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MY NEW BOOK

2009-05-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

Profiles of the President, the Vice and the CJ
All 230 Parliamentarians and the Leadership
All 25 Members of the Council of State
All 15 Members of the Supreme Court
All 75 Ministers and Deputies
All 19 Cabinet Ministers
Institutional Heads
Pictures of All

MINISTERS AND THEIR DEPUTIES, GHANA

2009-05-09T05:49:00.000-07:00

Chieftaincy and Culture – Alexander Asum-Ahensah
– No deputy
Communications – Haruna Iddrisu
– Gideon Kwame Boye Quarcoo (Dep.)
Defense – Lt. Gen. J. H. Smith (Rtd.)
– No deputy
Education – Alexander Tetteh-Enyo
– Mrs. Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh / Dr. Joseph Annan (Dep.)
Employment and Social Welfare - Stephen Kwao Amanor
– Antwi Bosiako-Sekyere (Dep.)
Energy – Dr. Joseph Oteng-Adjei
– Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Boah / Dr. Kwabena Donkor (Dep.)
Environment, Sci. & Tech. – Hanny Sherry Ayittey
– Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah (Dep.)
Finance – Dr. Kwabena Duffour
– Dr. Seth Terkper / Fiifi Fiavi Frankline Kwetey (Dep.)
Food and Agriculture – Mr Kwesi Ahwoi
– Nii Amasah Namoale/Dr. Alfred Sugri Tia/Yaw Effa-Baafi (Dep.)
Foreign Affairs and Reg. Int. – Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni
– Chris Kpodo (Dep.)
Health – Dr. George Sipa Yankey
– Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor (Dep.)
Information – Mrs. Sabah Zita Okai Koi
– Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa/James Agyenim-Boateng (Dep.)
Interior Mr. Cletus Avoka
– Dr. Kwesi Akyem Apea-Kubi (Dep.)
Justice & Attorney General – Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu
– Ebo Barton-Oduro (Dep.)
Lands and Natural Resources – Mr Collins Dauda
– Henry Ford Kamel (Dep.)
Local Gov. & Rural Dev. – Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh
– Elvis Afriyie Ankrah (Dep.)
Roads and Highways – Mr. Joe Kwashie Gidisu
– Robert Joseph Mettle Nunoo (Dep.)
Tourism – Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah
– Kwabena O. Acheampong (Dep.)
Trade & Industry – Ms Hannah Tetteh
– Mr. John Gyetuah (Dep.)
Transport – Mr. Mike Allen Hammah
– Mrs. Peace Dzifa Aku Attivor (Dep.)
Water Res., Works and Housing – Albert Abongo
– Dr. Hannah Louisa Bisiw/Alhaji Iddi Saani (Dep.)
Women & Children Affairs – Ms Akua Dansua
– Hawawu Boya Gariba (Dep.)
Youth and Sports – Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka
– Nii Reuben Nortey Dua (Dep.)
Ministers of State – Kwadwo Tawiah Likpalimor
Ministers of State – Pelpuo Abdul-Rashid
Ministers of State – Alhaji Seidu Amadu
Ministry at the Presidency – Mrs. Halutie Dubie Alhassan
Ministry at the Presidency – Azong Alhassan

COUNCIL OF STATE (Chairman: Prof. Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor)

2009-05-09T05:45:00.000-07:00

1. Mrs. Victoria Addy – Presidential Appointee
2. Mrs. Cecilia Johnson – Presidential Appointee
3. Prof. Akilakpa Sawyerr – Presidential Appointee
4. Prof. Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor – Presidential Appointee
5. Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII – Presidential Appointee
6. Alhaji Asoma Banda – Presidential Appointee
7. Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu – Presidential Appointee
8. Nana Akuako Sarpong – Presidential Appointee
9. Hajara Musa Ali – Presidential Appointee
10. Otumfuo Badu Bonsu XV – Presidential Appointee
11. Rev. Dr. Nii Amoo Darko – Presidential Appointee
12. Lt. Gen Arnold Quainoo (rtd) – Presidential Appointee
13. Peter Tenganabang Nanfuri – Presidential Appointee
14. Professor Naa Sebiyam Nabila – Presidential Appointee
15. J.H. Owusu Acheampong – Brong Ahafo Region
16. Nana Asiamah Poku Afrifa – Ashanti Region
17. Kpana Mohammed Baba Bawa – Northern Region
18. Dr. Bernard Kwesi Glover – Volta Region
19. Very Rev. Jacob Ayibour – Upper East Region
20. Mr. George Kofi Dadzie – Western Region
21. Naa Seidu Briamah – Upper West Region
22. Osaberima Owusu Gyamadu III – Eastern Region
23. Mr. Ato Asuman – Central Region
24. Emmanuel Adjei Anang - Greater Accra Region

AT THE PRESIDENCY

2009-05-09T05:41:00.000-07:00

Mr John Henry M. Newman – Chief of Staff
Alex Segbefia – Deputy Chief of Staff
Valerie Sawyer – Deputy Chief of Staff
Mahama Ayariga – Presidential Spokesperson
James Bebaako Mensah – Secretary to the President
Benjamin Clement Eghan – Secretary to the Cabinet
Koku Anyidoho – Communications Director
Nii Lantey Vanderpuye – Director of Operations
Victor Emmanuel Smith – Head of Protocol
Joseph Nunoo-Mensah – National Security Advisor
Col. Gbevlo Lartey – National Security Coordinator

REGIONAL MINISTERS AND THEIR DEPUTIES

2009-05-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

Ashanti – Mr. Kofi Opoku-Manu
– Ms. Anima Wilson (Dep.)
Brong Ahafo – Mr. Nyamekye Marfo
– Eric Opoku (Dep.)
Central – Ms. Ama Benyiwa-Doe
– No deputy
Eastern – Mr. Ofosu Ampofo
– Baba Jamal Ahmed (Dep.)
Greater Accra – Mr. Nii Armah Ashitey
– No deputy
Northern Ministers of State – Samuel S. Nanyina
– Mr. Moses Magbenba (Dep.)
Upper East – Mr. Mark Woyongo
– Lucy Awuni (Dep.)
Upper West – Mr. Mahmud Khalid
– Kale Caesario (Dep.)
Volta – Mr. Joseph Amenowode
– Col. Cyril Necku Rtd (Dep.)
Western – Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo
– Betty Bosomtwe Sam (Dep.)

CABINET MINISTERS

2009-03-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

1. Dr Kwabena Dufuor, Minister for Finance
2. Lt General J.H. Smith (Rtd), Minister for Defence
3. Mr Cletus Avorka, Minister for Interior
4. Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration
5. Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister for Roads and Highways
6. Hon Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development
7. Dr George Sepa Yankey, Minister for Health
8. Mr Kwesi Awhoi, Minister for Food and Agriculture
9. Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, Minister for Justice and Attorney General
10. Mr Alexander Tettey-Enyo, Minister for Education
11. Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Trade and Industry
12. Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Communications
13. Mr Albert Abongo, Minster for Water Resources, Works and Housing
14. Ms. Hani Sherry Ayittey, Minister for Environment Science and Technology
15. Dr. Joe Oteng Adjei, Minster for Energy
16. Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
17. Mr Mike Hammah, Minister for Transport
18. Mr Stephen Kwao Amoanor, Minister for Employment and Social Welfare
19. Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Minister for Women and Children's Affairs

MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT

2009-03-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

1. Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, Chief Justice (since June 2007)
2. William A. Atuguba
3. Ms. Sophia A. B Akuffo
4. Theodore Kwami Adzoe
5. Stephen Alan Brobbey
6. Dr. Seth Twum
7. Prof. Samuel Kofi Date-Bah
8. Julius Ansah
9. R.T. Aninakwa
10. Mrs. Sophia O. Adinyira
11. Samuel K. Asiamah
12. Rose Constance Owusu
13. Jones Mawulom Dotse
14. Anin Yeboah
15. Paul Baffoe-Bonnie

PARLIAMENT OF GHANA

2009-03-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

Parliament has 230 members, elected for a four-year term in single-seat constituencies. Parliament is made up of representatives of political parties (MPs): Majority: NDC (115), Minority: NPP (108), PNC (2), CPP (1), and Independent Candidates (4):
Speaker of Parliament – Mrs. Joyce Bamford-Addo
First Deputy Speaker – Edward Doe Ajaho
Second Deputy Speaker – Michael Aaron Ocquaye
Majority Leader – Samuel K. Alban Bagbin
Deputy Majority Leader – John Tia Akologu
Majority Chief Whip – Enoch Teye Mensah
1st Deputy Majority Chief Whip – Akua Sena Dansua
2nd Deputy Majority Chief Whip – Evans Paul Aidoo
Minority Leader – Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu
Deputy Minority Leader – Ambrose P. Dery
Minority Chief Whip – Frederick Opare Ansah
1st Deputy Minority Chief Whip – Gifty Eugenia Kusi
2nd Dep. Minority Chief Whip – Benjamin Kofi Ayeh

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND THEIR CONSTITUENCIES
ASHANTI REGION
Adansi Asokwa Kobina Tahir Hammond NPP
Afigya/Sekyere East
Hennric David Yeboah NPP
Afigya/Sekyere West Albert Kan Dapaah NPP
Ahafo Ano North Richard Akuoko Adiyiah NPP
Ahafo Ano South Stephen Kwaku .B. Manu NPP
Akrofuom Kwabena Appiah Pinkrah NPP
Amansie West Grace Addo NPP
Asante Akim North Kwame Anyimadu Antwi NPP
Asante Akim South Mrs Gifty Ohene Konadu NPP
Asawase Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mabarak NDC
Asokwa Maxwell Kofi Jumah NPP
Atwim Nwabiagya Benito Owusu-Bio NPP
Atwima-Kwanwoma
Dr. Kojo Appiah-Kubi NPP
Atwimpa Mponua Isaac Kwame Asiamah NPP
Bantama Cecilia Abena Dapaah NPP
Bekwai
Joseph Osei-Owusu IND
Bosome-Freho Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu IND
Bosomtwe Hon. Simon Osei Mensah NPP
Effiduasi/Asokore Frank Boakye Agyen NPP
Ejisu-Juaben Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi NPP
Ejura Sekyedumase Hon. Alhaji Issifu Pangabu M. NDC
Fomena Hon. Nana Abu-Bonsra NPP
Kumawu Yaw Baah NPP
Kwabre East Kofi Frimpong NPP
Kwabre West Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu. A NPP
Kwadaso Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto NPP
Mampong Francis Addai Nimoh NPP
Manhyia Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh NPP
New Edubiase Ernest Kofi Yaka NDC
Nsuta Kwame Osei Prempeh NPP
Nyiaeso Sub-Metro Dr. Richard Winfred Anane NPP
Obuasi Edward Ennin NPP
Odotobri Hon. Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi NPP
Offinso North A. C. Ntim NPP
Offinso South Ben Abdallah Banda NPP
Oforikrom
Elizabeth Agyemang NPP
Old Tarfo Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei NPP
Suame
Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu NPP
Subin Sub-Metro Isaac Osei NPP

BRONG AHAFO
Asunafo-North Robert Sarfo-Mensah NPP
Asunafo-South Hon George Boakye NPP
Asutifi-North Paul Okoh NPP
Asutifi-South Collins Dauda NDC
Atebubu/Amantin Owusu-Mainu Emmanuel NDC
Berekum Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng NPP
Dormaa-East Yaw Ntow Ababio NPP
Dormaa-West Kwaku Agyemang Manu NPP
Jaman-North Alexander Asum-Ahensah NDC
Jaman-South Afful Yaw Maama NPP
Kintampo-North Stephen Kunsu NDC
Kintampo-South Yaw Effah-Baafi NDC
Nkoranza-North Derek Oduro (Major)(Rtd) NPP
Nkoranza-South Kwame Ampofo Twumasi NPP
Pru Masoud Baba Abdul-Rahman NDC
Sene Felix Twumasi-Appiah NDC
Sunyani-East Kwasi Ameyaw-Cherimeh NPP
Sunyani-West Ignatius Baffour Awuah NPP
Tain Ahmed Ibrahim NDC
Tano-North Ernest Akobour Debrah NPP
Tano-South Andrews Adjei-Yeboah NPP
Techimahn-North Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi NPP
Techiman-South Addai Simons NDC
Wenchi Prof.George Yaw Gyan-Baffour NPP

CENTRAL REGION
Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese Anthony Christian Dadzie NDC
Agona East John Adjabeng NPP
Agona West Samuel Kweku Obodai NPP
Ajumako/Enyan/Esiam Cassiel Ato Forson NDC
Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa Paul Collins Appiah Ofori NPP
Assin North Ken Ohene Agyapong NPP
Assin South Dominic Kwaku Fobih (Prof) NPP
Awutu Senya David Nana Larbie NDC
Cape Coast Ebo Barton - Odro NDC
Effutu Mike Allen Hammah NDC
Gomoa East Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah NDC
Gomoa West Francis Kojo Arthur NDC
Hemang Lower Denkyira Benjamin Bimpong Donkor NPP
K.E.E.A Dr Joseph Samuel Annan NDC
Mfantseman East George Kuntu-Blankson NDC
Mfantseman West Aquinas Quansah NDC
Twifo Atti Morkwa Amoah Tetteh Elizabeth NDC
Upper Denkyira East Nana Amoako NPP
Upper Denkyira West Benjamin Kofi Ayeh NPP

