SIAKON MEDIA

Wa, May 7, GNA - Mr. Mahmud Khalid, Upper West Regional Minister, has charged the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to embark on educational programmes, that should be geared towards eliminating bribery and corruption from all sectors of public life.

He said the rejection of these vices by citizens for the adoption and practice of virtues like honesty, probity and accountability would help accelerate peace and development in the country.

"If the NCCE functions effectively, good governance which is one of His Excellency the President's aspirations will be realized in the country", he added.

Mr. Khalid said this in an address read on his behalf to launch the tenth constitutional week celebration in the region, which was organized by the regional directorate of the Commission at Wa on Thursday.

The celebration had the national theme; "Enhancing constitutionalism through citizens participation for good governance"

The Regional Minister recalled the days when the erstwhile Centre for Civic Education under the chairmanship of the late Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia had "Don't give gifts they bribe, don't accept bribes they corrupt" as its cardinal slogan and asked the NCCE to replicate that in its work.

He urged staff of the Commission to continue to remain as politically neutral as possible in order to discharge their constitutionally mandated duty to ensure that every citizen of the country knew and appreciated his or her rights and responsibilities.

Mr. Ben Banye, Upper West Regional Director of the Commission, remarked that the constitution should not be seen as a "mystery Book" that should be the preserve of only Lawyers, but a document that belonged to every Ghanaian.

He said the Commission intended to deepen citizens' participation in governance this year and underscore the rule of Law in the society.

Ghanaians must realize the fact that it was only through effective participation in decision making at all levels of governance that they could uphold and defend the constitution for democracy and good governance, he pointed out.

Naa Walamani Danyagri, a Traditional Ruler in the Wechiau Traditional area of the Wa West District who presided at the function, noted that polarization of the society along partisan dimensions was posing as major threat to the beauty of multi-party democracy in the country.

GNA

Cape Coast, July 9, GNA - The Central Region Centenary Committee Chairman of the Audit Service, Mr. Kwesi Ahenkorah, said on Friday that the country would have seen high levels of corruption and mismanagement of public funds in the absence of the Service.

He said the Audit Service had carved a good image for itself and won public confidence through its activities over the years.

Mr. Ahenkorah was speaking to the media after its staff had undergone a three-hour health walk dubbed "Accountability walk" as part of activities to mark its centenary celebration in the region.

He said it was the responsibility of the service to ensure that the government uses the tax payers' money as well as donor funds for the intended purposes and that their ultimate objective was to uphold accountability and help promote good governance.

Mr Ahenkorah said the Service would continue to express its independent opinions on the proper management of public funds to help facilitate nation building and gave the assurance that it would not disappoint the public.

He expressed regret about the recent low performance of staff in the districts and attributed it to inadequate logistics like vehicles, fax machines and other office equipment to enhance the smooth execution of their activities.

The Cape Coast District Auditor, Mr. Habil Bin Ishaq, mentioned insufficient staffing as one of the challenges of the Service and stressed that despite that challenge the few workers are doing well to check all the loopholes in the system.

Mr Ishaq said the Ghana Audit Service had competent staff who had gained international recognition and therefore are often called for international auditing and was of the hope that the Service will soon emerge the best in Africa.

GNA

Accra, May 27, GNA - The Domestic Trade Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Public Procurement Authority would roll out education and training programmes, to equip the private sector on issues and processes of procurement.

The programme would enable the sector to make significant inroads into government procurement processes to win bids and contracts and in addition, secure higher international procurement opportunities.

Ms Hannah Tetteh, the sector Minister made this known at the opening session of a two-day business seminar organised by the Ministry and United Nations Procurement Division for Ghanaian Vendors in Accra.

The seminar is to equip and empower the sector, to actively participate in UN Procurement activities, through a briefing on the values, processes and business opportunities available.

Ms Tetteh assured the participants that UN had diversified its vendor database and is now seeking to attract vendors from countries and regions previously under-represented.

In addition, the registration criteria for vendors has been reviewed and now the players to select the level of business activity they wish to participate in, the best options which best matches their capacities, business scope and commercial strategies.

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In this connection, qualified vendors would be registered on-line at the end of the seminar," she added.

Ms Tetteh said: "The UN is actively increasing its source of supply of goods and services from vendors in countries categorised as developing or economies in transition."

The UN Global Market place provides a one-stop portal for applications to become a registered vendor with 21 different agencies, funds and programmes and secretariats that represent 95 per cent of the procurement expenditure of UN procurement system.    

She urged the participants to take advantage of the opportunity to register and be part of the UN database to promote development.

Mr Eric Appiah, Director, Benchmarking, Monitoring and Evaluation of Public Procurement Agency said the influence of good procurement on effectiveness of public spending could be seen on its impact on development of the private sector.

He said the development of acceptable business practices would depend on the way government managed its commercial relations with the business community.

GNA