Some officials of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the time posited that the move posed a security threat to Ghanaians. While the then Flagbearer of the NPP (now President Akufo-Addo) reportedly expressed definite reservations about the then government’s decision, the current Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid had at the time indicated that Ghana had become a legitimate target for attacks.

It is therefore baffling that even after opposing the deal, the current government has not repudiated the arrangement, thus leading Ghanaians to one inescapable conclusion that NPP’s denunciation of the deal pre-2016 was just a PR stunt aimed at playing to the gallery.

In light of the recent revelations by the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, it is clear that both the NPP and NDC governments have not been honest about this deal.  It therefore emphasizes the need for both parties to ponder and come clear on a number of issues;

What was the exit plan? The Foreign Affairs Minister, Madam Botchwey’s revelation that a refugee status was conferred on the two detainees in 2016 under the NDC government is not a good reason for the inaction. The Minister needs to be reminded that the State is perpetual in nature and therefore the decisions of the government, unless revoked, are binding. Therefore, one would have expected the current regime to show its displeasure by invalidating the refugee status for the two ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees. Ghanaians need to hold the current government to account. To begin with, why was a refugee status conferred on them when we were made to believe their stay will only be temporary?

Withdrawal of Refugee status: Also, the refugee status conferred on the two does not make their return impossible. In addition, the continued stay of the two in the country arguably poses serious threats to the peace and stability of Ghana as indicated by some security analysts. By now, the government should have taken a firm stance, if Minister Hamid’s words are anything to go by. He had early on argued that central to the Jihadi ideology is the assertion that a friend of your enemy is also your enemy, hence, though Ghana may have received them out of generosity or compassion (as was the reason cited by former President John Mahama), in the mind of a Jihadist, Ghana becomes a legitimate target for attacks. In light of this earlier stance, his current explanation that the two detainees have comported themselves lately will therefore not suffice. Not only is his current stance contradicting his earlier assertion, but it also smacks of hypocrisy.

Details withheld?: Again, the people of Ghana need to take the previous government on for refusing to disclose details and making wide consultations. Every detail should have been clearly spelt out even if the agreement was reached under a Note Verbale and Memorandum of Understanding. The decision to rush and keep the deal under wraps without disclosing details or holding wider consultations with key stakeholders is egregious.

Going forward, the government must be seen to be acting in the interest of its citizens. Any other consideration is secondary. The political propaganda must end!

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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This doesn’t however hold true for Ghana, as key stakeholders in the tourism sector have failed to show commitment towards the industry over the years. It was an entirely different situation in the 1980’s down to the 2000’s when Ghana was leading its neighbours as the number one tourist destination. Ghana, in those times could record as high as over 500,000 tourists in a year. Tourism was promoted through useful programmes including Emancipation Day Celebrations, Pan African Festivals and the like.

The sector was one of the largest contributors to foreign exchange and GDP, aside cocoa and gold, and socio-economic and political stability which fostered growth in the economy.

However recent statistics, especially from the World Economic Forum, have shown that Ghana’s performance in tourism is rapidly dwindling. The 2017 edition of the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index ranked Ghana 120 out of the 136 countries that were sampled globally; a position which has remained same since 2015.

Also, out of the 30 Sub-Sahara countries sampled, Ghana ranked 17. The report, which considers factors such as the business environment, safety and security, health and ICT readiness, also places the country at 119 in ‘prioritization of travel and tourism’. The aim of the report, which covered 136 economies this year [2017], was to provide a comprehensive strategic tool for measuring factors and policies that enable sustainable development of the tourism sector.

Why focus on tourism?

The relevance of tourism cannot be overemphasized. The sector remains a key sector for rejuvenation of economies of various countries. In countries like Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, tourism does not only serve as a major income generator but has also ensured a stabilization of inflation, increased foreign exchange and strengthened local currencies.

Figures from the United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) have revealed that in 2010, foreign exchange earnings from the tourism sector rose by 17.9% in Kenya, specifically, from KSh 62.5 billion 2009 to KSh 73.7 billion which is equivalent to 606,250,000 and  714,890,000 dollars respectively. Statistics have also established that tourism is a key economic driver in Kenya.

