Thursday, June 7, 2012
CONDOMINIUMS-VITAL FOR GHANA'S HOUSING SECTOR
By Hannah Owusu Boamah,Online Editor-Property Express
6 June 2012
Housing remains a key component in the triplets of the necessities of life namely, food, shelter and clothing.
As such, governments and individuals as well as developers and investors continue to commit resources into this vital sector.
In Ghana, the twist and turns of the housing or real estate sector calls for more innovative product and services that will meet this vital need of life.
A viable alternative that has not been much explored in the country , is the introduction of condominium, popularly known as "condo" in the developed economies or better still "high-rise building".
Condominium is a form of home ownership in which individual units of a larger complex are sold, not rented.
In this system of ownership, we see a building or complex in which units of the property are owned by individuals but properties such as the grounds and building structure, are jointly shared among the unit owners.
In China, 64 million condos are available.
Those who purchase units in a condominium technically own everything from their walls inward. All of the individual homeowners have shared rights to most common areas, such as the elevators, hallways, pools and club houses.
Maintenance of these areas becomes the responsibility of a condominium association. Every owner owns a share of interest in the condominium association, plus an obligation to pay monthly dues or special assessment fees for larger maintenance problems.
Could this ownership plan be adopted in Ghana, considering that the country's housing deficit stands at over one million houses, according to the Government of Ghana's website.
However such huge deficit rates calls for key decisions that would address these lapses, since most initiatives to reverse the trend have proved futile.
There is therefore the need for more proactive measures that will provide decent and affordable houses to all Ghanaians and such system could include ways to fully explore the condo system.
Taking a glance of the current predominant system of landlord and tenancy rifle day in and day out, could there by means to explore the use of condos to address such hitch.
To begin with, lets attempt to look at the merits and demerits of high-rise building.
Some critics have said a condominium arrangement is not the best option for every potential homeowner, since there could be noticeable lack of privacy in the common areas shared by owners.
Those who would prefer to own all of their amenities and maintain their own lawn and garden may want to pursue single home ownership options instead of a condominium.
It can also be more difficult to sell a condominium unit as opposed to a home with acreage.
Therefore, this ownership style is said to be most suitable for veteran apartment renters who don't mind having close neighbors and persons who may not want to be bothered with external maintenance or the responsibility of lawn care.
Condos are also ideal for frequent travellers and therefore If you travel a lot or need to be able to leave with little notice, this can be your ticket to enjoying that freedom.
With this, you can travel never having to be concerned about your yard maintenance, waste or other security issues since all these things are handled for you.
Also condo living can also contribute to a more active lifestyle and residents are also each others keeper.
Condos also provide the opportunity for those wanting more amenities at less cost.
Moreover, this system is cost effective , it may be much lower than an equivalent single-unit home. Buying a condominium does allow equity to build, unlike paying monthly rent in an apartment complex.
Also instead of opting for rental where you continue to have headaches from a landlord and having to abide by so many "we don't do this in my house then a condominium living may be more advantageous financially than apartment rentals.
This ownership style is also an excellent alternative for many as their lives transition from one phase to another.
Condos also comes with certain demerits such as noise from neighbour’s, including those above and below your unit, parking at condominiums is often in a common area not attached to the home, no yard and some condo buildings may have stairs.
One thing to be aware of when living in a condominium setting is the political reality of an owners' association. Decisions may be made in monthly meetings which will cost individual owners more money, but not necessarily deliver equal benefits for all.
It can be nearly impossible to avoid being affected by at least one condo board decision, so active participation in meetings and discussions may be more compulsory than you might expect.
Condominium living may be more advantageous financially than apartment rentals, but it does require more active participation in community events.
WHY CAN IT BE AN OPTION FOR GHANA?
Considering the income and poverty levels in the country, condominiums can be a viable alternative, since they are quite moderate to owing an estate.
Secondly, due to the poor maintenance culture inhibit in this part of the world, condos will be an appropriate system, since the responsibility of maintenance will be handled not be the owners, but the associations.
It also provides an opportunity to re-adopt the community life-style, virtually fading out due to urbanisation.
The indigenous Ghanaian culture encourages brotherliness, being each other's keeper, hence this system will further strengthen such ties that exist in the local culture.
Also, with the current economic situation, where most inhabitants stay out mostly for work, condos will help ensure utmost security and peace of mind whiles away from home.
Notwithstanding these points, another crucial factor is the rift between landlords and tenants, hence, this ownership style could ensure more peace in homes and encourage more people to channel resources there.
WHY THE NEED FOR CONDOMINIUM ACTS IN AFRICA
In recent time, the Ghana Housing Finance Association (GHFC), a trade association of practitioners of housing finance, is working with stakeholders to draft a Condominium Property Bill to develop condominiums to address challenges in the housing sector.
The bill will be used as an advocacy tool influence both legislative and executive arms of government to pass a Condominium Law.
Mr. Charles Bonsu, General Manager, Mortgage and Consumer Loans of HFC Bank Limited, who announced this at a four-day sensitisation workshop in Accra said it was for the development of a Condominium Law in Ghana; the purpose for the GHFA was to develop a form of national housing finance network to support pilot schemes, innovations and initiatives.
In addition, to strengthen collaboration and partnership between government, private sector, bilateral and multi-lateral agencies as well as civil society, to address housing finance challenges.
