Mahama promises to take Ghana to the promise land

President John Mahama has ended his tour of the western region.

The president was there as part of his thank you tour. He was at the birth place of the late President John Mills in Tarkwa to interact with town folks.

He also paid a visit to the home the president grew up in. He made several stops along the way to speak to anxious crowds who were eager to see him.

Roads and High Ways Minister Joe Gidisu who travelled with the president told Joy News the tour has been successful.

He said President Mahama gave hope to the people of Tarkwa, who like many Ghanaians are still recovering from the shock of the death of Prof John Mills.

He reported President John Mahama as saying he is the Joshua who will take the people of Ghana to the promise land.

Rawlings , Nana Konadu Congratulate Muslims

Nana and I congratulate the Muslim community for concluding the month-long fasting period, which has culminated in the celebration of Eid ul Fitr.

Your month-long period of sacrifice has afforded you the opportunity to renew your spiritual bond with Allah and we have good cause to join you in celebration.

As you conclude the period of fasting, we enjoin you to offer prayers not only for good strength and long life but also for our country Ghana and our brothers and sisters across the globe.

The past month has been a challenging period for our country, but Allah guided us successfully through a painful transition.

We go into Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December and as the political campaign resumes we have to pray for responsible political campaigns devoid of lies and acrimony and also pray that our elections will be free, fair and incident-free.

We once again congratulate you for your sense of spiritual dedication and pray that as we celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr we will do so in the true spirit of joy, love and peace.

Mills funeral held in london

THE GHANAIAN community in the United Kingdom (UK) last Saturday held a mammoth funeral for the departed President John Evans Atta Mills at High Gate in London.

Organized by the Ghana High Commission in the UK, the funeral was attended largely by Ghanaians from different tribes and other foreign nationals who see Ghana as a friend.

The forecourt of the Ghana Embassy at High Gate, London, was filled with a sea of mourners dressed in red and black attires for the solemn event as at 2pm London time.

President Mills died in Accra on July 24, 2012, after he was rushed to hospital after he became ill.

The funeral at the High Gate saw the Ghanaian rich culture being displayed by the different ethnic groups in the country including the Asantes, Ewes, Gas, Fantes and Akyems.

Among the prominent Ghanaians that attended the event were K.B. Asante, a former diplomat, Francis Poku, former National Security Minister, Faustina Acheampong, wife of the late General Acheampong, the clergy and political party representatives from the NDC, NPP and CPP.

Addressing the gathering, minutes after reading the biography of President Mills, the Ghana High Commissioner to the UK, Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo, said the late president served his country well.

He bemoaned the fact that Ghanaians did not see the special qualities in President Mills whilst he was alive, stating that they only saw the qualities after he died.

Prof. Danso-Boafo lamented that President Mills was vilified by all manner of people unjustifiably but in the face of all those provocation, President Mills did not utter a word.

He said President Mills did not pay attention to the vilifications but rather channelled all his energy into the development of the country.

Prof. Boafo, who travelled to Ghana for the funeral of the president in Accra, said the large number of people that attended the funeral was an indication that Ghanaians loved the departed president.

He was however surprised that Ghanaians decided to display their immense love for President Mills after he had passed away, stating he was impressed about the large crowd that attended the president’s funeral back in Ghana.

Prof. Boafo said he saw people standing by the roadsides and shedding uncontrollable tears for President Mills, adding he was touched by the love shown to the president.

He described President Mills as a true loyal son of Ghana who inculcated in him the spirit of patriotism, saying, “He always told me to make Ghana come first in whatever that I do.”

The Ghana Community Band International was also present at the funeral grounds to entertain the crowd. Representatives of all the tribal groups in Ghana paid tribute to the late president.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., London

Statement by Secretary Clinton on the Passing of Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills U.S. Department of State - Office of the Spokesperson -

Statement by Secretary Clinton on the Passing of Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills

U.S. Department of State - Office of the Spokesperson - July 24, 2012

On behalf of the people of the United States, I want to send my deepest sympathies to the people of Ghana and the friends, family, and loved ones of President John Evans Atta Mills. President Mills made a significant contribution to Ghana's democracy and development, and forged a strong and positive partnership with the United States. As the third president of modern Ghana, he worked to strengthen his country's democratic institutions and to expand prosperity for all of its people. He promoted regional peace and reinforced Ghana's reputation as a leader in Africa. President Mills was a champion for his nation and his loss will be felt around the world. My thoughts and prayers are with all the people of Ghana during this difficult time.

“Ghanaian” Mahama Picks “Gold Coaster” Amissah-Arthur for Second String

During a week’s commemoration of the passing of Ghana’s President John Evans Atta-Mills, recently, the newly-sworn President John Dramani Mahama was reported to have rather flippantly and sarcastically observed that his predecessor’s “divinely ordained” death had facilitated a paradigm-shift, in which the mantle of national leadership had been handed over to a new generation of citizens who were born in the country’s post-independence era (See “Prez Mahama Taunts ‘Old Man’ Akufo-Addo: God Has Shifted the Mantle of Power to New Generation” The Hajj/GNA/Modernghana.com 8/1/12). Needless to say, in the four-month period leading to Election 2012, the Akufo-Addo Campaign operatives ought to be studiously following and swiftly riposting the characteristically frivolous and cheap voter-pandering remarks and comments of Transitional-President John D. Mahama, if Ghanaians are to be opportunely and deservedly returned to a salutary democratic governance.

If, indeed, Ghana’s newly-appointed president is firmly of the foregoing view, then, truthfully speaking, the 53-year-old former Communications Minister from Bole-Bamboi does not appear to be fully prepared to take God up on His /Her paradigm-shift edict. For, in choosing his Vice-President and the man likely to succeed him should he become incapacitated, Mr. Mahama defiantly chose Mr. Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, a clearly jaded banking and financial-market operative who, at 61 years old, was born in the former Gold Coast, just like Mr. Mahama’s main political rival and Ghana’s former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The Presidential Candidate of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), on the other hand, in choosing the 49-year-old Dr. Mahammadu Bawumia, appears to have exhibited far more political maturity and thus amply demonstrated the fact that he is the better prepared Ghanaian leader to take God up on His/Her quite beneficent decision to shift the reins of governance to a new crop and a new generation of Ghanaian leaders.

Comparatively speaking, the Russian-educated President Mahama also appears to woefully lack the requisite emotional and psychological maturity in deciding on significant national issues, such us deciding on such very basic issue as the burial place of the recently deceased President John Evans Atta-Mills, barely a week after the former’s assumption of the presidency.

Then also, his selection of Mr. Amissah-Arthur as vice-president lacks creative ingenuity; for, needless to say, it is an open-secret that Mr. Amissah-Arthur studiously collaborated with Ghana’s longest-serving Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in callously slipping the noose of abject socioeconomic deprivation, otherwise globally known as the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) on the already “Rawlings-Necklaced Necks” of “Lumpen-Poor” Ghanaians. It would take the remarkable genius and innovative leadership of President John Agyekum-Kufuor, working hand-in-glove and around the clock with Drs. Paul Acquah and, you guessed right, Mahammadu Bawumia at the Bank of Ghana, and the IMF-World Bank-designed HIPC program to resuscitate the severely damaged Ghanaian economy, largely due to Mr. Rawlings’ gross mismanagement, and finally infuse a powerful dosage of dignity into the life of the proverbial average Ghanaian, while also deftly and healthily inspiring Ghanaian youths with hope and planting smiles on their faces.

Conversely and all-too-peevishly, during the past three-and-half years that Mr. Amissah-Arthur was Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Ghanaians, once again, began to exhibit bitter signs of acute anxiety as the nation’s monetary currency, the Cedi, plummeted precipitously on the global money market as a direct result of Mr. Amissah-Arthur’s unconscionable supervision of a second parallel economically regressive regime in which many a successful native Ghanaian businessman and woman preferred to internally trade, or conduct business, by the exclusive use of the American Dollar, at the expense of the Cedi and the health of Ghana’s economy – that, in short, is the history of the direct cause of the Cedi’s freefall.

And so, really, come December 7, 2012, the real choice before the responsible Ghanaian voter is between unreservedly retaining the pseudo-socialist regime of the Mahama-Arthur-led vigilante and self-serving and incurably corrupt “Judgment-Debt” government of the National Democratic Congress, that is, if you are also naïve enough to believe that Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome is the most patriotic Ghanaian entrepreneur to be criminally fleeced by the Kufuor-led New Patriotic Party government, on the one hand; and, of course, that of the tried-and-tested and results-oriented and now-Akufo-Addo and Bawumia-led New Patriotic Party that sports the enviably inclusive platform of free qualitative elementary and high school education for all Ghanaian youths, affordable healthcare (as proven by the Kufuor-led NPP) and a decent and affordable housing for all.

A message of condolences - From CPP UK & Ireland

The UK/Ireland Regional Branch of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), note with great shock and sadness the sudden death of President John Evans Atta Mills. We note that many in our nation will be saddened at the breaking of this news.

