THE Book Publishers’ Association says it will appreciate it if its members, who are major stakeholders in education, will be involved in any decision by the government on the educational reform to enable the association make its input, as well as the necessary preparation.
It said should it become necessary for the curriculum or the textbooks to be changed, the association should be informed early to enable its members to have enough time to work, since their businesses tended to suffer anytime there was a change in the country’s educational system.
The association complained that its members were usually not involved when such decisions were taken but they were called at short notice to publish new textbooks in line with those changes, a process which needed huge capital investment and adequate human resource.
It said, for example, that it was only last year that the government contracted some members of the association to develop textbooks for the four-year senior high school system which they had completed and begun distributing.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the President of the association, Mr Elliot Agyare, said it was unfortunate that publishers had to go through so much strain to develop new curriculum for schools only for it to be changed after a short while.
He was reacting to a Daily Graphic story which quoted the Minister of Education designate, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, as saying that one of the first things the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government was likely to do in the educational sector was abolish the four-year duration of the senior high school (SHS) and revert to the earlier three-year programme.
In another development, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum, has said the frequent changes in the country’s educational system tend to affect students who always suffer because of changes in syllabi.
Speaking on Peace FM’s morning show, “Kokrokoo”, yesterday, Prof Agyekum appealed to the new government to allow the four-year system to run for at least five years when the first batch of students would have entered university.
He said since the first batch was to enter the university in 2010, it would be difficult to determine whether the system was an improvement on the previous one or not before we could talk of changing it and added that there was the need for us as a country to have patience for certain things.
Commenting on the argument that the four-year duration would put a lot of stress on parents and heads of second-cycle institutions, Prof Agyekum said parents should be prepared to offer the best opportunities for their children.
He stressed that the cost of better education at the second-cycle level, which was the foundation, should not be an issue and revealed that there were some pre-schools which charged even higher than many second-cycle schools, as well as the universities.
He noted that parents should do well to pay for the additional year if that was what would help make their children better humans in future.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Health insurance premium remains the same (page 3)
26-01-2009
THE National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says the yearly premium to be paid under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) remains between GH¢7.20 and GH¢48, not GH¢150 as is being speculated.
According to the NHIA, there had been no upward adjustment in the premium since the introduction of the scheme in 2004.
This was made known by the Media Relations Manager of the NHIA, Mr Kwasi Acquah, in reaction to reports making the rounds that the yearly premium for the NHIS had increased to about GH¢150.
The media relations manager advised the public to ignore such reports, since insurance premiums were determined by the various mutual schemes, in conjunction with the authority, adding that the authority had not effected any such change.
He explained that although the individual district mutual health insurance schemes (DMHIS) were autonomous in their operations, the law did not allow them to take decisions concerning premiums on their own but that they had to liaise with the authority on such an important issue.
Article 34 (1) of the National Health Insurance Act of 2003, Act (650) states, "A person seeking membership of a district mutual health insurance scheme shall as a prior condition for membership pay the membership contribution determined by the scheme in accordance with guidelines provided by the council."
Mr Acquah pointed out the premiums payable under the NHIS were fixed with different social groupings in mind, adding that people paid according to their economic status.
In one of its educational materials, the NHIA has enumerated the different contributions payable by the various social groupings and states that adults who are unemployed and do not receive any identifiable and constant support from elsewhere for survival are considered "core poor" and are, therefore, offered free services under the scheme.
It adds that adults who are unemployed but receive identifiable and constant financial support from sources of income are considered "very poor" and are made to pay GH¢7.20 per year.
Another group of people who also have to pay GH¢7.20 are adults who are employed but receive low returns for their efforts and are unable to meet their basic needs. They are considered "poor" under the NHIS.
Under the scheme, adults who are employed and are able to meet their basic needs are considered "middle income" earners and have to pay GH¢18 per year as premium.
The rich are "adults who are able to meet their basic needs and some of their wants" and they are expected to pay GH¢48, just as adults who are able to meet their basic needs and most of their wants. This group of people is considered "very rich".
THE National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says the yearly premium to be paid under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) remains between GH¢7.20 and GH¢48, not GH¢150 as is being speculated.
According to the NHIA, there had been no upward adjustment in the premium since the introduction of the scheme in 2004.
This was made known by the Media Relations Manager of the NHIA, Mr Kwasi Acquah, in reaction to reports making the rounds that the yearly premium for the NHIS had increased to about GH¢150.