As part of effort to achieve such feat, GHFA is to train and equip members with general information and advocacy skills and to take them through the essential steps in designing and planning an advocacy campaign and undertake the advocacy action leading to the development and promulgation of a Condominium Law in Ghana.
The development of flats and high rise properties has become the norm in Ghana, especially in the metropolis because they enable developers to maximise the use of land and space.
Players in the housing industry therefore say there is the need to pass a law to regulate the industry and also encourage the formation of property management companies for such facilities to instill discipline in the industry and facilitate the development of more high rise properties.
With challenges in the housing industry which has a deficit of about 100,000 houses a year, high cost of land and inadequate long-term finance; the development of condominiums is seen as a way of addressing the challenges.
Ghana had no common areas and other issues and therefore needed to pass a law to regulate the industry and encourage the formation of property management companies for such facilities and the law would not only instill discipline in the industry, but also facilitate the development of high rise properties.
Mr David K.D. Letsa, Partner of Bentsi- Enchill , Letsa and Ankomah, consultants for projects, identified some of the challenges facing the housing sector as high cost and access of land, lack of transparency in land tenure and multiple sale of landed property, heavy reliance on imported building materials, high cost of building materials, margins of developers, prolonged land title registration process and undeveloped local building materials industry.
He said there was the need for a condominium regulation that would avoid haphazard, uncontrolled developments, unsound engineering, risk to life and property.
It would also encourage developers, assurance of title, adequate maintenance and induce financiers to invest.
Mr. Letsa said the preparation of the bill was a formidable exercise and must be responsive, forward-looking and necessarily complement the reforms currently being undertaken in land administration and use.**
Chief Attorney Also, George Coppolo, Chief Attorney has indicated that the need for a a Condominium Act.
The act will spell out legislations that will among others provide for the election from among the unit owners of a board of directors; their tenure, duties, powers, compensation and removal of boards.
It will also spell out the method of calling meetings of the unit owners, and the percentage, if other than a majority, of unit owners that constitutes a quorum; the qualifications, powers and duties of the officers of the association; the manner of selecting and removing officers and their term and compensation, in addition to issues related to governing the alienation, conveyance, sale, leasing, purchase, ownership, and occupancy of units as are desirable;.
Considering the challenges of of the african property market as well as that of developing economies, there was the need for an Act of Parliament that will ensure adequate regulation should this be a viable alternative to address the woes of the continent's housing deficits.
THE ROLE OF CONDOMINIUMS IN CO-OPERATIVE AND STATE HOUSING POLICIES
In Ghana, efforts by subsequent governments to secure affordable housing estates as well as to institute effective state housing policies have proved futile.
Notable among them are the Affordable Housing Project under the Kufuor -led administration and the controversial STX Korea deal.
However, notwithstanding these, challenges with the Chinese experience and replica experiences in developed economies, there is the need for government to consider this ownership plan.
Ghana, for instance still has a lot to capture in the current landlord and tenants system and explore ways to diversify this system to a more effective condo system.
With its benefits of cost effectiveness, state housing policies can also be diversified and consider ways to adopt such a system to meet the needs of the people.
In terms of co-peratives, this niche in the country remain mostly untapped.
Ghana still remains in a housing crisis, hence the country continues to explore innovative startegies for results.
Cooperative housing projects are a proven form of multitude homeownership. It has many benefits and has been used to meet the high demand of housing for a variety of people in Ghana, according to the ghanainvest.com..
A cooperative housing project is formed when investors jointly decide to own, control or build various housing projects.
A housing cooperative is therefore a legal entity owns real estates consisting of one or more residential buildings;.
The corporation is membership based, with membership granted by way of a share purchase in the cooperative.
A primary advantage of the housing cooperative is the pooling of the members’ resources so that their buying power is leveraged, thus lowering the cost per member in all the services and products associated with home ownership.
Cooperative can also used to describe a non-share capital co-op model in which fee-paying members obtain the right to occupy a bedroom and share the communal resources of a house that is owned by a cooperative organization.
Such is the case with student cooperatives in some college neighborhoods in the United States. and as practised in Canada, Sweden, India, Germany and Finland.
Coperative housing projects have seen some successes, but some experts have blamed the high cost of building materials and other factors such as land litigation on inability to perform, but there is still more to gain than lose.
Such investors could therefore explore opportunities that condos present in Ghana's economy in addition to other sectors such as garden-style housing communities, student apartments, middle class townhouses, single-family homes and senior housing.
With the high demand for quality and affordable housing in Ghana it is destined to be a highly yielding investment.
To blend all facts, there is a need for government, stakeholders and investors to seriously consider the use of condos among other such vital options, in order to help make the dream of an affordable and comfortable apartment a reality for all persons and not the preserve of only a few.
End
Monday, January 19, 2009
Ghana Gets First Female Speaker
January 20-A retired Justice of the Supreme Court; the highest court of Ghana has made history, as she has been elected the first female Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament.
Mrs Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo’s achievement becomes an accomplishment worth celebrating by Ghanaian women after various years of the struggle for gender equality and emancipation for women from all sorts of abuse and marginalization.
In this position, Mrs Bamford-Addo, 71 is the third highest person in the country after the President and Vice President.
She was worn in by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood who also made history some few years ago by heading Ghana’s Judiciary.
This means that currently, two arms of the country’s government that is the Legislature and Judiciary are now being run by women.
The Speaker of the fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic was elected unopposed and succeeds Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, in a Parliament of 230 representatives.
Mrs Bamford-Addo attended the Holy Child Secondary School in Cape Coast, at the capital of the Central region.
She trained as a lawyer in the United Kingdom and practiced briefly in London and relocated to Ghana.
She joined the Attorney General’s Department in Ghana as a State Attorney in 1963 and rose to become the Director of Public Prosecution in 1986.
Between 1991 and 2004 she served as Supreme Court Judge.
She also served on various boards including the Legal Aid Board and the Judicial Council.
In 1992, she served as a Deputy Speaker of the Consultative Assembly and retired from public service in October 2004, having served as a practicing lawyer for 43 years and as a judge of the Supreme Court for 13 years.
With this worth of experience, it is ample testimony that she won the seat not based on just the mere fact that she is a woman given undue advantage but based on her competence.
Chapter ten of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, states there shall be a Speaker of Parliament who shall be elected by the members of Parliament from among persons who are members of Parliament or who are qualified to be elected as members of Parliament.
The Speaker will however be expected to vacate his or her office if he becomes a Minister of State or a Deputy Minister, or if he resigns from office by writing signed by him and addressed to the Clerk to Parliament; or if any circumstances arise that, if he were not Speaker, would disqualify him for election as a member of Parliament.
It also says that the Speaker will also be expected to vacate the position if he or she is removed from office by a resolution of Parliament supported by the votes of not less than three-quarters of all the members of Parliament.
The constitutions also requires person elected to the office of Speaker to before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe before Parliament the oath of allegiance and the Speaker's oath set out in the Second Schedule to this Constitution.
On emoluments, the Speaker will however receive such salary and allowances, and on retirement, such retiring awards as may be determined in accordance with article 71 of this Constitution.
The salary and allowances payable to the Speaker and any retiring awards payable to him on retirement shall be charged on state fund called the Consolidated Fund.
The salary and other allowances payable to the Speaker shall not be varied to his disadvantage during his tenure of office.
The Speaker will have two Deputy Speakers of Parliament who shall be elected by the members of Parliament from among the members of Parliament; and both of who shall not be members of the same political party
In previous years, gender activists and women groups have called for the inclusion of women and some have even proposed quota systems that would ensure fair representation of women in parliament.
This have failed, as some critics say women were calling for their inclusion not based on competence but just for the sake of inclusion.
Before Ghana’s elections in December last year, the names of some women emerged as potential candidates to be nominated as running mates to support flag bearers of the major political parties.
The running mates, according to the country’s constitution automatically become the vice president of the Republic when the political party wins the elections.
It therefore came as a big surprise and disappointment at the same time to gender activists who taught the battle had been won when the parties announced male names as their vice presidential candidates.
Although the battle had not been totally won yet, women are hoping that with time they would find their rightful place in the world.
Gradually the trend is changing as girl child education is on the increase in the country.
Through the intervention of previous government’s, many policies have been introduced to ensure that more girls go to school and stay in school.
This include the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education programme introduced over 20 years ago, to ensure that all citizens had at least basic education, the Capitation Grant initiated by the former administration led by ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor which provided grants of three dollars to each pupil every academic year to pay for tuition and a school feeding programme which provided free lunch for pupils in basic schools.
Ghana’s basic education begins with a two- year nursery and kindergarten education, six years of primary education and three years of junior high school.
It was later realized that the campaign, which started as girl child education, must be given a deeper focus as most girls dropped out of school due to teenage pregnancy, early marriage, traditional beliefs that women were home managers and therefore belonged to the kitchen among others.
Thank God that eventually, females are outnumbering the males in most educational institutions in Ghana and are performing better.
But the challenge now is how to pursue higher academic laurels to especially the Masters and PhD levels.
Due to their feminine societal roles, most of them cannot afford to let go of their marital pride and therefore abandon education to cater for their families.
Ghanaian women salute Mrs Bamford-Addo and look forward to more of such accomplishment.
We hope this is just the beginning of real hope for womanhood.
End
Mrs Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo’s achievement becomes an accomplishment worth celebrating by Ghanaian women after various years of the struggle for gender equality and emancipation for women from all sorts of abuse and marginalization.
In this position, Mrs Bamford-Addo, 71 is the third highest person in the country after the President and Vice President.
She was worn in by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood who also made history some few years ago by heading Ghana’s Judiciary.
This means that currently, two arms of the country’s government that is the Legislature and Judiciary are now being run by women.
The Speaker of the fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic was elected unopposed and succeeds Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, in a Parliament of 230 representatives.
Mrs Bamford-Addo attended the Holy Child Secondary School in Cape Coast, at the capital of the Central region.
She trained as a lawyer in the United Kingdom and practiced briefly in London and relocated to Ghana.
She joined the Attorney General’s Department in Ghana as a State Attorney in 1963 and rose to become the Director of Public Prosecution in 1986.
Between 1991 and 2004 she served as Supreme Court Judge.
She also served on various boards including the Legal Aid Board and the Judicial Council.
In 1992, she served as a Deputy Speaker of the Consultative Assembly and retired from public service in October 2004, having served as a practicing lawyer for 43 years and as a judge of the Supreme Court for 13 years.
With this worth of experience, it is ample testimony that she won the seat not based on just the mere fact that she is a woman given undue advantage but based on her competence.
Chapter ten of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, states there shall be a Speaker of Parliament who shall be elected by the members of Parliament from among persons who are members of Parliament or who are qualified to be elected as members of Parliament.
The Speaker will however be expected to vacate his or her office if he becomes a Minister of State or a Deputy Minister, or if he resigns from office by writing signed by him and addressed to the Clerk to Parliament; or if any circumstances arise that, if he were not Speaker, would disqualify him for election as a member of Parliament.
It also says that the Speaker will also be expected to vacate the position if he or she is removed from office by a resolution of Parliament supported by the votes of not less than three-quarters of all the members of Parliament.
The constitutions also requires person elected to the office of Speaker to before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe before Parliament the oath of allegiance and the Speaker's oath set out in the Second Schedule to this Constitution.
On emoluments, the Speaker will however receive such salary and allowances, and on retirement, such retiring awards as may be determined in accordance with article 71 of this Constitution.
The salary and allowances payable to the Speaker and any retiring awards payable to him on retirement shall be charged on state fund called the Consolidated Fund.
The salary and other allowances payable to the Speaker shall not be varied to his disadvantage during his tenure of office.
The Speaker will have two Deputy Speakers of Parliament who shall be elected by the members of Parliament from among the members of Parliament; and both of who shall not be members of the same political party
In previous years, gender activists and women groups have called for the inclusion of women and some have even proposed quota systems that would ensure fair representation of women in parliament.
This have failed, as some critics say women were calling for their inclusion not based on competence but just for the sake of inclusion.
Before Ghana’s elections in December last year, the names of some women emerged as potential candidates to be nominated as running mates to support flag bearers of the major political parties.
The running mates, according to the country’s constitution automatically become the vice president of the Republic when the political party wins the elections.
It therefore came as a big surprise and disappointment at the same time to gender activists who taught the battle had been won when the parties announced male names as their vice presidential candidates.
Although the battle had not been totally won yet, women are hoping that with time they would find their rightful place in the world.
Gradually the trend is changing as girl child education is on the increase in the country.
Through the intervention of previous government’s, many policies have been introduced to ensure that more girls go to school and stay in school.
This include the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education programme introduced over 20 years ago, to ensure that all citizens had at least basic education, the Capitation Grant initiated by the former administration led by ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor which provided grants of three dollars to each pupil every academic year to pay for tuition and a school feeding programme which provided free lunch for pupils in basic schools.
Ghana’s basic education begins with a two- year nursery and kindergarten education, six years of primary education and three years of junior high school.
It was later realized that the campaign, which started as girl child education, must be given a deeper focus as most girls dropped out of school due to teenage pregnancy, early marriage, traditional beliefs that women were home managers and therefore belonged to the kitchen among others.
Thank God that eventually, females are outnumbering the males in most educational institutions in Ghana and are performing better.
But the challenge now is how to pursue higher academic laurels to especially the Masters and PhD levels.
Due to their feminine societal roles, most of them cannot afford to let go of their marital pride and therefore abandon education to cater for their families.
Ghanaian women salute Mrs Bamford-Addo and look forward to more of such accomplishment.
We hope this is just the beginning of real hope for womanhood.
End
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Ghana's Elections, How It Happened
By Hannah Annor
Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been declared president elect for Ghana to succeed President John Agyekum Kufuor.
He would officially receive the mantle from President Kufuor at a ceremony in Accra on January 7.
The president- elect won the seat elections in a historic battle, which saw Ghanaians going to the polls on two occasions, December 7 for the presidential and parliamentary elections and on December 28 for a presidential run-off.
The December 7 polls could not produce a winner since none of the candidates attained the constitutional requirement of 50 per cent plus one vote.
As if the two occasions were not enough, Ghanaians were again kept in suspense for another four days to make way for the conduct of elections in one constituency called Tain in the Brong Ahafo region.
Tain constituents could cast their ballot in the presidential run-off because some ballot papers were alleged to have been missing.
But Ghana’s statutory institution in charge of the Elections, the Electoral Commission later come out to explain that the number of ballot papers sent to Tain were accurate but the problem occurred when distributing them.
It said some polling centres were given more than the required number of ballot papers, leading to shortages elsewhere.
In the December 7 elections, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) took the lead with 49. 13 per cent and Prof Mills followed with 47.92 per cent.
However, the battle turned around during the presidential run-off where Prof Mills swept the lead from his contender, Nana Akufo Addo to take the seat.
Prof Mills took the seat with 50. 23 per cent whilst Nana-Akufo-Addo also had 49.77 per cent.
Prof Mills’ message of “change” seemed to have gone down well with Ghanaians who gave him their thumb to lead the country as compared to his contender’s message of “ We Are Moving Forward”.
Before the elections, Prof Mills, 64, was seen to have intensified his campaign this year, embarking on a door to door campaign dubbed “ I care for you” in order to win the sympathy of electorates.
It appeared this strategy worked well for him, which saw his massive victory, especially in his hometown, the Central region.
The President-elect who was vice to President Jerry John Rawlings, who handed over power to President Kufuor in 2000, won the seat after contesting with the NPP on three conservative times in 2000, 2004 and this elections.
During the elections, all was calm in the country with very few irregularities. This made the country receive lots of commendation from the international community as well as other international observers who thronged into Ghana to monitor the elections.
The December 7 election, which also elected 230 parliamentarians, saw the defeat of some key personalities of the NPP such as the Information Minister to the Kufuor administration and other NDC gurus.
The NDC therefore won more seats than the NPP and therefore would have a simple majority representation in Parliament.
The NDC had 114 members in parliamentarians against 107 for the NPP.
The NDC therefore capitalized on this to win the presidential seat, campaigning that it had the majority in Parliament and therefore needed the mandate of Ghanaians for the presidency in order to also push its agenda.
It therefore became a big surprise to the NPP when provisional results of the presidential run-off started pouring in on the electronic media showing NDC in the lead.
The political tension has now cooled out in the country and all are awaiting January 7, for the smooth transition.
The President-elect had already named a team to ensure a smooth transition and he is calling for peace and cooperation from the entire citizenry in order to serve the country as expected.
On whether Ghana and the United States have similar patterns in terms of politics, it will be recalled that when Bill Clinton was leaving office in 2000, he handed over to President George .W Bush who was then in opposition.
Similarly, Ghana voted for the NPP , then in opposition and therefore former President Rawlings handed over power to President Kufuor in the same year.
Furthermore, when Barack Obama of the American Democrat party won the elections, some NDC compatriots started prophesying victory for the NDC which incidentally shared a common slogan of “ Change” with Obama.
Interestingly, the vice presidential candidate to Prof Mills, John Mahama who is now the Vice-President elect was even nick named Obama during the campaigning.
Some analysts have therefore questioned whether Ghana’s politics would in subsequent years follow the American pattern?. Perhaps time would tell.
Another interesting issue has to do with the names of the three successive head of states that have ruled the country in previous years.
Former President Rawlings was called John, President Kufuor was also a John and the President elect is also a John.
Are John’s the most anointed to lead Ghana and are preparing the way for a “messiah” to come . Perhaps time would prove this too.
Even for the next administration , the Vice President is also a John and coincidentally shared a similar surname with his successor, Alhaji Aliu Mahama.
Ghana had so far been a shinning example to Africa and the world at large by proving that it was possible for an African country to hold elections without any violence.
She was the first country to have independence in sub-Saharan Africa and continues to maintain her position as one of the most respected countries within the West African sub-region.
Ghana, with a population of over 22 million is the second global leader in cocoa production and also second for Gold.
End
Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been declared president elect for Ghana to succeed President John Agyekum Kufuor.
He would officially receive the mantle from President Kufuor at a ceremony in Accra on January 7.
The president- elect won the seat elections in a historic battle, which saw Ghanaians going to the polls on two occasions, December 7 for the presidential and parliamentary elections and on December 28 for a presidential run-off.
The December 7 polls could not produce a winner since none of the candidates attained the constitutional requirement of 50 per cent plus one vote.
As if the two occasions were not enough, Ghanaians were again kept in suspense for another four days to make way for the conduct of elections in one constituency called Tain in the Brong Ahafo region.
Tain constituents could cast their ballot in the presidential run-off because some ballot papers were alleged to have been missing.
But Ghana’s statutory institution in charge of the Elections, the Electoral Commission later come out to explain that the number of ballot papers sent to Tain were accurate but the problem occurred when distributing them.
It said some polling centres were given more than the required number of ballot papers, leading to shortages elsewhere.
In the December 7 elections, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) took the lead with 49. 13 per cent and Prof Mills followed with 47.92 per cent.
However, the battle turned around during the presidential run-off where Prof Mills swept the lead from his contender, Nana Akufo Addo to take the seat.
Prof Mills took the seat with 50. 23 per cent whilst Nana-Akufo-Addo also had 49.77 per cent.
Prof Mills’ message of “change” seemed to have gone down well with Ghanaians who gave him their thumb to lead the country as compared to his contender’s message of “ We Are Moving Forward”.
Before the elections, Prof Mills, 64, was seen to have intensified his campaign this year, embarking on a door to door campaign dubbed “ I care for you” in order to win the sympathy of electorates.
It appeared this strategy worked well for him, which saw his massive victory, especially in his hometown, the Central region.
The President-elect who was vice to President Jerry John Rawlings, who handed over power to President Kufuor in 2000, won the seat after contesting with the NPP on three conservative times in 2000, 2004 and this elections.
During the elections, all was calm in the country with very few irregularities. This made the country receive lots of commendation from the international community as well as other international observers who thronged into Ghana to monitor the elections.
The December 7 election, which also elected 230 parliamentarians, saw the defeat of some key personalities of the NPP such as the Information Minister to the Kufuor administration and other NDC gurus.
The NDC therefore won more seats than the NPP and therefore would have a simple majority representation in Parliament.
The NDC had 114 members in parliamentarians against 107 for the NPP.
The NDC therefore capitalized on this to win the presidential seat, campaigning that it had the majority in Parliament and therefore needed the mandate of Ghanaians for the presidency in order to also push its agenda.
It therefore became a big surprise to the NPP when provisional results of the presidential run-off started pouring in on the electronic media showing NDC in the lead.
The political tension has now cooled out in the country and all are awaiting January 7, for the smooth transition.
The President-elect had already named a team to ensure a smooth transition and he is calling for peace and cooperation from the entire citizenry in order to serve the country as expected.
On whether Ghana and the United States have similar patterns in terms of politics, it will be recalled that when Bill Clinton was leaving office in 2000, he handed over to President George .W Bush who was then in opposition.