The tourism sector generated approximately 10% of the country’s GDP and 9% of total formal employment in 2010, according to UNTWO and the trend has remained constant in ensuing years. During my ten day stay in Nairobi, these statistics highlighting Kenya’s performance in the tourism sector became believable after discovering the great deal of importance placed on tourism.

Every year, the country organizes a tourism expo dubbed Magical Kenya Tourism Expo which affords key stakeholders in the tourism sector an opportunity to network and share ideas. The advantage of this programme is far reaching as it does not only give Kenya, the host country an opportunity to market what it has to offer in terms of tourism to the world, but also generates revenue for the economy.

For instance, at one of the tourism centres I visited, about 10 to 15 tourists trooped in every 30 minutes to the same centre. I was charged about 1000 shillings [USD9.6] as a foreigner to have access to these places. So if about 100 tourists were to visit the place in a day [which is possible], about 100,000 Kenya shillings worth of revenue, which is equivalent to USD960 will be made a day.

State of Ghana’s tourism centres

While Kenya is making huge strides in the tourism sector, Ghana is still lagging behind and the laissez faire attitude various stakeholders have developed towards the industry has relegated us to the background. In highlighting major challenges that threaten tourism in Sub Sahara countries, the report indicated that the biggest problems for travelers were air connectivity, transport infrastructure, travel costs, visa policies and infrastructure and Ghana is not so far from these challenges.

We have failed to renovate our tourism centres. We never add on to the beauty. Our maintenance culture is really appalling and we do not see the need to invest in promoting tourism in Ghana. Ghana’s wildlife reserves, vegetation among others are deteriorating and we have not done much to provide remedies for these challenges.

Ghana will reap immense benefits from the sector if government commits to policy reforms that enhance an enabling environment for tourism which will consequently protect the sector’s assets base and build capacity in terms of revenue generation.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Marian Ansah writes: Save Ghana’s tourism industry from collapse appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is great news for a country that has gradually moved from autocracy to democracy. By this judgement, Kenya, has set the pace for entrenchment of justice and democracy, while providing lessons for autocratic countries that are yet to experience democracy in any form.

The election and the court’s judgement in itself have presented very critical lessons that cannot be ignored.

Supreme Court’s cojones: The Supreme Court’s judgement that saw an annulment of the election is very impressive. It is historic. Never has an African court invalidated a presidential election. In Ghana, the then Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party , Nana Akuffo- Addo lost the election petition case filed in 2013, after losing to then President John Mahama in 2012. Zambia’s Constitutional Court also dismissed the petition filed by the opposition’s United Party for National Development (UPND) against the re-election of President Edgar Lungu. In 2016, the Ugandan Supreme Court dismissed Amama Mbambazi’s petition against the election of President Museveni. The same apex court dismissed Besigye’s appeal against Museveni’s election both in 2001 and 2006.  In most cases, there are needless delays in the dispensation of electoral disputes which have become an albatross in the electoral process in many African countries.

Odinga’s resilience rewarded:This was actually Kenya’s opposition leader, Raila Odinga’s fourth attempt at the presidency and the second time of filing an election petition. Taking a decision to contest an election for four consecutive times is not an easy task. Odinga however decided to toe this path despite the tendency of losing to his opponent. And when he lost this year’s election, he refused to back down and just like he did in 2013, he went to court one more time to challenge the results. His resilience is indeed an inspiration.

Role of international observer missions: The critical role international observer missions play in elections cannot be overemphasized. Their accounts on elections are mostly held in high esteem since there is the firm belief that they are objective and fair.  In fact , the mission for US NGO , the Carter Centre’s positive assessment of the 2017 Kenya election was used in the court. It is therefore necessary for international observer missions to exercise restraint in passing premature judgement on elections as this could possibly set the precedent for violence.

The IEBC’s role: The court had stated that the election was marred by not only irregularities but also illegalities and was not conducted in accordance with the constitution. If it is subsequently established that the results were tampered with then the IEBC officials should be held responsible. It would be inexcusable for a body tasked with the responsibility of facilitating free, fair, credible and verifiable elections to be compromised. Hacking claims by National Super Alliance (NASA) should be thoroughly investigated.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Marian Ansah writes: Lessons from Kenya’s election appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

To say the latest decision is inappropriate will be an understatement. It is highly disappointing and a non-starter for a President who came on the back of zero tolerance for corruption, open governance and transformation of leadership to bow to pressure of pleasing cronies.

That the President has power to appoint members of the Cabinet is not in doubt -there has been a long-held debate about decoupling the executive from the legislature, thus minimizing the risks associated with having the same people making the law wielding power to execute them. However, such power should not be abused on the guise of rewarding party adherents.

To begin with, no one is disputing the fact that the President has appointed some of the most competent men and women to serve as Ministers. This also could be looked at subjectively on a case by case basis. President Nana Addo’s decision to balloon his cabinet has been defended by none other than himself.

The Head of state argued that Ghana was facing huge problems and he needed a huge team to fix them. And the President’s Minister for Information , Mustapha Hamid appears to be taking cue from his boss.

The Minister reportedly said the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) “never promised a lean government” during the 2016 electioneering campaign, but the then candidate Nana Addo promised to protect the public purse and offer value for money.

This is a mediocre and cheap way of defending the country’s largest cabinet since independence. Even if Ghanaians had no problem with the size of the Cabinet, President Nana Addo could have done better by sticking with the competent men and women rather than picking people who are clueless about the specific Ministries they have been appointed to serve under.

The President’s decision to go by that huge number is largely viewed as succumbing to pressure of putting the party’s interest first, while ignoring the essence of competence in the selection process.

Is Ghana financially stable to support this intervention?

Ministers of State and Regional Ministers who are Members of Parliament will be paid GHC 15,967 cedis while Ministers of State who are not MPs will be paid GHC 15, 739 cedis. Also, Regional Ministers who are not MPs will take home GHC 15,511.

Deputy Ministers who are MPs will take home GHC 14,826 cedis while non MPs will receive GHC 14, 369. Deputy Regional Ministers who are MPs will be paid GHC 14,598 monthly, while non MPs will be paid GHC 14, 142.

This means government will spend over 1.6 million cedis monthly and over 20 million cedis annually on the 110 Ministers – a huge burden on the already struggling public purse. And the argument of government sizing down the number as time goes on is not tangible enough. If government will eventually take such a decision by dismissing ‘incompetent’ Ministers why not select the few competent ones to serve right away?

Gratuitous cloning

There are three ministries responsible for the Agric sector alone; Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and then the Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture. All these could effectively have been sub-sectors under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

The creation of a National Security Ministry undermines the efficacy of the National Security Secretariat which can equally operate at such levels without a separate ministry for it. Does this Security Ministry in any way perform duties essentially separate from the Ministries of Defence and Interior?

The Ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation is another portfolio whose actual relevance most Ghanaians are grappling to decipher. Every ministry has a monitoring and evaluation unit. Must a separate ministry be created for supposed oversight responsibility?

Then we have the Ministries of Regional Reorganization and Development, Special Development Initiative, Minister of Inner cities and Zongo Development and the Minister of Business Development whose function most Ghanaians believe is already being handled by the various Business ,Investments and Promotions governmental bodies in the country.

Some believe Aviation could fall under the Ministry of Transport, while others hold the view it is a specialized field and deserves its own ministry.

Is it all about quantity?

Other countries largely viewed as the super powers, including the United States, have even bought into the idea of choosing quality over quantity. The US, which is economically and financially more stable, as compared to Ghana has approximately 46 Ministers.

India, a country with a population of about 1.3 billion has 75 Ministers. So where lies the proof that a larger ministerial team will ensure efficiency? We expect the President to cut down on the numbers and focus on quality than quantity.

The President needs to learn from the century old African adage that says, “it is not the size of the dog in the fight that matters but rather the size of the fight in the do.” Kenya and Tanzania’s Presidents, Uhuru Kenyatta and John Magafuli respectively, present lessons on how to run a lean government.

In Kenya, the size of the cabinet is constitutionally capped to not fewer than fourteen and not more than twenty-two excluding the President, Deputy President and the Attorney General.

On the other hand, whereas the Tanzanian Constitution does not limit on the size of the cabinet, President Magufuli deliberately demonstrated “change” by significantly downsizing the size of his government. In light of the fact that the huge cabinet size will have huge financial repercussions on the struggling economy, besides the inevitable duplication of roles, the President should save both Ghanaians and the bleeding economy by rescinding this decision with immediate effect.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana, [email protected]
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The post Marian Ansah writes: Ministerial appointments; real duties or mere rewards? appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

On the face value, both the proponents for and against commemorating the event seem to have a point.  First of all, we need to establish whether there is need to commemorate this event.

Is Ghana at 60 necessary?

As pointed above, opinion is still divided among Ghanaians on whether commemorating our 60 years of independence will add value to majority of Ghanaians who are still grappling with all manner of humanitarian challenges — lack of shelter, hunger, just to mention a few.

Some Ghanaians have argued the decision to boycott this celebration will be tantamount to suggesting that we do not appreciate our independence. They believe Ghana has achieved so much that warrants the celebration. On the contrary,  others argue that in as much as commemorating  six decades of independence is a good thing, it  should  not be undertaken with such colossal budget especially at a time when a sizable share of our population still lack basic amenities.  For instance, they hold the view that, 60 years on, not all Ghanaians still have access to potable drinking water,  quality health care and thousands are still homeless. So what do we have to show for a country that’s 60 years?

That we have been liberated from what many have described as the exploitation of cruel colonial masters is not in doubt. But this does not warrant blind spending when that very independence has failed to reflect on the lives of citizenry. How can we say we are free from colonial rule when we still go begging the oppressors for crumbs in the name of loans and international agreements?

Even the argument that we are spending less on the same exercise [$20m in 2007 as compared to $5m in 2017] as opposed to the 2007 Ghana@50 celebration, is not a justification for waste. Yes, the event will be funded by the Ghanaian business community as suggested by the Ghana@60 committee but can’t we channel those resources to useful programmes that will positively affect Ghanaians?

Magufuli’s example

When the President of Tanzania, John Magufuli was confronted with a similar opportunity to engage in needless celebrations he rubbished the idea and rather suggested that a communal clean-up exercise be organised. He was quoted as saying that it would be “shameful” to spend huge sums of money on the celebrations when “our people are dying of cholera.” We can equally glean some good lessons from his decision and developments from Ghana at 50 celebrations, should be our guiding principle. It’s very relevant to commemorate the event-it will offer us an opportunity to reflect on our successes and proffer remedy for our failures. We can seize the moment and take advantage of the occasion to mobilise for a better future but let us not waste resources while we are at it. Let us be modest in our celebrations.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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While I was thrilled by the intriguing cultural display, I was also saddened by the apparent neglect of the African culture. Prior to watching the event, I had a discussion with a colleague at the office over the essence of broadcasting the event live on television. I asked a simple question; Is it really necessary to telecast this event? And she made a rather profound argument. She simply said: Marian, it is very necessary! We would have given it more prominence if it was the Queen of England.

Her salient argument reminded me about how most Africans have been imperialised. It reminded me about how we had gleefully neglected the rich African culture and our insatiable desire to carry the imitation of persons from other continents. It reminded me about Africans who want to go for every event in suit even in the scorching sun when they can opt for the rather wonderful African fabric. I was saddened that Africans had lost their identity and do not mind adapting to unfamiliar cultures irrespective of how tedious it can be. I cringe when Africans say they are free from colonial rule but willingly cling to European culture and fail to appreciate ours.

