Sri Lanka: UN agency funds irrigation improvement projects

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A farming couple water spinach in their vegetable garden. Photo: IFAD/GMB Akash

The United Nations fund tasked with promoting rural development will provide a $22-million loan to Sri Lanka to finance the improvement of the South Asian country?s irrigation infrastructure and crop diversification, as well as projects to expand market opportunities for smallholder farmers.

The line of credit from the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will benefit an estimated 7,000 small-scale farming households in Kilinochchi district in Northern province by improving downstream irrigation infrastructure from the Iranamadu reservoir.

The reservoir, which has not been maintained adequately for many years, will be rehabilitated to increase its water-holding capacity.

The loan agreement was signed yesterday at the IFAD headquarters in Rome by Kanayo F. Nwanze, the IFAD President, and Ambassador Asitha Perera of Sri Lanka.

The funding will also be used to train farmers on water saving management methods, including climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, such as rainwater harvesting. Women?s groups will also be formed and trained on growing vegetable crops.

The latest financing brings to 16 programmes and projects funded by IFAD in Sri Lanka since 1978 at a total investment of about $400 million, benefiting more than 500,000 households.

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UNESCO chief condemns latest murder of journalist in Somalia

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The head of the United Nations agency tasked with promoting and defending the freedom of the press today condemned the murder of a journalist in Somalia and called for measures to improve the safety of media professionals in the Horn of Africa country.

Hassan Osman Abdi, 29, a journalist and director of the Shabelle Media Network, a private radio and television network, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Saturday at his home in the capital, Mogadishu, according to local sources cited by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

?The murder of Hassan Osman Abdi is a severe blow to a country where the media have paid a heavy price for exercising the human right to freedom of expression,? said Irina Bokova, UNESCO?s Director-General, in a press release.

?The death of journalists undermines the right of people to be kept informed. Somalia?s reconciliation and reconstruction will not take place without securing respect for these two rights.?

She urged the Somali authorities to take urgent measures to improve the safety of journalists and investigate the murder of Mr. Abdi, who was reportedly shot by five gunmen after arriving home from Radio Shabelle, where he worked on political issues.

Some 21 Somali journalists and other media professionals have been listed on UNESCO?s dedicated web page ?UNESCO Remembers Assassinated Journalists,? since 2006.

Last year, UNESCO provided equipment and training on safety, conflict-sensitive journalism and humanitarian reporting to more than 40 media professionals in Somalia. The training was intended to enhance the quality and flow of information on humanitarian issues to audiences inside Somalia and to Somali refugees in camps in neighbouring countries.

In 2010, UNESCO, in collaboration with Radio Netherlands Training Centre, provided training to 20 Somali community radio journalists, helping them to improve their ability to work in an environment of conflict.

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IMF Executive Board Concludes 2011 Article IV Consultation with Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe

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IMF Executive Board Concludes 2011 Article IV Consultation with Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe

SAO TOME, Sao Tomé, January 31, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On January 23, 2012, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with São Tomé and Príncipe.1

Background

São Tomé & Príncipe’s economy is gradually recovering after a marked slowdown in 2009.The slowdown reflected a decline in foreign direct investment as a result of the global financial crisis. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth is estimated to have rebounded to nearly 5 percent in 2011 as externally financed projects helped drive activities in construction, trade, tourism, and agriculture. Growth momentum is expected to increase as exploratory drilling for oil continues. The authorities expect oil production to start in 2015. The recovery is subject to downside risks stemming from the financial and economic difficulties in Europe, which could dampen the prospects for aid, foreign direct investment, and remittances.

Inflation has declined substantially since 2008 but remains at double-digit levels. A tightening of fiscal and monetary policies in 2008 and falling world food prices helped lower year-on-year inflation from a peak of 37 percent in July 2008 to 11½ percent in June 2010. Since then, a reversal in international food prices, increases in the administered retail prices of petroleum products, and other domestic factors have kept inflation in the teens. Inflation is projected to decline in line with expected falls in non-fuel commodity prices over the medium term, supported by the peg to the euro and fiscal consolidation.

The central bank has made good progress in strengthening the regulation and supervision of banks. It has initiated a program of on-site inspections and expects to complete the inspection of all banks by end-2012. All banks have complied with a recent increase in minimum capital requirements. Rapid credit growth and the economy’s vulnerability to economic and financial stress in Europe pose risks to financial stability.

São Tomé & Príncipe remains at a high risk of debt distress, although it has received substantial debt relief. The debt burden remains heavy, especially in relation to export revenues. Improvement in the outlook hinges on the commercial viability of the oil discoveries.

Oil signature bonuses, investment inflows, and concessional loans have financed a large increase in the current account deficit in recent years. Without oil, the deficit is not sustainable. Quantitative assessments of the real exchange rate are inconclusive. However, continuing high domestic inflation will lead to over-valuation of the real exchange rate and loss of international competitiveness.

The authorities have improved the investment climate. The World Bank’s 2012 Doing Business Survey ranked São Tomé & Príncipe among the top reformers in the past year. Major reforms included the elimination of a raft of licensing and minimum capital requirements for starting a wide range of businesses. The authorities are now turning their attention to upgrading the country’s physical infrastructure and reforms in the energy sector to assure more reliable power supply.

Executive Board Assessment

Executive Directors welcomed São Tomé and Príncipe’s gradual recovery from the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis. However, the economy is vulnerable to external shocks and downside risks stemming from the ongoing financial and economic difficulties in Europe.

Directors commended the progress made in fiscal consolidation and saw a need for continued efforts to dampen domestic demand pressures, safeguard international reserves, and protect the exchange rate peg. They welcomed the authorities’ medium-term fiscal objective of stabilizing the domestic primary deficit at a level that can be financed by available non-debt-creating resources. In this regard, Directors encouraged the authorities to further enhance domestic revenues, reduce exemptions from customs duties, and adopt an automatic price adjustment mechanism to pass through changes in world fuel prices to retail prices. Directors also stressed the need to break the cycle of domestic cross arrears by ensuring realistic budgeting for the government’s utility bills, imposing a hard budget constraint on regional and local governments, and making the state-owned water and electricity corporation commercially viable. They supported the steps being taken to ensure that future oil revenues are managed carefully.

Directors noted that despite substantial debt relief, São Tomé and Príncipe remains at high risk of debt distress and urged the authorities to maintain a prudent external borrowing policy, relying mainly on grants to finance the public investment program. Directors stressed that, if new borrowing is needed, it should be on highly concessional terms. They looked forward to the participation in the multilateral debt relief initiatives by remaining creditors.

Directors welcomed the authorities’ commitment to strengthen monetary management and banking supervision. They urged continued vigilance toward risks stemming from rapid credit growth, high dollarization, and economic and financial developments in Europe. They supported ongoing efforts to strengthen the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.

Directors commended the progress in improving the business and investment climate. They encouraged the authorities to continue their efforts by upgrading infrastructure and assuring a reliable energy supply, in order to boost output and export growth. Directors also urged the authorities to complete the new National Poverty Reduction Strategy as soon as possible.

São Tomé and Príncipe: Selected Economic Indicators, 2007–16

    2007    2008    2009    2010    2011    2012    2013    2014    2015    2016

    Actual    Est.    Projections

    (Annual change in percent, unless indicated)

National income and prices

GDP at constant prices

6.0    9.1    4.0    4.5    4.9    5.5    6.0    6.0    24.4    4.6

Consumer prices

End of period

27.6    24.8    16.1    12.9    12.0    6.0    4.0    3.0    3.0    3.0

Period average

18.6    32.0    17.0    13.3    12.4    8.8    5.0    3.5    3.0    3.0

External trade

Exports of goods and nonfactor services

-22.0    49.6    3.1    9.5    10.2    12.3    12.1    12.9    497.8    0.5

Imports of goods and nonfactor services

3.5    25.4    -5.7    22.4    4.4    7.4    10.5    7.9    39.9    8.5

Exchange rate (dobras per US$; end of period) 1

14,362    15,228    16,814    18,336    …    …    …    …    …    …

Real effective exchange rate (depreciation = -)

1.3    20.0    -6.3    1.9    …    …    …    …    …    …

Money and credit

Base money

50.0    18.9    22.3    -7.9    -3.5    18.6    15.4    12.2    14.9    10.0

Broad money (M3)

38.1    36.8    8.2    25.1    15.8    14.7    13.5    11.9    15.1    10.0

Credit to the economy

33.9    22.8    39.1    40.0    12.2    9.2    7.6    7.6    11.8    8.2

Velocity (GDP to average broad money)

2.6    2.6    2.8    2.6    2.7    2.8    2.7    2.7    3.0    2.9

Central bank reference interest rate (percent)

28.0    28.0    16.0    15.0    …    …    …    …    …    …

Bank lending rate (percent)

32.4    32.4    29.3    26.8    …    …    …    …    …    …

Bank deposit rate (percent)

12.8    12.8    10.8    12.4    …    …    …    …    …    …

Government finance

(Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

Total revenue, grants, and oil signature bonuses 2

165.5    45.4    31.2    38.1    30.0    37.1    26.8    26.1    34.9    32.8

Of which: tax revenue

16.4    15.2    14.5    16.6    15.9    16.0    16.0    16.0    14.2    14.3

Nontax revenue

2.8    1.5    2.1    2.2    1.7    1.4    1.4    1.4    1.4    1.5

grants

126.6    28.7    14.6    19.3    12.4    10.9    9.4    8.7    4.9    3.7

oil signature bonuses

19.8    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    8.8    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0

oil revenues

…    …    …    …    …    …    …    …    14.3    13.2

Total expenditure and net lending

40.1    31.2    49.8    49.1    47.4    37.3    32.8    31.6    26.5    25.5

Of which: personnel costs

8.9    8.1    7.9    8.3    8.3    8.1    8.0    8.1    7.1    7.2

nonwage noninterest current expenditure

15.7    12.1    11.7    11.1    9.9    9.5    9.6    9.5    8.2    8.0

treasury funded capital expenditures

1.1    1.3    4.0    2.3    1.8    1.9    2.0    2.0    5.6    5.9

donor funded capital expenditures

10.4    6.9    24.5    26.3    25.9    16.5    11.9    10.9    4.8    3.6

Domestic primary balance 3

-8.5    -7.0    -8.0    -4.1    -3.5    -3.3    -3.2    -3.1    -5.9    -5.9

Overall balance (commitment basis)

125.4    14.2    -18.6    -11.0    -17.4    -0.3    -5.9    -5.5    8.4    7.3

External sector

Current account balance

Including official transfers

-38.4    -36.8    -26.9    -30.6    -30.0    -27.8    -28.0    -27.5    -24.6    -28.6

Excluding official transfers

-49.4    -49.4    -42.5    -52.1    -42.8    -39.0    -38.3    -37.0    -28.8    -30.8

PV of external debt

11.8    10.5    18.4    33.7    31.8    31.3    29.8    29.5    23.9    23.1

External debt service (percent of exports) 4

4.6    3.0    8.0    1.5    13.4    14.3    14.0    12.5    2.4    2.0

Export of goods and nonfactor services (US$ millions)

13.4    20.0    20.6    22.6    24.9    27.9    31.3    35.4    211.4    212.5

Gross foreign reserves 5, 6, 7

Months of imports of goods and nonfactor services

3.5    6.6    5.9    4.5    4.4    4.2    4.5    4.9    5.5    5.5

Millions of U.S. dollar

22.5    40.9    43.7    37.9    34.6    34.8    43.7    49.9    69.8    92.6

As proportion of M2 (percent)

97    114    130    120    98    84    83    82    76    73

National Oil Account (US$ millions) 9

14.9    12.1    9.8    7.9    6.3    31.1    25.1    20.2    68.6    115.8

Memorandum Item

GDP

Billions of dobras

1,953    2,696    3,185    3,719    4,376    5,165    5,839    6,508    8,315    8,886

Millions of U.S. dollars

144    183    196    201    254    297    334    369    468    496

Privatization account (million U.S. dollars)

0    21    6    0.7    0    0    0    0    0    0

Sources: São Tomé and Príncipe authorities; and IMF staff estimates and projections.

1. Central bank (BCSTP) mid-point rate.

2. Includes HIPC and MDRI debt relief.

3. Excludes oil related revenues, grants, interest earned, scheduled interest payments, and foreign-financed capital outlay.

4. In percent of exports of goods and nonfactor services. Includes HIPC and MDRI debt relief.

5. Gross reserves exclude the National Oil Account and commercial banks’ foreign currency deposits at the BCSTP in order to meet the reserve requirement for their foreign currency deposits or as application deposits for new licensing.

6. For 2008, includes the proceeds from the privatization of the government’s share in the fuel distribution company (ENCO) of $32 million. Of this, $10 million were used to pay back some of ENCO’s debt to Sonangol, $0.96 million were used to audit the transaction and $21.4 million were put in the central bank to boost reserves.

7. For 2009, includes new allocation of 6.5 million SDR.

8. Imports of goods and nonfactor services excluding imports of investment goods and technical assistance.

9. For 2012, based on the assumption that dispute will be settled to allow disbursement of bonuses for Block 6.

1 Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm

SOURCE 

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

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Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton on reports of the ill-treatment of detainees in Libya

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Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton on reports of the ill-treatment of detainees in Libya

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, January 31, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, made today the following statement:

“The EU is deeply concerned at the reports of torture and ill treatment of detainees in Misurata. It is essential that the rights of all detainees throughout Libya are fully respected in accordance with international standards, that the authorities accelerate the process of bringing all places of detention under their control and that there is a thorough, impartial and effective investigation of allegations of violations of detainees’ rights. Where abuses have occurred, those responsible for them should be brought to justice.

I therefore welcome the announcement made today by the Libyan authorities of steps to address many of these issues. I trust that the government will promptly implement the measures so as to guarantee the protection of these most vulnerable groups. The EU is ready to provide every assistance to the authorities in their efforts to ensure respect for human rights, democratic values and the rule of law.”

SOURCE 

European Union

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EALA passes bill on Transboundary Ecosystems

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…law shall ensure sustainable utilisation of shared resources

East African Legislative Assembly, Kampala, Uganda, January 31, 2012: The Assembly has today debated and passed the East African Community Transboundary Ecosystems Bill 2010.  The Bill which sailed through the 3rd Reading late this afternoon, now moves an inch closer to becoming a law of the Community.

The Bill whose debate was suspended last year received overwhelming support when it came up for debate on the floor of the House.  The Council of Ministers had in September 2011 during the 1st Meeting of the 5th Session held in Kigali, Rwanda, requested more time to consult.  The adjournment was further stayed in November 2011 during the subsequent 2nd Meeting of the 5th Session held in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Key among the concerns of the Council of Ministers was the need to clarify the mandate of the envisaged Commission for the management of transboundary ecosystems vis-a-vis existing institutions. At the same time, Council felt there was an imminent conflict on matters of land given the fact that such matters remain a preserve of the Partner States as stated in the Common Market Protocol.

The object of the Bill originally moved by Hon. Dr. George Francis Nangale is to provide for a legal framework to effectively streamline the management of trans-boundary eco-systems with a view to enhancing the quality of the environment and also ensure sustainable utilization of shared natural resources in the EAC.  It seeks to provide for the management and regulation of transboundary ecosystems to establish a Commission managing ecosystems in the region and other related matters.

In his contribution today, Hon Gervase Akhaabi noted that the passage of the Bill would protect the livelihoods and manage the resources while Hon Christopher Nakuleu termed the Bill timely for the region if the EAC was to protect its natural resources.

Hon Dr. Aman Kabourou however stated the law would contradict national policies.  “ While I am not against protecting our shared eco-systems including Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa basin, we have to be careful so as not to contradict existing policies and laws in the respective Partner States,” Hon Kabourou remarked.

On his part, Hon Augustine C.L Lotodo noted that the EAC Transboundary Ecosystems Bill clearly addressed matters of common interest in natural resources which EALA was duty bound to support. .

Hon Lydia Wanyoto stated the law would help the EAC harness its natural resources for posterity since it among other areas sought to manage future conflicts on the shared regional resources.

According to Hon Sebalu the Bill is a well thought-out law that manages the transboundary ecosystem s for mutual benefit of the region.   The law takes care of any existing or future bilaterals between the Partner States as well.   The legislator noted that climate change was adversely affecting the region and the sooner the issues were addressed, the better.   “It is important for Partner States to cede sovereignty so that expectations of the East African people are met”, Hon Sebalu remarked stating the law fully acknowledged and complemented the national laws and institutions on issues of transboundary nature.

Other Members who rose in support of the Bill were Hon Catherine Kimura, Hon Dr. Said Bilal, Hon Dora Byamukama and Hon Leonce Ndarubagiye. Hon Dr. F.L Masha and Hon Dr Kabourou recorded reservations in the interesting debate that lasted close to six hours.

The Bill shall now go through the succeeding stages of assent with the Speaker of the Assembly expected to submit the amended /Assent copies to the Heads of State for assent.  Should it be assented (signed) to by the five Heads of State, then it shall become law.

The House resumes business on Thursday, February 2, 2012.  Tomorrow,  the Assembly shall have a meeting with GAVI Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation).

Atta-Mills and Nana Addo: compare and contrast

The juvenile delinquents of the NDC have decided, in the absence of any achievement by the Mills-Mahama administration, to constantly denigrate the image of Nana Addo, the NPP flag-bearer for the 2012 general elections.Thier latest song of desperation has been that the 2012 election is going to be centered on personally profiles and not the daily bread and butter issues confronting the heavily socio-economic disenfranchised Ghanaian.

All those delusional promises made in 2008 have all been shelved, the action declared for this year has been an illusion while the size of their gluttonous stomachs continue to swell.Thier affinity for stolen wealth is nothing we have ever witnessed in our nation’s 53-year history.

And all this is happening because the chief executive officer of our nation who is suppose to play an effective over-sight role is totally incapacited through cancer invasion of all his mental faculties. This has rendered him totally incapable of playing his mandated role and very sensitive appointment solely meant for him to make, are being made over his head by his subbordnates.This is why even-though the president claims to be abhorrent to insults, people under his very nose are always on rampage hurling abuse at political opponents.

These NDC juveniles are in the habit of always trying to draw a parallel between Nana Addo and Atta-Mills, in the area of morality and personal integrity. But putting these two men under the microscope of our Ghanaian norms, it is evident that the difference between them is as deep as the depth of the Pacific Ocean.

Contrasting personalities

Nana Addo is married with five daughters. All these children lived, with some still living, under his roof. They have all been seen through school and have all come out as very successful and well-cultured adults who have had decent parental care, direction and love. He has excelled academically, an outstanding lawyer, relentless human rights activist, a freedom fighter, visionary, decisive, thinks on his feet, positive thinker, can-do spirit, a listener, sympathetic, generous, efficient, capable, and most significantly, has never had a child out of wedlock. And as honorable Maxwell Kofi Jumah once said: “if this is what an individual can achieve by taking drugs, then I will certainly like to be a drug taker”.

On the other hand,Atta-Mills,who claims to be Jesus Christ incarnate, first went out of his matrimonial home, embarked on illicit sexual escapades and ended up having a child whose true father is vehemently being contested by no less a person but the wife of Atta-Mills himself. And this has actually been at the centre of why Naadu has refused to allow this alleged son of Atta-Mills, anywhere close to their abode.

The fact is that Naadu knows very well that her husband,Atta-Mmills,is not in a position to fertilize the egg of a woman for conception to take place, and for that reason, she reserves every right to reject this alleged son of Atta-Mills, as really being his on and fittingly keeping him anywhere near her husband.

Holding Atta-Mills hostage

Atta-Mills is currently incapacitated and with such a person being in-charge of a whole nation with our myriad of socio-economic problems is a very frightening situation to be in as a people. But most dangerous of it all is the fact that a disabled Atta-Mills has also been taken hostage within the confines of the old-slave castle and being manipulated like a puppet on a string, by these shameless gluttonous hyenas at the seat of government.

 

These people have no interest in the welfare of the ordinary Ghanaian whose welfare is suppose to be paramount. They are rather pre-occupied with the extent to which they can beat each other in the area of plain-faced thievery, shameless vilification of political opponents and other shameless acts of abject imbecility.

 

These people around Atta-Mills at the seat of government know very well that they have no love for the man and that they are only putting up this fictitious public affection for him just because his continuous presence at the presidency is their only sure way to stolen monies.

 

Obviously, these people will swiftly abandon Atta-Mills when he becomes an ex-president on Monday, 7th january, 2013 and he will be such a lonely man. Atta-Mills has failed all Ghanians, particularly the people of his home region. And coupled with the fact that his wife, Naadu, is not welcoming to human-beings but dogs,i really can’t fathom people trooping to an ex-president Atta-Mills to keep him company and if care is not taken, the man might not live for long as an ex-president, taking into account his current deteriorated health status.

 

Atta-Mills will go down in history as the worst leader Ghana has ever had, and also, the most lonely and saddest. The right option for him was to have refused to run for a second term to enable him retire peacefully and think about his poor health but just like a typical visionless African leader, the sweet melodies of these fools around him has taken over his sense of judgement, as regards the true feeling of the citizenry, and he has fallen under the illusion that he is the most efficient person on the planet at the moment.

 

 

 

Ndc’s juvenile vagabonds

Nana Addo has been constantly vilified by a juvenile vagabond as Felix Kwakye-Ofosu.First of all, i would like to know if Felix Kwakye-Ofosu has a person of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s caliber in the whole of his family genealogy. Even Atta-Mills who now looks just like a cartoon character, as a result of drastic deterioration of his health status due to aggressively rampaging carcinogenic cells, is even respected by these foolish and uncouth juvenile vagabonds.

For me, these NDC juvenile vagabonds are simply following the irresponsible behaviour of their benefactor, Atta-Mills, whose monumental failure to render a fatherly oversight responsibility over his one and only alleged son, is very much akin to the very character of parents of these brain-dead juveniles masquerading as NDC mouth-piece.

Hypocritically, Atta-Mills will sit aloof for these boys to go about insulting decent members of our society, whose only sin is the fact that they profess different policy alternatives, and then gather the clergy at Pedeuase-lodge to engage in his crocodile-tears serialization of abhorring “intemperate language”.

The future of Atta-Mills

In my candid estimation, Atta-Mills is the most hypocritic,wicked,pretentious,ungrateful,irresponsible,visionless,incompetent,indecisive,unproductive,hopeless,useless and bogus leader Ghana has ever had. And like i have always said, these imbeciles insulting people on his behalf are doing so just to ensure the constant flow of cheap government cash into their pockets and not because they have any grain of love for the man. Even an energetic, politically astute and the owner of the NDC, former president Rawlings, was quickly betrayed by these greedy bastards.

The Libyan National Transitional Council’s (NTC) mandate expires this year and according to the road-map to usher them into a post-Gaddafi Libya, none of the members of the council will be eligible to either form a political party or contest for any political position in a new Libya.

However, here in Ghana, there is no law baring the Atta-Mills-led ‘National Disastrous Council’ (NDC) and its members from partaking in this year’s elections. But the monumental failure of Atta-Mills to unite his very own party, the Ghanaian citizenry, and above all, deliver on his illusionist campaign promises, has already made the ground extremely fertile for him and his gang of useless, but highly efficient property grabbing pseudo social democrats, to be excluded from anything that has to do with our nation’s governance in 2013 and beyond, since they are going to be comprehensively annihilated at the polls in 2012.

Justice Abeeku Newton-Offei

E-mail: [email protected]

THE ”CONVICTION” OF AL MUSTAPHA-GOD IS NOT ASLEEP

By Femi Fani-Kayode
When I heard that Major Hamza Al Mustapha was convicted of murder and sentenced to hanging by a Lagos High Court yesterday afternoon I was utterly shocked, saddened and disgusted. And let me tell you why. I was one of those that opposed the late General Sani Abacha’s government and fought against Al Mustapha and co. with every fibre of my being during the NADECO days. Given that, if anything, I should h…ave been rejoicing with the many other NADECO leaders, supporters and stalwarts who honestly believe that Al-Mustapha actually ordered the death of our wonderful heroine Alhaja Kudirat Abiola and who believe that he deserves to die as a consequence of it.

However I am not rejoicing with them simply because as far as I am concerned, based on the evidence that was adduced in court, this man had absolutely nothing to do with the killing of Kudirat Abiola. I believe that whatever we do we must always operate within the law and there is no place for the expression of unfettered emotions, vendetta or jungle justice in a civilised country when it comes to the administration of justice. I have been following this case closely for the last four years and I have publically called for the release of Al Mustapha on a number of occasions simply because I found it shameful and unjust that the state could lock up a man in a dungeon for 13 years without being able to prove a case against him.

By doing that they have already almost ruined his life yet there is a presumption of innocence in our law. Now the state has gone even a step further in this whole unsavoury and disgraceful episode and they have convicted a man to hang for something that he knew nothing about simply because they want to silence him and stop him from exposing the truth about the rolen that many of the high and mighty played in the death of Abacha, MKO Abiola and many others. They want to jail and kill Mustapha just as they have jailed and killed so many other innocent men that came before him. Let me make this clear- I hold no brief and I have no sympathy whatsoever for the Abacha government that Al-Mustapha served and neither do I seek to defend their actions whilst in office.

The truth is that they committed many atrocities and till today many find it hard to forgive them for those atrocities. Many of our people in the south-west were killed, locked up and driven into exile by that government as was the late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua and many others from other parts of Nigeria. I myself had to leave the country and go into exile in Ghana in 1996 because of them and I never thought that I would ever return to Nigeria again. Yet despite all that I cannot allow my bitterness and anger with the Abacha regime so becloud my reasoning and sense of justice that I would support or applaud a case of what would essentially be judicial murder.

Yes Abacha’s government and even Mustapha himself, as a consequence of his unflinching loyalty to his boss, committed atrocities and violated the rights of many but does that mean that we should do the same to them? Do two wrongs make a right? Are we all to descend into the pit of slaying the innocent and punishing their families simply because we must have our pound of flesh and even where there is no tangible evidence to justify such a course of action? I challenge those that doubt me to look at the evidence and to study the judgement closely as I have done. It is wickedness and it is a travesty of justice. Worse still it sends the wrong signal to an already tense nation that is fraught with regional, north/south and Christian/Muslim tensions. This absurd judgement could not have come at a worse time and I have little doubt that the Boko Haramites amongst us (whether it be the overt or covert ones) will make quite a song and dance of it.

Thankfully Al Mustapha has the right to appeal but the implication of that is that this man’s enemies have virtually destroyed his life already and left him with no hope because, unless he is granted bail pending that appeal, he will be struggling with it from the dingy dungeons of Kirikiri prison all the way to the Supreme Court for the next ten years. That is the Nigerian state and ”system” for you. When you are loyal to your leader, when you speak out in his defence, when you defend him with your life and when you tell the world the truth they come at you with everything that they have got and seek to jail or kill you for it once that leader is no longer in power or is no longer alive. One thing is clear though- those that seek to hang Al Mustapha and silence him forever have forgotten the God factor. They have forgotten that there is a God of justice and mercy who still rules in the affairs of men and who forges the destiny of nations.

For my old adversary and new friend Major Hamza Al Mustapha I will not beg any mortal for mercy and neither will I plead for him. I will only pray to the Living God that if truly this man is innocent, as I earnestly and honestly believe that he is, then he should be eventually freed and completely vindicated. This is especially so because something tells me that our country will still need him. God’s ways are not ours and only He sees and knows the hidden things that lie ahead. It is not Al Mustapha that we should weep for, it is Nigeria.

Finally let me restate my position clearly for all to see and for posterity to take note of. I believe that Hamza Al Mustapha is innocent of this crime. As far as I am aware there is absolutely no evidence against him and the only person that said that he ordered him to go and kill the late Kudirat Abiola (Sergeant Barnabas Jabilla) has long since recanted and said that he was induced and compelled to give that false evidence by the authorities. In any civilised country that would have been the end of it but not in Nigeria. In Nigeria it is a case of ”we must get him at all costs” even if it means bending the law and influencing the courts. One has to ask whether, as a people, we have any fear of God? Is there any justice in Nigeria? Is there any fairness? Can we ever rely on the courts to do the right thing when the state determines to punish an innocent man for his perceived sins against the powers that be?

I am fed up and disgusted with the sort of thing that goes on in this country when it comes to such matters and I just cannot understand how Nigerians are so comfortable with such injustice and wickedness being meted out to their compatriots. Do they not know that tomorrow it could be them or a member of their family? On this matter I stand by Al Mustapha shoulder to shoulder just as I do with every other innocent person that has been unfairly charged to court for political reasons and who has suffered persecution at the hands of a relentless and vicious state that have no fear of God.

This country just has to change. God’s wrath is stirred up by such wickedness and insensitivity. You lock up an innocent man for 13 years in the most horrific conditions for something that he did not do, you delay his trial, you wrongly convict him where there is clearly no evidence to justify it and now you want to hang him? God is not asleep Nigeria. Unless God wills it Hamza Al Mustapha will not hang and ultimately he will be vindicated. My prayers are for him and for his family at this difficult time. God bless Nigeria.

 

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode was former Aviation Minister

AC Milan signs Muntari

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Italian Serie A champions AC Milan have signed Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari from city rivals Inter Milan.
The move will come as a shock to many, who felt Muntari was spent. However, his close friends in Ghana have told SuperSport.com that Milan’s push for the midfielder has been on the cards for well over a month. No fees were mentioned for the deal.
Apparently, coach Max Allegri has wanted a player of Muntari’s style, but has been waiting to see how he will perform in active sessions. Reports say following two games at the African Cup against Botswana and Mali, Allegri was convinced that getting a deep lying playmaker now before the transfer window slams shut tonight to boost their options will be best.
The player has had a tough time for Inter and he was widely expected to join Milan at the season’s end. However, Matt Barker earlier reported that Milan wanted to secure the services of the .
Sulley is expected to feature for Ghana against Guinea in Group D of the ongoing African Cup

Tullow – We won’t risk Jubilee Field

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Oil exploration giant, Tullow Oil Plc says Ghana’s lack of infrastructure to process the natural gas associated with the Jubilee Field is not the reason for its failure to reach the production target of 120,000 barrels of oil per day, as claimed by some industry players.
“This is a new field; we cannot rush it. We cannot push to ramp-up production to get high numbers so everything looks great, and then we damage the wells. We can’t do that,” said Founder and Chief Executive, Aidan Heavey.
He told Business and Financial Times in an interview: “We are looking after the oil, the government is looking after the gas; and so what we’re looking at is how to manage the field. Whether we produce gas or not is not going to affect the 120,000 barrels. ”
“There has been lots of talk about Jubilee’s production target. Setting a target is one thing, but you don’t rush into it — you have to do it properly so that you don’t have issues. We will not take a risk to produce 120,000 barrels at Jubilee because it needs to be managed properly.
“Jubilee is a credible, valuable asset for Ghana, and has to be managed properly — that is a key issue. With a new field, you learn as you go along and take technical information and make sure nothing is done to damage the field in the long-term, because the important thing is the asset,” Heavey explained.
Jubilee was originally planned to reach a plateau output of 120,000bpd this year, but now that peak-level is expected to be reached in 2013. This year, output from Jubilee will range from 70,000 to 90,000 barrels per day.
He explained that Tullow and its partners are determined to fix the technical issues relating to some wells at Jubilee. Together, they need to invest about US$400million to fix mechanical issues related to well designs at the field.
Jubilee is a world-class oil field, with estimated recoverable resources of up to 1billion barrels.
Tullow in a recent statement disclosed that Ghana government has approved the next phase of development for the Jubilee Phase 1A.
“Government of Ghana approval for the next phase of development, Phase 1A, was received on January 9, 2012. ” The total cost of Phase 1A is expected to be approximately US$1. 1billion and drilling of wells is expected to commence in February 2012.
“The development will consist of eight new wells, five producers and three additional water injectors and the expansion of the subsea network. It will be conducted over an 18-month period,” Tullow explained.
After drilling, Tullow said it expects that production of oil from the phase will be “brought onstream from the second quarter. ”
The company expects to invest US$2billion in capital expenditure this year, compared with US$1. 4bn in 2011. This will be spent on projects including drilling off the coast of French Guiana, where the British explorer announced a large discovery in September 2011.
The company also announced a new frontier exploration partnership with Shell in the Atlantic basin. Tullow said the planned partnership will focus on making “transformational” discoveries in underexplored frontier basins.
Tullow has interests in over 85 exploration and production licences across 23 countries in Africa, Europe, South America and South Asia.

The B&FT

Global food prices easing, volatility still high

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Global food prices are set to decline further in 2012 as a weaker world economy dampens consumer demand while food supplies rise, the World Bank said on Tuesday, warning that a possible rise in oil prices could reverse the trend.
The World Bank said prices have declined steadily but volatility has increased, including among staples like wheat, maize and rice. In some countries, domestic food prices are higher than levels in 2010, keeping pressure on poor households that spend the bulk of their income on food.
The World Bank increased its monitoring of global food prices in 2009 during a food and energy price crisis that hit food-importing countries the hardest and highlighted the chronic underinvestment in agriculture in developing countries.
The World Bank said its 2011 annual food price index shows prices are still 24 percent higher than in 2010 despite some decline. Global prices fell 8 percent in the three months from September to December 2011, ending the year 7 percent below December 2010 levels.
“The worst food price increases may be over but we must remain vigilant,” said Otaviano Canuto, the World Bank Group’s vice president for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management. “Prices of certain foods remain dangerously high in many countries, leaving millions of people at risk of malnutrition and hunger.”
The Bank warned, however, that the steady decline in global food prices could be halted if weather patterns change, or if world oil prices rise, pushing up price volatility and demand for biofuels.
Price volatility adds uncertainty and keeps prices high because farmers are unsure how to price their products.
The World Bank’s sister organization, the International Monetary Fund, warned last week that global crude oil prices could rise as much as 30 percent if Iran halts exports as a result of U.S. and European Union sanctions.
Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz shipping route, which handles 20 percent of oil traded globally.

Reuters