The media relations manager advised the public to ignore such reports, since insurance premiums were determined by the various mutual schemes, in conjunction with the authority, adding that the authority had not effected any such change.
He explained that although the individual district mutual health insurance schemes (DMHIS) were autonomous in their operations, the law did not allow them to take decisions concerning premiums on their own but that they had to liaise with the authority on such an important issue.
Article 34 (1) of the National Health Insurance Act of 2003, Act (650) states, "A person seeking membership of a district mutual health insurance scheme shall as a prior condition for membership pay the membership contribution determined by the scheme in accordance with guidelines provided by the council."
Mr Acquah pointed out the premiums payable under the NHIS were fixed with different social groupings in mind, adding that people paid according to their economic status.
In one of its educational materials, the NHIA has enumerated the different contributions payable by the various social groupings and states that adults who are unemployed and do not receive any identifiable and constant support from elsewhere for survival are considered "core poor" and are, therefore, offered free services under the scheme.
It adds that adults who are unemployed but receive identifiable and constant financial support from sources of income are considered "very poor" and are made to pay GH¢7.20 per year.
Another group of people who also have to pay GH¢7.20 are adults who are employed but receive low returns for their efforts and are unable to meet their basic needs. They are considered "poor" under the NHIS.
Under the scheme, adults who are employed and are able to meet their basic needs are considered "middle income" earners and have to pay GH¢18 per year as premium.
The rich are "adults who are able to meet their basic needs and some of their wants" and they are expected to pay GH¢48, just as adults who are able to meet their basic needs and most of their wants. This group of people is considered "very rich".
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Parliament must accept blame — Austin Gamey (Front Page)
A consultant who helped to draft the Chinery-Hesse Report on presidential ex gratia and other end-of-service benefits has asked Members of Parliament (MPs) to accept blame for the confusion the package has generated and find ways of resolving it.
Mr Austin Gamey, the consultant, who had previously served as MP for eight years, said it was up to Parliament to have taken into consideration the current economic conditions before giving its approval to the recommendations.
In his view, it would do the legislators and the nation a lot of good if they accepted the fact that due diligence was not done to the process of studying the package before it was approved, instead of pleading alibi and shifting blame.
He said looking at the volume of public outcry that had greeted the announcement, it would be better for the leadership of both the Majority and the Minority sides in Parliament to come up with a joint motion that would enable them to have a second look at the issue.
Mr Gamey, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pulse Institute Africa, said because of his knowledge of labour and related matters, he was invited by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), together with 10 other consultants, in 2006 to work for the committee.
He explained that the Chinery-Hesse Committee started its work between 2004 and 2005, adding that he helped it by supplying the members with some relevant information that included materials from the Greenstreet Committee to be factored into the current report.
The former MP, who served on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said Parliament was a body that could regulate itself and advised that since the House, as well as the Executive, was there to serve the people of Ghana, the two should be prepared to listen to the complaints of the citizenry and act accordingly.
After the final report on emoluments for constitutional office holders from the Chinery-Hesse Committee had been made public, some MPs expressed shock at its content, just like some members of the public, although the MPs were reported to be in the House when the report was adopted on January 6, 2009.
Some of them said although they had taken part in the closed-door sitting that adopted the final report, they had not been made aware that it contained emoluments for ex-presidents.
A report in the Daily Graphic of yesterday indicated that although some MPs had denied knowledge of the adoption of the final report, investigations had revealed that the report had been adopted by the House just before the Fourth Parliament was dissolved on January 6, 2009.
It came out that the report had been adopted during a closed-door session of the day’s sitting, during which many MPs from both sides of the then Parliament were present.
Some of the MPs who were present, however, argued that they had not been aware of that aspect of the report that spelt out the emoluments for ex-President J.A. Kufuor and other future ex-presidents.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr John Akologu Tia, revealed to the Daily Graphic that because the House had been in a hurry for a ceremony to dissolve Parliament and also the fact that MPs had been anxious to know about their ex gratia, when that portion of the report was read to them they hurriedly adopted the report, only to know later that it also contained the emoluments for ex-presidents.
Mr Austin Gamey, the consultant, who had previously served as MP for eight years, said it was up to Parliament to have taken into consideration the current economic conditions before giving its approval to the recommendations.
In his view, it would do the legislators and the nation a lot of good if they accepted the fact that due diligence was not done to the process of studying the package before it was approved, instead of pleading alibi and shifting blame.
He said looking at the volume of public outcry that had greeted the announcement, it would be better for the leadership of both the Majority and the Minority sides in Parliament to come up with a joint motion that would enable them to have a second look at the issue.
Mr Gamey, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pulse Institute Africa, said because of his knowledge of labour and related matters, he was invited by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), together with 10 other consultants, in 2006 to work for the committee.
He explained that the Chinery-Hesse Committee started its work between 2004 and 2005, adding that he helped it by supplying the members with some relevant information that included materials from the Greenstreet Committee to be factored into the current report.
The former MP, who served on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said Parliament was a body that could regulate itself and advised that since the House, as well as the Executive, was there to serve the people of Ghana, the two should be prepared to listen to the complaints of the citizenry and act accordingly.
After the final report on emoluments for constitutional office holders from the Chinery-Hesse Committee had been made public, some MPs expressed shock at its content, just like some members of the public, although the MPs were reported to be in the House when the report was adopted on January 6, 2009.
Some of them said although they had taken part in the closed-door sitting that adopted the final report, they had not been made aware that it contained emoluments for ex-presidents.
A report in the Daily Graphic of yesterday indicated that although some MPs had denied knowledge of the adoption of the final report, investigations had revealed that the report had been adopted by the House just before the Fourth Parliament was dissolved on January 6, 2009.
It came out that the report had been adopted during a closed-door session of the day’s sitting, during which many MPs from both sides of the then Parliament were present.
Some of the MPs who were present, however, argued that they had not been aware of that aspect of the report that spelt out the emoluments for ex-President J.A. Kufuor and other future ex-presidents.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr John Akologu Tia, revealed to the Daily Graphic that because the House had been in a hurry for a ceremony to dissolve Parliament and also the fact that MPs had been anxious to know about their ex gratia, when that portion of the report was read to them they hurriedly adopted the report, only to know later that it also contained the emoluments for ex-presidents.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Govt budget to be ready in February (Spread)
THE first budget under the Mills administration is expected to be ready by February 15, 2009.
The document would then be submitted to Cabinet for approval and subsequently to Parliament for presentation by March.
This was made known by the Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwabena Adjei-Mensah in an interview in Accra.
Mr Adjei-Mensah said preparatory work to get a budget for the year had already begun, adding that the personnel at the ministry were poised to complete the work in accordance with a timetable presented to the ministry by the Sub-committee on Finance within the transitional team.
He said the timetable indicated that Cabinet would be in place by the time the budget would be ready, to enable the group study it before its submission to Parliament.
At a meeting with members of the Parliamentary Press Corp in Accra on Tuesday, the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, gave hint that the Mills administration would present its first budget by March, this year.
During the interview, the Director of Budget said there had been meetings between officials of the ministry and the three-member team appointed by the President, to take temporary responsibility for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to deliberate on the issue.
The team, which has now moved to the ministry from its base at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), is led by the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV. The other members are Mr Moses Asaga, a former Deputy Finance Minister and Dr Kwame Duffour, a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
A visit at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning by the Daily Graphic in Accra on Wednesday indicated that the three-man team was in a meeting with senior public officials at the ministry.
In an interview, the spokesperson for the transitional team, Ms Hannah Tetteh, confirmed that preliminary work on the budget had begun.
She said since much of the preparatory work was usually done by the technocrats at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, members of the sub-committee were expected to make the necessary inputs on behalf of the government at the initial stage.
She, however, stated that a substantive Finance Minister would be appointed in due course to supervise the final work of the budget to make sure that it reflected the policy of the new government.
Government business is currently being run on a financial statement prepared earlier by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to enable the new administration operate smoothly till it comes out with its own.
A former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Osei-Akoto, laid before Parliament the expenditure in advance of appropriation for January to March 2009 and the estimates of revenue and expenditure of the government for the 2009 fiscal year.
The then First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay, referred the paper to the Finance Committee of Parliament for consideration. It was later approved by Parliament.
Meanwhile, the President has directed that until substantive ministers are appointed, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are not to make any payments or enter into any contract for purchases.
That was made known by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Mahama Ayariga, who said at a press briefing in Accra that, “Any emergencies should be refereed to the Office of the President.”
The President said further that all non-statutory payments, including all cheques deposited with the banks but not yet cleared, should be referred to the Office of the President for approval.
The document would then be submitted to Cabinet for approval and subsequently to Parliament for presentation by March.
This was made known by the Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwabena Adjei-Mensah in an interview in Accra.
Mr Adjei-Mensah said preparatory work to get a budget for the year had already begun, adding that the personnel at the ministry were poised to complete the work in accordance with a timetable presented to the ministry by the Sub-committee on Finance within the transitional team.
He said the timetable indicated that Cabinet would be in place by the time the budget would be ready, to enable the group study it before its submission to Parliament.
At a meeting with members of the Parliamentary Press Corp in Accra on Tuesday, the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, gave hint that the Mills administration would present its first budget by March, this year.
During the interview, the Director of Budget said there had been meetings between officials of the ministry and the three-member team appointed by the President, to take temporary responsibility for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to deliberate on the issue.
The team, which has now moved to the ministry from its base at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), is led by the Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV. The other members are Mr Moses Asaga, a former Deputy Finance Minister and Dr Kwame Duffour, a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
A visit at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning by the Daily Graphic in Accra on Wednesday indicated that the three-man team was in a meeting with senior public officials at the ministry.
In an interview, the spokesperson for the transitional team, Ms Hannah Tetteh, confirmed that preliminary work on the budget had begun.
She said since much of the preparatory work was usually done by the technocrats at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, members of the sub-committee were expected to make the necessary inputs on behalf of the government at the initial stage.
She, however, stated that a substantive Finance Minister would be appointed in due course to supervise the final work of the budget to make sure that it reflected the policy of the new government.
Government business is currently being run on a financial statement prepared earlier by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to enable the new administration operate smoothly till it comes out with its own.
A former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Osei-Akoto, laid before Parliament the expenditure in advance of appropriation for January to March 2009 and the estimates of revenue and expenditure of the government for the 2009 fiscal year.
The then First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay, referred the paper to the Finance Committee of Parliament for consideration. It was later approved by Parliament.
Meanwhile, the President has directed that until substantive ministers are appointed, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are not to make any payments or enter into any contract for purchases.
That was made known by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Mahama Ayariga, who said at a press briefing in Accra that, “Any emergencies should be refereed to the Office of the President.”
The President said further that all non-statutory payments, including all cheques deposited with the banks but not yet cleared, should be referred to the Office of the President for approval.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Council of State has no role ... In appointing ministers (Page 3)
UNDER the Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, the Council of State plays no specific role in the nomination and appointment of ministers, contrary to views that there should be a Council of State in place for the President, Professor J.E.A Mills, to consult before appointing his ministers.
Enquiries made at some Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCC) confirmed this and showed that although elections for regional representatives for the Council of State, under President J. A. Kufuor’s administration, took place around June, 2001, appointment of Cabinet Ministers came much earlier.
Beside the 10 regional representatives, certain individuals who are appointed by the President, in consultation with Parliament, to form the Council include a former Chief Justice, a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and a former Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The President of the National House of Chiefs is also mandated by the constitution to belong to the council as well as 11 other members to be appointed by the President.
Article 70 (1) of the constitution which deals with the Council of State indicates that “The President shall, acting in consultation with the Council of State, appoint (a) the Commissioner for Human Rights Administrative Justice and his deputies; (b) the Auditor-General and (c) the District Assembly Common Fund Administrator”.
Other appointments to be made in consultation with the Council of State are the chairman and other members of (i) the Public Services Commission; (ii) the Lands Commission; (iii) the governing bodies of public corporations; (iv) a National Council for Higher Education, howsoever described; and (e) the holders of such other offices as may be prescribed by this constitution or by any other law not inconsistent with this constitution.
In addition, Article 70 (2) indicated that the President shall, acting on the advice of the Council of State, appoint the chairman, the deputy chairmen and other members of the Electoral Commission (EC).
On the appointment of ministers, Article 78 (1) states that “Ministers of State shall be appointed by the President, with the prior approval of Parliament from among members of Parliament or persons qualified to be elected as Members of Parliament, except that the majority of Ministers of State shall be appointed from among members of Parliament”.
Article 89 (2) states that “The President shall appoint such number of Ministers of State as may be necessary for the efficient running of the state”.
Speaking to journalists in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, over the weekend, President Mills gave the assurance that his Cabinet would be ready by the end of this month to ensure the effective running of government business.
He explained that the delay in naming his Cabinet was to ensure that decisions were taken in a careful and orderly manner, and noted that the nation was endowed with quality human resource. He urged critics to give him time to sort out his team.
The statement from President Mills drew criticisms from some members of society who thought the appointments could have been done earlier, since the President announced at his inauguration on January 7, that he “will hit the ground running”.
Although Prof. Mills did not say he needed to consult the Council of State before appointing his ministers, some radio panellists gave that as one of the reasons for the delay.
Enquiries made at some Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCC) confirmed this and showed that although elections for regional representatives for the Council of State, under President J. A. Kufuor’s administration, took place around June, 2001, appointment of Cabinet Ministers came much earlier.
Beside the 10 regional representatives, certain individuals who are appointed by the President, in consultation with Parliament, to form the Council include a former Chief Justice, a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and a former Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The President of the National House of Chiefs is also mandated by the constitution to belong to the council as well as 11 other members to be appointed by the President.
Article 70 (1) of the constitution which deals with the Council of State indicates that “The President shall, acting in consultation with the Council of State, appoint (a) the Commissioner for Human Rights Administrative Justice and his deputies; (b) the Auditor-General and (c) the District Assembly Common Fund Administrator”.
Other appointments to be made in consultation with the Council of State are the chairman and other members of (i) the Public Services Commission; (ii) the Lands Commission; (iii) the governing bodies of public corporations; (iv) a National Council for Higher Education, howsoever described; and (e) the holders of such other offices as may be prescribed by this constitution or by any other law not inconsistent with this constitution.
In addition, Article 70 (2) indicated that the President shall, acting on the advice of the Council of State, appoint the chairman, the deputy chairmen and other members of the Electoral Commission (EC).
On the appointment of ministers, Article 78 (1) states that “Ministers of State shall be appointed by the President, with the prior approval of Parliament from among members of Parliament or persons qualified to be elected as Members of Parliament, except that the majority of Ministers of State shall be appointed from among members of Parliament”.
Article 89 (2) states that “The President shall appoint such number of Ministers of State as may be necessary for the efficient running of the state”.
Speaking to journalists in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, over the weekend, President Mills gave the assurance that his Cabinet would be ready by the end of this month to ensure the effective running of government business.
He explained that the delay in naming his Cabinet was to ensure that decisions were taken in a careful and orderly manner, and noted that the nation was endowed with quality human resource. He urged critics to give him time to sort out his team.
The statement from President Mills drew criticisms from some members of society who thought the appointments could have been done earlier, since the President announced at his inauguration on January 7, that he “will hit the ground running”.
Although Prof. Mills did not say he needed to consult the Council of State before appointing his ministers, some radio panellists gave that as one of the reasons for the delay.
Portuphy takes over at NADMO (Back Page)
THE FORMER National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Kofi Portuphy, has taken over the administration of the organisation with immediate effect.
He took over from the acting Co-ordinator, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Douglas Akrofi-Asiedu.
This follows directives in a letter dated January 9, 2009 and signed by the President’s representative in charge of the Ministry of the Interior, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni.
Mr Portuphy was the co-ordinator of NADMO, until he went on leave in 2001 and has since been out of office.
The move, according to the letter, is part of the transitional arrangement as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) prepares itself to fully take charge of the affairs of the nation.
Enquiries made at the NADMO Head Office by the Daily Graphic yesterday indicated that Mr Akrofi-Asiedu had since packed from his office.
Mr Purtophy was also said to have assumed duty at the organisation, but was not at post at the time of the visit.
Speaking in a radio interview in Accra yesterday, Mr Akrofi-Asiedu said he received his letter on his return from hospital and immediately complied with its contents.
The outgoing acting National Co-ordinator took over from Mr George Isaac Amoo in the heat of the floods that hit the northern part of the country in 2007.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is the constitutionally mandated government agency that co-ordinates the management of disasters and other emergencies.
NADMO, with its headquarters in Accra, has offices in all the 10 regions and 138 districts.
The work of the organisation comprises activities in all the three phases of disaster management cycle, that is before, during and after emergencies.
He took over from the acting Co-ordinator, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Douglas Akrofi-Asiedu.
This follows directives in a letter dated January 9, 2009 and signed by the President’s representative in charge of the Ministry of the Interior, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni.
Mr Portuphy was the co-ordinator of NADMO, until he went on leave in 2001 and has since been out of office.
The move, according to the letter, is part of the transitional arrangement as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) prepares itself to fully take charge of the affairs of the nation.
Enquiries made at the NADMO Head Office by the Daily Graphic yesterday indicated that Mr Akrofi-Asiedu had since packed from his office.
Mr Purtophy was also said to have assumed duty at the organisation, but was not at post at the time of the visit.
Speaking in a radio interview in Accra yesterday, Mr Akrofi-Asiedu said he received his letter on his return from hospital and immediately complied with its contents.
