Britain’s
Tony Blair to visit Ghana
Ghana Airways, the national carrier, is on the
brink of collapse, having been saddled with a debt burden of $150 million.
Mounting debts and inability of the airline to break even have combined to
threaten the once viable airline. Indications are that the only possible means
of preventing the airline from going bankrupt is immediate government
intervention with a package to bail it out.
Captain Kofi Kwakwa, acting chief Executive of
the company, who confirmed the airline’s precarious financial position, said
the debt burden is mad up f $90 million in overdue supplier credit and $60
million in loans.
Watchers of the aviation industry are of the
opinion that the possible collapse of the national airline will have
far-reaching negative consequences on the national economy.
They identified areas such as export promotion,
the Gateway Project, tourism, regional integration, annual revenue of $100
million which will go to foreign carriers, privatization and above all, loss of
1,400 jobs, if immediate solution is not found to the company’s present
predicament.
Captain Kwakwa said the truth is that the
government has guaranteed $80 million of the debt so whatever happens to the
airline, government will have to bear the amount.
Creditors are demanding payment for overdue
supplies, which have now become a problem for the company. The choices are
“either to salvage the company or let it die naturally.” However, the airline
has the potential of becoming the dominant sub-regional company with stations
in all the countries in the sub-region.
Ghanair and Air Afrique are the two airlines
with international accreditation in the sub-region but the latter counterpart
is being liquidated.
Captain Kwakwa said what is pathetic is that
“even the infusion of $80 million will not solve the problem because the
present operating strategy and equipment will not generate enough income to pay
recurrent expenditure and finance the remaining $70 million”.
It will mean that after the $80 million,
Ghanair will need a minimum of $30 million as working capital. He said Ghanair
was suspended form the clearing house of International Airline Transport
Association (IATA), which has had a serious consequences on the operations of
the airline.
The suspension has also affected inter-air-line
business of Ghanair as well as the company’s credit worthiness. He conceded
that even though the company won the millennium award, the true picture is
contrary because the previous management left behind enormous problems, which
now confront the new management and board of directors.
The company entered into a number of
questionable transactions ostensibly to finance its expansion programme, so
much so that the board of directors has requested that a forensic audit be
conducted immediately into the company’s activities.
They include credit form Goldwin Transworld
Limited of Jersey, purchase of three DC9 aircraft from Venezuela, and two DC10
-30 aircraft from Malaysia Airlines. Others are spare parts agreement with A.J.
Walter (Aviation) Limited, the Highflyer JT8 D engine lease agreement and the
withdrawal of Ghanair in-flight magazine “AKWAABA”.
Even though management and the directors have
managed to reduce monthly net loss about $4 million to $1.4 million, the
effects of the September 11 incident on the aviation industry are so damaging
that it is only government intervention that will save the airline from going
Swissair and SABENA way.
Ghanair has already lost two-fifth of its
passengers especially, from North Africa since September 11. “Undeniably, the
airline is facing a serious liquidity problem with negative cash flow because
of its excessive debt service obligation,” declared the worried acting Chief
Executive.
What is more, the company has no capacity to
carry more debts, whiles it has to make do with what it makes from efficient
and sound management practices.
More…/
The
Ministry of Information and Presidential Affairs, at the weekend expressed
shock and sadness at a report of a money making scam in the United Kingdom
involving some Ghanaian women who mail pornographic pictures of themselves to
men for money.
The news item, carried in the January 4 issue
of the Liverpool echo, reveals that pornographic pictures of Ghanaian women re
mailed to men in Liverpool, together with letters expressing the dreams of the
women to meet the men, offer sexual favours and marry them.
A press release signed by Mr Ferdinand O. Ayim,
Special Assistant to the Minister, and issued in Accra, said men who fall prey
to the requests are invariably asked to pay money in return for more letters
and photographs, the money being used ostensibly for postage and further communication.
It said the disturbing and disgraceful report
shows a selfish, immoral and vicious practice, which not only impacts
negatively on the Ghanaian women, but also serves to discredit the image of
Ghana.
Men in Liverpool, according to the report, have
been advised to discard thousands of such letters and pornographic pictures,
obviously with contempt. “Women and their agents who indulge in such shameful
acts are urged to desist forthwith in the supreme interest of womanhood and
Ghana,” the release stated.
