Ghana goes digital for sustainable economic development

By Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

  From Analogue to  Digital  Television 

A simple African proverb advises:  “If your friend is more handsome than you are, admit it and praise him.” Both of you will be happy and support each other.

Once upon a time, there lived Hyena and Tortoise.That was even long before the sun started rising from the east and setting in the west. Hyena and Tortoise were neither friends nor enemies. But none of them appreciated anything good about the other.  

One day, Kweku Ananse who was the Governor of the animal kingdom, invited all dwellers of the kingdom for an international conference that would be beheld in his palace. Hyena and Tortoise were to attend this conference where very important issues relating to sustainable development were to be discussed. Otherwise their children would perish through hunger and starvation.

Hyena and Tortoise had to travel for three days to reach the conference venue. At that time the only means of transport available was “AD One, One” that is, walking.  There was no horse, no bicycle, no car, no ship, let alone an airplane.

Because Tortoise knew that he was not fast enough in walking, he set off four days before the conference day. He knew it would take him three days to get to his destiny and needed at least one extra day to take some rest and prepare himself very well for the main event so that he would not dose off and snore during the conference session.  

On the other hand, because Hyena also knew that he could run faster than all the animals in the kingdom, he waited and set off two days to the conference. On the way, he saw some delicious carcass and said to himself: “Let me sit down for a moment and enjoy this delicacy before I continue with my journey.”

Just as Hyena was about devouring his feast, another Hyena appeared from nowhere. Then another, and another and they started fighting over the meal. Hyena spent the entire day fighting but could not even get a morsel of the meat to eat. He became so exhausted by the time the fight ended that he could not get enough energy to run as fast as he could have done. Hence, Hyena could not to reach his destination before the conference started. The doors were locked when Governor Kweku Ananse entered the conference hall. Sometimes, over confidence does not pay.

The object of this article is not to tell a story to children by the fire side. But to commend the Ministry of Communications, (MoC) the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Digital Broadcasting Migration Committee (DBMC) for officially launching Ghana’s Digital Migration Publicity Campaign recently.

It is imperative to underscore the fact that, Publicity Campaign for such a crucial national event cannot take place without a broadcasting policy. Such a policy then becomes the rock upon which the entire broadcasting structure must be built for national development. As a developing country, Ghana cannot and should not allow the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution that has reduced the entire world into a miniature community to pass by.  

In fact, Africa as a whole must no longer sit down with hands in lap, staring into the empty air for the Information revolution to pass by as the industrial revolution did a couple of centuries ago. This time around, posterity will not forgive the Continent for negligence of responsibility.  It is against this background that the formulation of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Broadcasting Policy before the launch of Digital Migration Publicity Campaign was in the right direction.

It is relevant to enlighten Ghanaian youths that it is over 80 years since broadcasting started in Ghana. It was precisely in July 1935 when our colonial master, the British, introduced a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) relay station in our capital city Accra. That station was code-named radio ZOY.

There was nothing like the now defunct Radio Eye, established by Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby aka Tarzan, Joy FM, Radio Gold, Peace FM, or what have you?  At that time broadcasting in Ghana was mainly radio, and Radio Ghana was the champion. The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) was the only and supreme broadcasting station in the country, monopolizing the airwaves.

It was only the state that owned and controlled radio stations. The word competition did not exist in the broadcasting dictionary in the country. As for television broadcasting, it is a baby industry. It was born as recently as 1965. That was, eight solid years after Ghana’s independence in 1957. So, even those who were born a year after independence were older than television broadcasting in Ghana.  Television broadcasting at the time was in black and white. Colour television was introduced in 1985 and most of the children born in the 1990s may not have watched black and while images on a screen before.

Since 1965, what is technically referred to as “Terrestrial Television broadcasting in Ghana has been in analogue.  Records show that it was in 2008 that a pilot terrestrial Digital Video Broadcasting system (DVB-T) was installed by GBC here in Accra.

As narrated in the story above, Ghana knew that she could not technologically run as fast as some advanced nations (Hyena), so she started gradually but steadily as (Tortoise).  Ghana set off on the journey from analogue to digital broadcasting destination slowly. In 2010, GBC launched a DVB-T transmission network in Accra and Kumasi. That was how Ghana started the process of migration from analogue broadcasting to Digital Migration Television (DTT).

Various Governments since independence were cautious and prudent but progressive in this regard. One of the objectives is to ensure that the DTT process was well coordinated and organised systematically. To this end, a committee of experts known as Digital Broadcasting Migration Committee (DBMC) was set up. Through the work of this committee, Government hit the ground running with DVB-T2 transmission in 2013. There is no doubt that, like Tortoise, Ghana will slowly but surely reach the digital television-broadcasting destination before the appointed time.  

Dr Edward Omane-Boamah, Ghana’s Minister for Communications who officially launched the DTT Broadcasting Policy recently, informed the nation that Ghana’s migration from analogue to digital broadcasting would be carried out in phases, “with the ‘switch on’ of digital transmission, preceding the ‘switch off’ of analogue transmission on September 21, 2017.” The policy document can easily be accessed on the Ministry’s website http://www.moc.gov.gh/images/Articles/Draft-DTT-Policy--2016.pdf.

The 1992 Republican Constitution does not allow any institution to do things as they please. The Ministry of Communications and its Agencies cannot wake up one morning and dictate to Ghanaians how the DTT Broadcasting Policy must be implemented. “Kpaooo!”

Legal and Regulatory Framework had to be put in place first. This is one reason why sometimes people with revolutionary spirit feel a bit frustrated. According to the Policy, certain existing laws, policies and regulations that must guide the effective implementation of the digital policy ought to be amended accordingly.

The DTT Policy document identifies the following among other things:  

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Decree, 1968, (NLCD 226); the National Media Commission Act, 1993, (Act 449); the National Media Commission Policy, 2000; the National Media Commission Broadcasting Standards, 2000; the National Media Commission Guidelines for local language broadcasting, 2000 and the National Communications Authority Act, 2008 (Act 769).

The rest are the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775); the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772); the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (LI991) and the National Telecommunications Policy, 2005.  As you can see, democracy goes hand in hand with patience. This is why, as a nation that has adopted democratic principles, sometimes, we should not be too harsh with ourselves.

Another major objective of the DTT Policy as underlined in the policy document is to guarantee the availability of all existing terrestrial analogue television stations in digital formats in at least their current existing coverage areas. In other words, when the policy is fully implemented, no television stations will be denied or deprived of extending its broadcasting services to its current coverage areas. That is my layman’s understanding of that objective.

The objective that fascinates me most states: “To free up relevant spectrum of economic value from the broadcasting service for telecommunication and other services of value to the state. If I understand this objective right, then Ghana should be better off economically with the implementation of the DTT Policy.

As a developing country, Ghana must ensure that all  available natural resources including all factors of production,  be it land, sea, air as well as “relevant spectrum” are put to productive  use for sustainable economic development for the prosperity  of present and future generations of our beloved mother and – Ghana.

The author works with Information Services Department (ISD) in Accra.

Ghanaian Scientists and Journalists brainstorm on Biotech/GM Crops for sustainable development

By Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

A sample of genetically modified crops 

Do you remember this popular adage that: When two elephants fight it is the grasses that bear the consequences?”

Well, journalists and scientists may not be seen to be elephants physically but when they clash ideologically on issues of livelihood, woe unto society. In recent times, there seems to be an increasing agitation over genetically modified (GM) crops, especially food crops globally. In Ghana, what can be characterised as “Anti-GM Movement” activists are gaining consciousness and if care is not taken to come to some consensus Ghana may be the loser to the detriment food security and sustainability of the country.

On Thursday, 26 May 2016, Ghana’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (CSRI-PGRRI) organised a workshop for Ghanaian Science and Environmental Journalists at Bonsu in the Eastern Region of the country. The occasion was also used to formally launch what was dubbed as Global Status of Biotech/GM Crops.

Dr. Lawrence Aboagye, Director, CSIR-PGRRI, delivered a thought-provoking address on “The threats to Food Security in Ghana” and the role his Institute could play to save the situation. Professor Walter Sandow Alhassan, Consultant and former Director of CSIR made a presentation on 2015 Global Status of Biotech/GM Crops and launched the event.  Since the workshop was meant for journalists, a Media Consultant Ama Kudom-Agyeman presented the media perspectives, prospects and challenges of Biotech/GM Crops.

In this article the writer does not intend to play to the gallery on the pros and cons of Biotech/GM Crops. Rather, the workshop revealed that Ghanaian scientists are doing a magnificent job in terms of the protection and preservation of some food crops and plants for sustainable development of the country. Some of the things our scientists are doing to ensure food security for the present and future generations is my concern here.

Unfortunately, it seems to me the efforts of our scientists are receiving little attention in terms of resource allocation to enable them to do more for the nation. It was so disheartening to learn that some of the rare plant discoveries and products created by Ghanaian scientists are not registered for lack of funds for the nation to own the copyright or patent of such products. Why? What is our priority as a nation?  I suggest immediately that Ghana’s Parliament must take a critical look at the laws of the land with particular reference to copyright and patent laws. Some specific Fund like District Assemblies Fund must be created for Scientific Discovery for the nation.

Business

Dr Aboagye of told journalist at the workshop that Ghanaian scientists have made it their business to embark on what is technically referred to as “Collection of germ plasm.”  This is a big word for nothing. It simply means the assembling of a wide range of plant species. It is normally undertaken when field surveys show that a particular plant is being threatened with extinction. For example, in Ghana those who know “brobe” a kind of big cocoyam that grows very well in swamping areas. This delicious tuber, which can be used for “mportorpomtor” seems to be vanishing among our food crops.  But, now Ghanaian scientists have genetically engineered this food crop so that farmers are going to get the seedling free of charge to cultivate.

This is commendable as far as food security is concerned. In fact, in Ghana in the past whenever yam and cocoyam are out of season it was this “brobe” that prevent hunger and starvation until new yam season emerged again. And our hardworking women engage in the frying of this “brobe”.  School children and adults alike consumed it like no man’s business. Sometimes we Ghanaians take some of our own inventions for granted.

Because I am a layman, I do not want to pretend and use scientific and technical jargons in this article at all. For example, sometimes when we hear words like “genetic” then we jump to conclusion that it’s some chemicals that are pumped into food crops to kill us.  Dr Aboagye says when scientists refer to terms like “Plant genetic resources (PGR) they are talking about those plant materials containing actual or potential values. It has nothing to do with chemicals.

He explains that those are the basic raw materials for “crop improvement today and for the future”. So, according to the scientist, genetic resources of plants could be found in wild and weedy relatives, landraces, of plant of pre-scientific agriculture, known as bred varieties, which are no longer in use. So, the advanced varieties that are in current use as well as genetic stocks are obtained through “mutation” or DNA. I am still trying to break down the language for our Junior High School future scientists to understand.

In mass communication, when the student understands you then the Professor will understand you. But if the Professor understands you and the student does not, then you have not communicated at all. This is the difference between a scientist and a journalist. A journalist does not necessarily have to be a scientist to write about scientific matters.

Work

 And if scientists fail to communicate to the understanding of ordinary man in the street, society will not appreciate the great work they are doing. That is why politicians may allocate some funds for other things while vital research materials are gathering dusts to the detriment of society.

Still talking about germ plasm as explained above, Ghanaian scientists do no only restrict themselves to local environs. They chase other valuable plants particularly to places of origin where broader diversity is envisioned. For example, if they want to introduce materials from other countries to augment their local genetic stock, they have to go there physically.

And in collecting of this vital foreign germ plasm, the have to use what is technically referred as “passport data” which is the basic information on the plants concerned. This can be in the area of agronomy, ecology or name it. Sometimes, they have to adopt local name usage of this plants as well as indigenous knowledge for documentation purposes.

 This means that Ghanaian scientists do not underrate or look down upon our own traditional plants. That is why in Ghana there are clinics and hospitals like Mampong

  Herbal Research Center.

In fact the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is training doctors who specialise in the application of traditional medicine. So, apart from food crops like cassava, yams and others, to ensure food security, Ghanaians scientists are also researching, documenting cash crops such as cocoa, sheanuts as well as genetically engineering medicinal plants for sustainable development of our beloved country.

It is therefore, suggested that the nation must make available to Ghanaian scientists all the necessary financial and logistic resources to enable them to contribute to the economic prosperity of our motherland Ghana.

The author works with Information Services Department (ISD) in Accra  abissath@gmail.com

Effects of Corruption on Sustainable Development in Africa

By Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

Some of the world leaders at the Anti-Corruption Submmit 2016

An American IT guru, Marto Thomas, once said: “There are two kinds of people in the world: Givers and Takers. The Takers may eat better, but the Givers sleep better.”   

However, when it comes to matters of corruption, the popular saying is that: “Both the Giver and the Taker are guilty.”

On Wednesday, 11 May 2016, while in London to participate in the Ant-Corruption Summit in that country, the calm, cool and soft-spoken President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria told the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron something to this effect: “Keep your apologies and return my stolen moneys to me.” Obviously, he was provoked when Prime Minister, Cameron ‘framed’ Nigeria as “fantastically corrupt.”

President Buhari, on that occasion described corruption as “hydra-headed monster which threatened the security of countries and does not differentiate between developed and developing countries.” But when the wise Nigerian leader was reported by BBC to have said that he was not “demanding any apology from anybody but return of stolen money,” he must be speaking not only for Nigeria but for the entire Africa continent because it was not only Nigeria whose money was stolen by the morally gargantuan-corrupt advanced nations.   

Nine years ago, exactly, in 2007 when President Buhari was no nowhere near the seat of government, Dr. Gbenga Lawal of Olabisi Obasanjo University in Nigeria published a scholarly article in the Humanity & Social Sciences Journal entitled “Corruption and Development in Africa: Challenges for Political and Economic Change.”  This writer finds that article today as relevant as the day it was published. And for the purpose of this write-up, it is important to share some of the salient points with the reader.

Dr Lawal defines Development in the article as a process by which a type of change is introduced into a system in order to produce a better production method and improved social arrangement. “It involves a structural transformation of the economy, society, polity and culture of a country.” He went further to explain that the level and rate of development of any particular society is influenced by so many variables such as the political culture, leadership and corruption.

Because this article is about corruption and development in Africa, I narrow the scope on the   subject matter. According to Dr Lawal, in Africa, corruption has been at the centre of development and an impediment of true and real development in the society. “Corruption has ravaged the entire African system, causing the continent to be the most corrupt in the world,” he opined.

The author was of the view that if Africa was to be saved from this infection, the endemic presence of corruption ought to be dealt with. Hear him: “Once corruption becomes entrenched, its negative effects multiply. It induces cynicism, because people begin to regard it as the norm. It undermines social values because people find it easier and more lucrative to engage in corruption than to seek legitimate employment. It erodes governmental legitimacy because it hampers the effective delivery of public goods and services. It limits economic growth because it reduces the amount of public resources, discourages private investment and saving and impedes the efficient use of government revenue and development assistance funds."

Even though the author was writing about corruption in Africa, he pointed out that the canker was a worldwide phenomenon which has long been with every society in the world. He lamented that corruption has been a bane of most political and economic problems in societies. He added:  “A nation that condones corruption is often besieged with a lot of economic, political and social vices.”

Dr. Lawal observed that corruption in African countries has become endemic, as such, it is found almost in all aspects of life. He said corruption deepens poverty and makes it difficult for ordinary people to get ahead as a result of their efforts.  He said different arguments have been put forward to explain the pervasiveness of corruption in Africa. These include poverty, the personalisation of public office, the political culture and the inability of leaders to overcome their colonial mentality in respect of their perception of public office.

Dr Lawal revealed in his article that in 1991 alone, United Nations estimated that more than $200billion in capital was siphoned out of Africa by the ruling elites. It added that, “This amount was more than half of Africa’s foreign debt of $300billion” at that time.

The Nigerian Professor quoted Ayittey (2002) as saying that “the wealth resulting from corruption also forms part of capital flight and on an annual basis, exceeds what comes into Africa as foreign aid.” The author again credited Ayittey (2002) to have argued that “the inviolate ethnic of the ruling elite in Africa is self-aggrandizement and self-perpetuation in power.”

For most of these corrupt African leaders to achieve their self-aggrandizement objectives, they take over and subvert every key institution of government to serve their needs and not that of the people. By so doing, various institutions as the Judiciary, Military, Media and Banking; and even various commissions with lofty ideals that are supposed to be non-partisan and neutral are also taken over and debauched.”  Thus, Dr Lawal concluded that the negative effects of corruption on sustainable development in Africa are more deadly than HIV/AIDS.

 Having said all this, this writer is still optimistic that there is hope for Africa. There is hope for Africa because, gradually but steadily, most of the immediate post-colonial African heads of state who are corrupt to the bone are fading out of African politics.  They are giving way to modern democratically elected leaders whose national constitutions, under the eagle eyes of the fearless media and fire brand civil society movements will not make it easy for them to siphon African funds into their private accounts abroad.

Again, on Thursday, 12 May 2016 when the actual Anti-Corruption Summit was held in London, the host Prime Minister, David Cameron announced that there would be a global plan to help recover stolen assets.  It was resolved that the said “Global Forum for Asset Recovery would bring together governments and law enforcement agencies to discuss returning assets to Nigeria, Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Tunisia.”  That meeting will be held in the US next year, to be co-hosted with UK, and supported by the UN and the World Bank.

As in Africa, when Nigeria sneezes all other countries catch a cold, so, too, when Nigeria’s “fantastically” stolen moneys are returned, all others shall follow suit. And Africa, our beloved continent shall be free of corruption, paving way for sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations of Africa.

The author works with Information Services Department ISD in Accra  abissath@gmail.com