GRi Newsreel 06-04-99

The Rotary Club of Osu on Thursday donated 10 bags of rice and six gallons of cooking oil, worth about one million cedis, to the School for the Blind at Akropong-Akwapim.

The club also pledged 100 dollars and a quantity of used clothing for the school.

Presenting the items, Mr Francis Kwashie, president of the club, said he was hopeful that the donation would help alleviate the food shortage facing the school.

He said it is the wish of the club that inmates of the school are assisted to harness their talents and added that the club will strive to make life bearable for the needy in society.

The Reverend M. O. K. Moamere, headmaster, thanked the club for the donation and appealed to the membership to consider adopting the school.

He said government=92s efforts at the upkeep of the school has been inadequate and asked individuals and benevolent organisations to help the school meet its obligations.

Boso (Eastern Region) April 6th April 

The late Nana Nyarku Yeboah the second, Omanhene of Boso Guan Traditional area will be laid in state from May 27 and buried on May 31.

This was announced by Nana Okore Awere the second, Dodihene, and Acting President of Boso Guan Traditional Area, on Thursday.

He was speaking, when a government delegation led jointly by the Eastern Regional Minister Ms Patience Adow and Mr Kweku Baah, National Vice-Chairman of National Democratic Congress (NDC) visited Boso to express their condolence to the chiefs and people of the area on the death Nana Nyarku.

The delegation presented two cartons of schnapps, two cartons of beer and two crates of minerals as customary drinks to the Council.

The Asuogyaman district assembly presented 20 bags of cement and the Member of Parliament for the area Mr Dwamena Aboagye, presented 50 bags of cement to the council to help them in their preparation towards the funeral.

Ms Adow regretted the delay in the installation of new paramount chiefs to replace those who died in the region due to disputes.

She said as a result of disputes over succession, only five out of 11 members of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs now sit at their meeting and appealed to traditional councils in the region to install new paramount chiefs to facilitate the work of the Regional House of Chiefs.

Nana Amoah Kwesi the second, Krontihene of Boso Guan traditional area, who received the drinks on behalf of the Council thanked the delegation and said a new paramount chief for the area will be enstooled in the shortest possible time.

The late Nana Yeboah died on July 10, last year at the age of 94.

He was known in private life as Stephen Obese Affum and worked with the Accra City Council as a storekeeper and as a wholesale keeper of the defunct Ghana National Trading Corporation (GNTC).

He left behind a wife, nine children and 15 grand children.

Techiman, (Brong Ahafo), 6th April 

This year's international youth week has ended at Techiman with a petition from the Techiman Catholic Youth Council to parents to give the education of children the necessary priority.

The petition, read by the chairman of the youth council, Mr Bernard Bempah, called on parents to give children adequate education leading to, at least, the completion of basic level of schooling.

They appealed to parents to adopt family planning methods to enable them to have smaller families to ensure their proper upkeep.

The youth entreated parents to introduce family prayers in their homes and expressed the belief that the practice would have positive impact and might easily help them to cultivate the habit of reading the Bible and praying constantly.

The youth thanked parents for organising the international youth week and pledged to be submissive and law-abiding.

Mr Osei-Kontor, church president, who received the petition thanked the youth for their "thoughtfully" worded petition and said that the points would be discussed and disseminated for implementation.

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 6 April 

Barima Kwaku Duah, Asantehene -elect on Monday swore the customary oath to the chiefs of the Kumasi Traditional Area under the stool name Otumfuo Osei Tutu the Second at "Dwaberem" at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, 49, successor to Otumfuo Opoku Ware the Second, who died on February 25 this year, held the "Mponponsuo", the state sword in his right hand, espoused the greatness, achievements and conquests of his ancestors and pledge to blaze their trail.

"If I fail to continue the exploits of my ancestors and fail in my duty I contravene the Great Oath of Asante", he declared.

The enthusiastic crowd that had gathered there immediately mobbed Otumfuo Osei Tutu. Bare-chested-youth carried him on their shoulders, while women besmeared him with powder amidst singing of praises, drumming and dancing The ecstatic crowd broke the security cordon to cast a glimpse at the new Asantehene.

The divisional chiefs of Kumasi swore the oath of allegiance to Otumfuo Osei Tutu in turns.

Earlier Baffuo Awuah the fifth, Bantamahene and acting President of the Kumasi Traditional Council on behalf of the 'Kontire Division' called on Otumfuo Osei Tutu to co-operate with his subjects and not to be bossy.

He expressed the hope that under the administration of Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Asanteman and Ghana would see much progress saying that he should be patient, tolerant, tactful and maintain an open administration.

Present were Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem the Second Asantehemaa, the Right Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong Catholic Bishop of Kumasi, Mr Kojo Yankah Ashanti Regional Minister and Mr Mike Gizo Minister of Tourism Meanwhile, the Asaman Kani Royal Family has repudiated the court action brought against the Asantehemaa by Madam Adwoa Adowaa who claims to be the Obaapanin and Head of the family.

They said the actions of Madam Adwoa Adowaa are calculated to undermine the family before Asanteman.

They have, therefore," wholeheartedly declared their support for Asanteman in the traditional process that would lead to the ascending of Barima Kwaku Duah to the Golden Stool.

Addressing a press conference in Kumasi on Sunday, the four families of Asaman Kani Royal Family said they do not belong to the Ekuona but rather the Oyoko clan.

Abusuapanin Yaw Dwumfuoh of Kwadaso, Opanin Kwabena Anane of Tetrem, Osei Dankwa of Akim-Oda and Kwadwo Osei Adu of Akyeremade/Woamase, Obaapanin Yaa Achaa and Obahemaa Yaa Tiwaa Praman represented the families.

The four families said Madam Adowaa, who claims to be the Obaapanin and head of the Asaman Kani Royal Family is an imposter and that the purported petition against the Asantehemaa is not the act of the Asaman Kani Royal family and should, therefore, be treated with contempt.

According to them, the action initiated by Madam Adowaa is her own action and not the act of the Asaman Kani royal family, which they represent.

That at no time has the family authorised, permitted or mandated Madam Adowaa, whom they described as "a well-known vexatious litigant" to commence the action.

They said Madam Adowaa, who styles herself as Obaapanin and head of the Asaman Kani Royal Family has since September 1996 been removed as the caretaker of the family lands in the Kumasi Metropolis through a publication in the "Pioneer" of January 14, 1997.

Madam Adowaa, they claimed, is not and has not at any time been elected as head of the Asaman Kani Royal Family and that there is only one Obaapanin for the family in the person of Obaapanin Yaa Achiaa.

They said as a result of the publication, Madam Adowaa filed a libel suit at a Kumasi High Court against the publication and that in reaction to the suit, Obaapanin Yaa Achiaa and Abusuapanin Yaw Dwumfuoh also filed their statement of defenceThey pointed out that as a result of the suits, various actions pending at the High Court commenced by Madam Adowaa in her assumed title as Obaapanin and Head of the Asaman Kani Royal family have been stayed pending the final determination of the libel suit.

They said it is very strange and inconceivable for Madam Adowaa to commence fresh action under the false capacity as Obaapanin of the Asaman Kani Ekuona Royal Family.

They said with the pendency of the suit, commenced by Madam Adowaa, her action is "in utter contempt of the High Court".

Asokore (Eastern Region) 6 April 

The Member of Parliament for New Juaben North constituency, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, has called on the government to place more emphasis on education to make it affordable to Ghanaians.

The cost of education and the present income levels have made it extremely difficult for most parents to cater for their wards' education, especially at the tertiary levels.

Mr Owusu-Agyeman made the call at the inauguration of the Asokore Students Union (ASU), at Asokore at the weekend.

The MP suggested to the government to link up the Ministries of Education, and Employment and Social Welfare to enable school graduates to gain easy access to employment.

Mr Owusu-Agyeman noted that the current arrangement whereby the two ministries are far removed from each other was a contributory factor to the overwhelming unemployment and under employment in the country.

He called on students especially those at the tertiary level to make meaningful contributions to ensure the realisation of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme.

A farmer, Dr Isaac Omane, who presided, urged the students to spearhead development projects in the town.

The union, formed in 1997 with eight persons, now has 40 members.

Kordiabe(Greater Accra) 6 April 

The people of the Shai Traditional Area on Monday re-affirmed their solidarity and support for their chiefs at a durbar at Kodiable in the West Dangbe district.

They jubilated and poured appellations on the chiefs, and gave them gifts to signify that "the chiefs are leaders worth dying for".

Nene Breana Atrokpa, the second, Dodowa Mantse who presided said, "we are demonstrating here today that we are people who recognise the suffering and efforts of our leaders".

Nene Chartey Awah the third, paramount chief of the area, and a sub-chief Nene Kisser Kraboa the second, were jailed by an Accra circuit court, three years ago, but were in February this year set free on appeal at a High court.

They had been found guilty for stealing scrap metal, being parts of a road construction machine abandoned by the Rockshell International.

Some people who were found removing the parts told the police that the two chiefs had sent them.

Mr D.K. Mensah, Dangme West District Chief Executive commended the people for being law-abiding, and for their tolerance and patience while the case lasted.

It was a great lesson for all, including the present and future generations, to ensure confidence in the legal system.

Sunyani (Western Region) 6 April

The recent victory of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ablekuma Central parliamentary bye-elections is not a guarantee that the party would win the year 2000 elections.

Members, basking in the euphoria of the victory in the bye-elections, must therefore eschew complacency and rather work towards the institution of effective organisational and monitoring structures at the grassroots to boost the party's chances of winning power in the next elections.

A Sunyani based legal practitioner and a leading member of the Brong Ahafo branch of the party, Nana Obiri Boahen stated this in a chat with newsmen at Sunyani on Monday.

Nana Obiri Boahen said there is the tendency for supporters of the party to be hoodwinked into believing that the ease with which the party won the bye-election indicated that victory in the next elections is a foregone conclusion.

Nana Obiri Boahen cautioned that such a mentality would be costly for the party and stressed the need for members to take the party's message of hope redemption and good governance to every nook and cranny of the country.

There is a growing recognition among Ghanaians that the NPP is the only credible alternative to years of misrule and mismanagement of the present government, he stated.

The party, he said, therefore, needed to intensify its campaign in every part of the country so that the electorate in every village would be convinced beyond doubt that the NPP has the men and programmes to improve the socio-economic fortunes of Ghanaians.

Nana Obiri Boahen congratulated Mr Okunley Nortey for retaining the Ablekuma central seat for the party and advised him to accommodate and co-operate with his electorate irrespective of their political inclinations for the good of his constituency.

Accra (Greater Accra) 6 April 

The National Executives of the Enrolled Nurses (ENs) and Community Health Nurses (CHN) Association on Monday dissociated the two bodies from the decision by the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) calling on junior nurses to embark on an indefinite strike.

A statement issued in Accra to this effect and signed by Mr James Badu, National President of the Association is, "therefore, appealing to all Enrolled and Community Health Nurses including newly promoted nursing officers" to resume work immediately.

According to the statement, some members of the association have been misinformed or coaxed into taking part in the strike action by the GRNA saying, ''we will like to state categorically that, we are not part of this decision''.

It said the National Executives at an emergency meeting held at Saltpond on Sunday, April four, asked all members to resume work.

This is to enable the Ministries of Health and Employment and Social Welfare to continue with negotiations, which would implement payment of extra duty allowances to affected categories of staff within the health sector.

The statement assured all members that efforts are being made to address problems, which concern their welfare.

Tanoso(Brong Ahafo) 6 April

The National Democratic Congress(NDC) government's commitment to education is to make beneficiaries useful and capable of responding to the real needs of the nation, Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, has said.

He commended the government for making education a priority area in government budgetary allocations for both formal and non-formal education.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Tanoso, near Techiman, at an Easter fund-raising harvest to finance the construction of a newly established secondary/technical school on Sunday, Alhaji Adam said the government is pursuing a policy of equipping and staffing schools and providing adequate motivation to improve upon the teacher's delivery capacity.

