THE THOUGHTS ROOM

The concept of the theory of separation of powers is to check the growth of absolute power in the hands of an individual or a group of individuals. History has shown that with absolute power concentrated in the hands of a few, there is a tendency of the few to use the power against the rights and liberties of individuals. The concept is therefore meant to achieve effective control of the governmental machinery by those who govern. John Locke in his book “The Second Treatise on Civil Government” stated that, “the three arms of government must not get into one hand for it may be too great a danger for the same persons to have the power of making laws and executing them at the same time. Whereby they may exempt themselves from obedience of the law they make and suit the law both in its making and execution in their own interest.” Wade and Phillips sort out the issue of separation of powers by saying that the same persons should not form part of more than one arm of government. They made i...

Ghanaian and Japanese scientists have struck a deal to conduct medical research into emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, such as the H1N1 (swine flu), Avian Influenza and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The research collaboration is to allow the scientists to find out the causes of the infectious diseases and strategise how to prevent their spread and ensure their effective treatment. They would also provide scientific data for the promotion of regional public health and build the capacity of young researchers. This follows the launch of a research collaboration between the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana and the Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) and the Research Institute for Tuberculosis of Tokyo, in Accra last Wednesday. The research collaboration is being funded by the Japanese Government. The President of TMDU, Prof. Takashi Ohyama, said the collaboration would not only promote research but would also ...

Story: Jasmine Arku THE first batch of prison inmates in the Nsawam and Kumasi Central prisons will sit for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2011. The inmates will write the examination in Business and General Arts, comprising English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Geography, Economics, Business Management, Accounting and Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling Programme (CENDLOS), in partnership with the Ghana Prisons Service, is providing the opportunity for formal education for inmates in the country’s prisons. This was made known at a durbar with prison officers in Accra to discuss issues facing the service and how they can be tackled. The acting Director of the Prisons Service, DGP Michael Kofi Bansah, said the first batch of 12 inmates from the Nsawam Prison sat for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and passed with aggregates...

Story: Jasmine Arku My Child Your Child Foundation, an NGO that seeks for the welfare of women and children, in partnership with the Osu Wolaiste, Nii Odartey Akuma IV have launched an educational fund for the people of Osu Alata with a seed money of GHC 4000. The fund which is established at the Agriculture Development Bank (ADB) would be used to support parents to educate their children. At the launch, books and life jackets valued GHC 1000 and GHC 2000 respectively were also donated to ten nursery schools and fishermen within the Osu Alata community respectively . The purpose of the donation was to encourage the parents in the community to send their wards to school. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the director of My Child Your Child Foundation, Mr Samuel Yeboah Ocquaye said, the Osu Alata community comprised mostly of fishermen. He said due to this, most of the children in the community were engaged in fishing or found loitering about during school hours. He said these activities...

Story: Jasmine Arku The Minister of Trade and Industry, Miss Hannah Tetteh has unlocked a door to symbolise the opening of every door that had been shut and was preventing the nation from achieving its better Ghana agenda. She did this symbolic representation at the national end of year thanksgiving service organised by Aglow International Ghana. Miss Hannah Tetteh said “there was a lot of reason to be thankful to God for the rich soil that has provided us with a variety of food crops and natural resources that help to boost the economy”. She recounted the contributions of women in the Bible that led to great success, adding that women had important roles to play in the country and thanked the Aglow International Ghana for their contributions in the form of prayer. The minister prayed for God’s blessings in the coming year, adding that the oil find would be a blessing in abundance to improve the life of every individual in the country. A Justice of the High Court, Justice Mrs Gifty ...

Story by: Jasmine Arku The former President of Namibia, President Dr Sam Nujoma has donated US$5000 to the Princess Marie Louise Hospital to aid the completion of a 3 storey block on the hospitals premises. President Nujoma made the donation on behalf of Air Namibia as part of its first anniversary since it started operations in Ghana. The block which was started in May 2009 is hoped to be completed by January 2011. After completion, the block would consist of two surgical theatres, an intensive care unit and an emergency ward. Mr Desmond Amunyela, who was part of the entourage accompanying the former president also made a benevolent donation of US$500 to the hospital. Rev. Father Campbell who received the donation on behalf of the hospital called on institutions, banks, non-governmental organisations and generous benefactors to aid with the completion and furnishing of the block, adding that US$400,000 was needed to equip the various units. He added that, so far GH¢200,000 had been...

Story by: Jasmine Arku The Minister of Information, Mr John Akologo Tia has disclosed that the Ministry of Finance had been mandated to prioritise the budget allocations of under resourced areas of the Ministry of Information. He said he was disappointed at the state of nature of the Cinema Section and the National Audio-visual Centre of the Information Services Department (ISD) which made up part of his ministry. He said he was disappointed because the two departments of the ISD which were huge potentials for revenue generation in the country had been neglected, adding that the Ministry served as the image of the government thus if it could not maintain its self, it could not carry out its mission of communicating government development policies and programmes to the people. . The Minister disclosed this when he made a familiarisation tour to the two departments of the ministry to acquaint himself with the activities of both departments. The Technical Officer at the Audio-visual Ce...