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Police Grab 29 Legon Molesters for Questioning

Twenty nine students of the University of Ghana, Legon have been handed over to assist in the investigations into the molestation of Amina Haruna, 25, who is suspected to have stolen a laptop and mobile phones from the Mensah Sarbah Hall of the university.

The students, who are all residents of the Annex B (Okponglo) of the Mensah Sarbah Hall of the university, were identified by the university authorities on a video tape. The names of the students are being with-held by the police for security reasons.

The students were first handed over to the Legon Police, who in turn conveyed them to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Service for the identification parade which was underway at the time of filing this report.

The victim will have to identify his alleged attackers to enable the police to proceed with their investigations into the incident.

The handover of the students was in fulfillment of an agreement which was reached between the police and the university authorities. Soon after the alleged molestation, the university authorities set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the incident. It recently presented its findings to the Dean of Students and the Vice Chancellor of the university.

The committee, according to a statement issued by the Registrar of the university Mr. J. S Budu, identified a number of students, who were present during the molestation, as seen on the video clips produced, as well as credible eyewitnesses account.

It said based on the recommendations of the committee, students identified were given hearings by the disciplinary committee, as per a writ of summons. A number of students were said to have caught the suspect with mobile phones and a laptop at the hall of the University at about 1 am on that fateful day, Thursday, March 30, stripped her naked and inserted their fingers into her private parts.

She was however rescued by security officers of the university who took her to the Legon Police station at about 3 a.m

Unknown to the students, the act had been filmed by an unidentified person who later released the footage onto the internet. The occurrence, which the authorities said had dented the image of the university, was widely condemned by human right groups, with women’s right activists calling on the security agencies to expedite action on the matter

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Substantial Progress Against Malaria in Africa

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Robert B. Zoellick

We have encouraging news out of Africa this week of World Malaria Day, as we take stock of the illness and death caused by this longtime scourge.

Eleven countries in Africa had slashed the number of confirmed malaria cases, malaria-related hospital admissions or deaths by more than 50 percent by the end of 2009. When 2010 data becomes available we expect it to show that even more countries have shown similar progress. In a region that has borne a heavy malarial burden of death and debilitating illness, part of the good news stems from the fact that approximately three-quarters of the people at risk of contracting malaria were using insecticide-treated mosquito nets by the end of 2010. With a decisive push, the goal of protecting Africa’s population with bed-nets and effectively preventing the fevers and crushing headaches that are the dreaded symptoms of malaria appears within Africa’s reach.

Even as we mark what may be a turning point, we know that malaria is an ancient foe we can never underestimate. Although global deaths from malaria have fallen from nearly a million a year in 2000, the disease continues to exact a great toll, killing 781,000 people across the world in 2009. More than 90 percent of these deaths occurred in Africa, where the disease accounted for about one in six child deaths.

The collective success is substantial, but is also fragile and must be sustained. The consequences of losing the focus on malaria would be deadly. Mosquito bed-nets last about three years and a failure to replace the over 300 million nets blanketing Africa over the coming three years could lead to resurgent malaria illness and deaths. Just this past year, Zambia faced a resurgence of malaria in a few provinces when mosquito nets were not replaced in time. Deaths and illness increased within months. Rapid action to address this increase has since been taken by the Zambian government, together with the World Bank, UN Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Stanbic Bank, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), and the UN Special Envoy’s Office. While funding is important, it is really the partnerships that have been built with citizens, governments, and healthcare providers as well as the increasing reliance on and use of science, technology and the body of global knowledge on what works that can accelerate progress in this area.

For instance, beyond the wide distribution of mosquito nets, ending malaria deaths will require making sure that effective diagnosis and timely treatment become available to every patient. Health authorities need to keep better track of where malaria still exists and which drugs produce the best health outcomes. We want funding to be effective, not simply throwing money at the problem.

In the wake of the financial crisis, we face difficult choices with limited resources. In Liberia, the priority is to end deaths from malaria above many other pressing needs, for both health and economic reasons. As a result, Liberia is on track to protect its entire population by year’s end. Liberia is not alone. Thirty-nine African countries have united against the disease under ALMA, chaired by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. We have determined that the only way we can overcome the disease is through working together. No country is an island when it comes to malaria; mosquitoes do not respect borders.