And it gets worse when we unashamedly hide behind the ‘culture is dynamic’ excuse. We fail to remember that in this supposed dynamism, we are gradually losing our identity, our sense of belonging and our dignity. When shall we indeed be free? Will our forefathers ever forgive us for bringing so much shame on our race? I hope they do not record our shameful deeds and forever vilify us.

I hope our descendants will learn to place premium on proudly projecting Africa’s culture to the global world. I pray that a new generation that will promote Africa’s rich culture and heritage shall arise; Phoenix-like, from the current generation’s ashes.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Authenticity: Politicians are willing to ignore or bend the truth for votes but we have to be more diligent in learning the good , the bad, and the vision a candidate has to offer. Let’s go for authenticity. Let’s choose a candidate who upholds integrity, credibility and truth, a candidate who is unwilling to compromise and one who is true to his words. As John C. Maxwell says in his book on leadership: “as leaders, we can only lift others up when we’re standing on a firm foundation. Purpose, authenticity, and humility give us a secure, stable base from which to lead.”

Competence: In choosing our President, let us be reminded that he will not only represent us locally but globally. We need to appreciate the essence of experience, strength, courage and competence when making our choice. We cannot have a leader who will make catastrophic mistakes. We do not need an inexperienced President with just spit and fire. Our next President should be able to lead, train and create opportunities and victories for the masses.

Commitment: Commitment always separates doers from dreamers. In John C Maxwell’s view, commitment for a boxer is getting off the mat one more time than you’ve been knocked down. To a marathoner, it’s running another ten miles when your strength is gone. To the soldier, it’s going over the hill, not knowing what’s waiting on the other side. And for a country like Ghana, where there are a host of issues including unemployment, ballooning debt stock, corruption, poverty among others to be addressed, we need to look at the bigger picture; the present state of the economy and settle on a candidate who will be committed to taking us out of the quagmire we find ourselves in.

Passion : Passionate leaders work hard to make things happen. Passionate leaders are willing to sacrifice. Passionate leaders care about the governed and have them at heart. A passionate President will have the equanimity to handle the erratic pressures of the office. Passion makes the difference.

Unity: We cannot make the best choice while ignoring the essence of unity. We are sick and tired of the partisan fist fights, the bickering on tribal lines and deep divisions. We need someone who will bring us [Ghanians] together despite our differences-someone who will not pitch the various ethnic groups against each other. One who will not ignore the importance and diversity persons from various cultures play and offer respectively. We need a unifier.

We need to vote bearing in mind that our choices would definitely have long -term consequences. Let’s make the right choice.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline,com/Ghana , [email protected]
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The post Marian Ansah writes: 5 Factors to consider before voting appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It is very saddening, in fact worrying that government considers it relevant to introduce such a policy at a period when students are still struggling to understand, read and write English – the official language or any other Ghanaian language properly. A research conducted in Ghana in 2014 revealed that 98 percent of primary two pupils in basic schools can neither read nor understand English or any Ghanaian language . I am therefore disappointed that government finds it more essential to introduce this policy when it has not done much to address existing language problems in the sector.

Why should this policy be a major priority now when Government and the other key stakeholders are ill-prepared?The language policy, which requires students to learn the local language is yet to be implemented. Our educational sector is in a mess; teachers are in short supply, the Computerized School Selection and Placement System is disorganized. But instead of the government focusing on tackling these challenges, they want to add to the confusion.

And while the government and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) obsess about who first came up with this idea, I wonder what measures it has taken to fix the already existing Arabic schools in the country. What is the plan to make sure their curriculum is regularized and that they have the facilities for effective teaching and learning? I also wonder how the government intends to get teachers for the subject since it has indicated that the programme will be rolled out in 2017.

I am not downplaying the essence of learning the Arabic language but it cannot be implemented at a period when Ghanaian students are still struggling with French. French is important because of our neighbors – there are jobs and opportunities across our borders but most Ghanaians cannot take advantage of that opportunity because of our inadequacy in that language.

It would all be good if government focuses on fixing these crippling challenges before introducing other interventions.Let us not put the cart before the horse.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana, [email protected]
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