Similarly, Ghana voted for the NPP , then in opposition and therefore former President Rawlings handed over power to President Kufuor in the same year.
Furthermore, when Barack Obama of the American Democrat party won the elections, some NDC compatriots started prophesying victory for the NDC which incidentally shared a common slogan of “ Change” with Obama.
Interestingly, the vice presidential candidate to Prof Mills, John Mahama who is now the Vice-President elect was even nick named Obama during the campaigning.
Some analysts have therefore questioned whether Ghana’s politics would in subsequent years follow the American pattern?. Perhaps time would tell.
Another interesting issue has to do with the names of the three successive head of states that have ruled the country in previous years.
Former President Rawlings was called John, President Kufuor was also a John and the President elect is also a John.
Are John’s the most anointed to lead Ghana and are preparing the way for a “messiah” to come . Perhaps time would prove this too.
Even for the next administration , the Vice President is also a John and coincidentally shared a similar surname with his successor, Alhaji Aliu Mahama.
Ghana had so far been a shinning example to Africa and the world at large by proving that it was possible for an African country to hold elections without any violence.
She was the first country to have independence in sub-Saharan Africa and continues to maintain her position as one of the most respected countries within the West African sub-region.
Ghana, with a population of over 22 million is the second global leader in cocoa production and also second for Gold.
End
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Ghana Decides Tomorrow
Hannah Annor writes from Accra
Dec. 27, 2008-Ghanaian electorates would tomorrow, Sunday go to the polls again for the presidential run-off election to choose a presidential candidate to succeed President John Agyekum Kufuor.
None of the presidential candidates attained the constitutional requirement of 50 per cent plus one vote during the December 7 general election, hence the need for the run-off.
The two candidates, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), son of Ghana’s former Head of State, Edward Akufo-Addo and Professor John Evans Atta- Mills of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are contesting.
Nana Akufo-Addo was a former Attorney-General, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Akyem Abuakwa in the Eastern region of Ghana whilst Prof Atta-Mills was a Vice President of the Republic during President Jerry John Rawlings regime that handed over to President Kufuor.
The polls which begin at 0700 hours and end 1700 hours started on Tuesday with the Special Voting which involved persons whose services would be needed on duty on the Election Day.
They include officials of the statutory body responsible for the election, the Electoral Commission, security personnel, media and party representatives who would monitor it.
Both candidates have in the last two weeks intensified their campaigns in order to win the presidential seat.
Whilst the NPP goes with the campaign message “Moving Forward’, the NDC is calling for change, using the Akan dilate “Yeresesam”.
In the December 7 polls which attracted lots of commendation for Ghana from the international community and election observers due to peace and tranquillity which prevailed, Nana Akufo- Addo pulled 49. 13 per cent and Prof Atta-Mills had 47. 92 per cent.
A gap of only 102,000 votes separated the two candidates in an election in which eight million people voted.
Nana Akufo-Addo, 64, has a former Deputy Governor of Ghana’s Central Bank, Mamudu Bawumiah as his vice presidential candidate and Prof Mills, 64, has John Mahama, Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi in northern Ghana and former Minister of Communications under the Rowling’s administration.
Nana is married to Rebecca with 5 children whilst Prof-Atta-Mills also has Naadu as wife with a son.
-End
Dec. 27, 2008-Ghanaian electorates would tomorrow, Sunday go to the polls again for the presidential run-off election to choose a presidential candidate to succeed President John Agyekum Kufuor.
None of the presidential candidates attained the constitutional requirement of 50 per cent plus one vote during the December 7 general election, hence the need for the run-off.
The two candidates, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), son of Ghana’s former Head of State, Edward Akufo-Addo and Professor John Evans Atta- Mills of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are contesting.
Nana Akufo-Addo was a former Attorney-General, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Akyem Abuakwa in the Eastern region of Ghana whilst Prof Atta-Mills was a Vice President of the Republic during President Jerry John Rawlings regime that handed over to President Kufuor.
The polls which begin at 0700 hours and end 1700 hours started on Tuesday with the Special Voting which involved persons whose services would be needed on duty on the Election Day.
They include officials of the statutory body responsible for the election, the Electoral Commission, security personnel, media and party representatives who would monitor it.
Both candidates have in the last two weeks intensified their campaigns in order to win the presidential seat.
Whilst the NPP goes with the campaign message “Moving Forward’, the NDC is calling for change, using the Akan dilate “Yeresesam”.
In the December 7 polls which attracted lots of commendation for Ghana from the international community and election observers due to peace and tranquillity which prevailed, Nana Akufo- Addo pulled 49. 13 per cent and Prof Atta-Mills had 47. 92 per cent.
A gap of only 102,000 votes separated the two candidates in an election in which eight million people voted.
Nana Akufo-Addo, 64, has a former Deputy Governor of Ghana’s Central Bank, Mamudu Bawumiah as his vice presidential candidate and Prof Mills, 64, has John Mahama, Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi in northern Ghana and former Minister of Communications under the Rowling’s administration.
Nana is married to Rebecca with 5 children whilst Prof-Atta-Mills also has Naadu as wife with a son.
-End
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Ghana's election shinning example to Africa-says AU Observers
Story: Hannah Annor
Accra, Ghana-Dec. 9, 2008 -Ghana has distinguished herself in Africa by demonstrating that it is possible to run elections in the continent without violence, the African Union (AU) Observer Mission said on Tuesday.
It said Ghana's election was also a big relief to Africa after recent election violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe.
"Ghana has become a shining example at the time when Africa is passing through difficult times in efforts to consolidate democracy," Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Head of the AU Observer Team, said at a news conference in Accra.
He said the team was impressed with the patience, resilience and high turnout by the Ghanaian electorate during the polls, which proved the country's political maturity.
Dr Salim said the voting process was conducted peacefully and orderly with much vigilance and enthusiasm from both voters and civil society.
He said Ghana's elections also showed the exercise of democracy without fear or favour, describing the process as most inspiring.
Dr Salim thanked Ghanaians and other observers who worked during the elections to help further consolidate the country's democracy.
Touching on the purported delay by the Electoral Commission (EC) in releasing certified results, Dr Salim urged Ghanaians to continue to exercise patience.
He said constitutional provisions indicated that the EC had 72 hours to declare the results and there was no cause for worry, since the EC had not exceeded its mandatory time.
Dr Salim also advised political parties to exercise restraint, have confidence in the EC and avoid declaring the results ahead of the EC.
Political parties, he said, must also learn to accept the election results when they are declared and respect the decision of the electorates.
The team also recommended to the EC to create additional polling stations in order to reduce the long queues during voting to manageable sizes.
On electoral materials, the team asked the EC to ensure that polling stations were well supplied with sufficient materials both for the conduct of the elections and for incidental purposes should voting and counting continue after night fall.
The team said essential voting materials such as booths should also be adaptable to the environment, such as the ability to withstand strong wind or rain.
On voter transfers, the team urged EC to improve on the process of transfers and to ensure that the transfer lists were available at all polling stations.
"The EC should consider listing the names alphabetically to ease reference," it added.
The team also called on the EC to constantly inform the public that it was the only statutory body to announce results.
Political parties should also be less intrusive at polling stations and in particular refrain from being involved with electoral officers in locating voter names in the voters’ register.
The team announced it would issue its full report on the elections soon.
Accra, Ghana-Dec. 9, 2008 -Ghana has distinguished herself in Africa by demonstrating that it is possible to run elections in the continent without violence, the African Union (AU) Observer Mission said on Tuesday.
It said Ghana's election was also a big relief to Africa after recent election violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe.
"Ghana has become a shining example at the time when Africa is passing through difficult times in efforts to consolidate democracy," Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Head of the AU Observer Team, said at a news conference in Accra.
He said the team was impressed with the patience, resilience and high turnout by the Ghanaian electorate during the polls, which proved the country's political maturity.
Dr Salim said the voting process was conducted peacefully and orderly with much vigilance and enthusiasm from both voters and civil society.
He said Ghana's elections also showed the exercise of democracy without fear or favour, describing the process as most inspiring.
Dr Salim thanked Ghanaians and other observers who worked during the elections to help further consolidate the country's democracy.
Touching on the purported delay by the Electoral Commission (EC) in releasing certified results, Dr Salim urged Ghanaians to continue to exercise patience.
He said constitutional provisions indicated that the EC had 72 hours to declare the results and there was no cause for worry, since the EC had not exceeded its mandatory time.
Dr Salim also advised political parties to exercise restraint, have confidence in the EC and avoid declaring the results ahead of the EC.
Political parties, he said, must also learn to accept the election results when they are declared and respect the decision of the electorates.
The team also recommended to the EC to create additional polling stations in order to reduce the long queues during voting to manageable sizes.
On electoral materials, the team asked the EC to ensure that polling stations were well supplied with sufficient materials both for the conduct of the elections and for incidental purposes should voting and counting continue after night fall.
The team said essential voting materials such as booths should also be adaptable to the environment, such as the ability to withstand strong wind or rain.
On voter transfers, the team urged EC to improve on the process of transfers and to ensure that the transfer lists were available at all polling stations.
"The EC should consider listing the names alphabetically to ease reference," it added.
The team also called on the EC to constantly inform the public that it was the only statutory body to announce results.
Political parties should also be less intrusive at polling stations and in particular refrain from being involved with electoral officers in locating voter names in the voters’ register.
The team announced it would issue its full report on the elections soon.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Ghana writers Mark 2008 Day of the Imprisoned Writer
Story: Hannah Annor
Accra, Ghana-Nov 17- The Imprisoned Writer-2008 Anniversary was marked at the weekend in Accra, with a call on writers to use the pen as an instrument to promote peace during the upcoming Ghana's December, general election.
This year’s event marked the 24th Anniversary of the annual celebration to salute writers world-wide who have been attacked, imprisoned, harassed or lost their lives in the course of practising their profession.
By June this year, 40 writers and journalists world-wide had been killed, 189 disappeared, 65 attacked and 30 detained, whilst 150 others also faced death threats.
The Ghanaian Centre of International Pen (GCIP), comprising poets, editors and novelists dedicated the event to salute writers, including the Senegalese writer, Pierre Lambo Sandjo, said to have alleged that his country’ President was involved in money laundering.
Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa indicated that the pen stood for the values of freedom of expression, which remained key to human rights and democracy.
He recalled historical experiences that hindered freedom of expression in the country and expressed worry that infringement on this right still pertained in other countries.
He therefore asked the younger generation to strive to preserve the enjoyment of the right of freedom of expression by guarding against any attempt to create barriers.
