Put Pressure On Govt, Parliament To Pass Rti Law

Alhaji Abdul-Razak Saani

The Northern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) Alhaji Abdul-Razak Saani, has called on Ghanaians to mount relentless pressure on government and most especially parliament to pass the Right to Information (RTI) law. 

He bemoaned the several years of delays by the erstwhile administrations of John Agyekum Kufour and John Evans Atta-Mills to pass the law, and said citizens should start questioning their legislators and government over why the passage of the law is not being expedited.

“I strongly believe that when the RTI Bill is passed into law, it is going make governance very easy for politicians and all of us citizens”, he said, adding “All of us here have representatives in parliament. Let’s pressurize them to know that passing the law is in the interest of all of us their constituents, chiefs, ordinary citizens and politicians”.

Alhaji Saani who is also the Northern Regional Chairman of the RTI Coalition made the call in Tamale when the Coalition held a public forum to create further awareness of the Bill and enlist the support of participants to put pressure on parliament to pass the law without any more delays.

He explained that, if the law is passed it will give citizens the opportunity to demand accountability from state officials on how much they are spending on a particular development project or how much a District Chief Executive, Minister of state or the president spend when they travel outside the country.  

The RTI Bill was drafted in 2002 to provide a legal framework that will allow people to exercise their right of access to information held by government agencies and other private institutions in recognition of the people’s entitlement to such information as the legitimate owners. The Bill has since gone through several reviews. 

The RTI Coalition has been at the forefront of advocating for the passage of the law since 2007 when it was formed. It has been involved in lobbying and making inputs into the draft of the RTI Bill from its inception. It is due to the pressure from the Coalition that the Bill made its way to Parliament. Pressure in the form of a public march held in early 2010 which catalysed the movement of the Bill from Cabinet to be tabled before Parliament.

Two Committees of Parliament, the Communications Committee and the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, were jointly assigned the task of working and gathering public views on the Bill to make recommendations to the floor of the House. Members of the joint committee expressed the desire to carry out a nationwide consultation on the Bill after the Coalition engaged with members on the draft Bill. The legislators’ regional consultation was done in August 2011 in six regions, yet their reports before the dissolve of parliament was not released or published even till now. This is leaving both journalists and the average Ghanaian still wallowing for information from governmental bodies.

But, Alhaji Saani thinks parliament is treating Ghanaians unfairly considering how long it has taken since the Bill was drafted and yet, there seems to be no sign of passing it except constant promise and fail by parliament. 

He also noted that, the RTI Bill is not only about politicians but also about every public servant including even chiefs. He charged chiefs to open up their people by being accountable to them with regards to lands and other property they hold in trust for their people. “Let us know how much land you have sold and where have the money been put”, he explained.

Meanwhile, Regional Coordinator of the Coalition Zakaria Mahama also appealed to parliament to immediately make available, report of the consultative forum it held across the six regions in 2011 for Ghanaians to know whether it actually reflects their views, concerns and aspirations before anything is added to the Bill for passage into law.

Zango Chiefs In Northern Ghana Preach Peace

Sheihu Dalhu in far right

Ghanaians and most especially, citizens of Northern Ghana have been urged to eschew tendencies that could lead to violent conflicts and further jeopardize the relative peace the region is enjoying.

At the 2^nd Annual Conference of Hausa Zango Chiefs from the three regions of the north including the Brong Ahafo Region in Tamale, Sheihu Dalhu Abdul-Mumin Chief of Tamale Hausa Zango, acknowledged that violent conflicts in the area has over the years, undermined efforts towards good governance and poverty reduction.

According to him, violent conflicts related to chieftaincy, land, religion and politics have in recent past resulted in heavy loss of lives, delays in development projects and opportunities affecting all aspects of human lives. 

In recent years, the government according to Sheihu Abdul-Munin, has spent billions of cedis annually in enhancing security agencies activities in the Northern Region in particular, yet very few resources are spent in preempting conflict. 

The situation, he noted, must change if the country or her citizens really seek poverty reduction and good governance. He admonished politicians across the various political divides to guard against unwarranted comments that could incite violence among the citizenry and lead to loss of lives and property.

The conference, which was under the theme: “Peace and Co-existence in the Northern Region –The Role of Zango” brought together Chiefs of Hausa Zangos, some youth, chiefs and religious leaders to deliberate upon how to promote peace and development in their communities and the country as a whole.

Many Ghanaians have different perceptions about Zango communities which are predominantly Muslim settlements scattered across the country. For instance, some citizens think that, there are higher incidences of poverty, illiteracy or school dropout rate and robbery among others in Zangos as compared to other communities. 

Often times, those who say this would argue that, the increasing number of beggars on the streets of Muslim settlements, dilapidated houses, too much filth and choked gutters are the common characteristics of Zangos.  

But on the contrary, a Media Communications Consultant and CEO of PODmedia Prince Osman Dauda disagrees with that perception, describing it as a wrong stereotype often being made by people who choose not to see the good things that are done in the Zango communities. 

Mr. Dauda told Savannahnews, a lot of the negativities that many Ghanaians always cite as problems only existing in the Zango communities equally exist in other communities that Muslims do not reside. “The Zangos have their own challenges some of which are similar to those of many other communities across Ghana. The biggest among these challenges are illiteracy and ignorance and if these were properly dealt with, the Zangos would have been the most developed suburbs in this country. Currently, if you talk of the most peaceful communities in Ghana it’s the Zango communities one can find peace, but once there are a few unemployed ones, the devil will always find work for idle hands”, he explained.

Meanwhile, he called on all Muslims to keep their communities clean just as they would clean themselves before they go before Allah for prayers saying “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”.  

Tamale Metropolitan Assembly Spearheads More Development Projects

Mayor of Tamale

The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly is progressively spreading several economic infrastructural developments across the metropolis with the construction of new modern markets on top of the agenda, to stimulate economic growth and also rebrand Tamale as the true gateway to the Sahel region.

The Mayor of Tamale, Abdul-Rahman Hanan Gundadow who is spearheading these initiatives with the aim of opening up the city or equitably spreading development projects across the various communities within the metropolis, has also succeeded in initiating a number of projects to improving quality education, healthcare delivery, agriculture, road network and ultimately the socio-economic activities of the people. 

He is also adopting several strategies to transforming the Tamale Metropolis into an industrial hub in the Sahel region. At the recent Assembly’s Ordinary Meeting, the Mayor unveiled plans to set up “a light industrial area” for agro processing firms to move into the metropolis in order to fully maximize the economic opportunities of the upcoming Tamale International Airport.

The establishment of the light industrial area is meant for the processing of completely or semi-finished products for export or for distribution in the domestic market. The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly has already acquired 200 acres of land at Datoyili, a suburb of Tamale for free of charge to start the project.

In the Mayor’s estimation, the strategic location of Tamale makes it easier for people in the Brong Ahafo, Upper West and Upper East Regions to move their goods or agricultural produce to Tamale, process and package them and then move them finally to the Tamale International Airport for exporting.

Currently, the Tamale Metro Assembly led by Mr. Hanan Gundadow is simultaneously constructing almost seven (7) new markets at vantage areas to improve business or economic activities of the people. 

At the Aboabo Market, the Assembly has committed over GHC8.2 million to complete a super market complex project which was started by the Acheampong’s government in the 1970s, but was abandoned under successive regimes. 

The two storey project when completed would have not less than 180 market stores, toilet and urinals, banking hall and restaurants among others.

Another two storey market project is being constructed at the Central Business District (Central Market) at the cost of GHC1,093,979.00, which is also expected to have 120 market stores, canteen, banking hall and mosque. 

The Assembly is again rehabilitating and expanding the Lamashegu Market at the total cost of GHC363,985.36 which will also have about 20 stores and another one at Kakpalyili at the cost of GHC440,595.90. 

One other market project which was abandoned by the erstwhile Kufuor’s administration is also under construction at Kukuo to serve as temporal structure for the sheanuts dealers who are being moved from the under construction Aboabo market. The Kukuo market site was taken over by weeds, and haven for cattle, robbers and prostitutes.

Speaking in an interview with SDavannahnews, the Chairman of the Development Planning Sub-Committee of the Tamale Metro Assembly, Hon. Ibrahim Abudu during an inspection tour of the market projects to assess the level of progress, described the Tamale Mayor, Hanan Gundadow as “creative thinker and one of the progressive chief executives the city has ever had”. 

According to him, even though some of the projects had been there for ages and it took the visionary leadership of the Mayor to work closely with the Development Planning Sub-Committee and vigorously implement the recommendations of the committee.

Hon Abudu was optimistic that the infrastructure would give the City a new facelift and also attract businesses and investors to move into the Metropolis. He also commended the contractors for the quality of works being executed.

 On the other hand, the Mayor of Tamale, Hanan Gundadow indicated that the scope of development targeted by his administration required that the city authorities intensified the mobilization of the internal revenue (Internally Generated Funds) to serve as an appendage to the funds from the central government. 

According to him, the assembly set an Internally Generated Fund (IGF) target of GHC1,130,899.91 for the year 2014, but had been able to impressively collect an amount of GHC605, 926.43 as at June 2014 representing 53.6%. 

