THE Upper West Second Vice-chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin-Salih, has urged the leadership of the party to maintain the south-north pairing of the presidential ticket for the 2012 general election.
He, however, suggested that the choice of a running mate should be based on competence and not religion.
Addressing a news conference in Wa, Mr Bin-Salih said the party should therefore focus its campaign on the three northern regions, which had shown steady increase in the support base of the NPP since 1996.
“Former President Kufuor and Vice- President Aliu Mahama should also be courted to actively participate in the recapturing exercise while the youth and women wing of our great party must be adequately resourced,” he added.
According to him, in order to rebuild the party “we need to have a sense of unity and the belief in the absolute supremacy of the NPP and take full responsibility for our actions”.
Mr Bin-Salih stated that for the party to be able to leap from opposition to power, it must remain attractive, visible and show the potential of winning the 2012 general election and avoid self-destructive tendencies and offer constructive propositions.
“Let us not be deceived into thinking that the lack of inspirational leadership on the part of President Mills as well as the economic mismanagement, media oppression, human rights abuse, high cost of living, reckless use of political power and the deliberate frustration of genuine Ghanaian business people who are perceived to be sympathisers of NPP, are sufficient grounds for the NPP to secure power from the NDC in 2012 on a silver platter. We must recognise that after all power is not given but taken,” he said
Mr Bin-Salih pointed out that for the NPP to recapture power, there was the need to rekindle the spirit which guided the forebears of the party to establish the United Party in 1957, which made the Danquah - Busia -Dombo tradition unique because it brought on board people of diverse ethnic and religious persuasions, yet they were able to get along very well.
He recalled that the political history of the NPP was replete with painful truths that anytime it allowed her loyalty to go to individuals or groups of people, the party found itself on the wrong side of history.
He, therefore, advised members of the party not to allow their selfish and parochial ethnic sentiments to derail the foundation of the party’s tradition, adding that people must learn to bury their individual ambitions just for the collective interest of the NPP.
Touching on the 14 months of the NDC rule, Mr Bin-Salih said the party had failed Ghanaians by breaking most of its electoral promises.
“The NDC government has not been able to put money in our pockets. The safety and security of most Ghanaians are in danger. We are collapsing under filth after they promised to clear the nation of filth within 100 days in office,” he stated.
Mr Bin-Salih used the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected national executive and urged them to be up to the challenge of bringing the party back to power.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
THREE WA ROYAL GATES APPEAL AGAINST JUDGEMENT (PAGE 23, MARCH 6, 2010)
THREE royal gates involved in the Wa chieftaincy affairs have filed a notice of appeal at the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi against the judgement of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs to recognise Naa Fusieni Seidu Pelpuo as the paramount chief of the Wala Traditional Area.
The appeal filed on January 29, 2010, challenges the entire judgement of the Judicial Committee of the Regional House of Chiefs and the entire cost awarded against the petitioners in the case, namely the Gbotoree Naa Alhaji Issah Bukari, the Sing Naa Mumuni Saaka and Mr Bomson Seidu Hamidu.
The three gates are Yijiihi, Najeri and Jonyuohi. Apart from those three gates, there is another gate, Nakpaha, making it a total of four gates in the Wala Traditional Area.
Addressing a news conference in Wa, the spokesman of the three gates, Naa Jamal Kpeglah, said the appeal also sought reliefs that the judgement of the judicial committee be set aside with the reliefs being sought by the petitioners in their substantive petition be granted.
He stated that the three gates had been sufficiently advised by their counsel that under the requirement of the law, Sections 34 and 62 of Act 759 (Chieftaincy Act, 2008) operate as a stay of execution.
“We, therefore, pray and crave the indulgence of all well-meaning citizens of Wa and Ghana as a whole to help uphold the rule of law and the maintenance of peace that has prevailed in Wa,” he said.
Naa Kpeglah commended the people of the Wala Traditional Area for the mature and able manner they handled the chieftaincy dispute, notably in a peaceful way.
He mentioned in particular their conduct and that of the security personnel for the high professionalism they exhibited in the maintenance of peace and security in the Wa Municipality before, during and after the ruling of the Regional House of Chiefs.
Naa Kpeglah, however, cautioned the security services and the Regional Security Council in particular that information reaching the three gates indicated that in spite of the painstaking legal procedures that “we are following to seek proper redress, some persons are holding out themselves as chiefs of Wa and conducting business as such.”
“We thereby appeal to the authorities that they should help maintain law and order and also the rule of law to prevail in Wa. I wish to emphasise that we believe in due process and have the confidence that the truth shall always prevail,” he added.
It would be recalled that the Daily Graphic, in its February 3, 2010 edition, published that the Judicial Committee of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs had thrown out a petition challenging the enskinment and outdooring of Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo as the Wa Naa.
The petitioners in the case had sought, among others, reliefs that the meeting of kingmakers for the election of Wa Naa on January 19, 2007 was null and void and of no effect.
However, after three years of hearing, judgement was entered in favour of the defendant and cost awarded against the petitioners.
The appeal filed on January 29, 2010, challenges the entire judgement of the Judicial Committee of the Regional House of Chiefs and the entire cost awarded against the petitioners in the case, namely the Gbotoree Naa Alhaji Issah Bukari, the Sing Naa Mumuni Saaka and Mr Bomson Seidu Hamidu.
The three gates are Yijiihi, Najeri and Jonyuohi. Apart from those three gates, there is another gate, Nakpaha, making it a total of four gates in the Wala Traditional Area.
Addressing a news conference in Wa, the spokesman of the three gates, Naa Jamal Kpeglah, said the appeal also sought reliefs that the judgement of the judicial committee be set aside with the reliefs being sought by the petitioners in their substantive petition be granted.
He stated that the three gates had been sufficiently advised by their counsel that under the requirement of the law, Sections 34 and 62 of Act 759 (Chieftaincy Act, 2008) operate as a stay of execution.
“We, therefore, pray and crave the indulgence of all well-meaning citizens of Wa and Ghana as a whole to help uphold the rule of law and the maintenance of peace that has prevailed in Wa,” he said.
Naa Kpeglah commended the people of the Wala Traditional Area for the mature and able manner they handled the chieftaincy dispute, notably in a peaceful way.
He mentioned in particular their conduct and that of the security personnel for the high professionalism they exhibited in the maintenance of peace and security in the Wa Municipality before, during and after the ruling of the Regional House of Chiefs.
Naa Kpeglah, however, cautioned the security services and the Regional Security Council in particular that information reaching the three gates indicated that in spite of the painstaking legal procedures that “we are following to seek proper redress, some persons are holding out themselves as chiefs of Wa and conducting business as such.”
“We thereby appeal to the authorities that they should help maintain law and order and also the rule of law to prevail in Wa. I wish to emphasise that we believe in due process and have the confidence that the truth shall always prevail,” he added.
It would be recalled that the Daily Graphic, in its February 3, 2010 edition, published that the Judicial Committee of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs had thrown out a petition challenging the enskinment and outdooring of Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo as the Wa Naa.
The petitioners in the case had sought, among others, reliefs that the meeting of kingmakers for the election of Wa Naa on January 19, 2007 was null and void and of no effect.
However, after three years of hearing, judgement was entered in favour of the defendant and cost awarded against the petitioners.
PARADES MARK 53RD INDECE ANNIVERSAY (1b, MARCH 6, 2010)
Story: George Foley, Wa
GHANA is marking 53 years of independence from British colonial rule today and as part of the activities there are independence parades involving schoolchildren, members of the security services and civil society organisations throughout the country.
At the Independence Square where the national parade is being held, President John Evans Atta Mills will receive the salute during the historic ceremony that will also be characterised by acrobatic displays, as well as a showpiece of military artistry.
This year’s ceremony is dedicated to the memory of the country’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The programme, expected to begin at 9 a.m., will be attended by Ministers, Parliamentarians, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and traditional rulers.
Similar parades are being held throughout the country at the regional and district levels where the Regional Ministers and District Chief Executives (DCEs) will receive the salute on behalf of the President.
Meanwhile, reports from Wa in the Upper West Region indicate that the parade will start at 6.30 a.m. because of the intensity of the sun, which meteorologists say will be uncomfortable.
All the district capitals in the region will also begin their programmes from 6.30 a.m. and end them by 8 a.m.
In the past six years, Independence celebrations usually began at 7 a.m. but the unfriendly weather this year that has seen temperatures sometimes rising as high as 40 degrees Celsius has necessitated the change in time.
As usual, sachet water sellers are expected to take advantage of the heat to rake in a lot of money at the various ceremonial grounds.
Amina Salifu, a businesswoman, told the Daily Graphic that she had since Monday stocked five deep freezers with bags of sachet water.
“I expect to make money on Saturday because a lot of people will patronise it,” she added.
There are indications of a competitive parade as the selected schools have rehearsed their act to win the coveted prize money and other awards at stake.
Most participating schools have also gone in for specially designed footwear, sunglasses and special badges to mark the day.
One school that is participating in Independence celebrations for the first time, Our Home International School, has expressed its intention to win the prize money in the primary category.
The Proprietor of the school, Mr Dauda Khalid, said it was an honour for the school to be selected for the parade and promised to give stiff competition to the other schools who seemed to have gained experience from the celebrations.
GHANA is marking 53 years of independence from British colonial rule today and as part of the activities there are independence parades involving schoolchildren, members of the security services and civil society organisations throughout the country.
At the Independence Square where the national parade is being held, President John Evans Atta Mills will receive the salute during the historic ceremony that will also be characterised by acrobatic displays, as well as a showpiece of military artistry.
This year’s ceremony is dedicated to the memory of the country’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The programme, expected to begin at 9 a.m., will be attended by Ministers, Parliamentarians, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and traditional rulers.
Similar parades are being held throughout the country at the regional and district levels where the Regional Ministers and District Chief Executives (DCEs) will receive the salute on behalf of the President.
Meanwhile, reports from Wa in the Upper West Region indicate that the parade will start at 6.30 a.m. because of the intensity of the sun, which meteorologists say will be uncomfortable.
All the district capitals in the region will also begin their programmes from 6.30 a.m. and end them by 8 a.m.
In the past six years, Independence celebrations usually began at 7 a.m. but the unfriendly weather this year that has seen temperatures sometimes rising as high as 40 degrees Celsius has necessitated the change in time.
As usual, sachet water sellers are expected to take advantage of the heat to rake in a lot of money at the various ceremonial grounds.
Amina Salifu, a businesswoman, told the Daily Graphic that she had since Monday stocked five deep freezers with bags of sachet water.
“I expect to make money on Saturday because a lot of people will patronise it,” she added.
There are indications of a competitive parade as the selected schools have rehearsed their act to win the coveted prize money and other awards at stake.
Most participating schools have also gone in for specially designed footwear, sunglasses and special badges to mark the day.
One school that is participating in Independence celebrations for the first time, Our Home International School, has expressed its intention to win the prize money in the primary category.
The Proprietor of the school, Mr Dauda Khalid, said it was an honour for the school to be selected for the parade and promised to give stiff competition to the other schools who seemed to have gained experience from the celebrations.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
BAGBIN, PELPUO'S APPOINTMENTS HAILED (PAGE 15, MARCH 3, 2010)
THE Upper West Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described as welcome news the recent appointment of Mr Alban Bagbin and Mr Rashid Pelpuo as Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing and Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament respectively.
According to the party, the performance of the two personalities in Ghanaian politics stood tall among the whole lot.
“They have always projected positively Ghana’s democracy at both national and international levels, which is highly commendable,” the party added.
In a statement issued in Wa by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Eric Dakura, the NDC also commended the President, Professor J.E.A. Mills, for honouring the region with the appointment of Dr Benjamin Kunbuor and Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh as Ministers of State, and said these citizens of the region would continue to serve mother Ghana diligently.
The statement said the region, had always got its due share of appointments from the NDC and was, therefore, grateful.
The NDC condemned the recent statement made by an NPP sympathiser, Nana Darkwa, on a radio station concerning the fire outbreak at former President J.J. Rawlings’s house, and therefore, urged Nana Darkwa to demonstrate respect for leaders and elders in society.
“We ought to condemn Nana Darkwa’s action and urge him to be ethically upright by respecting leaders, since he will also be a leader tomorrow,” the statement concluded.
According to the party, the performance of the two personalities in Ghanaian politics stood tall among the whole lot.
“They have always projected positively Ghana’s democracy at both national and international levels, which is highly commendable,” the party added.
In a statement issued in Wa by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Eric Dakura, the NDC also commended the President, Professor J.E.A. Mills, for honouring the region with the appointment of Dr Benjamin Kunbuor and Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh as Ministers of State, and said these citizens of the region would continue to serve mother Ghana diligently.
The statement said the region, had always got its due share of appointments from the NDC and was, therefore, grateful.
The NDC condemned the recent statement made by an NPP sympathiser, Nana Darkwa, on a radio station concerning the fire outbreak at former President J.J. Rawlings’s house, and therefore, urged Nana Darkwa to demonstrate respect for leaders and elders in society.
“We ought to condemn Nana Darkwa’s action and urge him to be ethically upright by respecting leaders, since he will also be a leader tomorrow,” the statement concluded.
Monday, March 1, 2010
WATER RATIONING IN WA (PAGE 21, FEB 26, 2010)
AQUA Vitens Rand, operators of the Ghana Water Company Limited, has started rationing water in the Wa Municipality.
The rationing is being done in order to reach all the consumer public. The situation, which is a seasonal phenomenon, has persisted for sometime now.
Wa is the only place in the country where boreholes have been drilled with water being pumped into a reservoir for treatment before supply.
As a result of that, during the dry season when the water table becomes low, there is always difficulty in meeting the water needs of the public.
Addressing the media on the water situation in the municipality, the Upper West Regional Chief Operator of Aqua Vitens Rand, Mr A.T. Suleimana, said the rationing was based on a roster such that no part of the municipality was left out.
He said the situation had resulted in complaints and fabrication of stories such that it was a deliberate attempt to deny the consumer public of water.
Suleimana was however, happy to state that feedback from the public indicated that people were satisfied with the roster system.
“The frequent power outages also affect the production process since all our pumps are power driven so if there is no power, then we have a problem,” he added.
Mr Suleimana gave the assurance that all efforts were being made to satisfy residents of Wa, and prayed that residents would understand the situation.
The rationing is being done in order to reach all the consumer public. The situation, which is a seasonal phenomenon, has persisted for sometime now.
Wa is the only place in the country where boreholes have been drilled with water being pumped into a reservoir for treatment before supply.
As a result of that, during the dry season when the water table becomes low, there is always difficulty in meeting the water needs of the public.
Addressing the media on the water situation in the municipality, the Upper West Regional Chief Operator of Aqua Vitens Rand, Mr A.T. Suleimana, said the rationing was based on a roster such that no part of the municipality was left out.
He said the situation had resulted in complaints and fabrication of stories such that it was a deliberate attempt to deny the consumer public of water.
Suleimana was however, happy to state that feedback from the public indicated that people were satisfied with the roster system.
“The frequent power outages also affect the production process since all our pumps are power driven so if there is no power, then we have a problem,” he added.
Mr Suleimana gave the assurance that all efforts were being made to satisfy residents of Wa, and prayed that residents would understand the situation.
WA CAMPUS OF UDS LAUNCHES HALL WEEK CELEBRATION (PAGE 11, FEB 26, 2010)
THE Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has launched its maiden hall week celebration at Bamahu, a suburb of Wa, in the Upper West Region.
The week, which was on the theme “Championing academic excellence through residential system: Challenges and the way forward”, attracted all the halls of the campus.
The halls in the celebration, which is the first of its kind, are Cardinal Dery, Jubilee, Royal, Limann and Upper West.
The Wa campus has three faculties, namely Faculty for Integrated Development Studies (FIDS), Faculty for Planning and Land Management (FPLM) and Faculty for Education, Law and Business (FELB).
Launching the programme, Upper West Deputy Co-coordinating Director, Alhaji Issahaque Alhassan, said the celebration was a significant moment in the history of the Wa campus.
He said the campus, with three faculties now, was gradually moving to become a fully-fledged university in the region.
He noted that the celebration was a turning point in the activities of the campus, since it gave the students an identity, adding that “halls are necessary grounds for moulding future leaders of the country”.
He, therefore, advised the students to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the activities of the hall week, while taking their studies seriously.
Alhaji Alhassan called for transparency in the organisation of the celebration, particularly from the leadership of the various halls.
The Dean of the Faculty for the FIDS, Professor Abraham Berinyuu, said it was a sense of pride that the Wa campus was celebrating its first hall week celebration.
“It is a moment of journeying together and we are determined to make the Wa campus a place of history and academic excellence for the UDS,” he added.
He said the names of those chosen for the halls were done with due consideration and, therefore, advised the students to let their behaviour reflect in those names.
Professor Berinyuu noted that the Wa campus would continue to work hard, so that the hall week celebrations would surpass all other celebrations on university campuses.
For his part, an elated Dean of the Faculty of Planning and Land Management, Dr Francis Bacho, said from borrowed structures, the Wa campus now had five halls of residence.
He likened the hall system to that of a nuclear family back at home, and urged the students to use the opportunity to socialise with one another.
He said although a large number of students lived outside the campus, that should not discourage them from joining the celebration.
The chairman for the occasion, Dr Daniel Bagah, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Law and Business, commended the chiefs and people of the region for releasing land for the new site at Bamahu.
The week, which was on the theme “Championing academic excellence through residential system: Challenges and the way forward”, attracted all the halls of the campus.
The halls in the celebration, which is the first of its kind, are Cardinal Dery, Jubilee, Royal, Limann and Upper West.
The Wa campus has three faculties, namely Faculty for Integrated Development Studies (FIDS), Faculty for Planning and Land Management (FPLM) and Faculty for Education, Law and Business (FELB).
Launching the programme, Upper West Deputy Co-coordinating Director, Alhaji Issahaque Alhassan, said the celebration was a significant moment in the history of the Wa campus.
He said the campus, with three faculties now, was gradually moving to become a fully-fledged university in the region.
He noted that the celebration was a turning point in the activities of the campus, since it gave the students an identity, adding that “halls are necessary grounds for moulding future leaders of the country”.
He, therefore, advised the students to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the activities of the hall week, while taking their studies seriously.
Alhaji Alhassan called for transparency in the organisation of the celebration, particularly from the leadership of the various halls.
The Dean of the Faculty for the FIDS, Professor Abraham Berinyuu, said it was a sense of pride that the Wa campus was celebrating its first hall week celebration.
“It is a moment of journeying together and we are determined to make the Wa campus a place of history and academic excellence for the UDS,” he added.
He said the names of those chosen for the halls were done with due consideration and, therefore, advised the students to let their behaviour reflect in those names.
Professor Berinyuu noted that the Wa campus would continue to work hard, so that the hall week celebrations would surpass all other celebrations on university campuses.
For his part, an elated Dean of the Faculty of Planning and Land Management, Dr Francis Bacho, said from borrowed structures, the Wa campus now had five halls of residence.
He likened the hall system to that of a nuclear family back at home, and urged the students to use the opportunity to socialise with one another.
He said although a large number of students lived outside the campus, that should not discourage them from joining the celebration.
The chairman for the occasion, Dr Daniel Bagah, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Law and Business, commended the chiefs and people of the region for releasing land for the new site at Bamahu.
