Assembly Members, CSOs In Tamale Fumes Over Oil Cash ……Northern Ghana Gets 5.2%, Eastern Region 38%

Members of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly in the Northern Region of Ghana, have charged the government to come out and explain to Ghanaians mostly especially Northerners, the criteria it used to disburse the oil revenue among all the ten administrative regions in the country.

They have described the criteria used for disbursing the oil cash as fraught with inequity and smacks of insult to some section of Ghanaians, considering the fact that some regions have been allocated huge amounts of money, whereas others have also been given derisory amounts.

The disgruntled Assembly members, say they simply could not fathom why all the total percentage share of for instance, the three regions of the North – Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions, put together is not even up to 6%, demanding an urgent explanation from the government.

“We feel the Mills-Mahama led administration of the ruling National Democratic Congress has been unfair to the entire North in the distribution of national resources if what we are hearing and seeing is anything to go by”, the Assembly members protested during a forum organized by Accountability and Good Governance Network (AGNet) with support from the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA).

Information from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning made available by AGNet to participants at the forum, showed that the Eastern Region was allocated GH¢63,821,794.84 (38%), Brong Ahafo Region GH¢18,218,381.52 (10.8%), Western Region GH¢16,946,647.10 (10%), Ashanti Region GH¢12,864,004.37 (7.7%) and Volta Region GH¢8,365,521.64 (5%).

The rest include Northern Region with GH¢5,099,412.00 (3%), Greater Accra Region GH¢3,935,581.31 (2.3%), Central Region GH¢2,553,931.81 (1.5%), Upper West Region GH¢ 2,012, 082.59 (1.2%) and Upper East Region GH¢1,650,000.00 (1%).

Going by the aforementioned statistics, the regions with the lion’s share include Eastern, Western, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions. This is because, in the opinion of some participants, their share of the oil money was more than GH¢10million each. “What serious or urgent development priorities does the NDC government have in the Eastern, Western and Brong Ahafo Regions, that the share of each of them is more than the total amount of monies allocated to the three regions of the North, which are always considered the poorest in the country?”, one of the Assembly members (name withheld) queried in an interview with Savannahnews.

Although there is an allocation to agriculture projects in the Northern Savannah area according to the information presented by the NGO, most of the Assembly members agreed entirely that the amount (GH¢848,917.00, 0.5%) was too scanty, considering the fact that climate change effects were seriously beginning to affect farming activities, thus the need for government to consider huge capital investment in agriculture in the North.

While they also demanded from the government to disclose the exact total share of the oil revenue it so far got from the Jubilee field partners, the Assembly members further called for the establishment of a long term development plan to guide the judicious use of the oil revenue. In their estimation, the plan would also guide every government that comes to power to know where it can spend money on by considering the development priorities of the country.

On the other hand, the Assembly members chided the three members of parliament in Tamale including Alhaji Abubakari Sumani, Tamale North, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, Tamale Central and Iddrisu Haruna, Tamale South, for their frequent absenteeism from quarterly meetings organized by the Assembly to explain government policies such as the oil and gas policies to them to enable them also get their people informed.

Meanwhile, a communiqué jointly issued and signed by Prince A.A Mohammed, Assemblyman for Fooshegu Electoral Area and Presiding Member of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and Damma Salifu, President of AGNet, said if the development gap between the North and South must be bridged, government would have to ensure that the oil revenue was equitably distributed, that is, the regions with more needs should be given more allocations and those with less needs given less.

The communiqué called for a review of the criteria that was used for the disbursement of the fund because in their estimation, the process was unfair. “The three regions of the North are the poorest and need more resources to develop. Thus, allocations to each of the three regions must be increased to 10%”, it stressed.

It also recommended that the amount of money allocated to the agriculture sector should be increased to 20% instead of the 7% and that the three regions of the North should be given more priority in the use of such monies. “More attention must be paid to the agric sector to ensure that it is more productive so that the youth will not be tempted to migrate to the oil producing areas in search of greener pastures”, the communiqué emphasised.

