Story:Michael Donkor
THE Ghana Armed Forces will deploy its first battalion of peacekeepers to Chad next month to maintain peace and security there.
Consequently 70 personnel, made up of three officers and 67 other ranks, were expected in Chad last Saturday to prepare the grounds for the advance party to arrive.
The Commanding officer of the Ghanbatt, Lt. Col. Barima Brako Owusu, announced this last Wednesday when the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. J.H. Smith, toured the Bundase Camp where the battalion is undergoing training exercises for the trip.
He said the deployment would form part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (MUNICRAT) undertaking peace support operations in Chad.
Lt Col. Owusu said 800 soldiers made up of 43 officers and 757 other ranks would be deployed to Chad.
He said the advance party of 130 all ranks would be deployed on April 15 and would be followed by the rest of the troops.
Lt Col Owusu said among the duties that the soldiers would be tasked to undertake were patrols, escort of very important personalities, force protection and building of civil military relations.
He said prior to their preparations, a six man team visited Chad to recce the area of operation.
Lt Col. Brako said the reports brought by the team indicated that the general situation was calm but that of Eastern Chad tended to be precarious and unpredictable.
He said there were allegations of both Chadian and Sudanese governments sponsoring rebels in neighbouring countries.
Earlier during the tour, Lt Col. Owusu said the firing range and the grenade/small arms training grounds at Bundase were being elevated to the status of a modern hi-tech shooting range for the Ghana Armed Forces.
Lt. Gen. Smith assured the Ghanbatt that they would be provided with the necessary logistics for the team to perform well.
In another development, the German Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Marius Haas, called on the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Smith, in his office at Burma Camp in Accra.
During the visit, the minister recalled the relations between the two countries which he said dated back to the 1960’s.
He said the past few years had however been fruitful, and called for the relations to be deepened.
The ambassador pledged the continuous support of Germany to Ghana.
He said German Development Co-operation was based on the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, adding that the focal areas of assistance were in good governance, employment-oriented private sector development, food security and agriculture.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
GJA goes to the polls on July 9 (Page three) March 14, 2009
Story: Michael Donkor
THE Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has fixed July 9, 2009 for the election of a new President and other executives for the association.
This has become necessary because the tenure of office of the current president of the association has come to an end.
Consequently, it has appointed an Election Committee, which will organise the election, and an Election Dispute Adjudication Committee, which will sit on appeals against the decisions of the Election Committee and adjudicate on post-election disputes, should there be any.
The committee is chaired by a member of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Board, Mr Benedict Assorrow, while the members are Mrs Betty Apau-Oppong of GTV News and Mr Mawusi Afele of the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
The Election Dispute Adjudication Committee is made up of Mrs Jeanette Quarcoopome as Chairperson, Alhaji Razak El-Alawa, a veteran journalist and media consultant, and Mr M. Addoquaye, the Greater Accra Director of Elections of the Electoral Commission.
The President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, announced this at an emergency general meeting of the association at the Ghana International Press Centre (GIPC) yesterday.
He said the meeting was organised in fulfilment of the constitutional requirement to hold an annual general meeting and elections in the first quarter of the year, which could not be done because of the national general election.
The framers of the GJA constitution, when they shifted the tenure of office of the executive from two to three years and ruled for elections to be held in the first quarter, obviously did not envisage that it would from time to time clash with national elections, he added.
He said last year was a tedious year for the media, saying that had even started a year earlier with the coverage of the primaries of the political parties, through the electioneering, the elections and the run-off.
Mr Tetteh said they were hampered by the fact that the GJA Secretariat and the GIPC had to play roles in the successful coverage of election programmes to promote peaceful and credible elections.
He said that was why the emergency meeting was called to enable the members, as the highest decision making body, to chose a date for the election.
The GJA President expressed the hope that there would be a smooth transition after the election and a hand over of power, which was being planned to coincide with the 14th GJA Awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2009.
He said the event would climax the 60th anniversary celebrations of the association.
He said the GJA was encouraged by the declaration of President John Evans Atta Mills in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament that his government was very committed to transparency and accountability and his commitment to work towards the enactment of the Freedom of Information Law.
He expressed the hope that President Mills, who, by his presidency, automatically becomes the GJA’S Chief Patron of Press Freedom, would help to ensure that the law was formulated to enhance the free flow of information and satisfy best practices in democracies as they pertained elsewhere in the world.