ENTRENCHED PROVISIONS GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY — DERIBA (PAGE 16, FEB 24, 2010)
A public servant in the Upper West Region, Mr David Mwinfor Deribaa, has observed that the current entrenched provisions in the Constitution (Article 78) for the President to appoint more than 50 per cent of his ministers from Parliament was a healthy sign for the promotion of harmony, cooperation and efficiency in government.
This situation is an improvement upon the 1979 Constitution which provided that if a member of Parliament was made a minister, he or she must resign from Parliament.
According to him, this led to the loss of very good and well-educated parliamentarians who vacated their seats to take up ministerial positions thus making the executive position in Parliament weak.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on a number of issues, Mr Deribaa, who is a land economist by profession, cited the rejection of the 1981 budget of the government of the late President Hilla Limann as an example where many of the parliamentarians were not effective and, therefore, voted against their own bill.
“This was an embarrassment to the then government which needed money to carry out its projects and programmes,” he added.
Dwelling more on separation of powers, Mr Deribaa noted that concentrating power in one and the same hand will eventually lead to tyranny and that the ordinary citizen would suffer since absolute power corrupts absolutely.
He said in Ghana the executive was part of the legislature in law-making and that “parliamentarians who are made ministers do not resign their seats in parliament as was the case under the 1979 Constitution; Parliamentarians must also approve the executive appointments by vetting, among others”.
Ghana, he said, therefore, practises the mixed system of government with an executive president and a cabinet made up of sitting parliamentarians and others who are responsible to the president.
Mr Deribaa said the checks and balances led to overlapping functions between the legislature and the executive to ensure unity, cooperation, understanding and efficiency which were essential ingredients for the development and progress of a country.
He, however, noted that the use of delegated legislation by the executive made the absolute separation of governmental powers impracticable.
The pressure on Parliament and the technical nature of some legislation require that Parliament gives part of its law-making function to a minister to make bye-laws or subsidiary legislation.
“Complete separation of powers of the legislature, executive and the judiciary is only in theory but its desirability and practicability are illusion in any modern constitution. As government is an organic whole, some form of separation is necessary and needed to ensure good governance”, he concluded.
This situation is an improvement upon the 1979 Constitution which provided that if a member of Parliament was made a minister, he or she must resign from Parliament.
According to him, this led to the loss of very good and well-educated parliamentarians who vacated their seats to take up ministerial positions thus making the executive position in Parliament weak.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on a number of issues, Mr Deribaa, who is a land economist by profession, cited the rejection of the 1981 budget of the government of the late President Hilla Limann as an example where many of the parliamentarians were not effective and, therefore, voted against their own bill.
“This was an embarrassment to the then government which needed money to carry out its projects and programmes,” he added.
Dwelling more on separation of powers, Mr Deribaa noted that concentrating power in one and the same hand will eventually lead to tyranny and that the ordinary citizen would suffer since absolute power corrupts absolutely.
He said in Ghana the executive was part of the legislature in law-making and that “parliamentarians who are made ministers do not resign their seats in parliament as was the case under the 1979 Constitution; Parliamentarians must also approve the executive appointments by vetting, among others”.
Ghana, he said, therefore, practises the mixed system of government with an executive president and a cabinet made up of sitting parliamentarians and others who are responsible to the president.
Mr Deribaa said the checks and balances led to overlapping functions between the legislature and the executive to ensure unity, cooperation, understanding and efficiency which were essential ingredients for the development and progress of a country.
He, however, noted that the use of delegated legislation by the executive made the absolute separation of governmental powers impracticable.
The pressure on Parliament and the technical nature of some legislation require that Parliament gives part of its law-making function to a minister to make bye-laws or subsidiary legislation.
“Complete separation of powers of the legislature, executive and the judiciary is only in theory but its desirability and practicability are illusion in any modern constitution. As government is an organic whole, some form of separation is necessary and needed to ensure good governance”, he concluded.
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