A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father

Proverbs 29

Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

By justice a king gives a country stability,
but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

Those who flatter their neighbors
are spreading nets for their feet.

Evildoers are snared by their own sin,
but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

The righteous care about justice for the poor,
but the wicked have no such concern.

Mockers stir up a city,
but the wise turn away anger.

If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
and seek to kill the upright.

Fools give full vent to their rage,
but the wise bring calm in the end.

If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.

The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.

If a king judges the poor with fairness,
his throne will be established forever.

A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
but the righteous will see their downfall.

Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
they will bring you the delights you desire.

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
though they understand, they will not respond.

Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.

A servant pampered from youth
will turn out to be insolent.

An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

Pride brings a person low,
but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
they are put under oath and dare not testify.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Many seek an audience with a ruler,
but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.

The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.

Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked

Psalm 71
Psalm 71

In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.
From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.

Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.”
Do not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.

As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.

I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.

Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand

Psalm 80

Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.

Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

How long, LORD God Almighty,
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
You have made us an object of derision[b] to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.

Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

You transplanted a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it,
and it took root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
Its branches reached as far as the Sea,[c]
its shoots as far as the River.[d]

Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
Boars from the forest ravage it,
and insects from the fields feed on it.
Return to us, God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine,
the root your right hand has planted,
the son you have raised up for yourself.

Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.
Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.

Restore us, LORD God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,

Help us, God our Saviour,

Psalm 79

O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
They have left the dead bodies of your servants
as food for the birds of the sky,
the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.
They have poured out blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury the dead.
We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
of scorn and derision to those around us.

How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
Pour out your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
that do not call on your name;
for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland.

Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.
Help us, God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name’s sake.
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”

Before our eyes, make known among the nations
that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.
May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise.

We will not hide them from their descendants

Psalm 78

My people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands.
They would not be like their ancestors—
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
whose spirits were not faithful to him.

The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows,
turned back on the day of battle;
they did not keep God’s covenant
and refused to live by his law.
They forgot what he had done,
the wonders he had shown them.
He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors
in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
He divided the sea and led them through;
he made the water stand up like a wall.
He guided them with the cloud by day
and with light from the fire all night.
He split the rocks in the wilderness
and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
he brought streams out of a rocky crag
and made water flow down like rivers.

But they continued to sin against him,
rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.
They willfully put God to the test
by demanding the food they craved.
They spoke against God;
they said, “Can God really
spread a table in the wilderness?
True, he struck the rock,
and water gushed out,
streams flowed abundantly,
but can he also give us bread?
Can he supply meat for his people?”
When the LORD heard them, he was furious;
his fire broke out against Jacob,
and his wrath rose against Israel,
for they did not believe in God
or trust in his deliverance.
Yet he gave a command to the skies above
and opened the doors of the heavens;
he rained down manna for the people to eat,
he gave them the grain of heaven.
Human beings ate the bread of angels;
he sent them all the food they could eat.
He let loose the east wind from the heavens
and by his power made the south wind blow.
He rained meat down on them like dust,
birds like sand on the seashore.
He made them come down inside their camp,
all around their tents.
They ate till they were gorged—
he had given them what they craved.
But before they turned from what they craved,
even while the food was still in their mouths,
God’s anger rose against them;
he put to death the sturdiest among them,
cutting down the young men of Israel.

In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;
in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.
So he ended their days in futility
and their years in terror.
Whenever God slew them, they would seek him;
they eagerly turned to him again.
They remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
lying to him with their tongues;
their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return.

How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
and grieved him in the wasteland!
Again and again they put God to the test;
they vexed the Holy One of Israel.
They did not remember his power—
the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,
the day he displayed his signs in Egypt,
his wonders in the region of Zoan.
He turned their river into blood;
they could not drink from their streams.
He sent swarms of flies that devoured them,
and frogs that devastated them.
He gave their crops to the grasshopper,
their produce to the locust.
He destroyed their vines with hail
and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
He gave over their cattle to the hail,
their livestock to bolts of lightning.
He unleashed against them his hot anger,
his wrath, indignation and hostility—
a band of destroying angels.
He prepared a path for his anger;
he did not spare them from death
but gave them over to the plague.
He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt,
the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.
But he brought his people out like a flock;
he led them like sheep through the wilderness.
He guided them safely, so they were unafraid;
but the sea engulfed their enemies.
And so he brought them to the border of his holy land,
to the hill country his right hand had taken.
He drove out nations before them
and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance;
he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.

But they put God to the test
and rebelled against the Most High;
they did not keep his statutes.
Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless,
as unreliable as a faulty bow.
They angered him with their high places;
they aroused his jealousy with their idols.
When God heard them, he was furious;
he rejected Israel completely.
He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,
the tent he had set up among humans.
He sent the ark of his might into captivity,
his splendor into the hands of the enemy.
He gave his people over to the sword;
he was furious with his inheritance.
Fire consumed their young men,
and their young women had no wedding songs;
their priests were put to the sword,
and their widows could not weep.

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine.
He beat back his enemies;
he put them to everlasting shame.
Then he rejected the tents of Joseph,
he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
but he chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which he loved.
He built his sanctuary like the heights,
like the earth that he established forever.
He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheep pens;
from tending the sheep he brought him
to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,
of Israel his inheritance.
And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;
with skillful hands he led them.

Do not lift your horns against heaven

Psalm 75

We praise you, God,
we praise you, for your Name is near;
people tell of your wonderful deeds.

You say, “I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge with equity.
When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm.
To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.
Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly.’”

No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
It is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.
In the hand of the LORD is a cup
full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.

As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”

You are radiant with light

Psalm 76

God is renowned in Judah;
in Israel his name is great.
His tent is in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.
There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[b]

You are radiant with light,
more majestic than mountains rich with game.
The valiant lie plundered,
they sleep their last sleep;
not one of the warriors
can lift his hands.
At your rebuke, God of Jacob,
both horse and chariot lie still.

It is you alone who are to be feared.
Who can stand before you when you are angry?
From heaven you pronounced judgment,
and the land feared and was quiet—
when you, God, rose up to judge,
to save all the afflicted of the land.
Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,
and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[c]

Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them;
let all the neighboring lands
bring gifts to the One to be feared.
He breaks the spirit of rulers;
he is feared by the kings of the earth.

