing or fondling. However, nearly two-thirds or more have heard of each of these activities.
The report presents findings from a new body of research on adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Ghana and is part of a larger project, conducted in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Uganda, entitled “Protecting the Next Generation: Understanding HIV Risk among Youth.”
The project was designed to contribute to the global fight against the growing HIV/AIDs epidemic among adolescents by documenting and analyzing young people’s sexual and reproductive health needs; communicating the new research findings to a broad audience to raise awareness; and stimulating the development of improved youth-serving policies and programmes.
The report attributes the higher levels of sexual activity among female adolescents at every age to the fact that factors that influence adolescent sexual behaviour may be different for male and males. According to the report, the most common reason that adolescents aged 12-19 gave for having their first sexual experience was that they had ‘felt like it.’
Seventy-one percent of males and 45% of females gave this reason. It emphasize that the number of sexual partners that an individual has had and the type of relationship that he or she has had with those partners have important implications for reproductive health.
The report identifies coercive sex as not only undesirable but inherently risky, since contraceptive use is usually not an option for the coerced person.
In the 2004 National Survey of Adolescents, (NSA) females reported higher levels of unwanted sexual attention and coercive sex than males. One in four young women aged 12-19 and one in five young men have been touched, kissed, grabbed or fondled in an unwanted sexual way.
Females who had been coerced into sex reported that the perpetrators were most often acquaintances, whereas males who had been coerced most often cited girlfriends as the perpetrators.
The report revealed that although the majority of adolescents in Ghana agree that abstinence is important, only few have sexual behaviours that conform to this ideal.
The 2004 NSA shows that over 90% of both females and males and more than 80% of those who had ever had sex support the idea that adolescents should remain virgins until marriage.
Yet, only 15% of females and 5% of males who had ever had sex reported that their first sexual experience had been with a spouse or live-in partner.
The motivation for those who had never had sex was to avoid pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infection, (STIs), including HIV rather than to preserve their virginity until marriage. The report established that in spite of the life-threatening consequences of unprotecte
d sex, contraceptive use among adolescents is not as high as it could be. The most commonly used method among 15-19 year olds who had ever had sex was the male condom, used by 53% of males, 40% of females not in union and 16% of females in union. Other commonly used methods were the pill: 14% of females in union and 9% of those not in union.
The report suggests that the male condom requires special attention from programme planners and educators since it is the most available and widely used method of contraception among adolescents.
Survey results show that adolescents, particularly females, who discuss contraceptives with their partners, tend to use them. Indicating that when communication skills of adolescents, as part of a reproductive health programme are improved, it may help to promote contraceptive use and safeguard the health of young people.
The report says majority of females, regardless of their marital status express the desire to delay childbearing.
“This is important because the risks of pregnancy and childbirth are greater for young adolescents than for older adolescents and adults. Adolescent’s physiologic immaturity, in some cases compounded by poor nutrition puts them at elevated risk for complications during labour and delivery,” the report elaborates.
Despite these desires, adolescent pregnancy is common and varies by economic status. 48% of females aged 15-19 who had ever had sex and lived in rural areas had been pregnant, compared with one-third (35%) of those in urban areas.
The report said in in-depth interviews, adolescents recognised that formal education offers the key to a better life. They felt that through formal education they could achieve higher status in society and get better jobs.
It is quite obvious that neglecting the reproductive health needs of adolescents and the youth who form a significant proportion of the population of sub-Saharan Africa will have long-term adverse effects on the capabilities of our next generation, in particular the women
IGP DARED TO PRODUCE DOCKETS
The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Patrick K. Acheampong has been challenged to produce dockets from three police stations, namely, Nima, Ministries and Madina on Unibank to help unravel the mystery surrounding the loss of land title submitted to the bank for loan in 2005.
A customer of the bank, Mr. Robert Tankuna Akeyom said on September 7, 2005 he presented Indenture Number AC 2670/83 and Land Title Certificate number GA/10362 Vol. 35 Folio 126 belonging to Julian Doduo Darko to Unibank for loan, which the bank claims is missing.
He said all attempts he made to get the collateral back have been unsuccessful.
According to him, the three dockets involved criminal cases he lodged at the Nima Police Station about the mysterious disappearance of his collateral security at the bank, the one on which a fake Chronicle journalist who took his picture and was arrested and handed over to the Madina Police station and the one in which he caused the arrest of Mr. Edward Nii Adumuah Nortey, (the custodian of the collateral) by the Ministries Police for having an illegal transaction with Unibank and trying to abscond; after he (Nortey) had sworn an affidavit in support of the bank obtaining a new land title to replace the ‘missing one.’
But one after the other each of the dockets reportedly got missing in a grand design by the IGP to protect the image of the bank.Briefing the press on Monday, October 22, Mr. Akeyom said he petitioned the IGP to investigate the life-threatening circumstances under which the fake Chronicle reporter entered his room unnoticed and took his picture.
He said the IGP referred the matter to the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards, (PIPS) to investigate. Mr Akeyom said on October 30, 2006 when he was called to give his version of the case, PIPS called for the dockets from the three police stations for further action.
“Nima Police Station brought their docket and said they had treated the case as civil, even though I had given the evidence for the case to be treated as criminal. Madina failed to present their docket, saying the ASP in charge had left for peace keeping so the docket could not be found. Ministries came with photocopies of my statement and two documents,” instead of the originals, Akeyom stated.
Mr. Akeyom said when he requested for a copy of the report which the PIPS came out with he was asked to pay and bring the receipt which he did on November 14, 2006, but was not given the report.
He however said when he returned for the report later; he was told that the IGP had asked them to enquire what he needed the report for.
“I said I wanted it because it was a report of a case I had brought for investigation, it was my constitutional right and there was need for my lawyers to advise me on the next steps to take.”
Robert said he asked his lawyers to write to the IGP on December 13, 2006 to produce the report, at which the Director General of the Legal Section of Police, Mr. George Asiamah, replied that the report was not complete and could not be given in that state.
He said he petitioned the office of the Attorney General on January 6, Ministry of Interior-August 21, Office of the President – June 26, Ghana Bankers Association – October 9, Office of Accountability – September 12, all in 2006 and Bank of Ghana on November 16, 2005 on the issue, but systematically all these state institutions, including the President himself, who swore an oath to protect the citizens of this country failed to act.
According to Mr. Akeyom the worse culprit is the Bank of Ghana which has direct supervision of the banks.
He says the failure of the central bank and other state institutions to act in a clear of breach of trust by Unibank amounts to institutional failure or the protection of powerful people by state institutions funded by the taxpayer.
“It is unfortunate that state institutions that are supposed to protect the rights of people seem to be protecting only the powerful”, Akeyom empahsised.
Mr. Akeyom’s last resort, after President Kufuor failed to act is the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), where on February 27, 2007, he lodged a complaint on the conduct of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, the IGP, Unibank, Office of Accountability and Mr. Edward Nii Adumuah Nortey.
He said CHRAJ has not been able to conclude its findings because the institutions mentioned above have not cooperated. “CHRAJ is the only institution where I have been given attention and has shown concern about getting to the bottom of the issue.”
A report signed by Frederick France, Head of the Banking Supervision Department concluded that “there was no evidence that Mr. Akeyom had applied for any loan facility at bank. Consequently, no loan request was available for consideration and therefore no resultant security documentation was scheduled.”
However, in the same report, Mr. France who was elevated to that position by Dr. Kwabena Dufour, former Governor of Bank and current Chairman of Unibank advised Akeyom to accept a new land title which the bank will process at its own cost.
In a fiery response Akeyom’s lawyer, Mr. Raymond Afawubo, said “Mr. Akeyom is not prepared to accept any responsibility which is fraudulent. The Unibank has made its stand clear that there is no such document existing in their custody. It is credible to own it a duty to pursue a course which it has nothing to with. The Land Title Registry has already exposed Unibank. Mr. Edward Adumuah Nortey is already incriminated and branded as an accomplice to the deal.”
Akeyom put the following questions to Unibank:1. If they claim I never brought any land title certificate to them, then how did they get the details of the documents to apply to the Land Title Registry for a duplicate?2. Why in the first instance should they embark on getting the duplicate copy without my concern?3. If the documents were not received by the bank, then why should Ms. Heletsi give me ¢2 million to convince the title owner to consent to the processing of a certified copy of the said land title certificate by the bank?4. Why should they deal with the real owner behind my back when I had entered into a statutory declaration with the latter for his permission to use the documents?5. Why are all dockets which have to do with this case consistently either getting missing or reports of police investigations shrouded in so much secrecy? Are they waiting for me to be killed before they run helter-skelter to find the culprits? The IGP should ensure that the police stations mentioned above do the right thing.
Akeyom recounted that after submitting the original documents to the bank, Charles Kingsley Akuetteh, then Unibank’s Customer Relations Manager, he (Akuetteh) ‘pleaded with him to join Mrs. Kafui Heletsi, a Makola business woman to his collateral to secure a similar loan from the bank, which he refused.
Mr. Akeyom continued that on Friday, September 9, 2005 Akuetteh officially introduced Mrs. Heletsi to him (Akeyom) at the bank’s conference room and that three days after he handed the documents as collateral to Akuetteh, he went to the bank to acquaint himself with the progress of his loan, only for the Customer Relations Manager to tell him that his documents were missing.
“I could not believe my ears how documents could fly out of the bank in less than two days.”
He said he smelt something fishy and reported Akuetteh’s conduct to the General Manager of Unibank, Twumasi A. Sarpong, who is now Deputy Managing Director, who promised that he would do anything, within his powers to retrieve the collateral for him.
The last thing he heard was that he had travelled outside the country. According to him, he confronted the bank’s officials and was told that Akuetteh had resigned from the bank and had left for the United Kingdom to study for a doctorate degree.
Akeyom alleged that his own investigations revealed that the collateral was used to grant Mrs. Heletsi a loan of two billion cedis, but Twumasi Sarpong dismissed this saying the bank does not grant loans on photocopies of collateral securities. “Nobody can use another person’s security without his/her consent”.
In 2005 when Public Agenda did the first report and contacted Twumasi Sarpong to explain the circumstances surrounding Akuetteh’s resignation from the bank and his hurried trip to the UK, he explained that at the time Akeyom lodged his complaint Akuetteh had resigned from the bank and gave the bank one week-notice.
Twumasi Sarpong explained that anytime title deeds are brought to the bank, the legal department issues receipts and since Akeyom cannot produce any receipts to show he deposited the document with the bank his case cannot be taken seriously.
Akeyom alleged that behind the scene, Unibank was trying to reproduce the indenture at the Land Title Registry.
He found that some staff at Land Title Registry had succeeded in duplicating the documents for the bank and were on the verge of delivering them when he petitioned the Principal Recording Officer, (PRO) to stop the deal.
The PRO of the Land Title Registry in a reply dated 12th December, 2005 confirmed that, “we received an application from Unibank Limited requesting for certified true copies of the property of Juliana Doduo Darko with Land certificate GA. 10362.”
The letter assured Akeyom that “in accordance with your instructions contained in the declaration dated 29th September, 2005, we declined the request.”
A customer of the bank, Mr. Robert Tankuna Akeyom said on September 7, 2005 he presented Indenture Number AC 2670/83 and Land Title Certificate number GA/10362 Vol. 35 Folio 126 belonging to Julian Doduo Darko to Unibank for loan, which the bank claims is missing.
He said all attempts he made to get the collateral back have been unsuccessful.
According to him, the three dockets involved criminal cases he lodged at the Nima Police Station about the mysterious disappearance of his collateral security at the bank, the one on which a fake Chronicle journalist who took his picture and was arrested and handed over to the Madina Police station and the one in which he caused the arrest of Mr. Edward Nii Adumuah Nortey, (the custodian of the collateral) by the Ministries Police for having an illegal transaction with Unibank and trying to abscond; after he (Nortey) had sworn an affidavit in support of the bank obtaining a new land title to replace the ‘missing one.’
But one after the other each of the dockets reportedly got missing in a grand design by the IGP to protect the image of the bank.Briefing the press on Monday, October 22, Mr. Akeyom said he petitioned the IGP to investigate the life-threatening circumstances under which the fake Chronicle reporter entered his room unnoticed and took his picture.
He said the IGP referred the matter to the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards, (PIPS) to investigate. Mr Akeyom said on October 30, 2006 when he was called to give his version of the case, PIPS called for the dockets from the three police stations for further action.
“Nima Police Station brought their docket and said they had treated the case as civil, even though I had given the evidence for the case to be treated as criminal. Madina failed to present their docket, saying the ASP in charge had left for peace keeping so the docket could not be found. Ministries came with photocopies of my statement and two documents,” instead of the originals, Akeyom stated.
Mr. Akeyom said when he requested for a copy of the report which the PIPS came out with he was asked to pay and bring the receipt which he did on November 14, 2006, but was not given the report.
He however said when he returned for the report later; he was told that the IGP had asked them to enquire what he needed the report for.
“I said I wanted it because it was a report of a case I had brought for investigation, it was my constitutional right and there was need for my lawyers to advise me on the next steps to take.”
Robert said he asked his lawyers to write to the IGP on December 13, 2006 to produce the report, at which the Director General of the Legal Section of Police, Mr. George Asiamah, replied that the report was not complete and could not be given in that state.
He said he petitioned the office of the Attorney General on January 6, Ministry of Interior-August 21, Office of the President – June 26, Ghana Bankers Association – October 9, Office of Accountability – September 12, all in 2006 and Bank of Ghana on November 16, 2005 on the issue, but systematically all these state institutions, including the President himself, who swore an oath to protect the citizens of this country failed to act.
According to Mr. Akeyom the worse culprit is the Bank of Ghana which has direct supervision of the banks.
He says the failure of the central bank and other state institutions to act in a clear of breach of trust by Unibank amounts to institutional failure or the protection of powerful people by state institutions funded by the taxpayer.
“It is unfortunate that state institutions that are supposed to protect the rights of people seem to be protecting only the powerful”, Akeyom empahsised.
Mr. Akeyom’s last resort, after President Kufuor failed to act is the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), where on February 27, 2007, he lodged a complaint on the conduct of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, the IGP, Unibank, Office of Accountability and Mr. Edward Nii Adumuah Nortey.
He said CHRAJ has not been able to conclude its findings because the institutions mentioned above have not cooperated. “CHRAJ is the only institution where I have been given attention and has shown concern about getting to the bottom of the issue.”
A report signed by Frederick France, Head of the Banking Supervision Department concluded that “there was no evidence that Mr. Akeyom had applied for any loan facility at bank. Consequently, no loan request was available for consideration and therefore no resultant security documentation was scheduled.”
However, in the same report, Mr. France who was elevated to that position by Dr. Kwabena Dufour, former Governor of Bank and current Chairman of Unibank advised Akeyom to accept a new land title which the bank will process at its own cost.
In a fiery response Akeyom’s lawyer, Mr. Raymond Afawubo, said “Mr. Akeyom is not prepared to accept any responsibility which is fraudulent. The Unibank has made its stand clear that there is no such document existing in their custody. It is credible to own it a duty to pursue a course which it has nothing to with. The Land Title Registry has already exposed Unibank. Mr. Edward Adumuah Nortey is already incriminated and branded as an accomplice to the deal.”
Akeyom put the following questions to Unibank:1. If they claim I never brought any land title certificate to them, then how did they get the details of the documents to apply to the Land Title Registry for a duplicate?2. Why in the first instance should they embark on getting the duplicate copy without my concern?3. If the documents were not received by the bank, then why should Ms. Heletsi give me ¢2 million to convince the title owner to consent to the processing of a certified copy of the said land title certificate by the bank?4. Why should they deal with the real owner behind my back when I had entered into a statutory declaration with the latter for his permission to use the documents?5. Why are all dockets which have to do with this case consistently either getting missing or reports of police investigations shrouded in so much secrecy? Are they waiting for me to be killed before they run helter-skelter to find the culprits? The IGP should ensure that the police stations mentioned above do the right thing.
Akeyom recounted that after submitting the original documents to the bank, Charles Kingsley Akuetteh, then Unibank’s Customer Relations Manager, he (Akuetteh) ‘pleaded with him to join Mrs. Kafui Heletsi, a Makola business woman to his collateral to secure a similar loan from the bank, which he refused.
Mr. Akeyom continued that on Friday, September 9, 2005 Akuetteh officially introduced Mrs. Heletsi to him (Akeyom) at the bank’s conference room and that three days after he handed the documents as collateral to Akuetteh, he went to the bank to acquaint himself with the progress of his loan, only for the Customer Relations Manager to tell him that his documents were missing.
“I could not believe my ears how documents could fly out of the bank in less than two days.”
He said he smelt something fishy and reported Akuetteh’s conduct to the General Manager of Unibank, Twumasi A. Sarpong, who is now Deputy Managing Director, who promised that he would do anything, within his powers to retrieve the collateral for him.
The last thing he heard was that he had travelled outside the country. According to him, he confronted the bank’s officials and was told that Akuetteh had resigned from the bank and had left for the United Kingdom to study for a doctorate degree.
Akeyom alleged that his own investigations revealed that the collateral was used to grant Mrs. Heletsi a loan of two billion cedis, but Twumasi Sarpong dismissed this saying the bank does not grant loans on photocopies of collateral securities. “Nobody can use another person’s security without his/her consent”.
In 2005 when Public Agenda did the first report and contacted Twumasi Sarpong to explain the circumstances surrounding Akuetteh’s resignation from the bank and his hurried trip to the UK, he explained that at the time Akeyom lodged his complaint Akuetteh had resigned from the bank and gave the bank one week-notice.
Twumasi Sarpong explained that anytime title deeds are brought to the bank, the legal department issues receipts and since Akeyom cannot produce any receipts to show he deposited the document with the bank his case cannot be taken seriously.
Akeyom alleged that behind the scene, Unibank was trying to reproduce the indenture at the Land Title Registry.
He found that some staff at Land Title Registry had succeeded in duplicating the documents for the bank and were on the verge of delivering them when he petitioned the Principal Recording Officer, (PRO) to stop the deal.
The PRO of the Land Title Registry in a reply dated 12th December, 2005 confirmed that, “we received an application from Unibank Limited requesting for certified true copies of the property of Juliana Doduo Darko with Land certificate GA. 10362.”
The letter assured Akeyom that “in accordance with your instructions contained in the declaration dated 29th September, 2005, we declined the request.”
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