APPENDIX I Democracy and Good Political Governance The first comment on this thematic area is with regard to a statement to wit “ and about the inquisition-like power of the SFO to buy incriminating evidence to use against them”. The Government is rather taken aback at the language and import of the statement in respect of such an important anticorruption agency. Secondly, nowhere in the Ghana Country Self-Assessment Report was such a statement made or even suggested. Thirdly, the Country Report did not provide any evidence in support of the statement. The remaining comments on Democracy and Good Political Governance are as follows: Kindly note that the National Labour Commission has recently been established under the new Labour Law, to facilitate the settlement of industrial disputes, investigate labour related complaints, unfair labour practices and take such steps, as it considers necessary, to prevent labour disputes. The Commission aims to use Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms rather than Labour Courts. Additionally, regarding the National Reconciliation Commission Report, please note that Government released the Report on April 22 2005. A White Paper was also prepared. It is important that the report recommendations are implemented, particularly the recommendations for institutional reforms We are also happy to inform you that a seven member SFO Board of Directors was recently inaugurated on April 27 2005. With reference to the issue of NGOs and their focus, it is noted that the Report doesnot validate the finding nor is there any other fact or evidence to support the statement. Economic Governance and Management As regards Economic Governance and Management, there are no substantive issues for comment by the Government. Corporate Governance Comment on the size of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Sector: The 2003 National Industrial Census (NIC) carried out by the Ghana Statistical Services (GSS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, with assistance from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has some preliminary results that give an indication of the size of SMEs engaged in manufacturing, mining and quarrying. Sector No. of enterprises Manufacturing 25,931 Mining and quarrying 150 167