We send the Government of Ghana and our grieving nation condolences in the knowledge that our late President offered a calm, gentle and affectionate leadership to the people of Ghana living up to his promise to uphold the rule of law in the exercise of this high office.

The CPP of UK/Ireland would want to set aside our disagreements with the policies of our late President’s government and call on the nation to unite at this time in common grief to show our civility and purpose.

We ask to send to Mrs Naadu Mills and the family these condolences and wish for them strength and God’s blessings. We delight in addressing ourselves to the legacy of tolerance and humility in high office that your late husband our President leaves us as a nation. His was strength in humility and calmness.

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish Vice-President John Dramani Mahama our warm felicitations on his assumption of the high office of President. We wish him and his family God’s guidance in the exercise and execution of his duties to carry on with the style and legacy of his late predecessor.

We feel proud in addressing ourselves to the smooth and flawless manner of the transfer of office and cannot but admire Ghana and our people in such excellence. We show to the world that in adversity and sadness we have the capacity to come right.

May the soul of beloved fallen President John Evans Atta Mills rest in eternal peace.

Signed

Chair BB OSEI

Communications Directorate

CPP UK & IRELAND BRANCH

T.B. Joshua arrives for Mills' funeral

The Head Pastor of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope B. Joshua, spiritual father of the late President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills has arrived in the country on Tuesday afternoon for the funeral of the late President.

The man of God was said to have arrived at the Kotoka International Airport on his private jet.

Prophet T.B Joshua is scheduled to meet President John Dramani Mahama and former first lady Dr. Ernestina Naadu Mills later in the day.

The renowned Nigerian Prophet is reported to have stated a couple of weeks ago that he first met the former President when he was then Vice President to Jerry John Rawlings, during a crusade he attended, and added that the beginning of their relationship was purely based on a prophecy he had.

Ghanaians are behind you; Kofi Annan assures Mahama

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has assured President John Mahama of his “personal support” in his new role.

Kofi Annan is also convinced Ghanaians are behind the new president sworn-in after the shocking death of his predecessor Prof John Mills.

Annan, who recently resigned his role as Syrian envoy was at the Castle, Tuesday, to console the President John Mahama.

“I am very pleased to be able to meet with you this morning. Our country has gone through a difficult period. We have lost a leader, a democrat. Now you have the baton and I am here to pay my respects and to congratulate you in these difficult times as you take on a very difficult challenge for our nation and I am sure you are going to lead us as effectively as any leader could.

“Let me assure you of my personal support and I am sure the Ghanaians will stand behind you and work with you as you steer the affairs of state.

“Once again congratulations Mr President.

John Mahama said he will be counting on the international experience of the former UN Secretary General to succeed in office.

He was grateful for the support and the kind words from UN Secretary General.

“We thank you for this gesture in paying condolences to our late president and also for the warm congratulations you just gave,” he stated.

He is hoping to continue what he said was a good working relationship the late president had with Kofi Annan.

Rawlings Commends Political Unity in Kenya

Ghana’s former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, has counselled Kenya’s political leadership to take advantage of the unified political front that has governed the country since the devastating post-electoral violence of 2007.

He criticised the winner takes all mentality which sees no good in the opposition and said Africa needs governments that tap the best from all parties in forming governments. “That is what Africa needs.” See photos in our gallery.

President Rawlings said whoever wins the next election due to take place early next year should not hesitate to establish a government of national unity because the current unified political setting has brought “a certain spiritual elegance’ to Kenyan politics.

The former President, who is also the African Union High Representative for Somalia, made these comments when he delivered a tribute on Saturday at the burial service in Kitengela, Kenya of the late George Saitoti, Minister for Internal Security of Kenya who died in a helicopter accident on Sunday, June 10.

President Rawlings likened the Kenyan political situation to two football teams who go at each other in fierce competition but afterwards the best players are selected from all teams to the national team and these different players then defend the national pride as if they had not played competitively against each other.

He said: “In Kenya circumstances have foisted two or three parties together and this seems to be bringing the best out of you.”

Describing Professor Saitoti as a smart and intelligent politician, the former President said: “Nothing used to oppress me in office when good, highly skilled personalities die. I wish that person’s brain, power of articulation, intelligence could be taken out and given to someone.” He urged the political class to emulate the late Prof Saitoti’s values. “If we could imbued good manners it would reduce the animosity that is transmitted downwards,” he said.

Earlier on Friday, President Rawlings in a tribute during the requiem mass held at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi described Professor Saitoti as a man of precision.

