Seminar On Freedom And Property Held

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) in collaboration with IMANI: Centre for Policy and Education, a Ghanaian think-tank, has organised a seminar in Accra to educate politicians, economists, entrepreneurs as well as policy makers on the essence of developing and protecting property rights around the world. 

According to Mr Franklin Cudjoe, Executive Director of   IMANI, property right is basically the right to use, control and dispose off one's legitimately acquired property.

He noted that property is legitimate and psychologically, its acquisition enhances an individual's sense of identity and self-esteem while economically, property rights are the most efficient means of acquiring wealth. 

Mr Cudjoe advised that individuals to enjoy their property rights because Ghanaians are always calling for investors but the evidence of the backlog of cases pending in courts on land acquisition will definitely prevent them from investing since they will not want to lose their money.

A lecturer of Ashesi University and Senior Advisor of IMANI, Mr Kofi Bentil, who acted as the chairperson at the seminar, indicated that having things one can call his own is fundamental to human existence and therefore urged all to make efforts to express themselves in these things.

'Property right is just a way to make sure that an individual is able to attain certain things in life since ownership of property changes a person's mentality or mindset and as such is a noble thing for an individual to aspire to owe property.'

Mr Kofi Bentil dissuaded Ghanaians to have any problems with the aspiration of others to owe property or see it as greediness when people try to acquire property and called on Government not to destroy but raise the aspirations of people seeking to owe property by protecting property.

Mr Bice Osei Kuffour, known in showbiz circles as Obour, a musician, on his part, said that property rights is not only limited to lands but also to creative arts such as music.

He said that the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) leads the channel of development in a country since every creation one makes is an invention and therefore its protection will enhance more creativity.Speaking specifically on copyright in music, Mr Kuffour expressed some problems of copyright which he said are technology, the grading and low royalties paid for their work done which serves as their property.

He urged all musicians to unite so that together they can make meaningful impact and fight copyright while he called on government to pay attention to issues related to copyright and facilitate works on the bill that will pass the copyright law.

He further recommended the effective education of the IPR so that people will be more enlightened on its existence and what it stands for.

Mr Herald Klein, Head, International Programmes FNF, Germany, in a brief background to the seminar revealed that the FNF is a German political foundation of the Free Democrat Party (FDP) and has representatives in African countries such as Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

He said their aim is to promote liberal democracy through political education and consultancies mainly with their political partners to promote a kind of dialogue not only in Africa but also across the world.

'FNF is working in 64 countries worldwide running seminars, training people and holding conferences', Mr Klein said adding that they have been working in Ghana for the past fifteen years and have about 120 alumni in Ghana.

He pledged their commitment to promoting liberal solutions to support their counterparts in other countries including Ghana.