Glo pull out threats, potential Ghana-Nigeria trade war?

The recent threats by mobile operator, Glo, to quit the country, appear to be sparking a potential trade war between Ghana and Nigeria.


This follows a publication in the Nigerian newspaper, Business Daily linking Glo’s frustrations to what Nigerian traders say is a grand scheme by the government to clamp down on their businesses in Ghana.


The President of the Nigerian Union of Traders in Ghana, Jasper Amenike alleged in the publication of a concerted effort between the Ministry of Trade and the Ghana Investment Promotion Council to ensure that Nigerian businesses do not succeed.

Mr. Amenike further cited the shutdown of 83 shops belonging to Nigerian traders in the past seven months with 550 others expected to follow soon.

Glo’s threat to pullout, Amenike noted, was a confirmation of government’s anti-Nigerian stance.

At the heart of the traders’ complaint however, is a clause in Ghana’s Investment code requiring all foreigners interested in engaging in the retail trade to have a minimum capital of at least $300,000.

They say this is in violation of the ECOWAS protocol on free trade and movement of people.

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According to the publication, a top level Nigerian delegation to Ghana on Monday led by its Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry was unable to workout an amicable solution.

Officials of the Trade Ministry approached by Joy Business were yet to comment on the matter.

Source: Joy Business/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Nigeria vice-president confirmed

Namadi Sambo worked as an architect until he became a governor in 2007

Both houses of Nigeria's parliament have voted to confirm the appointment of Kaduna state governor Namadi Sambo as the country's new vice-president.


Mr Sambo is relatively unknown and his appointment could clear the way for President Goodluck Jonathan to seek election in 2011, analysts say.

There were rowdy scenes during the confirmation, with lawmakers screaming and shouting to delay proceedings.

Mr Sambo is a northerner and he maintains the regional balance.

President Jonathan, a southerner, was sworn in earlier this month after the death of Umaru Yar'Adua.

Mr Jonathan has not said whether he wants to stand for the elections and the governing People's Democratic Party has said its candidate will be a northerner - continuing its practice of alternating power between the mostly Muslim north and the largely Christian south after two four-year terms.

Mr Yar'Adua, who was a northerner, died before his first term ended.

Kaduna anger

The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says that although Mr Sambo is not seen as a strong contender in the elections, his appointment is still controversial.

In his home state of Kaduna, Mr Sambo is seen as weak and inexperienced - his administration is criticized as corrupt.

His replacement in Kaduna will be his deputy Patrick Yakowa, who is a Christian.

Our correspondent says that has prompted anger because the state is mostly Muslim. Some local politicians see it as a plot to hand political control locally to Christians.

The confirmation hearing in the House of Representatives was held up for nearly half an hour as lawmakers argued on procedure, some even suggesting it be suspended to allow for consultation with constitutional experts.

At one point, those supporting the Kaduna governor began singing "Give us Sambo", while House speaker Dimeji Bankole repeatedly called for order.

"I am pleading with colleagues to please to take their seats and take this matter with all sense of patriotism," Mr Bankole said at one point.

Eventually, the House confirmed Mr Sambo as vice-president. Senators had earlier approved him unanimously in a vote that lasted three minutes.

Married with six children, Mr Sambo is an architect and an ally of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, who intends to seek the presidency.


Source: BBC

Pre-mix fuel shortage hits Western Region

Citi News has learnt that premix fuel supply has run short in parts of the Western Region, causing distress to fishermen.

The Nzema areas are among some of the worst hit coastal areas. The Nzema East Municipal Chief Executive, Reverend James Ackah Cobbinah, told Citi News the landing beaches in his area need at least six tankers of the product per week to be distributed to the fishermen there.

According to him, the two landing beaches in his municipality collectively receive between 40 and 60 percent of that minimal optimal supply.

The MCE noted that Axim is the only coastal community with the highest number of canoes, yet they do not get the required quantity of premix that can satisfy the people.

This he believes could create problems for the fishermen and eventually the government if not resolved immediately.

He said on the average, Axim should have about six tankers a week, three for each of the two landing beaches. He said this could be managed in the meantime, until such a time that the supply of the product will flow constantly.

Meanwhile, the two premix committees in the Nzema East Municipality have been dissolved by the MCE.
This follows allegations that committee members were unfairly diverting the products and distributing them unfairly.

The committees which were introduced by the NDC government as part of measures to deal with bottlenecks in the distribution of premix fuel which was also a major campaign promise are tasked to monitor and distribute the product to fishermen in the area.

Each committee is chaired by the Chief fishermen of the area with representatives of canoe owners, fish mongers, a Representative of the MCE, as well as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as members. Each Committee employs a pump attendant and a Secretary.

Some of the committee members are alleged to have embezzled funds whilst others were accused of being selective with the distribution.

The MCE told Citi News he dissolved the two committees to quell the allegations although no adverse findings had been made against any of the members.

According to him, the allegations could have smeared the image of government especially when some members of the committees, were said to be living lavish lives since their appointment.

Source: Citifm

NDC youth demand dismissal of Khalid's deputy

Few hours after President Mills dismissed the Upper West Regional Minister Honourable Mahmoud Khalid, another Youth Group calling itself concerned members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper West Region have also called for the removal of the Minister’s Deputy, Caesar Kale.

The Youth group is accusing the Deputy Minister of inciting some NDC youth who vandalised some party property and bolted with tender documents.

