GRi Newsreel 01-04-99

Accra (Greater Accra) 1st April 

Mr David Kumi, acting Executive Secretary for the Council of Indigenous Business Associations (CIBA) has been interdicted.

According to a statement from the association on Wednesday, signed by Mr Ben Kittah, acting National Chairman, the interdiction took effect from March 12, this year.

The statement accused Mr Kumi of acting as a liaison between CIBA and contractors involved in the construction of CIBA Market Complex.

It said a committee of inquiry has been set up to probe the construction of the market complex.

The council requests all those, who have made payment for the allocation of sheds to submit photocopies of receipts to the committee at the market.

It said representation by Mr Kumi on any board on behalf of CIBA is also revoked.

Accra (Greater Accra) 1st April Participants at the national review workshop on integrated chemicals management in Ghana on Wednesday re-affirmed that management and safety are important component of the overall strategy for sustainable development.

They noted that management of chemicals and safety should be made a component of the programme of action for the second medium-term development plan of Vision 2020.

The three-day workshop, which ended today, was based on a mandate by the United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR) and other international organisations, which selected Ghana as one of four countries to prepare a draft national report on integrated chemical management and safety.

The mandate was based on a profile for management of chemicals, which Ghana successfully completed in 1997.

The review workshop, attended by about 100 stakeholders drawn from the Ministries, Customs Excise and Preventive Service, Research institutions, Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the universities, was sponsored by UNITAR and the Inter-Organisation Programme for Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC).

In a nine-point resolution, participants called on all stakeholders, including ministries, departments, agencies and the civil society NGOs and the private sector to actively participate in activities aimed at achieving chemical safety.

The participants urged the government, the private sector and the international development partners to assist with sustainable financing initiatives for management of chemicals.

"All efforts pertaining to integrated management of chemicals should be continuously promoted by means of preventive approaches together with the development of national capacity to manage chemical-related poisoning, accidents and pollution."

Mr Achim Halpaap, UNITAR co-ordinator, said he was impressed with the work undertaken in Ghana within the last two years and particularly within the last three days.

He, however, urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish some of the relevant documents prepared by the task force and make them available to the public.

"This could be a first step in circulating the needed information on chemicals management and safety".

Mr Halpaap pledged the support of UNITAR and IOMC to work with Ghana on the next plan of action or project proposal towards chemical safety and management.

Dr Peter Acquah, Executive Director of EPA, said the agency would begin the registration of all chemicals next month.

Mumford (Central Region) 1st April 

A 30-year-old fisherman, Kwesi Asomaning, from Mumford in the Central Region last Sunday attempted to end his life by hanging because he could not pay a loan of 30,000 cedis he took from a friend.

But "luck" was not on his side, as his struggle to breath life out of his body attracted the attention of a co-tenant, who rushed into his room and found him hanging on a rope tied to a beam.

He was rushed to Apam Catholic Mission Hospital, where he regained consciousness.

Asomaning said he borrowed 30,000 cedis from a friend, when he went on a fishing expedition at Cape Coast but the business did not thrive and he could not pay back the loan. He said he had not had any peace as the friend kept on harassing him for the money.

He returned to his home town, hoping that he could get some help to enable him repay the loan but things were rather worse at home. To avoid further disgrace, he decided to end it all.

Koforidua (Eastern Region) 1st April  

Mr Emmanuel Adu Boateng, New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, has called on the leadership and members of the ACDRs to work hard to ensure that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) recaptures the two parliamentary seats in the municipality in the 2000 general elections.

The NDC lost the Koforidua and New Juaben North constituencies to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 1996 elections.

At an election meeting of the New Juaben municipal branch of the ACDRs (Association of Committees for the Defence of the Revolution) at Koforidua, Mr Boateng asked cadres still sitting on the fence to change their stance and get involved in the association's activities. He said, "the ideals of the revolution are still relevant during the current constitutional era."

Mr Godwin Tsigbe was elected municipal organiser, Mr Yaw Adu Gyamfi, secretary and Alhaji Alhassan Mahama, treasurer. In his acceptance speech, Mr Tsigbe called for unity and dedicated service from all members to help the NDC win future elections to enable it implement its "laudable programmes".

Gomoa Abrekum (Central Region) 1st April 

The New Mankrado of Gomoa Abrekum, near Apam, Owese Kobena Arkoful, has called for stiffer punishment for parents who neglect their children, saying their action is creating problems for the society.

Speaking to Newsmen at Gomoa Abrekum, Owese Arkoful, known in private life as Mr Jasper Mensah, an accounts officer of the Produce Buying Company, attributed the cause of the social problems such as teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, street children and robbery, to child neglect.

The bitterness of not getting the needed attention from parents, especially fathers, has made many youths to show little or no interests in programmes initiated to develop their communities.

Outlining his programmes for the town, Owese Arkoful said he will team up with other chiefs to mobilise the citizens for the development of the town.

Nyankuamasi Ahenkro (Central Region) 1st April 

The manager of Nyankumasi Ahenkro Rural Bank, Mr Samuel D.Kwao, has emphasised that buying shares in financial institutions does guarantee automatic access to loans.

For a shareholder to qualify for loans, he or she must operate an account with the bank, Mr Kwao explained to newsmen at Nyankumasi Ahenkro. The manager urged shareholders to refrain from seeking undue favours, because they embarrass managers and directors.

He advised farmers who sell their cocoa to buying agents for fiscal cash to stop the practice, because it disqualifies them from enjoying bonuses paid by government to cocoa farmers and prevent their children from enjoying COCOBOD Scholarships.

Mr Kwao urged farmers to save part of their money in their accounts with the banks to enable them get assistance when the need arises.

Akim Oda (Eastern Region) 1st April 

The Eastern regional Minister, Miss Patience Adow, on Wednesday led a government delegation to console the chiefs and people of the Akim Kotoku traditional area over the death of their paramount chief, Okofrobuor Agyeman Attafuah the fourth.

The delegation included a national vice-chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Kwaku Baah, Eastern Regional NDC chairman, Mr Kofi Saforo, NDC regional secretary, Mr J.W. Agyekum, District Chief Executive for Birim South, Mr John Effah-Boadi and the District Chief Executive for Birim North, Mr Prince Yaw Danso.

The delegation was received at the palace by the acting president of the Akim Kotoku traditional council, Obrempong Affum Afronteng the fourth, divisional and sub-chiefs, queen mothers and a large crowd of mourners.

It presented customary drinks, including four cartons each of beer and Guinness, a carton of schnapps and three crates of soft drinks.

Welcoming the delegation, Obrempong Afronteng, who is also the Adontenhene of the area, said the late paramount chief died on June 17, last year, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and is to be laid in state from April 29 to May two.

Addressing the people, Miss Adow said she has enjoyed close co-operation from traditional rulers. She, however, regretted that the co-operation has been affected by the death of six out of the eleven paramount chiefs constituting the regional house of chiefs. This, she said, has resulted in chieftaincy litigation, which is creating long-standing vacancies in the house.

Miss Adow, therefore, appealed to the chiefs and people of the Akim Kotoku to let peace and understanding prevail during and after the funeral to pave way for the speedy enstoolment of a successor.

Members of the delegation later signed a book of condolence.

The late Okofrobuor Attafuah, who was born in 1932 and known in private life as Samuel Dwuma Boateng, was enstooled on May 19, 1975, and ruled for 23 years.

Odumase-Krobo (Eastern Region) 1st April 

The National Refugee Board is to construct a permanent international refugee centre at Anyaboni, near Asesewa, in the Manya-Krobo District.

The project is expected to take off after the closure of the Liberian refugee camp at Budumburam in the Central Region by the end of this year.

Major R.S. Adu, Director of the National Mobilisation Programme (NMP), announced on Tuesday at the inauguration of an 18-member Krobo Odumase Mobisquads Co-ordinating Committee at Odumase-Krobo.

The mobisquads concept has now changed from a voluntary group, which merits no financial reward to a business entity that seeks to create jobs, he said.

Major Adu observed that "mobisquads have families, which have needs to be satisfied, and the mobisquads must now be seen to be able to make enough money to finance their family needs, as well as to contribute towards the community development efforts".

He said in furtherance of the new concept of mobisquads, the NMP has made provisions to provide tools to 220 mobisquads from the 110 districts in the country this year.

Major Adu said the provision of the tools is expected to increase to cover 660 mobisquads by the year 2001.

This year the NMP has launched the "Operation Green Banks" project, under which the NMP intends to plant trees along rivers in the Volta, Upper East and Northern regions, and along the Ponpon River, which feeds the Boti Falls in the Eastern Region.

Mr Divine Opare, Eastern Regional Liaison Officer of the NMP, said Odumase-Krobo zone eleven mobisquads are operating a micro enterprise project, under which they are expected to raise a loan of 176 million cedis from the Manya Krobo Rural Bank to finance their projects.

Already, four mobisquads who have qualified under the project, have received a loan of 33 million cedis.

Mr Opare appealed to district assemblies to consider supporting mobisquads in the agriculture sector and to award contracts to artisan mobisquads.

Cape Coast (Central Region) 1st April

The Central Regional Minister, Lt. Col. (Rtd) Charles Agbenaza, has called on beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation fund not to see it as a "bonus or a golden handshake," which should not be refunded.

The fund, which is a revolving one, is to assist micro businesses that do not have access to conventional sources of seed capital and credit, he explained.

At the second ordinary meeting of the first session of the Cape Coast Municipal Assembly on Wednesday, the Regional Minister stressed the government's determination to make Ghana a middle-level income country by the year 2020. He asked district assemblies to use part of the fund to support agricultural production and said recognised groups should be promoted if the country is to achieve food security

Lt. Col. (Rtd) Agbenaza announced that the embargo on the award of contracts placed by the Regional Co-ordinating Council on some districts has been lifted following the streamlining of the procedure. He reminded members of tender boards of the legislative instrument that enjoins them to declare their assets.

He also announced that Construction Pioneers, a construction firm, is to over lay ten kilometres of roads in the municipality free of charge and said, Ghana Highways Authority has been tasked to identify specific roads for the project.

The Regional Minister asked the assembly members to put aside their political affiliation and to support the Municipal Chief Executive for the development of Cape Coast.

Apam (Central Region) 1st April 

Pope John Paul the second has said that though the things of the world are meant, for everyone the number of the poor keeps on increasing, even in the so-called rich countries. The Pope said the problem of poverty is a situation that must be changed by men and women of goodwill.

In a message to mark the 14th World Youth Day read at the Apam Catholic Church last Sunday, the Pope described such situations as "structures of sin" that only be overcome with co-operation from everyone, especially those, who are ready to sacrifice for the sake of others rather than taking advantage of the situation.

He said every situation of poverty is a challenge to everyone's Christian charity but added that this charity must also become a social and political commitment.

To know "whether we truly love God, we have to see whether we seriously love our neighbour. And if we want to test the quality of love for our neighbour, we have to ask ourselves whether we truly love God. Because 'he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen'".

The Pope exhorted the youth to respect their parents, teachers and elders and urged them to abstain from sin, because it is an abuse of freedom.

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 1st April 

River blindness has been identified among a number of people living in the forest areas of the country, Dr Kofi Ahmed, Director of the National Oncho Control Programme said in Kumasi on Wednesday. Problems, effects and consequent loss of economic activities associated with the disease, also known as Onchocerciasis, in the forest areas have also been identified, he said.

Dr Ahmed announced this at the opening of a three-day workshop on oncho control for health workers in the Ashanti Region.

The 54 participants include district directors of health services, public health nurses, disease control officers and members of the Regional Health Management Team. The workshop, organised by the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, is to create awareness about the disease in those areas and to train the health workers in its control.

Dr Ahmed said OCP, which began about 25 years ago in West Africa has successfully control the disease in the northern half of the country. It is, therefore, necessary for health workers to redouble their effort to control the disease in the forest areas to sustain the gains of OCP.

Dr Ahmed pointed out that recent surveys have shown that the disease is endemic in some districts in the region and called on health workers to be extra vigilant.

Dr Emmanuel Appiah-Denkyira, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services said with the reforms in the administration of health services, the staff must ensure that planned programmes are carried out effectively in a co-ordinated manner.

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 1st April 

A total of 198 fire outbreaks destroyed property worth about 1.8 billion cedis in the Ashanti Region between January and February this year.

In the Kumasi metropolis alone, there were 147 fire outbreaks and property valued at about 848.6 million cedis were destroyed during the period.

The bush fire at Atonsuagya in the Sekyere West District this year where property and foodstuffs worth about one billion cedis were destroyed, was the severest single fire outbreak during the period.

Mr Albert Brown Gaisie, Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, said at a press conference to launch a fire preventive campaign, code-named "Operation Prevent All Fires" in the region in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The campaign, which will begin on Thursday, April one, is aimed at introducing fire safety principles and practices in institutions, organisations, offices and the self-employed artisans like welders, bakers and house helps.

Mr Gaisie, who is also Deputy Chief Fire Officer, said domestic fires accounted for the highest. In a breakdown, he said 64 domestic fires, 27 industrial fires, 14 bush fires and 11 vehicular fires were recorded. There were nine outbreaks, which were caused by electrical faults affecting institutions and business houses and 11 others.

The major causes of fire outbreaks are the old and illegal electrical wiring and sheer human negligence. The campaign would, therefore, educate the public on measures to be instituted to reduce fire outbreaks, the Deputy Chief Fire officer added.

The metropolis has been divided into five zones for the campaign.

A consortium of the utility service providers would hold a round table conference on how best they can co-ordinate their efforts to prevent fire outbreaks. They include Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC) and Ghana Telecom, district assemblies and National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO),