Kofi Annan calls for united effort to accelerate African Green Revolution

Former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan has called for a united effort to accelerate African green revolution in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of halving poverty by 2015.
“As former Secretary General of the United Nations, I called for a uniquely green revolution in Africa to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving hunger by 2015. And six years later, I am encouraged to see that the Green Revolution has taken hold and is gaining momentum. We have reached global consensus that agriculture is Africa’s lifeline and, from that realization, we are gaining global support and funding commitments as well as the support of African governments and the attention of the private sector. But we need an action plan to translate this momentum into tangible support for Africa’s famers,” says Mr. Annan.
Mr. Annan made this observation in press release ahead of a program to be held in Accra by the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) from September 2-4 this year.
The program will bring together high profile African heads of state, ministers, farmers, private agri-business firms, financial institutions, NGOs, Civil Society Organizations and scientists.
Delegates will create an action plan on the acceleration of a Green Revolution in Africa.
Chaired by Kofi Annan, chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), this is the first time the forum will be held in Africa.
It is expected to be one of the continent’s major gatherings of both public and private players to focus solely on agriculture development.
“We will be looking to governments for leadership to create an environment that will enable agriculture to prosper and grow and we will be looking to the private sector to drive and sustain that growth,” says Kofi Annan. “Working together we can achieve a food secure and prosperous Africa,” he added.
According to Mr. Annan, to substantially increase food production in Africa, it requires a comprehensive and integrated approach to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of smallholder farmers.
Concerned about the environment, Mr. Anna said urged that the new expansion must take into account its effect on climate change.
The warming planet is expected to reduce yields by 20-30 percent by 2050 if left unchecked, according to reports.
Jørgen Ole Haslestad, Chief Executive, Yara International ASA, says: “At the African Green Revolution Forum in Ghana we expect to continue the momentum from other recent summits. We need both the entrepreneurship attitude from business and political leadership to create environments that enable financing and smallholder farmers to flourish.”
Clive Tasker, Chief Executive, Standard Bank Africa, says: “Commercially viable agriculture can yield food for millions and eliminate hunger. Farmers, NGOs, public and private partners will sit at the same table at the African Green Revolution Forum. Together we will support the real progress on the ground.”
The NEPAD Agency Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, says “Africa has the potential to become a major food producer ensuring food security on our continent and beyond. This opportunity can only become reality if systemic transformation takes place at the farmer, NGO, policy and continental level. Moving AGRF to Africa, is a clear statement on the need for rooting the Green Revolution on the ground, and will be a key driving force, in eliciting stakeholders’ commitments to transformation.”
"Governments must create the right policy environment to allow for appropriate investments in research and development to enhance productivity and increase production" says Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural development (IFAD).
Judith Rodin, President, The Rockefeller Foundation, says “The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to continue our almost century long commitment to food security around the world. As we look back on the lessons of our own Norman Borlaug and his colleagues, we are proud to now work with dedicated partners to bring a Green Revolution to Africa. The African Green Revolution Forum is an enormous opportunity to connect partners from governments, foundations, NGOs and the private sector to find new ways to increase food security in an era of climate change and establish Africa as a thriving and innovative global agricultural market.”
The Ministers, private sector partners and donor representatives at the AGRF will launch national breadbasket projects for Ghana and Mali.
The projects, which enable agricultural areas with high production potential to gain access to new markets, are a model for delivering on the AGRF’s aims to achieve food security through sustainable agriculture and to reduce poverty in Africa.
The AGRF will also review progress of the Beira Agricultural Growth Corridor in Mozambique, and the second corridor project in Tanzania.
The AGRF promotes investments and policy initiatives that will drive income growth for African farmers in an environmentally sustainable way.

