Affable, attractive and talented will be attributes that put him right in the middle of what many wrote off as a dying industry. At a time when Ghanaian movies came no close to matching those from Africas’ most populous nation, Omar Baa Oumson and his generation of actors and actresses appeared on scene to salvage what remained. Soon Ghana could boast of a formidable movie industry still growing in international proportions.
Never lacking a bright smile, there always seem to be something about Omar, especially on set that makes him a delight to watch so much that he could even steal the shine from the lead actor/actress of a movie.
He gained an unrivalled mindshare in Ghanaian movie lovers after casting in 2007 classic, Crime to Christ. He was in the movie alongside Madjid Michel , Yvonne Nelson, Naana Hayford and Gavivina Tamakloe.
Thought ethnically Fulani, ‘Trinity by Nationality’ is how Omar Baa Oumson describes his origin; African by Spirit, Ghanaian by Soul and Sierra Leonean by flesh. His early life begun in Freetown -Sierra Leone, with his family. Definitely a family man, Omar believes the love, affection and support he got from his parents makes them the finest ever to walk the face of the earth.
Born in the early 1970’s he nurtured childhood fantasies of becoming a pilot when he becomes an adult but as he grew older and the puzzle of life fell in place he found himself pursuing a rather different career within the entertainment industry.
Omar Baa Oumson has always been an attention lover; he takes pleasure in putting a smile on a sad face through a genuine display of his entertaining talents. He has a rap music single to his name, released in 1989. He happens to exhibit proficiency in choreography and dancing.
Oumson holds a degree in French and Tourism from the Université Cheikh Anta Diopn (Cheikh Anta Diop University) in Dakar, Senegal. While in school he became the head of English students studying French at the University, underscoring his capabilities as a leader (political and otherwise).
His first appearance on the Ghanaian set was in Shirley Frimpong Manso’s ‘Different Shades of Blue’ – a television series about five university girls who shared a hostel room. Now Omar can count over 20 movies in which he has stared – dozens are in the pipeline soon to hit the screens.
Besides acting, Omar is a script writer, programmes organiser, radio presenter and linguist (English and French). He hosts a radio music programme Criss-Cross Africa on Citi FM, Accra. His lingual proficiencies have taken him across continents.
Omar expressed strong emotions against the increasing phenomenon of nudity in Ghanaian movies. “it’s crazy ,man, it’s crazy’. I don’t blame the producers or actors but blame the public,” he said. He thought the public’s continuous purchase of such movies motivate movie producers to make more of such movies to meet rising demands. “Those who complain are very few, majority are those who buy the movies.”
The actor harbours some quite revolutionary political ideas. “Democracy is not good for Africa”. In his view, it further separates Africans along the artificial boundaries that were set by the colonial masters. Monarchy or unity in political ideology is the way to go. Omar is a Pan-Africanist (Nkrumaist). He hopes to find himself within the ranks of ECOWAS or the AU canvasing for an immediate unity of African states.
Omar is a self-confessed fashion freak. That is at least one thing that is common between the characters he plays on set and his lifestyle. He enjoys the attention, “if I go to a party for instance and somebody is better dressed than me, I will go home and change.”
The programmes organiser is working on a project which he believes will aid in educating persons in West Africa’s English speaking countries about their counterparts in French countries. The saying that the English are very ignorant of the French is true he said, referring to observations he made during his numerous travels and interaction with both parties as a bases.
As his hobbies you will find Omar Baa Oumson partying or shopping.
He has words of encouragement for young movie producers that they pursue their trade with commitment and diligence as it is a very powerful tool to exhibit the rich Ghanaian culture and the beauty in African diversity.
Asem, known in private life as Nana Wiafe Asante Mensah, has allegedly lured a school girl into his Achimota home and had sex with her while she was intoxicated by a drug he allegedly put in her drink.
The story, published in Flex newspaper and written by journalist Attractive Mustapha, is known as Mustapha Inusah.
I thought I was just feeling sleepy naturally so I allowed myself to sleep. I only woke up and realized that my virginity had been broken with blood on me. “That was when I knew I had been raped. I could not tell my mum who happens to be a teacher in a Senior High School since she would not have taken it kindly. I only went to the Maamobi Polyclinic and the doctor told me I was pregnant. I told Asem I was pregnant but he did not mind me till even now, though I hid it from my mum.” The minor told the newspaper captured by
I and the family of Mr Doe in Keta (V.R) are dumbfounded when we read a response through the Lawyers of Mrs Benyiwa Doe to the Ghana Media Commission in the Ghanaian Daily Guide newspaper on Monday, January 17, 2011 denying with arrogance that She (Benyiwa Doe) “Did not Kill Her Husband Mr Doe”.
I am Dennis Doe-Vormavor, The Interim Chairman of Ghanaians Abroad Against Corruption and a Nephew of Mr Doe (Late husband of Mrs Benyiwa Doe). I say with astonishment and extreme anger that Honourable Minister Benyiwa Doe has had the effrontery to deny through her Lawyers to the Ghana Media Commission that she did not kill her husband with poisonous substance. In fact, in her effort to try and deny her iniquitous act, she failed to explain to Ghanaians how she killed my uncle (Mr Doe) if not through poison.
Since my statement was published that she killed her husband (my uncle) with a poison in Nigeria in the 1980’s,poison which a pathologist report confirmed that high doses of rat poison was found in Mr Doe’s bloodstream. the Criminal Investigating Dept of Ghana Police have shown no sign of investigating the matter until we all heard the denial from the Honourable Minister – Mrs Benyiwa Doe through her Lawyers to the Ghana Media Commission.
I deem the denial through her solicitors to the Ghana Media Commission as ridiculous and not enough since the matter is a criminal offence committed by Mrs Benyiwa Doe. I would have expected the C.I.D of Police or the Attorney General to lodge an investigation into the matter. The Ghana government must not cover up murder!
Though I am a resident in Glasgow UK I am prepared to come down to Ghana with more credible evidence and as a witness to show that indeed Ama Benyiwa Doe killed my uncle, provided my safety and security can be guaranteed by the state. I have also spoken with Mrs Arkoh (a Ghanaian) in London who was the Senior Nurse on duty during the postmortem of my late Uncle Mr Doe in Nigeria and is also willing to come down to testify of what she knows about the death of Mr Doe if her security can be assured.
In fact, it is rather unfortunate that one woman who could have even testified before I do so is late honourable Hawa Yakubu who was with Madam Benyiwa in Nigeria during that time but died mysteriously. So now, who poisoned Honourable Hawa Yakubu at the party? This is a food for thought.
I believe that Mrs Benyiwa Doe’s denial through her Lawyers to the Ghana Media Commission as reported by the Daily Guide news paper has raised more questions than answers.
Some of the questions are:
1. Why did Mrs Benyiwa Doe fail to explain to Ghanaians how my uncle (Mr Doe) died if she did not poison him?
2. Why did Nigerian Authorities suspect foul play in Mr Doe’s death and opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
3. Why Mrs Benyiwa Doe has to flee to Ghana under a Diplomatic Immunity (though not Ghanaian government official) whilst the investigation was in progress in Nigeria?
4. Is Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe not living with her late husband’s child in Ghana after poisoning Mr Doe to death?
Ironically, I believe many Ghanaians are still surprised to hear more this unfolding story concerning the death of my uncle (Mr Doe) who was allegedly poisoned in Nigeria by his wife Mrs Benyiwa Doe who is the current regional minister of Central Region.
Mrs Ama Benyiwa used to work at the University of Ghana, Legon administration as a typist and got married to my uncle who was also a lecturer at the university. Eventually, Mr and Mrs Doe moved to settle in Nigeria in the 1980s.
In Nigeria, Mr and Mrs Doe tried tirelessly for a child but could not produce one and as today, Ama Benyiwa has no child of own. Mr Doe – the husband, seemingly lost interest and Mrs Ama Benyiwa resorted to accusing her husband Mr Doe of womanizing and cheating on her. The situation became worse when Mr. Doe befriended a Nigerian woman (Ms. Tolou) in Lagos.
Mr Doe’s girl friend had a child for him and as the result Mrs Benyiwa Doe could not hold her anger and therefore decided to eliminate the Husband with poisonous substances which created a debilitating effect on my uncle which eventually led to his death. The Nigerian authorities suspected foul play in Mr Doe’s death and therefore opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Interestingly, to cover up her deeds from her accusers, Ama Benyiwa quickly camouflaged the Nigerian security and the investigation team at the time by adopting the child from her late husband’s beautiful girl friend. Ama eventually sold my uncle’s assets and then fled to Ghana under a diplomatic immunity by the then Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria with the help of Ghana Foreign Affairs dept under Prez Rawlings. Now, if she claims nothing fishy happened, why the rush to sell the assets of the late husband and flee to Ghana shortly after the death of my uncle? Who was chasing her?
As at today, there’s credible information that Ama Benyiwa Doe is currently wanted in Nigeria to answer allegations of murder of her husband Mr Doe. We also want to assure you that your denial through your Lawyers to the G.M.C is the genesis of the battle, so the honourable Minister Ama Benyiwa should not think that she’s gotten away with the murder of my uncle. Ama has to face the due punishment of the law. This wicked crime can no longer be swept under the carpet!
Though the Nigerian security is still investigating this case according to a reliable source, we also want urge the Ghanaian authorities to lodge an investigation into this atrocious act perpetuated by the honourable Minister Ama Benyiwa Doe.
Its still beggar’s belief that the President and the Parliament of Ghana could still allow a murderer to continue as a Minister representing the good hardworking people of Central Region.
I call on the President, The Ghanaian Authorities and National Security to investigate this matter and together with Interpol should extradite Ama Benyiwa Doe to Nigeria to face Justice!!
Source: Dennis Doe-Vormavor, LLB MA Political Science Interim Chairman Ghanaians Abroad Against Corruption G
Please note this is just an estimate as said by the compiler of this list, most of their wealth are hidden to public eye.
The fact that Nigerian, Aliko Dangote is Africa?s richest man according to Forbes 2011 Rich List doesn?t mean he is the richest in Africa. Forbes list is made up of billionaires who gave access to their personal finances and assets.
Ghanaians Abroad against Corruption is appealing to The UN Secretary General and the Ecowas, to investigate the circumstances whereby elements of the Ghanaian National Security services, and advisors of Ghanaian President John Atta Mills authorised the supply of military equipment, namely pistols, ammunition, rocket propelled launchers, bullet proof vests and two way’/adios to Laurent Gbagbo.
, Our sources on the Ghanaian -Ivorian Border stated that on Christmas Day at 2.am 400 members of the ruling party militia, the United Cadres Front, “crossed the border town of Enchi in Ghana into Cote d ivoire and headed south to a rendezvous point at Grand Bassam in Cote d Ivoire.
Close allies of Laurent Gbagbo have set up a command post to receive these men. Though the aims of objectives of these men are not clear, it is believed they are to act as a search and destroy unit and to thwart forces loyal to Mr Alhassane Ouatarra from taking key installations around the capital and to support the Ivorian army factions loyal to Mr Gbagbo.
The Ghanaian Government we have learnt has bowed to pressure from their National Security outfit to support Mr Gbagbo with financial assistance. We condemn this decision as it undermines the efforts of the African Union and Ecowas, the regional body to bring the crisis to an end.
We also expressed serious reservations about the involvement of Ex President Mr Jerry Rawlings, and Mr Kojo Tsikata, former Head of the Ghanaian Intelligence services, 1982-1995 and currently special advisor on National Security, Foreign Intelligence and Elections under President Mills as well as elements of the Ghanaian security services. We know that elements of the United Cadres front militia are very skilled and well drilled. All are former members of the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution (CDRs) and the defunct Forces Reserve Battalion (FRB) which existed under the 19 year rule of Mr Jerry Rawlings. Most of these individuals also received training in Libya. We ask the United Nations to investigate why elements who are not part of the Ghanaian army are being sent to Cote d Ivoire without any proper mandate to prop up and support a government whose current legality is in dispute and also why military equipment is being supplied, just satisfy vested interests in violation of international Law.
Dennis Doe Vormavor
Interim Chairman, Ghanaians Abroad against Corruption (GAAC)
GlasgowUK
Dr Frank Obese Jecty
GAAC Representative, Abidjan, Cote d ivoire
In the finest tradition of civil society activism, the right philosophy is
to be critical of government, in all its forms.
In liberal democracies, like Ghana has gradually become, the government pays
enough people to sing its praises that civil groups who spend their time
flattering the incumbent administration would very quickly become redundant.
Evidence-based criticism is a niche that groups like us have been rushing to
fill ever since our democracy matured in the late 90s. Even where government
has been manifestly successful, we rarely see the need to offer praise,
since it is the moral duty of a government to do right by its citizens. In a
democracy, the government does not conduct itself creditably because of its
magnanimity. It does so to survive, which by definition cannot be considered
praiseworthy.
When they fall short of the glory of the constitution, however, it is
important that we are loud in our reproof. For, it amounts to a breach of
great oaths, which they have voluntarily taken. Our culture, at least,
frowns on breakers of oath.
All the above notwithstanding, sometimes, praise can be utilised for
critical purposes. By highlighting good behaviour on the part of specific
institutions and individual actors, the spotlight necessarily turns
afterwards to the failing conduct of other institutions and actors. That is
to say, it is possible to highlight in order to contrast.
That is why for the first time IMANI-Ghana has decided to release a list of
the top 5 most inspirational public sector leaders in Ghana for the year
2010.
In the finest tradition of rating lists, the assessments implied by the
rankings reflect the opinions of those keen observers of the public sphere
who were approached. They reflect a review of media accounts, policy
statements, public records and documented outcomes from the perspective of
independent researchers who nonetheless would have their personal biases as
to what constitutes ?accomplishment?.
The methodology undergirding this ranking is quite straightforward,
actually. We graded a vast number of public sector institutions according to
our three-prong criteria:
*Independence*. Has the institution demonstrated significant independence
from the central government to the extent that the resulting autonomy has
shielded it, to a reasonable extent, from the arbitrary will of
partisan-minded politicians?
*Public Engagement*. Has this institution avoided easy and convenient
propaganda and focussed on providing information to the general public that
is reliable, accurate, thoughtful and useful for the purposes of assessing
the institution?s challenges, performance and objectives? Have they told the
citizenry the hard facts of policy choices and kept away from gratuitous
controversy?
*Promise of Transformation*. The challenges that confront all facets of our
national life are many, deep and complex. Even great leadership would not
succeed in delivering instant results. However, has the institution under
consideration articulated by dint of hard work and persuasive argument an
end in sight that is uplifting and empowering such that its followers and
the general public can dare to hope that transformation may be imminent?
But this is a list of leadership, to wit: inspirational leadership. Thus,
once the institutions had been agreed upon, the rake that was used to winnow
the list down even further was that of clear and unambiguous evidence that
leadership is at play here. Our bias was to look for evidence of exemplary
leadership by the Chief Executive though we were also quite ready to concede
that in some instances leadership appeared to emerge with collective
features. But that is where the quibbling over leadership theory ended.
We all know leadership when we see it. Has this public sector leader
demonstrated resolve in leading her institution to pursue a clearly
articulated vision even in the face of limited resources and the pressures
of conformity in an environment of cheap politics?
When all was said and done, our team and external consultants settled on the
following inspirational leaders of 5 promising state institutions.
1. *Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur*, Governor of the Bank of Ghana
The Governor impressed us with his conduct of the affairs of the Monetary
Policy Committee in particular, though there is evidence that other aspects
of the Bank?s work, such as banking inspection, have also improved. Despite
pressure from political forces to go beyond moral suasion in compelling the
banks to reduce interest rates, the Governor has been unwavering in going
where the evidence leads. Diplomatically, he has rebuked the government to
pay the contractors and stop dithering, since this has an effect on
non-performing loans in the system, and by extension lending rates. In the
words of Friedman, ?inflation everywhere is a monetary phenomenon?. What
this quip means in this context is that the Governor?s conduct of monetary
policy has more than contributed to the era of stable inflation and the
stable national currency. His attitude to his duties has helped stem the
loss of investor confidence that marked the early months of 2009. He may be
dour, but only in a manner quite becoming of a guy who has his fingers on
the nation?s purse strings.
1. *Alfred Oko Vanderpuije*, Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan
Assembly
After a number of false starts, the Mayor quickly settled into the hot seat
of managing the affairs of the country?s most politically sensitive city. We
were unimpressed in the early months of his administration, especially
during the botched decongestion exercise, and we still have a few unresolved
policy differences with him about the right approach to urban ?planning?.
The jury is also still out on his sanitation policy, which some have
interpreted as a ?get Zoomlion? strategy, and also on his outdoor
advertising directives. But the Mayor is fast learning to focus the energies
of the assembly on the big picture. His symbolic raids on government
agencies in pursuit of property rates arrears and his optimistic courting of
Jeffrey Sachs? Millennium City initiative are all testimony to a
determination to ?transform? how city management is done in Ghana. He has
refrained from involving himself in petty partisan squabbles and maintained
a balanced posture with respect to Accra?s many chieftaincy and other
sectarian faultlines. He wants greater devolution of power from the central
government to the towns and regions, and he has even begun developing
investment plans for some of the most challenging sectors under his
jurisdiction. The results are yet to change the fortunes of the city, but we
were inspired by his energy and commitment.
For many years, the Chief Psychiatrist was almost a lone crusader for mental
health policy reforms in this country. Today, he has been joined by a number
of non-governmental organisations and won the attention of the President.
Some have faulted his professional diplomacy skills, following persistent
falling outs with the sector Minister. But what the Chief Psychiatrist lacks
in negotiation skills, he more than makes up for it with relentless focus,
determination and dedication. His knowledge of psychiatric issues and the
policy environment is encyclopaedic, even daunting. He has also shown that
he has a streak of positive opportunism in him. Seizing on the Anas Aremeyaw
exposes, rather than feel indicted by it, he has forced mental health issues
up the media?s priority list for the health sector, bringing into sharp
focus such matters as alcohol regulation, substance abuse, and
community-based care. And by reminding all of us that there is one
psychiatrist for every 2 million Ghanaians, Akwasi Osei has changed the
terms of the debate. He isn?t bringing a neglected issue to our attention;
he is exposing the hollowness of our Ghanaian civilisation.
1. *The Commissioners* of the Commission for Human Rights &
Administrative Justice
CHRAJ?s managers never hide from the fact that there is a host of human
rights issues across the breadth and depth of this country that their
limited resources and personnel prevent them from even remotely addressing.
But there has never been a doubt about the organisation?s direction. This
year, they have navigated political controversy and militant cynicism, and
come out with their reputation intact. They have been vocal in urging
greater speed in prisons reforms, and been loud in their denunciation of the
mob mentality that still dogs nominally liberal-democratic Ghana. They have
firmly planted the issue of disability rights in the labour reform agenda of
Ghana. When ?decongestion? became a lazy excuse for haphazard demolition
activities, CHRAJ descended upon municipal authorities, giving much impetus
to public interest activists who took to the Law Courts to redress the
excesses of these so-called ?urban planning? programs. CHRAJ has never
missed an opportunity this year to paint for all of us what a ?decent and
humane society? looks like.
1. *The Frontline Staff* of the National Disaster Management Organisation
NADMO failed to take major steps towards achieving the organisation?s own
objective of transforming into a comprehensive risk preventive system for
the country from its current status as a disaster response agency. But the
organisation?s field staff need to be commended for their valiant efforts
this year in responding to multiple incidents, predominantly
flooding-related, across the country. Lack of policy robustness
notwithstanding, these underpaid personnel responded quite creditably to
tragedies across the length and breadth of our nation, from the marshy banks
of the Volta to the arid grasslands of the Savannah. Many risked their
lives, as they wrestled against the elements, working without the right
equipment and protective gear. Their actions are the stuff of which genuine
patriotism is made of, and not the bombastic rhetoric of the Accra elite.
So there you have it.
As we said at the very beginning, this is a list of the most inspirational
public sector leaders 2010 gave us. And that indeed is the focus of this
report, but we couldn?t help taking a jab at some of the public sector
institutions that have been most egregious in flouting the list of 3
?virtues? we outlined earlier on. If we were compelled to produce a list of
the 5 least inspirational institutions, we would have gone for the
following:
1. *Ghana Statistical Service:* for mucking up a vital national exercise
as the Census (none of the authors of this report was ?counted?), and
generally larking about with essential public communications of crucial
policy relevance, such as the rebasing fiasco.
2. *Brand Ghana Office*: for raising our hopes of a new era of strategic
national image development, and promptly dashing all of them. True, several
public sector institutions seem dormant too. Forestry and Wildlife
Commission; Water Resources Commission; Chieftaincy Secretariat etc., are
just a few examples of dozens of lazing bureaucracies maintained out of
public funds to what purpose only God knows. But Brand Ghana takes the can
because of the fun fair which surrounded its launch and the audacity of the
PR fraud that was perpetrated on us, the poor citizenry of Ghana. No doubt
its managers shall blame their abysmal performance on resource constraints,
but there are many civil society and private sector organisations labouring
under similar challenges that nevertheless ?makes an effort? to be relevant.
At any rate, we feel that this phantom state body is a good placeholder for
the many state institutions that hide behind the ?no money? slogan to waste
our time and limited resources in this country.
3. *Public Utilities Regulatory Commission*: not that we have any
disrespect for the very capable professionals who are in charge of this
body. But the truth is that we have seen little in the way of clear
regulatory decision-making about how to improve on the quality of the
service delivery of the vital utilities. Next year, we hope they up their
game.
4. *National Communications Authority*: for the creeping signs of
regulatory interference in market phenomenon best left alone. Compulsory SIM
card registration, for instance, was an unnecessary burden on the system.
There appears to be renewed political domination of the regulatory process,
and an alienation of the private sector in the telecoms space. We all know
that many things could be changed for the better in this critical industry,
but the quality of the change is important too.
5. *Ghana Police Service*: the reformist instincts of the Inspector
General of Police notwithstanding, this security establishment got itself
involved in too many controversies for its own good, in some instances
actually damaging its credibility in the public?s perception.
There are certainly a number of organisations that came to our attention
that we decided to somewhat ?ignore? in this report. We have always
respected the National Development Planning Commission?s senior staffers,
but we also felt that the organisation is very much in flux at this time and
it would be best to give it a bit of time to settle. The GNPC puts us off by
their secrecy and aloofness and undemocratic attitude to public
accountability. First oil, notwithstanding, we decided that they do not
merit our ink, positively or negatively. Perhaps, who knows, 2011 may be
different.
*Courtesy AfricanLiberty.org and IMANI, Foreign Policy Magazine?s fifth most
influential think tank in Africa in 2009 ***
Respectfully yours,
Franklin Cudjoe
Franklin Cudjoe is head of Ghanaian think tank, IMANI, a non-profit,
non-government organization dedicated to fostering public awareness of
important policy issues concerning business, government and civil society.
He is also editor of AfricanLiberty.org The Foreign Policy Magazine named
IMANI, the fifth most influential think tank in Africa in 2010. Franklin was
named Young Global Leader 2010 by the World Economic Forum.
John Sutton’s Enterprise Map Project aims at providing a detailed profile of industries and of leading industrial companies in each of several countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The first two volumes on Ethiopia and Ghana are now available:
An Enterprise Map of Ethiopia is published by the International Growth Centre in association with the London Publishing Partnership. The hard copy version is available from Central Books ,see?http://tinyurl.com/igc-ethiopia.?This study was supported by the International Growth Centre , which is directed from hubs at the London School of Economics and the University of Oxford. The IGC was initiated and is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID).
Recent Papers
‘Industrial Organization’, in China‘s Great Economic Transformation, Loren Brandt and Tom Rawski (eds.), forthcoming, Cambridge University Press.
Quality, Trade and the ?Moving Window?: the Globalization Process
This paper analyses the globalization process by reference to a model in which firms and countries differ both in productivity and quality.? The model implies that there is a lower bound to quality below which firms cannot sell, however low the (local) wage rate they face.? The range of quality levels between the maximum level and this lower bound shifts upwards when trade is liberalized (the ‘moving window’).? The initial (‘impact’) effect of globalization, i.e., that associated with trade liberalization, in an initially segmented (but not autarkic) world economy may well reduce welfare in countries with intermediate levels of capability , but these countries stand to be the most important gainers as capabilities are transferred across countries in subsequent phases of the globalization process.
Market Share Dynamics and the ‘Persistence of Leadership’ Debate
This paper sets out an analytical framework which can be used to examine the evolution of market shares and to address debates regarding the “persistence of dominance”? question.? The method is applied to a study of 45 Japanese manufacturing industries over a 25-year period. (Now published,American Economic Review,?March 2007 and the published version can be accessed viahttp://dx.doi.org/10.1257/aer.97.1.222).
Flexibility, Profitability and Survival in an (Objective) Model of Knightian Uncertainty
This paper explores the relationship between a firm?s investments in ?capability building?, and its prospects for survival. The analysis is carried out using a model of Knightian uncertainty which differs from the standard ?subjective probability? approaches in a number of fundamental respects.
Market Structure – Theory and Evidence
This paper surveys the recent literature on the determinants of Market Structure, with particular reference to the Bounds approach.? It has been prepared for the forthcoming Volume 3 of theHandbook of Industrial Organisation, edited by Robert Porter and Mark Armstrong.
The Indian Machine-Tool Industry A Benchmarking Study
This report sets out some benchmarking results on productivity and quality for CNC (computer numerically controlled) machine tools produced by leading Indian manufacturers. The study was carried out by Professor J. Sutton of the London School of Economics, with the assistance of Mr. G. Doshi, on behalf of the World Bank, during the period December 1999 to August 2000.
Competing In Capabilities: An Informal Overview
The World Bank?s Development Economics Unit (DEC) launched a new lecture series,?DEC Lectures, on April 21, 2005, on the theme of ?New Findings in Development Economics.?? This, the second lecture in the series, discussed the notion of ?capabilities? (revealed and underlying) with regard to industrial development, and presented an analytical framework of competing capabilities, aiming to identify the key factors that lead to success or failure. Michael Klein, Vice President of the Private Sector Development Unit at the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Chief Economist for IFC, served as discussant for the lecture, and Alan Winters, Director of the Development Research Group within DEC, chaired the session.
John Sutton is the Sir John Hicks Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics. He has been a Visiting Associate Professor at Tokyo University, a Marvin Bower Fellow at the Harvard Business School, and a Visiting Professor of Economics at Harvard University, and at the Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago. His books include?Sunk Costs and Market Structure?(MIT Press, 1981), Technology and Market Structure (MIT Press, 1998), and?Marshall’s Tendencies: What Can Economists Know??(MIT and Leuven University Press, 2000). He has been a consultant for the World Bank since 2000, and served on the Advisory Committee on Access to the Japanese Market (Tokyo) from 1995 to 2002. He served as a member of the Group of Economic Advisors to the President of the European Union from 2001-2004, and of the Enterprise Strategy Group (Ireland), which reported in 2004.? He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society, and of the British Academy, and was? President of the Royal Economic Society from 2004 to 2007.
Pope Benedict XVI, has conferred on former President John Agyekum Kufour, the Papal Award of Knight Commander of St. Gregory the Great, for his dedicated service to mankind and the Catholic Church in general.
Also honoured was his wife, the former First Lady, Theresah Kufour, on who the Papal Award Dame of St Gregory the Great for her commitment to the plight of poor children and their mothers.
The award conferred on the former President is the highest ecclesiastical honour to be conferred on anybody, Catholic or non-Catholic in the annals of the Church in Ghana.
The Most Reverend Thomas Mensah, Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, assisted by Archbishop Emeritus Akwasi Sarpong on behalf of the Pope conferred the honour on the former President at a ceremony held at the St. Gregory the Great Provincial Major Seminary at Parkoso near Kumasi, on Sunday.
A cross section of the clergy, traditional rulers, political leaders and civil society organizations attended the programme.
To signify his new status in the Church, former President Kufour was decorated with a medal and also given the Scroll of the Decree.
A citation accompanying the award and read by Archbishop Emeritus Sarpong said “You have done your best to give an example of how a Catholic should behave in a role of leadership in matters of the faith. The Church is proud of you for the way you have helped to promote humanity and Catholic principles.
“Showing Catholic principles, you refused to allow an International Conference of gay people to be held in Ghana. You have shown great leadership wherever the Lord had committed you as you had exhibited the principles of justice, peace and equity.
“It is for these reasons coupled with your Catholic principles that the Archdiocese of Kumasi requested and obtained for you from his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to be awarded.”
Archbishop Emeritus Sarpong lauded former President Kufour and said he was of the conviction that the award would help to propel him to greater heights in his endeavours.
Most Reverend Mensah appealed to all Catholics to be committed to the tenets of the Church to ensure its growth.
He stated that the awards had helped brought honour to the Archdiocese in general and also lauded the former first couple for their dedicated services to mankind.
THE ACTING National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey (Rtd) has finally succeeded in carrying out his intentions of terminating the contract of some private security companies providing security services at the Kotaka International Airport (KIA).
This follows a decision by the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) to terminate the contracts of two private security companies that had been operating at the airport for the past 3 years, without reason.
Somewhere in February 2009, Gbevlo Lartey issued a directive asking the various state institutions operating at the airport not to renew contracts they had with the various security companies operating there.
Though these companies had managed to maintain sanity at Ghana’s main entry point which was once bedeviled with serious thefts, the National Security Coordinator exerted pressure on GACL to terminate the contracts of the companies without reason.
He is thus believed to have influenced the decision to terminate the contract of the two companies since he was said to have forced the new Board of the GACL, which is chaired by Deputy Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantsiman East, George Kuntu Blankson, to take the decision.
Subsequently, the Board also caused the dismissal of the Managing Director of the GACL, Elizabeth Annor Sackey and her deputy Yaw Kwakwa.
Both were relieved of their appointments without any specific reason since none was stated in their dismissal letters.
This, according to sources, was because they were appointed by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
The duo has since been replaced with Mrs. Doreen Owusu Fianko and J. Q Amedior, who are said to have strong links in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), as the new Managing Director and Deputy respectively.
Sources close to the GACL said part of the reasons Mr. Kwakwa in particular was booted out was because he insisted on the strict adherence to tender processes as stated in the country’s Procurement Law and for the contract to be awarded to any security company that met the standards set for the job in spite of its political affiliation.
He was said to have made this suggestion at a time when the authorities including Mr. Gbevlo Lartey and the GACL Board were said to be making frantic efforts to circumvent laid-down rules in favour of their preferred choice of company, Sohin Security, a company which has virtually no experience in handling security issues at the airport.
But Mrs Fianko says there was nothing wrong with the termination of the contract of the two companies, though it was subject to renewal.
She made the statement when DAILY GUIDE contacted her for her contribution to the story.
‘It’s not termination, the contract has ended. There was a tender whoever isif they are not there then it means they didn’t win the tender,’ she said.
Attempts to speak to Mr Gbevlo Lartey proved unsuccessful since his phone was said to be switched off or out of coverage area.
DAILY GUIDE sources at the Ministry of Interior have indeed confirmed that Sohin, which is owned by a strong member of the ruling party, Solomon Adelaquaye, managed to secure an operating license as a recognized private security company only three months ago.
Meanwhile, one of the basic requirements, as stated on the tender document, was for a company to have 6years experience before it would be awarded the contract.
Barely a month ago, a similar move was undertaken by the management of GACL which led to the termination of a contract with advertising company Alliance Media, which was operating advertising concessions at the KIA, because it was said to have been awarded the contract during the NPP regime.
The company has since sued the GACL together with Speedmasters Limited, a new company which has taken over the advertising concessions from the plaintiff.
According to Alliance Media, the GACL had acted in contravention of the Public Procurement Act to the extent that it paved the way for the second defendant, Speedmasters, to be in gross violation of the same Act and the terms of the request for proposal.
The company is therefore praying the court to give an order of mandamus to compel the GACL to award its advertising concession on contract to the plaintiff, for being the best offer and responsible tender.
Now that the contracts of the companies have been terminated, several employees of the affected security companies are expected to be laid off.
This is likely to have a telling effect on an economy that is struggling to be on its feet. The situation has compelled some individuals and group of persons operating at the airport to raise questions about the prudence of the decision.
Affable, attractive and talented will be attributes that put him right in the middle of what many wrote off as a dying industry. At a time when Ghanaian movies came no close to matching those from Africas’ most populous nation, Omar Baa Oumson and his generation of actors and actresses appeared on scene to salvage what remained. Soon Ghana could boast of a formidable movie industry still growing in international proportions.