In mobilizing the money, the bed nets, and the treatment, and in strengthening supply chains for lifesaving medicines, our bedrock guiding principle must be stronger accountability. ALMA’s flagship accountability initiative is a simple tool, commonly employed in the private sector: a scorecard. Currently under development with our partners in the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, the scorecard will track progress, identify what is working, what is not, and highlight where intervention is required. We will further expand the use of new technology platforms, such as SMS and Twitter, to reach hundreds of millions of people to create positive pressure at all levels, and to encourage demand for transparency, accountability and results by citizens.

Africa’s partners, including the World Bank, are committed to ending deaths from malaria. Last year the Bank pledged US$200 million to anti-malaria efforts in Africa, largely to provide bed-nets to families in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Zambia. This helped to close emergency gaps. Consistent with the priorities of African countries, we expect new financing mobilized from the latest replenishment of the International Development Association, the Bank’s fund for the poorest countries, to be committed to the fight against malaria, including through our work on helping African countries build stronger health systems.

So, as we take inspiration this World Malaria Day from African countries that now have malaria in retreat, we also need to recommit to finish the job. Allowing hard-won gains to be reversed cannot be an option.

Robert B. Zoellick is President of the World Bank Group;

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is President of Liberia, and the incoming Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), which comprises African Heads of State and Government working to end malaria-related deaths in Africa.

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The Good Fight Against Malaria

by Tony Blair and Ray Chambers

LONDON: The tsunami in Japan, the earthquake in Haiti, and Hurricane Katrina are among the world’s most notorious recent natural disasters. Their fierce devastation claimed thousands of lives, destroyed vital infrastructure, and crippled economies. The communities affected could not be more different from one another, and yet the similarities in the responses are striking. The worldwide outpouring of support demonstrated what humanity is capable of at its best.

While international support in a time of crisis demonstrates a seemingly innate moral response to the suffering of others, it also highlights with disquieting clarity that the same level of empathy is more difficult to evoke when a crisis is chronic instead of sudden, unexpected, and dramatic.

One of the most devastating global health challenges on the planet is malaria, which claims more than 800,000 lives annually, primarily among young African children. According to the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, 2,000 children die of the disease each day. Yet, unlike the aftermath of a natural disaster, there are no photographs to capture the scope of this tragedy. The loss of life is every bit as devastating, but without the onslaught of grisly images, it is much easier to become indifferent to malaria’s victims.

Malaria deaths represent nothing less than a moral issue. This is why the United Nations, World Bank, Global Fund, Tony Blair Faith Foundation, African heads of state, and many other governments, organizations, and individuals have felt compelled to act.

In 2008, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared the goal of ensuring universal access to malaria-control interventions by the end of 2010 for all those at risk of the disease, with the ultimate goal of reaching near-zero malaria deaths by 2015.

Since those goals were set, major progress has been made. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been saved, and the international community now is redoubling its efforts to reach the 2015 milestone. Three years ago, when more than $3 billion in new money was committed to the malaria effort, mosquito nets and indoor spraying protected less than 20 percent of Africa’s at-risk population. Today, the proportion is more than 90 percent.

These gains occurred only because of the commitment of leaders, agencies, and individuals who realized that lessening the malaria burden is not only an opportunity, but also a responsibility.

No organization better embodies the moral imperative of ending malaria deaths than the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). Formed during the UN General Assembly in September 2009 under the leadership of President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, and supported by the African Union, the group has added government advocacy and accountability to the combined efforts being made to halt and reverse the spread of malaria on the continent.

Recognizing that the death of a child from a mosquito bite is unacceptable in the twenty-first century, ALMA leaders understand that the most effective way to ensure that recent gains are sustained is to assume leadership and ownership of the challenge. They are taking concrete actions, such as ensuring that essential malaria-control interventions are exempted from taxes and tariffs that add unnecessary costs to life-saving items, and that supplies are purchased in bulk to reduce costs.

Most powerful of all, perhaps, is an innovative “scorecard,” which is being prepared to track progress in the struggle to end malaria deaths, and to “flag” problems that arise before they reach a critical stage. The scorecard will be open and accessible to all.

While African political leaders have ultimate responsibility for protecting their citizens, faith communities share deeply in this commitment. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation is conducting a global campaign, Faiths Act, which calls for greater engagement by faith communities in preventing malaria deaths. Supporters of every religion in 106 countries have answered the call.

Though accurate statistics are hard to come by, the World Health Organization estimates that faith communities provide, on average, 40% of total health-care services in sub-Saharan Africa.

What faith communities have working in their favor are networks, infrastructure, and influential leaders to deliver health messages. In many instances, they can reach deep into inaccessible rural areas to deliver services. When well resourced, faith leaders can adopt holistic approaches to major killer diseases and use their networks effectively for immunization and combating pandemics.

In Nigeria, which accounts for one-quarter of the continent’s malaria deaths, the Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association has been particularly effective in training religious leaders for health messaging against malaria and in the correct use of bed nets. This initiative has received the backing of the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, the country’s leading Muslim, and the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Oneiyekan. There is a full-time, centrally organized office and team to co-ordinate this program. If it succeeds, the impact will be dramatic – and not just in Nigeria.

For example, Sierra Leone, with its small population, excellent Muslim-Christian relations, and uphill struggle to improve its health-care system after the depredations of civil war, has a longstanding relationship with the United Kingdom. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation has been in consultation with the country’s religious leaders and inter-faith association to develop a national program with the Ministry of Health that would promote the government’s key public-health messages, participate in education for bed-net use, and use available health assets and faith community networks.

Now is no time for indifference. Much significant progress has already been made; now we must consolidate our gains. As foreign aid stands to suffer from cutbacks around the world, we must remember that malaria is a “natural disaster” that is devastating communities every second of every day. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes can never be stopped. Malaria can be.

Tony Blair is founder of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which works to mobilize faith communities to fight malaria. Ray Chambers is the United Nations special envoy for malaria. This commentary is published by DAILY NEWS EGYPT in collaboration with Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2011
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The Menace of Child Street Begging in Northern Nigeria

The geographical region referred to as northern Nigeria covers more than half of the total land area of Nigeria. It is also a region with vast agricultural potentials as a variety of tropical agricultural systems is widely practiced there leading to the mass cultivation of food and cash crops. As a matter of fact, the popular and defunct groundnut pyramid was one of the regular features and symbols of this region during the heydays of agriculture in Nigeria.

This is also a region where a lot of mineral resources such as limestone, bauxite, kaolin, phosphate, tin and columbite are found in substantial commercial quantities.

However a puzzling feature of this region is the menace of child street begging which is pervasive especially in the core northern areas or states of Nigeria. [ie spatial units of administration] Such areas include Kano, Bauchi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Borno, Katsina, Gombe, Yobe and parts of Nassarawa, Niger and Kaduna.

That a region which is so much endowed potentially and actually is riddled with this social malaise is confounding. These child street beggars mostly between the ages of [3-17] years are a regular feature of most of these areas mentioned. They regularly move about in groups of 5-20 with plates or bowls in hand soliciting for stipends, food, or anything edible from people or passers by. Some commentators have argued that this societal ill has a cultural/religious dimension to it, while others argue that it has more of the political dimension to it. As those who believe in this particular mantra have argued that the present volatile nature and persistent violence in northern Nigeria can be traced to the activities of these child street beggars.

Whichever school of thought one belongs to, it is pertinent to draw the attention of political, traditional/cultural and religious leaders in Northern Nigeria to this untoward social behavior, on the need to put a stop to this practice. It is unfathomable that in this age and time when kids who should be in school or doing something positive with their lives are left to roam about the streets, all in the name of whatever social/cultural/religious or political nuances. As the future of any society can only be guaranteed if it takes adequate care of its youthful population or future generations.

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UN Cites Urgent Need to Boost Humanitarian Aid in Aftermath of Ivorian Crisis

27 April 2011 –The post-electoral crisis in Côte d’Ivoire may have ended but thousands of civilians are still suffering from the consequences of the four months of turmoil that engulfed the West African nation and require increased humanitarian assistance, the United Nations said today.

UN aid officials have estimated that up to 1 million Ivorians have been displaced by the violence, with some internally displaced and others forced to flee into neighbouring countries – particularly Liberia, which is hosting 135,000 Ivorians.

The crisis ended earlier this month when Laurent Gbagbo finally surrendered, ending months of violence that erupted in the wake of his refusal to step down after he lost the UN-certified presidential run-off election last November to Alassane Ouattara.

While the fighting has ended, UN relief officials say ongoing insecurity in some places, as well as difficulties in accessing essential health, education and sanitation services, is increasing the vulnerability of the population.

“A greater proportion of the population has been directly or indirectly affected by the crisis which started late last year. These populations should be assisted without further delay to enable them to live in acceptable conditions and regain their dignity,” said the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Côte d’Ivoire, Ndolamb Ngokwey.

The UN has already deployed an evaluation team, known as UNDAC, to Abidjan and the country’s west, both of which bore the brunt of the recent violence. In the west, the team confirmed persistent needs in the areas of shelter, food security, health care, water and sanitation, access to education and protection.

The priority needs in the area include the distribution of tarpaulins, kitchen utensils, mats and other non-food items, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In addition, the presence of arms and the risk of sexual abuse require urgent attention.

In the area of health, OCHA noted that despite the looting of health centres, pharmacies and maternities, medical personnel have started to resume work. It also cited the need to accelerate vaccination programmes for children, as well as rehabilitate water pumps and promote basic hygiene practices.

In the commercial capital of Abidjan, assessment teams have highlighted the need to assist the Government in the areas of civilian protection, health, education and public hygiene, including lightening the burden put on overstretched referral hospitals due to an absence of operational dispensaries and community health facilities.

“With the impending rainy season, clearing of drainage and cleaning of conduits, markets and other public places would be necessary to prevents epidemics of diseases such as cholera,” stated Laurent Dufour, UNDAC’s Team Leader in Côte d’Ivoire.

Earlier this month, UN agencies and their partners launched an appeal for $160 million to provide food security, nutrition, education, protection, water, health care and sanitation to as many as 2 million people throughout Côte d’Ivoire. To date, the appeal is 20 per cent funded, according to OCHA.

UN News Center

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Imperatives for the Survival of Democracy in Africa

The nearly universal acceptance of democracy as a perfect organizing principle of government among nation states across the world has led to the embrace of this concept both in theory and practice by all and sundry.

History has it that democracy originated in ancient Greece and since then, it has undergone several modifications, from “direct” democracy, where the people directly involved with governance to “indirect” democracy where people elect those to govern on their behalf. The centrality and importance which democracy places on the ordinary people, as reflected in the freedom of the people to freely choose those to govern them either through direct voting or indirect voting  has further led to the popularity of democracy particularly since the end of the cold war which led to the balkanization of the former soviet union.

Much as democracy has continued to triumph in different parts of the globe, the history of democracy in the African continent right from the 1960’s when most African nations gained independence till this present moment leaves much to be desired. It may be an understatement to say that democracy in Africa has witnessed much travail. Except for a few exceptional cases, the story in most parts of Africa has been similar. Is it the Zimbabwean experience, or the Ivorian case, or the recent post election violence in Nigeria, the Libyan debacle, the Somalian state of anomie, the Ugandan saga and so on. The list seem quit endless.

The question to be asked is why does democracy flourish in other parts of the world but doesn’t in Africa? A cursory look at the places where democracy is fully operational in the real sense of the word particularly in Europe, America and parts of Asia reveals that the critical “middle class” [ie a class of people with adequate education, and sufficient economic power] exists. In most of these places, it is the middle class that sets the tone for political activities as they are fully aware of their rights, obligations, problems and limitations. They are also fully aware and conscious of ways in which these micro problems [personal] and macro [national] problems could be solved. Hence this critical mass of people provides an essential bulwark between the minority upper class people and majority lower class people.

It is this essential economic group of middle class citizens that have been wiped out of most countries in Africa where democracy has been transmogrified or stifled. If democracy in its true form is to thrive in Africa, it is essential that the middle class is brought back. It is also noteworthy to point out that the extinction of the middle class in most parts of Africa has been a deliberate effort by most leaders in Africa who got to power through the democratic process, and thereafter proceeded to destroy the foundations of the democratic lever through which they came to power in order to tighten their grip on power.

A second imperative for the survival of democracy in Africa is for African scholars and political theorists to begin to develop indigenous political thoughts and theories that will seek to integrate traditional African leadership systems and norms with popular democratic culture. As we cannot continue to deny that democracy still remains essentially a Western concept and not an indigenous system. This has been successfully done in most parts of Asia; hence it is not surprising that some countries in that part of the world continue to bask in the euphoria as the “largest democracies in the world”.