The communiqué also observed that the 79.8% of the oil money earmarked for the construction of roads was very necessary but called on the government to endeavour to use 30% of the amount to construct roads in the three regions of the North.

Moreover, the communiqué asked the government to use the GH¢750,000.00 representing 0.4% of the oil money allocated for capacity building in areas related to oil and gas to support rural education in the three regions of the North and also ensure that the capacity building does not benefit only those in the southern sector.

The workshop organized by AGNet in collaboration with GDCA was part of the implementation of its citizen-government engagement program, that aimed at building the capacities of communities with relevant information and skills to enable them effectively engage duty bearers to be accountable to their people.

It was also intended to sensitise members of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly on issues surrounding the oil and gas industry and seek their opinion with regards to how government should use the oil money.

Francis-Xavier – The Truck Pusher Now Turned Lawyer

If you are one of those who have never understood what the aged mean when they express the adage “Never despise smaller beginnings”, then you ought to meet Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu for him to tell you about the sad but inspirational story of his life which has made many have a change of mind, attitude and feeling of themselves.

Titicaca as he’s affectionately called by his peers, Francis began life on the streets of Accra during his childhood days, apparently searching for what will help him break the vicious cycle of poverty in his life and family. As determined as he was, he never despised his smaller beginning and today, he is an icon of hope to many Ghanaians including his family members. At the WAEC Hall in Tamale and in the presence of about 500 Senior High School (SHS) students, he recounted a chilling story about himself during a program dubbed: “Public Schools Orientation Tour 2011/2012.”

Struggling Times In Francis’ Life

Francis grew up through incredible challenges, becoming a homeless street kid several times. He was born in 1979 to a poor and deprived family in Accra New Town; to a mother who was a victim of “trokosi. Just as his mother was a slave to the shrine for many years of her life, so was his father a slave to alcoholism after he lost his business in 1982 during the repatriation of Ghanaians from Nigeria.

Born into a family of six siblings, daily life was a matter of survival to Francis as he became a street kid, hanging on to any job: selling iced water, pepper, tomatoes, fruits, kerosene, boiled corn, roasted plantain, among others, to keep body and soul together. Francis recalled that sometimes he pushed trucks and served as a porter (Kayayei) at the Mallam Atta Market to survive.

Due to his disadvantaged background, Francis said he began nursery school at age 8, adding that, despite the challenges, he humbly endured life, keeping his eyes on EDUCATION which was his means to a successful life. “I knew it was only through EDUCATION that I could make something out of this life. Though I grew up among social miscreants like drug addicts and pushers, alcoholics, thieves and the like, my desire for a better future through EDUCATION made me defy all odds and remained uncontaminated by the bad morals that surrounded me.”

Talking about his successes in EDUCATION, Francis recalled that he passed the Basic Education Certificate Examination with distinction and in his first year in SHS (St John’s Grammar SHS), picked six awards while learning with lantern, because there was no electricity at home.

He also became the Senior Boys Prefect of St John’s SHS and the Students Representative Council President of Accra Zone 5 (zone 5 consist of schools such as Amasaman SHS, Oso-Doku SHS, Ghanata SHS, West African SHS, Presby Boys SHS and St John’s).

By keeping his eyes on EDUCATION and hoping to become a lawyer one day, Francis rose beyond his deprived background and now an icon of hope to all students, parents, teachers and care givers in general.

Achievements So Far

Today, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Superior Courts of Ghana and a managing partner to F-X Law and Associates (public interest, oil and gas, tax, corporate and commercial) lawyers and formerly of Logan and Associates in Accra. He holds a BA (Hons), LLB (Hons) and Master of Philosophy (Sociology) which is yet to be awarded, all from the University of Ghana, Legon.