The outgoing acting National Co-ordinator took over from Mr George Isaac Amoo in the heat of the floods that hit the northern part of the country in 2007.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is the constitutionally mandated government agency that co-ordinates the management of disasters and other emergencies.
NADMO, with its headquarters in Accra, has offices in all the 10 regions and 138 districts.
The work of the organisation comprises activities in all the three phases of disaster management cycle, that is before, during and after emergencies.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Separate veterinary services from mainstream agriculture (Back Page)
THE Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) has called for the separation of veterinary services from mainstream agriculture at all levels to enhance an effective veterinary health delivery system.
It explained that the situation where veterinary activities had been reduced and subsumed under general agriculture as is the case at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), was negatively affecting the country’s animal healthcare delivery.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra, the President of the GVMA, Dr K.B. Darkwa, said that veterinary science is a specialised field and should therefore not be forced under other disciplines where the personnel have no knowledge in veterinary practice and could therefore not promote it effectively.
He said to achieve the best for the sector the association had recommended for a Ghana Veterinary Health Service within the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to operate as a separate entity to improve service delivery.
He also said in order to underline the new status of the veterinary service and emphasise its importance within the MoFA, the ministry should be redesignated as the Ministry of Agriculture and Veterinary Services to reflect the two different disciplines which also operate differently.
Dr Darkwa, who is also the Executive Director of the La Veterinary Hospital in Accra, said to get the best of animal health practice in Ghana, there should be a structure where veterinary activities in the districts and the regions would be supervised by veterinary officers at the head office instead of the current situation where agriculturists were made to perform that role.
In a document titled “A Position by the Veterinary Council of Ghana on Public Sector Reforms and Placement of the Veterinary Services”, the association said the once efficient veterinary services of Ghana built and nurtured over decades to attain a showpiece status in West Africa, was currently grossly underperforming.
The document said the association had noted with concern that MoFA in its quest to implement a decentralised and unified extension system in the country had downplayed and sometimes marginalised veterinary activities to the extent that the once vibrant national animal health delivery system had dropped to unacceptable levels.
“The attempt to subsume veterinary activities and veterinary surgeons under the general agriculture (crops) with vets working under the direct supervision and control of agriculturists designated as district and regional directors of agriculture who are even juniors in some cases, is strangulating the proper performance of veterinary functions in the ministry”, adds the document.
It, however, noted that the recommendation for the establishment of veterinary health service was not to have a system which would make the sector operate in isolation but would rather help it have strong linkages through collaboration with other relevant stakeholders for efficient and effective provision of veterinary health care in Ghana.
It explained that the situation where veterinary activities had been reduced and subsumed under general agriculture as is the case at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), was negatively affecting the country’s animal healthcare delivery.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra, the President of the GVMA, Dr K.B. Darkwa, said that veterinary science is a specialised field and should therefore not be forced under other disciplines where the personnel have no knowledge in veterinary practice and could therefore not promote it effectively.
He said to achieve the best for the sector the association had recommended for a Ghana Veterinary Health Service within the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to operate as a separate entity to improve service delivery.
He also said in order to underline the new status of the veterinary service and emphasise its importance within the MoFA, the ministry should be redesignated as the Ministry of Agriculture and Veterinary Services to reflect the two different disciplines which also operate differently.
Dr Darkwa, who is also the Executive Director of the La Veterinary Hospital in Accra, said to get the best of animal health practice in Ghana, there should be a structure where veterinary activities in the districts and the regions would be supervised by veterinary officers at the head office instead of the current situation where agriculturists were made to perform that role.
In a document titled “A Position by the Veterinary Council of Ghana on Public Sector Reforms and Placement of the Veterinary Services”, the association said the once efficient veterinary services of Ghana built and nurtured over decades to attain a showpiece status in West Africa, was currently grossly underperforming.
The document said the association had noted with concern that MoFA in its quest to implement a decentralised and unified extension system in the country had downplayed and sometimes marginalised veterinary activities to the extent that the once vibrant national animal health delivery system had dropped to unacceptable levels.
“The attempt to subsume veterinary activities and veterinary surgeons under the general agriculture (crops) with vets working under the direct supervision and control of agriculturists designated as district and regional directors of agriculture who are even juniors in some cases, is strangulating the proper performance of veterinary functions in the ministry”, adds the document.
It, however, noted that the recommendation for the establishment of veterinary health service was not to have a system which would make the sector operate in isolation but would rather help it have strong linkages through collaboration with other relevant stakeholders for efficient and effective provision of veterinary health care in Ghana.
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