Statement Made by Hon.Nana Akomea, Minister for Information at the "Meet the Press" on Tuesday 5th August,2003, Accra.
There are all kinds of web sites on Ghana on the internet. One of the more popular ones is called the Ghana Home Page, originated by a Ghanaian living in the Austria (?). All kinds of weird stories come up regularly on this website.
For the uninitiated, the Internet or World Wide Web (the famous www) is a brave new world that makes authentic information instantly available to any browser. It is however necessary to caution that the process of putting stories on the www is such that a lot of non-authentic, and outright fabrications can be put on the www. A short explanation of the process may be useful here.
Putting a story on the web is almost as easy as making a telephone call to broadcast on radio and we are all witnesses to how the airwaves have been hijacked by repeat callers. Anybody can invent a story, and mail it unto the Ghana Home page site without going through any process of authentication or verification.
So any mischievous person can concoct a story, paste it on the website, then publish the story in his newspaper and claim he “culled” it from the Internet. Many examples of this have come up in recent weeks, one example is a story that appeared on the Web site during the build up towards the Iraqi War, and there was a protest march in Accra.
This story purported that Ghana was to be a base for American troops. This story was promptly “culled” by the Palaver newspaper. But it is a totally false story meant only to achieve mischief and propaganda ends. A few days ago, two stories appeared on the Ghana web page. One purported to report on a secret meeting at which the criminal murder of the Yana was plotted. The other purported to be a report of a security meeting on the activities of some members of the Presidential detail.
The stories put on the net are supposed to be sourced form the GNA. But the two stories are false, both in the content and in the attribution to the GNA. Question then is what is the motivation for a group of people to take so much trouble to create and put such stories on the internet, which are then quickly “culled” by the some newspaper(s)
The only answer is that they are meant to achieve the diabolical and propagandist ends of political groups. It is so easy to see this pattern when one also considers what is being said by otherwise responsible members of some minority political groups.
1.CAUTION ON VILE PROPAGANDA:ISSUES ARISISNG
This is to explain the basis of the call by this Ministry on all of us, especially some political interest, to stop their vile campaigns against the government and be more constructive in their campaigns and utterances.
The call, made last week by Deputy Minister Asamoa Boateng has generated a lot of interest and also some misunderstanding.The purpose of this presentation is to explain the context for this call, by notifying all of us about the connexion between some recent events and pronouncements and the grand propaganda strategy of some minority political interests in the country, that is to seek to explain the connection between events and pronouncements that may otherwise be interpreted as frivolous or not without much purpose.
INTERNET
There are all kinds of web sites on Ghana on the internet. One of the more popular ones is called the Ghana Home Page, originated by a Ghanaian living in the Austria. All kinds of weird stories come up regularly on this website.
For the uninitiated, the Internet or World Wide Web (the famous www) is a brave new world that makes authentic information instantly available to any browser. It is however necessary to caution that the process of putting stories on the www is such that a lot of non-authentic, and outright fabrications can be put on the www. A short explanation of the process may be useful here.
Putting a story on the web is almost as easy as making a telephone call to broadcast on radio and we are all witnesses to how the airwaves have been hijacked by repeat callers. Anybody can invent a story, and mail it unto the Ghana Home page site without going through any process of authentication or verification.
So any mischievous person can concoct a story, paste it on the website, then publish the story in his newspaper and claim he “culled” it from the Internet. Many examples of this have come up in recent weeks, one example is a story that appeared on the Web site during the build up towards the Iraqi War, and there was a protest march in Accra.
This story purported that Ghana was to be a base for American troops. This story was promptly “culled” by the Palaver newspaper. But it is a totally false story meant only to achieve mischief and propaganda ends. A few days ago, two stories appeared on the Ghana web page. One purported to report on a secret meeting at which the criminal murder of the Yana was plotted. The other purported to be a report of a security meeting on the activities of some members of the Presidential detail.
The stories put on the net are supposed to be sourced form the GNA. But the two stories are false, both in the content and in the attribution to the GNA. Question then is what is the motivation for a group of people to take so much trouble to create and put such stories on the internet, which are then quickly “culled” by the some newspaper(s)
The only answer is that they are meant to achieve the diabolical and propagandist ends of political groups. It is so easy to see this pattern when one also considers what is being said by otherwise responsible members of some minority political groups.
Members of some minority parties at various platforms including rallies, and radio stations, have told outright but dangerous lies including telling their audience that the NPP government is engaged in printing of fake currency notes, and that President Kufour – the Gentle Giant himself, is responsible for killing the Yana.
They have even been telling Cassava Farmers not to be Kufour’s slaves, thus inciting them against this initiative which has the potential of being one of the greatest achievements of the President.
Even with the mass spraying of cocoa, political activists have gone from village to village telling farmers that the government’s mass cocoa spraying programme would negatively affect the quality and prices as buyers would not buy a chemically sprayed cocoa.
Ladies and Gentlemen, cocoa spraying in the country has been done over a long period of time to boost the yield, so why is anyone worried it now? The answer l believe is that those are going spreading false roots in these villages are doing so because the mass spraying of cocoa is more effective than the individual spraying Indeed, it has helped in the increase in the yield of cocoa from just over 300 to nearly 500 tonnes this year.
But probably the mother and father of all this diabolism is the one by the ex President Rawlings himself, that President Kufour and his Cabinet masterminded the brutal killing of 34 women between 1997 and 2001.
Never mind that his own wife Nana Konadu had way back in year 2000, in the presence of the IGP and the Minister for Interior, assured the nation that 15 of the murders have been solved.
Never mind the NDC general secretary also saying that the NPP actually imported the dead women from neighbouring Togo and Benin. Even when faced with an overwhelming rejection by majority of the good people of this country and under pressure by women groups the ex-president still urges NDC MPs to repeat and repeat this falsehood wherever they go.
Ladies and Gentlemen, let me at this point highlight some of the basic strategies of Propaganda from a document credited to the NDC and published in the Guide Newspaper of April 13 2000.
This well prepared propaganda document starts by stating that propaganda is the “art of making nonsense seem desirable” It urges its propagandists to “tell you lies loudly”, secondary, “tell it in simple language so that ordinary people can understand”.
Thirdly, it urges them to tell the lie again and again, at frequent intervals, without introducing any variations that may confuse. The document goes on to further urge that even though the lie may defy reason, they must be told in an emotional and violent tones.
It also encourages the use of mobs and thugs to beat or neutralize the opposition. It also advises that no matter how incredible your lies, you will build up an atmosphere or belief just by sheer repetition.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope that with this background, we can all begin to find some motivations and symmetry for some of the bizarre pronouncements and activities we see and hear these days.
We all know how even in the face of overwhelming rejection of their lies, and the protest by women’s groups, the ex-President urged his NDC MPs to repeat and repeat his lie wherever they go. Let’s consider another recent desperate antic. We are all aware that a lot of Ghanaians credit the NPP for enhancing personal security, and the reduced likelihood of arbitrary arrests (even of journalists), harassments and intimidation.
After this feedback came through some bizarre antics were played out on the radio stations. In one morning, a group of callers managed to get onto a radio station, and one after the other, they called in and narrated tales of arrest and brutality meted out to them in Tamale by the security forces.
The next morning, on another radio station, a serial Political caller was on air to lament in tears about how, while he was jogging at dawn in front of the house of President Kufour, he had been detained and brutalized by the security at the President’s house. And his witness, who just happened to drive by and came to his rescue, was no other than another serial political caller.
Ladies and Gentlemen, let me finish on what l consider as a post script. Probably frustrated at the lack of credibility, or maybe as a second stage, of the diabolic scheme to smear the government over the serial killings, there has been a truly desperate move to get the convicted man Charles Quansah, to proclaim that he was in league with the NPP over the murder.
This man, who has been described as “mad” by the ex-President, has been brought in for secret meetings with Kwame Peprah, Ibrahim Adam and a lady visitor, at which pictures were shown to him to make it easier for him to identify and name members of government as accomplices.
Luckily, the security has thwarted this most vile and diabolic intention.As I speak to you now, Ibrahim Adam, Kwame Peprah and company are to be in different prisons across the country. Let me end by saying that as media people, it is important you are alerted to some of these antics as you inteprete news and events to us all.
I wish to assure Ghanaians a that the government has promised and will listen to genuine advice or criticism. But negative and vile propaganda and lies will not sway the government from the objective of overcoming the huge problems left for us and work hard to move this country forward through development in freedom.
2.GETFUND AND NUGS THREAT OF COURT ACTION
The Leadership of the Students Movement – NUGS – last week had an interaction with the press at which it called on the government to immediately effect payment of arrears of over ?400 billion into the GETFUND or face court action.
