Police: ‘We will treat vigilante groups like terrorists.

Director-General of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, has issued a stern warning to any vigilante group in the country that will defile its orders before, during and after the November 7 polls.

According to him, any vigilante group that will go against their orders would be “treated as terrorists.”

“We will crash them and treat them as terrorists, if they fail to go by our orders and do their own thing,” he warned.

Dr. Agordzo gave the warning at the National Stakeholders’ Forum on Election 2016, organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) yesterday in Accra.

It was on the theme; “Towards Credible, Acceptable and Violence-Free Elections: The Role of Key Stakeholders.”

According to him, the police administration arrived at that decision after the Talensi by-election.

A research conducted by his outfit, he said, revealed that most of the electoral crimes committed were by these vigilante groups which are sometimes linked to one political party or the other.

And it is for this reason that he said has given concern to the police to ensure that all such vigilante groups are disbanded before the November polls, stressing that “their activities are illegal and criminal.”

The police boss hinted that by the end of May 31, 2016 the Police Administration will assign security personnel to the various flag-bearers who will contest the November 7 General Elections.

According to him, the police force wrote to all the political parties, asking them to submit names of their preferred security personnel to guard their flag-bearers, but none has done that.

“Let me take this opportunity once more to assure the good people of Ghana that the Police Administration is fully prepared to ensure violence-free elections come November 7,” he assured.

We can't negotiate better pay in times of war - TUC

Congress (TUC) has charged Ghanaian workers to help promote peace as the clock winds down to the November 2016 general elections.

According to the Secretary-General of TUC, Kofi Asamoah, if there is war in the country the workers “will not have anyone to negotiate for an increase in pay”.

The TUC boss was speaking at a stakeholder forum to discuss the contribution of organized labor to ensuring a peaceful election.

Mr. Asamoah says everything workers have worked hard for stands to be lost when there is a war. “You will have to leave all your acquired properties to find somewhere to hide”, he said.

He also used the opportunity to call on the Electoral Commission to ensure that its activities are transparent to the political parties.

There is an urgent need for the EC to lessen the tense political atmosphere in the country by being transparent in its activities, he said. He used the opportunity to reiterate organized labor’s commitment to the tenets of democracy.

“We reaffirm our unflinching commitment to democracy”, he said.

The election is often associated with political instability, especially in the West African sub-region.

Meanwhile the Chairman of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Professor Kwame Karikari has criticized the EC for introducing a new logo for the commission, which he indicated, has no bearing on the nation.

Contrasting the two logos, Professor Karikari says the absence of Ghana’s coat of arms on the new logo will make it difficult for Ghanaians to connect to the Commission's function.

'What the EC has designed [logo] does not represent what it is mandated to do by the 1992 Constitution', he said.

Mahama: NHIS won’t die under me

National Health Insurance Scheme logo

President John Mahama has given the assurance that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will continue to thrive under his administration, adding that the scheme had made a positive impact in health delivery in the country.

Mr Mahama noted that a committee has been set up to restructure the scheme, a move, he said will make it more efficient.

“The National Health Insurance has made a very positive impact on our health delivery and I am going to make sure as president that that scheme does not collapse under my presidency. It is not collapsing, it is giving more service than it has ever done before, and when we do the restructuring, it will make it even more efficient than it has done in its history,” Mr Mahama said on Radio BAR in the Brong Ahafo Region during his Accounting to the People tour Thursday April 28.

“I have set up a committee to restructure the [National] Health Insurance [Scheme]. When it was started, a study was done that showed that if we do not find new sources of income for the National Health Insurance [Scheme], it will collapse. … I think it was 2009. … Since then, we have not found new sources of financing, but the health insurance is still lingering on,” he added.

Mr Mahama denied claims that government owed the scheme since July 2015.

“Government is up to date with its payment. … Government is supposed to owe the health insurance one-quarter. You need to calculate how much is due them, and, so, you need a quarter to be able to calculate how much is due them before you pay. But now every month, government is releasing what is estimated to be due to [the National] Health Insurance [Scheme]. Then, at the end of the quarter, they calculate to see if there is a shortfall or there is an overpayment. If there is an overpayment, it is deducted from the next quarter, and, so, government is up to date,” the president said.

He said the problem with the scheme was its structure, promising that a committee would deal with that problem.

“It is the structure of the [National] Health Insurance [Scheme] itself, we need to restructure it, and that is why I have set up a committee to look at restructuring the [National] Health Insurance [Scheme].

He said the scheme had expanded over the years since the number of outpatients had risen from 597,000 in 2005 to 26 million in 2014.

“In 2005, total outpatient utilisation of the health insurance was 597,000. …In 2014, outpatient utilisation rose to 29.6 million visits. From 597,000 to 29.6 million visits in 2014, you can see the phenomenal increase in utilisation,” explained the president.

“Apart from that claims payments in 2005 amounted to less than GHS8million, if you want to be precise; about GHS7.6 million for the whole of 2005. In 2014, claims payment amounted to GHS1.07 billion. … So, it should show you the magnitude of the expansion that this health scheme has undergone in this short period. So, what we are doing is, we have [set up] a committee to restructure it, so that we can increase efficiency and eliminate fraud.

“I have asked them to fast-track their computerisation, so that we take away as much human discretion as possible, so that we can cut down fraud.

“We need to expand the capitation system to the whole of the country. They have done the pilot, the pilot has been successful, and, so, if we expand the capitation, it will help to reduce the amount of money that is going out and will make it more efficient.

“It will be easy to audit and make sure that the claims are correct, and, so, that committee is undertaking the restructuring. As I speak, the computerisation is being fast-tracked, they are expanding clinical audits of claims and so on and so forth, and, so, we will be able to make this [National] Health Insurance [Scheme] more efficient to be able to serve people.

“…Ghana, when you take the human development index in terms of health care, has made quite significant advances. If you take the UN Human Development Index, we were second only to Cape Verde in terms of access to health care, in terms of rate of reduction of maternal mortality, child mortality, infant mortality, under-five deaths, and all that. So, the National Health Insurance [Scheme] has made a very positive impact on our health delivery and I am going to make sure as president that that scheme does not collapse under my presidency.

“It is not collapsing; it is giving more service than it has ever done before. And when we do the restructuring, it will make it even more efficient than it has done in its history.”

A short life history of DCOP Awuni

 

DCOP Awuni

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Angwubutoge Awuni, 57, the late Eastern Regional Police Commander was born on April 7, 1959, at Bibiani in the Western Region.

He attended Bibiani Secondary School from 1974- 1979, where he obtained the GCE Ordinary Level Certificate. He proceeded to Ghana Institute of Journalism, 1982-1984, where he graduated with a Diploma in Journalism.

He was also a graduate of the University of London, where he had a Diploma in Public Relations in 1987 and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration – Master of Governance and Leadership from 2009 — 2011

DCOP Awuni joined the Ghana Police Service in 1980 and some of the positions he held include: Director, Police Public Relations; Commanding Officer, Motor Traffic and Transport Unit and Director General, Motor Traffic and Transport Department at Police Headquarters, Accra.

Some of the international working experience comprise United Nation Mission to Namibia 1998-1999, United Nation Mission to Bosnia 2008-2009 and United Nation Mission to Sudan 2004-2005

He attended series of communal courses at Ghana Armed Force Staff College and his referees were: Mr P. K. Acheampong, former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye IGP (Former), Mr Peter Tinganabang Nanfuri IGP (Former) and Nana Owusu-Nsiah IGP (Former)

DCOP Awuni was commissioned to the Senior Officers Core in 1990 and was transferred to the Northern Region as Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), and in 1993 to the Ashanti Region as PRO till 2000 and to Saltpond as District Police Commander that same year.

In 2001 he was a District Commander in Tema, Divisional Commander in Yendi, 2004, Divisional Commander, Ministries, Accra in 2006 and Nima Divisional Police Commander, 2007 - 2009

DCOP Awuni would be buried on Saturday, May 7, in Accra.

According to the Alanga family, there would be wake keeping for DCOP Awuni on Friday, May 6, at 9pm at Police Depot, Tesano, Accra.

On Saturday May 7, his body would lie in state and filing past of the body would commence from 5am to 8am at the National Police Training School, Tesano, Accra.

This would be followed by a burial service from 8am to 11am then after that a private burial ceremony.

The funeral reception continues after burial from – 1pm to 6pm at the National Police Training School, Tesano Accra.

There would be thanksgiving service at 8.30am on Sunday, May 8, at The Christ Apostolic Church, Accra, behind Accra Sports Stadium and near Osu Cemetery.

All friends, colleagues, well-wishers and sympathisers are cordially invited.

DCOP Awuni died at the Police Hospital in Accra on Monday March 14 after a short illness.

Rawlings prays for peaceful election

Rawlings in a meeting with compatriot Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia

Ghana’s former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, has in a meeting with compatriot Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, expressed the hope that this year’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be peaceful.

Mr. Rawlings said the vigilance of the people and the determination of the law enforcement agencies would be key to the success of the elections.

“We will play our part to ask our people to make it as peaceful as possible but I guess what will ensure the peace is to make sure that we all remain vigilant and let’s hope the law enforcement agencies will also be impartial.

“We are not unknown for ensuring peaceful elections but this year’s might prove to be a little complex; that is why we are all praying,” President Rawlings said.

President Pohamba, immediate past President of Namibia who is in Ghana to deliver a series of lectures at the University of Development Studies, Tamale, said it was his prayer also that the elections are conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and the eventual winner accepted by all Ghanaians.

The former Namibian leader, who called on President Rawlings at his office in Accra on Monday, described the former Ghanaian leader as a comrade who had paid his dues to Ghana.

“I am informed you initiated the establishment of the University of Development Studies and I feel greatly honoured to be selected to deliver lectures at such an important university.”

President Pohamba conveyed the best wishes of Namibia’s founding President, Sam Nujoma and current President Hage Geingob to Flt Lt Rawlings. Namibians, he indicated do not forget the special relationship they have with President Rawlings and Ghana.

The former Namibian leader will deliver the fourth in the Africa Leadership Lecture series of the UDS under the theme ‘Genesis and Trajectory of Contemporary Africa Leadership’, on April 27, 28, and 29.

He will be decorated with an Honorary Doctorate Degree on Friday, November 29, 2016. Present at the meeting were Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, UDS Vice Chancellor Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye and the Namibian Ambassador to Ghana, Charles Josob.

Our new logo demonstrates our Independence – EC explains

The Commission says the new logo is its new identity...

The Electoral Commission says its new logo, which has generated hue and cry, represents a unified purpose and vision, and ultimately demonstrates the Commission’s independence.

Ahead of the launch of its five-year strategic plan Tuesday, the Commission explained the elements of the circular logo in a brochure distributed to participants of the event which will also see the EC answer questions on its preparedness for the 2016 elections.

“The whole identity represents a unified common purpose and vision and demonstrates our independence as an institution,” the Commission explained in the brochure.

The new logo, which emerged in April this year, was criticised by Ghanaians, as they wondered why the EC was introducing at an election year. The logo, which comes with blue-black background with what appears to be eight abstract humans with their hands up.

It later came up that the new logo looks like that of a Turkish educational institution; something that caused a section of Ghanaians to demand an explanation from the designers on whether the logo is original, copied or modified for the EC.

Many interpretations were given to the controversial logo with some claiming it is an embodiment a wheel of fortune and that the colours represent the various political parties.

However, the Commission has given a different interpretation of the new logo, which approval is unclear. Prior to its official unveiling, the logo was used in its official brochures.

The EC explains that the circles in the logo represents unity, singular and unified in its purpose which it said is “our democracy”, adding the blue of the circle also represents the stability and independence of the Commission.

“The inward moving arrows reflect all the people of Ghana and equally coming together for the common purpose- the right to select their political leadership,” the Commission added.

The red, gold and green colours, it said, represents Ghana.

Clearly, the explanation is likely to generation further discussions in the coming days.