Ghana: 'Gov't Receives IMF Cash From Back Door'

The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament has charged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cease further disbursement of monies to Ghana, per the three year bailout plan, as the deal has not been rectified by the Ghanaian Parliament.

According to the Minority, the Mahama Administration and the IMF have violated the laws of the country by approving and disbursing monies without parliamentary approval.

Addressing a news conference in Accra yesterday, the Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei and the Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander AfenyoMarkin said they were appalled that the IMF, with all its experience in the surveillance of its programs, would "condone such an egregious act" by the government of Ghana.

The Minority is urging IMF to, in the interim; defer extra disbursement of its credit facility to Ghana, till the contractual agreement about the bailout programme receives parliamentary approval.

Dr. Akoto Osei, delivering the Minority view said though Article 181 (3) of the constitution states that "no loan shall be raised by the government on behalf of itself or any other public institution or authority, otherwise than by or under the authority of an Act of Parliament," the ruling NDC administration has violated the law and went ahead to approve the deal without recourse to Parliament.

"President John Dramani Mahama has violated the Constitution as far as the IMF ECF loan is concerned.In this respect we strongly demand that the President takes immediate corrective measures and call on the Speaker to cause Parliament to be recalled to approve of or otherwise of the IMF ECF Loan.

"We demand further that this exercise be undertaken no later than by the end of this month, September 2015," observed Dr. AKoto Osei. According to the Ranking Member on Finance, should their demand fall on death ears, they would have no option than to use all avenues including going to court to ensure that the sanctity of the Constitution is protected.

Despite this demand for a recall of Parliament by the Speaker to rectify this gross violation of the Constitution, we reserve our right to use all avenues to ensure that the sanctity of the Constitution is protected should the government be adamant.

Background

The government of Ghana in August 2014, recognizing that its economic policy were not bringing the expected results, requested an arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help support stronger policy adjustment, restore market confidence and revive Ghana's "transformational agenda".

Under the IMF extended credit agreement, Ghana is to benefit from about US$918 million. The agreement aims torestore debt sustainability, rebuild external buffers and eliminate fiscal dominance of monetary policy.

Also it aims at restoring macroeconomic stability in the country to foster a return to high growth and job creation, while protecting social spending. Ghana is currently enjoying a three year IMF Extended Credit Facility worth US$918million. Since the approval on April 3, 2015, the Breton Woods Institution has released an amount of US$233.2 million to the government.

By LEGAL LINK INTERNATIONAL.WEST AFRICA BEAURAL 

MAFIAS WHO CHEWED UGANDA'S ROADS MONEY AND SOON GOING FREE

Rape, Stigma, Poverty - the Lot of Urban Refugees in Cameroon

Yaounde — Eleven-year-old Christian* and 13-year-old Pauline* stare down blankly at the health cards grasped tightly in their hands at the Red Cross medical centre in Cameroon's capital.

Both fled conflict in Central African Republic (CAR) in June 2013 and resettled as refugees in Yaoundé. Both have since been the victims of sexual assault and rape. Both are struggling to survive on their own in a large, foreign city.

Christian, his head still partly covered in medical tape, recalled what happened on 7 July when the two were returning home from the house of Mama Florence, a local Cameroonian woman who offers them food from time to time.

"Four thugs came out of an abandoned house, knife and screwdriver in hand," he told IRIN. "It was like a horror movie. We were forcibly taken inside [and raped]."

Pauline had already been attacked and raped once before in Yaoundé, in late 2014.

"In [CAR], I used to wish to die," she told IRIN. "I fled to escape that violence, but I still suffer. Maybe I should have died there, because here we are the prey of paedophiles."

No safety net in the city

There are no official figures, but many teenage refugees who end up scraping by in major cities across the globe are subjected to violence and sexual exploitation.

In rural areas, refugees are often welcomed in and cared for by host populations, whereas in cities they are not only on their own when it comes to finding food, shelter and other necessities, they are also often stigmatised and taken advantage of. Without the same support system, they are generally a lot more vulnerable.

"We are aware of the phenomenon of sexual abuse against refugees, particularly in Yaoundé," said Damien Noma, executive director of local NGO Respect Cameroon.

"The problem extends beyond refugees, of course, but most abusers are nationals who are aware of the status of their targets, and these aggressors tell them: 'you cannot complain because you are not at home.'"

Many urban refugees don't know their rights, or, if they do, they're too afraid to exercise them.

Christian and Pauline, for example, told LLI they didn't initially report their rapes because they were too frightened of the Cameroonian authorities.

"Most suffer more because there is a lack of knowledge of the laws and regulations and international conventions meant to protect them," said Noma. "The refugee just doesn't know that his rights go beyond the sole consideration of basic needs."

The stigma facing refugees here is considerable. They are often accused of being unruly, disrespectful, dirty, or of carrying disease. Others face frequent harassment by the police, including beatings, intimidation, illegal detention and corruption, according to Cameroon's Association of Human Rights.

Many female refugees end up becoming involved in prostitution or human trafficking.

"Last month, my girlfriend and I were rounded up and kept overnight, under the pretext that we were prostitutes," said Genevieve Anaki, an Ivoirian refugee in Yaoundé. "The policemen robbed us and demanded sexual favours before our release."

Gerard Tsamo, a lawyer in Yaoundé, told LLI: "They [urban refugees] are in constant danger, especially when it comes to violation, detention, deportation or sexual exploitation."

Is anyone helping?

In a country with high levels of joblessness - at least 6.3 million of Cameroon's overall population of 22 million were either unemployed or underemployed last year - extreme poverty is pervasive among urban refugees.

"Before the attack, I would shine shoes, wash cars, and sometimes stole just to survive," Pauline said.

The UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, says that in 2014 it offered humanitarian assistance and protection to some 14,000 refugees and asylum seekers residing in urban areas in Cameroon, in conjunction with the government.

Activities included documenting urban refugees so that they receive aid, improving community relations between local citizens and refugees, and ensuring that livelihood needs are met.

The police say they too are working to protect refugees - not to take advantage of them.

"It's wrong what you are told [about refugees being detained and beaten]," Paul Ella, a police officer in Yaoundé, told LLI. "The police here are responsible and we are well trained to respect human rights, even those of refugees."

Urban refugees here share the challenges of those living in the poorest neighbourhoods of Yaoundé, such as extreme poverty and limited access to basic services, but they also face additional barriers because of their uncertain legal status and lack of proper documentation.

"Access to rights... would build them up, inform them and engage them," Linda Oyongo, who works with Cameroon's Association of Human Rights, told LLI.