Damongo Youth Parliament holds a parliamentary debate

Damongo Youth Parliament holds a parliamentary debate

Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP), taking inspiration from the constitution of Ghana and other legislations which recognises the role of the media and Civil Society Organisations/Community groupings as key stakeholders in our decentralisation and governance system organised a parliamentary debate Sunday evening, November 19,2016, at the Damongo Lorry Station.

The debate which was scheduled to feature four(4) parliamentary candidates had two of the candidates honouring and battling it out in the ideas of youth development.They are the incumbent MP and parliamentary candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) hon . Adam Mutawakilu and the candidate of the convention peoples party (CPP) Mr.Hamdal.

The two parliamentary candidates took their turn to address the youth on questions centred around youth empowerment and employment, youth-in-agriculture,education & health,youth-in-skills training and entrepreneurship and youth-in-local security and sustained peace promotion.

The incumbent MP and candidate of the NDC in responding to questions from the thematic areas reiterated the fact that if reelected,he was going to establish a Youth Development Fund with an annual Gh30,000.00 seed capital for youth development, entrepreneurship and skills training. The fund according to him will be fully owned and managed by the youth under strict auditing and oversight monitoring conditions.He equally pledged his continues support for the youth-interms of education, health, women empowerment and entrepreneurship, and that he was going to expand his Vegetables Farmers Association to cover as many youth as possible.
He challenged Damongo Youth Parliament to submit a working proposal to him for adoption and further action.

His contender from the CPP indicated that he was going to lead a youth revolution if elected.He will make sure the youth with support from DYP police the natural resources of the district,and that he was going to adopt Damongo Youth Parliament and introduce members through mentorship to the full structures of the parliament of Ghana. He also promised to acquire a plot of land and establish an office for Damongo Youth Parliament to operate from.

In a keynote address, the guest speaker, Most Rev . Dr . Clement Aapegnuo challenged the youth to rise up and pursue their dreams. He cautioned the youth against election related violence and called on our leaders to have confidence in and invest in the youth.

The candidate for the NPP gave a rather later response to our invitation through his party secretary after several follow-ups of his inability to honour the debate because he had an emergency meeting to attend.The PPP candidate had indicated that he was away in Accra for other important schedules.

Damongo Youth Parliament was highly commended by all and sundry for the good initiative and works. The parliament was encouraged to sustain such efforts into the future.

The about three (3) hours debate was carried live on Radio for Peace and Development (PAD 95.1mhz).

By:ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
(Secretary-DYP/PAD FM NEWS DESK)
0241129910/0200704844

The Youth Are Future Leaders And Hope Of Our Country-Most Rev . Clement

YOUTH ARE FUTURE LEADERS AND HOPE OF OUR COUNTRY-MOST REV . CLEMENT

The Director of Center for Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies(CECOTAPS),Most Rev . Dr. Clement Aapegnua has reiterated the fact that the youth of today are the future leaders and hope of our community and country.
He said this while delivering a key note address during a parliamentary debate session organised by Damongo Youth Parliament (DYP) Sunday evening,November 19,2016,at the Damongo Lorry Station.

"The youth constitute 70% of Africa's population but are usually not consulted in decision making,'Our leaders should have confidence in the youth and invest in them because they are creative, innovative and energetic', they are the future leaders and hope of our country"-averred the peace expert.  (Slightly modified).

According to him, the youth are most of the time perceived as trouble makers, and hence are used to forment trouble.This in his view was not the case,as was seen in the significant role the youth played in resolving the Dagbon Conflict.
He emphasized that all efforts to resolve the conflict had proven futile until they were refered to use the youth chiefs.

He cautioned the youth not to allow themselves to be used by self-seeking politicians to foment trouble, violence and mayhem during this season of elections.And that we should engage in politics of ideas, and avoid insults, vulgar and fowl language.

The youth were encouraged to rise up and pursue their dreams.

He lauded Damongo Youth Parliament for the initiative and good works it has been doing for Damongo and beyond.

The about three (3)  hours debate was carried live on Radio for Peace and Development (PAD 95.1mhz).

By ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM (AB)
(Secretary-DYP/PAD FM NEWS DESK)
0241129910/020004844

US HAS SPOKEN;WHAT IS THE TREND ANALYSIS, PROPAGANDA-RECYCLED AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GHANA?

US HAS SPOKEN!WHAT IS THE TREND ANALYSIS, PROPAGANDA-RECYCLED AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GHANA?

Okay, let's say the United States of America (USA) has spoken .The controversial Republican candidate,Donald John Trump has been dully elected the 45th president.He takes over from Barack Hussein Obama's  led Democratic government.

The world they say is a global village, and whatever happens in America (a superpower) of the world impacts Ghana. (You remember the credit crunch in USA and the effects it had on our country).One can easily make mention of foreign policy, access to grant-in-aid,Ghana's relationship with US, security, trade, international protocols and conventions,and the propaganda-recycled as trend analysis and electoral fortunes.

The trends(refined propaganda):Americans have faith in two- party system-the Democrats who ideologically are more to the left and the Republicans who are more to the right.Those in the middle are the independents.The Republicans are liberal(economically left).The Democrats are in favour of governments intervention for the poor and needy.
The Democrats just like the NDC believe in the bottom-up approach(shifting the allocation of wealth from the haves to the have-nots) to development.The Republicans on the other hand believe in the Top-down approach, thus, the trickling down effect to development.

These parties in response to the needs of the people also flirt around these ideologies-the Democrats for instance have since moved from left-center towards the center.These ideological stance mostly reflect the economic and social policies of various governments.

Interesting enough, Ghana and USA have always voted along a particular line since 1992 based on their ideologies.In 1992 for instance,as USA voted for Bill Clinton(a Democrat),Ghana voted Jerry John Rawlings (a social democrat) and founder of NDC. Both candidates were retained in 1996.
In 2000,USA elected George Walker Bush (a Republican) and Ghana voted for John Agyekum Kuffour of NPP (a liberal democrat).Both candidates were retained in 2004.
Fast - forward,in 2008,USA voted for Barack Hussein Obama(a democrat) and Ghana voted for my late beloved prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills of blessed memory of NDC (a social democrat).The historic visit of president Obama to Ghana as his first Africa country after his election just says it all.
Obama was retained in America in 2012.But following the death of prof.Atta Mills, his vice president John Dramani Mahama succeeded him and won the elections of 2012 on the ticket of NDC(Democrats).
In the just ended elections in USA, Donald Trump(a Republican) won against Hillary Clinton(a democrat), and Ghana is yet to decide.
Are we likely to see a change coming or change is happening already?

Let's probe the issues further:
You have been following the debate on social media.The NPP sees the turn of events in America as a hope for a change in Ghana.So I ask:is trend analysis really anything to go by?
But have you realised the trend was truncated somewhat in 2008 following the death of prof. Mills? At least, a candidate has changed.Have you also noticed that there is a "JOHN" in the name of Donald Trump?

Most of the opinion polls in the run - up to the elections in USA predicted victory for Hillary Clinton. Such predictions where overturned.
In Ghana, most of the opinion polls are predicting victory for Akuffo-Addo. If trend analysis is anything to go by,is change coming or change is happening?Are these also trends that could "play out"?Interesting, I guess!
Such trends I think could be propaganda-recycled or turn out to be the realities.You can also be your own judge in such propaganda instances.
The trends may be similar but the conditions and situations in both countries may differ.So discard the "trends propaganda" and concentrate on selling your messages to the people. 

Implications: Donald Trump from his campaign and public auterances seem anti - African .Our leaders must therefore brace themselves for the times ahead.The man has made his point clear:I'm going to hand America back to Americans.He emphasised this in his victory speech:after expressing a desire to rebuild infrastructure, making it "second to none". Trump went on to say, "We will get along with all countries that are willing to get along with us. We must reclaim our country's destiny.

We(Ghana) should anticipate a drastic cut in grant-in-aid from USA,hard-line immigration laws(mass deportation of illegal immigrants-thus,putting an end to "birthright citizenship"),his stance on trade(he has blamed China for the economic woes of USA -Who knows:he might blame Ghana next), his perception on global warming(how does he intend to tackle the canker after describing it as a hoax, and intends cutting funds away from EPA?).What about his racial profiling, especially against Muslims?
These are all issues we should be on a look out for.

The fact is,the man is likely to be tough on third world countries.And we must be prepared to take our destiny into our own hands(after all, Ghana is capable of managing its own affairs).