The General-Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, said the association, in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), would, in April 2009, launch the “Ghana Media Standard Improvement Project”.
The two-year project, which will be jointly managed by the MFWA and the GJA, is being funded by DANIDA.
He said the GJA, in collaboration with the National Media Commission and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), would organise a roundtable forum to evaluate the performance of the media in the coverage of the 2008 general election.
THE Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has fixed July 9, 2009 for the election of a new President and other executives for the association.
This has become necessary because the tenure of office of the current president of the association has come to an end.
Consequently, it has appointed an Election Committee, which will organise the election, and an Election Dispute Adjudication Committee, which will sit on appeals against the decisions of the Election Committee and adjudicate on post-election disputes, should there be any.
The committee is chaired by a member of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Board, Mr Benedict Assorrow, while the members are Mrs Betty Apau-Oppong of GTV News and Mr Mawusi Afele of the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
The Election Dispute Adjudication Committee is made up of Mrs Jeanette Quarcoopome as Chairperson, Alhaji Razak El-Alawa, a veteran journalist and media consultant, and Mr M. Addoquaye, the Greater Accra Director of Elections of the Electoral Commission.
The President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, announced this at an emergency general meeting of the association at the Ghana International Press Centre (GIPC) yesterday.
He said the meeting was organised in fulfilment of the constitutional requirement to hold an annual general meeting and elections in the first quarter of the year, which could not be done because of the national general election.
The framers of the GJA constitution, when they shifted the tenure of office of the executive from two to three years and ruled for elections to be held in the first quarter, obviously did not envisage that it would from time to time clash with national elections, he added.
He said last year was a tedious year for the media, saying that had even started a year earlier with the coverage of the primaries of the political parties, through the electioneering, the elections and the run-off.
Mr Tetteh said they were hampered by the fact that the GJA Secretariat and the GIPC had to play roles in the successful coverage of election programmes to promote peaceful and credible elections.
He said that was why the emergency meeting was called to enable the members, as the highest decision making body, to chose a date for the election.
The GJA President expressed the hope that there would be a smooth transition after the election and a hand over of power, which was being planned to coincide with the 14th GJA Awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2009.
He said the event would climax the 60th anniversary celebrations of the association.
He said the GJA was encouraged by the declaration of President John Evans Atta Mills in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament that his government was very committed to transparency and accountability and his commitment to work towards the enactment of the Freedom of Information Law.
He expressed the hope that President Mills, who, by his presidency, automatically becomes the GJA’S Chief Patron of Press Freedom, would help to ensure that the law was formulated to enhance the free flow of information and satisfy best practices in democracies as they pertained elsewhere in the world.
The General-Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, said the association, in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), would, in April 2009, launch the “Ghana Media Standard Improvement Project”.
The two-year project, which will be jointly managed by the MFWA and the GJA, is being funded by DANIDA.
He said the GJA, in collaboration with the National Media Commission and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), would organise a roundtable forum to evaluate the performance of the media in the coverage of the 2008 general election.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Soldier in Fraud Case(Front Page) March 4, 2009
Story:Michael Donkor
THE military officer in charge of payments to the Ghana Battalion on peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Capt Daniel Nikyi, has been arrested in Morocco and brought down to Accra to answer charges of misappropriating $300,000 belonging to the peacekeepers.
Capt Nikyi, who had been sent on another mission in Morocco upon his return from Congo on United Nations observer duties, was repatriated to Ghana to face the charges immediately the issue was raised.
Military sources said upon his repatriation, Capt Nikyi was put under close arrest at the 37 Military Hospital Army Mess in Accra.
According to the source, Capt Nikyi had also been arraigned before a Court Martial empanelled by the Military High Command.
The source said he had gone on a spending spree and acquired a lot of properties with the stolen money.
The military authorities also moved to locate some of the assets bearing Capt Nikyi’s name which it believed were acquired with the money.
It gave the breakdown as a three-bedroom self-contained house on the Spintex Road estimated at $70,000; another at Kasoa, estimated at $35,000, and a store at Kasoa, estimated at $32,000.
Other properties are two Kia trucks valued at $20,000; a water tank which is mounted on a Kia truck, costing $1,000; a canopy for a Kia truck at $400; two sets of spinning equipment valued at $14,000; canopies for hiring, $8,000; mattresses for hiring, $7,000; a store at Mallam Atta Market in Accra, $10,000; a building materials store at Kasoa, $15,000; one plot of land at Kasoa, $5,000; a 42-inch plasma TV, $2,500; a home theatre, $1,000; three water pumping machines, $1,500; a generating set, $600; water hose for tanker, $400; poly tank, $300; two split airconditioners, $1,300; a set of furniture, $600, and commission to agent for search of building at Spintex, $3,500.
THE military officer in charge of payments to the Ghana Battalion on peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Capt Daniel Nikyi, has been arrested in Morocco and brought down to Accra to answer charges of misappropriating $300,000 belonging to the peacekeepers.
Capt Nikyi, who had been sent on another mission in Morocco upon his return from Congo on United Nations observer duties, was repatriated to Ghana to face the charges immediately the issue was raised.
Military sources said upon his repatriation, Capt Nikyi was put under close arrest at the 37 Military Hospital Army Mess in Accra.
According to the source, Capt Nikyi had also been arraigned before a Court Martial empanelled by the Military High Command.
The source said he had gone on a spending spree and acquired a lot of properties with the stolen money.
The military authorities also moved to locate some of the assets bearing Capt Nikyi’s name which it believed were acquired with the money.
It gave the breakdown as a three-bedroom self-contained house on the Spintex Road estimated at $70,000; another at Kasoa, estimated at $35,000, and a store at Kasoa, estimated at $32,000.
Other properties are two Kia trucks valued at $20,000; a water tank which is mounted on a Kia truck, costing $1,000; a canopy for a Kia truck at $400; two sets of spinning equipment valued at $14,000; canopies for hiring, $8,000; mattresses for hiring, $7,000; a store at Mallam Atta Market in Accra, $10,000; a building materials store at Kasoa, $15,000; one plot of land at Kasoa, $5,000; a 42-inch plasma TV, $2,500; a home theatre, $1,000; three water pumping machines, $1,500; a generating set, $600; water hose for tanker, $400; poly tank, $300; two split airconditioners, $1,300; a set of furniture, $600, and commission to agent for search of building at Spintex, $3,500.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Japan assists road construction, SMEs(February 2, 2009) page 21
Story: Michael Donkor
THE Japanese government has provided a grant of $12.2 million for the government to rehabilitate some trunk roads and support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr John E. Aggrey, and the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami, signed an agreement to that effect at a ceremony in Accra last Friday.
Mr Katakami said $1.2 million of the amount was to be used to rehabilitate the Anwiankwanta-Yamoransa road, as well as the Assin-Praso Bridge, while $11 million was to be used to support SMEs in the country.
He said the gesture was in line with the objective of the Japanese government to support Ghana in its developmental efforts.
He said the Japanese government also wanted to help improve infrastructure in West Africa, hence the grant for the rehabilitation of the Anwiankwanta-Yamoransa road and the Assin-Praso Bridge which served other landlocked countries.
Mr Aggrey thanked the government of Japan for the support and gave the assurance that the grant would be used for its intended purpose.
He said part of the $1.2 million would be used for detailed designs of the project, noting that it was expected that rehabilitation works could start as soon as the detailed designs had been completed in November 2009.
He said the $11 million grant, which was a sector-non-project grant aid for the support of SMEs, was, indeed, a great boost to the private sector.
Known as the ‘Japanese grant’ by the public, it was said to be one of the most popular of government’s on-lending financial facilities to the private sector, he said.
Mr Aggrey said the funds accruing from reimbursement from beneficiary firms were to be utilised to provide public goods and services in the country.
He said to that end, various ministries, departments and agencies, including the Electoral Commission of Ghana, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Cocoa Board, had benefited from the funds over the years.
He said the signing of the agreements was a testimony of Japan’s commitment to assist Ghana to alleviate poverty and enhance the lives of its people.
THE Japanese government has provided a grant of $12.2 million for the government to rehabilitate some trunk roads and support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr John E. Aggrey, and the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami, signed an agreement to that effect at a ceremony in Accra last Friday.
Mr Katakami said $1.2 million of the amount was to be used to rehabilitate the Anwiankwanta-Yamoransa road, as well as the Assin-Praso Bridge, while $11 million was to be used to support SMEs in the country.
He said the gesture was in line with the objective of the Japanese government to support Ghana in its developmental efforts.
He said the Japanese government also wanted to help improve infrastructure in West Africa, hence the grant for the rehabilitation of the Anwiankwanta-Yamoransa road and the Assin-Praso Bridge which served other landlocked countries.
Mr Aggrey thanked the government of Japan for the support and gave the assurance that the grant would be used for its intended purpose.
He said part of the $1.2 million would be used for detailed designs of the project, noting that it was expected that rehabilitation works could start as soon as the detailed designs had been completed in November 2009.
He said the $11 million grant, which was a sector-non-project grant aid for the support of SMEs, was, indeed, a great boost to the private sector.
Known as the ‘Japanese grant’ by the public, it was said to be one of the most popular of government’s on-lending financial facilities to the private sector, he said.
Mr Aggrey said the funds accruing from reimbursement from beneficiary firms were to be utilised to provide public goods and services in the country.
He said to that end, various ministries, departments and agencies, including the Electoral Commission of Ghana, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Cocoa Board, had benefited from the funds over the years.
He said the signing of the agreements was a testimony of Japan’s commitment to assist Ghana to alleviate poverty and enhance the lives of its people.
Surveyors mark 40th Anniversary
Story: Michael Donkor
Surveyors in the country have urged the government to let the advice of professionals be its guide in removing the chaos that has characterised development in the cities.
Stating the case for surveyors at a banquet in Accra, the President of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, Mr Kwadwo Osei-Asante, said the role of professionals was key to the re-structuring of cities in the country.
He said the instructions and advice by surveyors, engineers, architects and planners were often ignored with impunity, noting that hardly did clients, including the government, pay for services rendered, resulting in the rot that the cities were in today.
Mr Osei-Asante made the call at the 40th anniversary and induction into office of new executive members of the institution in Accra on Saturday night.
He expressed regret that only a handful of professionals were of relevance in the country today and identified them as politicians, journalists, lawyers or judges, doctors and pastors.
He identified another emerging group which he said was coming out of the politicians and journalists called "social commentators", adding, “Ironically, most of them are uninformed.”
He said many professionals were currently not allowed to work in accordance with their professional abilities and judgement but to political whims, caprices and expediency.
Mr Osei-Asante said Ghana was one of the few countries in the world that carried both its dry and liquid cargo, including gas, by road.
He said the Ghana Institution of Surveyors had the technical skills to assist should the policy of rail transport come up for implementation.
He said some of them had observed the recent transition with extreme depredation, noting that the predominant and contentious issues were purely assets and properties and added that the country had men who would professionally manage those resources which would make the call for the rather expensive extension of the constitutional transition period unnecessary.
In a solidarity message, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, said pragmatic policies would be put in place to propel the country to the anticipated middle-income status.
He said achieving that objective would require massive infrastructural improvement, efficient land administration in terms of ownership and titling, agricultural development, a fair justice system and efficient urban management.
Alhaji Dauda said the practice of surveying was unique and demanding and called for the exhibition of high professional standards.
Consequently, he said, no opportunity should exist for non-professionals to carry out surveying practice, as such people were incompetent to do so.
He, therefore, challenged the surveyors to ensure that the activities of non-professionals were weeded out.
He said those non-professionals were creating a negative image for surveyors and that should not be allowed to continue.
The occasion was used to launch a jacket for the surveyors that would distinguish them from the non-professionals.
Surveyors in the country have urged the government to let the advice of professionals be its guide in removing the chaos that has characterised development in the cities.
Stating the case for surveyors at a banquet in Accra, the President of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, Mr Kwadwo Osei-Asante, said the role of professionals was key to the re-structuring of cities in the country.
He said the instructions and advice by surveyors, engineers, architects and planners were often ignored with impunity, noting that hardly did clients, including the government, pay for services rendered, resulting in the rot that the cities were in today.
Mr Osei-Asante made the call at the 40th anniversary and induction into office of new executive members of the institution in Accra on Saturday night.
He expressed regret that only a handful of professionals were of relevance in the country today and identified them as politicians, journalists, lawyers or judges, doctors and pastors.
He identified another emerging group which he said was coming out of the politicians and journalists called "social commentators", adding, “Ironically, most of them are uninformed.”
He said many professionals were currently not allowed to work in accordance with their professional abilities and judgement but to political whims, caprices and expediency.
Mr Osei-Asante said Ghana was one of the few countries in the world that carried both its dry and liquid cargo, including gas, by road.
He said the Ghana Institution of Surveyors had the technical skills to assist should the policy of rail transport come up for implementation.
He said some of them had observed the recent transition with extreme depredation, noting that the predominant and contentious issues were purely assets and properties and added that the country had men who would professionally manage those resources which would make the call for the rather expensive extension of the constitutional transition period unnecessary.
In a solidarity message, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, said pragmatic policies would be put in place to propel the country to the anticipated middle-income status.
He said achieving that objective would require massive infrastructural improvement, efficient land administration in terms of ownership and titling, agricultural development, a fair justice system and efficient urban management.
Alhaji Dauda said the practice of surveying was unique and demanding and called for the exhibition of high professional standards.
Consequently, he said, no opportunity should exist for non-professionals to carry out surveying practice, as such people were incompetent to do so.
He, therefore, challenged the surveyors to ensure that the activities of non-professionals were weeded out.
He said those non-professionals were creating a negative image for surveyors and that should not be allowed to continue.
The occasion was used to launch a jacket for the surveyors that would distinguish them from the non-professionals.
Brig-Gen Winful cant constitute Board of Inquiry - Effah-Dartey(Feb 2, 2009) Page 55
Story: Michael Donkor
CAPTAIN Nkrabea Effah-Dartey (retd), the lead counsel for Col Kwadwo Damoah, the former Director of Manpower and Personnel Administration of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), has objected to the convening authority of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) set up to investigate the alleged malfeasance characterising the recruitment of the first batch of 420 would-be soldiers in March 2008.
Capt Effah-Dartey, who led Col Damoah, one of the witnesses in the case, in evidence, raised the objection at the sitting of the board at the weekend.
He made references to the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105), the Armed Forces Regulations (Administration) Volume One, the 1992 Constitution, as well as the Evidence Decree, 1975, (NRCD 323) and said it was only the President, the Chief of the Defence Staff and the formation commander who had the authority to convene a BOI.
He, therefore, objected to the authority of Brig-Gen Robert Winful to convene a BOI in the GAF.
That, consequently, forced the board to suspend sitting.
Capt Effah-Dartey said Section 10 of the Armed Forces Act provided that "The President or any person authorised in that behalf by him or any prescribed person may, where he or such person thinks it expedient that information on any matter connected with the government, discipline, administration or functions of the Armed Forces or affecting any officer or men of the said forces is necessary, convene a Board of Inquiry for investigating and reporting on such matter. That Board of Inquiry shall be constituted, and its procedure shall be governed, in accordance with regulations made under this act."
He said Chapter 21 of the Armed Forces Regulations (Volume One) covered summary investigations and BOIs .
Capt Effah-Dartey said Article 21.07(2) of the Armed Forces Regulations stipulated persons or authorities that could convene a BOI in the GAF as follows: The President, the Chief of the Defence Staff, an officer commanding a command, an officer commanding a formation, a commanding officer.
He said Chapter One of the Armed Forces Regulations which covered introduction and interpretation defines a formation under Article 1.02 as follows, "Formation means a number of stations or units, including a headquarters, grouped under a single commander."
Capt Effah-Dartey said clearly Brig-Gen Winful was purporting to be a Formation Commander, since he is not the President, the Chief of the Defence Staff, an officer commanding a command nor a commanding officer.
He submitted that on the totality of the provisions of Section 10 of the Armed Forces Act and articles 21.07 and 1.02 of the Armed Forces Regulations, Brig-Gen Winful did not qualify to convene a BOI in the GAF unless there were other legislation, regulations, orders and rules that he might wish to see to advise himself appropriately.
He expressed the hope that his humble action would be seen as one of his duties as a lawyer to see to the development of the law for the establishment of a just and free society required of a democracy and not an attempt to delay an inquiry.
CAPTAIN Nkrabea Effah-Dartey (retd), the lead counsel for Col Kwadwo Damoah, the former Director of Manpower and Personnel Administration of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), has objected to the convening authority of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) set up to investigate the alleged malfeasance characterising the recruitment of the first batch of 420 would-be soldiers in March 2008.
Capt Effah-Dartey, who led Col Damoah, one of the witnesses in the case, in evidence, raised the objection at the sitting of the board at the weekend.
He made references to the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105), the Armed Forces Regulations (Administration) Volume One, the 1992 Constitution, as well as the Evidence Decree, 1975, (NRCD 323) and said it was only the President, the Chief of the Defence Staff and the formation commander who had the authority to convene a BOI.
He, therefore, objected to the authority of Brig-Gen Robert Winful to convene a BOI in the GAF.
That, consequently, forced the board to suspend sitting.
Capt Effah-Dartey said Section 10 of the Armed Forces Act provided that "The President or any person authorised in that behalf by him or any prescribed person may, where he or such person thinks it expedient that information on any matter connected with the government, discipline, administration or functions of the Armed Forces or affecting any officer or men of the said forces is necessary, convene a Board of Inquiry for investigating and reporting on such matter. That Board of Inquiry shall be constituted, and its procedure shall be governed, in accordance with regulations made under this act."
He said Chapter 21 of the Armed Forces Regulations (Volume One) covered summary investigations and BOIs .
Capt Effah-Dartey said Article 21.07(2) of the Armed Forces Regulations stipulated persons or authorities that could convene a BOI in the GAF as follows: The President, the Chief of the Defence Staff, an officer commanding a command, an officer commanding a formation, a commanding officer.
He said Chapter One of the Armed Forces Regulations which covered introduction and interpretation defines a formation under Article 1.02 as follows, "Formation means a number of stations or units, including a headquarters, grouped under a single commander."
Capt Effah-Dartey said clearly Brig-Gen Winful was purporting to be a Formation Commander, since he is not the President, the Chief of the Defence Staff, an officer commanding a command nor a commanding officer.
He submitted that on the totality of the provisions of Section 10 of the Armed Forces Act and articles 21.07 and 1.02 of the Armed Forces Regulations, Brig-Gen Winful did not qualify to convene a BOI in the GAF unless there were other legislation, regulations, orders and rules that he might wish to see to advise himself appropriately.
He expressed the hope that his humble action would be seen as one of his duties as a lawyer to see to the development of the law for the establishment of a just and free society required of a democracy and not an attempt to delay an inquiry.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Military High command prososes special unit for oil fields (page 28) February 28, 2009
Story:Michael Donkor
THE Military High Command has proposed the establishment of a special unit for soldiers who will be well equipped and permanently positioned to protect the country’s oil fields.
It has also presented to the government its proposals to acquire new ships for the Navy and increase the fleet of aircraft for the Airforce ; a long term measure to address the country’s security needs.
The proposals are contained in a report prepared by the Ghana Armed Forces and presented to the government through the Minister of Defence.
The high command identified some security threats to the country as the drug menace, the traffic in arms, smuggling, pair trawling and pilferage of the country’s natural resources and outlined the means to address them.
The Director-General in-charge of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Brig-Gen. Richard Debrah told the Daily Graphic that the document was to provide a comprehensive guide for the new government to ensure maximum security for the country, particularly in its territorial waters and oil fields.
He talked about medium, short and long term measures to protect the country's natural resources and maintain internal and external security.
Brig-Gen Debrah noted that the country's approach to the challenges faced by the country’s fishermen against foreign vessels on the country’s seas and also in its oil discovery was not the best.
He mentioned the medium term plan as rehabilitating the ships of the Navy to continue to patrol the coastal line of the country and proposed for the Battalion to be supported with vehicles to enhance their mobility in the oil producing areas.
For a long term plan he proposed that new ships be acquired for the Navy while the fleet of aircraft was increased for the Airforce.
On pair trawling, which he said posed a serious threat to the country’s fishing industry, Brig-Gen. Debrah said not much had changed since news about the state of logistics of the Navy was put in the public domain last year.
He said the United States of America came to their aid with four speed boats to be used in the interim to patrol the seas and were yet to brief the new Defence Minister, Lt Gen Smith on that and the urgent need for adequate logistics to be provided for the Navy to address the situation.
Brig-Gen. Debrah said the patrol exercise embarked upon by the Military at the country's borders were still going on.
He explained that they undertook the exercise in collaboration with other sister security agencies.
Brig-Gen Debrah said for instance that "operation hunter" which was being conducted by the two battalions along the Western borders of the country was to check the smuggling of cocoa while three Battalions was also in-charge of patrols in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He said the way the country's borders were created ,created some problems but quickly said that had been taken care of by the security agencies.
Brig-Gen Debrah said most of the borders were only lines that had been drawn through the houses of people and could not be barricaded because of the international implications it would generate.
He said the only way to make these borders secure was to frequently have foot soldiers and other security agencies patrol there.
Brig-Gen Debrah explained that what they were doing at the moment was to concentrate on full -proof borders and depended on tips to clamp down on criminal activities associated with cross border trades.
He explained that policing borders were the duties of the immigration but they only came in to support them whenever the situation was getting out of hand.
THE Military High Command has proposed the establishment of a special unit for soldiers who will be well equipped and permanently positioned to protect the country’s oil fields.
It has also presented to the government its proposals to acquire new ships for the Navy and increase the fleet of aircraft for the Airforce ; a long term measure to address the country’s security needs.
The proposals are contained in a report prepared by the Ghana Armed Forces and presented to the government through the Minister of Defence.
The high command identified some security threats to the country as the drug menace, the traffic in arms, smuggling, pair trawling and pilferage of the country’s natural resources and outlined the means to address them.
The Director-General in-charge of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Brig-Gen. Richard Debrah told the Daily Graphic that the document was to provide a comprehensive guide for the new government to ensure maximum security for the country, particularly in its territorial waters and oil fields.
He talked about medium, short and long term measures to protect the country's natural resources and maintain internal and external security.
Brig-Gen Debrah noted that the country's approach to the challenges faced by the country’s fishermen against foreign vessels on the country’s seas and also in its oil discovery was not the best.
He mentioned the medium term plan as rehabilitating the ships of the Navy to continue to patrol the coastal line of the country and proposed for the Battalion to be supported with vehicles to enhance their mobility in the oil producing areas.
For a long term plan he proposed that new ships be acquired for the Navy while the fleet of aircraft was increased for the Airforce.
On pair trawling, which he said posed a serious threat to the country’s fishing industry, Brig-Gen. Debrah said not much had changed since news about the state of logistics of the Navy was put in the public domain last year.
He said the United States of America came to their aid with four speed boats to be used in the interim to patrol the seas and were yet to brief the new Defence Minister, Lt Gen Smith on that and the urgent need for adequate logistics to be provided for the Navy to address the situation.
Brig-Gen. Debrah said the patrol exercise embarked upon by the Military at the country's borders were still going on.
He explained that they undertook the exercise in collaboration with other sister security agencies.
Brig-Gen Debrah said for instance that "operation hunter" which was being conducted by the two battalions along the Western borders of the country was to check the smuggling of cocoa while three Battalions was also in-charge of patrols in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He said the way the country's borders were created ,created some problems but quickly said that had been taken care of by the security agencies.
Brig-Gen Debrah said most of the borders were only lines that had been drawn through the houses of people and could not be barricaded because of the international implications it would generate.
He said the only way to make these borders secure was to frequently have foot soldiers and other security agencies patrol there.
Brig-Gen Debrah explained that what they were doing at the moment was to concentrate on full -proof borders and depended on tips to clamp down on criminal activities associated with cross border trades.
He explained that policing borders were the duties of the immigration but they only came in to support them whenever the situation was getting out of hand.
Moves to make NACOB independent(Page 12) February 28, 2009
Story: Michael Donkor
THE government has intensified moves to restructure the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) to become an independent commission with the appropriate structures to enhance the execution of its mandate.
Among the moves are the amendment of Legislative Instrument 1507 of 1990 which established NACOB and the review of the conditions of service for its personnel to the standard befitting NACOB’s new status.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka, announced this at the launch of the 2008 International Narcotics Control Report in Accra last Thursday.
He said the move formed part of the government's efforts to fight the drug trade in the country.
He said it had been realised that the board under its current status was handicapped in carrying out its mandate to the fullest.
Mr Avoka said some portions of the Narcotics Control Sanctions and Prevention Law, PNDC Law 236 of 1990 were also being considered for amendment.
He said this was to ensure that drug dealers were hit from the angle where it hurts most, by confiscating the wealth they acquired from drug trafficking.
Mr Avoka said the decision was being informed by the difficulties currently being experienced when it came to the confiscation of property illegally acquired by convicted drug dealers.
He observed that the war on illicit drug trafficking had assumed a sophisticated dimension aided by technological advancement, adding that in view of that, drug law enforcement officers also needed to be properly equipped to enable them to counteract the clandestine activities of perpetrators of drug-related crimes.
Mr Avoka said the ministry would source funding for the procurement of user-friendly equipment and gadgets that could facilitate the detection of concealed narcotic drugs at the entry and exit points of the country.
He said as a ministry, they were more than committed to putting in place co-ordinated structures among the various law enforcement agencies to avoid the existing loopholes that were being exploited by drug dealers.
He said they were determined to eliminate all forms of antagonism among enforcement agencies to combat the hydra-headed drug menace.
A member of the International Narcotics Control Board, Dr Joseph B. Asare, said the report suggested that to ensure a more effective implementation of the international drug control conventions, the board invited governments to consider how best to ensure the efficient functioning of the 1961, 1971 and the 1988 conventions.
He said it also suggested that governments should make greater investments in prevention, especially with regard to youth and vulnerable groups, and to utilise the experiences and best practices tested in a variety of settings.
Dr Asare said the report also invited governments to study the discrepancies between international and domestic law with a view to fulfilling their obligations under the international drug control conventions and in that context, to consider their good faith in pursuing the aims of the conventions.
The Executive Secretary of NACOB, ACP Robert Ayalingo, said the board was procuring a software that would have all shipments coming from South America to the country put on it for monitoring.
He said adequately trained personnel would also be stationed at all the ports to conduct proper checks and scanning of all containers that arrive there.
ACP Ayalingo said the country would soon send some personnel of the Ghana Navy to be trained in Europe on how to monitor and properly search ships suspected to be carrying drugs.
He said Ghana recorded the highest number of arrests of traffickers in 2005, adding that the fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse was an uphill task that needed concerted and multi-sectoral approach.
The United Nations Country Representative in Ghana, Mr Dauda Toure, called on the government to intensify its steps to address the issue of illicit drug trade in the country.
THE government has intensified moves to restructure the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) to become an independent commission with the appropriate structures to enhance the execution of its mandate.
Among the moves are the amendment of Legislative Instrument 1507 of 1990 which established NACOB and the review of the conditions of service for its personnel to the standard befitting NACOB’s new status.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka, announced this at the launch of the 2008 International Narcotics Control Report in Accra last Thursday.
He said the move formed part of the government's efforts to fight the drug trade in the country.
He said it had been realised that the board under its current status was handicapped in carrying out its mandate to the fullest.
Mr Avoka said some portions of the Narcotics Control Sanctions and Prevention Law, PNDC Law 236 of 1990 were also being considered for amendment.
He said this was to ensure that drug dealers were hit from the angle where it hurts most, by confiscating the wealth they acquired from drug trafficking.
Mr Avoka said the decision was being informed by the difficulties currently being experienced when it came to the confiscation of property illegally acquired by convicted drug dealers.
He observed that the war on illicit drug trafficking had assumed a sophisticated dimension aided by technological advancement, adding that in view of that, drug law enforcement officers also needed to be properly equipped to enable them to counteract the clandestine activities of perpetrators of drug-related crimes.
Mr Avoka said the ministry would source funding for the procurement of user-friendly equipment and gadgets that could facilitate the detection of concealed narcotic drugs at the entry and exit points of the country.
He said as a ministry, they were more than committed to putting in place co-ordinated structures among the various law enforcement agencies to avoid the existing loopholes that were being exploited by drug dealers.
He said they were determined to eliminate all forms of antagonism among enforcement agencies to combat the hydra-headed drug menace.
A member of the International Narcotics Control Board, Dr Joseph B. Asare, said the report suggested that to ensure a more effective implementation of the international drug control conventions, the board invited governments to consider how best to ensure the efficient functioning of the 1961, 1971 and the 1988 conventions.
He said it also suggested that governments should make greater investments in prevention, especially with regard to youth and vulnerable groups, and to utilise the experiences and best practices tested in a variety of settings.
Dr Asare said the report also invited governments to study the discrepancies between international and domestic law with a view to fulfilling their obligations under the international drug control conventions and in that context, to consider their good faith in pursuing the aims of the conventions.
The Executive Secretary of NACOB, ACP Robert Ayalingo, said the board was procuring a software that would have all shipments coming from South America to the country put on it for monitoring.
He said adequately trained personnel would also be stationed at all the ports to conduct proper checks and scanning of all containers that arrive there.
ACP Ayalingo said the country would soon send some personnel of the Ghana Navy to be trained in Europe on how to monitor and properly search ships suspected to be carrying drugs.
He said Ghana recorded the highest number of arrests of traffickers in 2005, adding that the fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse was an uphill task that needed concerted and multi-sectoral approach.
The United Nations Country Representative in Ghana, Mr Dauda Toure, called on the government to intensify its steps to address the issue of illicit drug trade in the country.
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