In the last transition years from military to civilian rule which arrived in 1992, it was common place to be reminded by democratic governance advocates and activists that the “media is mightier than the sword.”  In other words, the gun is no match for the pen.

When the will of the people prevailed with the introduction of multi-party democracy, the media remained resolute and after 25 years, its contribution to the sustenance of our democracy cannot be over emphasised, despite the down sides of indulgence in trivialities, fanning of political enmity and vendetta and not living up to the “objective standard” ethics in the early years of “media freedom” in Ghana.

New era:

With the help of technology the media has evolved beyond our wildest imaginations. Fortunately or unfortunately, there is no end in sight for the jet speed evolution in the new or social media in particular.  Experts are still out there searching how the “pen,” keyboards of smart phones could be used as weapons to overthrow dictatorships in North Africa.

Back home, the media continues to play its agenda setting role in the development process.  Some media houses have shown brilliance focusing on the policy issues, the analysis, the alternative and options; pointing in the direction of maximising resources for the good of the nation.  They inspire hope!

Polarisation:

There is no denying the fact that the media is as divided as politics in Ghana.  There is the pro-government and pro-opposition media; both print and electronic.  In three out of ten current affairs television or radio programmes, you would identify a panel made up of a coached, well-rehearsed government propagandist and a thoroughly biased opposition representative discussing the national budget or a loan.

And the arguments can be deliberately impossible.  But they are inflicted on the poor citizen who must understand to make an informed choice at the next election.  At the end of the show the listener gets confused to the point that default setting kicks in. He or she is confused and naturally settles for the lesser of two evils, which is to maintain the status quo.

Monetisation and Sensationalism:

Like our politics, the media is heavily monetised.  For instance, the number of paragraphs, space and time allocated to the story of a particular news source; in many instances have become a function of the weight, hand-out or “solidarity” paid by the source, and not the value of the source or information for national development.

Monetisation has led to a greater problem of unfair reports and opinion pages as well as unbalanced and subjective accounts and presentations.  The hunger for “scoops” exclusive accounts, have resulted in “Journalists” misreporting, misleading and escalating unconfirmed stories that they would have to retract and apologise for later.  We could do better.

Confidence:

Following the bribery and corruption allegations levelled against some members of the judiciary not long ago and the subsequent investigations and punishment of those found guilty, details of the offences they committed; have heightened the fear among many that the judiciary would not dispense justice freely and fairly.

Inasmuch as I cannot dispel the fears of others, I still have faith in the judiciary to deliver justice that is not bought.  Same way I believe the media, as the fourth estate of the realm, has a critical role to play in our development process.  They must be encouraged to uphold the good name of the profession in their dealings with all and sundry.

Future:

The rate at which technology is going convinces me that the media would sooner than later be pushed to a place over and above the first three estates of the realm namely: executive, legislature and judiciary in terms of policy formulation and implementation.

If that happens, those who manage and work in the media would have to serve as the conscience of our society.  It would mean getting economists, bankers and financial experts to discuss and explain the national budget and not government propagandists and impossible opposition activists who twist facts and figures for selfish gains.

It would mean checking and rechecking facts before going public.  As my teacher in wire service admonished us: “If in doubt hold; if in absolute doubt delete.”  This is a life time ethic that our journalists can imbibe.

Owners and boards of media houses must be aware of the divine responsibility to collectively run media organisations that would serve as the conscience of our society.  It means capacity of Journalists, Presenters and their Producers would have to be built and or upgraded.  Journalists must be well paid to attract the brightest and best into the profession.

As today marks the re-birth of the “Today” newspaper where, I write a column, I wish to take the opportunity to warmly present to the proprietors, board, management and staff as well as readers of the paper a very happy re-launch with many happy returns.

The Last Uprising

…with William Dowokpor

REPORTS of African migrants in Libya being sold into slavery and subjected to all manner of tortures are very troubling.  And even more shocking were the pictures of slave markets and gross abuse of black Africans which went viral after Cable News Network (CNN) uncovered the worrying human trade in Libya.

THAT is not all; in fact, the heartbreaking images also showed some migrants being tormented to death by persons in Libyan military wears.  The development has invited wave of condemnations across Africa, and more especially, in the wake of the deafening silence of the continent’s leaders and groups like the Africa Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).

WELL, it is refreshing to hear our President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, condemn what is going on in Libya, stressing that it makes a mockery of African unity.   According to him, “The current slave auctions of Africans in Libya are not only gross and scandalous abuses of human rights, but are also mockeries of the alleged solidarity of African Union nations of which Libya is a member.”

WE at Weekend Today seize this opportunity to condemn the slave trade in Libya.  In fact we cannot fathom why some Africans will be doing this inhumane practice on their fellow Africans.  And come to think of it is nothing more than just preposterous!

INDEED it even pains us the more is the no action by ECOWAS or AU.  The question we are asking therefore is why have we not heard anything from the AU or ECOWAS?  Is it to suggest that these bodies exist only in names?

IN our estimation that is what appears to be the case.  That the AU and ECOWAS cannot act to protect the interest of Africans.  It is in the light of the above that we are calling on African countries whose citizens have been caught up in the slave trade in Libya to do all they can to rescue them.

WE must state in bold terms that it is the responsibility of every government to protect its citizens.  This is the more reason why we are charging countries whose nationals have been cited in the slave trade in Libya to take action now

WHAT is more, Weekend Today calls on the United Nations and the international community to seriously look at the slave trade issue in Libya.

A significant proportion of the global population increase beyond the seven and half billion mark can be attributed to Sub Saharan Africa. That part of the continent has over 16.6% share of the global increase and has the highest rate of growth of 2.55%.

These increases result in the demand for more food, raw materials and other agro based products. Incidentally, the resources of land and water as well as human capital available for agricultural production and agribusiness are limited and continue to decline in quality and quantity year after year.

Meanwhile, the struggle of economies to move up the development trajectory comes with increasing urbanisation, sophistication, changing life style, taste and preferences with their own impact on demand. Two thirds of the world’s population is estimated to live in urban cities by 2050.

The phenomena stated above calls for new approaches to agriculture that will lead to a more efficient growing, managing, harvesting, processing, distributing and consumption of food and other agricultural produce.

In Ghana, the contribution of agriculture to the economy is tremendous with the major impact seen in the areas of employment, foreign exchange earnings, and providing raw materials for the industrial base as well as feeding the population.

There is however a general lack of appropriate farm infrastructure to support large scale farming and post-harvest activities. Production has been largely primary and on subsistence basis with little value additions. The secondary value addition and processing is dominated by small scale operators largely SMEs operating as sole proprietors. The agricultural value chains are underdeveloped and in some cases non-existent.

It is general knowledge that agriculture is plagued with many challenges especially in developing and emerging economies. Should I ask of what the challenges that keeps our agriculture in the current state are, I will readily be presented with:

Low productivity- declining yield, Huge post-harvest loses, Low profitability, Declining growth rates in the sector and Domination by aged or aging practitioners in the sector.

The agricultural sector which still employs over 60% of the labour force in Ghana and sustains the livelihoods of more than two-thirds of the population, is increasingly becoming unattractive to the current generation and the more vibrant segments of the nation’s labour force. Young people view agriculture as a dead-end career that entails life-long labour on a farm. Similarly, the sector is perceived as a high risk sector for financing.

The sector has the potential to grow with the emergence of industrial level off-takers for agricultural products as raw materials and the concerted efforts to improve infrastructure as well as mitigate the risks in the sector to attract private capital, debt financing and the youth into agribusiness.

With the right investments to support entrepreneurs in agriculture, profitable careers can be built in agriculture. Key to this is access to land, access to finance, technology and skill set.

Surmounting the prevailing impediments and delivering quality and affordable food and other agro based products while creating jobs and promoting sustainable livelihoods require new breed of entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector who are:

• business minded to handle agriculture as business;
• innovative to identify opportunities along the agricultural value chain;
• ready tap and apply improved technologies for either production, aggregation and post-harvest management, processing, as well as distribution of good or provision of service to actors;
• willing to invest time, energy and other resources in the enterprise for a longer term;
• building their capacity, invest in Research and Development to operate and succeed with their niche; and
• positioning the business to attract external investment or other financiers to participate

Governments and other development partners need to invest in the institutions and infrastructure that inspire the new generation of agripreneurs. To this end, government should continue to institute policies and interventions to boost growth and participation in the sector. The current intervention is aimed at leveraging the potential of the agricultural sector to promote industrialization through agro-based enterprises across the country. The “Planting for Food and Jobs”, programme, revitalization of the buffer stock company operations and creation of market using the school feeding programme are some measures to provide incentives.

Financing Agriculture

Access to finance remains crucial in starting and growing agribusiness. Financing can make all the difference between success and failure in agricultural business. While inadequate financing has been identified as a major contributor to agribusiness failure, the nature of financing and its timeliness both have significant impact on the success in agriculture

While investments in general infrastructure for agriculture are handled by central government with the support of development partners, the two major sources of financing for agribusinesses continue to be debt and equity.

Agribusiness, like any other, go through a life cycle from early stage, growth stage, mature stage and decline stage. Each phase of the cycles creates its own financing needs and issues. Appropriate financing mix is necessary for growth and sustainability.

Equity financing from primary owner or equity investors is most ideal at the formative stages of agricultural businesses. This is supported with borrowing from creditors including financial institution.

Pooling resources from your own sources and partners who share in your agribusiness operation should be the starting point for any agricultural venture, as this requires a more patient capital investment. It is better to own 10% of GHS 10m business that is healthy than to own 100% of GHS 50m business that is non-performing.

The financial institutions will continue to provide the needed financial intermediation to support farmers and other businesses in the agricultural sector.

Agricultural sector in Ghana has been under served with finance over the years with less than 20% of banks in Ghana truly involved in agriculture financing. Stanbic Bank Ghana remains one of the leading financial institutions actively operating in the Agricultural financing landscape in Ghana. With a dedicated desk for agricultural finance; the bank has directly supported the agricultural sector with GHS 500m over the period dedicating 18% of the Business Banking Loan portfolio to agriculture in 2017. To deepen its participation and tap into state policy interventions to catalyze the sector for accelerated industrialisation, the bank is revolutionizing its strategy to aggressively increase her share in the agricultural financing space from 7% to 14% in the short term.

Specific areas of Focus and Risk Appetite Approach

The need to increase value of our agriculture and improve returns to the agribusinesses is imperative and requires active development of the value chains and increase shelf life through processing as well as promoting access to market. These needs and the direction of state policy has informed the appetite and focus of the bank going forward. The drive is towards activities in the downstream, secondary and upstream segments of the agricultural value chain. Mechanization, technology deployment and input supply as well as agro-processing are prime areas of support from the bank to the agricultural sector. This is complimented with support for stock management and warehousing. Commercialisation of cassava, grains and soy processing as well as horticulture and poultry remain high on the agenda.