In conclusion, for democracy to survive in Africa, there must be a concerted effort on the part of its intelligentsia, political elites, intellectuals, traditional institutions and masses to work selflessly together in order to enthrone an enduring democratic culture upon which democracy can grow.

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Stop Belittling and Denigrating the Ability and Competency of African Women!

In the Holy Bible, it is stated that God created man before a woman. Many people do not understand why God took this action but I believe He might have used man as a rough draft before coming out with the final masterpiece, in this case the woman. This clearly shows how unique and precious women are. A woman is the epitome of tenderness, care and wisdom. Women’s contribution to nation building cannot be over-emphasized. This could be seen in all sectors of the African economy – agriculture, health, education, public service, trade, among others. Although, women constitute over fifty percent (50%) of the world’s active population, the number of women in politics leaves much to be desired. Besides, women continue to face discrimination, abuses and prejudice. This unfortunate situation therefore calls for more pragmatic policies geared towards gender equality in all spheres of life so that the livelihood of the African woman could be improved. In his Inaugural Address in June 2000, at the UN Session in Beijing, our own Kofi Annan who was the then UN Secretary General remarked; “the future of this planet depends on women”. The implication is that without women, development and the survival of the human race will remain elusive.

The onus therefore lies on the various political parties in Africa and more especially, Ghana to ensure that the welfare and empowerment of the Ghanaian woman feature prominently in their plans, policies and programmes. But what is the current situation in Africa now? Apart from the president of Liberia, Her Excellency, Ellis Johnson, men have dominated the topmost political positions in Africa. The situation in Ghana under Mills-Mahama administration, as far as the record, policies, programmes and attitude of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) towards women is very pathetic. The NDC claims to be a democratic party and thus believes in the tenets of democracy yet the response of the party’s functionaries to the recent resignation of Mrs. Rawlings and her intention to contest the sitting President for the party’s flag-bearership slot cuts a slur on the party’s credibility. But why should this happen to a woman of Nana Konadu’s calibre? Is Konadu’s case not a clear manifestation of the ruling P/NDC’s negative attitude towards the generality of Ghanaian women? Is it because Mrs. Rawlings lacks the qualities of a good leader? Is it because Konadu, together with her husband, illegally acquired state assets? Is it because she was once said she regretted being born an Asante? Is it because she wants to give more identification hair cuts to men who date her daughters? Is it because she wants to act as a conduit for her husband, J.J. Rawlings to rule the Ghana once again and cause more mayhem? Is it because Nana Konadu wants to buy more Jacuzzis or is it because she has unfinished business of making the rich and the poor equal? Ghanaians would like to know from Nana Konadu’s detractors.

Still in Ghana, one can look at the horrible and despicable treatment of women during the Rawlings’ AFRC/PNDC era with deep emotions. Whilst many married and unmarried women were stripped naked and given lashes, others were raped, some had their businesses and assets confiscated and an uncountable number of them killed. The abduction and killing of Mrs. Cecelia Koranteng-Addo who was nursing a baby is still fresh in the minds of her fellow women. Again, between 1997 and 2000 under the Rawlings-Mills administration, over 34 innocent women were mysteriously murdered and no pragmatic action was taken to arrest the perpetrators of these callous murders. How could the NDC therefore convince Ghanaians that it is a party that has the requisite capacity to ensure the safety and protection of women? The mere introduction of the Cash and Carry System – a killer health policy as well as the pulling down of the Makola Market in Accra shows the uncaring nature of the NDC towards women’s issues.

In fact, our hard working women do not need a rocket scientist to show them how their socio-economic and political situations have deteriorated over the last two years.  The President of the Republic of Ghana, Prof. John Mills promised to give 40% ministerial appointments to women but ended up with only 11%. Asked why 11% and not the 40% promised, Mills had this to say; “Ghanaian women are not interested in politics”. Since John Mills undeservedly became the leader of Ghana, not a single policy or programme has been designed to empower our Ghanaian women politically, socially and economically and this is evident in the introduction of new taxes, high interest rates which discourage potential borrowers as well as the abnormal increase in utility tariffs.

In addition, some of the Ministers under his mediocre government have been so rude to our women to the extent that they brand female politicians as prostitutes. I hope John Jinapor – the vice president’s Spokesperson and Hannah Bissiw – the Cuban trained specialist in the welfare of ants, cockroaches, dogs, snakes, mosquitoes and other animals are listening. Surprisingly, Akua Sena Dansua whose home region houses the 3,500 Trokosi slaves could not even use her position as Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs to free these innocent women and girls from this bondage. In the end Akua Dansua whose primary up to tertiary education was funded by the tax payer, had the gut to advise some female students not to prolong their education all because it poses a threat to their marriage. Today, all the executive members of the NDC, together with government appointees have been attacking the former first lady with disrespect. Her crime? Her readiness and willingness to contest against a lame-duck President. For instance, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NDC, Julius Debrah describes Mrs. Rawlings’ action as rubbish and that NDC members and sympathizers are not “Zombis”. The Communications Minister, Haruna Iddrisu argues that Ghanaians are not ready for a female president yet he fails to tell us when the time will be due. Is it not a case of the Minister belittling and denigrating the ability and competency of Ghanaian women? Kwesi Pratt, a die-hard unofficial member of the NDC says he would use all the necessary means to prevent Nana Konadu from becoming a president in Ghana. The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia believes the NDC party is not like a one-man church. So my mothers, nieces and sisters; is the National Democratic Congress not an anti-women?

It is in the light of the above that I urge all African leaders to follow the pragmatic steps taken by the former president of Ghana, His Excellency, J.A. Kufuor in addressing women’s issues. Under his New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) administration between 2001 and 2008, a new ministry known as the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs was created and it was raised to Cabinet status to ensure that all official policy gave consideration to women’s interest. In effect, not only did domestic violence and child trafficking decrease, but also gender equality was enhanced in Ghana. The fear and panic that gripped Ghana prior to the 2000 general elections under Rawlings and his puppet, John Mills, where thirty four (34) women were serially killed, vanished into thin air in 2001 after the arrest of one Charles Quansah who confessed to have killed 8 out of the 34 murdered women. President Kufour appointed 25% of women into his administration and Ms Elizabeth Ohene, one of the influential women in Ghana’s contemporary politics emerged as the first appointee of Kufuor. Again, a Free Maternal Care policy which enabled pregnant women to have access to free medical care was in fruition, there was the introduction of National Health Insurance Scheme as well as the capitation grant which reduced the financial burden of parents on their children’s education.

Having realised that majority of women were more dominant in the Private Sector, especially petty trading, the NPP government set up the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), where micro credit was extended to women who engaged in economic activities with the view to reducing poverty levels and vulnerability. The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) policy which enabled the aged and vulnerable to access between GHS 8.00 and GHS 15.00 was very commendable. Besides, the party strategically put in place measures to ensure that more females represented their constituents in the 2008 parliamentary elections. Consequently fifteen (15) female Members of Parliament in Ghana won parliamentary elections on NPP tickets as against four (4) by the ruling NDC and one (1) from the CPP respectively.

In winding up, I would add that if it is generally accepted that the successful development of any nation basically depends on the expansion of individual human opportunities; and the involvement of the masses in the development process including women who form majority of Africa’s population, then efforts must be made to eliminate all cultural, religious, legal and economic constraints that hinder the full participation of women in self and national development in order to maximize their productivity and that of the nation. In this endeavour, I appeal to all women to join hands with the political party that has proven by words and deeds that it has the welfare of women at heart. Besides, the women themselves who are the ‘victims’ of injustices must become ‘activists’. They should not be passive, silent, submissive and adapted until the necessary changes are made. On this note, I exhort Obaapa Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings to be resolute in her quest to become the flag-bearer of the NDC in the upcoming congress. The voice of Friends of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (FONKAR) is the voice of the NDC, so Nana Konadu go, go, go high. Who knows you could become the next Yaa Asantewaa of Ashanti and Ghana? I can’t wait to see NANA of NDC versus NANA of NPP in Election 2012. It will be “All die be die”.

God bless Ghana! African women!!  God bless Kufuor!!!

Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, Hull. UK

katakyienpp@yahoo.co.uk 07944309859

“Vision, coupled with persistency, results in true success”

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Africa: 2011 Closes UN’s Roll Back Malaria Decade

Angolan Press

Luanda — The commemoration of the World Malaria Day this year marks the end of the UN’s roll back malaria decade and offers an opportunity for renewed commitment on the pandemic.

This was said Sunday by the World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director for Africa, Luis Gomes Sambo.

According to him, this affords us an opportunity to renew our common vision and commitment as we look forward and aim at attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

Malaria, by its complexity involving health as well as environmental and socioeconomic determinants and consequences, relates virtually to all the MDGs, the official also stated, adding that “as it is well known, our part of the world is home to an estimated 795 million people exposed to malaria. Close to 90% of deaths due to malaria worldwide occur in Africa.

Gomes Sambo went on to say that the poor, children, pregnant women, people living with HIV/AIDS, victims of unrest and disasters and non-immune travellers are particularly vulnerable. Therefore, progress in the fight against malaria in Africa is critical to reaching the ambitious targets set in the UN Secretary General’s call for Universal Access to essential interventions, the AU Abuja Declaration and Plan of Action, Resolutions of WHO Governing Bodies and the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Global Malaria Action Plan (GMAP).

In this regard, he added, it is encouraging to note that malaria control alliances are being strengthened throughout Africa. For example, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) has committed to support elimination of preventable malaria deaths by 2015. The African Union and Regional Economic Communities have also kept malaria high on their health and development agenda.

Countries and partners are making commendable efforts to accelerate and sustain progress in malaria prevention and control in our Region. For example, endemic countries have reflected malaria control in their poverty reduction strategies, the official stated.

Programme reviews are ongoing and strategic plans are being updated to take into account funding and capacity gaps to reach universal access. The success rate for malaria proposals for the Global Fund (GFATM) reached 80% in Round 10. Consequently, effective interventions including protection from the mosquito vector through the use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) and Indoor Residual Spaying (IRS), prompt treatment of malaria cases using Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnant women (IPTp) and infants (IPTi) are being adapted and scaled up, the WHO regional director also stated.

According to him, cross-border initiatives are catalyzing efforts to accelerate and sustain control and, where possible, to prepare for the transition to pre-elimination. The Affordable Medicines Facility for Malaria (AMFm) has been launched in Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda to ensure access to quality ACTs in private sector facilities. Malaria vaccine trials are ongoing in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Gabon, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya.

As he went on to say, by the end of 2010, a total of 11 countries (Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Eritrea, Madagascar, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania) had registered more than 50% reduction in malaria cases and deaths; the proportion of households owning at least one insecticide treated net (ITN) was 42% and 35% of children under five years of age slept under an ITN; 27 countries had reported implementation of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) so that 73 million people accounting for about 10% of the population at risk of malaria in the Region were protected by IRS; 33 countries had adopted a policy of parasitological testing of all suspected malaria cases and 35% of malaria cases in the Region were confirmed by a diagnostic test.

In his opinion, in order to consolidate the gains achieved so far, “we need to ensure: rigorous governance to strengthen performance and accountability; mobilization of additional resources; linking disease programme development and health systems strengthening; better coordination of stakeholders and partners under national stewardship; and effective involvement of every exposed individual and community.”

Among the critical challenges that countries need to address are: weak surveillance, monitoring and evaluation capacity; inadequate operational research platforms; lack of implementation of regulatory measures such as the ban on oral Artemisinin-based monotherapies and inadequate monitoring of parasite resistance to antimalarial medications and mosquito resistance to insecticides, he stated.

Gomes Sambo pledged that WHO will continue to work with Member States and partners to mainstream malaria control in health and development policies and plans; mobilize domestic and external funding; foster public private partnerships, support alignment of stakeholders around country priorities and provide guidance and assistance to ensure efficient use of resources for performance and impact. We shall also continue to support initiatives for the removal of taxes and tariffs on malaria commodities, and a ban on the marketing of oral artemisinin monotherapies.

On the other hand, he called upon Governments, parliamentarians, Nongovernmental Organizations, the private sector, civil society groups, faith-based organizations and all exposed communities to take stock of our common achievements and mobilize financial and human resources in a decisive push to further accelerate malaria prevention and control for the socioeconomic progress of countries of the African Region.

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