This Ministry takes this opportunity to present the context regarding payments into the GET-FUND, and in the light of the context, to call on the NUGS Leadership to resort to dialogue with the government to come to a mutually beneficial understanding.
The 12.5% VAT rate became effective in June 2000, and deductions into the GETFUND began accordingly in June 2000. From the period June 2000 to December 2000, the schedule of deductions from the VAT showed a total payments of ?168 billion.
At the end of year 2000, six months after the deductions started, the amount in the fund was ?65 billion. The records indicate that ?30 billion was transferred to SSNIT in November 2000. while One billion cedis was applied to the chemistry building project in Legon.
If you set out the total deduction or accruals of ?168 billion, as per VAT records against the payments and the actual amount of ?65 billion left in the GETFUND account, there is an outstanding balance of ?103 billion that is unaccounted for at the end of year 2000.
We still have not found where that money is, and we call on all of us, especially the NUGS, to demand answer from those in government at that time where that money is.In year 2001, the government paid ?260 billion leaving a balance of ?108 billion.
In year 2002, ?336 billion was paid into the fund, leaving a balance of ?65 billion. Total arrears therefore for 2001-2 is ?173 billion .
In February 2003, in his budget statement, the Finance Minister undertook to be current or up to date in payments into the GETFUND, and to seek Parliament’s approval of a payment schedule for the arrears spread over three years.
In March, Parliament approved the schedule for the repayments, and the Finance Minister is also fulfilling the undertaking to be current from this year, and also fulfilling this year’s portion of the repayment schedule.
In year 2003, the government, as at July, is current in payments into the GETFUND, having paid ?386 billion, comprising ?342 billion due payment and ?43 billion arrears.
I must point out that from the arrears position I have outlined above, the figure of over ?400 billion being mentioned by the NUGs as arrears has to be recalculated.It is in this context that I call on the NUGs Leadership to exercise restraint as the doors of the Finance Minister, and indeed of the government, are always open to them.
This is a listening government, which also regards our students as not only our future leaders, but also as important partners in the historic struggle to move this nation into the current era of freedom and constitutional government and positive change.
It may also be instructive to note that the NUGS is represented on the Board of Trustees of the GETFUND and that may be another platform to channel any misunderstanding. However the doors of the government are always open to our students.
Thank you.
Source:Information Services Department 05/08/03
Statement Made by Hon.Nana Akomea, Minister for Information at the "Meet the Press" on Tuesday 5th August,2003, Accra.
There are all kinds of web sites on Ghana on the internet. One of the more popular ones is called the Ghana Home Page, originated by a Ghanaian living in the Austria (?). All kinds of weird stories come up regularly on this website.
For the uninitiated, the Internet or World Wide Web (the famous www) is a brave new world that makes authentic information instantly available to any browser. It is however necessary to caution that the process of putting stories on the www is such that a lot of non-authentic, and outright fabrications can be put on the www. A short explanation of the process may be useful here.
Putting a story on the web is almost as easy as making a telephone call to broadcast on radio and we are all witnesses to how the airwaves have been hijacked by repeat callers. Anybody can invent a story, and mail it unto the Ghana Home page site without going through any process of authentication or verification.
So any mischievous person can concoct a story, paste it on the website, then publish the story in his newspaper and claim he “culled” it from the Internet. Many examples of this have come up in recent weeks, one example is a story that appeared on the Web site during the build up towards the Iraqi War, and there was a protest march in Accra.
This story purported that Ghana was to be a base for American troops. This story was promptly “culled” by the Palaver newspaper. But it is a totally false story meant only to achieve mischief and propaganda ends. A few days ago, two stories appeared on the Ghana web page. One purported to report on a secret meeting at which the criminal murder of the Yana was plotted. The other purported to be a report of a security meeting on the activities of some members of the Presidential detail.
The stories put on the net are supposed to be sourced form the GNA. But the two stories are false, both in the content and in the attribution to the GNA. Question then is what is the motivation for a group of people to take so much trouble to create and put such stories on the internet, which are then quickly “culled” by the some newspaper(s)
The only answer is that they are meant to achieve the diabolical and propagandist ends of political groups. It is so easy to see this pattern when one also considers what is being said by otherwise responsible members of some minority political groups.
1.CAUTION ON VILE PROPAGANDA:ISSUES ARISISNG
This is to explain the basis of the call by this Ministry on all of us, especially some political interest, to stop their vile campaigns against the government and be more constructive in their campaigns and utterances.
The call, made last week by Deputy Minister Asamoa Boateng has generated a lot of interest and also some misunderstanding.The purpose of this presentation is to explain the context for this call, by notifying all of us about the connexion between some recent events and pronouncements and the grand propaganda strategy of some minority political interests in the country, that is to seek to explain the connection between events and pronouncements that may otherwise be interpreted as frivolous or not without much purpose.
INTERNET
There are all kinds of web sites on Ghana on the internet. One of the more popular ones is called the Ghana Home Page, originated by a Ghanaian living in the Austria. All kinds of weird stories come up regularly on this website.
For the uninitiated, the Internet or World Wide Web (the famous www) is a brave new world that makes authentic information instantly available to any browser. It is however necessary to caution that the process of putting stories on the www is such that a lot of non-authentic, and outright fabrications can be put on the www. A short explanation of the process may be useful here.
Putting a story on the web is almost as easy as making a telephone call to broadcast on radio and we are all witnesses to how the airwaves have been hijacked by repeat callers. Anybody can invent a story, and mail it unto the Ghana Home page site without going through any process of authentication or verification.
So any mischievous person can concoct a story, paste it on the website, then publish the story in his newspaper and claim he “culled” it from the Internet. Many examples of this have come up in recent weeks, one example is a story that appeared on the Web site during the build up towards the Iraqi War, and there was a protest march in Accra.
This story purported that Ghana was to be a base for American troops. This story was promptly “culled” by the Palaver newspaper. But it is a totally false story meant only to achieve mischief and propaganda ends. A few days ago, two stories appeared on the Ghana web page. One purported to report on a secret meeting at which the criminal murder of the Yana was plotted. The other purported to be a report of a security meeting on the activities of some members of the Presidential detail.
The stories put on the net are supposed to be sourced form the GNA. But the two stories are false, both in the content and in the attribution to the GNA. Question then is what is the motivation for a group of people to take so much trouble to create and put such stories on the internet, which are then quickly “culled” by the some newspaper(s)
The only answer is that they are meant to achieve the diabolical and propagandist ends of political groups. It is so easy to see this pattern when one also considers what is being said by otherwise responsible members of some minority political groups.
Members of some minority parties at various platforms including rallies, and radio stations, have told outright but dangerous lies including telling their audience that the NPP government is engaged in printing of fake currency notes, and that President Kufour – the Gentle Giant himself, is responsible for killing the Yana.
They have even been telling Cassava Farmers not to be Kufour’s slaves, thus inciting them against this initiative which has the potential of being one of the greatest achievements of the President.
Even with the mass spraying of cocoa, political activists have gone from village to village telling farmers that the government’s mass cocoa spraying programme would negatively affect the quality and prices as buyers would not buy a chemically sprayed cocoa.
Ladies and Gentlemen, cocoa spraying in the country has been done over a long period of time to boost the yield, so why is anyone worried it now? The answer l believe is that those are going spreading false roots in these villages are doing so because the mass spraying of cocoa is more effective than the individual spraying Indeed, it has helped in the increase in the yield of cocoa from just over 300 to nearly 500 tonnes this year.
But probably the mother and father of all this diabolism is the one by the ex President Rawlings himself, that President Kufour and his Cabinet masterminded the brutal killing of 34 women between 1997 and 2001.
Never mind that his own wife Nana Konadu had way back in year 2000, in the presence of the IGP and the Minister for Interior, assured the nation that 15 of the murders have been solved.
Never mind the NDC general secretary also saying that the NPP actually imported the dead women from neighbouring Togo and Benin. Even when faced with an overwhelming rejection by majority of the good people of this country and under pressure by women groups the ex-president still urges NDC MPs to repeat and repeat this falsehood wherever they go.
Ladies and Gentlemen, let me at this point highlight some of the basic strategies of Propaganda from a document credited to the NDC and published in the Guide Newspaper of April 13 2000.
This well prepared propaganda document starts by stating that propaganda is the “art of making nonsense seem desirable” It urges its propagandists to “tell you lies loudly”, secondary, “tell it in simple language so that ordinary people can understand”.
Thirdly, it urges them to tell the lie again and again, at frequent intervals, without introducing any variations that may confuse. The document goes on to further urge that even though the lie may defy reason, they must be told in an emotional and violent tones.
It also encourages the use of mobs and thugs to beat or neutralize the opposition. It also advises that no matter how incredible your lies, you will build up an atmosphere or belief just by sheer repetition.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope that with this background, we can all begin to find some motivations and symmetry for some of the bizarre pronouncements and activities we see and hear these days.
We all know how even in the face of overwhelming rejection of their lies, and the protest by women’s groups, the ex-President urged his NDC MPs to repeat and repeat his lie wherever they go. Let’s consider another recent desperate antic. We are all aware that a lot of Ghanaians credit the NPP for enhancing personal security, and the reduced likelihood of arbitrary arrests (even of journalists), harassments and intimidation.
After this feedback came through some bizarre antics were played out on the radio stations. In one morning, a group of callers managed to get onto a radio station, and one after the other, they called in and narrated tales of arrest and brutality meted out to them in Tamale by the security forces.
The next morning, on another radio station, a serial Political caller was on air to lament in tears about how, while he was jogging at dawn in front of the house of President Kufour, he had been detained and brutalized by the security at the President’s house. And his witness, who just happened to drive by and came to his rescue, was no other than another serial political caller.
Ladies and Gentlemen, let me finish on what l consider as a post script. Probably frustrated at the lack of credibility, or maybe as a second stage, of the diabolic scheme to smear the government over the serial killings, there has been a truly desperate move to get the convicted man Charles Quansah, to proclaim that he was in league with the NPP over the murder.
This man, who has been described as “mad” by the ex-President, has been brought in for secret meetings with Kwame Peprah, Ibrahim Adam and a lady visitor, at which pictures were shown to him to make it easier for him to identify and name members of government as accomplices.
Luckily, the security has thwarted this most vile and diabolic intention.As I speak to you now, Ibrahim Adam, Kwame Peprah and company are to be in different prisons across the country. Let me end by saying that as media people, it is important you are alerted to some of these antics as you inteprete news and events to us all.
I wish to assure Ghanaians a that the government has promised and will listen to genuine advice or criticism. But negative and vile propaganda and lies will not sway the government from the objective of overcoming the huge problems left for us and work hard to move this country forward through development in freedom.
2.GETFUND AND NUGS THREAT OF COURT ACTION
The Leadership of the Students Movement – NUGS – last week had an interaction with the press at which it called on the government to immediately effect payment of arrears of over ?400 billion into the GETFUND or face court action.
This Ministry takes this opportunity to present the context regarding payments into the GET-FUND, and in the light of the context, to call on the NUGS Leadership to resort to dialogue with the government to come to a mutually beneficial understanding.
The 12.5% VAT rate became effective in June 2000, and deductions into the GETFUND began accordingly in June 2000. From the period June 2000 to December 2000, the schedule of deductions from the VAT showed a total payments of ?168 billion.
At the end of year 2000, six months after the deductions started, the amount in the fund was ?65 billion. The records indicate that ?30 billion was transferred to SSNIT in November 2000. while One billion cedis was applied to the chemistry building project in Legon.
If you set out the total deduction or accruals of ?168 billion, as per VAT records against the payments and the actual amount of ?65 billion left in the GETFUND account, there is an outstanding balance of ?103 billion that is unaccounted for at the end of year 2000.
We still have not found where that money is, and we call on all of us, especially the NUGS, to demand answer from those in government at that time where that money is.In year 2001, the government paid ?260 billion leaving a balance of ?108 billion.
In year 2002, ?336 billion was paid into the fund, leaving a balance of ?65 billion. Total arrears therefore for 2001-2 is ?173 billion .
In February 2003, in his budget statement, the Finance Minister undertook to be current or up to date in payments into the GETFUND, and to seek Parliament’s approval of a payment schedule for the arrears spread over three years.
In March, Parliament approved the schedule for the repayments, and the Finance Minister is also fulfilling the undertaking to be current from this year, and also fulfilling this year’s portion of the repayment schedule.
In year 2003, the government, as at July, is current in payments into the GETFUND, having paid ?386 billion, comprising ?342 billion due payment and ?43 billion arrears.
I must point out that from the arrears position I have outlined above, the figure of over ?400 billion being mentioned by the NUGs as arrears has to be recalculated.It is in this context that I call on the NUGs Leadership to exercise restraint as the doors of the Finance Minister, and indeed of the government, are always open to them.
This is a listening government, which also regards our students as not only our future leaders, but also as important partners in the historic struggle to move this nation into the current era of freedom and constitutional government and positive change.
It may also be instructive to note that the NUGS is represented on the Board of Trustees of the GETFUND and that may be another platform to channel any misunderstanding. However the doors of the government are always open to our students.
Thank you.
Source:Information Services Department 05/08/03
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