NUSOJ and Somali Media Fraternity Grieve As They Take Part The Burial Ceremony On Sunday

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NUSOJ and Somali Media Fraternity Grieve As They Take Part The Burial Ceremony On Sunday

MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 30, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) organized the member journalists and Somali media fraternity to gather at Madina hospital on Sunday morning to attend the funeral and show solidarity to our slain colleague who was killed in Mogadishu on Saturday evening, meanwhile the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes the government’s probe into the killing of the Radio Director.

Late Hasan Osman Abdi (Fantastic), the director of Shabelle Radio, was killed by two unknown assailants armed with pistols, near his home near his home in Nasteeho neighborhood of Wadajir district in Mogadishu on Saturday evening January 28, 2012, according to witnesses.

The gunmen immediately fled from the area, according to Shabelle radio. It is not yet clear the reason behind his killing.He was rushed to Madina Hospital, where he was declared dead, where his body has been kept in the overnight. It is not yet clear the reason behind his killing and no group claimed the responsibility of the attack

NUSOJ officials and Somali media fraternity, some of the Shabelle Radio staff, where Hassan has worked, and family members took the body to a cemetery at Baqdaad village, in the outskirts of Mogadishu, almost 10km Southwest of Mogadishu, where late Hassan Osman Abdi’s burial took place. The burial took place at around 10:00am Sunday morning.

NUSOJ Treasurer, who is also the union’s press freedom coordinator, Abdirashid Abdulle Abikar, spoke to the local and international media soon after the burial ended and extended condolences to the families, friends and colleague of late Hassan. Mr. Abikar also called the journalists and media workers to be vigilant and take safety measures following this murder.

“We pray Almight Allah to remain his soul in Paradise.” Abdirashid Abdulle Abikar, NUSOJ Treasurer and Press Freedom Coordinator said urging that the journalists should take urgent safety measures to ensure their safety in the wake of this horrendous murder.

Mr. Abikar also stressed such killings could only mean to silence the voice of the voiceless and called the journalists to continue their normal work they serve to the public, while he thanked to the journalists in general for their bravery in continuing providing accurate and balanced information to the public in line with the rules and regulations of journalism, which going against such rules could be disastrous and unprofessional, which has nothing to do with journalism.

On Sunday, Somalia government condemned the brutal murder of the radio director pledged urgent investigations into the killing, according to a statement.

Late Hassan Fantastic, 30yrs, is survived by a wife and three children

– two girls and a boy and was the third Shabelle director killed since 2007. Three journalists have been killed in Mogadishu last alone

Journalists in Somalia who are working in one of the most dangerous environments in the world to be journalists lack the appropriate safety trainings and as well as need their level of professionalism to be upgraded.

SOURCE 

National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)

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President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia) and President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (Tanzania) to announce new leadership and key commitments by 41 African Presidents in malaria fight

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President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia) and President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (Tanzania) to announce new leadership and key commitments by 41 African Presidents in malaria fight

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 30, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and His Excellency President JakayaMrishoKikwete of Tanzania will address members of the press directly following the meeting of the Africa Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) during the African Union Summit. ALMA members– 41 heads of state and government and the African Union—will take decisions on financing challenges and solutions and new commitments to the malaria fight and its impact on child and maternal health. ALMA members elected President Sirleaf to succeed the founding chair, President Kikwete. A new deputy chair will be elected during the meeting.

WHEN:    Monday, 30th January 2012,15h00

WHO:     President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President JakayaMrishoKikweteand ALMA Executive Secretary Joy Phumaphi

WHAT:    Press Conference with Q&A

WHERE:    New African Union Commission Conference Complex – “Small Conference Hall 1?, above the “Multipurpose Hall”, on the second floor (look for ALMA Media sign)

SOURCE 

African Union Commission (AUC)

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18th AU Summit / President Thomas Yayi Boni elected as Chairperson of the African Union for 2012

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18th AU Summit / President Thomas Yayi Boni elected as Chairperson of the African Union for 2012

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 30, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — It was during a closed session of the 18th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that the Heads of Government and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) , that President Thomas Yayi Boni of the Republic of Benin was elected Chairperson of the African Union by his peers.

The newly elected Chairperson of the continental organization, will manage the affairs of the Union and represent the AU for a one year mandate.. According to the rotation principle, the Chairmanship of the Union for the year 2012 was to be given to a West African country. Therefore the Heads of State and Government of the AU endorsed the ECOWAS decision for Benin to take the turn at the helm of the Union

The newly elected Bureau of the Assembly is as follows:

–    Uganda, 1st Vice-president (Eastern Region)

–    Tunisia, 2nd Vice-president (Northern Region)

–    South Africa 3rd Vice-president (Southern Region)

–    Equatorial Guinea, Rapporteur (Central Region)

Benin is taking over the presidency from President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea whose mandate for the year 2011 has come to an end.

In his acceptance speech, President Yayi Boni underlined priorities of his mandate which includes peace, stability and security so that 2012 « be for Africa a year of blessings, peace and prosperity », he noted. He commended the resilience of the continent more specifically the overall proceedings of the auto determination referendum which lead to the creation of Southern Sudan, the 54th AU Member State; and the ongoing peace and reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire. Regarding the theme of the Summit, « Boosting Intra-African Trade », the newly elected AU Chairperson said the solution to the challenges Africa is facing rely upon the Africans themselves. He urged his peers to strive for more stability and security, reinforce continental integration, and promote infrastructure development in order fight efficiently against poverty. President Yayi Boni concluded his speech thanking the Heads of State and Government for the confidence bestowed on him by choosing him to manage the affairs of the Union for the year 2012. He called for a united Africa to help overcome the challenges of the time.

On a different note, the election of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners of the African Union Commission will take place on 30 January 2012.

SOURCE 

African Union Commission (AUC)

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I5th meeting of the Sectoral Council of ministers for EAC affairs and planning ends in Kampala / Ministers call for fast tracking harmonization of national laws to conform with the EAC Common Market P

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Press conference of Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra , AU Commissioner for Peace and Security

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Press conference of Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra , AU Commissioner for Peace and Security

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 30, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Ambassador Ramtane LAMAMRA, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union Commission (AU) will on Monday 30 January 2012 at 16h00, hold a press conference at New AU Conference Center «Small Conference Hall 1» in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

During the press conference that will hold at the margin of the 18th AU Summit, Ambassador Lamamra will address the following issue:

–    The state of peace and security in Africa.

Journalists are invited to take part in the press conference.

SOURCE 

African Union Commission (AUC)

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IMF Executive Board Concludes 2011 Article IV Consultation with Algeria

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IMF Executive Board Concludes 2011 Article IV Consultation with Algeria

ALGIERS, Algeria, January 30, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On January 11, 2012, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Algeria on a lapse of time basis.1

Background

Despite an uncertain international economic environment, the Algerian economy has been doing relatively well. Real nonhydrocarbon GDP growth in 2010 reached 6 percent and total GDP growth was 3 percent. Overall inflation fell to 3.9 percent in 2010 due to a fall in fresh food prices, while nonfood inflation remained low. Unemployment continued to decline slightly to 10 percent at end-2010, but youth and female unemployment remain high. The generally prudent macroeconomic management during 2000–10 has enabled large external reserves to be accumulated and sizable budgetary savings to be built up in the oil stabilization fund, while substantially reducing debt levels.

In 2011, growth is estimated to have remained solid and higher oil prices are strengthening Algeria’s external balance and boosting fiscal revenues. The ripple effects of the Public Investment Program (PIP) are expected to maintain nonhydrocarbon growth at about 5 percent, and to bring overall GDP growth to about 2.5 percent. Higher international prices

for food and substantial civil service pay rises have so far not led to significantly higher inflation, because of increased subsidies for basic food products, a higher level of household savings, greater demand for imports, and a vigilant monetary policy. Overall, inflation is expected to have stayed at about 4 percent in 2011. With higher oil prices, the current account surplus will increase to 9.5 percent of GDP in 2011 and hydrocarbon fiscal revenues rise by 30 percent. Official reserves have grown by US$16 billion since end-2010, reaching US$178 billion at end-August 2011 (three years of imports). The budget will remain in deficit at around 4 percent of GDP as a 32 percent increase in total expenditure, in particular higher public salaries and transfers, will more than offset higher fiscal revenues.

The outlook remains favorable in the short term, but fiscal sustainability and financial stability over the medium term have become more dependent on volatile oil prices. Growth will continue to be supported in the short term by public investment and the national hydrocarbon company’s investment program. Nonhydrocarbon GDP could grow by 5 percent in 2012, but hydrocarbon output would continue to decline because of weak global demand, constraining overall growth to about 3–3½ percent. Inflation would remain at about 4 percent if fresh food prices remain subdued and inflationary pressures from increased wages are contained. Over the medium term, the relatively high projected oil prices would sustain a positive external balance and large fiscal revenues, but the budget balance will remain in deficit.

Nevertheless, the expansionary fiscal stance of recent years has made the fiscal position vulnerable to oil price swings as the break-even price that balances the budget now slightly exceeds US$100/barrel. Important downside risks will arise in the event of a worsening in the international economic environment and a prolonged decline in oil prices. The external and fiscal positions would be seriously weakened, likely forcing scaling down public investment and leading to slower growth and higher unemployment. Also, much smaller resources in the oil stabilization fund would be left over for future generations.

Important challenges persist, including the need for diversification of the economy, improving the business climate, reducing unemployment, as well as curtailing medium-term vulnerabilities. With public investment expected to play a less dynamic role in the economy, the private sector will need to become a stronger engine for growth and employment creation. To achieve this objective, in 2011 the authorities launched a series of consultations with social partners to improve the business environment, which is central to improving long-term growth prospects.

Executive Board Assessment

Executive Directors welcomed Algeria’s overall good economic performance in recent years amid a difficult international economic environment. Nevertheless, they noted that significant challenges persist, and encouraged the authorities to renew their efforts to preserve macroeconomic stability, restore fiscal prudence, and diversify the economy with a stronger private sector. Further reducing unemployment, especially among the young, and enhancing economic opportunities for all remain pressing needs. More decisive structural reforms are vital to achieving these goals.

Directors stressed that while high oil prices provide scope for addressing pressing social demands and maintaining social stability, this should be managed carefully to avoid inflationary pressures and preserve medium-term fiscal sustainability. They noted that the significant growth in current expenditure in 2011 has made the fiscal position vulnerable to the risk of prolonged lower oil prices. Directors encouraged the authorities to adopt fiscal consolidation measures, which could include limits on wage increases and new hires, and a better targeting of transfers and subsidies. The continuation of greater mobilization of nonhydrocarbon fiscal resources and tax administration reforms should also help reduce the budget’s dependency on hydrocarbon revenues.

Directors emphasized the importance of ensuring good quality and efficiency of public expenditure. As the budget is the main lever in using and redistributing hydrocarbon wealth, they encouraged the authorities to build on recent progress in controlling the quality of public investment and to advance more forcefully in key areas of budgetary reform.

Directors commended the Bank of Algeria for containing inflationary pressures and effectively absorbing greater systemic liquidity from higher hydrocarbon revenues and large public spending. The significant growth in liquidity has not translated into higher inflation, but the risk of inflation has increased. In addition to the moderation of current spending, Directors noted that the authorities should consider tightening monetary policy early to prevent inflationary pressures from materializing. Directors considered that the exchange rate regime has served Algeria well. They welcomed the authorities’ commitment to maintaining the real exchange rate close to equilibrium, but emphasized the need to strengthen exchange rate fundamentals, including the fiscal position and productivity gains.

Directors stressed that, to make a significant dent in unemployment, a more ambitious structural reform agenda should be implemented. While welcoming the authorities’ efforts to support SMEs financing and improve the business environment, in consultation with social partners, they emphasized that stronger measures will be necessary for diversification of the economy, improving competitiveness, and boosting growth and employment. Directors also considered that the advances in financial sector reform should continue in order to address key constraints that limit financial intermediation and access to financing for the private sector. Moreover, they noted that increases in labor costs well above productivity gains, and constraints to private investment, such as the limitations to FDI adopted in 2009, hamper competitiveness and growth prospects. Directors encouraged the authorities to ensure a better synergy between macroeconomic policies and the structural reform agenda. They also encouraged the authorities to continue to seek better integration of Algeria into the regional and global economy.

Algeria: Selected Macroeconomic Indicators, 2007–12

Quota: SDR 1,254.7 million)

(Population: 35.6 million; 2009)

(Per capita GDP: US$ 4,435; 2010)

(Poverty rate: 12.1; 2000)

    2007    2008    2009    2010    2011    2012

                        Proj.    Proj.

Oil and gas sector

Total exports of oil and gas products (in billions of U.S. dollars)

59.6    77.2    44.4    56.1    70.9    66.2

Average crude oil export price (in U.S. dollar/barrel)

74.7    99.0    61.8    79.0    103.2    100.0

Crude oil production (in millions of barrels/day)

1.4    1.3    1.3    1.2    1.2    1.2

Output and prices

Real GDP

3.0    2.4    2.4    3.3    2.5    3.1

Nonhydrocarbon real GDP

6.3    6.1    9.3    5.9    4.9    5.3

Consumer prices (end of period)

4.8    4.9    5.8    4.5    4.5    4.1

Consumer prices (period average)

3.6    4.9    5.7    3.9    3.9    4.3

    ( In percent of GDP)

Investment and Saving

Gross capital formation

34.4    37.4    46.7    41.4    40.2    41.4

Of which: Nongovernment

18.9    19.6    27.5    26.4    26.2    28.2

Gross national savings

57.2    57.5    47.0    48.9    49.7    46.8

Of which: Nongovernment

37.3    32.1    34.2    35.8    39.7    39.5

    (In percent of GDP)

Public finances

Revenue

39.6    46.8    36.6    36.4    39.5    36.8

Hydrocarbon

30.1    36.9    24.0    24.1    27.4    24.8

Expenditure and net lending

35.2    39.2    43.0    38.2    43.4    42.8

Current

18.0    20.0    22.5    22.4    29.4    29.5

Capital

15.5    17.8    19.2    15.0    14.0    13.3

Budget balance

4.4    7.6    -6.4    -1.9    -4.0    -6.0

Nonhydrocarbon primary balance (in percent of

nonhydrocarbon GDP)

-44.1    -52.2    -43.6    -39.3    -49.0    -46.4

Total government debt

12.5    8.2    10.4    11.1    10.0    9.4

    (Annual percentage change, unless otherwise indicated)

Monetary sector

Credit to the economy 1/

17.2    20.4    18.5    5.1    9.8    10.3

Broad money

24.1    16.1    3.1    13.8    21.7    10.9

Velocity of broad money (level)

1.6    1.6    1.4    1.5    1.4    1.3

Three-month treasury bill rate (end of period, in percent)

0.2    0.2    0.3    0.3    …    …

    (In percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

External sector

Hydrocarbon exports of goods (in US$, percentage change)

11.2    29.5    -42.5    26.4    26.3    -6.6

Hydrocarbon exports of goods (in percent of total exports of goods)

98.4    98.2    98.3    98.3    98.6    98.4

Imports of goods (in US$, percentage change)

27.4    44.2    -1.6    4.0    16.0    2.9

Merchandise trade balance

25.5    23.6    5.6    11.3    14.2    10.7

Current account including official transfers

22.8    20.1    0.3    7.5    9.5    5.4

Foreign direct investment

22.8    20.1    0.3    7.5    9.5    5.4

Total external debt

1.0    1.4    1.8    1.2    0.9    0.9

Gross reserves (in billions of U.S. dollars)

4.2    3.3    3.9    3.6    2.6    2.5

In months of next year’s imports of goods and services

110.2    143.1    148.9    162.2    181.5    193.4

Memorandum Items:

Nominal GDP (in billions of U.S. dollars)

134.3    171.7    138.0    160.8    189.3    194.6

Unemployment rate (in percent)

13.8    11.3    10.2    10.0    …    …

Local currency per U.S. dollar (period average)

69.3    64.6    72.6    74.4    …    …

Real effective exchange rate (2005 = 100)

99.0    102.1    102.2    102.7    …    …

Sources: Algerian authorities; and IMF staff estimates and projections.

1/ credit to the private sector and public enterprises.

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. This year’s Article IV consultation was concluded on a lapse of time basis. Under the IMF’s lapse of time procedures, the Executive Board completes Article IV consultations without convening formal discussions.

SOURCE 

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

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US Dept of State / Press Availability with Ghana President John Atta Mills

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US Dept of State / Press Availability with Ghana President John Atta Mills

WASHINGTON, January 30, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press Availability

William J. Burns

Deputy Secretary

Accra, Ghana

January 26, 2012

Deputy Secretary Burns: I am delighted to be here in Ghana, delighted to be able to convey to you the warmest wishes of President Obama and Secretary Clinton. As you know Sir, it was certainly no accident that President Obama chose Ghana as the site for his historic speech in 2009 about “a new moment of promise for Africa.” The truth is that nowhere across this entire continent is that promise more evident today than it is here in Ghana. Ghana is setting the standard for the entire continent in democratic development and we like all Ghanaians look forward to another peaceful and transparent election at the end of this year.