Offinso(Ashanti Region) 6 April 

Dr Kusi Fordjour, a Ghanaian medical practitioner in the United States, has presented drugs worth over 30 million cedis to the Saint Patrick's Hospital at Offinso.

They include assorted anti-biotics, hypodermic syringes, needles and gauze.

Dr Fordjour expressed the hope that the drugs would significantly help improve the quality of health delivery at the hospital. He pledged to make periodic donations to the hospital to enhance its operation.

Dr Joseph Bour, the Medical Superintendent, on behalf of the management, expressed appreciation to Dr Fordjour.

Koforidua (Eastern Region) 6 April

The Most Reverend Robert G.A. Okine, Anglican Archbishop for the province of West Africa, said at the weekend that those responsible for the death of other people would have to answer for their deeds.

God was very much concerned about the world, and that was why He sent His son to come and redeem it, he said.

In the Archbishop's Easter message read to the congregation at the Saint Peter's Anglican cathedral in Koforidua, he expressed regret that though most Christians are emotional about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, their life styles do not portray so.

"Let me remind you that each time that you get involved in any anti-social activity or envious of the good works of others, you are also crucifying Christ", he said.

Archbishop Okine called on Christians to constantly follow Jesus Christ and not wait till Easter, because to be a good disciple of Christ, one must face disappointments and defeats.

"...believing that in the end, God will work his purpose with us and we will pass on to a richer life in future".

Kumasi (Ashanti Region)

Prophet Daniel Twum-Barimah, chairman of the Supreme Council of the Twelve Apostles Church, has called on Christians to respect and live harmoniously with members of other sects and religious organisations.

This would not only create peaceful co-existence and social development but would also curb religious violence and promote religious and spiritual advancement.

Delivering a sermon at a thanksgiving service organised by the Council to mark the Easter festivities in Kumasi on Monday, Prophet Twum-Barimah said spiritual upliftment could only be achieved when people desist from all negative practices and unchristian attitudes and reflect on how to sustain love, peace and unity.

Prophet Twum-Barimah urged the congregation to let the celebration of Easter emanate in them the spirit of honesty, hard work and discipline to enhance the spiritual and economic development of the country.

He stressed the need for Christians to be wary of the excesses of those in the helms of affairs especially religious leaders and called on those close to them to advise them to change.

Tamale (Northern Region)  

Christians have been asked to use the renewed spiritual strength at Easter to fight bribery and corruption in the society.

At an open air mass to mark this year's picnic (Easter Monday) celebrations, Reverend Gregory Kpiebaya, Catholic Archbishop of Tamale, appealed to Christians to heed to the warning by Jesus "not to pour new wine into old skins", and must shed all vices for the unhindered entry of the Holy Spirit into their lives.

Thousands of people from all walks of life are taking part in the picnic, which is organised annually by the Catholic Church, to round off several weeks of fasting. It is characterised by merry-making. The effectiveness of the happy occasion of Easter would be lost if Christians do not change and adopt new lifestyles, Archbishop Kpiebaya had reminded the congregation.

"No one puts fresh pito into old pots - both will be lost. Bribery and corruption are some of the old pots we refuse to throw away. Let us not carry these old pots into the third millennium".

Archbishop Kpiebaya urged Christians to adopt new lifestyles, embodied with love, honesty, integrity and truthfulness.

He expressed regrets that "bribery and corruption has become so ingrained in our civil and political machinery, that it has become almost institutionalised".

Conversely, he said, the political and administrative systems do not guarantee and safeguard the individual and social rights of the ordinary Ghanaian, and there are many Ghanaians who are prepared to sacrifice integrity and a good reputation for personal gain.

Archbishop Kpiebaya said it is in recognition of the destructive nature of bribery and corruption that the Catholic Bishops conference has embarked on a crusade to eradication it.

Offinso (Ashanti Region) 6 April  

The Youth in Agriculture and Poverty Alleviation Programmes are the government's genuine commitment to address unemployment among the youth in the rural areas and should not to be politicised, Mr Kwadwo Appiah-Kubi, Offinso North constituency chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has said.

All, stakeholders in the two programmes have therefore been urged to help improve the living standards of the rural people.

At an NDC outreach programme held in some communities in the constituency, Mr Appiah-Kubi said the government is committed to providing motorable and access roads in all farming communities to ensure the free movement of people and goods.

The 15-kilometre Afrancho-Tano Ano feeder road is being re-constructed while the Sranso-Bosomposo,Yeboah-Nkwanta-Nsuboasua and Kwaekese-Mewu feeder roads are to be awarded on contract soon.

He said the NDC government would continue to keep faith with the people and, therefore, urged them to continue to initiate their own self-help programmes to improve their living standards.

Sekyere(Ashanti Region) 6 April 

Residents of Sekyere in the Sekyere West District of Ashanti on Sunday raised two million cedis at an Easter fund-raising harvest in aid of a 25 million-cedi electrification project.

They have already mobilised and spent over seven million cedis towards the project.

Mr Peter Kessie, assemblyman for Sekyere, said the project is being financed through a flat levy of 3,000 cedis per resident and 10,000 cedis for non-residents.

He commended Sekyere citizens living abroad for contributing 4.2 million cedis towards the project.

Nana Owusu Ababio, Akwamuhene of Sekyere, appealed to the chiefs and citizens to bury their differences and rally round the assemblyman and the unit committees to facilitate the development of the town.

Atonsu (Ashanti Region) 6 April  

The chiefs and people of Atonsu in the Sekyere West district of Ashanti have through self-help completed a 120 million-cedi classroom block for the local Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Primary School.

It was financed through special fund-raising activities and communal labour while the SDA Church provided building materials.

Mr R.A. Owusu, chairman of the Atonsu "Nkosuo Kuo", a development-oriented society that initiated the project, called for co-operation in providing basic

facilities to enhance teaching and learning in the school.

Mr Owusu singled out for commendation the Reverend Yaw Asamoah, Superintendent Minister of the Atonsu Methodist Church, for his outstanding role towards the rehabilitation of the local Methodist Primary School block.

The Member of Parliament(MP) for Nsuta-Kwamang, Mr Kwame Osei Prempeh, presented 100 dual desks valued at four million cedis from his share of the common fund to the SDA primary school.

He praised the chiefs and people of Atonsu for their communal initiative and self-help spirit and asked the youth to identify themselves with all development community programmes in the town.

The MP said every effort was being made to find a permanent solution to the water shortage problem facing the area.

About 13 million cedis was raised at the durbar in aid of the school.

Bibiani (Western Region) 6 April 

The Ashanti Goldfields Bibiani Limited (AGBL) has from January to March this year, paid 624.2 million cedis as compensation to farmers, whose farms were destroyed following its operations in the area.

Mr Daniel Owiredu, Managing Director of the company, disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Bibiani.

It is the policy of the Company to give maximum support and encouragement to farmers within the mine's operational areas, he said.

Mr Owiredu said as a step towards providing employment opportunities to people within the area, two farms have been established at Asanwinso and Bibiani with an initial labour force of 40.

Mr Thomas Nyarko-Danquah, Administrative Manager of the Company, said the management was happy about the enthusiasm with which the workers at the farms were working.

Accra (Greater Accra) 6 April

President Jerry John Rawlings arrived in Accra on Sunday night from France after an official visit.

The President was accompanied by the First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

They were presented with bouquets on their arrival by Miss Edina Aryee and Miss Eugenia Wellington of Osu Presby Primary School.

At the airport were the Vice President, Professor John Atta Mills, Alhaji Mummuni Bawumia, chairman of the council of state, Ministers, the Inspector

General Police Mr Peter Nanfuri, Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Ben Akafia and some members of the Diplomatic Corps.

While in France President Rawlings held bilateral talks with his French counterpart Mr Jacque Chirac He also met French businessmen, the Ghanaian community and visited places of interest.