The Tamale Mayor blamed the various telecommunication companies operating in the metropolis including Vodafone, MTN, GLO, Expresso, Airtel and Tigo for thwarting the efforts of the assembly by failing to pay the approved Business Operating Permit Fee amounting to GHC119,560.00 and GHC200,000 for Property Rates. 

Similarly, the Volta River Authority (VRA), NEDCo and GRIDCo are also owing the Assembly to the tune of GHC20,560.00  and GHC,91,000.00 for Business Operating Fee and Property Rate respectively.

The Assembly according to Mr. Hanan Gundadow had been allocated GHC2,779,434.96 from the District Assembly Common Fund for the 2014 fiscal year for the execution of their developmental projects.

He called for strong collaboration between Zoomlion Ghana Company Limited and the Environmental Health Unit of the Assembly to effectively enhance sanitation in the metropolis.

Support People With Track Record To Help In Tree Planting –SADA Urged

Hajia Dr. Salamatu Ibrahim Taimako

Renowned environmentalist Hajia Dr. Salamatu Ibrahim Taimako is asking the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), in its quest for a forested north, to consider partnering with citizens who have track record in plantations and support them to establish more.

According to her, if SADA really wants to realise its vision much earlier than thought, it behoves management and the Board of the Authority to give adequate financial and logistical support to individuals to establish mango, cashew, teak and cassia plantations.

Accordingly, she also appealed to chiefs in the savannah zone to each allocate two acres of land in their respective communities to herbalists to cultivate herbs. This, in her estimation, will lead to the creation of more sacred groves across the entire region for use now and in the future. Hajia Dr. Salamatu Taimako made these observations in an interview with Savannahews in Tamale.

One might think Hajia Dr. Salamatu Taimako has a simplistic view about SADA’s afforestation programme, but suffice to say her many years of experience in that field is what actually drew the University for Development Studies (UDS) closer to tap into her knowledge. This collaboration also led to her being awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in the Doctor of Science category in 2004 by the university. 

The award was in recognition of her expertise in indigenous knowledge systems; for her contribution to traditional medical practice; agro-forestry and sustainable agriculture; and for her devoted and selfless service to her community and humanity.  

Hajia Dr. Salamatu Taimako is a highly revered and accomplished woman in many fields, but she has never had formal education. That notwithstanding, she is a repository of knowledge mainly derived from indigenous sources and Islamic literacy which she learned at a younger age.   

Growing up as a young girl in northern Ghana, Hajia Dr. Salamatu Taimako’s mother was a herbalist, and that offered her the opportunity to learn the practice of healing and/or treating the sick with herbs from her mother. She got married later on and coincidentally, her husband –the late Alhaji Ibrahim Taimako, was also a herbalist. In fact, his father, too, was a herbalist and he taught him plant medicine.

Alhaji Shamsudeen, son of Hajia at one of the nurseries

Consequently, the couple in the 1960’s decided to start the Taimako Plants and Herbal Medicine Centre which treats infertility in men and women, menstrual problems, cholera, hypertension, cough, scorpion bites and infant diseases. After the death of Alhaji Ibrahim Taimako in 1976, Hajia Dr. Salamatu Taimako in the late 80’s, established a two-acre nursery to grow seedlings of vital herbs. With a handful of mahogany seedlings for a start, today the Centre has expanded and can boasts of about 200 assorted species of herbs.

Additionally, she has a nursery of over 300,000 seedlings of grafted mango; a 10-acre teak plantation, 15-acre cashew plantation and a 250-acre of grafted mango plantation which establishment was supported by the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF). 

Currently, the nursery serves not only as a source of her livelihood and raw materials for herbal and medicinal purposes, but also as a demonstration farm for horticulture and medical students of the UDS to go for practical studies. Herbalists also go to the Centre for herbs to treat their patients.

As a far-sighted person, Hajia Dr. Salamatu Taimako has began the processing of preparing a register of herbalists in the savannah zone who have different expertise in the treatment and cure of various sicknesses. This register of herbalists, which will be ready by the end of this year, would enable patients seeking treatment for any medical condition, to locate the nearest herbalist who has cure for their ailment in the area in which they live when they make enquiries at her Centre.

Meanwhile, SADA, a government policy initiative established by an Act of Parliament (Act 805, 2010) is aimed at addressing the development gap that exists between Northern and Southern Ghana. SADA’s mandate is to accelerate the socio-economic development of the Savannah belt through strategic investment in resource development. It envisions a “Forested North” by 2030, where agricultural production is modernised and oriented towards a larger market. It seeks to benefit citizens of the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone which include the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions as well as parts of the Brong Ahafo and the Volta Regions.