We are adopting integrated approach with the use of targeted value chain actors such as mechanization service providers, aggregators and processors with out-grower and credit input supply schemes to be able to serve the financing needs of smaller agricultural value chain actors.

Our strong collaboration with stakeholders in the Agricultural sector as well as development partners and NGOs enhances our capacity and minimize the risks associated with extending financing to the sector

Building the capacity in financial institutions is critical and we continue to reinforce our understanding of the industry through training and leverage on the experience at our parent Standard Group level to deliver quality services to agribusinesses.

Financial intermediation is important for the agricultural sector to flourish and generate jobs and decent source of livelihood for players in the sector.  It is equally important for these agricultural entities to be positioned as bankable entities to attractive financing for their operations.

With the right investment and incentive environment, agriculture can turn a profit and be an attractive venture and Stanbic Bank remains a reliable partner in this transformation.

Article: Genius SELIKPLIM KISSIEDU

The writer is the Manager, Agric Desk Stanbic.

The blood situation at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Western Region leaves much to be desired. As such, GN Reinsurance company Limited has embarked on a blood donation exercise for selected senior high schools in the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis.

Principal Blood Donor Organiser at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Western Region, Emile Anornu, encouraged the general public to freely walk into hospitals and donate as it saves one from illness.

According to him, blood donation is not a dangerous venture as perceived by many but rather saves the donor because he or she will have new blood circulating and cannot easily fall sick. He mentioned that the rate at which blood was used in the facility which served as a referral centre in the Western Region far out-stretched stocks. He explained that measures such as replacement and pre-donation of blood be put in place to save the situation. He lamented that the Effia Nkwanta Regional hospital did not also have the capacity to offer goodies to voluntary blood donors and called for more sponsors to come in and assist the facility.

The Managing Director of GN Reinsurance Company Limited, Mr Joseph Kusi-Tieku, reiterated that the company felt the need to be socially responsible, hence the exercise to help save lives of the business Communities in which they operated. He added that the company opted to take up the exercise with school children to expose them to the need to be selfless and give back to society.

The GN Reinsurance Company Limited acts as insurer to many insurance companies who may not have the capacity to absorb all the risks associated with a particular transaction.

Story : Simon Ahensah/First News Network

Ahead of today’s World Cup draw, KweséESPN reveal our Dream XI of African players set to compete in next summer’s showpiece in Russia.

Munir: In truth, several of Africa’s World Cup five aren’t in particularly strong shape between the sticks, with Nigeria, notably, unable to point to one, clear excellent goalkeeping option.

Morocco, by contrast, have no concerns at the back, having gone through the entirety of their qualifying campaign without conceding.

While the whole of the team must take credit, goalkeeper Munir has done superbly well to bounce back from fan criticism earlier in his international career to keep goal during such a formidable run of clean sheets.

Ali Maaloul: The only Tunisian player in this team is Maaloul, who should demonstrate next summer why he ought to be considered as the continent’s premier left-back.

While the progress of both Abdul Rahman Baba and Faouzi Ghoulam have been stymied by injuries, Maaloul has gone from strength to strength since signing for Al-Ahly, winning the Egyptian title and helping the Cairene giants to the CAF Champions League final.

Defensively, he’s unflinching, while he can also weigh in with decisive goals and assists in the final third.

Kalidou Koulibaly continues to go from strength to strength under Maurizio Sarri at Napoli, and having refined many of his rougher edges since moving from Belgian football, Koulibaly is looking like a complete centre-back.

Rumours of a move to Chelsea or Manchester City in recent transfer windows haven’t appeared out of place – such has been the defender’s rise to prominence – while Koulibaly’s role in Napoli’s strong start to the season should only see his number of suitors increase.

Medhi Benatia: Last season, Benatia struggled to impose himself at Juventus on loan from Bayern Munich, and eyebrows were raised when the Old Lady made his signing permanent this summer.

However, the Morocco centre-back has begun to demonstrate the kind of form that prompted the Bavarian giants to sign him from AS Roma back in 2014, delivering man-of-the-match-worthy showings in back-to-back games against Barcelona and Crotone.

He’s been outstanding as a part of Herve Renard’s Moroccan defence, and found the net in the decisive qualifying victory over the Ivory Coast.

Victor Moses makes our squad after an excellent campaign for Chelsea, where his career has been transformed over the last 18 months.

Reconverted into a right wing-back by Antonio Conte, he became a key figure in the Blues’ title-winning side last term, and was nominated for the BBC African Footballer of the Year award in the process.

For the Super Eagles, he made a series of key performances as they secured World Cup qualification, notably scoring twice in the 3-1 victory at home against Algeria.

Mbark Boussoufa: We’ve plumped for Boussoufa ahead of John Obi Mikel to take a starting role in this midfield, where he’d operate as this dream team’s deep-lying playmaker.

Boussoufa may be 33, but he’s rarely controlled games more effectively – and more consistently – as he’s done for Morocco during Renard’s tenure, especially when paired alongside the rugged Karim El Ahmadi.

He can pick out passes for the Atlas Lions’ front-runners, hold onto the ball when the North Africans are under pressure, and dictate the tempo as Renard desires.

Idrissa Gueye sneaks into this midfield ahead of Wilfred Ndidi and El Ahmadi as Africa’s outstanding player in his position today.

While Gueye is enduring a testing campaign with troubled Everton, his qualities as a midfield destroyer – capable of breaking up the play, recycling the ball and keeping possession – make him a key component of Senegal’s starting XI.

Hakim Ziyech: Arguably Africa’s next great creative midfielder, Morocco’s 6-0 demolition of Mali during World Cup qualifying is worth re-watching just for Ziyech’s magnificent midfield management from deep.

The Ajax man was the architect of that triumph, and has been a consistently excellent presence with the Amsterdam giants since signing from FC Twente at the beginning of last season.

Keita Balde has taken his time to warm up at AS Monaco after signing for the Club of the Principality, but when Balde’s in form – as he was towards the end of last season – there are few African attackers who could match him.

The fleet-footed wideman can beat defenders for pace and has the upper-body strength to outmuscle full-backs, but does he have the maturity to cope in a tournament setting?

Mohamed Salah: It’s hard to pick out any player who performed better than Salah during qualifying, with the Liverpool forward establishing himself as the Pharaohs’ talisman and the long-term successor to Mohamed Aboutrika.

He scored five during qualification, including the double against Congo-Brazzaville that ensured Egypt ended their 28-year wait to reach the World Cup.

If the attacker can continue the early-season form he’s shown at Liverpool – where he’s broken Robbie Fowler’s record for goals scored at the start of his Reds career – then Egypt could be the tournament’s dark horses.

Sadio Mane rounds off our African World Cup Dream XI as arguably the outstanding individual in this team – certainly, Mane has the quality to be one of the stars of next summer’s showpiece.

None of the defenders heading to Russia will relish the prospect of attempting to nullify the threat of the Liverpool forward, who’s consistently proved a match-winner for Jurgen Klopp’s side since signing from Southampton in 2016.

Mane marries speed, intelligence and technical class in the final third, although having missed considerable time with injuries and a suspension in the last 18 months, both the Reds and the Teranga Lions may be considering wrapping him up in cotton wool before the tournament.

Source: KweseESPN

The President of Groupe Nduom, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has urged government as a matter of urgency to enable fishermen buy pre-mix fuel directly at petrol stations.

In a Facebook post, Dr. Nduom who is also the Chairman of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) National Committee, believes making the pre-mix fuel readily available for the fishermen will help curtail all the diversions and high cost of the product.

According to a report by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), there were 12 major diversions of pre-mix fuel in January alone. The NPA’s BRV Tracking System and Returns revealed in all instances, although the product was documented to be bound for the Volta Region, they ended up in Accra.

“Why can’t a fisherman take his/her money to a petrol station and buy pre-mix fuel without fuss? Why allow greedy politicians to mess around with the livelihood of the fishermen who are already struggling to make a living?” he quizzed.

Dr. Nduom also urged government to safeguard the waters from illegal fishing by both locals and foreigners.

Below is the full statement of Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom

I don’t get this, about pre-mix fuel

It has been reported in the media that…” The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), is frustrated by what it has discovered to be massive diversions of pre-mix fuel loaded from the Tema Oil Refinery. Yes, I get it the state subsidizes this type of fuel. But we have been subsidizing others too over the years.

Why can’t a fisherman take his/her money to a petrol station and buy pre-mix fuel without fuss? Why allow greedy politicians to mess around with the livelihood of the fishermen who are already struggling to make a living? I come from a fishing town, Elmina and I know what I am talking about. Government should find a better, direct way to help fishermen. Including safeguarding our part of the ocean from illegal fishing by both locals and foreigners.

 Source: Gnglobalghana.com

Brong Ahafo Region-based farmer, Philip Kweku Agyeman has been honoured as the National Best Farmer of 2017.

The 50-year-old picked up a $100,000 cash prize at the 33rd National Farmers Day celebration at the Heroes Park in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, which was under the theme, ‘Farming for food and jobs’.

This marks the first time the overall winner has been awarded such a cash amount. In previous years, the winners were awarded houses at locations of their choice.

Mt. Agyeman, noted to have attained only basic education, has been farming for the past 28 years and currently has over 200 employees.

Both runner-ups at the 2017 Farmers Day Celebration were women; Mabel Akoto Kudjoe from Hohoe in the Volta Region was named first runner-up, while Rebecca Ann Commey from the Greater Accra Region came third.

The three were among close to 90 farmers who were honoured on the day.

President Nana Akufo-Addo was present at the ceremony and was accompanied by a number of his ministers and appointees.

In his address, he noted that agriculture was seen to be on the brink of collapse as evidenced by its declining contributions to GDP but added that his government was working to turn around the fortunes of Ghana’s once vibrant sector.

The agriculture sector, which has been the mainstay of Ghana’s economy for years, currently contributes only 22 percent to the country’s GDP.

The sector has seen declining investments over the years but President Akufo-Addo said “we can and we should overcome these problems if we keep our focus, ensure efficient and effective implementation of policies and programmes, and fully rally behind the government to give agriculture the decisive impulse it needs to take its pride of place once again.”

The National Farmers’ Day celebration was established by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 1988, to honour the nation’s hardworking farmers.

On the first Friday of December every year, farmers who excel in their respective fields are awarded prizes such as a house, car, farm implements, certificates and other prizes.

Prizes are awarded to deserving farmers and fishers in order of best practices and outputs.

Source: Citifmonline

Zimbabwe’s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa has named his cabinet, appointing senior military figures to high-profile positions.

Critics have said that it has dashed hopes of change in the country.

Mr Mnangagwa was inaugurated as president last week. He took over from Robert Mugabe who had been in power for 37 years.

Mr Mugabe stepped down after the army took control of the country, following a power struggle in the ruling party.

Thousands of people celebrated Mr Mugabe’s resignation as they hoped the failed economy would improve.

Some had hoped that President Mnangagwa would appoint members of the opposition to his cabinet, to form a transitional government until elections next year but this did not happen.

What has been the reaction?

The appointments led government critic Tendai Biti to suggest that Zimbabweans were “wrong” to have hoped for change.”Up until now, we had given the putsch the benefit of the doubt. We did so in the genuine, perhaps naive view that the country could actually move forward. We craved change, peace & stability in our country. How wrong we were,” he said.

Wilf Mbanga, a Zimbabwean journalist who lives in exile in South Africa, told the BBC that the new minister of agriculture Perence Shiri “was not known for his love of democracy”.

A minister who served in Mr Mugabe’s government, Jonathan Moyo, said the changes meant that Zanu-PF, the party which has governed Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, was “dead” and the military was now in charge.

Newspaper owner Trevor Ncube said the cabinet was “very disappointing”.

“Largely the same people that caused this crisis have been recycled. The honeymoon comes to an end and reality dawns. His concern seems to have been rewarding those who brought him to power and Zanu-PF unity,” he said.

Who are the most controversial new cabinet members?

Sibusiso Moyo, the general who became the face of the recent military takeover, is the new foreign minister.

In his announcement, he was at pains to deny that the military takeover was a coup so some will criticise his promotion to the cabinet.

He holds a PhD in International Relations and at one point was the leader of the elite military unit, known as the “green berets squad”.

The head of Zimbabwe’s air force, Perence Shiri, was named the minister of agriculture and land affairs.

He is notorious for having led the military operation against those seen as opponents of Mr Mugabe in Matabeleland in the early 1980s.

The operation, led by the North-Korean trained Fifth Brigade of the army, resulted in the killing of an estimated 20,000 civilians.

As lands minister, he will presumably be in charge of Zimbabwe’s controversial land reform programme.

This saw the seizure of thousands of farms owned by the white minority which had previously been in charge of the country. Critics say this wrecked Zimbabwe’s once thriving economy and led millions of Zimbabweans to leave the country to find work.

Source: BBC

Seven-time African Champions, Egypt have been drawn to face hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group A at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria, who were crowned champions of Africa in 2013, will face Argentina for the fifth time in the group stages of the World Cup

They are joined in Group D by Iceland and Croatia.

Morocco who beat Ivory Coast to make it to the tournament will face a huge task of making it out of their group after they were drawn against European Champions Portugal and Spain who have won the World Cup in 2010.

Senegal were grouped with Poland, Colombia and Japan while Tunisia will be hoping they can make it out of a difficult group with Belgium, Panama and England.

Defending champions Germany will be expected to qualify from a group which has Sweden, Mexico and South Korea

Hosts Russia play Saudi Arabia in the World Cup’s opening game in Moscow on 14 June (16:00 BST).

The 2018 tournament takes place across Russia between 14 June and 15 July.

World Cup groups in full

• Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
• Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
• Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
• Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
• Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
• Group F: Germany, Sweden, Mexico, South Korea
• Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
• Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

Source: Citifmonline

Ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about meetings with Russia’s ambassador weeks before Donald Trump became president.

The charges were brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, as part of his inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election.

Mr Flynn is the most senior member of the administration to be indicted.

He also revealed he was co-operating with Mr Mueller’s inquiry.

Significantly, a statement made by Mr Flynn to prosecutors appears to implicate a more senior, though unnamed, Trump team official – indicating the direction in which Mr Mueller’s investigation may be heading.

Numerous US media outlets said the senior official now under the spotlight is Jared Kushner – Mr Trump’s adviser and son-in-law.

Source: BBC

Five hundred years ago, the European slave trader who arrived on our shores and his local comprador had to exert a lot of brute force before catching men and women to carry on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade route to the Americas and Europe.  Those of you, cherished readers, who know the story of Kunta Kinte, know the kind of resistance to physical and mental slavery that he symbolised.

Today, however, just park a 10,000-seater ship at the Tema or Takoradi Habour with the bold inscription: YANKEE-BOUND SLAVE SHIP.  Within 30 minutes the ship will be overloaded, with weaker contenders falling into the sea out of desperation to book a place on the vessel that will cart them into 21st Century slavery.  After the blood and sweat that our forebears and illustrious leaders shed to break the yoke of slavery and colonial domination; you ask: Did we go or did we come?

Unstoppable assault

What has hit the news headlines from Libya is not new.  It is recurrent.  It is becoming rampant.  It is worsening in proportion.  It is unlikely to stop, given our mindset as a Ghanaian and Black people.  We like travelling without first doing any cost-benefit analysis.  This is a country where some parents sell their only piece of farming land to ‘buy’ visas for their children and nephews to travel to the US, Canada, Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Japan, Korea or China for jobs they have no idea of.  Some cede their lands to illegal miners, kill to perform rituals, fast for favour from their deities, or prostitute themselves for a chance to leave the shores of their motherland.

Awkward culture

Ghana Today is not canvassing against the sojourn, exploration, sightseeing and refuge-taking that date back to the time of Early Man; make no mistake.  What one is condemning is the crass exodus of our youth – and even some people nearing the official retiring age – for non-existent greener pastures beyond our borders.  This column is condemning in no uncertain terms society’s obvious condoning of the stupid walking across the Sahara Desert or attempting to cross the Mediterranean into Europe on decrepit boats.  The state, families, whole ethnic groups and regions are culpable of irresponsible complicity.  The question remains to be answered: How come that the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions are closer to Burkina Faso and the Sahara Desert than the Bono-Ahafo and Ashanti Regions but the two middle belt regions’ people cross the harsh expanse of land to Libya and Italy more than the northern regions’ do?  Those who claim that poverty is the main driving force, tell me: How come that the four poorest regions are Central, Upper East, Upper West and Northern and yet their sons and daughters don’t stow away on ships or walk the hot desert like those from the relatively richer regions?  Some of our ethnic groups and regions are most culpable: their perception of success; their yardstick for civilisation; their values can be too skewed, warped.

If, as a father, uncle or mother, you can marshal GHC8,000.00 or more for your child or ward to dare into Europe or America through unapproved routes; what reason stops you from encouraging the same relative to start a vocation, small manufacturing, farming or even buy-and-sell here?  Our families are also guilty; guilty of negligence or worse still abahye-bone, as the Akans would say.  Do we leave out the government?  The same government that struggles and repeatedly fails to honour its responsibilities to loyal citizens at home will always rush to evacuate illegal emigrants, condemning shabby treatment meted out to ‘innocent Ghanaians travelling in the global village.’  With this kind of attitude, how do you discourage irresponsible sojourn?  To be sure of my position, let me say our governments should retrieve the cost of evacuation, negotiations and all related bills from the evacuees or their families as soon as possible. It is good you’ve brought them back; but, don’t pamper them: let them see their folly.

Recurrent humiliation

You cannot do the same thing repeatedly the same way and expect different results. The way we have treated this matter – emotionally instead of rationally – we will continue to be humiliated in Libya, Asia, Europe, America, Nigeria and even The Gambia!  Those of you who can ‘fish out’ retired Commodore Steve Obimpeh, please ask him how many people he had to evacuate and support in 1983 when Jerry John Rawlings charged him to go bring our nationals who had walked or boarded mummy trucks – joined the bandwagon – to Anago, Agege or Nigeria. Crème de la crème of the nation’s teachers who had left chalk, duster, cane and pupils in the classrooms to go to Agege.  Factory hands, administrators, musicians, footballers, farmers, fugitives and all who were badly needed in this country.  More than one million were Ghanaians that soon, President Shehu Shagari drove out of Nigeria on austerity, and who came to worsen an already ailing economy for almost a decade.  Our governments are culpable, I stress.

Current case

American Cable News Network had reported that hundreds of African refugees and migrants passing through Libya were being bought and sold in modern-day slave markets.  According to the report, the traders worked by preying on tens of thousands of vulnerable people who risked everything to get to Libya’s coast and then cross the Mediterranean into Europe – a route that has been described as the deadliest on earth. (Source: Daily Graphic of 30-11-17)

The Daily Guide of the same day had reported that at least three Ghanaian migrants were said to be among those auctioned as slaves in Libya, sourcing it to Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister.

In same yesterday’s Graphic quoted above, President Akufo-Addo is reported as condemning the alleged auction of African migrants as slaves in Libya. “The current slave auctions of Africans in Libya are not only gross and scandalous abuse of human rights, but, also a mockery of the alleged solidarity of African nations grouped in the African Union, of which Libya is a member.”

Ineffective sermonising

It is heartwarming that our president has promptly condemned the shameful act.  It is further comforting that UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gueterres, has urged the international community to unite in fighting this modern-day slavery.  Nonetheless, these statesmanlike statements are not new.  If you researched the stewardships of Ban Ki-moon, Kofi Annan, Boutros Boutros-Ghali etc., you would realise they made very similar appeals to the international community to end such barbaric acts; but the acts continued or are actually exacerbating. Comb back the eras of Dramani Mahama, Agyekum Kufuor, Jerry Rawlings et al, and you realise they condemned the killings of Ghanaians in The Gambia, Libya, Nigeria, Europe, America, Asia and what have you.  Nothing has changed.  The world is in an aggressive, merciless competition.  You protect your own and try to compete as much as you can with your neighbours, doing as little as possible sermonising.

Must-do list

What this and subsequent governments should do is do all it takes to make it unnecessary or extremely unattractive for any Ghanaian to dare walk through the Sahara Desert or stow away on cargo ships or on narrow ramshackle boats.  What our authorities must do is punish in a deterrent form those caught attempting to use unapproved routes to travel.  What our traditional authorities need to do is to dissuade their subjects from thinking that making it in life means only travelling to Europe or America to hustle.

Most importantly, those who take the crass decision to travel the unapproved routes to destinations they’ve learnt nothing about, for jobs they have no idea of, had better advised themselves.  Fortunately, this is quite different from child trafficking.  Almost all those shown in the videos and still-life pictures were adults, some looking too old even to want to travel to hustle.  That all of them are adults means they can, and should, reason.  How the CNN is quoted to have described the route to Libya is very instructive: According to the report, the traders worked by preying on tens of thousands of vulnerable people who risked everything to get to Libya’s coast and then cross the Mediterranean into Europe – a route that has been described as the deadliest on earth. If you live in the safety nest of your extended family – even without a job – it is better than venturing onto the “route that has been described as the deadliest on earth.”

Apart from travelling for studies, on invitation or for some other purposeful mission, we should remember our own adage: Home Sweet Home. All other ground is sinking sand!

Ghana Today 

…with A. C. Ohene

Teachers and pupils of Tikrom Municipal Assembly Junior High School (JHS) in the Ejisu Juaben Municipality of the Ashanti Region are living in danger as their classrooms have become death-traps.

The pupils numbering about 213, Today gathered, have to deal with the threat of studying in a dilapidated structure serving as the classroom block for the state-owned school.

The problem which is before the Ejisu Juaben Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Beatrice Serwaa Deekye, Ghana Education Service (GES), and Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, Today further gathered, has yielded very little results.

The structure which appears to have been built with bricks has visible cracks on some of the walls.

The near-collapse building, Today observed, has been marked as a ‘death trap’ by the Ejisu Juaben Municipal Assembly.

The school, established some 52 years ago by the community, has been deprived of adequate classroom blocks, teaching and learning materials, sanitary facilities among others.

When Today visited the school recently, the paper observed that the deep cracks had made learning difficult for the school children.

Speaking in an interview with Today head teacher of the school, Mr Dominic Agyeman Yeboah, lamented the poor state of the school, saying, “We are still using this deadly structure because we have no option.”

“I have personally written to the Ejisu Juaben Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service to complain about the situation.”

A letter dated February 2, 2017 written by Mr Dominic to the Ejisu Juaben Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service and sighted by Today stated: “I humbly write to bring to your notice, in my capacity as the head teacher of the above mentioned school, and on behalf of the entire staff, pupils, parents, chiefs and people of Tikrom Traditional Area the dilapidated state of the Tikrom M/A Junior High School classrooms block.”

It continued: “The school building stands as a very dangerous structure, with the walls showing black decay by neglect, cracked walls with weeds and dandelions poked out from these cracks, the doors and windows begrudgingly cracked open. The windows covered with grime and dirt walls could collapse any moment.”

To this end, he appealed to philanthropists to come to the aid of the school and also provide them with teachers’ bungalow.

Several poorly constructed buildings of this sort have collapsed in several instances in the past, causing severe injury to pupils.

Story: Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu

Ebony recently came under severe criticism from many people over her outfits for performances but Highlife great, Mr Kojo Antwi, otherwise known as ‘Mr Music Man,’ has said he’ll not criticise the young musician publicly.
According to him, as a music legend, his advice to Ebony and her management team should help improve and propel her brand.

Speaking on Kasapa FM, Kojo Antwi said there have been many changes in the kind of music that is done in recent years and how one should brand himself to project his talent to the world.

According to him, sex and nudity are now part of society because a musician believes it sells faster so can be associated with a brand to project one’s talent.

Acknowledging the great talents Ebony and Wiyaala bring to bear, Antwi added that the two musicians need to be pushed further to be seen relevant in the next ten years ahead.

“I’ll sit with Ebony and her team indoors than go on radio to advise them on possible means of helping project her brand to the world and not to go on radio to condemn her.”

Ebony is usually criticised for what many say is her lack of talent, and believe her showing skin on stage and in music videos is to push attention from her untalented self.

Born Priscilla Opoku Kwarteng, her song ‘Kupe’ helped her gain mainstream attention in the Ghanaian music industry.

Entertainment Desk

The 2016 National Best Farmer says he is disappointed in the government for reneging on the promise to build him a house.

Robert Crentsil, 42-year-old farmer from Ajumako Enyan-Essiam district in the Central Region, said he was promised a fully furnished three-bedroom house constructed for him in any part of the country of his choice.

Mr. Crentsil was adjudged the best farmer last year with 120 acres of cocoa farm, 80 acres of rubber, 60 acres of plantain, 60 acres of cowpea, 30 acres of cassava, 7 acres of oil palm, 6 acres of coconut, 15 acres of citrus farms among others. “I have not received the award yet but I am supposed to do the handing over tomorrow,” he revealed to Onua News ahead of Friday’s Farmer’s Day in Kumasi dubbed ‘Farming for Food and Jobs’.

He said efforts to get the executive board of Agric Development Bank (ADB) who were the main sponsors of the programme have proven futile. “I am done with all the necessary documents to get a house from an estate developer located in Kasoa but the ADB has refused to process the documents for me to be given the house”.

Feeling disenchanted, the 2016 national best farmer has suggested to the government to present money to subsequent winners instead of promising them houses to avoid discomfort, hassle and embarrassment they go through when pressing for the awards.

Meanwhile, Robert Crentsil has appealed to government to bring the interest rate down specifically for farmers and assist them with modern farming inputs, which he said will go a long way for government’s Planting for Food and Jobs policy to achieve its target.

He has also urged the youth to be humble so that traditional leaders and custodians of lands would willingly release their arable lands for them to cultivate in order to reduce unemployment rate in the country.

Source: 3news

Ankara crop tops are one of the hottest things in the fashion world right now, and they are super creative and fashionable. When wore well, it makes you feel easy and simple but elegant.

In order to achieve an all-round beautiful look in an Ankara crop top, be sure to choose a fabric that matches your colour.

Wear them with either maxi long or short skirts, pencil skirts, jean or denim trousers or rock them however and whichever way you like. Remember you want to look gorgeous and elegant.

Fashion 

…with Mizpah ETORMENYE MENSAVIE-AYIVOR

Writer’s email: mizpah.mensavie-ayivor@todaygh.com

Dancehall artiste Shatta Wale gave his bodyguard a resounding slap at the S-Concert held at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday, Friday.

Report has it that during Shatta Wale’s performance, a fan mounted the stage, trying to hold Shatta Wale’s leg when his bodyguard prevented the fan from touching him.

Shatta Wale, not happy with the act by the bodyguard, gave him a slap which caused his mask to fall.

Watch the video below:

Source: Citifmonline

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has directed all Metropolitan, Municipal, District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) who wish to contest as Parliamentary Candidates on the party’s ticket in the 2020 general elections to resign from their current positions in order to be eligible to contest.

According to the General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu, the resignation should be at least three years before the ensuing national election in 2020 to avoid challenges.

“The National Council, which is the second-highest decision-making body pursuant to Article 9 B of the party’s constitution, has unanimously resolved that all persons serving as Metropolitan, Municipal, District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) who wish to contest as parliamentary candidates in constituencies where the party has sitting members of Parliament are not illegible to contest unless they resign from their current positions at least three years before the ensuing general elections,” he said.

“We are not going to give you a chance to hold a position to use it for your own advantage and cause a lot of disaffection in the constituency, and wait till a month to primaries and say I am resigning to contest. We have seen such things for far too long,” Mr. Boadu added.

Mr. Boadu indicated that the directive also applies to executives who have ambitions of becoming Members of Parliament.

“The Council also resolved that regional chairpersons, regional secretaries, regional treasurers, constituency chairpersons, constituency secretaries and constituency treasurers, are also not eligible to contest as parliamentary candidates in constituencies where the party has sitting Members of Parliament, unless they resign three years before the national general elections.” he said.

He further clarified that “these decisions only apply to constituencies where the party has sitting Members of Parliament, and does not apply to orphan constituencies- that is constituencies where the party does not have sitting Members of Parliament.”

For many years now, there have often been concerns about the misuse of state funds by MMDCEs to fund their political campaign to become MPs, whiles still serving as MMDCEs.

Source: Citifmonline

Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Ghana Foundation has invested a whopping US$13,456,375 million in corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects in health, education and economic empowerment in the ten regions of the country.

Senior Manager of Sustainability and Social Impact at MTN Ghana Foundation, Mrs Georgina Asare-Fiagbenu, disclosed this while speaking to members of the Journalists for Business Advocacy (JBA), at a workshop organised by MTN in Accra last Wednesday.

The workshop was to enable members of JBA get some updated information on the foundation to enable them educate the public through their various reports.

Mrs Asare-Fiagbenu, who took members of JBA through a presentation of the Foundation’s social and infrastructure activities and programmes for the past 10 years, enumerated a number of successful “sustainable initiatives” being implemented in the country by the leading telephony company.

She pointed out that the foundation was established in 2007 as a single purpose vehicle to drive all MTN’s corporate social responsibility initiatives in the country with focus on health, education and economic empowerment and has over the years been actively holding various projects across the country to enhance living conditions of many Ghanaians, particularly those in rural communities.

According to her, the foundation has also instituted several themed projects such as the MTN Heroes of Change, Teacher Improvement Awards Project, MTN Reading Club, Save a Life initiative and MTN Ghana Foundation Incubation Partnership Programme with Ghana Multimedia Incubator Centre.

Mrs Asare-Fiagbenu noted that the foundation was proud of its achievements over the years which include improving the wellbeing of communities through economic empowerment initiatives.

She revealed that the foundation has not relented on its corporate social responsibility as it has invested not less than US$13 million in improving the quality of lives of Ghanaians.

She said that the celebration was not so much about the number of years the foundation has been in existence, but the impact it has made and continued to make in the lives of individuals and communities across the country.

For his part, President of JBA, Mr Suleiman Mustapha, called on media practitioners to continue to educate the public on the successful projects and programmes initiated in the communities by the foundation.  “As journalists, our responsibility is to broadcast or publish this information for the general public to educate them on the issues,” he stressed.

Story: Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu

Management of Accra Mall Limited has confirmed the payment of GHC2.3 million, being an outstanding 2014/2015 VAT liability, to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), following deliberations with revenue officials who visited the mall premises last Wednesday.

A statement issued yesterday by the Asset Manager of the Mall, Hannatje Ludick, discloses that prior to the payment, management of Accra Mall and senior officials of GRA had made considerable progress in engagements regarding the settlement of the outstanding tax liability and the mall had proceeded to initiate due processes required for payment of the outstanding liability.

The management of Accra Mall was therefore, surprised that a GRA task force arrived at the facility yesterday morning, ostensibly to enforce payment, in spite of progress made in ongoing discussions on the subject.

Story: Freeman KORYEKPOR AWLESU

Writer’s email: freeman.koryekpor@todaygh.com

Health ministry says it has adopted a new drug distribution system after insurance companies refused to insure the temporary Central Medical Store.

Director of the Ministry, Dr Afisa Zakariah, said the companies have expressed their disinterest because the new store housing the country’s drugs and medical equipment were a rented facility.

According to him, the ministry has been compelled to distribute medical supplies on a large scale to avert future mass destruction in the event of fire outbreak.

“What we have done is not to keep the medicine there for long [so] we use the distribution system we have in place to send the drugs out, up to the last point of need,” she said.

The health ministry has converted a temporary store into the Central Medical Store after fire destroyed the main facility in Tema in 2015.

Drugs and medical equipment worth over $80 million were destroyed in the fire.

But two years after the destruction of the store, the health ministry has revealed a new warehouse is being operated without any insurance cover.

Dr Zakariah said the insurance companies have been unwilling to provide protection for the new store because it was a rented place.

But she disclosed the health ministry has been meeting with donors to secure funds to construct a proper structure for the storage of the drugs.

Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Nsiah Asare, said his outfit has directed all the regional stores to be upgraded in order to take in more drugs.

He said already an instruction has been given for all the stores to be insured, promising the GHS will ensure the protection of the drugs for the country.

“Insurance alone doesn’t give us comfort so we have to be on the lookout and be watchful,” he said.

But Binduri Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem, asked the health ministry to forward the report on the fire that destroyed the Central Medical Store to the police for prosecution.

He deplored government’s handling of the matter, saying prosecution can start without the forensic audit recommended by the investigative committee.

“A forensic audit had to be timely [but] the police should be given the preliminary report to see what they can do to prosecute culprits,” he said.

Insurance

…with Kofi Owusu Tawiah