I will sing praise to the God of Jacob

Psalm 75

We praise you, God,
we praise you, for your Name is near;
people tell of your wonderful deeds.

You say, “I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge with equity.
When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm.[b]
To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.[c]
Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly.’”

No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
It is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.
In the hand of the LORD is a cup
full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.

As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”

You hold me by my right hand

Psalm 73

Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
From their callous hearts comes iniquity[b];
their evil imaginations have no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”

This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.

If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.

Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.

When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

Thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

Psalm 70

MAKE HASTE, O GOD, TO DELIVER ME; MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME, O LORD.

Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away

Psalm 68

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.

Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

They will be fruitful and become numerous

And I will multiply the number of people upon you,
even the whole house of Israel.
The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.
11 I will increase the number of men and animals upon you,
and they will be fruitful and become numerous.
I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more
than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 36: 10-11

They will possess you

I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you.
They will possess you,
and you will be their inheritance;
you will never again deprive them of their children.
Ezekiel 36: 12

You will no longer make your nation childless
'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
Because people say to you,
"You devour men and deprive your nation of its children,"
Therefore you will no longer devour men or make your nation childless,
declares the Sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 36:13-14

No longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples

No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations,
and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples
or cause your nation to fall,
declares the Sovereign LORD.' "
Ezekiel 36: 15

I removed his shoulder from the burden

Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob
Raise a song and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp and the lute
Blow the trumpet at the time of the new moon on our solemn feast day
For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob
This He established in Joseph as a testimony when he went throughout the land of Egypt where I heard a language, I did not understand
I removed his shoulder from the burden;
His hands were freed from the Basket
You called in trouble and I delivered you,
I answered you in the secret place of thunder
I tested you at the waters of Meribah,
There shall be no foreign God among you or shall you;
nor shall you worship any foreign god
Psalm 81:1-9


I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
But my people will not heed my voice and Israel will have none of me.
So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart to walk in their own counsels
Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel will walk in my ways
Psalm 81:10-13


He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock

“I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hands against their adversaries
The haters of the Lord will pretend submission to him, but their fate would endure forever
He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock, I would have satisfied you. “
Psalm 81: 14-16



Oh my God, make them like the whirling

Oh my God, make them like the whirling dust, like the chaff before the wind
As the fire burns the woods and as the flame sets the mountains on fire
So pursue them with your tempest and frighten them with your storm
Fill their faces with shame that they may seek your name Oh Lord.
Psalm 83:13-14


Cause your face to shine upon us and we shall be saved

Restore us Oh God of hosts,
Cause your face to shine upon us and we shall be saved

Psalm 80:7


…who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth

Give ear Oh shepherd of Israel you who led Joseph like a flock
You, who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth \

Psalm 80 :1

World Bank pledges support for African post-conflict recovery

Goma, 11 August 2009 – The World Bank supports efforts by countries emerging from conflict in Africa to foster good governance and transparency in the natural resources sector that has often fueled violence, World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick said Tuesday after his first visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Pledging World Bank support to demobilization and reintegration programs similar to the one that has helped hundreds of thousands of ex-combatants reintegrate to civilian life in countries of the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Zoellick urged African leaders to do everything to curb the illicit trade in precious metals. The trade funds militia groups and fuels the steady flow in illicit small arms and light weapons that often trigger a relapse into conflict.

“Post-conflict countries face a big risk of falling back into conflict and so we must do everything we can to stop the exploitation of resources becoming a cause of violence,” Zoellick said. “My visit helped me better understand the development challenges of the Democratic Republic of Congo and was intended to reaffirm World Bank support for the country’s efforts to consolidate peace, and transition quickly from emergency assistance to sustainable development,” he added.

During the visit, the first lap in a tour of three African countries, Zoellick held talks with Congolese President Joseph Kabila, the country’s Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito, and key cabinet members whose ministerial departments work directly on World Bank-funded development projects.

During his meetings with President Kabila and Prime Minister Muzito, the World Bank president encouraged the government to sustain efforts to achieve debt forgiveness by reaching the completion point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in March 2010. This would lighten the burden of debt servicing and create the fiscal space that could help DR Congo fund crucial social and economic development programs, notably infrastructure investments.


Commending the government of DR Congo for adopting a Governance Contract in 2007, Zoellick encouraged the country to stay the course of the difficult but rewarding reforms needed to achieve good governance objectives. He notably pointed to the need for the government to complete the ongoing review of mining contracts in a way that safeguards the country’s aim of increasing revenue as well as that of investors, making the sector more attractive to private investors.

Zoellick also held discussions with diplomats, representatives of the donor community, the private sector and civil society. “I learned a lot from my discussions with them and got a chance to hear, first hand, what we need to do to ensure improved donor coordination as we work together to promote the social and economic development of this country,” said Zoellick.

Zoellick visited the Inga hydropower plant in Bas Congo and promised World Bank support to work with other donors, the private sector, the government and other stakeholders to rehabilitate existing infrastructure as well as tap the under-utilized potential of energy sources such as Inga.

The World Bank President also stressed that large-scale energy projects, such as Inga, should not overshadow the importance of small-scale projects, which serve the most vulnerable Africans. Small-scale energy projects can contribute to the prevention of some of the 10 million premature deaths of women and children that are likely by 2030 if nothing is done to limit the health impact of smoke from wood fires used for cooking. He also noted the need to adopt environmentally-sound schemes that must protect biodiversity and fisheries when energy projects are built on a river such as the Congo , which is the second richest river in the world for fish.

While in Goma, Zoellick noted that a World Bank-funded project is helping young girls and women who were victims of sexual violence heal from the scars as they attempt to resume a normal life. “Peace is crucial for the reconstruction of this country, and particularly for the reconstruction of this province,” he said. “Sexual violence cannot be tolerated, must be denounced and punished, and every effort must be made to restore the dignity of young women who have suffered sexual violence,” Zoellick said.

Zoellick, who left DR Congo over its land border from Goma into Rubavu in neighboring Rwanda for the second lap of his three-nation African tour, was accompanied on his trip by the World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region, Obiageli Ezekwesili, the director of operations for the Africa Region, Colin Bruce, and the Country Director of the World Bank for Congo Republic and DR Congo, Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly. He will go onto to Uganda from Rwanda for the third and final lap of his tour.

###

For more information about World Bank’s activities in DR Congo, please visit:

http://www.worldbank.org/drc

A Climate Smart Future

The world’s poor will bear the brunt of the impact of global climate change. As the planet warms, rainfall patterns shift, and extreme events such as droughts, floods, and forest fires become more frequent. Millions in densely populated coastal areas and in island nations will lose their homes as the sea level rises. In Africa, Asia, and elsewhere, poor people face prospects of tragic crop failures, reduced agricultural productivity, and increasing hunger, malnutrition, and disease. It will become even harder to attain the Millennium Development Goals – and ensure a safe and sustainable future beyond 2015.


For the people of the developing world – even as they strive to overcome poverty and advance economic growth – climate change threatens to deepen vulnerabilities, erode hard-won gains, and seriously undermine prospects for development. At the same time, they fear limits on their critical call to grow their economies, expand opportunity, and develop energy or new rules that might stifle their many needs, from infrastructure to entrepreneurism.

Climate change is one of the most complex challenges of our young century. No country is immune. Alone, no country can take on the interconnected challenges posed by climate change, which include controversial political decisions, daunting technological change, and far-reaching global consequences. A “climate-smart” world is possible in our time. Yet, as the World Bank Group’s new World Development Report argues, effecting such a transformation requires us to act now, act together, and act differently.

We must act now, because what we do today determines both the climate of tomorrow and the choices that shape our future. Today, we are emitting greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere for decades or even centuries. We are building power plants, reservoirs, houses, transport systems, and cities that are likely to last fifty years or more. The innovative technologies and crop varieties that we pilot today can shape energy and food sources to meet the needs of 3 billion more people by 2050.

We must act together, because climate change is a crisis of the commons. Climate change cannot be solved without countries cooperating on a global scale to improve energy efficiencies, develop and deploy clean technologies, and expand natural “sinks” to grow green by absorbing gasses. We need to protect human life and ecological resources. Developed countries have produced most of the emissions of the past, and have high per capita emissions. These countries should lead the way by signficantly reducing their carbon footprints and stimulating research into green alternatives. Yet most of the world’s future emissions will be generated in the developing world. These countries will need adequate funds and technology transfer so they can pursue lower carbon paths – without jeopardizing their development prospects.

We must act differently, because we cannot plan for the future based on the climate of the past. Tomorrow’s climate needs will require us to build infrastructure that can withstand new conditions and support greater numbers of people; use limited land and water resources to supply sufficient food and biomass for fuel while preserving ecosystems; and reconfigure the world’s energy systems. This will require adaptation measures that are based on new information about changing patterns of temperature, precipitation, and species. Changes of this magnitude will require substantial additional finance for adaptation and mitigation, and for strategically intensified research to scale up promising approaches and explore bold new ideas.

At this point, the diverse countries of the world have not sufficiently curbed emissions or financed developing countries. We need a new momentum. The current global economic turmoil must not hold us back – rather, it presents an opportunity to think anew. ‘Green’ stimulus funds in many countries may jumpstart the innovation needed to address climate change problems. It is crucial that we reach a climate agreement in December in Copenhagen that integrates development needs with climate actions.

As a multilateral institution whose mission is inclusive and sustainable development, the World Bank Group has a responsibility to try to explain some of the interconnected challenges posed by climate change – challenges in development economics, science, energy, ecology, technology, finance, and effective international regimes and governance – and to build cooperation among vastly different states, the private sector, and civil society to achieve common goods.
The World Bank Group has developed several financing initiatives to help countries cope with climate change, including our carbon funds and facilities, which continue to grow as financing for energy efficiency and new renewable energy increases substantially. We are trying to develop practical experience about how developing countries can benefit from and support a climate change regime – ranging from workable mechanisms for forestation and avoided deforestation through carbon trading systems, to lower carbon growth models and initiatives that combine adaptation and mitigation. In these ways, we can support the UNFCCC process and the countries devising new international incentives and disincentives.

Much more is needed. We need action on climate issues before it is too late. If we act now, act together, and act differently, there are real opportunities to shape our climate future for a safe, inclusive, and sustainable globalization.

Economic crisis is remaking global power relations, Zoellick says

— The global economic crisis is contributing to shifts in power relations in the world that will impact currency markets, monetary policy, trade relations and the role of developing countries, said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick.

In a speech ahead of the Annual Meetings in Istanbul, Turkey of the World Bank and IMF, Zoellick said leaders should reshape the multilateral system and forge a “responsible globalization” that would encourage balanced global growth and financial stability, embrace global efforts to counter climate change, and advance opportunity for the poorest.

“The old international economic order was struggling to keep up with change before the crisis,” Zoellick told an audience at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University, in Washington, DC. “Today’s upheaval has revealed the stark gaps and compelling needs. It is time we caught up and moved ahead.”

In the speech entitled “After the Crisis?”, Zoellick said: “Peer review of a new Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth agreed at last week’s G-20 Summit is a good start, but it will require a new level of international cooperation and coordination, including a new willingness to take the findings of global monitoring seriously. Peer review will need to be peer pressure.”

It was also important for the G-20 to remember those countries not at the table. “As agreed in Pittsburgh last week, the G-20 should become the premier forum for international economic cooperation among the advanced industrialized countries and rising powers. But it cannot be a stand-alone committee. Nor can it ignore the voices of the over 160 countries left outside.”

China’s strong response during the economic crisis and rapid recovery had underscored its growing influence as a stabilizing force in today’s global economy. But its leaders face challenges caused by rapid credit growth and the economy’s dependence on exports.

The United States had clearly been hit hard by the crisis. Its prospects depend on whether it will address large deficits, recover without inflation, and overhaul its financial system. The United States has a history of recovering from setbacks. “But the United States would be mistaken to take for granted the dollar’s place as the world’s predominant reserve currency,” Zoellick said. “Looking forward, there will increasingly be other options to the dollar.”

The crisis has brought to the attention of lawmakers the significant role played by central banks. Central banks performed well once the crisis hit but their role in the build-up was less convincing. “In the United States, it will be difficult to vest the independent and powerful technocrats at the Federal Reserve with more authority,” said Zoellick. “My reading of recent crisis management is that the Treasury Department needed greater authority to pull together a bevy of different regulators. Moreover, the Treasury is an Executive department, and therefore Congress and the public can more directly oversee how it uses any added authority.”

Developing countries had already been on the rise before the crisis and their position has been further strengthened because of it. Their growing share of the world economy was a positive development. “Looking beyond, a more balanced and inclusive growth model for the world would benefit from multiple poles of growth,” Zoellick said. “With investments in infrastructure, people, and private businesses, countries in Latin America, Asia, and the broader Middle East could contribute to a “New Normal” for the world economy.”

For more information on the World Bank Program please visit www.worldbank.org

MINISTERS OF JUSTICE SEEK TO IMPROVE LEGAL CLIMATE

The Ministers of Justice of ECOWAS Member States on Wednesday, 7th October 2009 endorsed the on-going process towards the establishment of an appellate mechanism within the ECOWAS Court of Justice system that would allow litigants dissatisfied with the decisions of the existing Court to appeal for a review.

At the end of a three-day meeting in Abuja, the ministers agreed that the creation of this bi-level system of jurisdiction would better guarantee the dispensation of justice and the protection of the rights of complainants.

The ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993 that set up the Community Court of Justice stipulates that the decisions of the Court are final and not subject to appeal.

But the ministers refused to allow an amendment to the Protocol setting up the Court that would compel citizens to exhaust national remedies before coming to the Court for cases relating to the violation of human rights.

They agreed that the Protocol provides additional safeguards for the protection of the rights of citizens and that that applicants have the option of choosing the national or Community Court for their cases.

The current practice allows ECOWAS citizens direct access to the Court on cases relating to the violation of their human rights that occur in any Member State without exhausting the remedies at the national level.

The Ministers also adopted some criteria for selecting host countries for ECOWAS institutions and agencies. They said the criteria would ensure a just and equitable distribution of ECOWAS institutions and agencies as well as harmonize the conditions for both host countries and the institutions, which would help promote greater efficiency within the institutions.

In addition, the Ministers agreed on the need to improve the legal regime of Community Acts as well as the rules of procedure for the Heads of State and regional institutions.

While emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the regional leaders and institutions have the necessary legal instruments to facilitate decision-making, the Ministers expressed the belief that the organizational rules they have proposed would promote efficiency and provide more results-based decision-making, among others.

The recommendations of the Ministers of Justice will be presented to the next session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.

Toward Greater Transparency through Access to Information

WASHINGTON, DC, December 23, 2009The World Bank today finalized its Access to Information Policy, which makes the Bank a transparency leader among international institutions. The policy was approved by the Board of Executive Directors on November 17, 2009 and will become effective July 1, 2010. The final text of the Policy paper reflects the comments and requests for clarifications sought by the Board during the November 17 discussion.



With the adoption of a progressive disclosure policy, the World Bank has set the standard for which the other IFIs should strive as they review their respective information disclosure policies. While we applaud the Bank, it is important to remember that implementation is key; the end goal is improved development outcomes through meaningful civil society participation, says Chad Dobson, Executive Director, (BIC) the Bank Information Center. BIC is an independent civil society organization that was involved in consultations on the policy.



The new policy represents a fundamental shift in the Banks approach to disclosure of informationmoving from an approach that spells out what information it can disclose to one under which the Bank will disclose any information in its possession that is not on a list of exceptions.



The Bank takes access to information very seriously. This new policy means that information will be as accessible as possible. The public will no longer have to specifically request information because we will: make public as much material as possible through our website and country information centers; provide as much as possible automatically; and leave as little as possible to discretion, said Peter Harrold, Director, Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS).



The Bank will now be making much more information available on key decisions made during project development and implementation. These include decisions of Project Concept Review meetings, project supervision missions, and mid-term project reviews This enhanced transparency and accountability will allow for greater scrutiny of Bank-supported projects, thereby enabling better development results. In addition, the Access to Information policy will make information more accessible to the general public, providing an opportunity to better monitor the use of public funds, said Jeff Gutman, Vice President, OPCS.



The policy seeks to strike the right balance between maximum access to information and respect for the confidentiality of information pertaining to its clients, shareholders, employees, and other parties.



In order for affected parties, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to review how their feedback has informed the preparation of lending operations and the formulation of Bank policies and strategies more information relating to Board proceedings will now be available before decisions are made. Operational Policy and Strategy papers that are prepared following public consultations will now be disclosed publicly at the same time they are distributed to the Board, rather than after Board decisions have been made, if the Board has previously reviewed a draft (simultaneous disclosure). In cases where the Executive Directors have not reviewed a draft, the paper will still be disclosed at least two weeks before the Board discussion, if the Board approves such early disclosure.



In addition, Country Assistance Strategies, Project Appraisal Documents, and Program Documents will be disclosed simultaneous to their distribution to the Board if the member country consents.


The new policy recognizes that the sensitivity of some information declines over time, and it provides for certain information to be declassified and disclosed after a reasonable period of time has passed5, 10, or 20 years.



The new policy now also clearly spells out an appeals process for requesters who believe that the Bank has unreasonably denied access to information. This will be a two-stage process. An administrative appeals mechanism under Bank Management will serve as a first level of appeal, and a mechanism independent of Managementa panel consisting of three international expertswill make final binding decisions on disclosure for certain types of appeal.


In order to ensure the effective implementation of this far-reaching policy across the Institution, the Bank is now putting in place the necessary IT systems, enhancements to the external website and public information centers worldwide, and guidelines and training programs for staff.



The policy was informed by extensive external and internal consultations held in 33 countries and through the Banks external website. It reflects the views of member countries, civil society organizations, academia, parliamentarians, media, the private sector, international organizations, donor agencies, and Bank staff.

Accra-Tema Motorway: A Reflection of Failed Policies

By Charles Kwame Boakye

The Accra-Tema Motorway is fast deteriorating, becoming a death trap, with high traffic growth and encroachment of right-of-way, and unless serious efforts are made by the Government to save this vital national asset, traffic build-up and inconveniences to commuters will soon dwarf what exists on other heavily trafficked streets in Accra.

Poor land-use development, excessive axle loading, and substandard maintenance practices are pushing the motorway into an irreversible destructive spiral, posing major threats to productivity and national security.

Ghana built its first and only motorway linking Tema and Accra in 1964 as part of the countrys program of transforming Tema into an industrial hub of the newly-independent nation. Among the features of the motorway was a dual carriageway with a median or a central reservation area that completely separated the two carriageways. Like all motorways, the Accra -Tema motorway was designed prohibiting pedestrian movement, parking areas or U-turns. Moreover, until recently, no road joined the motorway at any other section except the entry and exit points.

At 45 years old, the 19km Motorway is the oldest paved road in Ghana. Being a concrete pavement, it is more expensive to construct than asphalt or other bituminous surface roads, but it is more economical to operate over the long term. It is longer lasting, stronger, and requires minimal maintenance. There are several concrete pavements in Europe and North America that are almost 100 years old and the Accra Tema road could have easily attained this status if it had been managed well. Unfortunately, it appears to be in its last days with its elegant and shiny concrete pavement already fading out.

It is showing defects and the condition of the pavement is worsening by the day. Critical observation shows it is rapidly deteriorating as sealant, steel reinforcement damage and cracks are plainly visible.

The 300 metre (900 feet) wide right-of-way was largely preserved until the late 1990s when development started on the northern end and in the 2000s when the southern strip was re-zoned by the Town and Country Planning Department and sold off by the Lands Commission, while the Ministry and the Ghana Highway Authority appeared unconcerned. New residential areas further north include parts of East Legon, Adjiringano, Trasacco Valley and the Borteiman Estates which are still under development. Developments on the southern end include factories, bonded warehouses, shopping malls, and residential estates.


The absence of road markings delineating overtaking from steady lanes often confounds users unfamiliar with the motorway. The outer lanes are generally intended for normal steady driving, while the inner lanesthose closer to the medianare intended for overtaking. This is different from some countries in Europe and North America where the outer lane is used for overtaking. The bituminous shoulders, intended for maintenance and emergency use, are converted to a third lane whenever traffic builds up. The shoulders wearing course reels, permitting water seepage, and underscoring the speedy deterioration of the pavement borders.

The economic importance of the motorway cannot be over emphasized as it is the main route for transporting goods to the Tema Harbour, and also passengers and goods to the Volta and Northern Regions from Accra, and countries east of Ghana. It is part of the Trans-West Africa highway network project that ECOWAS member countries are undertaking from Senegal to Nigeria. The Motorway also carries traffic from Accra to Tema (Communities 21, 22, 25) and settlements and communities in Sakumono and Teshie-Nungua.

Environmental management and traffic growth

The motorway is fast losing its environmental attractions and driving quality. The broad view, breathtaking landscape coupled with the serene atmosphere and constant uninterrupted swirling fresh air, used to make plying the motorway a delight. However, these conditions are steadily vanishing as trees and vegetative cover are gradually giving way to brick and mortar, real estate and industrial establishments.

In the dry season, the shrubs and grasses within the median are burnt by those supposed to keep them neat and tidy resulting in brush fires and smoke causing low visibility and environmental hazards to commuters.

Traffic along the Accra-Tema Motorway has grown significantly since the completion of the Ashaiman interchange five years ago, and also due to the use of unapproved access routes at the Sakumono Abattoir area. As a result of rapid urbanization of settlements along the Spintex road, motorists that previously used the Spintex road to and from Accra have diverted their course through the motorway.

A traffic study carried out by Soman Consult for the Ministry of Roads and Highways in 2007 revealed that the total average annual daily traffic (AADT) on the Motorway for both ends was 23,211. It is estimated that while the average national vehicular traffic growth is 15 percent, growth on the motorway corridor is more than 20 percent per annum. At this rate, the total AADT by 2010 will be 45,000. This means an average of 45,000 vehicles will use the motorway each day by end of next year, with cars - 47 percent; four wheel-drives - 18 percent; light buses - 18 percent; and heavy buses and goods trucks - 15 percent.

In just five years, when portions of the former Nungua farm lands restored to the Nungua stool are fully developed, and the Tema Development Corporation completes development of Communities 23 and 24 at the northern end, pressure will increase for more access routes into the Motorway and traffic could build up for a few kilometres from Tetteh-Quarshie interchange. Vehicles could thus spend an average of at least one hour crossing the Motorway.

A Death trap

Beneath the veneer of suitability and comfort lies a feeling of deep displeasure by a section of users that the motorway is undoubtedly becoming a death trap. There has been steady growth in the number of accidents and casualties on the Motorway. Information available indicates that on the average two accidents occur on the motorway daily. The National Road Safety Commission reports that the Motorway recorded 16 fatal accidents within the first two months of 2009, claiming the lives of 18, and injuring 23.

A number of reasons account for the evolving high accident rate on the motorway, one of them being the emergence of passenger stops, about six so far. Drivers drop off passengers on the Motorway and in like manner, passengers converge at various spots along the motorway for transport. Prominent parking areas include the stretch adjoining the Action Chapel, Printex factory and the Ashaiman underpass.

It is on record that accidents have occurred at the drop-off points because drivers, prompted by passengers, suddenly swerve to the outer lane to stop only to cross an oncoming vehicle. Drivers have also misjudged the speed of approaching traffic on the outer lanes. Other causes include low visibility due to poor lighting. There are also complaints by passengers awaiting vehicles, especially in the night, of criminal activities like rape and robbery.

More encroachment

Encroachment on the motorway is an ongoing activity. Buildings and warehouses are springing up rapidly, as if it is a race. Currently, there is a huge ground water tank positioned next to the pavement that will clearly impede future expansion of the motorway. The water tank serves the Accra Mall. Next to this is the show room for a reputable real estate company.

The earlier encroachment on the motorway is stopped, the better. The loss of productivity, the waste of fuel, threats to health, crime and similar costs to the nation would otherwise be colossal. It would be easier to address the problem now than later. The expense and challenge involved in rectifying the problem swells for each day that no action is taken.

It appears Ghanaian leaders and technocrats have learned nothing from the problems Spintex road has caused commuters. This writer advised the authorities about the imminent crisis on the Spintex road as far back as 1997 but nothing was done. Consider that the Government is saddled with paying millions of cedis as compensation for people affected by the expansion of the Motorway extension work N1, financed by the MIDA, an expense that could have been avoided if state institutions had preserved the right of way from encroachment.

The absence of an adequate land-use plan is identified as one of the factors fuelling the rapid encroachment on the Motorway. At this rate, without firm government intervention traffic will become unbearable in the not too distant future, accidents will increase, the motorway will be downgraded to a dual carriageway, and traffic lights and parking lots will have to be introduced. The Motorway will cease to be an express way linking Accra and Tema, and virtually become a street running through several townships and residential settlements.

Financing road maintenance and better management

One major constraint affecting the maintenance of the motorway is inadequate financial resources. Currently, average net revenue paid to the Road Fund is a paltry GHﾢ62,000 per month, projected to be GHﾢ750,000 per annum. The operator spends an equivalent amount for recurrent expenditure and operating expenses. Revenues from tolls have increased slightly since the new operator started work about four months ago.

The current toll rates, unchanged since 1998, are out of touch with economic reality and thus funds obtained are grossly inadequate to maintain the motorway. A gradual increase from 5 to 50 pesewas for cars and similar adjustments made for other vehicle types could have generated $60 million over the last 10 years.

A global road toll study conducted by the World Bank ascertained that toll rates in Ghana are currently about one twentieth of what exists in similar low income countries. It is important car rates are increased to 30 Ghana pesewas from 2010, then 50 pesewas from 2011, and GHﾢ1 from 2012. Should this happen, and further revenue leakages blocked, and current traffic growth are maintained, cumulative receipts for the next 11 years up to 2020 will exceed US$150 million. This is adequate to finance the construction of parallel service roads, asphalt overlay, and interchanges to enhance traffic flow.

Other issues to be addressed include the management of the tolling facilities by operators whose only responsibility is to collect tolls while road maintenance and management remains the responsibility of Ghana Highway Authority (GHA). Similar to the practice in developed countries, it is important that GHA recruits highway management services firms that will not only collect tolls but also undertake technical work on the entire carriageway.

There is an urgent need to institute a body to regulate all toll roads in Ghana. The Ministrys responsibility must be handed over to a body, established by an act of Parliament, mandated to act as a separate National Road Toll Authority not only for the Motorway but also all other roads in Ghana. This will ensure that politicians are taken out of the decision making process in determining the level of rates.

The thinking underpinning management of the motorway must move away from treating it as a social service managed by a bureaucracy and funded by the tax payer, towards a more commercial approach which imposes a form of surrogate market discipline or competition, much like other utilities.

Enforcing Executive Instrument on the Motorway

In March 1973, an Executive Instrument was passed declaring the Accra - Tema Motorway as a legal entity with prescribed tolls for various categories of vehicles (EI 46 of 1973). The EI, which was not enforced, must be revised in the light of present developments, not limiting it to the carriageway, but including the Ashaiman interchange and the entire right-of-way. This is necessary because state institutions are unable to protect the Motorway. In 2004, residents of East Legon brought a legal action and won the case against the Town and Country Planning Department for re-zoning and allocating parts of the motorway to developers.


Future development

Given the rapid traffic growth on the motorway, many factories have encroached on the right-of-way and opened up access routes directly onto the pavement. It is important that design features and tolling systems should take into account the peculiar needs and constraints of the industries to create access to their work places. If reasonable and convenient alternative routes are not available, there is likely to be agitation by users. There is the need therefore to construct frontage roads running parallel to the Motorway that will provide access to homes and businesses that have been cut off.

A gradual increase in road tolls will yield adequate funds to finance asphalt overlay over the concrete road, provide bright street lights, finance expansion of the existing two lanes to three in either direction, provide frontage/service roads running parallel to the motorway, and finance the construction of two more interchanges, one at the Abattoir and the other at Trasacco Valley. The Ministry of Roads and Highways and the GHA must lead towards the preparation of an investment plan and better management models.

The new Lands Commission and national security have shown strong commitment to preserve the motorway by advertising for the removal of properties that fall within 50 meters (150 feet) from the center line. The Government must be highly commended for this action. Unfortunately, 150 feet is not adequate to support future expansion and must be increased to 250 feet. Nevertheless, Ghanaians must throw their weight behind the efforts of the authorities to improve conditions along the corridor.

If we do not solve this problem today, we shall be creating bigger problems for ourselves in the near future. It would cost about $300 million to construct a similar road, considering its features and embankments. As a developing country, we have the benefit of learning from other people and countries to solve our problems. The downgrading of the motorway to a dual carriageway is imminent, but Government must lead the way in avoiding further crisis on the corridor.


Author

Charles Boakye
Institute for Infrastructure Development, Accra
cboakye@infrastructureghana.org

ECOWAS OBSERVER MISSION REPORT ON GHANA'S 2008 ELECTIONS

ECOWAS OBSERVER MISSION TO THE

DECEMBER 28, 2008 PRESIDENTIAL RUN-OFF ELECTION IN GHANA


PRELIMINARY DECLARATION

Introduction

After the presidential and parliamentary elections held in Ghana on December 7, 2008, the Leader of the ECOWAS Observer Mission, H.E. General Dr. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, Former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, issued a Preliminary Declaration at a press conference on Monday, December 8, 2008. The Declaration highlighted the main findings of the ECOWAS Fact-Finding and Observer Missions on the country’s preparations for, and conduct of the December 7, 2008 polls, respectively.

The Declaration:

 described the elections as free, peaceful, transparent and credible;

 attested that the vast majority of voters were given ample opportunity to exercise their franchise in a transparent, tranquil and orderly manner; and

 commended the Electoral Commission (EC) for administering the elections with competence, fairness and firmness.

The Mission congratulated the Government, Electoral Commission (EC), security agencies, political parties and the people of Ghana for their commitment to the ideals of democracy and for conforming to the provisions of ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (A/SP1/12/01). It urged Ghanaians to maintain the atmosphere of peace by employing exclusively peaceful and constitutional means in seeking redress to any grievances that may arise in the course of the election.

The Mission took positive note of the practice of early voting for categories of persons performing essential duties on Election Day; proxy voting and transfer of voters. It also noted the high level of competence and commitment of the electoral officials and the transparency of the voting process. It, however, regretted the low number of women contestants in the elections and the prolonged closure of Ghana’s land borders without adequate notice. The Mission also called for a review of campaign financing to minimize the monetization of politics.

ARRIVAL AND PRE-ELECTION ACTIVITIES OF THE ECOWAS MISSION

The ECOWAS Observer Mission returned to Ghana on December 22, 2008 for the presidential run-off. It was made up of one hundred and fifty (150) persons drawn from ECOWAS Member-States. It comprised delegations of the Community Parliament, national electoral management bodies, ECOWAS ambassadors accredited to Nigeria, the ECOWAS Council of the Wise; and civil society electoral experts. It was led once again by H.E. General Dr. Yakubu Gowon and assisted by a technical team from the ECOWAS Commission.

On arrival, the Mission held discussions with the authorities and other observer missions on the preparation for the run-off, and the security and political situation. The ECOWAS Observers were deployed throughout the country from the coordination headquarters in Accra and two sub-centres in Kumasi and Tamale. They covered the majority of the 230 Constituencies in the ten Administrative Regions viz; Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West.

PRE-ELECTION ENVIRONMENT

Following the outcome of the December 7 elections, the two candidates who qualified for the presidential run-off were: Nana Akufo-Addo, the flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Professor John Evans Attah Mills, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). During the campaign for the run-off election, there was a noticeable shift from party based rhetoric to that based on the personality of the candidates. The two political parties emphasized the personal attributes of their flag bearers. Given the high stakes involved, the atmosphere was charged and the campaigns were, at times, characterized by inflammatory rhetoric.

The atmosphere during the campaign for the run-off election was characterized by the following:

1. Permutations geared towards electoral victory by both political parties based on projections from their respective regional and ethnic strongholds.

2. Accusations and counter-accusations about plots to unduly influence the outcome of the votes through intimidation and manipulation of votes in the strongholds of the two political parties.

3. Despite the tensions in the atmosphere, there were only isolated incidents of violence reported across the country.

4. There was an intensive voter education effort to minimize the incident of spoilt ballot papers. There was also a heightened campaign by the media and civil society organizations for a responsible conduct of political parties and their followers to ensure a peaceful outcome.

5. Reports in some sections of the media spread panic through exaggerated accounts of threats or actual incidents of violence in the run up to the presidential run off.

6. The sudden and untimely closure of Ghana’s land borders two days before the election heated up the political atmosphere.

OBSERVATIONS ON ELECTION DAY

A comprehensive report of the ECOWAS Observer Mission is being prepared. Meanwhile, after the initial de-briefing of its observers from the field, the Mission wishes to make the following preliminary observations:

1. Turn-out and Attitude of Voters

 In contrast to the early rush to the polling stations by voters that characterized the December 7 elections, this time around, the voters paced their arrival at the polling stations. Consequently, the voter turnout was a trickle in the early hours of the day but picked up steadily in the course of the day in most parts of the country without resulting in over-crowding.

 Queues were orderly and peaceful. In response to the tension-filled environment in the pre-election period, the presence of security agents was visible in several parts of the country.

 The composition of the electorate was diverse and included a turnout of the physically challenged, the aged, women and the youth.

2. Opening of Polling Stations

• The polling stations were well established, easily identifiable, and well arranged to allow for orderliness in the voting process.

• The vast majority of polling stations opened within 30 minutes of the stipulated time of 7 a.m. due to the early arrival of Polling officials and timely delivery of electoral materials respectively.

3. Electoral Officials and Materials

a. Each polling station was manned by a team of electoral officials composed of the presiding officer and at least two polling assistants. In a few stations, the team was supplemented with temporary electoral assistants trained by the EC.

b. At Polling stations where electoral officials were supplemented with temporary Electoral assistants, the latter were not easily identifiable because they were not wearing badges or the special EC outfits and were less competent in carrying out their assignment.

c. There was a fair gender balance in the selection of the electoral officials.

d. Each polling station was equipped with at least one polling booth and one ballot box, depending on the number of registered voters. The polling booths assured near-perfect secrecy of the ballot.

e. The ballot boxes were transparent and secured with serialized seals, making them less susceptible to manipulation. In almost all the polling stations, the essential election materials arrived early in adequate quantities and were well secured.

4. Security

• Within the polling stations, security was provided by the Ghana Police Service and supplemented by unarmed officers of the Fire, Prison and Immigration Services.

• Security was considerably beefed up and was more visible around polling stations.

• In areas of heightened tension and violence, particularly in marked areas of Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Ashanti and Volta regions, Rapid Response Units of the Ghana Police and the Army were deployed at discreet vantage points to serve as deterrent. The security agencies carried out their activities with professionalism and efficiency.

5. The Voting Process

 At most polling stations, two agents representing each of the two candidates were present.

 The electoral officials were courteous, and discharged their duties with an appreciable level of professionalism and competence. In a few stations where temporary electoral staff were called to serve, they slowed down the voting process. They were not well trained and did not have the quality of skills and capacity of the regular staff.

 In most polling stations, adequate measures were taken to give preference to the aged, the physically challenged, expectant mothers and voters with infants. Provision was made for the blind to vote, either assisted by a trusted person or independently using a tactile ballot holder.

 ECOWAS observers recorded isolated incidents of impersonation of party and police agents.

 Monitoring of voting time by ECOWAS indicated that it took an average of two minutes per person to cast a ballot from the time of verification of voter’s identity. This marked an improvement over the voting on December 7, 2008.

 The vast majority of voters with valid voter ID cards who were at the assigned polling stations were able to cast their votes freely and in secrecy. However, very few voters who could not locate their names in the voters’ register were prevented from voting.


6. Electoral malpractices

 At a few polling stations, acts of intimidation, violence, disruption, suspected cases of electoral fraud and other malpractices were either observed or reported.

 In Ejisu Juaben in Ashanti Region and in the Weija Constituency, agents of one of the candidates were allegedly chased out of polling stations. A shooting incident was reported in Tamale.

 At Wa, Upper West Region (at Busa primary School B, station K010101B) 63 fake ballot papers cast in favour of one candidate were discovered during the counting process.

 In Tamale, at EP Church Aboabo (station H142604), violence broke out between supporters of the NPP and NDC parties near the polling station. Stones were pelted and gun shots were heard. However the Rapid Response Unit quickly intervened to restore peace and order.

 ECOWAS observers noted suspected under-aged voters at a number of polling stations across the country. However, they were allowed to cast their votes because they possessed valid voter ID cards and their names figured in the Voter Register. Little could be done to stop them from voting either by the electoral officials or security agencies.

 The higher than anticipated turnout in the early voting for special categories of professionals on December 23, 2008 provided early ammunition for more accusations of “electoral manipulation” in certain quarters.

 In all reported instances of attempts to undermine the voting process, security agents acted appropriately to prevent such incidents.


Closing, Reconciliation, Counting, Collation and Announcement of Results at Polling Stations

 At most polling stations, all voters had cast their votes by the stipulated closing time of 5 p.m.; the very few who were still on the queues after the stipulated closing time were allowed to exercise their franchise.

 On the whole, the counting, reconciliation, collation, announcement, and endorsement of results at the polling stations were carried out in a transparent, professional, timely and thorough manner.

 The incident of invalid votes was noted to be less than what occurred in the December 7, 2008 elections. Nonetheless the improper timing of the application of indelible ink contributed to the incident of spoilt ballots.

 Party agents, voters and observers witnessed the counting, reconciliation, and the announcement process. The results were endorsed at the polling stations.

 Poor lighting hampered the counting, conciliation and endorsement process at some polling stations.

 At the end of the counting of votes, and declaration of results at each polling station, the ballot boxes containing ballots cast were secured with serialized seals. Unique to the electoral process in Ghana, party agents were allowed to complement the security to the ballot boxes by adding party security seals to those provided by the EC.

PRELIMINARY VERDICT

The Mission wishes to emphasize that its observation at this point captures only the election processes up to the endorsement of results at the polling stations. To this end, the ECOWAS Observer Mission would like to make the following observations on the processes on Election Day, December 28, 2008:

a. The Ghanaian electorates were given ample opportunity to exercise their franchise in a transparent, tranquil and orderly manner.

b. The voting process, including the identification of voters, the secrecy of the ballot, reconciliation, counting, collation, announcement and endorsement of results at the polling stations was free, peaceful, transparent and credible.

c. The Electoral Commission has so far discharged its duties with commendable competence, fairness and firmness. Indeed, the ECOWAS Observer Mission is of the view that once more the EC has so far, lived up to its motto of ‘Transparency, Fairness and Integrity’.

d. As is the case with all contests, the ECOWAS Mission expects the probability of disputes and legal challenges with regard to the outcome of the polls. In such eventuality, however, the Mission urges the aggrieved party to employ exclusively peaceful and constitutional means to seek redress.

e. To this end, ECOWAS will closely observe the concluding phases of the process, particularly the collation and declaration of results of the December 28, 2008 election, as well as the handling of disputes emanating thereof by all concerned, and would make further declarations, should the need arises.

f. Finally, while ECOWAS appreciates the efforts of the Government of Ghana to take all appropriate measures to safeguard the territorial integrity and security of the State in delicate times, the Mission regrets the closure of the country’s borders from 10 am local time on December 26, 2008, two full days to the presidential run-off without prior notice to the public, thus restricting movement across the country’s common borders with neighboring States. It draws the attention of the Government to the implications of this action on relevant ECOWAS Protocols.

PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS

With regard to the challenges observed in the course of the electoral process, the Mission wishes to put forward the following recommendations:

1. The Government and political parties should encourage the participation of women and the youth at all levels of the political process, particularly, in seeking elective positions.

2. As part of the measures to reduce long queues and delays on Election Day, particularly in the capital and other urban centres, the EC should consider increasing the number of polling booths and ballot boxes, with a corresponding increase in polling staff at polling stations with enough space.

3. The use of indelible ink before the casting of vote resulted in a high number of rejected ballots during the Presidential run-off. The ECOWAS Observer Mission hereby reiterates its recommendation to the Electoral Commission that the indelible ink should be used after the casting of the vote as is practised in many countries.

4. The EC should, as a matter of urgency, improve the process of “voter list transfers” by compiling them in serialized or alphabetical order, and ensuring their early delivery to the designated new polling stations.

5. The EC and the Parliament are strongly urged to initiate the process of the enactment of legislation on campaign financing to check the perceived monetization of the electoral process.

6. The EC should make adequate provisions for dependable electricity and back-up lighting at polling stations, particularly in areas without electricity.

7. The EC, Commission on Civic Education and other relevant NGOs should organize more capacity building workshops for polling officials, party agents and observers in order to further improve the voting and monitoring processes.

8. Border closures should only be effected where it is absolutely necessary and in any event, only on Election Day. Otherwise it will be viewed as a panic measure with capacity to heighten tension in the polity. Once a comprehensive voters’ list has been compiled there should be no panic about free movement of people within and across the territorial borders of the country.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The ECOWAS Observer Mission wishes to emphasize that its observation at this point captures only the processes up to the endorsement of results at the polling stations on December 28, 2008. To this end, the Mission makes the following observations on the presidential run-off in Ghana:

 Despite the enormous pressure that was brought to bear on the Electoral Commission from different quarters, the Commission was able to adequately prepare the grounds for the conduct of the election in an even more efficient, transparent and credible manner than it did on the December 7, 2008.

 The Mission also wishes to commend the enhanced visibility and rapid response of the security agencies to trouble spots in a few polling stations, which enabled the voting process to proceed relatively peacefully. The exemplary professionalism, efficiency and neutrality of the security agencies reemphasized the maturing of democratic culture in Ghana’s polity.

The Mission is delighted that so far, the electoral process has proceeded peacefully and wishes to commend the Government, EC, political parties and the people of Ghana for their determination and commitment to the electoral process as a basis for advancing the cause of peace, social justice and democracy in the country.

While taking note of the grievances expressed by both candidates in the course of the electoral process, the Mission exhorts all political parties and candidates to accept the verdict of the people as would be declared by the EC in the interests of peace and stability. It urges the winner to be magnanimous in victory and the losing candidate to continue his contribution to the strengthening of democracy in Ghana by accepting the role of opposition.

The ECOWAS Observer Mission wishes to reiterate the plea given to the people of Ghana by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, on December 25, 2008 urging political leaders, their agents and other concerned individuals and groups to respect the constitutional responsibility of the Electoral Commission of Ghana to officially declare the results of the run-off elections.

The Mission wishes to pay tribute to the outgoing president, H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor for his commendable contribution to the strengthening of democracy in Ghana. As Chairman of ECOWAS from 2003 to 2005, Mr. Kufuor made significant contributions to the consolidation of peace and security in the ECOWAS Region. ECOWAS lauds the role of the President in ensuring a peaceful transition and not for once contemplating the temptation to cling to power. The Mission hopes that he will continue to serve the region with the same passion and commitment even in retirement.




General Dr. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR
Head of Mission
On behalf of the ECOWAS Observer Mission
Accra, December 28, 2008