Ghana: Disability Council Calls For Speedy Passage of Mental Health Bill & Ratification of UNCRPD

The Ghana Federation of the Disabled on Tuesday petitioned Parliament to speed up the processes of passing the Ghana Mental Health Bill and the ratification of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) without further delay.
The petition was presented by Mr. Yaw Ofori Debrah, Chairman of the National Advocacy Committee of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled and received on behalf of the Speaker by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe North and Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises Mr. Prince Jacob Hayibor.
He was accompanied by two members of the Committee, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, MP for Ayawaso West and Mr. Wallace Abayateye, MP for Sege.
The Federation also presented Guidelines for the disbursement and Management of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for Persons with Disability (PWD).
The Federation in its petition, expressed surprised that till date, Ghana has not been able to ratify the UNCRPD despite having met most of the issues in the Convention as attested to by the country’s Person’s with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715).
“Ghana was one of the first countries which signed this Convention when it was promulgated by the UN but has not yet ratified it even though most of the issues in the Convention have been taken care of by the country’s Person’s with Disability Act,” noted Mr. Debrah in the petition.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 2.2 million persons with Disabilities in Ghana whose needs are varied vis-à-vis; education, provision of assistive devices, removal of barriers, adequate health delivery among many others.
By ratifying the UNCRPD, the Federation contends that it “will no doubt afford the country to access the technical, development and financial benefits that the Convention makes available to its member countries.”
It would enable disability organizations make representation through Government to the UN to assist Government to deliver adequate support to the organizations and their membership.
The status of the Mental Health Bill on the other hand, according to the Federation, is not yet known though it has been submitted for consideration and approval by Parliament.
To that effect, the Federation appealed to the Government and Parliament “to show understanding and commitment for this noble cause.”
The Parliamentary Select Committee in its response thanked the Disability Council for showing concern in matters relating to the welfare of the physically challenged in the country and promised that Parliament would do all it could to ensure their safety by passing out the Mental Health Bill and also ratify the UNCRPD.

KNOC eyes energy blocs in Ghana

Korea on Friday publicly announced her interest in Ghana’s new find oil an dgas.

A team of oil experts from Merrill Lynch led by the President and Chief Executive of Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), Mr. Young-Won Kan is currently in talks with the Energy Minister, Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei and the technical experts of Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) to bid for Kosmos Energy’s thirty percent (30%) stake in the giant offshore Jubilee field.

Korea now joins China and India as they search to expand and deepen their footprint in West Africa.

After the failure to win original contracts in Ghana, a new policy of buying established equity assets is being enacted to secure burgeoning oil reserves by the Asian powers.

In August 2008, a team of Chinese officials led by China People’s Political Consultative Committee heavyweight Zhu Welin, arrived in Ghana to secure extraction rights to oil blocks on behalf of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). The company had previously failed to find oil in one of the exploration blocks in which Tullow were later successful. Chinese officials were understood o be greatly aggrieved by the missed opportunity. The decision to send senior officials to Ghana in order to take their claim shows the importance Beijing places on Ghana’s oil contracts, according to the China-africa.com.

Talks of a stake sale have been in the news ever since a dispute broke out over technical data sharing. Players in the oil industry have been tracking this development, since the stake in the Jubilee field has huge prospects.

Jubilee field which is forecast to begin commercial production in the fourth quarter of this year, has recoverable reserves of 800 million barrels according to Dr. Oteng-Adjei.

CNOOC had enlisted Goldman Sachs in an advisory capacity to help them in their pursuit of the stake but the deal is said to be hanging when Kosmos Energy last month announced its plans to enter into drilling. India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), US based Exxon Mobil, Chevron Corp, Royal Dutch Shell, ENI of Italy and Chinese Sinopec are among bidders in the said Kosmos Energy’s stake worth $4 billion.

The increase in taking over equity assets in the successful western companies that won contracts in the oil fields shows that Ghana is still a top priority for the Asian tigers that have resorted in building flagship projects in order to win the government’s heart to secure contracts in the country’s oil industry.

Ghana’s new found oil and gas continues to be an attractive destination for developed economies as a substitute for conflict ravaged Middle East.

Korea had learnt at first hand about Ghana’s oil find when a team of energy experts visited KNOC last year.