The AU High Representative said he was inspired to attend the funeral of the late Minister because he heard extremist elements celebrate the death of Minister Saitoti stating, “We are united in showing appreciation to Professor Saitoti.”

Professor Saitoti, his deputy Orwa Ojode and four others died in a helicopter crash on Sunday June 10.

As Internal Affairs Minister he was instrumental in Kenya’s decision to wage war on Al Shabab in Somalia after a series of cross-border incursions by the extremist group which adversely affected Kenyan tourism and national security.

For thirteen years he was the Vice-President during the presidency of Daniel Arap Moi. Aside the Internal Security portfolio, Professor Saitoti had also served in the Foreign, Education and Finance portfolios.

A mathematician and economist, Professor Saitoti was the Executive Chairman of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in 1990-91.

Africa Investment Forum Opens In Accra

About 600 participants, including some Heads of States from West Africa and the Commonwealth, as well as investors from all over the world, will today throng the Accra International Conference Centre for the Africa Investment Forum 2012, to exchange notes on the opportunity to access the growing regional market in a continent of one billion people.

The forum will bring together business and government leaders from Africa, Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, to work towards this goal.

Speakers will include Heads of Government, Ministers and senior officials, as well as Chairs and Chief Executives of businesses, investment funds and other industries.

The forum, expected to be opened by President John Evans Atta Mills, will showcase the best investment opportunities that Africa and the ECOWAS region have to offer.

It presents a platform for investors and project partners to explore and discuss investment opportunities with ECOWAS Heads of State.

The forum will also offer networking opportunities and the space to discuss prospects in key sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, banking and financial services, tourism, manufacturing, energy, oil and gas.

Under the theme, “Partnering with ECOWAS to Accelerate Investment,” the two-day high profile event is expected to provide an unprecedented opportunity for senior policy-makers, corporate executives, investors and investment promotion agencies to meet and interact through a series of sessions, networking and social events.

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in collaboration with The Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) is hosting the forum, which is a build on the last forum held in Accra in 2010.

Among others, the forum will feature a project portfolio of investment proposals that are looking for funding, equity or business partners in the region. The Project Exchange Centre will enable participants to meet with potential investors, investment bankers, and potential knowledge partners to present their projects.

According to the programme, project summaries will be available in advance to interested investors and partners, and project holders will be available for one-to-one meetings. Projects will be organised by country and sector and include business plans with identified requirements in terms of investment required, technical and knowledge based requirements.

“For potential Investors, this is an opportunity to establish strong partnerships and explore investment opportunities in key sectors such as ICT, financial services, tourism, Infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing and the environment,” says George Aboagye, Chief Executive Officer of GIPC. Commenting ahead of the event, President J.E.A. Mills, said Africa and its regions are showing strong economic growth with many countries achieving more than five per cent per annum and a growing middle-class with rising purchasing power, adding that “the time is now ripe to build a bigger African internal market driven by new investment.”

According to McKinsey, a global business advisor, Africa in 2020 will have a collective GDP of $2.6 trillion and consumer spending power of $1.4 trillion, the opportunity this represents for international investors is immense.

“CBC is determined to bring together the public and private sector in order to enable Africa to capitalise on this potential. The image of Africa as a destination for investment has been transformed and the number of Emerging Market Funds with African interests has soared,” Dr. Mohan Kaul, Co-Chair of CBC, said.

“With the increasing volatility of the Western Markets, Africa is now increasingly becoming a preferred investment destination of choice. A catalyst for this has also been the progress made towards regional integration to create larger markets, enhanced competitiveness and improving infrastructure. Therefore it follows that this AIF will focus on partnerships with ECOWAS to mobilise investment,” he added.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Hannah Tetteh, said her Ministry’s vision is to establish Ghana as a major manufacturing, value-added, financial and commercial hub in West Africa by the year 2015, pointing out that “We are developing a vibrant, technology-driven, liberalised and competitive trade and industrial sector that significantly contributes to economic growth and employment creation.”

“We are working closely with our ECOWAS neighbours to bolster regional integration and enable investors to access the markets of North, West and Central Africa from Ghana. We have projects ready for investments that are designed to push this process forward,” she added.

For GIPC Chairman, Ishael Yamson, the forum will promote investment in Ghana and across the ECOWAS region and will contribute to the creation of jobs and prosperity for a vibrant and growing part of Africa, “rich with a potential that we are only just beginning to access..

He added: “2012 will be the year where we capitalise on this achievement and the Africa Investment Forum is the ideal opportunity to showcase the fantastic prospect that Ghana and ECOWAS represents for anyone wishing to do business here.”