African leaders have failed the cause of ensuring that peace prevails in Libya - International Relations Expert back

An International relations expert, Dr Yao Gebeh has blamed the African Union (AU) for failing to take pragmatic measures to salvage the current crisis in Libya describing the AU’s “once-a-while-signal” as “unfruitful”.

The civil war in Libya began on 15 February 2011 which has resulted in the death of thousands of Libyan citizens. The Libyan civil war is an ongoing armed conflict in the North African state of Libya being fought between forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi and his regime and those seeking to depose him. The situation began as a series of peaceful protests which were met with military force by the Gaddafi regime. The protests escalated into an uprising that spread across the country.

There have been fierce firefights in Bab al-Aziziya, as well as in several southern and central areas of the city.

Col Gaddafi's where about is unknown, but overnight he vowed in a speech to fight until victory or martyrdom.

A pro-regime television channel, al-Uruba, broadcast an audio statement in which he said his decision to leave his Bab al-Aziziya compound was a "tactical" move.

He urged Libyans to cleanse the streets of "traitors, infidels and rats", and said he had "been out a bit in Tripoli discreetly, without being seen".

However, in the estimation of Dr Yao Gebeh, the African Union has done very little to salvage the “pockets of rebellion” that have been witnessed in other African countries aside Libya. According to him, African leaders on the whole have failed in the cause to save the situation in Libya since they are incapable of “defining the parameters of intervention on the continent” stressing that they (African leaders) together with the (AU) have not been more forceful in ensuring that peace prevails in the country.

He said, “what they (AU) have done is to watch from afar and once a while send signal, that peace should prevail; but there is no peace in Libya, there has not been a sustained peace in Egypt, not to talk about the other pockets of rebellions that we have been witnessing for the past months. Basically, we have not done the right thing; we have allowed external players to completely take Africa for granted and that is not acceptable. I will wish that the AU is more forthcoming on this matter, but then we have given all the grounds to them to do what they want”.

Dr. Yao said this in an interview on Xfm’s morning show The Big Bite explaining that the crisis in Libya will go a long way to affect us (Ghana) since Libya was a constant supplier of crude oil adding that “it will devastate the structural arrangement we have with them”.

“We as Ghanaians we should be worried about this developments. We can do very little to help resolve the situation. We can only send messages of pleas, but any direct intervention- either supporting the rebels of Col Gadafi at this juncture is very difficult, it may not be even productive. So we are going to adopt a wait and see attitude which doesn’t normally augur well for peace and security for this continent”. Dr. Yao explained

Story by Brown Ohenewaa Esther/Xfm 95.1/Accra/Ghana

I am focused and will not be distracted by politics of personal destruction- Ras Mubarak back

Ras Mubarak, an NDC activist and aspiring Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North constituency has taken a swipe at the incumbent Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North Constituency, Justice Joe Appiah, over his comments that he (Ras Mubarak) is a joker, saying that he will not be distracted by comments from the opposition MP.


Justice Joe Appiah was reported to have described Ras Mubarak as a ‘joker’ and a failure by his association with the NDC because in his opinion he will have no message to sell to the electorates in the Ablekuma North constituency adding that he must not be considered as a serious politician by the public.

However, in a press statement copied to Xfm, Ras Mubarak opined that the recent attacks from the MP only betrays how the incumbent MP is gripped by “fear and panic” of losing the Ablekuma North constituency seat in the 2012 parliamentary election.

Ras Mubarak who picked his nomination forms yesterday, August 23, 2011, said instead of attacking his person, Hon Joe Appiah should rather be concerned with the criticisms and expressions of discontent about his performance from members of his own party in the constituency stressing that wading into his (Ras) intention to contest the NDC Ablekuma North Constituency primary wouldn’t be a solution to his predicaments.

According to Ras Mubarak, the MP has failed to deliver on his promises to the people of Ablekuma North and that should be his trouble rather than interfering in the affairs of others.

“He promised he was going to build a state of the art library for Ablekuma North, but has failed to deliver that, he promised to create wealth and jobs for the people of Ablekuma North. He has failed in that regard too”.

Ras Mubarak categorically stated that his objective is to win the primary and will not be distracted adding that, “no amount of name calling from the NPP MP will keep me off the message”.






Below is the full statement




PRESS STATEMENT:
For Immediate release

August 24, 2011
I AM FOCUSED AND WILL NOT BE DISTRACTED BY POLITICS OF PERSONAL DESTRUCTION
Recent attacks on my person by the opposition NPP MP for Ablekuma North, only betrays how he is gripped by “fear and panic” of losing the Ablekuma North constituency seat in the 2012 parliamentary election.
The beleaguered opposition MP, who is currently facing a barrage of criticisms and expressions of discontent about his performance from members of his own party in the constituency, has attempted to wade into my intention to contest the NDC Ablekuma North Constituency primary.
His description of my bid as a joke and calling me a joker does not surprise me at all. The opposition doesn’t like good news; and my bid is certainly good news not just to members of the NDC but to electorates in Ablekuma North who are looking for someone with the ability to bring new solutions to old problems.
I am not a parliamentary candidate of the NDC yet nor the only one in the NDC parliamentary primary, yet the sitting NPP MP decides the only way he can be heard is to call me names.
If the MP's record is anything to go by, he is the one who has failed to deliver. Before the last election, he promised his party he was going to deliver eighty thousand votes but merely managed forty five thousand, a performance considered by many as lost fortune compared to what his predecessor pulled in the 2004 parliamentary primary.
He also promised he was going to build a state of the art library for Ablekuma North, but has failed to deliver that too. He promised to create "wealth and jobs for the people of Ablekuma North." He has failed in that regard too.
He should tell us how many constituents have become wealthy as a result of his efforts since he became MP? How many people has he created jobs for and what kinds of jobs are they? And as if his failed promises are not bad enough, he is promising to win the next election by one hundred thousand votes.
I am focused on the mission and will not be distracted. My first objective is to win the primary and no amount of name calling from the NPP MP will keep me off the message.


I am motivated by the resilience and tenacity of residents in my constituency. They are showing fortitude, despite the stress and challenges they face with issues such as the perennial flooding, unacceptable interruption in energy supplies, armed robberies and youth unemployment amongst others.
The NPP MP rarely says anything in parliament or make invaluable contribution to debate in the House but was heard loud in his attacks on Citi FM. I pray he gathers the courage, to be as vocal about issues affecting Ghanaian families and specifically residents of Ablekuma North (when he is in parliament) as he was loud in attacking me.
Residents of Ablekuma North deserve better and the politics of personal destruction as practiced by Joe Appiah is not what will make a positive difference in their lives. If he is unable to help residents in the constituency, he should endeavor to sort out the confusion in his own party, as he is being accused as an imposed candidate.
He should also focus on adequately answering allegations leveled against him by his constituency executives, that he was sponsored by Hon. Kwamina Bartels with cash to win his party's primary and subsequently by the NPP flag bearer against the wishes of constituents.
The people of Ablekuma North will decide whether they want more of the same broken promises, or a Positive Difference in their lives. Until that time, Hon. Justice Joe Appiah should do his best to serve them well now.
I wish him well and pray that he will make the welfare of constituents the centerpiece of his public debate and spend his energies properly representing the good people of Ablekuma North.

Signed: Ras Mubarak (MP Aspirant, Ablekuma North)
0244478267
www.rasmubarak.com
www.skype.cpm/ras.mubarak

Story by Brown Ohenewaa Esther/Xfm 95.1/Accra/Ghana

I never called for decriminalization of homosexuality- New CHRAJ Bossback

The newly appointed head of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Lauretta Lamptey has discounted reports that she has advocated the decriminalization of homosexuality saying she was “misquoted and therefore misrepresented”.

The first day she took up her appointment, myjoyonline.com reported Ms Lamptey as advocating the decriminalization of homosexuality.

The report quoted her as saying that homosexuals have rights under the law and does not believe their activities should be criminalized.
However, she has discounted this report.

“I did not advocate that homosexuality should be decriminalized. My view is that, it currently isn’t clear whether it is even criminal and that if the view of the society is that it should be then, there should be a debate about that”, Lauretta Lamptey who was appointed by President Mills following the retirement of the acting Commissioner Anna Bossman, said this in an interview with Xfm 95.1 in her office.

According to her, opinions she had given on the issue of homosexuality were only on the basis that there has been constant debates on the criminalization of their activities, stressing that the only way homosexuals can be criminalized is to have it explicitly captured in the law.

She added that (CHRAJ) as a constitutional institution will not fight for the rights of homosexuals if the +law captures their activities to be criminal adding “in my view I don’t think as a society we are ready to give homosexuals, lesbians the whole category of people any of those kind of rights”.

“I think we have religious, moral, traditional and many barriers to that and I don’t think we have to simply copy the Western world on everything because someone can say, ‘this is the high point, this is where you should be in terms of human rights of individuals. I think we should be where our country should be”.

“However the main point that I wanted to make is that the debate has been about rights and that I think the real issue is the legal side of things and that it doesn’t make sense to me. There is some illogic in arguing for increase rights for homosexuals and at the same time saying that by law homosexuality is a criminal offence.

How can we say it is criminal and then you want (CHRAJ) to go and protect the very activity that is criminal”?

Touching on the issue of corruption, Ms Lamptey said she agrees with the President calling on people to provide enough evidence before one is accused of corruption stressing that, CHRAJ will under no circumstance rush in investigating issues concerning corruption before prosecuting but said such issues would be properly investigated before actions are taken.

Story by Esther Ohenewaa Brown/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana

Bawumia is a marketable candidate for Akuffo Addo -Ben Ephsonback

Pollster and Managing Director of the Daily Dispatch Newspaper Ben Ephson, has advised the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party Nana Akuffo- Addo to maintain Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as running mate for the 2012 general elections since he is a marketable candidate.

Mr. Ben Ephson made his submissions in an interview on Xfm’s morning show The Big Bite.

Mr. Ephson said “in fact I think he (Akuffo Addo) should maintain Bawumia because he lost not because of Bawumia but out of the party’s own arrogance that they will win by all means, so you just have to be careful with what you do. The issue of picking from the Northern region is important but you have to try and balance”.

“He should maintain Bawumia not because he is from the north. If Nana lost because of Bawumia, he should maintain Bawumia because he has been marketed enough and there is no mud to throw at him again any mud that will be thrown at him has been thrown already that is the advantage of maintaining your own margin of 40,000” Mr. Ephson explained.

He further stated that, a running mate from the Northern region for the NPP in the 2012 general elections is very important.

Some political pundits and reports have suggested names such as Mustapha Hamid, and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as eligible running mates to Nana Addo in the 2012 general elections.
Political analyst, Dr. Kwesi Jonah has suggested that deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, Ambrose Dery would be a better running mate to the NPP flag bearer Nana Akuffo-Addo for the 2012 general elections than any of the names being floated as possibilities.

However, Ben Ephson insists Nana Addo retaining Mahamudu Bawumiah will be the best choice.

Story by Brown Ohenewaa Esther/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana

Source: www.XfmnewsCenter.com - Ghana.

Herbert Mensah- Mrs Rawlings would have preferred not contesting President Mills, but…back

As the ruling National Democratic Congress camp in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo region, electing a flagbearer to lead the party into the 2012 general election, a close ally of former president Jerry John Rawlings says he wished president John Mills had not been contested, describing the present predicament of the NDC as unfortunate.

According to Mr Herbert Mensah, the fact that President John Mills is being contested two years into the NDC’s administration gives indication that all is not well with the party and government.
Indeed it is the reality of this that the former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings is seeking the mandate of the NDC’s delegates to salvage the fortunes of the party at the 2012 general elections.

“My decision to contest also arose against the backdrop of growing division, apathy and despondency among our party faithful; under the current leadership, our party has been divided into factions that never existed before and, this, in effect, is killing the spirit of the NDC”, Mrs Rawlings once stated as being the reason for her decision to run.

Herbert Mensah who said he has lost touch with the principles of the President Mills’ led government however, revealed that he would have preferred that the NDC had not entered into this contest, blaming president John Mills solely for the visible division within the party.

“And for me I would have preferred that there was no challenge. And I think that everybody, Mrs Rawlings would have preferred that she was not in this position. President Mills I know certainly will prefer that there was a united strong party tackling the issues, showing the electorates that there is a difference between the past NPP and the NDC. And I think that is what they genuinely would have wanted. And I think the fact that we are in this challenge means that something has gone wrong. What I feel sad about is what does the future hold, because if there was real leadership in the country, we would not be having this contest”, Herbert Mensah intimated in an interview with Xfm’s Abena Asiedua Tenkorang.

He said more is needed to be a leader of the country, stressing, “holding a bible is not enough to be a president… we need greater dynamism to win an election”.

Many pundits have described July 8, the congress date as a make or break for the NDC, however, Herbert Mensah, said July 8 “is just a date in the calendar”.

Herbert Mensah also discounted assertions that the former first lady is not marketable enough as far as the presidency is concerned, stating that President Mills was not marketable either, but he is now the President. To him, what matters is a dynamic leader.

Story by Esther Brown/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana

Konadus campaign team pleased with Mills concession to disunity and despondency within NDCba

Even though she lost heavily by the verdict of the people to lead the National Democratic Congress into the 2012 general election, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings’ contest, has forced President John Mills to concede that there are loopholes in the leadership of the party.

This is according to campaign coordinator, Namburr Berrick who addressed a news conference Wednedsday, 13th July 2011 at the premises of the 31st December Women’s Movement in Accra.

The conference was to correct what the team called “critical issues that occurred during the flag-bearership contest” in Sunyani over the weekend.

Nana Konadu managed to poll just three per cent of the total votes cast, however, Mr. Berrick said her bold decision rather made the president to publicly concede that the NDC was disintegrating as a result of “growing disunity, apathy and despondency”.

“Nonetheless, the delegates appear to have made a decision: a presidential candidate has been elected. One thing still remains unchanged: With the support of the founder and the grassroots, Nana Konadu, boldly and fearlessly stood up and challenged the denigration of party principles, the weakening of party structures and the dampening of the party’s revolutionary spirit. She boldly and fearlessly stood up and challenged the growing disunity, apathy and despondency resulting in the disintegration of our party”.

“The president has now openly and publicly conceded that these problems in fact exist. It took courage and a willingness to speak the truth in the face of ostracism and victimisation to exact that admission. This is the victory of her stance of courage”, Mr Berrick told members of the press.

Citing a series of orchestrations that were meant to tilt the results of the elections, Namburr Berrick intimated that “despite this clear campaign of fear, we persevered, believing that, notwithstanding the negative tactics, the delegates would demonstrate a high level of courage and honour by making a choice based on the facts and principles that are clear for all to see,” however adding, “unfortunately, they had already been cowered into submission”.

Since the congress ended, Namburr Berrick disclosed that reports reaching members indicate that over 200 delegates were not given accreditation to enter the congress grounds which did not allow them to exercise their franchise.

He said opponents have discounted these allegations, especially, with regards to fear but stated categorically that those charges were “actual and real,’’ adding, “I can’t comprehend”.

Without stating categorically what is next for the former First Lady, Namburr Berrick called on the grassroots supporters “to keep faith” as the team will continue to champion their cause “in whatever shape or form”.

Story by Esther Brown/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana

Source: www.XfmnewsCenter.com - Ghana.

Acquire properties through the right processes – Robert Cleggbac

Kofi Bentil - Vice President of IMANI

A legal practitioner, Robert Nii Arday Clegg of Clegg and Associates has cautioned citizens, who have interest in acquiring properties to do so through the right processes.

Mr. Robert Clegg said this in a public discussion organized by Imani Ghana, a policy think tank at the Coconut Groove Regency Hotel in Accra.

Making reference to the 1992 constitution, he stated that there are laws that protect an individual in the acquisition of land yet those laws are not well enforced.

He raised concerns on the difficulties individuals face in an attempt to acquire properties adding that lands acquired by the government under the compulsory acquisition law but which are not being utilized should be given back to their traditional owners.

Citing examples he mentioned the operations of land guards, stating that citizens who engage land guards to acquire land unlawfully are breaking the laws of the land.
However the vice President of Imani Ghana Mr. Kofi Bentil in his speech blamed government for problems associated with property rights.

“Our government is the worst offender when it comes to land by commission and omission’’ Kofi Bentil Vice President Imani Ghana said. However he said the problems associated with the acquisition of property could be resolved if institutions such as the land commission, which have been assigned to deal with these problems stand up to their call.

‘Government upon government since independence has used wrong procedures to acquire large tracks of land which have not been utilized and for which payment of compensation had delayed, creating a lot of tension between the state and the expropriated owners.’

Story by Esther Brown/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana