Chief prevented from paying homage as queenmother accosts him
Minister slams ministry’s inability to implement programmes
Make party more appealing to electorate, Kufuor urges supporters
Preparing for the future with a national policy on the elderly
Former national service director calls for regular scientific analysis of water bodies
Two nurses burnt at Offinso hospital
30 farmers benefit from technology
State-owned enterprises sign contracts to ensure transparency and accountability
Police close down Sabat Motors
Ayomso chief appeals for peace
27th death anniversary of Ghana’s first President observed
Salaga NDC urges government to settle Kpandai dispute
Two teenage benevolent organisations donate to orphanage.
Government will recognise newly elevated chiefs - Ya Na
African, Asian lawyers brainstorm in Accra
Chief prevented from paying homage as queenmother accosts him
Kumasi (Ashanti), 28th April ’99 –
Krotwiamansa Agyei Ampofo, Goasohene and member of Council of State, was on Tuesday prevented from swearing the oath of allegiance to the new Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, whe he clashed with his queenmother, Nana Kusi Boadum Acheampomaa.
The Amanhene and Abrempong (paramount chiefs) within and outside the Ashanti Region who owe allegiance to the Golden Stool were in the process of swearing the oath, when the queenmother prevented Krotwiamansa Ampofo from being part of it.
The Goasohene was about to swear the oath of allegiance to Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who was sitting in state at the Sumpiekesie (raised concrete platform), when Nana Acheampomaa threw herself on the ground in his path, which prevented him from swearing to the Asantehene.
The Queenmother again threw herself onto the ground before the Asantehene's linguists and swore the Great Oath of Asante (Ntamkesie) that Krotwiamansa Ampofo was not qualified to swear to the Asantehene.
A free-for-all fight then ensued between the supporters of the omanhene and the queenmother, and the police had to use tear gas to disperse those involved in the brawl.
When sanity was restored after about 20 minutes, Otumfuo Osei Tutu asked Nana Acheampomaa to explain her conduct, which is unprecedented in Asante tradition.
The queenmother alleged that during the reign of late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, Nana Ampofo Adjei on three different occasions was requested to appear before him over a dispute, but he refused to turn up on each occasion. This is regarded as a sign gross disrespect to the Golden Stool.
Nana Acheampomaa claimed that by his refusal, Krotwiamansa Ampofo was not qualified to swear the oath of allegiance to the new King.
Nana Ampofo who was shocked and could not contain the apparent disgrace, pounced on the queenmother.
Within a twinkle of an eye, supporters of the chief, on one hand and those of Nana Ampofowaa on the other, engaged in a free-for all fight which was only controlled when the police intervened.
All the other paramount chiefs, as well as divisional chiefs under the Golden Stool, swore the oath of allegiance without any further incident and ceremony passed smoothly without any more incidents.
Krotwiamansa Ampofo in a statement later claimed that the woman, who confronted him at the oath-swearing ceremony was not his queenmother, Nana Kusi Boadum Acheampomaa. Rather she was a destooled Obaapanin called Madam Yaa Mabre who calls herself Nana Yaa Akyaa.
Nana Ampofo Adjei denied ever showing disrespect to Otumfuo Opoku Ware, adding "that his last visit to him was about a month before he died and Otumfuo Opoku Ware praised him for bringing honour to the Golden Stool".
Meanwhile, a statement issued by Odeneho Oduro Numapau, Essumajahene and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, denied that the Goasohene assaulted his queenmother.
"I wish to inform you on behalf of Asanteman that although there was an incident, Nana Adjei Ampofo did not personally assault the said woman claiming to be his queenmother".
Otumfuo Osei Tutu this after noon sat in state to receive homage from people from all walks of life to bring his coronation to an end.
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Minister slams ministry’s inability to implement programmes
Cape Coast (Central Region) 28th April ‘99 –
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Moses Adibo, has expressed concern about the inability of the Ministry to establish comprehensive health services in the communities.
He recalled that in 1978, on the basis of a specific recommendation, the authors of the Primary Health Care strategy document proposed the setting up of community based health services.
The Deputy Minister was opening the seventh annual health policy implementation review meeting for district directors of health services at Cape Coast on Tuesday.
The four-day conference is under the theme, "The five-year programme of work at the district level: challenges and the way forward in the next millennium".
Dr Adibo said the proposal for the setting up of the community based health services followed an evaluation conducted in 1975.
The evaluation recommended the establishment of health services within the community since "it is only people who live within three miles or five kilometres radius of a health centre who actually use it".
Dr Adibo noted that up till now the Ministry has not done so and "the nearest we have come to is the so-called out-reach and extended out-reach services".
He pointed out that although out-reach services are most useful in preventive services, "they are not so useful when it comes to curative services which are usually emergencies".
The Deputy Minister said the most important areas that require urgent attention under the five-year programme of work at the district level are the expansion of coverage of the services and evaluation impact assessment.
The national chairman of the district directors of health services, Dr Nii Adjetey, said the services have made significant strides in the third year of the five-year programme of work.
He said that there has also been an improvement in resources allocation to the district level.
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Make party more appealing to electorate, Kufuor urges supporters
Koforidua (Eastern Region), 28th April-- The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr J.A. Kufuor, has called on branches of the party to evolve appropriate campaign strategies that would make the party more appealing to their electorate.
He reminded them that the party's tradition evolved from the rural areas and greater effort must therefore be made to win the rural dwellers to accept the liberal democratic principles of the party.
Mr Kufuor was speaking at a fund-raising dinner dance at Koforidua at the weekend to round off his week-long familiarisation tour of the Eastern Region.
The tour took him to the Akuapem South, Asuogyaman, Yilo Krobo, Manya Krobo, West Akim, Fanteakwa and Suhum/Kraboa/Coaltar districts.Mr Kufuor commended the Eastern Regional Executive of the party for initiating the tour and asked other regional branches to do the same to enable the electorate to appreciate the policies of the party.
The National Chairman of the party, Mr S.A. Odoi-Sykes, denied media reports of divisions in the party, stressing that as a human institution, there were bound to be differences of opinions on certain issues.
He stated that based on its liberal democratic tradition, the party allowed its members the free expression of opinions for consensus building.Mr Odoi-Sykes reminded the party's members to contribute to the financing of the party to enable it to mobilise logistics with which to execute its electioneering campaign programme.
The MP for Koforidua, Mr Yaw Barimah, in a welcoming address, said that it was time for Ghanaians to be redeemed from their worsening socio-economic conditions through a victory for the party next year.
Some regional chairmen of the party attended the function, which was presided over by the MP for Akim Swedru, Mr Felix Owusu Adjepong.
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Preparing for the future with a national policy on the elderly
Sogakope (Volta Region) 28 April ’99
A committee to study and come out with a national policy on ageing, have been commissioned by the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.
The committee will examine the enormity of problems of ageing and to draw up a blue-print to tackle those problems.
Mrs Ama Benyiwah-Doe, a deputy minister at the ministry, announced this at a workshop on ageing at Sogakope on Tuesday.
The workshop, organised by the ministry with funding from the UNFPA, is on the theme : "Toward Elimination of Poverty in Old Age."
It is being attended by 35 participants from Ghana and Rwanda, who are discussing healthy ageing, employment and social/income security, housing, education, recreation and community service among others.
Mrs Benyiwah-Doe said it is necessary for Ghanaians to reduce the burden of ageing by learning other skills apart from those already acquired to enable them contribute and play meaningful roles after retirement.
She said one significant change in the lives of older persons today is the gradual deterioration in their income.
In Ghana today income deterioration is beginning to manifest in the increasing incidence of "street begging" among older persons.
"Hitherto, this practice was unknown in the society, and so apart from constituting an unmitigated affront to the elderly, it is certainly unlike the Ghanaian.
"This development naturally calls for urgent policies to address income security and management among older persons, especially those in the informal sector of the economy", she said.
Mrs Benyiwah-Doe said the United Nations declaration of 1999 asInternational Year of Older Persons, make ageing a "special concern for
all ages", and requires policies which invest in individual to preparation for old age.
In this direction, the ministry has been vigorously collaborating with interested NGO's and other government agencies to address the challenges brought out by the UN declaration.
Mrs Rosemary Moseminali, Director of Social Welfare in Rwanda, said:
"We should be mindful of what we do today to help the elderly, because we will all pass through the process tomorrow'.
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Former national service director calls for regular scientific analysis of water bodies
Accra (Greater Accra), 28th April ’99 -
Mr Peter Kpordugbe, former director of the National Service Scheme, on Tuesday called for regular scientific analysis of the quality of rural water bodies to ensure the safety of rural communities.
He said about 38,000 communities still depend on streams, wells and ponds, and there is the need for yearly monitoring of these sources of drinking water to check whether or not they are potable, to promote good health and development.
Mr Kpordugbe was speaking at a press briefing on the 10th Mole Conference slated for May Four to Six in Accra. The conference brings together all stakeholders in the water sector and seeks to forge them into a working group for the benefit of rural communities in need of water and sanitation facilities.
It is being organised by the Professional Network Association (ProNet), a non-governmental organisation involved in the water and sanitation sector. It is currently operating in 26 districts.
The conference is named after the Mole Game Reserve in Damango in the Northern Region, where the first two conferences were held. The first of the series was held in 1989, based on the principle that water is not just life but a fundamental human right for all.
An award ceremony to honour those who have toiled to improve water and sanitation supply coverage in the country would form part of the programme.
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Two nurses burnt at Offinso hospital
Offinso (Ashanti Region) 28 April 99
Two nurses at Offinso Saint Patrick's Hospital received severe burns when a lantern they
were fuelling to attend to patients after an electricity outage exploded and caught fire.
The nurses, Miss Mary Hilda Suur, a nursing officer at the emergency ward and Miss Anasthasia Landindole, a ward assistant at the theatre, are in critical conditions receiving
intensive medical care at the hospital.
The incident is said to have occurred at the emergency ward around 10 p.m. on April 23 during power outage.
Sister Phillips said Miss Suur was being assisted by Miss Landindole to fill the lantern with kerosene
when the lantern exploded and their uniforms caught.
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30 farmers benefit from technology
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28 April ’99
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is to establish an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project at Akomadan, a major vegetable growing area in the Offinso district to equip about 30 farmers with the technology.
The IPM technology entails the minimal use of pesticides in controlling plant pests and diseases through the use of clean seeds, planting at the right time, correct spacing, timely weeding, fertiliser application and harvesting at the right time.
Also, farmers use all the available cultural and physical practices that are environmentally friendly to control pests under the system.
At a workshop for vegetable farmers within the Kumasi metropolitan area in Kumasi, Mr Ben Frank Amponsah, Ashanti Regional Development Officer of the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services (PPRS) noted that areas around Akomadan, a major tomato growing area, has a high rate of pesticides abuse.
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State-owned enterprises sign contracts to ensure transparency and accountability
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 April ’99
Thirty state-owned enterprises on Tuesday signed performance agreements with the government to run the affairs of their organisations profitably.
The contracts are to streamline and strengthen the efficiency of management of the SOEs and ensure transparency and accountability.
Chief executives and chairmen of Boards of Directors of the SOEs signed on behalf of their organisations whilst Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance, initialled on behalf of the Government.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance, said the contracts are a significant milestone in the development of the country.
The new Performance Contract has introduced an effective monitoring and evaluation system, otherwise called the new Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) System, by the State Enterprises Commission (SEC).
Mr Peprah said the system uses modern, cost effective management techniques aimed at ensuring the realisation of the Vision 2020 Agenda.
The performance of SOEs for 1997 was appreciable due to the orientation they went through using the new system.
Mr Peprah said SEC, which oversees the functions of SOEs, has not yet received all the required information to evaluate the performance of SOEs for 1998.
The contract signed will be the road maps for 1999, he said and expressed the hope that the SOEs will abide by the terms and provisions in the documents.
Mr Peprah reminded them that as a new technique, pitfalls and difficulties are bound to rear their heads and said there was already some anxiety.
Mr Frank K. Ocran, Executive Chairman of SEC, said SOEs were moving away from the use of graduated levels in setting targets to the more realistic and historical-based trend analysis.
The method affords each enterprise the opportunity to assess its potentials and select a performance target and work towards its realisation.
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Police close down Sabat Motors
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 April ’99
The conflict between Directors and workers of Sabat Motors in Accra took a different turn on Tuesday when Police sealed off the premises and prevented workers from entering.
According to Inspector David S. Eklu of the Police Public Relations Directorate, the action was to protect state property.
Police presence was at the request of management "to secure safety of all property", he said.
Meanwhile, the workers are protesting against the police action saying that although there has been a ruling by the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal that Sabat Motors reverts to its former status, Automotive and Technical Services (ATS) Limited, the tribunal has not given them an order to stop work.
A spokesman of the workers said they were waiting peacefully for the institution of an interim management that would see to the running of a viable company.
The workers, who are shareholders in Sabat Motors, appealed to the police to allow them to resume work.
The spokesman said as part-owners of the company it is wrong to ignore them in discussions on the closure of the company since there is the need to discuss and agree on payment of entitlements.
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Ayomso chief appeals for peace
Ayomso (Brong Ahafo) 28 April ’99
Nana Appiah Kubi, chief of Ayomso in the Asunafo District of the Brong-Ahafo Region has called on supporters of two factions in the Akrodie chieftaincy dispute to bury their differences in the interest of development of the area.
The Ayomsohene has been mandated by the judicial committee of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs to settle the dispute between Nana Boakye Asiama, Omanhene of the Akrodie and the youth of Akrodie.
Nana Appiah-Kubi told them it was time they buried their differences for peace and development.
He gave the two parties up to the end of June this year to evolve a strategy to allow an amicable settlement of the dispute.
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27th death anniversary of Ghana’s first President observed
Accra(Greater Accra) 27 April ’99
Mrs Faustina Nelson, National Vice-Chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)on Tuesday laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra to mark the 27th anniversary of the death of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
With her to lay the wreath were Alhaji Huudu Yahyaa, General Secretary of the party, Professor Kofi Awoonor, National Vice-Chairman of NDC, Mr Dan Markin, Chairman of the Democratic People's Party (DPP), Nii Agyei Boye Sekan, Presidential Aide and members of Progressive Voluntary Organisations .
Alhaji Yahaya said NDC would be re-launched to ensure its efficiency in the next millennium adding that the party would continue the work from where Nkrumah left off.
He recalled the saying: "Nkrumah never dies" and said this was coined at the time because his ideas were scientific.
Other dignitaries present at the wreath laying ceremony included Nana Addo Dankwa, Akwapim Omanhene, Mr Yaw Akrasi Sarpong, NDC national Organiser and Mr Charles Heyman, Former Ambassador to Algeria.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 27 April ’99
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday congratulated the new Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu the second for his successful enstoolment.
A statement issued in Accra by the press secretary, Mr Vincent Assiseh said it is with great joy and pride that the nomination, acceptance, confinement and enstoolment of Barima Kweku Dua was characterised by peace, harmony and esprit de corps.
This, the statement said, is ample evidence of the wealth of "our traditional method of selection to high office, often devoid of rancour, strife, bitterness, spite, violence and dissent."
"Western democracy certainly has a lot to learn from our time honoured customs and traditions."
The party said it prays that the new Asantehene would live long, and the maturity and warm-heartedness that set his predecessors out as men of distinction will characterise his reign.
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Two teenage benevolent organisations donate to orphanage.
Tamale (Northern Region) 27 April ’99
Two teenage benevolent organisations have jointly donated food items and provisions worth 600,000 cedis to the Nyohini orphanage.
The "We Love Kids Club of Tamale" and Kare Kids Klub of Accra whose members are aged between 10 and 12 years made the donation comprising a bag of sugar, two bags of maize and soap at the weekend.
Samar Ghanem, 10, deputy president of We Love Kids club, who handed over the items to the Home's supervisor, Miss Janet Yahaya, expressed the hope that the items would improve the lot of the unfortunate children.
Twelve years old Letletlo Gariba who represented Kare Kids Klub, said her organisation was moved by the plight of the inmates and pledged to make more donations in the future.
Miss Yahaya thanked the children for their kind gesture, saying that it was a refreshing development that the children at this tender age should be thinking of the welfare of others.
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Salaga NDC urges government to settle Kpandai dispute
Salaga (Northern Region) 27 April ’99
The Salaga constituency executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the government to expedite action to solve the Kpandai land dispute over which the Nawuris and Gonjas fought a bitter war in 1994.
Speaking after an emergency meeting of the constituency executives at Salaga on Monday, the constituency secretary, Mr Sachibu Wakaso, said the meeting expressed concern about the delay in resolving the impasse which has stalled development in the area.
If a solution was not found now the situation would deteriorate to affect newly installed facilities and infrastructure, he said.
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Government will recognise newly elevated chiefs - Ya Na
Yendi (Northern Region) 28 April ’99
Ya-Na Yakubu Andani the second, has assured 20 newly elevated paramount chiefs of the Dagomba Traditional Area that the government will formally recognise their elevation as soon as the necessary procedures have been completed.
The Ya-Na was addressing a delegation of chiefs from Tatali Traditional Area who paid a courtesy call on him at Yendi.
The delay was due to the long process of compiling documents on all elevated chiefs throughout the country, he explained, and appealed to chiefs concerned to be patient.
The leader of the delegation, Obore Poadi Chamanya, divisional chief of Sheini, thanked Ya-Na for his fatherly saying: "we will ensure that peace and unity continue to prevail in the area".
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Ghana hosted the 38th session of the African-Asian legal consultative meeting in Accra
From April 19 to April 23. GRi’s MAWULI SOGBEY sat through the session which attracted 150 delegates from the two continents.
Below is his report on the deliberations during the five days:
African, Asian lawyers brainstorm in Accra
By MAWULI SOGBEY
The 38th session of the African Asian legal consultative Committee meeting which has just ended in Accra with the member countries re-affirming their conviction to the ideals and aspirations of the committee.
This year’s week-long summit opened at the Accra International Conference Centre April 19th and ended on Friday April 23rd 1999.
The President of the republic of Ghana Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings who was the guest of honour delivered the inaugural address which was witnessed by 150 delegates from some 43 African and Asian countries.
Ghana last hosted this summit in 1970 and after almost 30 years, decided to play host to members of this august body from the Asian and African continent once again.
Among some of the numerous Agenda that characterised this years summit were some topical issues hindering development on both continents. This included:
The agenda was chosen in relation to some common interests and aspirations of both continents. With the fledgling democracies on both continents, and their often marginalisation in international affairs, the organizers deemed it necessary to come to a compromise on matters that were of relevant interest to both continents for the close of the 21st Century. They hoped that the challenges which the next millennium poses will be taken in the broad context of some of the topics discussed.
President Rawlings in his opening address called on all delegates to advocate measures that will promote access of the disadvantaged to decent health, education, housing and employment in addition to civic and political rights. He said the catastrophe which engulfed Central Africa might have been averted if traditional views of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of other countries had not been unduly stretched.
During committee meetings Ghana’s team to the conference which was led by Mr Martin Amidu, deputy minister of justice and included Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, a senior state attorney, forcefully presented their case on a number of international issues:
On International Environment law, they pledged Ghana’s pledged commitment to efforts aimed at enhancing the enforcement and compliance with international environmental obligations.
Ghana’s delegates reiterated that the county is party to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC) and has sought to meet some of its commitments through external funding. For instance a national inventory of authropogenic emissions by sources and removal by sinks has been prepared as required in the Vienna Convention and the Montreal protocol.
On dispute settlement, Ghana stated its support to dispute settlement mechanisms contained in international environmental treaties to which it is a party and pledged to work and co-operate with the international community to find amicable solutions to disputes in international environmental law.
In its resolution the consultative committee expressed its satisfaction on the work of the International law commission at its 50th session. It also affirmed the significance of the contribution of the International law Council (ILC) to the progressive development of international Law and its codification.
On legal protection of Migrant Workers, the Committee requested the secretary-general to convene an "Open Ended Working Group" for an in-depth consideration of issues related to Migrant Workers. The committee also decided to place the item "Legal Protection of Migrant Workers" on the agenda of its 39th session.
On the law of the sea, the committee reminded member states to give timely consideration to the need for adopting a common policy and strategy for the interim period. This was necessary before the commercial exploitation of the deep seabed minerals becomes feasible. It urged member-states to take an evolutionary approach, especially to the "initial function" of the International seabed Authority so as to make it useful to the international community and developing countries.
The committees expressed appreciation at the work of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and expressed its appreciation to India for co-sponsoring the seminar relating to the functioning of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and Allied matters.
The committee also directed the secretariat to monitor the developments relating to the third WTO Ministerial conference, scheduled for November/December 1999 and report on the outcome to the thirty-ninth (39th) session of the committee.
The committee expressed its gratitude to Ghana for hosting the special Meeting on Environmental law and commended the United Nations Environmental Programme and other experts for their contribution to the success of the meeting.
The committee expressed the hope that a just and durable solution will soon be found to the conflict between Palestine and Israel, and that Palestinians. The committee also affirmed that Palestinians have a legitimate right to statehood.
It decided to place the "Deportation of Palestinians" and "Massive Immigration and settlement of Jews in occupied Territories" in violation of International law, on the agenda of its 39th session.
Ghana’s deputy Minister of Justice, Mr Martin Amidu was elected President of the conference for a term of one year.
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