Ghana: Mahama says he will support ongoing negotiations between ECOWAS and EU

President John Mahama says he will support the ongoing negotiations between ECOWAS and the EU on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Welcoming an ECOWAS delegation to Accra for a summit in his capacity as its new group chairman, Mahama said that it would be “disastrous” for Ghana to unilaterally pursue any agreement with the EU. “Ghana will continue to play a facilitative role, especially now that we have assumed the Chairmanship of ECOWAS,” he said. “It is our intention to call a meeting of a technical grouping to narrow down the issues that are outstanding, so that we can move ahead and complete the negotiations of the EPA with the European Union.”

Also crucial to the region’s economic development is intra-regional trade, Mahama said, as he called on heads of government across West Africa to take measures to remove trade barriers. Turning to security matters, he pledged to encourage collective action to deal with terrorist group Boko Haram in the wake of several high profile incidents in Nigeria in recent weeks.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.
© 2014 Menas Associates

Growing concerns in Ghana about a regional security rebound

The escalation of the bombing campaign by the Nigeria-based Boko Haram militia with attacks on Abuja and threats against mass population centres is ringing alarm bells in Ghana, Nigeria's closest regional ally. On several occasions, President John Mahama has warned about such regional threats after being briefed by the national intelligence service.

The other big threat pinpointed by Accra-based security analysts is insecurity in neighbouring Burkina Faso where incumbent President Blaise Compaoré looks determined to retain power at all costs. He is currently financing a bogus movement calling for a change to the constitution to allow him to stand for yet another term after holding power for almost 30 years. Three years ago, Compaoré narrowly escaped being overthrown by an army mutiny. This time, he may not be so fortunate.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.
© 2014 Menas Associates

Ghana: Supreme Court calls in KPMG to audit the pink sheets

 

The Supreme Court has called in KPMG to audit the pink sheets tendered as evidence of the alleged irregularities in the December 2012 presidential elections.

 

The court, presided over by Justice William Atuguba, took the decision after a disagreement between the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) petitioners and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) respondents over the number of pink sheets submitted as exhibits in the case (see Comment and Analysis).

 

The court also decided that two representatives from each of the two parties to the suit should assist in the counting of the pink sheets, while the parties are also required to pay KPMG's bill.

Last week, NDC lead counsel Tsatsu Tsikata insisted on a physical count of pink sheet exhibits sworn in affidavits by the NPP.

 

Continuing his cross-examination of NPP witness and former vice presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Tsikata insisted that the petitioners had initially submitted 8,621 pink sheets displaying alleged irregularities, omissions and malpractices, and not the 11,842 stated in the affidavit filed by the petitioners, nor the 11,916 pink sheets declared in the second amended petition.

He also said that an examination of pink sheet exhibits served his clients by the petitioners revealed that 115 of the 8,621 contained no relevant data, and a further 373 pink sheets were duplicated.

 

Support for the audit came from the respondents in the case: President John Mahama's lead counsel Tony Lithur; lead counsel for the petitioners Philip Addison; and James Quarshie-Idun who is lead counsel for the Electoral Commission.

 

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

 

© 2013 Menas Associates

President Mahama urges Bank of Ghana to reduce interest rates

 

President John Mahama , who was swearing-in the Bank of Ghana's new governor, Dr Henry Kofi Wampah, urged the bank to reduce interest rates, return inflation to single digits and stem the dollarisation of goods and services.

At the 4 April swearing-in ceremony, President Mahama declared the government's determination to work with the governor to reduce interest rates and make the cost of borrowing easier for the private sector. He said, “The cedi remains relatively stable, but we need to do more to ensure that we protect that stability so that the cedi operates in a predictable manner both in the interest of the economy and for foreign investors.” He went on to say, “We must continue to index prices in the Ghana cedi. The dollar and other foreign currencies are a means of international exchange and trade, and are not supposed to be the indicator of what currency prices we have.”

Dr Wampah pledged to consolidate present gains and accelerate Ghana's transition to higher middle-income status. Wampah has been the acting governor since former governor and current Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur joined Mahama as his running mate for the 2012 election campaign.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2013 Menas Associates