The story in the Liverpool Echo carried a
photograph of a 20-year-old Ghanaian woman, Newbeth Owusu-Gyambrah, who listed
her hobbies as walking, cycling and watching blue movies.
“Anyone who gets involved in correspondence
soon asked for cash in return for more letters and photographs”, the newspaper
warned.
Another letter from Regina Hagan lists her
interests as reading, dancing and watching sexy films. She also asked for money
to pay for “postage and communication facilities”. The Liverpool Trading
Standards are investigating the source of thousands of similar mails from
Ghana, the newspaper stated.
GRi…/
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SSB bank Ltd., others’ ‘ghost’ project –
‘Garden of Fraud’
After months of forensic examination, a team of
private sector auditors have uncovered a complex scam dressed up as a neat
legitimate deal that ultimately fleeced the taxpayers and Social Security and
National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributors of an amount that tops ¢16
billion cedis.
The investigators have docked the top
management of SSNIT, Messrs Charles Asare and Asiedu Gyamfi, former Director
General and current Head of Investments respectively, and also recommended the
criminal prosecution of Messrs Enterprise Insurance, Databank and Awoonor Law
consultancy.
Chronicle’s own forensic re-examination of the
report highlights confirmed large sections of the report but raised questions
over procedure and methodology in arriving at some conclusions in what is known
as the ‘Obotan, Garden of Eden in the City affair.’
Two key figures named in the scandal have
already hit the roof claiming that they were never even interviewed before the
auditors filed their report and are challenging what they see as unfair due
process.
A third has tendered his resignation but has
had it turned down by his employers though he still insists on leaving. He is
Asiedu Gyamfi who was named in the racket as he is the head of SSNIT
investments as delegated to him by the Director General and the Board.
Mr Asare himself has fired off a letter to the
SSNIT Board complaining bitterly about the failure of the forensic auditors to
interview him on the matter while Mr Ekow Awoonor has dispatched a letter to
the President dated December 20th raising hell over the failure of
the auditors to interview him.
He told the Chronicle that he only came in
after the deal had been consummated and payments made. Chronicle investigators
confirmed that Mr Ekow Awoonor and Charles Asare were never directly
interviewed on the Obotan matter, but the paper was told that alternate sources
had been employed to solicit information from Awoonor who is even questioning
competences of the auditors. Only Mr Ken Ofori-Atta and Kelly Gadzekpo of
Databank/Enterprise Insurance are quiet.
The whole deal revolves around Databank whose
Chairman, Mr Ofori-Atta, was interviewed by the auditors. Databank declined to
be interviewed by the Chronicle. Their lawyer and fellow traveller in a string
of businesses, Mr Ekow Awoonor advised Keli Gadzekpo to respond to the paper’s
written inquiries that also touched on the SSB bank sale affair in the presence
of this paper at Awoonor’s Ridge offices.
Mr Gadzekpo agreed to respond. Days later,
Databank wrote declining to answer with the explanation that inquiries are
ongoing. The Chronicle sought its publisher’s (Kofi Coomson) assistance in
unraveling the SSB sale matter that also involved Databank and SSNIT, and SSB.
Mr Thompson, the Managing Director of SSB bank
responded to questions on the affair posed by Mr Kofi Coomson and requested for
time to try and persuade Databank to respond. More than two weeks, days after
the agreed deadline, nothing has been heard from Databank. He said that he knew
of the Obotan project but SSB never paid anything into it.
Databank presented themselves as financial
advisers to Enterprise Insurance Company (EIC) to SSNIT, Home Finance Company
(HFC) and SSB and promoted an investment package of a string of 29 bungalows
for top notch Chief Executives to purchase along the independence avenue’s
spread over a 3.5-acre plot.
In documentation circulated among the
prospective investors, SSNIT then headed by Mr Charles Asare was informed that
the Garden of Eden project would have EIC, HFC and SSB as partners.
Coincidentally, both EIC and Databank are described as promoters and
documentation exists that present EIC as 42.5 per cent shareholders with
investments to the value of $1.7 million, SSB with 2.5 per cent shares and
SSNIT’s shareholding as 55 per cent.
Databank owns more than 54 per cent of EIC
through a company it runs called Ventures and Acquisition Ltd. Databank hold
2,606,909 million of the stock of EIC, representing over 51 per cent of the shares
in EIC. Smaller shares are owned by Databank clients that they run and control,
like the Epack Investment Fund, and other individuals with shares held in trust
by Databank and of course controlled by them.
Evidence also exists that indicates that within
24 hours of Mr Ken Ofori-Atta asking SSNIT to pay up, a cheque for $2 million
was dispatched to him. Mr Ofori-Atta’s letter requisitioning the SSNIT boss to
part with money was dated February 10, 1998.
The project has not even started, and the
former Deputy Director General Mr Eric Adjei had banged tables over the status
of the ‘ghost’ project resulting in EIC offering to refund the $2 million.
Interviewed over the indecent haste with which
the money was released - less than 24 hours after the request, Mr Charles Asare
said that there had been prior discussion, and that the Board of SSNIT had
okayed the transaction, which had a projected 40 per cent SSNIT stake. The
board was impressed with the projection and had even asked him to buy
controlling stake in the project, culminating in a 35 per cent stake.
The startling is that none of the prospective
investors put in a pesewa. EIC, promoter cum shareholder did not put anything
in. Neither did HFC nor SSB part with a dime. Only SSNIT did with contributors’
money.
Mr Charles Asare, surprised at the revelations,
indicated that he did not know that EIC belongs to the same Databank boys, and
that if he did he would have asked more questions.
“Mr Asare, it would be hard to believe that you
would be that naïve or that incredibly foolish to fall for a sweet scam like
that where the promoters and the financial advisors are one and the same and
none of them parted with money but only you did.”
Mr Asare told Kofi Coomson that EIC is a top
listed public company that made it easy to deal with, without extra due
diligence. He explained that he took their word for it without looking at the
transaction, which is stillborn, with a microscope. “Maybe I was fooled,” he
told Kofi Coomson, deployed to assist with the Chronicle’s own ‘forensic’ on
the forensic.
At the HFC, their legal secretary insisted that
they knew nothing about Obotan - Garden project. Again the paper sought the
help of its publisher who visited the offices last fortnight about the response
of HFC.
Mrs Stephanie Baeta Ansah in the company of the
legal secretary and Mr Kwadwo Duku, Director and Financial head, admitted,
after complaints over HFC’s non-cooperative stance by its officials, apologized
and conceded that they knew about the Obotan project.
“Mr Coomson, your name projects fear and
apprehension and so we can only apologise for what my staff may have done. The
bottom line was that HFC did not part with money and offered to provide
mortgage funding for the project.” She said that Mr Ofori-Atta, promoter of the
Obotan project who had been on the board of HFC had gone off the board.
Mr Ofori-Atta who had helped with HFC’s search
for foreign funding is also on the board of SSB, along with Mr Ekow Awoonor.
The interesting aspect of the deal is that Databank still holds ownership of
the disputed land and the three bungalows on them. They paid $1.6 million for
the property, told their ‘investors’ that it cost them $3.5.
But the auditors report questioned the sale
price as records show that land registry records indicate that there was an
under-declaration. An amount of ¢360 million is what the findings present, but
Chronicle surveillance shows that the actual deal maker who played everything
close to his chest, the former Managing Director of the French owned CFAO is
now based in Mauritius, Mr Angland.
A watchman at the site who claims to have been
hired by Databank was the only person present with another security man. A
breakdown of costs of the transaction by Mr Awoonor post interesting expense
accounts that boggles the forensic auditors:
Estate agency fee of $120,000, legal fees of
$30,000l, brokerage fees of $224,000, obviously infavour of Databank, and even
electricity bills that have been forwarded to SSNIT.
The role of EIC and its financial controller Mr
Sedoh in the transaction has been even more eye raising as he oscillated
between truth and untruth over a period in his accounting to the Chronicle.
GRi…/
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The Military has been called in to support the
other security agencies to check the menace of highway robbery on the
Tamale-Bolga trunk road.
Lt. Col. Dela K. Sakyi, Commanding Officer (CO)
of the Sixth Battalion of Infantry (6bn) announced this on Friday at the annual
get-together (WASSA) at the Kamina Barracks. “My message to those nocturnal
highway robbers on the Tamale-Bolga trunk road is that their end time is near,”
he stated.
The road has been hit by at least half a dozen
robberies within the past few months in which passenger buses were stop in the
night and the passengers deprived of their belongings and money.
It is estimated that over ¢200 million has so
far been stolen by those robbers. Lt. Col Sakyi also stressed the preparedness
and commitment of the Military to help ensure peace in some parts of the North,
particularly Bawku and other conflict-prone areas. He called for discipline
among members of the military in order that the institution becomes an enviable
profession.
Mr Issah Ketekewu, Deputy Northern Regional
Minister, called on the Military to help make the government’s policy of Golden
Age of Business a success by ensuring and maintaining peace in the country. He
said the government was committed to ensuring the depoliticisation of the
military.
More…/
Ghana,
has expressed appreciation to the donor community for the support she received
last year to help reconstruct the economy. President John Kufuor made the
commendation at a New Year reception he hosted at the Castle Gardens in Accra
on Friday night for the Diplomatic Community in Ghana.
He said
that the government remained grateful for all the support it received,
especially, in the difficult decision it took for Ghana to opt for the HIPC
initiative. The annual New Year cocktail party is to enable the President to
exchange New Year greetings and pleasantries with the diplomatic corps, heads
of United Nations agencies and other international organizations operating in
the country.
Present
were the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, Members of the
Council of State, service commanders, religious leaders, chiefs, editors and
Heads of Institutions.
President
Kufuor made mention of the good relations and enthusiastic support which Ghana
enjoyed from the United Nations (UN) and its agencies, the Bretton Woods
Institute and multilateral agencies in this direction. “We appreciate the good
working relations we have with all countries and organizations you represent.
We treasure your opinions and friendship,” he told the diplomats.
Noting
that the past year had been a good time to be in Ghana, he said that the eyes
of the world stayed on the nation and urged it on as it deepened its democracy
and kept on the path of rule of law.
President
Kufuor said that Ghana believed that the countries of the world lived in a
global village, and on inter-dependent world, which should lead to the
realization that whatever happens to one country affects the rest. This
realization must lead to international relations being conducted in such a way to
be influenced more and more by considerations of humanity.
The
President said, guided by this principle, Ghana last year, conducted her
international relation in a manner to enable her attract the kind of support
for government policies and programmes aimed at improving the quality of life
for the people.
Ghana
also within the same period, proved to be an active and useful partner of the
international community, believing that all countries live in an
inter-dependant world. President Kufuor said, the past year, also saw relations
between Ghana, and the rich industrialized nations reaching new heights of
friendship and cooperation.
He
recalled his visits to Washington D.C., London, Ottawa, Paris and to argue
Ghana and Africa’s case which made the nations concern ask what they can do to
support Africa’s development. The President said, such high level relationship
was refreshing and should mark an epochal shift in the relations between Africa
and the rich nations which should inform future north-south relations
On the African scene, the President said, the
formal adoption of the African Union Treaty last year had meant to re-awakening
of the self awareness and resolve among Africans to pursue unity through
practical means.
He was optimistic that Africa would realize its
full potential with the goodwill, encouragement and the cooperation from the
international community, adding that Ghana was committed to the idea that
informs the African Union and play its role to enhance the realization of its
goals.
On the ECOWAS front, President Kufuor stressed
Ghana’s commitment to play an active role towards ensuring that there was peace
in the sub-region. “From the beginning of my Presidency, I made peaceful and
friendly relations with our neighbours a matter of high priority. I have
therefore visited all Ghana’s neighbours, and have had the privilege of playing
host to a number of them as well,” he said.
The President said, the mutual trust that now
exists between Ghana and her neighbours could only be to the good of the
countries and people in the sub-region, stressing that such relationship are
very good and truly fraternal. He also pledged Ghana’s renewed commitment to
the ideals and goals of the Commonwealth, which continued to play an honourable
role in international affairs.
President Kufuor, in this regard extended
Ghana’s warmest felicitations to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, head of the
Commonwealth who would be celebrating her 50 years as head of the organisation.
The President also expressed Ghana’s joy at the
honour done to two of her illustrious sons, UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan
who together with the UN won an the Nobel Peace Prize, and Dr Ibn Chambas, also
elected as ECOWAS Executive Secretary.
On world peace, President Kufuor, condemned the
last September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States which led to innocent
death of several American citizens and those of other nations including Ghana
and said Ghana condemned this act of horror as well as other acts of terrorism.
GRi…/
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Why
Erskine, can’t be members
The
National Reconciliation Commission is the 611th Act of the
Parliament of Ghana. Section 3 (1) states the object of the Commission is ‘to
seek and promote national reconciliation among the people of this country by
establishing accurate, complete and historical record of public institutions
and holders of public office or persons purporting to have acted on behalf of
the state during periods of unconstitutional government, that is military
regimes.
The
regimes are the National Liberation Council (NLC) 24 February 1966-21st
August 1969, the National Redemption Council/Supreme Military Councils I and
II-The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) Jan. 13, 1972-23rd
September 1979 and the PNDC 31st December to 6th January
1993.
There
is of course the window clause, which enables persons who have cases outside
the specified periods to appeal to the Commission for hearing. The Commission,
in addition to the power of investigation, has the power to recommend to the
President measures to redress the wrongs committed within the specified
periods.
Since
the thrust of the work of the Commission is on National Reconciliation the
President is empowered to appoint a nine-member board headed by a chairperson.
In appointing those members the President is required to take into account the
integrity sense of fairness and ability of the persons to achieve the object of
the Commission’.
In
a Front page headline entitled National Reconciliation Commission Exclusive,
the Statesman- a newspaper owned by the
Attorney-General
and Minister of Justice, who is alleged to have claimed that the national
reconciliation idea was his own baby, came out with a list of persons who are
being considered by the President.
It
include Justice E.K. Amua Sekyi-a retired Supreme Court Judge, Mrs Margaret
Nkrumah, Headmistress of SOS, Tema; Gen. Erskine (Rtd), former commander
UNIFIL, Lebanon; Mrs Sylvia Awo Boye, Chairperson, Board of Trustees of Ghana
Education Truest Fund and former Registrar WAEC; Prof. John Nabila of the
Institute of African Studies, Legon; Malvi Wahab, Head of the Ahamadiaya Muslim
Mission in Ghana; Christian Appiah-Agyei, former Secretary-General TUC; Prof.
Florence Dolphyne, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Legon; and Bishop Charles
Palm-Buckle, Catholic Bishop of Koforidua.
This,
probably, cannot be the final list. Many people we interviewed were in general
in agreement with the majority of the members. However, they were almost
unanimous in their condemnation of some of the names proposed particularly,
that of General Erskine.
The
general principle governing the administration of justice is that a judge must
disqualify himself from sitting on a case in which he has personal interest.
Gen. Erskine as a former Senior Army, a Presidential candidate in the 1992
presidential elections, a member of the Committee that was set-up to see to the
reburial of the June 4 uprising and a person whose views on the event is known
by all, cannot be expected to be neutral. Certainly not.
Prof.
John Nabila, was the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Information and National
Security in Dr Limann’s administration.
How
do we expect a person who has suffered imprisonment under the PNDC and has
expressed his view on the PNDC in public expected to be impartial?
Was
Bishop Palmer-Buckle not the Catholic Father who was supposed to have been
mistaken for another person who was abducted and killed during the time of the
PNDC? Nobody can doubt the position of Bishop Buckle. And what about Mrs
Margaret Nkrumah, wife of the Prof., Francis Nkrumah? It is said that since
“Blood is thicker” than revolution nobody can trust her to be impartial.
She
is the daughter of the late Solomon Odamtey of the Danquah-Busia political
tradition. He was Dr Nkrumah’s political opponent in the then Accra Central
Constituency in the three general elections held in the country before
independence.
It
is rumoured that it is because of her strong influence over Prof Nkrumah, which
had prevented him from leading the Nkrumaists politically.
It
is not being suggested that people doubt their individual achievements. But
people think that since the reconciliation process itself, has become partisan,
the government is not likely to appoint persons who are likely to show
hostility to the position of the administration.
Definitely,
the four mentioned cannot be expected to be neutral in relation to the regimes
of the AFRC and the PNDC. Observers also questioning why no retired junior
officer was invited to serve on the Commission! The question people are asking
is can these people promote national reconciliation?
GRi…/
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your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Britain’s
Tony Blair to visit Ghana
A crisis may be gripping Britain’s rail and road networks, but Tony Blair is guaranteed a smooth ride when he drops in one of Africa’s poorest countries. As he takes to the air yet again to absent himself from domestic worries, he will be greeted by a trouble-free journey into Ghana’s capital, Accra.
For,
the hospitable Ghanaians with an average annual income of £100- are sparing no
expense for our Prime Minister. Despite accusations that he has been neglecting
domestic problems, Blair is expected to confirm a major West African tour in
the next few weeks possibly accompanied by wife, Cherie. For security reasons
the precise itinerary is being kept a closely guarded secret.
In
addition to Ghana, the Prime Minister is expected to visit Nigeria, the former
French colony of Senegal and possibly war-torn Sierra Leone, where British
troops are helping to keep a fragile peace. And preparations in these countries
are already well advance.
The
plight of Africa, the world’s poorest continent, has recently become an
obsession for Blair. He made it a central theme in his speech to the Labour
Party conference last year. Ghanaians pride themselves as the friendliest
people in Africa and are planning to give Blair a traditional “akwaaba”-the
local word for welcome.
When
he lands at Ghana’s international airport, Kotoka, near Accra, he will be
greeted by President John Kufuor and a fleet of Mercedes limousines to whisk
him away. “I have no confirmation of date yet, but we’re ready at any time to
host Mr Blair, “Foreign Minister, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang told The Mail.
Blair
is expected to make an address to the parliament and visit the Ga Manste in his
palace. There are also plans for a visit by helicopter to Ghana’s second city,
Kumasi, where he would be the guest at a grand durbar of chiefs hosted by
Ashanti king, Otumfuo Osei Tutu.
One
local official explained: “The durbar depicts the best of Ghanaian cultural
heritage. The Ashanti kingdom is steeped in history. The king sits in state at
the durbar flanked in a dressed chiefs.” Blair will enjoy the finest food and
entertainment our country can offer. From Ghana Blair will take 40-minute
flight to Nigeria.
The
highlight of Blair’s visit to Nigeria will be a gala dinner at one of the country’s
few luxury hotels. Local delicacies likely to be on offer include edikang-kong,
a pumpkin soup with meat and fish, and owo, a tomato stew with dried fish and
palm oil. The evening will also include music and dancing by some of the
country’s top performers in traditional costume.
Amid
all the lavish entertainment, Blair will discuss some of Nigeria’s deep social
and economic problems. The troubled former British colony, once seen as a
possible regional superpower, has long been crippled by civil strife and is
still one of the poorest countries in the income of just $650.
When
former American President, Bill Clinton visited Nigeria two years ago, he was
welcomed at the airport by a troupe of dwarfs performing a traditional Yoruba
dance.
Officially,
Downing Street is refusing to comment on the trip, but a senior adviser to the
Prime Minister said it would focus on the issues of development and debt
relief. He defended Blair’s decision to desert his desk again just weeks after
a six-day tour of the Indian subcontinent. “The Prime Minister makes no
apologies for his interest in Africa”, said the adviser.
“It
is the only part of the world which is not benefiting from globalisation. It is
both in the national interest that Africa’s condition improves”. But critics
have accused Blair of ducking domestic problems in favour of the comfortable
life of the international jet- setter.
Tony
MP John Redwood said: It would be nice if Tony Blair visited Britain more
often. Perhaps then we would get our roads and railways repaired as well. There
are many deep problems with our public services and the country needs the Prime
Minister to devote his attention to these issues 100 per cent not rushing
around the world with no great purpose.”
More…/
The
stage is set for a battle royal between the Ministry of Local Government, and
the managers of markets in the nation’s capital, Accra Markets Limited (AML),
over the British American Tobacco’s (BAT) huge outdoor advertisement on the
walls of the Kaneshie Market. While the Minister of Local Government and Rural
Development, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu wants the advert to be removed, the AML says
maximizing profit should override the nation’s desire to respect international
norms on cigarette advertising.
Baah-Wiredu
told Public Agenda recently that his ministry; which has oversight
responsibility over the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA), is looking into the
matter and will want the advert to be removed. But the management of the Accra
Markets Limited (AML) is not ready to budge insisting that the law is on their
side.
In
a typical “to hell with them” attitude that brushes aside medical experts
advice and public outcry against the advert, the Deputy General Manager of the
AML, Kwaku Kra-Gyamera, told this paper that the primary goal of the company is
to maximize profits and revenue and as such any opportunity that is geared
towards this goal “and is within the law governing the country will be exploited
for the profit of the company.’
According
to Kra-Gyamera, so long as the law permits the advertising of cigarettes, there
is nothing to worry about. “People may have genuine concern about the ad but so
far we are operating in the confines of the laws of Ghana,” Kra-Gyamera said.
He also questioned why critics of the BAT ad have not slammed ads on alcoholic
drinks in the media and public places and added that no one can stop those
smoking since they are all aware of the smoking.
Kra-Gyamera
disclosed that this was not the first time the market building had been used as
an outdoor advertisement by a cigarette company but he declined to disclose the
cost of the painting of the market. He said there was an advert by Rothmans
some years back but there was no public outcry back then and was therefore
surprised about this development now.
He
intimated that the painting of the market building was part of an agreement
reached between AML, Afro Media Ghana Limited who have franchise for
advertisement on the building, and BAT. He stated that the building had served
as an outdoor advertisement over the years and there were advertisements of
Mitsubishi Company Limited.
The
British American Tobacco also remain unaffected by the outcry against its
advert. According to BAT’s Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Manager, Kwaku
Baka, his company is a responsible one; that is why they carry the Ministry of
Health’s caution statement on their outdoor advertisement. Baka therefore asked
their critics to be “constructive and objective but not passionate” in their
criticisms.
There
has been an increase outcry against the British American Tobacco since they
painted the walls of the giant Kaneshie Market with their advert. Leading the
campaign against BAT’s ad is Prof. Agyemang Badu Akosa, Ghana’s Chief
Pathologist and former President of the Ghana Medical Association. Prof. Akosa
says the ad is offensive and insensitive to the sentiment of the country. He
said BAT’s attitude amounts to arrogance and an assault on the sensibility and
dignity of Ghanaians.
Prof.
Akosa has over the years been waging a fierce campaign against unhealthy
lifestyles, fake drugs and the general poor health services in the country. The
anti-tobacco campaign is raging on two fronts: moral and medical fronts.
Campaigners
are wondering what informed the giant tobacco to mount ad of that nature on a
public building such as a market. They contend that multinationals could not
mount such advertising campaigns public places in their home countries of
Britain or the United States of America. So the question is why the tobacco
company would do that in Ghana.
Although,
the law on tobacco advertisement in the media-radio, television and
newspapers/magazines-is explicit, it is ambiguous when it comes to outdoor
advertisement.
Presently,
there are giant billboards in most of the regional capitals glorifying smoking
notwithstanding the nearly invisible warning on these same boards that, smoking
could be harmful to one’s health as advised by the Ministry of Health. There is
medical evidence that tobacco use leads to many serious diseases and death.
Society pays the price with more suffering loss of lives, loss of productivity
and many other related social ills.
Tobacco
smoking is the cause of at least 85 per cent of lung cancer, chronic bronchitis
and emphysema. It is also a major cause of cancers of the mouth, throat,
kidney, bladder, cervix as well as heart disease and stroke. Tobacco is the
most common cause of death in adults above 35 years with an estimated three
million deaths per year, according to the International Union Against Tobacco
and Lung Disease.
The
GMA and Prof. Akosa have also consistently questioned some alcoholic ads.
Indeed, Public Agenda is presently serialising a lengthy interview Prof. Akosa
granted Radio Universe on the health status of Ghanaians. In an earlier
edition, he suggested that some of these drink being peddled, as aphrodisiacs
should be banned. This is just one of the unhealthy lifestyles of most
Ghanaians.
GRi…/
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