With barely twenty - seven (27) days to go to the polls in Ghana, one can only cross his/her fingers, pray for peace and accept whatever the outcome of the election might be.
The watchword is "PEACE".
May God bless.
Read more on ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
University of Ghana Business School (UGBS)/Radio Presenter
0241129910/0200704844

CANTEEN YAARA UNITED FOR ALBERT EMBARKS ON A CLEAN UP CAMPAIGN

CANTEEN YAARA UNITED FOR ALBERT EMBARKS ON A CLEAN UP CAMPAIGN

A group calling itself Canteen Yaara United for Albert this morning embarked on a clean up and keep fit campaign across Canteen Electoral Area in the West Gonja District of Damongo Constituency.

The group which saw the activities as a civic responsibility and claimed neutrality,expressed utmost trust in the potentials and ability of the parliamentary candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) hon . Albert Diwura Kassim, and has therfore decided to embark on these activities as a show of love and support for him.

They believe a clean society is just next to a godly and a wealthy society,the credence of which is found in the age long adage that a healthy nation and people is a  wealth nation and people. And that they were trusting God to deliver victory to hon. Albert and the NPP come December 7.

The parliamentary candidate who joined the exercise together with his youth organiser hon.Nana Kwame was full of appreciation for the group, and prayed for unity and peace ahead of the elections.

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
(PAD FM news desk)

Farmers Day Celebration:Focus On Local Government Development And Export Promotion In Ghana

Farmers Day Celebration:My Focus On Local Government Development And Export Promotion In Ghana

It's an undeniable fact that the behavior of government institutions affects business performance on the international arena.
Such behavior which creates an enabling environment can impact positively on the performance of firms on the global scene.

Over the years, however, the focus has always been on the role of public sector at the national level in promoting export in Ghana obviously due to the international nature of export promotion issues such as international negotiation and diplomacy  which are within the remit of central government.
Somehow, the place of local government in the development and promotion of export business has been overlooked in academic and its related discourses.

Is it right therefore to conclude that local government does nothing to promote export in Ghana?
If so, where lies the faith of the fact that most of the non-traditional export commodities of Ghana (agriculture, manufacturing and handicrafts) come from the rural areas of the country!Yes, most of the non-traditional export commodities(the main export commodities of Ghana) come from the rural areas.And one would have expected local government to take the lead in export promotion activities in Ghana.It's either local governments are ignorant of this potential source of development or they are in simple terms non-proactive in that regard!

It's or should be stated with emphasis that local governments that are aware of their responsibilities, have a positive orientation towards their goals, and which have the capacity, are better positioned to champion the course of export promotion and development activities in Ghana, if for nothing at all, for employment creation and revenue mobilisation.

Local governments in Ghana have the potential and can be positioned well to promote export business, especially so when there is a reduction in financial grants from external sources and there is pressure on local governments to generate revenue internally to improve the standard of living of the local people.
In Denmark for instance, owing to the high degree of administrative decentralisation with clarity of roles and responsibilities as well as guaranteed financial resources and human resource system,export promotional services are provided by both the central government and local government with direct and active involvement of business communities and associations. The state shares with local government the responsibility for determining the broad policies on export promotion.(See export promotion in Logoster Commune and Aalborg Commune in Denmark).Local government is truly decentralised and financially independent in that country.

Our own assemblies can be empowered to chalk such a milestone through public policy and advocacy that will make them face squarely their obligation towards export promotion. National government should be willing to share the responsibilities of export development and promotion with local government.

Learning from the experience of Denmark, local government in Ghana can contribute meaningfully towards export promotion by networking and disseminating trade information and sales leads, organizing international trade shows/trade missions sponsored locally,organizing workshops on export topics, facilitating land acquisition processes,permits which provide the legal basis for doing business should be granted with dispatch,promoting tourism,prudent environmental management, marketing facilities and marketing of localities, liason with business, export marketing consulting services, promotion of export trading companies ad infinitum.

In this way, local government can support their businesses to export or to expand their operations, where they already exist and accrue the benefits therefrom...

May I use this opportunity to wish all the industrious farmers of our dear country, especially those at the local level whose efforts are least recognised and rewarded a happy celebration.
May the good lord continue to bless us all.

(A write-up culled from Richardson Azunu,Export Administration ,published by ICDE-University of Ghana, Legon, February, 2010.)

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
(University of Ghana Business School and a passionate Community Radio Youth Advocate)
0241129910/0200704844