According to Mr. Kan, Korea’s interest in Ghana’s oil and gas became eminent early this month when the Vice President, John Mahama led a delegation to strike a 2,000 housing units for the law enforcement agencies with the Korean Government.

He told the Ghanaian team that his outfit is interested to tie-up with the GNPC to put in their bid for Kosmos Energy’s stake.

But will this partnership work since the GNPC is extremely keen to buy Kosmos stake with financing proposal from the Chinese Government?

Dr. Oteng-Adjei in a discussion however told the Korean delegation of a number of blocs he believes they can enter into to explore oil. He told the delegation that his outfit is particularly interested in working together with state run oil institutions since they have the experience in using the revenue generated from the oil and gas to the benefit of the citizenry.

He outlined the principles of managing the oil and gas industry in the areas of; transparency and integrity, local content and job creation whilst stressing much on environmental safety.

“In their respective countries, companies do their very best to protect the environment but renege when they enter into other countries. The only legacy we can give to our grandchildren is the environment,” he noted.

Korea consumes three million barrels of oil annually, a vital strategically important component driving the national economy. Korea is the world's fourth-largest oil importer and the sixth-largest oil consumer. So, a stable supply of petroleum is fundamental to the well being of the Korean economy, for its future development and for its status in the world market place. Korea National Oil Corporation was established in 1979 and its founding principle is to secure oil supplies for the nation, by exploration for and development of oilfields, by holding petroleum reserves and by building a national distribution network.
For the last quarter of a century, KNOC has invested in petroleum development in Korea and twenty-one countries overseas in order to acquire its own independent sources of supply. KNOC currently operates in Nigeria.

NDC gurus run for cover

The mandate of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), to investigate non-public officers and ex-public officials, was yesterday challenged by counsels for Mr. Kwame Peprah and His Excellency Baba Kamara, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria and Dr. Ato Quarshie, when the Commission opened investigations into the Mabey and Johnson bribery case yesterday.

Samuel Cudjoe, counsel for Mr. Kwame Peprah and Baba Kamara, and Nana Ato Dadzie, counsel for Dr. Ato Quarshie, questioned the basis under which CHRAJ was mandated to investigate their clients, since Article 218 of the 1992 Constitution clearly stipulates the mandate of CHRAJ to investigate only public officials.

“This is a case which has criminal connotations, and must be guided by the stretch of criminal jurisprudence by this country. What is not there cannot be placed there. This commission is a commission created by a constitution, and its jurisdiction must be limited to what the Constitution and what the Law says,” noted Nana Ato Dadzie.

Article 218 of the 1992 Constitution states the functions of the CHRAJ as follows; (a) to investigate complaints of violations of fundamental rights and freedoms, injustice, corruption, abuse of power and unfair treatment of any person by a public officer in the exercise of his duties; (e) to investigate all instances of alleged or suspected corruption and the misappropriation of public moneys by officials and to take appropriate steps, including reports to the Attorney-General and the Auditor-General, resulting from such investigations.

H. E. Baba Kamara had earlier raised a similar objection over the same issue, when the Commission commenced its investigations into the case.

Mr. Tadeus Sorry, a private legal practitioner whose services was employed by the Commission to assist in its investigations into the said issue, also objected to the reasons raised by Mr. Samuel Codjoe and Nana Ato Dadzie.

According to him, there was nothing under Article 218 that prevents the Commission from investigating a person who is not a public officer, citing several Articles in the Constitution to buttress his argument.

“My Lord, there is nothing in the Constitution that says that the mandate of the Commission should be restricted to presently serving public officers. The mandate of the Commission was not investigating the named persons in their present capacity as public officials, but in the capacity of which they served as public officers,” he noted, whilst urging the Commission to dismiss the objections raised by Mr. Ato Dadzie.

The Commission having listened carefully to the barrage of objections raised by the aforementioned counsels, and that of H. E. Baba Kamara, was of the view that where in the discharge of its constitutional mandate of investigating public officials on grounds of alleged or suspected corruption, a private individual who is alleged or suspected to be involved in the alleged acts of corruption by the public officials, cannot object to the Commission investigating him alongside the public officials, on the basis that he is not a public official.