Ghana is setting the standard in economic development with a remarkable record of economic growth and increasingly attractive investment climate and responsible management of energy resources. The United States is proud to be able to continue to contribute to your efforts to promote economic development, particularly through an innovative new program, the Partnership for Growth, in which we seek to bring to bear all the different resources of the U.S. Government to support your development efforts. I would like to add that Ghana is one of only four pilot countries around the world in which we are seeking to launch this program.

Ghana is also setting the standard in its contributions to regional peace and security as one of the largest contributors anywhere in the world to international peacekeeping efforts. So this is a very important moment in our relationship, truly a moment of great promise. Half a century ago Ghana was the first country to have Peace Corps volunteers and 50 years on we are very proud that the Peace Corps continue to work with Ghanaians in support of development goals here. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of USAID’s cooperative efforts in Ghana, and Ghana as you know Sir, is nearing the successful completion of its first five-year Millennium Challenge program, a $500,000,000 program.

We look forward to continuing to work under that program, and we look forward to continuing to cooperate in many areas including food security, and health. l look forward very much to the opportunity today to discuss how we can deepen cooperation in those areas, how we can build an even stronger partnership, in the interest of both Americans and Ghanaians, for many years to come. So once again Sir, thank you very much.

President Mills: Thank you very much Secretary Burns, Secretary Carson, your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we feel really honored to have such a powerful delegation paying us a visit today. We very much value our friendship with the United States. It is the kind of partnership which we find most rewarding, and which we want to strengthen and which we want to be a showcase to the rest of the world that it is the kind of partnership which is based on really true and good values: democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights and clearly these are values which can only inure to the benefit of a society.

We value our friendship with the United States for a number of reasons. You’ve been one of our greatest benefactors in all areas of our national lives and for this we are really grateful. Indeed we are being considered and in fact we have been considered for a 2nd compact under the Millennium Challenge Account and there a quite a number of areas and opportunities which you have made available to us and we are also happy that American investors have taken great interest in investing in Ghana. Our duty as a government is to make even the investment climate more active, more rewarding, and in fact more accommodating. This is one of the things that we are striving to do.

We appreciate the U.S. support for our peacekeeping men and women and also for the interest that the U.S. has shown and continues to show in Africa’s development and also peace and security in Africa. We therefore are really honored and grateful that you’ve chosen to visit us at this time. As you rightly said, President Obama’s visit which was a complete surprise to us obviously lifted the Ghana-U.S. relations to a higher pedestal. It is something which obviously gave us the pride of place and also gave us much publicity in the eyes of the world and we are really grateful for this. We know that there were reasons which involved the choice of Ghana, even though not always articulated, we know and we know therefore that we have a standard to maintain if not to surpass. So once again, l will like to assure you that we are very grateful that you and your powerful delegation are here and we will fully cooperate with you and see how together we can move our two countries forward. Thank you.

SOURCE 

US Department of State

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Deadly bacterial infection kills three at Korle-Bu Hospital

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Korle Bu

Three children have been reported dead following an outbreak of a deadly bacterial infection called Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococus Aureus (MRSA) at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The outbreak has necessitated the temporal closure of the Children’s Emergency Ward to prevent further infections.

The Public Health Physician Specialist at the Hospital, Dr. Philip Amoh, in an interview with Citi News said the hospital is doing its possible best to contain the disease.

Meanwhile, authorities at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital say they are not sure when the Department of Child Health will be reopened to the general public.

The block was closed down on Friday following the outbreak of the deadly bacterial infection MRSA, which has claimed three lives.

Source: Citifmonline

Dr Grace Bediako performed poorly and had to proceed on leave – GSS Board

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GSS Board Chairman, Prof. Francis Duodoo

The Board of the Ghana Statistical Service has attributed its decision to ask the Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, to proceed on leave, to her poor management of some projects run by the Service.

The Board said a group of international partners comprising the World Bank, EU, and DFID who assessed the performance of the Service threatened to withhold funding to it.

A statement signed by the Board Chairman, Prof. Francis Duodoo, said the observations of the partners chimed perfectly with the Board’s own previous concerns.

The statement said in line with the Board’s efforts at restructuring the Service, Dr Bediako had to be asked to proceed on leave.

It added that while the Service was performing poorly, “Conversely, the international partners praised the delivery of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which had the Deputy Government Statistician, Dr. Nyarko, at its helm.”

This explains the Board’s decision to ask Dr Philomena Nyarko to act as Government Statistician.

The statement denied claims that Dr Bediako had been forced out to allow for a manipulation of the census results for political purposes.

Read below the entire statement issued by the Board of the Ghana Statistical Service.

GHANA STATISTICAL SERVICE
Leader in the Production of Official Statistics in Ghana
PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Accra–January 26, 2012 (Statistical Service)

The attention of the Governing Board of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has been drawn to misrepresentations of our actions in The Chronicle of January 24th, 2012, that received further mention in various other media, including yesterday’s Daily Guide, which erroneously purport to explain the Boards appointment of Dr. Philomena Nyarko to act in the stead of the Government Statistician, Dr. Grace Bediako, as the latter initiates her leave.

Among the host of inaccurate attributions were the suggestions and indications that:

– The Government Statistician is being hounded out of the Service

– She was replaced because she would not accede to a request to her to alter census results

– The untrue suggestion of desired alterations had something to do with the 2012 elections

– The norm would have called for the Government Statistician to hand over to Mr. Opoku Manu Asare, purportedly her “First” Deputy

– The GSS had set April 4th as the release date for the census

– Some individuals, presumably on or related to the Board, are eager to take over control of a World Bank fund allocated to the Service

There was also a suggestion that it was inappropriate to replace Dr. Bediako while she was out of the country.

The Board categorically rejects these pronouncements and is disappointed in the exhibition of journalism that, prior to publication, refused to even verify supposed “facts”, which stood to undermine confidence of domestic stakeholders and international partners in a very critical national institution, the GSS, at what is a very significant juncture in the census cycle.

This press release constitutes a rejoinder to set the record straight.

Here are the facts as the Board saw them:

1. With the Government Statistician taking her leave, Dr. Philomena Nyarko was asked to act in her stead and three additional temporary/acting appointments were made, effective immediately, in an effort to shore up upper management and address fundamental concerns about the effectiveness of the Ghana Statistical Service;

2. There is no hierarchy of first/second deputy in the Service and, indeed, Dr. Nyarko was already acting for the Government Statistician during the latter’s very recent trip to South Africa. Thus, the statement that Mr. Opoku Manu Asare should have been the rightful replacement is simply untrue.

3. No one on the Board has asked anyone in management to doctor any figures on the Census, for any reasons including the 2012 Elections. Also, and for the avoidance of doubt, there has been absolutely no request or directive from Government in this direction. The Service will continue to remain independent in the delivery of its functions. Likewise, the suggestion that anyone is trying to take control of a World Bank fund (presumably the MDTF) is categorically unfounded, and is effectively impossible, given the Bank’s tight system of controls.

The entire nation is aware of the challenges faced in the recent census, and the Board has been actively considering ways of resolving the issues that have delayed the release of the census, at the same that it oversees a restructuring of the Service. However, the immediate events that culminated in the Board taking action the above actions are as follows:

1. A group of international partners comprising the World Bank, EU, and DFID have extended support to the GSS and the broader National Statistical System (NSS) through a Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) to the value of seven million dollars to support implementation of the Ghana Statistics Development Plan. These partners conducted a mission visit to the GSS beginning on January 9th, 2012 to assess the progress of implementation of the project.

2. On January 18th, 2012 they briefed the GSS Board on their findings, and reported that based on the “evidence of performance” and “poor delivery” of the project, the partners were inclined to recommend that funding flows from the Multi Donor Trust Fund be stopped; that meant the Government of Ghana would immediately lose more than $3.5 million in valuable support

3. Although she met with the mission at the beginning of their visit, the Government Statistician was at a conference in South Africa when the very disturbing findings were presented by the mission. The seriousness of the issues facing the MDTF was clearly outlined to the Government Statistician and her Deputies, and was reiterated at the beginning of each meeting with staff. Given the gravitas of the situation, a decision was made by the mission team to invite the Board Members to the planned debrief with the Deputy Government Statisticians on 18th January, 2012. As the Government Statistician was not present for the de-briefing, she missed the opportunity to give the head of agency response to the issues raised. Despite the ominous signal evident in the international donor’s request for Board members to attend the debrief, Dr. Bediako opted to remain at the conference in South Africa; the invitation to the Board members indicated that the partners had “extremely serious concerns about the future viability of the project” and were “considering no further disbursements and possibly even requesting unspent funds” be returned.

4. During the January 18th de-briefing, the partners not only outlined the real risk of losing funding from the MDTF, but also highlighted the more ominous view that the risk of loss of support transcended the MDTF, in that the likelihood that it would affect the follow-on $40m project (given the experience of the partners with GSS’ execution of the MDTF), and have wider implications beyond GSS to include other MDAs, was hardly trivial. So, this was not simply about saving the $3.5 million remaining to be disbursed in the MDTF, but also about salvaging more substantial, longer term support for Ghana.

5. In response to the Board’s question about what the international partners attributed the lack of progress and poor performance to, they referred to the lack of follow-up on actions through the entire organization, lack of delegation to staff and staff frustration with this, weak motivation and commitment of staff, disengagement of directors leading key assignments, etc. Essentially, the partners were explicit in their concern about the degree of centralized management and the lack of effective delegation, and particularly how these were inhibiting all MDTF activities.

6. There was also strong concern expressed about the insufficient and inconsistent responses the mission had received about the status of the census results and whether the Service would meet its March 31st (not April 4th) deadline; from their calculations, the pace of progress suggested to the partners that the results could not be completed before mid-April, and would most likely not come in before end of May.

7. Conversely, the international partners praised the delivery of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which had the Deputy Government Statistician, Dr. Nyarko, at its helm, and wondered how it could contrast so sharply with the delivery of the MDTF, given that both were being delivered by the same institution. The point was about how differently the MICS project had been set up and managed.

8. In response to the Board’s inquiry about what it might take to reconsider their position, the international partners indicated that after two weeks, they would have to complete their assessments and make final decisions, which could only be based on information they had at hand at that point.

9. The international partners’ findings reflected concerns the Board had already expressed to management (stemming from the Board’s own observations over time, information received from staff, the findings of the previous mission from July 2011, the MDTF memo of October 2011, etc.), and which the Board planned to address further through the ongoing restructuring of the Service. What was new from this most recent conversation about the mission was the urgency with which the findings had to be addressed; the Board interpreted all of this to mean that swift and decisive actions had to be taken in order to demonstrate our continued commitment to the Ghana Statistics Development Plan (GSDP) and the MDTF, and responsiveness within two weeks.

10. Thus, the Board’s actions should be seen as working in the direction of saving the MDTF for Ghana and the GSS/NSS, and to restore the confidence of the international partners so as to ensure continued support in the future. Right after the meeting with the international partners the Board convened an emergency session and took the decision to immediately implement certain changes in the way management is delivered, and regarding delivery of the census.

This is the extent of what has transpired at the Ghana Statistical Service over the last few days.

The Board wishes to express its appreciation to the general public for the support received over the years, and to state that the Service will work tirelessly to ensure the production of credible statistical information for national development. Most immediately, the Service will strive to release the 2010 Population and Housing Census results, by the stipulated goal of March 31st, 2012. All stakeholders, and particularly the press, are invited to lend their support to the Service to help it attain its national goals.

Prof. Francis Dodoo
Board Chairman

Source: Myjoyonline

Defeated Sege MP alleges fraud in just ended primaries

Daily Guide Africa
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Hon. Alfred Abayateye

The defeated Member of Parliament for the Sege Constituency in the Greater Accra region, Alfred Abayateye is calling for an audit of all candidates who contested in his constituency.

Alfred Abayateye who alleged spiritual attacks on him by unknown persons before the NDC parliamentary lost to Christian Odotei. He told Citi news he is not happy with the outcome of the elections.

“I would be glad if audits would be carried out especially in my area. Those who used company monies to do campaigns; the people’s hard-earned money. Anyway the Lord is my provider” the embittered MP told Citi News

Although he maintained that he has no qualms with Mr. Odotei, he however blamed the latter’s campaign team for plotting to kill him.

Honourable Abayateye has also assured Christian Odotei of his support.

Source: Citifmonline

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