Barrister Francis is also an author of four books: Love Lifted Me from the Street; Understanding the Storms of Life; Overcoming the Storms of Life, Becoming a Hero and now Homeless, the latest of his publications which has been assessed and recommended as a supplementary reader for all Junior High and Senior High Schools, Technical and Vocational Institutes and Colleges of Education by the Textbook and Educational Equipment Committee through the Curriculum Research and Development Division of the Ghana Education Service.

Barrister Francis also at the moment serving as a part-time lecturer in Business Law, at Knustford University College at Accra, East Legon; a founding member of a group called Lawyers’ Action for Christ, a Christian Lawyers’ Association devoted to legal aid services and working as its secretary. Aside being a legal practitioner and lecturer, the Titicaca man is also a gospel musician currently with one album titled ‘Don’t Give Up My Brother’ released in the 2002.

Class representative (2008/2009) Ghana School of Law; Class representative (2006/7-200/8 Academic years) – Faculty of Law University of Ghana. Senator – Law Student’s Union, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, (2006/2007). Legal Advisor, ‘Legon Today’ magazine, (2006). Public Relations Officer, Biotech Foundation, Ghana (2004/2007). Public Affairs Manager, Vital Idea Services (2003-2005). Public Affairs Officer, Village of Hope Gomoa-Fetteh (2005-2006). Special Assistant to Managing Director & Secretary to Board of Directors – Village of Hope, Gomoa-Fetteh (2005-2006). Welfare Committee Chairman, Students’ Representative Council, University of Ghana, (2004/2005). Legal Advisor – Publication and Information Committee, Students’ Representative Council, University of Ghana, (2003/2004). President, World Youth Potential Organisation, Accra – (2002/2004). Project Director, Disabled and Needy Students Endowment Fund, University of Ghana, 2003/2004.

Advice To The Youth of Ghana

While hoping that his story would inspire all young men and women in school who truly want to make it, the former truck pusher and now a lawyer with his own chambers, took a serious swipe against the so called Association of Unemployed Graduates in Ghana, challenging them to make use of the knowledge and skills imparted in them at the university or polytechnic and stop making a mockery of themselves by constantly asking government to provide them with jobs.

According to him, there are many Ghanaians from very poor backgrounds who could not make it to the SHS and Tertiary levels of education, yet were able to do something worthwhile for themselves. “What about those children on the streets who have completely lost hope about acquiring education and those who don’t even have parents or relatives to look up to for support?”, he queried.

While asking the unemployed graduates to count themselves lucky for the experience they acquired in school, Barrister Francis observed, that there was no justification for anyone who had the privilege to acquire tertiary education with some form of assistance from government, to sit at home after graduation and ask government again to provide him/her with a job.

He commended the government for what he described as a wonderful initiative it’s implementing and also for choosing him out of many to go round the entire country to speak to students, some of whom thought that all was lost. “I would make myself available anytime for initiatives like the Public Schools Orientation Tour because I like serving humanity”, he told Savannahnews in an interview after the event. When asked why his friends call him Titicaca, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, said Titicaca is the longest man-made lake navigated by large vessels. “It is situated at Peru, in South America. I was named after the lake to show my ingenuity in geography during my high school days and this name lasted throughout my university days till date”, he reminisced.

GOVT WILL CONSIDER CALLS TO MAKE POLYTECHNICS DEGREE AWARDING INSTITUTIONS

The Deputy Minister for Education in charge of tertiary institutions Mahama Ayariga has stated unequivocally that government would continue to consider calls by stakeholders to make polytechnics degree awarding institutions but with caution.

According to him, government was being cautious because, it did not want the situation whereby the opportunity would be granted and the polytechnics began to behave like universities that were established to run certain academic programmes but later on decided to digress into other areas of learning, thereby defeating the purpose for which they were established.

Mr. Ayariga said this when he addressed the 2^nd National Research Conference of Polytechnics in Ghana in Tamale which brought together all rectors of the ten polytechnics across the country.