“It is the view of the Commission that to uphold such an objection challenging the investigative mandate or powers of the Commission to investigate a private individual, is not only untenable, but is contrary to public policy,” he emphasised, adding, “such objection carries with it the grave danger of frustrating and stultifying the constitutional mandate of the Commission to investigate all instances of alleged or suspected corruption.”

According to him, the Commission, having listened to the plea tendered in by H. E. Baba Kamara, was of the view that there was nothing in Article 218 of the Constitution which justified his claim.

The Commission, before stating its position on the said issue, observed that “once public officials, by the very nature of their functions, are appointed to provide services, including serving private individuals and institutions, the instances would be many in which at the centre of bribery or corruption allegation private individuals would most certainly be involved.

It is common knowledge that in most corrupt transactions involving public officials, private individuals and entities are at the other end of the spectrum. Invariably, it is the private individuals or entities that pay bribes to public officials, especially in large investments contracts executed by multinational companies, like the contracts awarded to Mabey and Johnson.”

The Commission was however of the view that the private person or entity cannot, and ought not to be allowed to successfully prevent the Commission from investigating his or her involvement in the alleged corruption.

Mr. Emile Short buttressed his argument with section 241 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), which recognises as a criminal offence corruption of a public officer, adding, “it would, therefore, in our view, be defeating or frustrating of the mandate of the Commission, the primary Anti-Corruption Agency of the State.

If the Constitution were to be interpreted to preclude the Commission from investigating private persons who are alleged to be involved in corrupting public officials, especially, where public monies are involved.”

However, in order not to prolong things on the said objections raised by the counsels and H. E. Baba Kamara, calm looking Emile Short, with his usual soft voice, referred the matter to the Supreme Court for interpretation, under Article 130 (2) which states; where an issue that relates to a matter or question referred to in clause (1) of this article in any proceedings in a court other than the Supreme Court, that court shall stay the proceedings and refer the question, of law involved to the Supreme Court for determination, and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court.

“With respect to the objection raised by Baba Kamara, we shall refer the matter to the Supreme Court for interpretation. Because, as we have demonstrated in the decision, it raises an issue of interpretation of certain provisions of the Constitution, and the authorities said it is quite clear that that is a matter and exclusive preserve of the Supreme Court,” noted Emile Short in his ruling.

Having ruled on the said issue, Mr. Emile Short said H. E. Baba Kamara would not appear before the Commission until the Supreme Court gives its ruling on the said objection raised by him.

The CHRAJ’s position to refer the matter to the Supreme Court was to seek a determination of whether or not, upon a true and proper construction of article 218(e) of the 1992 Constitution, the mandate of the Commission to investigate all instances of alleged or suspected corruption applies to private individual and entities, and also whether or not the Commission has the mandate to investigate a private individual who is alleged to be involved, or implicated, in acts of corruption allegedly committed by public officials.

Mr. Kamara was mentioned in the said matter as having served as an agent, who used his influence to corruptly secure contracts for Mabey and Johnson.

However, counsel for Dr. George Sipa Yankey, Mr. Kwame Djan, told the Commission that his client was prepared to testify before Commission at any given period.

Other members allegedly involved in the said scandal include Brigadier-General Edward Lord-Attivor (rtd) (a former PNDC Secretary for Roads and Highways), Dr. Ato Quarshie (a former Minister of Roads and Highways), Mr. Kwame Peprah (a former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning), Alhaji Amadu Seidu (a former Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways) and Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique (a former Desk Officer in charge of UK, Spain and The Netherlands Economic Cooperation, including the Export Credit Guarantee Department of UK, at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.)

The aforementioned persons are alleged to have operated as agents for Mabey and Johnson during its operations in the country in the 1990s, when the company was awarded numerous contracts by the Government of Ghana.

It was alleged by the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) that in Ghana, and very much to the knowledge of Mabey and Johnson, the agents recruited were involved in corrupt relationships with public officials with influence over Mabey and Johnson’s (M&J) affairs.

M & J is alleged to have agreed with these agents to pay bribes directly to the public officials.

Where is our share of the booty? - Rambo questions President Mills

According to some members of National Democratic Congress (NDC), the President’s reshuffling exercise is a step in the right direction, while others have also expressed misgivings for being left out of the government.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Manya, Hon. Michael Teye Nyaunor, aka Rambo, commended the President’s reshuffle exercise, but has expressed worry over his home region, the Eastern region, having been sidelined in the ministerial appointment.

“We must admit that when sharing ministerial appointments, it is not going to be a permanent thing. The President has tried to bring experienced people on board, to inject new ideas into the government. In spite of this, I am virtually not happy that nobody is coming from the Eastern Region.

“I am wondering whether the Eastern Region did not contribute to the winning of the elections by the NDC? I am very sad about this situation. They have not treated us fairly at all,” noted the disgruntled MP in an interview with The Chronicle.

According to him, the Eastern Region also deserves a place in government, since they also contributed immensely to our winning back power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Mr. Nyaunor’s argument stems from the fact that the only person from Eastern Region, Mr. Stephen Kwao Amoanor, was sacrificed in the reshuffle exercise. “Look at the first ministerial position giving to a true son of the Eastern Region, Mr. Stephen Kwao Amoanor. What is it at that Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare that he could use to help his constituency, he asked. He however consoled himself with the fact that things will get better soon, saying “It is not yet over.”

However, The Chronicle’s observation in Parliament yesterday revealed the impact that it has had on the affected ministers. After sitting, MPs who are holding ministerial positions but were not affected by the reshuffle were congratulated by their colleagues.

That notwithstanding, ‘Rambo’ could not hide his emotions over the vacuum created by the Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin, who has been nominated as Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing.

He was however quick to recommend Mr. Cletus Avoka to fill that position. Avoka must muster courage to fill the vacuum created,” he added.

Gov't blows ¢210m on drinks

The minority members of parliament were yesterday taken aback when the Minister of Education, Mr. Alex Tettey-Enyo, told the house that as much as GH¢21,600 was spent on refreshments alone during the various educational fora that discussed the duration of the Senior High School programme.
The Minister, who appeared before the House to answer questions relating to his ministry, further told the house that the amount represented almost fifty percent of the total amount spent on the programme.

Before the minister could finish his submissions, an unidentified member from the minority side, screamed at the top of his voice “Eei, GH¢21,600 spent on tea alone?”

The minority became jittery about the Minister’s disclosure, and began asking probing questions to know how much was spent on other items. “Madam Speaker, I would like the Minister to give the full details of how much was spent on other items,” asked the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asunafo-North, Robert Sarfo-Mensah. But, Majority Leader Alban Bagbin intervened to give the Minister a lifeline. “Tell them, tell them the number of people who attended the fora,” Bagbin whispered from behind.

With this intervention, Tettey-Enyo told the House, “Madam Speaker, this expenditure was spent on about one thousand participants.” To prevent being heckled by the minority members, who were fired up to ask questions, the Education Minister declined to give further details on the expenditure.

Earlier on, Mr. Tetteh-Enyo told the House that his ministry had communicated the outcome of the fora on the duration of years for Senior High School, in the form of a memorandum to Cabinet for approval.

This, he said, was to enable the government reverse the duration for Senior High School education, from the current four years, to three years. “Cabinet accepted the proposed reversal to three years, and indicated that school enrolment for the three-year program should commence in September 2010,” he told the House.

According to him, Cabinet had also approved the implementation plan for the reversal to three years.

He further told members that the three-year SHS program was still in the preparatory process for its implementation, but gave the assurance that, “the reversal will still take place.”

However, the question of whether or not Parliament would approve the reversal of the four-year duration to three years still remains unknown, since the House appears divided on the issue.

The minority New Patriotic Party (NPP), then in majority, had reversed the duration from three years to four years during their second term in office. Upon assumption of office, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government decided to change the duration, in fulfillment of its party manifesto and campaign promise.

The NDC criticised the NPP for rushing to make the duration four-years without putting the needed infrastructure, including syllabi and textbooks, in place. However, those in support of the four-year duration argued that increasing the number of the years would help reverse the high number of students who were unable to qualify to the universities and other tertiary institutions, because of inadequate preparation.

The first batch of four-year SHS students, under the reforms introduced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is expected to enter the fourth year in the 2010/11 academic year.

Pix: Mr. Alexander Teye-Enyo, Minister Education.

Ghana:Pressure group drags former Youth & Sports minister to CHRAJ

The Progressive Nationalist Forum (PNF), an Accra based non-governmental organisation (NGO) has petitioned the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), to probe the conduct of the former Youth and Sports Minister, Alhaji Mubarak Muntaka, whilst in office

The organisation alleged abuse of office and conflict of interest by Alhaji Muntaka when he took office as Minister of Youth and Sports. It further accused him of fraud, after he allegedly used false information to secure a German visa for his girlfriend, Ms Edith Zineuali, together with using the Ministry’s (Youth and Sports) resources to finance their trip to watch the CHAN tournament held in Cote d’Ivoire last year.

According to the PNF, in a petition dated January 1st, 2010 and signed by its spokesperson, Richard Kwesi Nyamah, to CHRAJ, Alhaji Muntaka had till date, failed to produce receipt of US$10,000 he received from some government officials, upon his request to settle landing charges for the aircraft the local national team used for the CHAN tournament.

Muntaka is also blamed for an irregular transaction he executed to secure an amount of GH¢1,410,051.58 from the National Sports Council, for its expenditure incurred in April, 2009, without being processed through the Office of the Chief of Staff.

“Detailed actual receipts, which should have been processed through the office of the Chief of Staff, were not attached, but Alhaji Muntaka signed a covering letter addressed to the Hon. Minister of Finance for the release of the amount. It was an irregular transaction, which the minister knowingly signed,” noted Kwesi Nyamah in the petition to CHRAJ.

The PNF also questioned the conduct Alhaji Muntaka in personally arranging for the accommodation of the Black Stars players and officials in Navaisha, Kenya, in a pre-match camping against Sudan, without the involvement of any other official of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Alhaji Muntaka was also reported to have done the same in Khartoum, Sudan.

He was also accused of wrongful act, for requesting a refund of GH¢674.02 in respect of baby oil, baby food, mouth wash and other household items from the imprest cashier of the ministry.

In addition, the former Youth and Sports Minister was cited for wrongful act, by requesting for a refund of GH¢15,200 with a receipt in the name of Zinabu Mubarak, in respect of meat and other food items purchased from the market.

Again, he was accused for collecting US$25,000, but released only US$13,000 to the Ghana Football Association (GFA), for the payment of protocol, when the GFA had actually spent US$18,000 on the exercise.

Furthermore, the PNF accused Alhaji Muntaka of requesting GH¢1,000 for the services of a ‘Mallam,’ and also allocating a VW Passat, with registration number GT 1351 Z, to his wife.

He is also accused for requesting a payment of GH¢12,000 for the purchase of gifts for his constituency, on a trip to Kumasi.

The petitioner is claiming, among other things, a declaration that the former minister indeed abused his office, and engaged in acts of conflict of interest for his personal gain, at the expense of the Republic of Ghana.

The PNF is again seeking a declaration that the former minister abused the trust the people of the Republic of Ghana reposed in him, and his oath of office. It is also seeking that criminal charges are preferred against the former minister, where he has been found to have acted in a fraudulent way.

It will be recalled that in June 2009, Mr. Adim Odoom, Principal Accountant of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, petitioned the President of the Republic of Ghana, on allegations of corruption against Alhaji Muntaka when he was in charge of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.