Serious Fraud Office 1999 annual report before Parliament
MPs not happy with the state of Ghanaian Youth
Serious Fraud Office 1999 annual report
before Parliament
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 June 2000
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says it is moving gradually from its teething problems to an institution that can protect the public purse by ensuring accountability in the utilisation and management of the country's financial and economic resources.
In its annual report for 1999, which was laid before Parliament on Wednesday, the SFO said its vision is to ensure a "healthy economy" as envisaged in Article 34 (2) of the Constitution.
The 67-page report noted that for Ghana to become a true gateway to West Africa and possibly, Africa, the system must work to the extent that information should be readily available.
Law enforcement must be efficient and above all, the judiciary must not only be independent but must be seen as a haven of a true justice delivery system devoid of favouritism, nepotism and undue delays.
The SFO pledged that it would continue to play its catalytic role, but said that the bigger fight against economic crime must be the concern of all well-meaning citizens.
The report said that by the end of the year under review, the World Bank and some other donor agencies agreed to assist the government to conduct diagnostic surveys of public institutions, households and enterprises.
It was to provide a non-politicised but firm empirical basis for policy framework for corruption control in the country, adding that the exercise was to be completed by the middle of next year.
On the Judiciary, the report noted that though the sector has its constitutional independence, there was the need for the creation of specialised courts and the modernisation of the court system to facilitate swift and fair trials.
The Justices of the courts and the Tribunals also need to be sensitised to work to strict codes of conduct.
The report noted that though the SFO prosecutes on the authority of the Attorney - General, this arrangement has been construed by some observers as limiting the jurisdiction of the Office But it said, to the credit of the Attorney - General, he has not refused any of the SFO's application to prosecute cases before the law courts.
"It is the expectation of the SFO to strengthen the institutional capacity of its Prosecution Division but the successes of prosecution would depend on the degree of co-operation the Office receives from the law courts", the report said.
The SFO, the report noted, is being confronted with issues of accountability within the private sector, even though, the law as it is, limits the jurisdiction of the Office to public sector funds.
The report said this private sector contact is a positive sign of growing confidence in the SFO's operations, adding, "the SFO can help in the creation of the much-talked about enabling environment for the private sector to function as the engine of growth".
It said "as the country continues its democratisation and economic liberalisation policies, there is the need to support public safety institutions such as the SFO, to institute measures to prevent the commission of crimes likely to cause financial or economic loss to the state".
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MPs not happy with the state of Ghanaian
Youth
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 June 2000
Members of Parliament on Wednesday expressed concern about the poor state of the youth and called for immediate remedial action.
They said the nation's future would be a sad one if enough attention were not paid to the development of the youth.
The lawmakers were debating a motion for the adoption of a report on the Youth Manifesto for the 21st Century of the World Parliament of Children.
The report was compiled jointly by committees of Youth and Sports, Social Welfare, State Enterprises and Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
The French National Assembly and United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) organised a World Parliament of Children in Paris from 21-27 November 1999, where the manifesto was adopted.
Among the several concerns raised by the Children were the insecurity of the World, the state of education and environment and the need for communication and inter-cultural dialogue.
Mr. Edward Osei Kwaku, NPP-Asokwa West, said governments in most developing nations especially those in Africa have for far too long shirked their responsibilities towards the youth.
"They are often busy enriching themselves and their cronies."
The member said Ghana is still struggling to educate her people after 43 years of Independence and is no effective youth programme to harness their talents and ideas.
"We will not have any legitimacy to call ourselves leaders of the land if we continue to treat the youth this way."
Mr. Modestus Ahiable, NDC- Ketu North expressed concern about the rapid degradation of the environment and called on the relevant authorities to monitor individuals and bodies, whose activities impact adversely on the environment.
"Environment is the key to the future of the child so, let us keep it safe. We can blame the government sometimes but let's start looking at the way we have helped to improved or degraded the environment", he said.
The member called on Parents to help the young escape mental pollutants like pornography and violence that come to them through television and other media.
Papa Owusu Ankoma, NPP-Sekondi, said the concerns raised by the World Parliament of Children is a "wake up call' to governments to act.
He criticised political parties for not encouraging the youth to participate in leadership activities, saying that the youth is always sidelined and are under represented in the decision-making process.
According to the member, the youth makes up seventy per cent of the population "but even in Parliament very few of the members are less than forty years old."
" The youth are the ones, who have ideas and pursue them with commitment."
The member's strongest attack that shook the house came when he said even the Chairman of the Committee on Youth is not a youth.
On point of order, Mr. Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South, opined that being a youth is the attitude of one's mind and not the age of the person.
Mr. E. T. Mensah also followed with "the youth can not organise themselves so they need to be organised."
Papa Owusu Ankoma said the environment has been made hostile in such a way that the youth is not even prepared to partake in serious national activities.
Alhaji Amadu Seidu, a Deputy Minister of Works and Housing lamented the loss of communality of the Ghanaian society, which made every adult a guardian of the youth.
The change in the social order has resulted in indiscipline, frustration, isolation and impoverishment of the youth, he said and called for an end to the use of child-soldiers on the African continent.
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