Under the theme: “Harnessing Polytechnic Skills and Competences for National Development”, the three-day conference was aimed to bring to light the achievements of the polytechnics in Ghana in the areas of research relating to the engineering and sciences to business and applied arts.

It was also intended to bring together management, staff and students from all the ten polytechnics in Ghana to share the outcomes of their research and products of best practices within their workshops, studios and laboratories.

While lauding the feats chalked by the polytechnics, the Deputy Minister for Education also called on the polytechnics to endeavour to devise strategies that would make it possible for other stakeholders particularly industry or the private sector, make use of their research work in order to promote development in the country.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga pledged that he would rather personally support the introduction of degree programmes in the area of technical and vocational courses in addition to the science courses that are already in place and not for all other programmes.

The Chairman of the Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics (CORP) Reverend Professor Daniel A. Nyarko admitted, that in recent times polytechnics had been severely criticized that they were deviating from their core mandate of providing training for the middle-level manpower requirements of the nation.

This assertion, he said, tends to overlook the full potentials of the polytechnics as tertiary institutions, adding that, it rather seems to suggest that polytechnics were running courses that were either not approved or were outside their mandate. “In all humility, I wish to state that this is not the case. The polytechnics are running programs or courses that are approved by the regulatory authourities” he declared.

Rev. Prof. Nyarko who is also the Rector of the Accra Polytechnic indicated that polytechnics were empowered by law to award Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), Diplomas, Certificates and Degrees, arguing that polytechnics were not established and confined to providing training only at HND level.

The Chairman of CORP reiterated calls to make polytechnics in Ghana degree awarding institutions because international best practices gave that indication. “Other polytechnics in Europe and elsewhere have expanded their scope beyond the classical diploma programmes and have all become universities offering programmes up to doctoral level. That is what polytechnics in Ghana should be encouraged and resourced to do. The advantage is that it will offer an alternative avenue for higher education, especially for the technical and vocational graduates”, he preached.

Meanwhile he appealed to individuals and corporate bodies to offer support or enter into partnerships with the polytechnics to research and develop new products or commercialise current ones.

WANEP-GHANA Takes Steps To Prevent Violent Elections In 2012

About four years ago, Ghana came close to, and nearly recorded one of the most violent and bloodiest elections in the history of its democratic annals, following the unforgettable and fiercely contested December 7, 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.

It is reported that some parliamentary candidates and government officials at the time, especially in the two major political parties – New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) – fled the country to other countries for safety after the first round of election, fearing there was the likelihood of bloodshed among their supporters or members, considering the way the polls were going.

Even I, the writer of this piece who had the opportunity to cover the elections and voted for the first time in my life and professional career as a journalist, at certain point in time, felt that there was going to be an explosion of violence among the supporters of the two parties in Tamale, where I including other journalists, covered series of ugly scenes prior to and during the first and second round of the elections.

For instance, there were clashes between NPP and NDC supporters in Tamale, Gushiegu and other parts of the Northern Region. There were reports of double voting, vote rigging and other malpractices associated with the election which led to the arrest of people by law enforcement agencies particularly the police.

Interestingly, the 2012 National Youth Policy of Ghana document puts the youth within the brackets of 15 to 35 in line with the United Nations definition of the youth. This group of people, in the world over, represents the most active and critical resource of every nation especially developing ones, like Ghana.

However, if this group, most of whom are very ignorant and innocent, continue to allow public office seekers or politicians to use them to achieve their selfish parochial interest, then it means that, this peaceful country of ours which is an envy or shining example in Africa, is walking in the path to self destruction like other countries including La Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Guinea, among others.

Thus, in view of the ugly record Ghana nearly set for itself in 2008, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Ghana) in collaboration with its donors, have formed Inter-Party Youth Dialogue Committees (IPYDCs) in some parts of the country and began building their capacity ahead of the 2012 elections, which are tipped to even be the most crucial of all elections in Ghana, due to uncomplimentary remarks being made by some of the presidential candidates and their supporters.

WANEP, a conflict prevention and resolution non-governmental organization, just like many other organizations, hold the view that it is far easier and less costly to promote peace before the outbreak of violence than wait to intervene in conflicts after violence erupts.

Thus, WANEP-Ghana, recently in Tamale organized its maiden IPYDCs workshop for over fifty participants representing the various political parties such as the NPP, NDC, Peoples’ National Convention (PNC) and Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP).

Why the workshop was organised

The objective of the two-day workshop under the theme: “Building Party Youth Capacities for Peace in 2012” held at the Radach Memorial Centre/Hospitality Lodge, was among other things, to build the capacities of the participants in conflict handling mechanisms in preparation for the elections in 2012 and beyond.

According to National Network Coordinator of WANEP-Ghana, Justin Bayor, “peace is something that most people take for granted, but is essential that we enhance the skills of a critical mass of people, especially the youth, in basic community conflict handling skills as a precursor to promoting peace in Ghana in the event of the outbreak of violence in 2012.”

The Youth in Election (YiEL) project, from which the training workshop was held, sought to reduce youth perpetuated election violence in 2012.

The idea of YiEL, according to Mr. Bayor, was mooted after a research was conducted by WANEP-Ghana on behalf of the United Nations in four conflict hotspots in the country, in which ample data proved that violence was mostly expressed by the youth.

As a result, the idea was developed to work with the youth in some potential election related conflict communities in Ghana in order to reduce election violence in 2012, he said, adding that fourteen of these hotspots have been identified, some of which include Bawku, Bimbilla, Buipe, Gushiegu, Sunyani, Tamale, Yendi and Wa.

Mr. Justin Bayor stressed that it is the intention of WANEP-Ghana to work with the youth leaders of the political parties in the aforementioned communities to promote peace in 2012, maintaining that the crux of the matter is to form them into IPYDCs, one per community; members of which would regularly undertake joint activities geared towards promoting peace in their communities in 2012. By working together, it will increase relationships amongst the youth of the political parties and in eventually lead to mitigating violence in their communities, he said.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Trudy Kernighan who was guest of honour, in a statement stated categorically, that she and her government do not have any interest in Ghana apart from seeing Ghana continue to move forward and reach its full potential.

According to her, a recent event she attended involving young people saw more than one person in the audience expressed the view that foreigners all had their own interests in how the election played out, and they felt that foreigners should step back.

“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the Ghanaian people in their pursuit of democratic governance which is very necessary for sustainable development. We believe that the promotion of a free, fair and peaceful election is critical for the achievement of this aim” she stated.

Ms Kernighan however, charged the youth of Ghana never to underestimate their importance and responsibility, saying “the future of this country depends on the youth of today, because they will carry the day tomorrow.”

You live in interesting times, she noted, adding that in the last year, Ghana has become an oil-producing nation, and it is said that Ghana has reached middle income status. But, while the future looks bright, Ms Kernighan reckon the fact that many challenges remain, and success is not guaranteed.

According to her, while Ghana is often said to be a model of democratic values and stability in Africa, her people cannot afford to be complacent about peace and security, citing events in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire and certain events in the Northern part of Ghana, which she observed will perhaps act as an incentive to Ghanaians to tread with care and reflection as the election approaches.

“You have chosen to be proactive and involved in this election. You have chosen to lead others. I salute you for that because this country’s future lies not in what it buys and sells, but its values, its people. You and your counterparts throughout Ghana are the future, and I encourage you to adopt a strategy of responsible citizenship. Responsible citizenship is about individuals who realize their obligations to take actions that ensure their community is healthy, safe and secure,” the Canadian High Commissioner stressed.

Ms Trudy Kernighan urged the participants on: “As voters, ask questions of those running for office. Ask yourself about the answers you are given. Do not let yourself be used by others as if you were unable to think for yourself. Encourage others to do the same.”