Prof. Karikari also reminded writers that responsibility should not be left out when enjoying freedom of expression, adding, freedom should go along with discipline, sensibility and feeling towards others.
Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Haruna-Attah, President for GCIP, said the Anniversary was worth celebrating in Ghana, especially with the clean record the country had maintained in recent years in ensuring that writers were not harassed for their works.
He however called on writers, especially the media to avoid using the pen
against national interest.
He reminded the public that violence did not originate from vacuum but was rather instigated, nurtured, directed by persons, hence the need for all to work at sustaining peace in the country.
Mr. Frank Mackay Anim-Appiah, Executive Director, GCIP also cautioned writers, saying, “we don’t want Ghanaian writers to have bad
name and record, that they were those who marred the edifice of Ghana’s peace.”
Accra, Ghana-Nov 17- The Imprisoned Writer-2008 Anniversary was marked at the weekend in Accra, with a call on writers to use the pen as an instrument to promote peace during the upcoming Ghana's December, general election.
This year’s event marked the 24th Anniversary of the annual celebration to salute writers world-wide who have been attacked, imprisoned, harassed or lost their lives in the course of practising their profession.
By June this year, 40 writers and journalists world-wide had been killed, 189 disappeared, 65 attacked and 30 detained, whilst 150 others also faced death threats.
The Ghanaian Centre of International Pen (GCIP), comprising poets, editors and novelists dedicated the event to salute writers, including the Senegalese writer, Pierre Lambo Sandjo, said to have alleged that his country’ President was involved in money laundering.
Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa indicated that the pen stood for the values of freedom of expression, which remained key to human rights and democracy.
He recalled historical experiences that hindered freedom of expression in the country and expressed worry that infringement on this right still pertained in other countries.
He therefore asked the younger generation to strive to preserve the enjoyment of the right of freedom of expression by guarding against any attempt to create barriers.
Prof. Karikari also reminded writers that responsibility should not be left out when enjoying freedom of expression, adding, freedom should go along with discipline, sensibility and feeling towards others.
Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Haruna-Attah, President for GCIP, said the Anniversary was worth celebrating in Ghana, especially with the clean record the country had maintained in recent years in ensuring that writers were not harassed for their works.
He however called on writers, especially the media to avoid using the pen
against national interest.
He reminded the public that violence did not originate from vacuum but was rather instigated, nurtured, directed by persons, hence the need for all to work at sustaining peace in the country.
Mr. Frank Mackay Anim-Appiah, Executive Director, GCIP also cautioned writers, saying, “we don’t want Ghanaian writers to have bad
name and record, that they were those who marred the edifice of Ghana’s peace.”
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
NGOs call for commitment in providing essential social services
STORY: Hannah Annor
Accra, Ghana-Nov. 11, 2008 - International finance institutions and current world rade systems are undermining citizen's access to essential social services, a coalition of non-governmental organisations said on Tuesday.
The coalition dubbed: "Essential Services Platform" said, if the trend should continue, many poor countries, especially in Africa risked missing the Millennium Development Goals on health, education, water and sanitation.
Mr Alhassan Adams, a member of the National Coalition Against Privatisation of Water and also member of the Platform said at the launch of the Platform in Accra.
The Platform comprises NGOs working on health, education, water and sanitation that have come together to advocate for a change in unbridled trade liberalisation regimes affecting citizens from enjoying their economic and social rights.
Mr Adams mentioned the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as some of the regimes adding to the woes of the poor in accessing services.
On health, Mr Adams said, despite improvement in government expenditure to the sector, access to quality health care continued to elude majority of Ghanaians, whilst life expectancy had also stagnated between 57, 42 years in 2000 to 56 years from 2005.
He indicated that infant mortality rates have also not seen any significant change in recent years.
Mr Adams further expressed disappointment on access to basic education despite government's interventions such as the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant.
He therefore urged all Ghanaians and other civil society groups to join the Platform in order to hold policy makers accountable to respect the economic and social rights of all persons.
The Platform further pledged to periodically review its performance and remain focus in the advocacy campaign to effect the desired change.
STORY: Hannah Annor
Accra, Ghana-Nov. 11, 2008 - International finance institutions and current world rade systems are undermining citizen's access to essential social services, a coalition of non-governmental organisations said on Tuesday.
The coalition dubbed: "Essential Services Platform" said, if the trend should continue, many poor countries, especially in Africa risked missing the Millennium Development Goals on health, education, water and sanitation.
Mr Alhassan Adams, a member of the National Coalition Against Privatisation of Water and also member of the Platform said at the launch of the Platform in Accra.
The Platform comprises NGOs working on health, education, water and sanitation that have come together to advocate for a change in unbridled trade liberalisation regimes affecting citizens from enjoying their economic and social rights.
Mr Adams mentioned the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as some of the regimes adding to the woes of the poor in accessing services.
On health, Mr Adams said, despite improvement in government expenditure to the sector, access to quality health care continued to elude majority of Ghanaians, whilst life expectancy had also stagnated between 57, 42 years in 2000 to 56 years from 2005.
He indicated that infant mortality rates have also not seen any significant change in recent years.
Mr Adams further expressed disappointment on access to basic education despite government's interventions such as the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant.
He therefore urged all Ghanaians and other civil society groups to join the Platform in order to hold policy makers accountable to respect the economic and social rights of all persons.
The Platform further pledged to periodically review its performance and remain focus in the advocacy campaign to effect the desired change.
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