IMANI Center for Policy and Education
IMANI Monthly Updates Report – Maiden Edition
Executive Note
Dear reader, partner and sympathizer of IMANI,
The IMU highlights all the activities IMANI has been engaged in for the month under review. In order to fulfil its mission and attain given objectives for specific programs and projects, IMANI deploys an array of strategic tools that vary from evidence-based research, publications, media engagements, stakeholder engagements to strategic communication. It is our fervent hope that this innovative communication tool will bring you more than ever closer to IMANI.
Programmes, Projects & Events
OSIWA and DANIDA Visits
From September 14 to 17, IMANI was a visiting home to officials of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and the Danish International Development Agency (DANDA). The visits were undertaken as part of the partnership protocols that exist between IMANI and the two aforementioned organisations.
OSIWA’s mission is to enable open societies and inclusive democratic governance that are based on transparent and accountable institutions and an active citizenry. Over the past two years, IMANI and OSIWA have undertaken joint projects and initiatives that aim to fulfil each party’s mission. One of such projects being a Budget Tracking and Analysis for the Social and Economic Sectors. The project was to monitor and track trends in policies relating to the social and productive sectors of the economy as well as budgetary allocations, disbursements and actual expenditure to decipher consistency and delivery of development goals and whether they had a positive impact on the Ghanaian economy or otherwise.
The objective of DANIDA also refereed to Denmark’s Development Corporation is to reduce poverty through the promotion of human rights and economic growth. IMANI works with DANIDA on the Tax and Development Programme. The Programme is designed to support the exit phase for Denmark’s participation in general budget support and as a complementary measure to support economic governance and the sustainability of Government of Ghana public finances.
Officials of the two organisations expressed satisfaction on the progress of work.
IMANI Francophone
In case you didn’t know, IMANI currently operates in Francophone West Africa. Referred to as IMANI Francophone, the francophone extension of IMANI has been focusing on the politics and economies of Francophone and Lusophone countries with special reports on upcoming elections in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Guinea among others.
As part of its activities, The IMANI Francophone team will team up from 29th to 30th September with Malian think tank, Centre d’Etudes et de Reflexions au Mali, the public University of Mali in Bamako to deliver a course in effective think tank management in Mali.
IMANI Francophone works to: (i) influence policy decisions at all government levels, (ii) shape public opinion on issues of national interests (iii) and improve political, civil society and media activism in its different countries of intervention in the interest of development. Its thematic research areas include governance (political, economic, natural resources, agriculture, regional integration and trade and climate change.
The project, supported by Osiwa is in its pilot stage and currently operates in five West African countries – Togo, Benin, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea with at least one research assistant working on each country. For more information, download our mid-term report at www.imanighana.com or visit www.imanifrancophone.org
Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy 2015
From 25th to 29th August 2015, Youths with diverse backgrounds from different parts of Africa converged in Accra, Ghana for the 9th edition of the annual Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) seminar. Under the theme “Africa is rising, where is the evidence”, this year’s edition of SYPALA was designed to give participants practical perspectives to policy conception, formulation, implementation and evaluation. SYPALA 2015 attracted participation from over five countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Togo, South Africa…) with about fifty (50) representations. SYPALA was sponsored by our partner, the Atlas Network.
Learn more about SYPALA 2015 by downloading our report at the following address https://imaniafrica.org/2015/09/10/sypala-2015-report/ or visit the sypala website at www.sypala.org
IMANI Publications
IMANI Alert: Youth employment prospects & the educational system of Ghana
IMANI’s Ruby Nutor investigates the causes of youth unemployment in Ghana and makes recommendations. Read more at https://imaniafrica.org/youth-employment-prospects-the-educational-system-of-ghana/
How climate change is secretly disrupting your city (life)
IMANI’s intern, Ms Roshni Rajiv explains how climate change may be affecting you. Read on at https://imaniafrica.org/how-climate-change-is-secretly-disrupting-your-city-life/
IMANI Alert: 2009-2012 budget analyses advise a review of healthcare spending and practice
IMANI’s Bernice Owusu-Brown reviews government’s efficiency of spending in the health sector. Read more at https://imaniafrica.org/imani-alert-2009-2012-budget-analyses-advise-a-review-of-healthcare-spending-and-practice/
IMANI Report: How Ghana’s oil revenue was spent on pro-poor sectors and road infrastructure
IMANI’s Kofi Boanhen reports on how our petro dollars have been spent and why there must be focused spending. Read more at https://imaniafrica.org/how-ghanas-oil-revenue-was-spent-on-pro-poor-sectors-and-road-infrastructure/
Strategic Engagements
IMANI President Selected for UK Government Future International Leaders Programme
IMANI President has been selected to participate in the 2015/16 UK Government Future International Leaders Programme; a programme designed to connect and engage with future leaders from the emerging powers through an inward visits programme and subsequent engagement. Franklin will join 14 other leaders from a variety of different fields from around the world. Franklin will take part in a range of visits, discussions, and meetings with senior British decision makers and opinion formers. This will include UK leaders in Government (including a visit to No.10 Downing Street, the home of the Prime Minister), Parliament, the media, civil society, education, business and industry.
Franklin and previous participants recently had lunch with the British High Commissioner in Accra to discuss expectations and the future of Ghana.
Dinner with new Danish Ambassador to Ghana
IMANI President and his fellow board members on the Danish Government’s Private Sector Sounding Board welcomed the new Danish Ambassador to Ghana at a dinner held in her honour. Her Excellency Ambassador Tove Degnbol continued discussions held with her and the Ghanaian Ambassador to Denmark in Copenhagen in May 2015.Discussions centered largely on the need for greater integration of Danish and Ghanaian business opportunities as well as the political and business environment in Ghana. The dinner was an opportunity for the board and Ambassador to be briefed about the progress made on the programme formulation of the Support to Private Sector Development phase III (SPSD III.)
Discussion with West African Director for the State Department of the United States
IMANI President and selected colleague heads of civil society organizations met with visiting West African director of the State Department to discuss the political and economic future of Ghana.
IMANI in the media
Joy Debate: Bentil Vrs Akosa on Ghana’s dev’t plan
IMANI’s Vice President, Kofi Bentil debated a Commissioner of the NDPC on the feasibility of a 40-year development plan. Read more at http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2015/September-23rd/live-joy-debate-bentil-vrs-akosa-on-ghanas-devt-plan.php
Concentrate petroleum revenue on few key sectors of the economy – IMANI
IMANI advices government to concentrate petroleum revenues on few socioeconomic sectors of priority in order to maximize impact. Read more https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2015/09/14/concentrate-petroleum-revenue-on-few-key-sectors-of-the-economy-imani/
2009-2012 Budget Analyses Advise a Review of Healthcare Spending and Practice
Results from 2009-2012 Budget Analyses conducted by IMANI show the need for a review of Ghana’s Health Care spending…Read more http://allafrica.com/stories/201509171065.html
Youth Employment Prospects & the Educational System of Ghana
Unemployment remains a major development issue globally, and in Ghana, the rates are quite high especially among economically active population- the youth. Read more http://news.peacefmonline.com/pages/news/201509/255377.php
IMF doesn’t have all answers
The President of Policy Think Tank, IMANI Ghana, Mr. Franklin Cudjoe, said the country’s current economic woes were as a result of failure to prudently manage financial resources and not because of the IMF. Read more http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/IMF-doesn-t-have-all-answers-Lloyd-Amoah-383493
Correcting the misconceptions of LEAP programme
Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection responds to IMANI.
In the recent past, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has taken notice of some publications on the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme. One of such publications was published by policy think tank IMANI. The IMANI article in particular, was on what it called Read more http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/regional/Correcting-the-misconceptions-of-LEAP-programme-383794
IMANI commends Mahama for restructuring ECG
Ghanaweb.com
Executive Director of policy think tank IMANI Ghana Franklin Cudjoe has commended President John Mahama for the decision to massively restructure the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Read more http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/IMANI-commends-Mahama-for-restructuring-ECG-375837
Decentralize recruitment of doctors – Franklin Cudjoe
Ghanaweb.com
The President of policy think tank, IMANI GHANA, Franklin Cudjoe is asking government to decentralize the hiring and payment of doctors and other public servants across the country. According to him, this will help in finding a solution to the incessant strikes on the labour market. Government doctors, pharmacists and university teachers Read more http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Decentralize-recruitment-of-doctors-Franklin-Cudjoe-374327
40-year dev’t plan is a joke – Franklin Cudjoe
Ghanaweb.com
President of Think Tank IMANI GHANA, Franklin Cudjoe has described the 40-year development plan launched by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) as a ‘joke’. The development plan, according to him, is a laudable idea but believes it cannot be sustained until a medium term is achieved. The plan, spanning a period of 4 Read more http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/40-year-dev-t-plan-is-a-joke-Franklin-Cudjoe-373278
Do you have any suggestions, ideas, projects? Contact, the IMANI Communication Department at the following address:
Isidore Kpotufe, Communications Director
Location: NO. 44 Kinshasa Avenue, East Legon – Accra
Postal Address: P.O. BOX AT 411 Achimota-Accra
Telephone: +233 302 972939
Email: kisidore@imanifrancophone.org | isidorekpotufe@gmail.com / CC: info@imanighana.org