EASTERN REGION
Abetifi Peter Wiafe Pepra NPP
Abirem Esther Obeng Dappah NPP
Abuakwa North Samuel Kwadwo Amoako NPP
Abuakwa South Samuel Atta Akyea NPP
Aburi-Nsawam Osei Bonsu Amoah NPP
Afram Plains North Emmanuel Aboagye Didieye NDC
Afram Plains South Raphael Kofi Ahaligah NDC
Akropong William Ofori Boafo NPP
Akwatia Kofi Asare NPP
Akyem Oda Yaw Owusu-Boateng NPP
Akyem Swedru Joseph Ampomah Bosompem NPP
Asuogyaman Joses Asare-Akoto NDC
Atiwa Kwasi Annch NPP
Ayensuano Ayeh-Paye Samuel NPP
Fanteakwa Kwabena Amankwah Asiamah NPP
Kade Ofosu Asamoah NPP
Lower Manya Michael Teye Nyaunu NDC
Lower West Akim Gifty Klenam NPP
Mpraeso Seth Kwame Acheampong NPP
N/Juaben North Hackman Owusu Agyemang NPP
N/Juaben South Beatrice Bernice Boateng NPP
Nkawkaw Seth Adjei Baah IND
Ofoase/Ayirebi David Oppon-Kusi NPP
Okere Daniel Botwe NPP
Suhum Frederick Opare-Ansah NPP
Upper Manya Stephen Kwao Amoanor NDC
Upper West Akim Joseph Sam Amankwanor NDC
Yilo Krobo Hon Raymond Tawia NDC

GREATER ACCRA REGION
Ablekuma Central Chaie Tettey Theophilus NDC
Ablekuma North Justice Joe Appiah NPP
Ablekuma South Fritz Baffour NDC
Abokobi-Madina Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho NDC
Ada Alexander Narh NDC
Adenta Kojo Adu Asare NDC
Ashaiman Alfred Kwame Agbesi NDC
Ayawaso Central Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye NPP
Ayawaso East Mustapha Armed NDC
Ayawaso West Wuogon Akosua Frema Osei-Opare NPP
Dade Kotopon Nii Amasah Namoale NDC
Dome-Kwabenya Aaron Michael Oquaye NPP
Korle Klottey Nii Armah Ashietey NDC
Kpone-Katamanso
Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo NDC
Krowor Nii Oakley Quaye NDC
Ledzokuku Nii Nortey Duah NDC
Ningo Prampram Enoch Teye Mensah NDC
Obom-Domeabra
Daoud Anum Yemo NDC
Odododiodoo Jonathan Tackie Komme NDC
Okaikwei North Elizabeth Kwatsoe Sackey NPP
Okwaikwei South Nana Akomea NPP
Sege Alfred Wallace G. Abayateye NDC
Shai Osudoku David Tetteh Assumeng NDC
Tema East Samuel Evans Ashong Narh NPP
Tema West Irene Naa Torshie Addo NPP
Trobu/Amasaman Ernest Attuquaye Armah NDC
Weija Shirley Ayorkor Botchway NPP

NORTHERN REGION
Bimbilla Nitiwul Bingab Aduna Dominic NPP
Bole/Bamboi Joseph Akati Saaka NDC
Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo Duut Emmanuel Kwame NDC
Chereponi
Doris A. Seidu NPP
Damongo/Daboya Sammy B. Wusah NDC
Gushiegu Kwesi Thomas Nassan NDC
Karaga
Iddrisu Dawuda NDC
Kpandai Likpalimor Kwajo Tawia NDC
Kumbungu Imoro Yakubu NDC
Mion Dr. Alhasssan Ahmed Yakubu NDC
Nalerigu Dr. Tia. A. Sugri NDC
Nanton
Alhaji Abdul-Kareem NPP
Saboba Bukari Nikpe Joseph NDC
Salaga Ibrahim Bey Abubakari NDC
Savelugu Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo NDC
Sawla/Tuna/Kalba Soditey Dari Donald NDC
Tamale-Central Inusah Abdulai Fuseini NDC
Tamale-North Hon. Alhaji Abukari Sumani NDC
Tamale-South Iddrisu Haruna NDC
Tolon Umar Abdul-Razak NDC
Walewale Alidu Iddrisu Zakari NDC
Wulensi Alhaji Saani Iddi IND
Yagaba/Kubori Ibrahim Abdul-Rauf Tanko NDC
Yapei/Kusawgu Amadu Seidu NDC
Yendi Sulemana Ibun Iddrisu (Baba) NDC
Zabzugu/Tatale Jabaah John Bennam NPP

UPPER EAST
Bawku-Central Adamu Daramani NPP
Binduri Stephen Yakubu NPP
Bolgatanga-Central Akolbire Emmanuel Opam-Brown NDC
Bongo Albert Abongo NDC
Builsa-North Timothy Awotiirim Ataboadey NDC
Builsa-South Alhassan Azong PNC
Chiana/Paga Alowe Leo Kabah NPP
Garu-Tempane Dominic Azimbe Azumah NDC
Nabdam Asaga Moses NDC
Navrongo-Central Joseph Kofi Adda NPP
Pusiga Atingban Simon NDC
Talensi Akology John Tia NDC
Zebilla Cletus Apul Avoka NDC

UPPER WEST
Jirapa Dr. Francis Bawona Yakura NDC
Lambussie John Duoghr Baloroo NPP
Lawra Ambrose P. Dery NPP
Nadowli West Alban Sumana Kinsford Bagbin NDC
Nadowli East Mathias Asoma Puozaa NDC
Sissala West Bayirga Haruna PNC
Sissala East Alhassan Dubie Halutie NDC
Wa Central Hon.Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo NDC
Wa East Bayon Godrey Tangu NPP
Wa West Joseph Yiele Chireh NDC

VOLTA REGION
Akan Joseph Kwadwo Ofori NDC
Anlo Clement Kofi Homado NDC
Avenor-Ave Edward Korbla Doe Adjaho NDC
Biakoye Bandua Emmanuel Kwasi NDC
Buem Henry Ford Kamel NDC
Ho Central Capt (Rtd) George Kofi Nfojoh NDC
Ho West Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzra NDC
Ho East Juliana Azumah-Mensah NDC
Hohoe North Prince Jacob Hayibor NDC
Hohoe South Hon. Joseph Z. Amenowode NDC
Keta Richard Lasseey Agbenyefia NDC
Ketu North James Klutse Avedzi NDC
Ketu South Albert Kwasi Zigah NDC
Krachi West Francis Yaw Osei-Sarfo NDC
Kratchi East Wisdom Gidisu NDC
Nkwanta North Joseph Kwaku Nayan NPP
Nkwanta South Gersjpm Kofi Bediako Gbediame NDC
North Dayi Hon Akua Sena Dansua NDC
North Tongu Charles Sename Hodugbey NDC
South Dayi Simon Edem Asimah NDC
South Tongu Woyome Kobla Mensah NDC
Tongu Central Joe Kwashie Gidisu NDC

WESTERN REGION
Ahanta West Samuel Johnfiah NPP
Amenfi Central George Kofi Arthur NDC
Amenfi East Joseph Boahen Aidoo NPP
Amenfi West John Gyetuah NDC
Aowin
Mathias Kwame Ntow NDC
Bia
Michael Coffie Boampong NDC
Bibiani-Anhwiaso Bekwai Christopher Addae NPP
Effia Kwesimintsim Hon. Joe Baidoe-Ansah NPP
Ellembele Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah NDC
Essikadu/Ketan Hon. Joe Ghartey NPP
Evalue Gwira Catherine Abelema Afeku NPP
Jomoro Samia Yaba Christina Nkrumah CPP
Juaboso Sampson Ahi NDC
Mpohor Wassa East Anthony Evans Amoah NPP
Prestea-Huni Valley Francis Adu-Blay Koffie NDC
Sefwi Wiawso Evans Paul Aidoo NDC
Sekondi Papa Owusu-Ankomah NPP
Sewfi Akontombra Herod Cobbina NDC
Shama Gabriel Kodwo Essilfie NDC
Suaman Smek Ackah NDC
Takoradi Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah NPP
Tarkwa-Nsuaem Gifty Eugenia Kusi NPP

PROFILE OF CHIEF JUSTICE GEORGINA THEODORA WOOD (NÉE LUTTERODT)

2009-03-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth: June 8, 1947
Family: Georgina Wood is married to Edwin Wood, a retired banker.

Education
* Bishop’s Girls and Methodist Schools, Dodowa
* Mmofraturo Girls School, Kumasi between 1952 and 1960
* Wesley Girls High School, Cape Coast 1960 – 1966
* University of Ghana, Legon: LL.B. 1970
* Ghana Law School
* Post-Graduate Officers Training Course at the Ghana Police College

Work Experience
* She joined the Judicial Service in 1974
* Circuit and High Courts
* Court of Appeal as the presiding judge in 1991
* Supreme Court Judge, 12 November 2002
* Chief Justice, 15 June, 2007 to-date

National Honour
* On July 7, 2007, Georgina Wood was decorated with the Order of the Star of Ghana, the nation's highest honour for distinguished services to the nation. She was presented by President John Kufuor.

PROFILE OF VICE-PRESIDENT – JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA

2009-03-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth: 29th November, 1958
Place of Birth: Bole Bamboi, Northern Region
Family: He is married to Mrs Lordina Mahama. He has four children

Education
* Achimota Primary School, Achimota
* Ghana Secondary School, Tamale
* Bachelor’s Degree in History, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
* Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
* Postgraduate Studies in Social Psychology at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow, Russia

Work Experience
* Sponsorship and Grants Manager, Plan International, Ghana Country Office
* Deputy Minister of Communications
* Minister of Communications
* Member of European and Pan African Parliaments’ Ad-hoc Committee
* Director of Communications for the NDC
* Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi Constituency
* Member of the Pan African Parliament
* Chairman of the West African Caucus in the Pan African Parliament

PROFILE OF PRESIDENT JOHN EVANS FIIFI ATTA-MILLS

2009-03-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth: 21st July 1944
Place of Birth: Tarkwa, Western Region
Family: Married to Ernestina Naadu Mills, an Educationist. Prof. Mills has a son.

Education
* Achimota School: 'O' & 'A' Levels 1957-1963
* University of Ghana, Faculty of Law, Legon, LL.B 1963-1966
* Ghana Law School: Professional Certificate in Law 1967
* London School of Economics: LL.M, 1968
* University of London: Ph.D. 1971

Work Experience
* University of Ghana, Faculty of Law: Associate Professor 1971-1996
* Acting Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service 1988-1996
* Visiting Scholar, Liu Centre for the Study of Global Affairs, University of British Columbia, Canada 2002

Special Appointments
* Member of Commonwealth Administration of Tax Experts
* Member of United Nations Ad Hoc Group of Experts in International Cooperation in Tax Matters
* Member of the United Nations Law and Population Project

Political Career
* Vice President of the Republic of Ghana 1997-2001
* NDC Presidential Candidate 2000 and 2004

PROFILE OF VICE-PRESIDENT – JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA
Date of Birth: 29th November, 1958
Place of Birth: Bole Bamboi, N/R
Family: He is married to Mrs Lordina
Mahama. He has four children

Education
* Achimota Primary School, Achimota
* Ghana Secondary School, Tamale
* Bachelor's Degree in History, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
* Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
* Postgraduate Studies in Social Psychology at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow, Russia

Work Experience
* Sponsorship and Grants Manager, Plan International, Ghana Country Office
* Deputy Minister of Communications
* Minister of Communications
* Member of European and Pan African Parliaments' Ad-hoc Committee
* Director of Communications for the NDC
* Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi Constituency
* Member of the Pan African Parliament
* Chairman of the West African Caucus in the Pan African Parliament

Poor Dede Ayew

2009-02-04T23:00:00.000-08:00

Jubilee Theft

2009-02-04T22:49:00.000-08:00

2009-02-04T22:28:00.000-08:00

Beginning Video postings

2009-02-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

ARE YOU EARNING ENOUGH?

2008-11-14T01:24:00.000-08:00

In life, irrespective of the beginning and stages or processes an individual goes through, there is a time of graduation whether as a student or a drop-out, the individual acquires some skills, knowledge, experiences or a combination of all these.

Just as a student will graduate one day with knowledge in a field or fields, a drop-out will equally come out with some knowledge in some field or fields.

The knowledge obtained may be extremely positive, extremely negative or mixed. It is to be re-emphasized that the education obtained by any of these persons does not solely depend on the institution one attended.

By this education and experiences, one moves into her/his earning years. That is, she/he becomes unemployed, employee, self-employed or Business owner. We will critically assess the categories of earners and reveal how any of them can become poor, middle- income earner or rich.

UNEMPLOYED
The oxford dictionary defines an unemployed as an individual who is without a paid job but available to work. The good book says anyone who does not work must not eat (paraphrased). This means the writer of the good book sees in every individual, the potential of working notwithstanding the circumstances.

I do not have the figures at hand but there are millions of Ghanaians sitting at home and calling themselves unemployed. These people wake up in the morning, get a means of brushing their teeth, a means of bathing, a means of dressing, a means of drinking, a means of all necessities; yet they say they are unemployed.

I am not interested in what causes unemployment and do not want to be interested. Frankly, I feel sad when I hear someone say he/she is unemployed. It is more pitiful if someone calls her/himself a graduate of an institution and is unemployed.

Though I see all unemployed persons as being irresponsible, I see institutional graduate unemployed persons as the worst disaster that can happen to education. I just cannot take it that one goes to schools for years and come to sit home with the reason that he/she does not have a job.

What is the purpose of his education then? I know people with their masters sitting in the house and crying: graduate unemployment. This is sad and a disgrace to education. I see them as menace to society.

I see somebody who want to stop reading any further because of what might seem harsh words but don't! It's only to provoke you to rise up. The reason why many people remain unemployed is their fear of starting something on their own.

Fear of being laughed at; fear of losing the little money they have; fear of never succeeding. For some, it is simply pride. They think their status does not call for that beginning.

The people that beat my imagination most are those who do not have any certificate yet want to work in offices with computers on their desks.

It is more likely for a drop-out graduate to start something than an institutional graduate. So many institutional graduates carry brief cases containing packs of certificates looking for jobs from one office to another and when they fail, they end up in the house as unemployed graduates.

They feel proud and cannot start small but they will feel okay if they get a job with a drop-out who started small. I do not want to say shame on you if you call yourself a graduate unemployed.

The essence of education is to inform students about a subject so that they will use the information to transform their lives and the lives of people around them. Sadly many students get informed, remain in their form, brag about the form they are in but never transform their lives or the lives of anybody.

They are informed graduates and I bet you the drop-out graduates will continue to transform our world while the informed graduates will remain informed.

If the government will not create jobs for you, please Mr. or Miss Unemployed, create the job for yourself. People give many reasons why Africans are far behind time but my reason is simply because we do not have enough entrepreneurs.

Everybody wants a white-collar job and everybody wants someone else to kick-start or initiate so they can copy.

EMPLOYEE
It is better to get a job than be unemployed. Many people who graduate (either as drop-outs or institutional) seek for jobs and do get them. They write nice application letters attached to appealing CVs to get nice and appealing jobs.

There is a contractual agreement between the employee and the employer (one who hires him/her). In the contractual agreement, the employee pledges to hold in high-esteem his/her employer and vows to be faithful and loyal to the employer, his/her saviour.

Also in the contractual agreement, the employer reserves the power to terminate the employee's appointment any time she/he deems necessary (i.e. put an end to the employee's source of income).

Employees range from Presidents, General Managers, and Secretaries down to the "ordinary" labourer. They all owe their survival to the survival of the company. When termination occurs, the employee moves one step backwards to become unemployed until another employer has pity to offer her/him another opportunity.

When I was a kid, I read a Russian book that featured the old days of tsars and tsarinas. Baba-Yaga was a witch that terrorised the town's people with witchcraft. She was an old woman that flew at night on a long broom.

Vasilinsa was a beautiful girl who had been captured by Baba-Yaga and Ivan (the protagonist) was determined to get his would-be wife from the witch. Baba-Yaga who had placed a spell on the beautiful girl gave Ivan a task to accomplish after which the spell would be reversed.

Ivan's task was to plant seeds of maize, guard to grow, harvest, get the fruit to the market, sell and bring all the money to Baba-Yaga with no penny less. This was to be continuous every year for fourteen solid years.

On the fourteenth year, just as the money was dropped into Baba-Yaga's palms, Ivan was to be given his queen with the spell reversed.

Out of love for Vaslinsa, Ivan accepted the task and worked so hard that the yields and money doubled every year. As a condition before he started the task, he was allowed to see Vaslinsa every year when he delivered the money to Baba-Yaga.

The sight of her every year re¬assured and encouraged him to do more the following year.

One day, Ivan contemplated on his dilemma. Was he not being a fool? Was he doing the right thing? What if Baba-Yaga did not honour her promise after all? What of the spelt? What if Baba-Yaga could not reverse the spell? Will Vaslinsa still love him after the period? He had more questions than answers.

He therefore went to Baba-Yaga and asked: "are you sure you are able to reverse the spell?" Baba-Yaga replied in the affirmative. "You are sure you'll give her to me after my service?"
"Ooh yes, why not?"
"Are you sure she will love me the way she used to?"
"That I can not tell. You know her better than I do"

Ivan left Baba-Yaga more frustrated than he had come. He came to a conclusion that he would work harder and harder to convince Baba-Yaga beyond all reasonable doubt that he really wanted Vaslinsa back.

He worked morning, afternoon, evening.

Fourteen years tallied but came. Ivan came as usual to present his all-time high amount to Baba-Yaga this time in exchange for his beauty queen. He was in high spirit but mixed feeling not knowing what to expect.

He graciously handed the money and patiently waited for his bride. The bride was brought in, the spell had been reversed and she was allowed to go. Ivan embraced her and off they went.

On their way home, Ivan was downcast. He had gotten his beauty queen all right but something was wrong. He had spent all these years making Baba-Yaga rich in exchange for his queen but never made any preparation for her return.

He had no room for a couple, no job to sustain them and money to start with. Ivan went back to work for Baba-Yaga for the rest of his life to sustain his family. Baba-Yaga was forever regarded as wicked.

The story of Ivan is the very story of majority of all the working population of Ghana, a reflection of the African problem. Ivan knew how to plant the seeds, prune branches, water the plant, give manure where necessary, grow the plant, harvest, market and make money for Baba-Yaga but did not think those moneys could be his.

We all have the know-hows to make others rich but never think of how we can apply those skills to ourselves. We work so hard to make others rich as if a spell has placed on us and that until that spell is reversed, we cannot make ourselves rich.

Many employees stay in companies for 10, 20, 30, 40 and even 50 years enriching the owners. When these years are over, they are given long service awards of Televisions, Refrigerators, and Fans etc. They do not realise for those long years, the owner made hundreds of millions of dollars (not cedis).

The words: "pay raise", "secure" and "benefits" are usually found in the hearts and hence on the lips of employees. Employees ask for pay raises and they will never stop. Even in companies where salaries are relatively high, workers continue to ask for raise in pay.

This is because expenses will always rise to meet income; as the salaries are raised, expenses of employees rise to meet the new raised incomes squarely and they will demand for another raise soon.

Every employee is almost always in a dilemma as to whether a job is secure. The employee knows he/she could be sacked or pay deducted for misconduct.

In certain cases, employees are not certain of their salaries at the end of the month. There is constantly an intrinsic fear of losing one's job and therefore a desire for security.

Employees are always agitating for benefits. They want end-of-service benefits, pension benefits, health care benefits and all the benefits. Some workers recently took to the streets demanding a restoration of cap 30.

To most employees, security and benefits are more crucial than money and will go any extent to demand them and social security will always be their concern.

SELF-EMPLOYED
These are those who employ themselves. In other words, they are employers not of others but of themselves. They write applications with attached CVs, attend interviews and make pledges and vows to an employer (themselves).

They are bosses on their own and want to direct instead of being directed. They do it themselves instead of hiring someone to do it. This is because they think they're best at what they do (they are perfectionists).

They want their hard work to be paid for with hard money. Self-employed people want to dictate how much they make and not someone to give them what they are due.

Money is not the motivational factor for most self-employed; it is the desire to achieve results and achieve perfect results that they think they alone can achieve best. They like it their way and their style and if you don't give them the freedom to operate; they will leave the job.

This category includes surgeons, dentists, consultants, lawyers, preachers, as well as electricians, carpenters, plumbers, artists, hair¬dressers, dress-makers and fashion designers, etc.

The self-employed have control of their times. Thus unlike the employees whose times are dictated by their employers, the self-employed dictate their own time. However, the self-employed's money stops flowing when he/she is absent. Because the owner has to do it him/herself, the work will remain undone when one is absent.

BUSINESS OWNER
Business owners are NOT self-employed people. In fact, business owners are directly opposite to self-employed people. This group have all the abilities and skills as the self-employed but they do not do it themselves.

Instead, they operate a system that takes care of the business. To put it in another way, they lead people effectively and efficiently and the people run the business. Business owners hire people from the other groups (unemployed, employees and self-employed) and utilises their potential, talents, skills, services etc. to their benefit.

The business owners may have knowledge of the various fields of the business but instead of applying those skills personally, they hire others who are experts in those fields, pay them well and get the best results.

In this way, there is perfection in all aspects of the business and it's bound to produce great results. The business owners do not bother about the day-to-day running of each section of the business.

Let us take an illustration to differentiate between self-employed and business owners.

Vida owned a hairdressing saloon called Vidash Hair do. She had apprentices who worked under her. She gets to work at 9:30 am and every apprentice should be there before she arrived at that time. The most senior apprentice took charge in her absence.

Vida was a great hairstylist and added value to dressing hairs such that most customers would wait for hours to let her have a touch of their hair. Due to her value-added hairdressing, she got new customers every day.

Vida usually closes late in the night and ensures she has attended to and satisfied most of her customers before she left. When a customer comes at the time she was closing her doors, Vida would graciously attend to the person before closing.

She had won the hearts of many and many would not have their hair done anywhere else.
Vida caught a mysterious disease that kept her on the sick bed for six months. For the first two months of her sickness, some customers remained "faithful" to Vidash hairdo.

They agonisingly permitted the most senior to style with the hope that Vida will recover soon to take care of them. When Vida's illness persisted however, they could no longer "damage" their hairs and had to find other experts to take care of their hair.

By the time Vida came back, even some of her apprentices had left not to mention more customers.

After attending a seminar on owing a business, Vida was able to bounce back. Not just bounced back but bigger this time. She moved into a bigger and more spacious apartment; designated the spaces into various compartments as manicure and pedicure section, weave-on and corn-roll section and massage unit.

There was a specialist in charge of each unit. She renamed the saloon Vidash Beauty complex and the saloon operated 24/7.

She hired four more expert hairstylists, manicure and pedicure experts, corn roll and weave-on experts, as well as body massage experts. She went ahead to hire one expert accountant, an auditor, a marketer and a purchaser.

She also hired a human resource person to take care of customer demands and complains; cleaners to consistently maintain the beauty of the place, security and door men who warmly welcome customers at the door and other auxiliary staff.

Vida did not have to be physically present every day. She concentrated on opening more branches and hiring more experts for specific needs. She now had more time for funerals, naming ceremonies, church activities, etc. and if she got sick again, she knew her business would only give her more money and not collapse.

Before Vida got sick she was self-employed. After her recovery, she owed a business.

The difference is obvious. Many people go to school, pursue it to the highest level they can and learn how to write appealing CVs. The minority (in Ghana, the percentage may be below 5%), go to school and learn to write very good business plans to set up big businesses.

I have given you an exposition into the various earners we have. Decide where you want to generate your income from. Whatever type of earner you are, some money will be put in your pocket. I for one, I want to be the greatest business owner of my generation.

WANNA BE RICH?

2008-11-14T01:18:00.000-08:00

INVESTMENT IS THE SECRET OF THE RICH
Most people think investment is such a complex issue meant for only a group of experts or the rich. With just 5 cedis a month, anybody can secure a future with Databank's Epack. With this 5 cedis you can make a million in 10 years but the numbers of people who are really into investing are woefully inadequate.

I do not blame anybody because financial matters are simply not issues discussed in Ghanaian schools or homes. I personally got to know about investments in shares, bonds and all these financial issues way after graduating from a tertiary school.

People dump large sums of money in the banks only to receive insignificant interests after long years.

Whatever type of earner you are (employee, self-employed or business owner), you can and will become rich by investing part (not even all) of your money wisely. It is not how much you earn but how well you invest that will determine whether you'll be rich or poor.

This is why a drop-out graduate who gets something going and invests wisely can become richer than the best institutional graduate. That is why becoming rich has very little to do with schooling.

You may take this advice, for every income, give 10% to God (make sure you don't "chop" it), 10% to insurance and emergencies, and for long term investments (Shares, bonds, mutual funds etc.). You can increase the percentage to be invested as you earn more. For students, remember the advice on your loan.

Every individual can secure a future with little savings and become wealthy if more money is generated from business and invested wisely.

LACK OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL
The good book says: love of money is the root of all evil and I believe that. But many have misunderstood this passage to mean that money is not so important and they grow poorer and poorer. A chunk of believers are backsliding for lack of money.

The first step to getting money is to change your perception about it. If you think money is for some group of people, so shall it be. One of the laws of money states that there is ample supply of money for everyone who really wants it.

People are rich because they decided to be rich; People are poor because they haven't yet decided to be rich. So you see the difference between the rich and the poor is just a DECISION.

DON'T JOIN THE NEW ORDER SLAVES
There is a new order of slavery and many are joining the bandwagon. Millions of Africans are hurriedly seeking visas to the USA, Britain, Spain etc. to become slaves to the same people who enslaved us years ago.

This time, they are not putting chains on our necks and forcing us into ships. On a daily basis, people sleep at the doors of embassies of the slave master waiting to be given the license to go plug their tomatoes in Italy, care for their old ladies in USA, and wash their cars in London.

To make the slavery more palatable, the slave masters have introduced a visa lottery and statistics have shown that African countries (Ghana and Nigeria especially) are among the countries that apply most for these visas.

This is disheartening. Why is nobody seeing something wrong with this new order of slavery? Why is nobody fighting it the way they fought the old system? I wonder why.

Painfully, our very educated men and women including professors, throw all they studied to the wind to join the very slavery they lecture against. If knowing history is to help shape our future, then there is an intellectual dishonesty here.

People can give various reasons why they must go to these countries to make their lives better but I put it to you that God knew all the conditions in the country and placed you there to help change those conditions.

Our doctors are going, our nurses are going, our engineers are going, our technicians are going, our pastors are going and who else is not going?

Please reader; do not join this bandwagon of slavery. Slavery in the nineteenth century you read about in history books has not changed a bit; only the methods have advanced in technology with the information age.

Many have stayed and made it here in Ghana and I bet you can make it here too.

DON'T COPY, START!
Someone started the forex bureau and today, they are in every corner. Someone started a communication centre and communication centres are uncountable.

Someone started "pure water" production and maybe you know the number of pure water producers. There are too many vision copiers in the system.

Don't be a vision copier! Start your own. You are a genius with great creativity in you. Just as all phone numbers contain the same 0-9 numbers, yet all billion humans can have different phone numbers, so does every individual have a combination of intelligences that makes him/her so unique.

Explore your creative powers and be unique because that is what you are. Develop the entrepreneurial skills in you and be yourself.

START NOW
Most want to start their own but want to make huge sums of money before they start. Research has shown that most people who start with little moneys from friends and relatives are likely to succeed than those who start with huge sums. Start with anything little in your hands.

It does not take money to achieve your dreams but the level of determination to achieving those dreams will make you succeed. Crawl before you walk else you'll break your legs.

STUDY, STUDY, STUDY AND STUDY
Never let your mind stay idle. Read about anything in your chosen field. Find out how great people in that field made it great. Study enough to be stronger in your field.

The good book puts it better and let me add my version: study to show yourself approved; a work person who does not need to be afraid of his/her field but rightly distinguishing him/herself in that field.

Listen to cassettes and people that will add to the knowledge of your field.

Do not close your eyes from money matters. Do not leave the financial news to those who are interested. Many Ghanaians, adults and children alike are never interested in news bulletins not to talk of financial news.

Thanks to FM stations that broadcast in local languages, many have gradually become not only listeners but contributors to radio programs. Financial news however, remains most unpopular program on radio and TV, Listen to the business and financial news, read business and financial newspapers, listen to anything financial.

Go to financial seminars and programs and get educated on new ways of uplifting your financial status. Invest first in your education about money to begin your journey to financial independence. Be financially informed.

BE VISIONARY
On the night of 31st December last year, what did you pray about? What plan did you take to God? I asked a friend these questions and the answers were: God should give me a good man to marry this year, God should help me get my own kiosk to start a dress making shop and many things about my life.

So many people do not have goals and they make vague prayers yet expect results. Tell God you want this kind of man before that time, and want to marry this month of that year.

Tell God you want this type of shop situated in this location and how you're going to work towards achieving it.

Be specific; be sure it is achievable, realistic and time-bound. Don't just have the goals in your head, write them down, paste on your wall and refer to it daily.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE
You might have worked for so many years as an employee and it scares you and makes
you think it's too late. I want you to know it's never too late to make amends. No matter your age or circumstances, you can make it great with extra determination.

BE POSITIVE
Do not engage in any illegal business; you will never get away with it. Don't cheat; you will be cheated greater than you did. Mind your tongue; you will be creating your future by the words you speak. Never use the following words:
> I can't afford it (say: how can I afford it)

> I'm not interested in money (say: money is all I need)

> Money isn't everything (money is everything)

> Investing is risky (risk in investing can be managed)

> I'll never be rich (I will be one of the richest in my generation)

> I am poor (I am rich)

TIME IS MONEY
Some companies presented proposals to the electoral commission for a multimillion contract concerning an in-coming election. They approved one of the companies that had very good proposal and seemed most competent.

On the day of presenting the contract to the chosen company, they arrived some minutes late and the commission awarded the contract to the second best. The day I heard this story on one of the TV stations, I was so excited that time is still money in Ghana.

GET OUT OF THE RAT RACE
There is a rat race and millions are joining daily. Go to school - Get good grades - Get good CVs - Get good jobs - Get indebted and middle income for life - Die with unpaid loans for a car or house.

So many graduates from the universities, polytechnics, teacher training, nursing, professional courses etc. are all joining the rat race. Please run out of the net and do something different with thy life.

HOW TO PICK STOCKS WISELY

2008-10-31T14:34:00.000-07:00

IT is very easy to identify the stocks that have performed strongly in the past year but how do you spot those that have the potential to perform strongly in future?

There is a no simple, single answer to this question because a myriad of factors underpin how stock prices behave. In this article, I will try to identify some of the key factors that investors need to focus on in an attempt to pick the most successful stocks.

First, companies that have a combination of strong earnings growth and positive stock price momentum usually generate the best returns. In the attempt to identify companies that are churning out fast earnings growth, emphasis must also be put on the quality of the reported earnings. This means that the investor must look out for consistency in growth.

A reported strong earnings growth is likely to create little value if the previous year’s earnings are minuscule. It often makes good judgement to avoid companies with high recent earnings growth but losses or no earnings in the previous years or worst still those companies that have a choppy earnings record whereby they report profits in one year and losses in another year several years.

Second, the astute stock picker does not only look at earnings but also usually goes for companies that generate good cash as well. It is important that the investor understand that accounting earnings do not necessarily translate into cash.

Companies may report significant differences in earnings and cash because of a myriad of factors including the inability to collect funds on credit sales, huge depreciation charges, accrued interest expenses, etc. It is usually a bad signal when a company is reporting high earnings not backed by good cash flow. This could sometimes even signal that accounting fraud is being committed.

One other reason why cash flow is an important factor to be considered is that dividends are paid out of cash flow and not out of earnings. Thus a company reporting high earning but little cash position is unlikely to pay dividends.

Such a company may also resort to heavy borrowing which will normally increase the risk of the company or its potentials to go bankrupt. Poor cash flow may also signal management’s inefficiency and ineffectiveness in managing working capital.

Third the good bullish candidates are companies that have new products, new services, new or expanding markets and sometimes new management that are fuelling the accelerated earnings growth.

In addition, the company should be trading at an attractive earnings multiple or what is popularly known as the price earnings ratio (PER) at the time of purchase. The price earnings ratio tells you how many cedis you are paying for each cedi worth of profit the company made in the previous year and therefore is generally understood as defining how cheap or expensive a stock is. For example, a company with a PER of 10x means if you buy this stock, you will be paying ¢10 for each ¢1 profit the company made last year.

This ratio also in broad terms defines the present value of growth opportunities that a company has such that a company with a high growth potential should normally have a high PER and vice versa. That means, all other things being equal, a company’s stock is potentially underpriced in the stock market if the company has a strong earnings growth potential but a low PER. This is the kind of company an astute investor fishes out for.

Another reason why the astute investor must look out for low PER stocks with high growth potential is that, theoretically, the ratio is a rough measure of risk. Companies with low growth potential are generally more risky since they are theoretically perceived to have lower growth prospects.

This is the kind of philosophy that underpins the phenomenon whereby emerging markets stocks which are perceived to be risky tend to have lower PERs compared to developed markets stocks which are perceived to be less risky.

It is therefore a natural deduction that emerging markets tend to generate higher returns than developed markets because higher returns should compensate investors for the higher perceived risks they take.

To illustrate this further, a £1000 investment in an emerging marketing growth portfolio 20 years ago would have grown to £88,182.82 now, which translates into an average annual return of 25.10 percent. However, the same investors in a UK growth portfolio will be worth only £4.520.60 now, which is equivalent to an average annual return of only 7.8 percent. It is this same risk-return relationship that explains why low PER stocks generally tend to outperform high PER stocks over the long-term.

The astute investor is the one that looks for stocks that are not as risky as what the stock market perceives them to be and this he does by picking low PER stocks with strong growth potential. A company that has a low PER, strong growth prospects and a stock price close to its highest price in the past 12 months is usually an excellent bargain.

One way to assess if a company’s PER too the historical average PER of the company as well as the average current and historical PER of the entire stock market.

Furthermore, the astute stock picker tends to focus on industry leaders. This he does by picking and sticking to one or two of the strongest stocks in an industry. A rough way to do this is to look for relative strength which involves picking the stocks with the best price momentum relative to the overall market over the past 12 months.

Picking companies with high return on equity ratios relative to their peers is also generally a good way of identifying industry leaders.

In addition, since a company’s share price reflects the demand and supply for its shares in the stock market it is sometimes a very important factor to consider. Normally, if demand exceeds supply for a particular share, the price moves up and vice versa.

Thus, usually, when good news arrives, the stocks that have the best potential to rally sharply are those with limited supply of shares because there simply would not be enough available to satisfy buyer demand.

Sometimes a company may have a large number of issued shares but most of them may be in the ownership of one or two institutional strategic investors who hardly sell and this creates an artificial shortage of the shares.

A company that has such an ownership structure with a good management team and growth prospects is also often a very good pick.

One other good reason for buying shares in a company with a concentrated ownership structure is that large institutional investors are usually able to exert stronger unified control on management such that these types of companies usually tend to exhibit better corporate governance.

Numerous studies by researchers show that companies with concentrated ownership tend to have better corporate governance relative to companies with widely dispersed ownership. However, it is important to know that a limited supply of shares cannot guarantee lasting success, if the company is fundamentally not performing well.

In sum, it is important to observe that astute stock market investor is the one that has enough patience to ignore short-term market gyrations and instead focuses on the long-term value in his portfolio, armed with the philosophy that he is first and foremost investing in a business and must therefore only pick companies that have good potential at the right price.
– Frank Senyo Dewotor (Databank group)

WHY FEW PROSPER

2008-10-31T14:20:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone will prefer financial abundance to its counterpart either now or in the near future, but this is not the case for most people.

Some handful of Ghanaians can be said to be financially well-off, most of whom are from the Gold Coast era that did not have access, if any at all, to education and information technology with enormous benefits as the youth of today have.

But there are many indications that if the youths of our time do not change their lifestyles with regard to monetary issues, then most if not all of them will end up being broke.

Zig Ziglar, an author and motivational speaker once said, “Just anybody can succeed if he cares to know what it takes.” In this vein the person who wants to experience financial sufficiency may be asking, how can I achieve it? It is basically believed that there are three elements namely; working, saving and investing which can make one wealthy.

You may be saying "there aren’t work avenues in this economy, I don’t earn enough and if the latter is not the case, where then do I invest or into which product or service?”

About 81 percent of all workers, according to a research, are not satisfied with what they are doing and you will agree with me that most people will prefer working for others under any condition than discovering, developing their ideas and talents and working in fields best fit for them owing to their perceived reasons.

Historically however, for someone to be really prosperous, that fellow has had to be an entrepreneur, whom in simple terms combines the other factors of production to satisfy wants. Some of yester-year’s multibillionaire entrepreneurs are John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Charles Schwab, Henry Ford, Theodore Roosevelt, W. Wool worth, Woodrow Wilson etc whilst Bill Gates is of our days.

You may not be an entrepreneur this very moment because you don’t have the capital or skill. To be an entrepreneur, the first thing you need is a good idea which when implemented; people will be willing to exchange their monies for.

In general, people exchange their hard earned monies for only two benefits, that is, good feelings and solutions to problems. Also, how much people are willing to pay you for what you do is determined by what you do, how well you do it and how difficult it would be replacing you.

Besides, it is believed that the average person has about 10,000 flashes of ideas in a day which may be captured on cassette recorders or jotting them down as Dr.Mike Murdock asserted in one of his books that you can talk six times faster than you can write. To buttress his point, the philosopher, Eric Hoffer wrote “that which is unique and worthwhile in us makes itself felt only in flashes. If we do not know how to catch and savour these flashes, we are without growth and exhilaration.

It is vital to note where we usually experience most of our ideas, for Archimedes got the insight for his law while bathing insight for his law while bathing, Charles Darwin’s theory occurred to him while in a carriage and Isaac Newton was sitting under a tree when an apple fell on him.

Meanwhile, with a viable idea on paper in a proposal form, capital is most likely to be accessed from sources like the banks, friends, relations etc.

Also, for you to be prosperous, find out what brings you much pleasure; execute and provide it in a professional manner so that there will be a larger market for it. Dr Murdock couldn’t be wrong when he said “passion is a pointer to be problems you are created to solve.”

Saving involves setting aside small amount of monies to enable us embark on a (some) projects(s) in the near future. Such monies may be put into savings accounts, buying treasury bills to cite but a few which give the saver a predetermined rate of interest without risk. To choose among the various saving products, it is incumbent on one to know how much interest he / she will be receiving and how long it will take for the amount invested to double.

FREE MEDICAL SCREENING FOR CHURCHES

2008-10-19T03:19:00.000-07:00

Salute in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. “For lack of knowledge, my people perish” (Hosea 4:6). We are organising an “almost free” screening for all interested churches between 1st November and 31st December, 2008.
The screening includes Hepatitis B, Blood Group, Pressure, Heartbeat and Weight. All these tests go for only GH ¢ 5.00 per head. The date and time for the tests will be chosen by you and confirmed with us for our convenience. A talk on the tests may also be given before tests at your own convenience.
We would be grateful if you get back to us on 0242-952-110
God bless us all.