Some NDC Youth were arrested in Wa on Tuesday May 11, in connection with the disruption of a bidding process for the award of a contract for the construction of school projects.

Early on, some irate NDC foot soldiers vandalised some property belonging to the party to register their displeasure over the award of contracts to members of the Opposition New Patriotic Party by the Regional Minister.

This was after Regional Executives of the party had petitioned the President complaining about the Minister’s uncompromising attitude for which reason they could not work with him.

The Secretary to the Concerned Members of the NDC in the Upper West Region Saandong Wieneiba Nyira told Citi News that the Regional Youth Organiser and the Regional Chairman with support from the Deputy Regional Minister Caesar Khalid, orchestrated the removal of his boss so that he can take over as the substantive Minister.

Mr. Saandong Wieneiba further alleged that the Deputy Minister has plans to push for the said Regional Youth Organiser to be made his Deputy.

The group has given the President a 24 hour ultimatum to remove the
Minister or else they will hit the streets to register their displeasure.

‘‘24 hours from now, if nothing is heard we will pour onto the streets to protest our displeasure’’ he stated.

For now, it remains unclear if the President will once again heed to the request of these young men.

POLITICS- Osafo-Maafo: NPP Should Learn From NDC

Osafo Marfo A former Minister of Finance and a member of Nana Akufo-Addo’s Victory 2012 campaign team, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has urged delegates of the New Patriotic Party to take one big lesson from the National Democratic Congress – unity for victory. Speaking to delegates at Agona Nwkanta on the second day of Akufo-Addo’s Western Regional tour, Mr. Osafo-Maafo used the opportunity to plead with all the 115,000 delegates who will vote on August 7 for the 2012 NPP Presidential Candidate to vote massively for Nana Akufo-Addo “to send a clear message to the country that the NPP is not divided.” Mr. Osafo-Maafo said “the unity of the NPP must be clear to everybody after all the votes are counted and the winner declared. August 7 is the ultimate test of the unity that you and I know exists within our party.” The NPP should not joke with this, he warned. “If there’s one thing that we should learn from 2008 then it is that unity is the basis for victory. Any victory on August 7 that is not landslide would not help our party. We need to show with all our votes that the party is solidly behind Nana Akufo-Addo,” he said to large cheers from the Ahanta West constituency delegates. “The NDC did so on December 21, 2006,” Mr Osafo-Maafo pointed to a recent experience from their arch rivals from which his party should, nevertheless, learn. “There were four people competing, including the younger and taller Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Eddie Annan and Mahama Iddrisu. Prof. Mills got 1,362 out of the 1,673 valid votes cast.” Unlike in 2007 when 17 people contested, not more than 5 candidates will be on the NPP ballot paper on August 7, offering the party a platform for a massive endorsement of the winner. Having caught the fullest attention of the NPP delegates gathered, Mr Osafo-Maafo continued, “81.4% of NDC delegates voted for Prof Mills. His closes rival, Dr. Spio-Garbrah managed only 146 votes, 8.7%.” It is recalled that leading to the 2006 NDC primary, media reports gave the impression that it was going to be a close contest between the two frontrunners with some even calling it for Dr. Spio-Garbrah. Mr Osafo-Maafo reminded NPP delegates that all this happened after the problems of the previous year which saw the former NDC National Chairman, Dr. Obed Asamaoh and others, splitting from the NDC to form the Democratic Front Party. “The 81.4% endorsement gave Mills the unified force and the moral authority with which to mobilise the NDC to fight the ruling NPP for victory in 2008. He showed that his party was solidly behind him then and we all saw the ruthless and painful effect of that in December 2008,” Mr Osafo-Maafo recalled. “On August 7 let us send an even clearer message to the whole of Ghana that the NPP is indeed a united force, ready and deserving of power to serve the people of Ghana.” He added, “A massive vote for Nana Akufo-Addo on August 7 will silence our critics, motivate our supporters and make us more attractive to undecided voters,” he said. The former Finance Minister, who contested in the 2007 NPP presidential primary, gave first-hand testimony that Akufo-Addo is the candidate NPP delegates know they can trust on the important issue of unity. “Nana has shown with consistency clear evidence from 1992 about his commitment and loyalty to party unity. He does not just talk the talk he walks the desire, too,” Mr. Osafo-Maafo stressed. He said further, Akufo-Addo came second to Mr. J A Kufuor in 1998 but got solidly behind Kufuor, went around the country pleading with his supporters to do the same and campaigned with Mr. Kufuor for that famous victory in 2000. Again, Akufo-Addo more than showed in 2008 that he is committed to the party’s unity by inviting all the 16 people who competed against him to be part of his campaign committee. A move which some have even criticised him for. Earlier in the Western Region, NPP MPs continued with their wholesale endorsement of Nana Akufo-Addo. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah, MP for Sekondi, former presidential aspirant in 2007 and former Attorney-General gave his unflinching support to Akufo-Addo and asked his constituency delegates to do the same. The MP for Amenfi East and former Western Regional Minister, Boahen Aidoo also endorsed Nana Akufo-Addo and has been travelling with Nana Akufo-Addo urging all constituencies to support the 2008 flagbearer, who is now nicknamed, Nana Ababio, for coming again to ask for their votes for another shot at the presidency. The Victory2012 team left Ahanta West for Effia Kwesimintsim, Essikado Ketan and Tarkoradi. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana