Page 3: Daily Graphic, March 9, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A POLICEMAN and an ex-policeman have been arrested for allegedly extorting money from a young man on a frame-up charge of smoking Indian hemp.
Incidentally, the ex-policeman, Godwin Prince Yorke had on July 31, 2008, been dismissed from the Ghana Police Service for extortion.
Yorke and his friend, Lance Corporal Ebenezer Donkor, have been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigations.
The Director-General of the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) Bureau, DCOP Timothy Ashley told the Daily Graphic at the weekend that the alleged suspect in the wee-smoking case, petitioned PIPS that L/Cpl Donkor and Yorke wrongfully arrested him on February 17, 2010, for smoking “Bonto”, a locally treated tobacco.
He said Donkor and Yorke arrested the petitioner and subsequently demanded GH¢200 from him to drop the case.
According to him, the petitioner claimed that after persistent harassment, he paid GH¢80 and promised to pay the balance later.
DCOP Ashley said the petitioner then petitioned PIPS following intense pressure from the policeman and the friend to collect the balance of GH¢120.
He said PIPS then gave the petitioner GH¢100 in GH¢5 denomination after their serial numbers had been taken.
He said the petitioner then asked Donkor and Yorke to collect GH¢100 from his wife at Santa Maria.
DCOP Ashley said at about 11:50a.m. on March 3, 2010, Yorke went to the house of the petitioner to collect the GH¢100 where he was arrested.
According to him, on March 4, 2010, Donkor, who is stationed with the Highway Patrol team, was invited for questioning.
He said Donkor allegedly admitted that he and Yorke collected GH¢80 from the complainant after he pleaded for leniency and were to collect a balance of GH¢120 from him later.
DCOP Ashley said Donkor claimed that at the time the petitioner called them to collect the balance, he (Donkor) was on duty and, therefore, asked Yorke to pick it up.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Two soldiers held over robbery
Page 31: Daily Graphic, March 9, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO soldiers from the 48 Field Engineers Regiment have been arrested by the police for attempted robbery.
The Accra Regional Police Command has taken over investigations into the conduct of Lance Corporal Imoro Ibrahim and Sepr Raymond Ntiri who were arrested by some civilians who had gone to the rescue of the person the soldiers wanted to rob of GH¢280.
Their arrest was on the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt Gen Blay, when they heard the conduct of the two soldiers.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told the Daily Graphic that the soldiers allegedly traced their victim from the Ring Road Central branch of the Western Union to the Nima Traffic Light intercession at 2 p.m. last Friday.
She said when the victim’s taxi reached the traffic intercession, the soldiers, who were also in a taxi, allegedly asked their driver to cross the victim’s taxi.
She said the victim was dragged out of his taxi and just when the soldiers were about pushing him into their taxi, the victim raised alarm, attracting passers-by to his rescue.
According to her, the soldiers were overpowered and taken to the Nima Police Station where they claimed the victim was a thief.
DCOP Atinga said when asked what the victim had stolen, the soldiers said it was a passer-by who had told them that he was a thief.
She said the driver of the taxi the soldiers were using, however, told the police that the soldiers had made him to wait at the premises of the Western Union for almost an hour and asked him to trail the victim as soon as he boarded a taxi.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO soldiers from the 48 Field Engineers Regiment have been arrested by the police for attempted robbery.
The Accra Regional Police Command has taken over investigations into the conduct of Lance Corporal Imoro Ibrahim and Sepr Raymond Ntiri who were arrested by some civilians who had gone to the rescue of the person the soldiers wanted to rob of GH¢280.
Their arrest was on the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt Gen Blay, when they heard the conduct of the two soldiers.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told the Daily Graphic that the soldiers allegedly traced their victim from the Ring Road Central branch of the Western Union to the Nima Traffic Light intercession at 2 p.m. last Friday.
She said when the victim’s taxi reached the traffic intercession, the soldiers, who were also in a taxi, allegedly asked their driver to cross the victim’s taxi.
She said the victim was dragged out of his taxi and just when the soldiers were about pushing him into their taxi, the victim raised alarm, attracting passers-by to his rescue.
According to her, the soldiers were overpowered and taken to the Nima Police Station where they claimed the victim was a thief.
DCOP Atinga said when asked what the victim had stolen, the soldiers said it was a passer-by who had told them that he was a thief.
She said the driver of the taxi the soldiers were using, however, told the police that the soldiers had made him to wait at the premises of the Western Union for almost an hour and asked him to trail the victim as soon as he boarded a taxi.
'Prophet' held for allegedly defiling 10yr daughter
Page 48: Daily Graphic, March 9, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Head Pastor of Jesus Blood Prophetic Ministry at Oblogo, Prophet Nana Kofi Yirenkyi, is in custody for allegedly defiling his 10-year-old daughter.
Although Prophet Yirenkyi, also known as Jesus One Touch, is alleged to have attempted to blame his house help cum watchman for defiling the daughter, the victim is reported to have told some elders of the family and the police that it was his father who had been defiling her.
A medical report from the Akropong Government Hospital has also confirmed that the victim’s hymen had been tampered with.
Prophet Yirenkyi was checked in at the cells of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) at 6 a.m. on March 5, 2010 when he was brought from the Akropong Police Station, where the case had initially been reported on March 1, 2010.
Police sources told newsmen in Accra yesterday that the victim’s mother reported to the Akropong Police on March 1, 2010 that her daughter had been sexually abused.
They said when the victim’s mother initially informed Prophet Yirenkyi about the incident, he claimed it was his house help and indicated that he had beaten and sacked him.
According to the police, the victim’s mother did not take kindly to the incident and reported the incident to some family elders, who interrogated the girl on the issue.
The police said the girl, however, said it was his father, not any other person, and gave vivid details as to what the father did to her on each occasion he defiled her.
The sources said the matter was immediately reported to the Akropong Police, who effected the arrest of Jesus One Touch on March 2, 2010.
The sources said the suspect told the Akropong Police that he (suspect) had ever reported the incident to the SCC Police in Accra.
They explained that since the offence was committed in Accra, the docket was referred to the Accra DOVVSU for further investigations.
The sources said checks at the SCC Police Station did not show that any such case had been reported to the station.
Investigations are ongoing.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Head Pastor of Jesus Blood Prophetic Ministry at Oblogo, Prophet Nana Kofi Yirenkyi, is in custody for allegedly defiling his 10-year-old daughter.
Although Prophet Yirenkyi, also known as Jesus One Touch, is alleged to have attempted to blame his house help cum watchman for defiling the daughter, the victim is reported to have told some elders of the family and the police that it was his father who had been defiling her.
A medical report from the Akropong Government Hospital has also confirmed that the victim’s hymen had been tampered with.
Prophet Yirenkyi was checked in at the cells of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) at 6 a.m. on March 5, 2010 when he was brought from the Akropong Police Station, where the case had initially been reported on March 1, 2010.
Police sources told newsmen in Accra yesterday that the victim’s mother reported to the Akropong Police on March 1, 2010 that her daughter had been sexually abused.
They said when the victim’s mother initially informed Prophet Yirenkyi about the incident, he claimed it was his house help and indicated that he had beaten and sacked him.
According to the police, the victim’s mother did not take kindly to the incident and reported the incident to some family elders, who interrogated the girl on the issue.
The police said the girl, however, said it was his father, not any other person, and gave vivid details as to what the father did to her on each occasion he defiled her.
The sources said the matter was immediately reported to the Akropong Police, who effected the arrest of Jesus One Touch on March 2, 2010.
The sources said the suspect told the Akropong Police that he (suspect) had ever reported the incident to the SCC Police in Accra.
They explained that since the offence was committed in Accra, the docket was referred to the Accra DOVVSU for further investigations.
The sources said checks at the SCC Police Station did not show that any such case had been reported to the station.
Investigations are ongoing.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Ghana makes more seizures of illicit drugs
Page 32: Daily Graphic, March 6, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
Ghana made more seizures of cocaine last year as against the same period in 2008. In the first half of 2009, 62 kilogrammes of cocaine were seized by the law enforcement agencies in Ghana as against 33 kilogrammes seized in 2008.
According to the latest statistics released by the US Government, the 2009 half-year cocaine seizure represented 89 per cent more than the seizures in whole of 2008.
In its 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), the US Government noted that Ghana also recorded seizures of 1.7 kilogrammes of cannabis as compared to the 1.4 kg seized in the whole of 2008, representing 22 per cent more. Additionally, more than two kilogrammes of heroin were seized compared to no heroin seizures in 2008.
The report which assessed various countries’ performance in the fight against narcotics, was analysed by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the US State Department and submitted to Congress on March 1, every year.
It attributed the increase in seizures to greater vigilance on the part of the Ghanaian Government but noted that in spite of the progress being made in the country, corruption and a lack of resources continued to impede interdiction efforts.
It explained that while law enforcement authorities arrested low level narcotics traffickers, Ghana has had less success pursuing the so-called drug barons.
The report also acknowledged that on December 16, 2009, three alleged members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), were expelled from Ghana and put into custody of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents in Accra, who transported the suspects to the United States.
It said the three were being charged with narcotics terrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation.
On corruption, it said “corruption is pervasive in Ghana’s law enforcement community, including sections of the police and the NACOB. Despite the regular arrests of suspected narcotics traffickers, Ghana has a low rate of conviction, which many officials believe is likely due to corruption within the judicial system”.
The report cited as an example, the replacement of approximately 12 kilogrammes of narcotics at the Police CID Headquarters in January, 2008, with cornstarch, while the narcotics were stored in the police evidence room and noted that although the former President appointed a commission to investigate the theft, which reported its findings in April, 2008, “the President left office in January, 2009 without making public the commission’s findings”.
The report acknowledged the resolve of President J. E. A. Mills to stop people from using Ghana as a narcotics transit corridor and vigorously fight for the total eradication of hard drugs in the country.
In an interaction with President Mills at the Castle on February 3, 2010, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr Johnnie Carson, applauded Ghana for showing great commitment towards fighting the drug menace and other forms of organised crime in the country.
Story: Albert K. Salia
Ghana made more seizures of cocaine last year as against the same period in 2008. In the first half of 2009, 62 kilogrammes of cocaine were seized by the law enforcement agencies in Ghana as against 33 kilogrammes seized in 2008.
According to the latest statistics released by the US Government, the 2009 half-year cocaine seizure represented 89 per cent more than the seizures in whole of 2008.
In its 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), the US Government noted that Ghana also recorded seizures of 1.7 kilogrammes of cannabis as compared to the 1.4 kg seized in the whole of 2008, representing 22 per cent more. Additionally, more than two kilogrammes of heroin were seized compared to no heroin seizures in 2008.
The report which assessed various countries’ performance in the fight against narcotics, was analysed by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the US State Department and submitted to Congress on March 1, every year.
It attributed the increase in seizures to greater vigilance on the part of the Ghanaian Government but noted that in spite of the progress being made in the country, corruption and a lack of resources continued to impede interdiction efforts.
It explained that while law enforcement authorities arrested low level narcotics traffickers, Ghana has had less success pursuing the so-called drug barons.
The report also acknowledged that on December 16, 2009, three alleged members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), were expelled from Ghana and put into custody of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents in Accra, who transported the suspects to the United States.
It said the three were being charged with narcotics terrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation.
On corruption, it said “corruption is pervasive in Ghana’s law enforcement community, including sections of the police and the NACOB. Despite the regular arrests of suspected narcotics traffickers, Ghana has a low rate of conviction, which many officials believe is likely due to corruption within the judicial system”.
The report cited as an example, the replacement of approximately 12 kilogrammes of narcotics at the Police CID Headquarters in January, 2008, with cornstarch, while the narcotics were stored in the police evidence room and noted that although the former President appointed a commission to investigate the theft, which reported its findings in April, 2008, “the President left office in January, 2009 without making public the commission’s findings”.
The report acknowledged the resolve of President J. E. A. Mills to stop people from using Ghana as a narcotics transit corridor and vigorously fight for the total eradication of hard drugs in the country.
In an interaction with President Mills at the Castle on February 3, 2010, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr Johnnie Carson, applauded Ghana for showing great commitment towards fighting the drug menace and other forms of organised crime in the country.
A look into Ghana's Foreign Policy
Page 30: Daily Graphic, March 5, 2010.
Article: Albert K. Salia
Foreign policies are generally designed to help protect a country's national interest, security, ideological goals, and economic prosperity. This can occur as a result of peaceful co-operation with other nations, or through aggression, war, and exploitation.
The concepts of free, proud, confident Africa has been dominant in Ghana’s foreign policy objectives since 1957 with Dr Kwame Nkrumah, spearheading that policy as Prime Minister. Since then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been the sector body responsible for the conduct of Ghana's external relations and now operates spelt in line with Articles 40, 41, 73 and 84 of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution.
Usually, creating a foreign policy is the job of the head of government and the foreign minister (or equivalent). In some countries the legislature also has considerable oversight.
It is important to indicate that some critics of Ghana’s foreign policy have described it as “follow-the-crowd type” or a country without any foreign policy at all. That, they explain, is because Ghana’s foreign policy has no coherent and distinctive doctrinal orientation and niche.
They argue that first, the markers of such a foreign policy are government officials who are reactionary rather than proactive; second, officially stated foreign policy goals are usually vague and the foreign minister frequently flip-flops; and third, the Executive rather than well-trained professionals becomes the implementer of the policy.
It has been argued that since Nkrumah administration, Ghana’s foreign policy has been marked by those three tendencies.
Many Ghanaians were unhappy at the frequent trekking of former President J. A. Kufuor during his first term. Foreign policy experts contend that frequent trips of Presidents are typical of states without any well-established foreign policy niche.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as mandated by the Constitution, is to promote and protect the interest of Ghana and those of her citizens abroad and safeguard her security and prosperity through the promotion of friendly and productive relations with all countries. This is meant to enhance Ghana's image abroad and promote economic co-operation between Ghana and other countries through increased Ghana exports, foreign investments, expanding tourism and scientific, technological and cultural links.
The ministry is also responsible for the provision of economic, political and security information and advice to the government, provision of prompt and reliable information to Ghanaian nationals abroad to encourage them to participate in Ghana's economic development. It also plays a positive and creative role in the affairs of the United Nations (UN), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), The Commonwealth and other international organisations to which Ghana belongs, as well as the integration of member states of the African Union and ECOWAS.
Another important principle of Ghana's foreign policy involves the closest possible co-operation with neighbouring countries with which the people of Ghana share cultural and historical bonds, ties of blood and economics. The results include various bilateral trade and economic agreements and permanent joint commissions involving Ghana and its immediate neighbours, sometimes in the face of latent ideological and political differences and mutual suspicion, as well as numerous reciprocal state visits by high-ranking officials. These measures have contributed significantly to sub-regional co-operation, development, and the reduction in tension.
As an example of Ghana's interest in regional co-operation, the country enthusiastically endorsed the formation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1975. This organisation was created specifically to foster inter-regional economic and political co-operation. It has served as a useful vehicle for contacts with neighbouring West African governments and for channelling increased Ghanaian exports to regional markets. Since 1990, ECOWAS has been engaged in a peacekeeping mission in Liberia to which Ghana has contributed a large contingent of troops. Ghana has participated in other international peacekeeping efforts as well, sending soldiers to operations of the United Nations (UN) in Cambodia in 1992-93 and Rwanda in 1993-94.
In fact, Ghana’s foreign policy since independence has been underpinned by these policy objectives with little variations, depending on the regime in power. Ghana's foreign policy since independence has been characterised by a commitment to the principles and ideals of nonalignment and Pan-Africanism as first enunciated by Kwame Nkrumah in the early 1960s.
From all these, one can conclude that Ghana’s foreign relations has been structured around three major goals: Attracting development assistance and investment capital; maintaining friendly ties with neighbours; and playing an active and constructive role in international and regional fora by engaging in peacekeeping and election monitoring missions. These goals reflect pragmatism dictated by poor economic conditions and the need to compete globally for development assistance.
For Nkrumah, nonalignment meant complete independence from the policies and alliances of both the East and the West and support for a world-wide union of so-called non-aligned nations as a counter to both East and West power blocs. Pan-Africanism, by contrast, was a specific African policy that envisioned the liberation of African peoples from Western colonialism and the eventual economic and political unity of the African continent.
For Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia, despite developing strong foreign contacts and arranging various joint projects with foreign governments, his inability to negotiate favourable repayment loan terms became a major setback for his administration. He had been confident that with Ghana having reverted to constitutional rule, he could negotiate with the Western powers to reschedule Ghana's foreign debt repayments, but that was not to be.
While he patiently tried to negotiate with the Western powers Ghana's foreign debt repayments with little result, he became increasingly subjected to attacks over what appeared to be his weak stance towards Ghana's creditors, especially since his clearly pro-Western stance seemed to yield few results.
One issue for which he faced much criticism was his stance towards South Africa. Despite South Africa's adoption of the apartheid system, Dr Busia believed he could open a dialogue with a country seen by most to be a racist regime. Many in Ghana simply could not understand why the black leader of an African country would ever consider that they could negotiate with such a regime, and his attempts to better relations with South Africa were largely met with a negative public response.
When the National Redemption Council (NRC) of Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong took over power on January 13, 1972 from the Busia Progress Party (PP), its nationalist and populist Yentua (we won’t pay) policy to mounting foreign debts of the Busia regime was initially popular but was unsustainable.
While popular with the general public, who understandably did not follow economics, the policy, not long, had its disastrous side becoming apparent.
Acheampong's idea that Ghana should become self-sufficient proved to be a complete disaster, and with few Western trade partners, Ghana continued to suffer economically in ways that made the record of the Busia government look glowing in comparison.
The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), like most of its predecessors, made serious and consistent attempts at the practical application of these ideals and principles, and its successor, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of President J. J. Rawlings, followed in the PNDC's footsteps. Under President Rawlings’s NDC, Ghana remained committed to the principle of nonalignment in world politics. Ghana was also opposed to interference in the internal affairs of both small and large countries. That was a departure from Nkrumah's foreign policy approach; Nkrumah was frequently accused of subverting African regimes, such as Togo and Cote d'Ivoire, which he considered ideologically conservative.
The NDC government, like the PNDC before it, believed in the principle of self-determination, including the right to political independence and the right of people to pursue their economic and social development free from external interference. Another feature of NDC rule carried over from the PNDC era was faithfulness to what a leading scholar of Africa has called "one of the most successful neo-classical economic reform efforts supported by the IMF and the World Bank".
The broad objectives of Ghana's foreign policy thus included maintaining friendly relations and co-operation with all countries that desire such co-operation, irrespective of ideological considerations, on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. Africa and its liberation and unity are naturally the cornerstones of Ghana's foreign policy.
NDC policy was to adhere faithfully to the OAU(now AU) Charter.
Former President Rawlings’s regional co-operation efforts were rewarded in August 1994 when he became ECOWAS chairman, a post that had eluded him while he was the military dictator heading the PNDC.
He immediately undertook several initiatives to reduce tensions and conflict in West Africa. Notable among them was the Akosombo Accord of September 12 (which year?????????) , designed to end civil war in Liberia.
Under President John Agyekum Kufuor, Ghana’s foreign policy was centred on economic diplomacy, with President Kufuor taking centre stage by undertaking many travels abroad. By his fourth year in office, President Kufuor had become Ghana’s most travelled leader since independence with more than 63 visits to foreign countries.
President Kufuor’s foreign policy also sought to enhance peaceful neighbourliness with the view to removing the tension and suspicion that had characterised relations between Ghana and her neighbours, particularly Togo. The relations among Ghana, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire became excellent as a result of the constant consultations between President Kufuor and his colleagues. Indeed, Ghana was seen as a haven of peace and a trustworthy and sincere neighbour, genuinely committed to peace and progress in the sub-region.
In February 2004, Ghana became the first country to voluntarily subject itself to NEPAD's Peer Review Mechanism, which resulted in the inspection of the government's democratic, human rights and economic objectives by a team of African observers.
The successful handover of power from former President Kufuor to President J. E. A. Mills after an acrimonious election further boosted the image of Ghana in the international community. This peaceful handover in a region where civil strife had characterised some countries saw the first black American President, President Barack Obama, visiting Ghana between July 10-11, 2009, to salute Ghanaians for their democratic credentials, as well as Ghana’s contribution to world peace and conflict resolution. Since then, Ghana has and continues to receive rare positive reviews in the comity of nations.
Foreign Minister Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, at a forum with members of the Diplomatic Corps, made it clear that there would not be a shift in Ghana’s foreign policy objectives.
He said promoting and enhancing bilateral and multilateral co-operation would continue to be key pillars in the country's foreign policy as President Mills’s government was committed to providing an attractive and conducive environment for the smooth functioning of all diplomatic missions and consulates.
The Mills’s government had been seen to be promoting good neighbourliness and placing high premium on relations with ECOWAS and African states while furthering the desire to promote friendly relations with all other countries, especially development partners.
Economic diplomacy, which requires greater attention to the promotion of trade, investment and tourism, facilitation of investment flows into Ghana, particularly towards key sectors such as energy, agriculture and agro-processing, ICT, infrastructural development and the hospitality industry, has been evident.
Alhaji Mumuni said the pursuit of peace and security would continue to be given high priority in the conduct of Ghana's foreign policy as they were essential for growth and prosperity and noted that it was his conviction that Ghana's internal peace, security and development remained inseparable from that of the sub-region.
The leadership positions occupied by Ghanaian nationals in various multilateral institutions also enhance the country’s profile in the comity of nations. Mr Kofi Annan and Dr K. Y. Amoako are the respective immediate past heads of the United Nations and the Economic Commission for Africa while Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, until recently, President of the ECOWAS Commission, is now heading the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.
Indeed, the country takes credit for the work of these and other nationals in the field of international diplomacy and Ghana often supports their work by launching mediation sessions to bring peace to war-torn countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Cote d’Ivoire and also by hosting conferences that enhance the prospects for democracy and development in Africa.
Despite its limited resources, Ghana has been an active participant in democracy promotion abroad. It has mediated disputes in other countries, the most recent being the one the Kofi Annan brokered in Kenya; provided technical assistance; and participated in election monitoring and peacekeeping. Ghanaian leaders have participated in international fora and been vocal by publicly condemning actions that subvert the democratic process.
Ghana has always being cognisant of its weak capacity for unilateral action in the international arena and hence augments its power by developing close ties (usually at the presidential level) with more powerful states.
Ghana’s limited capacity for unilateral action also has led it to pursue many foreign policy activities through multilateral channels such as the United Nations, the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS). Membership of these organisations provides Ghana with a platform for protecting some of its interests, as well as to establish itself as a leader on several issues of concern to the African continent. For example, through the UN and ECOWAS, Ghana has been able to engage in numerous peacekeeping missions, which earns it international respect as a partner for global stability and a moral leader in African affairs.
It is important to also recognise that Ghana’s involvement in international peacekeeping functions is sometimes also driven more by a desire to raise funds for its military than peace and security concerns. Such pragmatism allows Ghana to influence events in neighbouring African countries, sometimes to an extent that belies her small size and resources.
Ghana’s other foreign relations “assets” include its status as a “role model” for the prominent role several Ghanaian nationals play in global affairs. Ghana’s “role model” status arises out of the country’s position as the first African state south of the Sahara to gain independence from colonial rule and the dynamic leadership of its first president, Kwame Nkrumah, in the Pan-Africanist movement.
The decision to implement World Bank-sponsored economic reform programmes two decades ago and recent democratic reforms have also reinforced the “role model” image and somewhat established Ghana as a leader of the movement for political change and rejuvenation of the African continent.
The change in government from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and back to the NDC has been seen as symbolic lesson for other African leaders.
Clearly, the mark of Ghana’s foreign policy has been that when strategic interests are at stake, Ghana’s leaders have chosen co-operation and friendship over criticism.
Article: Albert K. Salia
Foreign policies are generally designed to help protect a country's national interest, security, ideological goals, and economic prosperity. This can occur as a result of peaceful co-operation with other nations, or through aggression, war, and exploitation.
The concepts of free, proud, confident Africa has been dominant in Ghana’s foreign policy objectives since 1957 with Dr Kwame Nkrumah, spearheading that policy as Prime Minister. Since then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been the sector body responsible for the conduct of Ghana's external relations and now operates spelt in line with Articles 40, 41, 73 and 84 of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution.
Usually, creating a foreign policy is the job of the head of government and the foreign minister (or equivalent). In some countries the legislature also has considerable oversight.
It is important to indicate that some critics of Ghana’s foreign policy have described it as “follow-the-crowd type” or a country without any foreign policy at all. That, they explain, is because Ghana’s foreign policy has no coherent and distinctive doctrinal orientation and niche.
They argue that first, the markers of such a foreign policy are government officials who are reactionary rather than proactive; second, officially stated foreign policy goals are usually vague and the foreign minister frequently flip-flops; and third, the Executive rather than well-trained professionals becomes the implementer of the policy.
It has been argued that since Nkrumah administration, Ghana’s foreign policy has been marked by those three tendencies.
Many Ghanaians were unhappy at the frequent trekking of former President J. A. Kufuor during his first term. Foreign policy experts contend that frequent trips of Presidents are typical of states without any well-established foreign policy niche.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as mandated by the Constitution, is to promote and protect the interest of Ghana and those of her citizens abroad and safeguard her security and prosperity through the promotion of friendly and productive relations with all countries. This is meant to enhance Ghana's image abroad and promote economic co-operation between Ghana and other countries through increased Ghana exports, foreign investments, expanding tourism and scientific, technological and cultural links.
The ministry is also responsible for the provision of economic, political and security information and advice to the government, provision of prompt and reliable information to Ghanaian nationals abroad to encourage them to participate in Ghana's economic development. It also plays a positive and creative role in the affairs of the United Nations (UN), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), The Commonwealth and other international organisations to which Ghana belongs, as well as the integration of member states of the African Union and ECOWAS.
Another important principle of Ghana's foreign policy involves the closest possible co-operation with neighbouring countries with which the people of Ghana share cultural and historical bonds, ties of blood and economics. The results include various bilateral trade and economic agreements and permanent joint commissions involving Ghana and its immediate neighbours, sometimes in the face of latent ideological and political differences and mutual suspicion, as well as numerous reciprocal state visits by high-ranking officials. These measures have contributed significantly to sub-regional co-operation, development, and the reduction in tension.
As an example of Ghana's interest in regional co-operation, the country enthusiastically endorsed the formation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1975. This organisation was created specifically to foster inter-regional economic and political co-operation. It has served as a useful vehicle for contacts with neighbouring West African governments and for channelling increased Ghanaian exports to regional markets. Since 1990, ECOWAS has been engaged in a peacekeeping mission in Liberia to which Ghana has contributed a large contingent of troops. Ghana has participated in other international peacekeeping efforts as well, sending soldiers to operations of the United Nations (UN) in Cambodia in 1992-93 and Rwanda in 1993-94.
In fact, Ghana’s foreign policy since independence has been underpinned by these policy objectives with little variations, depending on the regime in power. Ghana's foreign policy since independence has been characterised by a commitment to the principles and ideals of nonalignment and Pan-Africanism as first enunciated by Kwame Nkrumah in the early 1960s.
From all these, one can conclude that Ghana’s foreign relations has been structured around three major goals: Attracting development assistance and investment capital; maintaining friendly ties with neighbours; and playing an active and constructive role in international and regional fora by engaging in peacekeeping and election monitoring missions. These goals reflect pragmatism dictated by poor economic conditions and the need to compete globally for development assistance.
For Nkrumah, nonalignment meant complete independence from the policies and alliances of both the East and the West and support for a world-wide union of so-called non-aligned nations as a counter to both East and West power blocs. Pan-Africanism, by contrast, was a specific African policy that envisioned the liberation of African peoples from Western colonialism and the eventual economic and political unity of the African continent.
For Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia, despite developing strong foreign contacts and arranging various joint projects with foreign governments, his inability to negotiate favourable repayment loan terms became a major setback for his administration. He had been confident that with Ghana having reverted to constitutional rule, he could negotiate with the Western powers to reschedule Ghana's foreign debt repayments, but that was not to be.
While he patiently tried to negotiate with the Western powers Ghana's foreign debt repayments with little result, he became increasingly subjected to attacks over what appeared to be his weak stance towards Ghana's creditors, especially since his clearly pro-Western stance seemed to yield few results.
One issue for which he faced much criticism was his stance towards South Africa. Despite South Africa's adoption of the apartheid system, Dr Busia believed he could open a dialogue with a country seen by most to be a racist regime. Many in Ghana simply could not understand why the black leader of an African country would ever consider that they could negotiate with such a regime, and his attempts to better relations with South Africa were largely met with a negative public response.
When the National Redemption Council (NRC) of Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong took over power on January 13, 1972 from the Busia Progress Party (PP), its nationalist and populist Yentua (we won’t pay) policy to mounting foreign debts of the Busia regime was initially popular but was unsustainable.
While popular with the general public, who understandably did not follow economics, the policy, not long, had its disastrous side becoming apparent.
Acheampong's idea that Ghana should become self-sufficient proved to be a complete disaster, and with few Western trade partners, Ghana continued to suffer economically in ways that made the record of the Busia government look glowing in comparison.
The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), like most of its predecessors, made serious and consistent attempts at the practical application of these ideals and principles, and its successor, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of President J. J. Rawlings, followed in the PNDC's footsteps. Under President Rawlings’s NDC, Ghana remained committed to the principle of nonalignment in world politics. Ghana was also opposed to interference in the internal affairs of both small and large countries. That was a departure from Nkrumah's foreign policy approach; Nkrumah was frequently accused of subverting African regimes, such as Togo and Cote d'Ivoire, which he considered ideologically conservative.
The NDC government, like the PNDC before it, believed in the principle of self-determination, including the right to political independence and the right of people to pursue their economic and social development free from external interference. Another feature of NDC rule carried over from the PNDC era was faithfulness to what a leading scholar of Africa has called "one of the most successful neo-classical economic reform efforts supported by the IMF and the World Bank".
The broad objectives of Ghana's foreign policy thus included maintaining friendly relations and co-operation with all countries that desire such co-operation, irrespective of ideological considerations, on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. Africa and its liberation and unity are naturally the cornerstones of Ghana's foreign policy.
NDC policy was to adhere faithfully to the OAU(now AU) Charter.
Former President Rawlings’s regional co-operation efforts were rewarded in August 1994 when he became ECOWAS chairman, a post that had eluded him while he was the military dictator heading the PNDC.
He immediately undertook several initiatives to reduce tensions and conflict in West Africa. Notable among them was the Akosombo Accord of September 12 (which year?????????) , designed to end civil war in Liberia.
Under President John Agyekum Kufuor, Ghana’s foreign policy was centred on economic diplomacy, with President Kufuor taking centre stage by undertaking many travels abroad. By his fourth year in office, President Kufuor had become Ghana’s most travelled leader since independence with more than 63 visits to foreign countries.
President Kufuor’s foreign policy also sought to enhance peaceful neighbourliness with the view to removing the tension and suspicion that had characterised relations between Ghana and her neighbours, particularly Togo. The relations among Ghana, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire became excellent as a result of the constant consultations between President Kufuor and his colleagues. Indeed, Ghana was seen as a haven of peace and a trustworthy and sincere neighbour, genuinely committed to peace and progress in the sub-region.
In February 2004, Ghana became the first country to voluntarily subject itself to NEPAD's Peer Review Mechanism, which resulted in the inspection of the government's democratic, human rights and economic objectives by a team of African observers.
The successful handover of power from former President Kufuor to President J. E. A. Mills after an acrimonious election further boosted the image of Ghana in the international community. This peaceful handover in a region where civil strife had characterised some countries saw the first black American President, President Barack Obama, visiting Ghana between July 10-11, 2009, to salute Ghanaians for their democratic credentials, as well as Ghana’s contribution to world peace and conflict resolution. Since then, Ghana has and continues to receive rare positive reviews in the comity of nations.
Foreign Minister Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, at a forum with members of the Diplomatic Corps, made it clear that there would not be a shift in Ghana’s foreign policy objectives.
He said promoting and enhancing bilateral and multilateral co-operation would continue to be key pillars in the country's foreign policy as President Mills’s government was committed to providing an attractive and conducive environment for the smooth functioning of all diplomatic missions and consulates.
The Mills’s government had been seen to be promoting good neighbourliness and placing high premium on relations with ECOWAS and African states while furthering the desire to promote friendly relations with all other countries, especially development partners.
Economic diplomacy, which requires greater attention to the promotion of trade, investment and tourism, facilitation of investment flows into Ghana, particularly towards key sectors such as energy, agriculture and agro-processing, ICT, infrastructural development and the hospitality industry, has been evident.
Alhaji Mumuni said the pursuit of peace and security would continue to be given high priority in the conduct of Ghana's foreign policy as they were essential for growth and prosperity and noted that it was his conviction that Ghana's internal peace, security and development remained inseparable from that of the sub-region.
The leadership positions occupied by Ghanaian nationals in various multilateral institutions also enhance the country’s profile in the comity of nations. Mr Kofi Annan and Dr K. Y. Amoako are the respective immediate past heads of the United Nations and the Economic Commission for Africa while Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, until recently, President of the ECOWAS Commission, is now heading the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.
Indeed, the country takes credit for the work of these and other nationals in the field of international diplomacy and Ghana often supports their work by launching mediation sessions to bring peace to war-torn countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Cote d’Ivoire and also by hosting conferences that enhance the prospects for democracy and development in Africa.
Despite its limited resources, Ghana has been an active participant in democracy promotion abroad. It has mediated disputes in other countries, the most recent being the one the Kofi Annan brokered in Kenya; provided technical assistance; and participated in election monitoring and peacekeeping. Ghanaian leaders have participated in international fora and been vocal by publicly condemning actions that subvert the democratic process.
Ghana has always being cognisant of its weak capacity for unilateral action in the international arena and hence augments its power by developing close ties (usually at the presidential level) with more powerful states.
Ghana’s limited capacity for unilateral action also has led it to pursue many foreign policy activities through multilateral channels such as the United Nations, the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS). Membership of these organisations provides Ghana with a platform for protecting some of its interests, as well as to establish itself as a leader on several issues of concern to the African continent. For example, through the UN and ECOWAS, Ghana has been able to engage in numerous peacekeeping missions, which earns it international respect as a partner for global stability and a moral leader in African affairs.
It is important to also recognise that Ghana’s involvement in international peacekeeping functions is sometimes also driven more by a desire to raise funds for its military than peace and security concerns. Such pragmatism allows Ghana to influence events in neighbouring African countries, sometimes to an extent that belies her small size and resources.
Ghana’s other foreign relations “assets” include its status as a “role model” for the prominent role several Ghanaian nationals play in global affairs. Ghana’s “role model” status arises out of the country’s position as the first African state south of the Sahara to gain independence from colonial rule and the dynamic leadership of its first president, Kwame Nkrumah, in the Pan-Africanist movement.
The decision to implement World Bank-sponsored economic reform programmes two decades ago and recent democratic reforms have also reinforced the “role model” image and somewhat established Ghana as a leader of the movement for political change and rejuvenation of the African continent.
The change in government from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and back to the NDC has been seen as symbolic lesson for other African leaders.
Clearly, the mark of Ghana’s foreign policy has been that when strategic interests are at stake, Ghana’s leaders have chosen co-operation and friendship over criticism.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Police kill notorious criminal in gun battle
Page 3: Daily Graphic, March 2, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
ONE of the most wanted criminals in the country, John Kofi Fiagbedzi, alias Spider, was yesterday killed in a gun battle with the police when he led an attack on the residence of Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Baba Kamara.
Spider had been on the police wanted list since 2006 after he had escaped from the Police Hospital where he was receiving treatment for wounds he received from a US Marine in December that year.
The police then placed a GH¢4,000 bounty each on Spider and his accomplice, Mathias Kwesi Tsegah, who are said to have committed a series of robberies in Accra, Kumasi, Ho and other parts of the country.
Two foreign pistols, 26 rounds of ammunition, a car jerk, a screw driver and two mobile phones were retrieved from Spider after he had been shot. Some gold bracelets belonging to Mr Kamara’s wife were also found on Spider.
Tsegah is suspected to have escaped with GH¢6,680 which they had taken from Mr Kamara during the nearly 45- minute exercise after tying their victims.
Spider, Tsegah and a third suspect, identified as Aaron, who is currently in custody, were alleged to have robbed a Ghanaian woman of $64,000 on the GIMPA road in 2008, while Spider single-handedly robbed a foreigner of his Pathfinder vehicle on the Spintex Road in 2008.
The police also mentioned the robbery of a forex bureau near the St John’s Grammar School in early 2009 and another robbery on December 7, 2009, during which a RAV4 vehicle was snatched from its owner. The vehicle was later retrieved from Ho during the Yam Festival there.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, who was assisted by her deputy, ACP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Monday, the two armed young men entered Mr Kamara’s house.
She said someone in one of the rooms sent a distress call to a soldier friend, who in turn called the Police Information Room.
According to her, when the police got to the house, a policeman and a soldier had already laid ambush in the house upon hearing the distress calls on their walkie-talkie.
DCOP Atinga said at the time of the robbery, lights in the house had been put out and it was unclear whether it was the robbers who had done that.
She said when the victims pleaded with the robbers to leave, since they expected a high profile visitor, the attackers declined to leave.
She said it was after a while that the two assailants decided to leave and, typical of Spider’s escapades, he started firing from his two pistols with the view to scaring away neighbours.
DCOP Atinga said as soon as the robbers came out of the house, Spider assisted Mathias to jump out of the house amidst the firing.
She said Spider was unlucky, as he was hit by the police response. She was certain that Mathias could also have been hit by a bullet, and, therefore, appealed to members of the public, especially health facilities, to report anyone with bullet wounds to the nearest police station.
On the December 21, 2006 incident, DCOP Atinga said Spider had been stabbed at Tesano by a US Marine who was on holidays in Ghana.
She said Spider was remanded in prison custody in Nsawam after he had successfully been operated upon by surgeons at the Police Hospital.
She said Spider’s condition deteriorated six months after and he was brought back to the Police Hospital for treatment.
She said although Spider was on police guard, he managed to escape from the hospital, which resulted in the loss of job by the policeman guarding him.
She said the Police Administration subsequently put a GH¢2,000 bounty on him, while one of his foreign victims also added GH¢2,000 to it.
Story: Albert K. Salia
ONE of the most wanted criminals in the country, John Kofi Fiagbedzi, alias Spider, was yesterday killed in a gun battle with the police when he led an attack on the residence of Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Baba Kamara.
Spider had been on the police wanted list since 2006 after he had escaped from the Police Hospital where he was receiving treatment for wounds he received from a US Marine in December that year.
The police then placed a GH¢4,000 bounty each on Spider and his accomplice, Mathias Kwesi Tsegah, who are said to have committed a series of robberies in Accra, Kumasi, Ho and other parts of the country.
Two foreign pistols, 26 rounds of ammunition, a car jerk, a screw driver and two mobile phones were retrieved from Spider after he had been shot. Some gold bracelets belonging to Mr Kamara’s wife were also found on Spider.
Tsegah is suspected to have escaped with GH¢6,680 which they had taken from Mr Kamara during the nearly 45- minute exercise after tying their victims.
Spider, Tsegah and a third suspect, identified as Aaron, who is currently in custody, were alleged to have robbed a Ghanaian woman of $64,000 on the GIMPA road in 2008, while Spider single-handedly robbed a foreigner of his Pathfinder vehicle on the Spintex Road in 2008.
The police also mentioned the robbery of a forex bureau near the St John’s Grammar School in early 2009 and another robbery on December 7, 2009, during which a RAV4 vehicle was snatched from its owner. The vehicle was later retrieved from Ho during the Yam Festival there.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, who was assisted by her deputy, ACP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Monday, the two armed young men entered Mr Kamara’s house.
She said someone in one of the rooms sent a distress call to a soldier friend, who in turn called the Police Information Room.
According to her, when the police got to the house, a policeman and a soldier had already laid ambush in the house upon hearing the distress calls on their walkie-talkie.
DCOP Atinga said at the time of the robbery, lights in the house had been put out and it was unclear whether it was the robbers who had done that.
She said when the victims pleaded with the robbers to leave, since they expected a high profile visitor, the attackers declined to leave.
She said it was after a while that the two assailants decided to leave and, typical of Spider’s escapades, he started firing from his two pistols with the view to scaring away neighbours.
DCOP Atinga said as soon as the robbers came out of the house, Spider assisted Mathias to jump out of the house amidst the firing.
She said Spider was unlucky, as he was hit by the police response. She was certain that Mathias could also have been hit by a bullet, and, therefore, appealed to members of the public, especially health facilities, to report anyone with bullet wounds to the nearest police station.
On the December 21, 2006 incident, DCOP Atinga said Spider had been stabbed at Tesano by a US Marine who was on holidays in Ghana.
She said Spider was remanded in prison custody in Nsawam after he had successfully been operated upon by surgeons at the Police Hospital.
She said Spider’s condition deteriorated six months after and he was brought back to the Police Hospital for treatment.
She said although Spider was on police guard, he managed to escape from the hospital, which resulted in the loss of job by the policeman guarding him.
She said the Police Administration subsequently put a GH¢2,000 bounty on him, while one of his foreign victims also added GH¢2,000 to it.
Starmer here to assist SFO
Page 31: Daily Graphic, March 2, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales, Mr Keir Starmer, is in the country to hold discussions with stakeholders in Ghana’s criminal justice system with the view to strengthening relations between Ghana and the United Kingdom.
The discussions are centred on offering training to and equipping some of Ghana’s crime fighting agencies, particularly the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which is currently being re-positioned as the Economic and Organised Crime Agency with an expanded mandate to deal with money laundering, cyber fraud, among others.
At a meeting with the leadership of the SFO, Mr Starmer pledged the commitment of the UK to assist Ghana with the requisite training for staff of the SFO and provide logistics for the organisation.
He noted, for instance, that while some SFO staff were already receiving training, the stay of the Head of Governance and Justice at the British High Commission, Mr Roger Coventry, had been extended from nine to 19 months.
He said international collaboration held the key to fighting organised crime, hence the UK’s support to Ghana to help it contribute efficiently and effectively to dealing with the menace.
Mr Starmer said organised crime was a menace to the world and that it was only through joint collaborations by states that a major headway could be made.
He expressed satisfaction with the widening of the remit of the SFO and pledged continuous support to the new agency when it became operational.
The Board Chairman of the SFO, Mr Justice Amonoo Monney, expressed appreciation to the UK government for the support so far and explained that with the expansion of the mandate of the SFO, personnel of the agency would require more expert training to enable them to confront the challenges of fighting organised crime.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, said it looked forward to recruiting more personnel to enable it to deal with its expanded mandate.
He said the SFO would also be prosecuting on the authority of the Attorney-General, hence the need to ensure that staff were adequately trained in investigations, monitoring and prosecutions.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales, Mr Keir Starmer, is in the country to hold discussions with stakeholders in Ghana’s criminal justice system with the view to strengthening relations between Ghana and the United Kingdom.
The discussions are centred on offering training to and equipping some of Ghana’s crime fighting agencies, particularly the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which is currently being re-positioned as the Economic and Organised Crime Agency with an expanded mandate to deal with money laundering, cyber fraud, among others.
At a meeting with the leadership of the SFO, Mr Starmer pledged the commitment of the UK to assist Ghana with the requisite training for staff of the SFO and provide logistics for the organisation.
He noted, for instance, that while some SFO staff were already receiving training, the stay of the Head of Governance and Justice at the British High Commission, Mr Roger Coventry, had been extended from nine to 19 months.
He said international collaboration held the key to fighting organised crime, hence the UK’s support to Ghana to help it contribute efficiently and effectively to dealing with the menace.
Mr Starmer said organised crime was a menace to the world and that it was only through joint collaborations by states that a major headway could be made.
He expressed satisfaction with the widening of the remit of the SFO and pledged continuous support to the new agency when it became operational.
The Board Chairman of the SFO, Mr Justice Amonoo Monney, expressed appreciation to the UK government for the support so far and explained that with the expansion of the mandate of the SFO, personnel of the agency would require more expert training to enable them to confront the challenges of fighting organised crime.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, said it looked forward to recruiting more personnel to enable it to deal with its expanded mandate.
He said the SFO would also be prosecuting on the authority of the Attorney-General, hence the need to ensure that staff were adequately trained in investigations, monitoring and prosecutions.
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